The Applegater

Applegater Fall 2022 1 FALL 2022 Volume 15, No. 3 Serving Jackson and Josephine Counties — Circulation: 13,000 Applegate Valley Community Newsmagazine Celebrating Years Photo by Ann Nguyen • applegater.org ~28~ Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Permit #125 Medford OR ECRWSSEDDM Local Postal Customer ISSUE AGRICULTURE - WINE When Applegater horsewoman Nancy Adams left for a horse show in California earlier this summer, A p p l e g a t e f a r m e r s were just starting to c u t h a y. " W h e n I came back and saw that beautifully baled hay, my hear t just swelled," she said. "It was a great harvest. It made me feel secure. There's a feeling of homecoming to see something like that." Those beautiful, sun-drenched hay bales in Applegate p a s t u r e s a r e m o r e t h a n n o s t a l g i c ere is something new growing in the valley, and it's not hemp or cannabis. It's the number of women entering the field of viticulture and winemaking, literally and figuratively. Global averages show women-owned vineyards at less than five percent and female winemakers at 14 percent. Women in southern Oregon make up 33 percent of winemakers, nearly twice that of any other wine-making region of the world. Half of all vineyards in the Applegate are now managed by female viticulturists, another global high. Women own 10 percent of local vineyards. If you include co-owned with an active role, 70 percent of our vineyards are under the nurturing care of women. You grow, girl! For an industry that has been male- dominated, the Applegate Valley has found a way to cultivate an environment of inclusion and cooperation. Instead of ruthlessly competitive, the Applegate wine community is collaborative, resulting in a thriving local industry. Virginia Oaxaca came to the Applegate in 2012 and purchased the old Madrone Vineyard knowing nothing about wine. After seeing wild turkeys running around the property, she renamed the vineyard "Pavo Real" (Royal Turkey) to represent her Hispanic heritage. Virginia credits much of her success to help from the Wisnovsky brothers at Valley View, Cal Making hay in the Applegate Valley BY DIANA COOGLE heartwarmers. They mean winter sustenance for Applegate livestock a n d s u p p l e m e n t a l i n c o m e f o r m a n y Applegate farmers. Much of the hay y o u s e e s i t t i n g i n golden bales in the fields or stacked on trucks might be for the farmer's own livestock. Tim Hunter, who still works the farm in Ruch that he grew up on, from which he sells six- string, 1,200-pound bales to dairies and big farms, as well as smaller bales to individual BY CATHY RODGERS A perfect Applegate pairing: Women and wine and Renee from Schmidt Vineyard, and mentoring from Rachel Martin at Red Lily. Virginia, a spry 81, is now turning over the reins to her niece Elisa. Elisa echoes her aunt's sentiment and links their success to our community that rallies to help when extra labor, a tractor, or advice is needed. She hopes to be a role model for Hispanic women on this career path. Mini Banks, 26, is the new owner of Cowhorn Winery. She grew up in the See WOMEN AND WINE, page 3. See MAKING HAY, page 2. •Be a troubadour! We're still looking for musicians. •Organize a game booth. See carnivalsavers.com for ideas. •Do the popcorn booth. Or caramel apples? •Do you juggle, walk on stilts, do face painting, or have some other talent that would provide a carnival atmosphere? Let us know! •Donate a raffle item. •Bake a cake for the cake walk! Or a pie. •Help us set up or take down on the day of the event. Tim Hunter in front of his massive hay bales. Photo: Diana Coogle. Virgina Oaxana, 81 years young and a role model for women in wine. SAT URDAY, OC TOBER 1 4:30-7:30 PM COME ONE , COME ALL! ON THE LOVELY WIDE LAWN OF VALLEY VIEW WINERY, UPPER APPLEGATE ROAD G A TER - ES t S H O W THE ON EARTH The Applegater is creating the Gater-est Show on Earth as a huge, celebratory thank-you to you, our readers, for your support and loyalty these past two years. Free admission! Everyone can come! Your generosity during the NewsMatch fund drive in November and December has eased our financial desperation, so come on down. The fun's on us. It'll be a carnival-themed, apple-centered event with games, cotton candy, and toe-tapping music. Bring a picnic or buy dinner from the food truck on-site. We'll have terrific raffle items—a $100 gift certificate from Fields Home Center, bicycle wheels, books, massage, organic beef from Salant Family Ranch, gift certificate from Pennington Farms, herb collections from Oshala Farms, and lots more! We'll have carnival games—dart throwing, apple toss, corn hole. We'll charge a small amount for playing games and offer raffle tickets as prizes. There'll be a cake walk and a go-fish booth for the little kids. There'll be some no-fee games—like cards, Scrabble, Rummikub— lying around for you to enjoy. And more. We're still brainstorming. You can double your fun at the event by volunteering to help. Call Lisa Baldwin, at 541-476-6671, to sign up. See "How you can help" below for ideas. Be sure to put the date on your calendar so that every time you look at it, you can get excited. It's going to be the Gater-est show on earth! Step right up, folks! •••••••••• HOW YOU CAN HELP •••••••••• Contact board member Lisa Baldwin at 541-476-6671 to volunteer to help.

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