Jeanette Smith of Shenandoah County was named the 2011 grower of the year by the Virginia Vineyards Association at a Friday afternoon ceremony in Charlottesville.
Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore presented the award at the association’s annual technical meeting at the Omni Hotel.
“It has always been my pleasure to serve this industry,” Smith told a crowd of about 150 of her peers.
Smith began working in Virginia vineyards in 1981 while studying horticulture at Virginia Tech. She owns VineSmith Vineyard Services in Stephens City and has been involved in planting, managing and maintaining vineyards in New York, North Carolina and Virginia for nearly 30 years.
Smith is also the publisher of the Vineyard Pest Management Tool Kit, a resource that provides the latest technical information on vineyard pest control and management.
“Jeanette is an absolutely super person and I am sure that everyone will agree that this award is well deserved," Virginia Vineyards Association President Bill Tonkins said in a statement.
Reflecting on changes in the industry, Smith said, “The quality of the wines has improved amazingly over the years [and] the caliber of the growers has improved dramatically. We have some very interesting varieties that are not being grown widely in other areas, and we’re doing a great job at growing them and making wines.”
Following the presentation, Haymore praised Smith for her dedication and service to Virginia’s growing wine industry.
“We throw around the word ‘legend,’ but I think it’s safe to say she is a legend in this industry, given what she’s done and the time that she’s done it in her 30-year commitment to the industry.”
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement