PITTSFIELD ROTARY CLUB District 6460    9-12-07

Guest:  John Shoenherr, who just graduated with a MBA from St. Louis University, with Grandpa Keith Smith….

Shirley Johnston reported that the Community Center was dedicated in1948, and asked for Rotary support for the Raffle of tickets to Adams Mark, St. Louis, and tickets to the RAMS game on the weekend of October 26-27.  Tickets are $10.00 each…see a Community Center Board member….(Helen.., natcherly)……

Program:  Chris Little introduced Gene Myers, President of the Western Illinois Grape Growers, and  who also is on the board of the State Grape Growers and Vinters of Illinois.

Gene says it takes time to make wine from grapes,….

68+  wineries are now operating in Illinois…with more to come on line.  They produce a GREAT product, and it is also a wonderful asset for tourism, when the wineries provide  ‘sampling’….it attracts people to the area….

The loss from the Easter frost and the hot dry weather has reduced yields from 20 to 50 percent around the state…..and this has been devastating to the growers….especially on the early maturing varieties…

Additional problems have resulted from animals and birds seeking moisture over the past 2 years….

Grape growers have to keep up on the new ways of doing things…..

Gene has 7 varieties on his small acreage, and also manages the vineyard at New Salem started by Rusty Baehr…..He also has a new variety developed by Purdue University.

Growing grapes is not fast.  It takes 3 years from planting until the first ones are produced….and then you are lucky to get a ½ crop.  At 5 years, you can usually get a full crop.

It is not unusual for a grape crop to return $5,000.00 per acre…. And the planting should last a lifetime…..(maybe even of Methuselah)…..they last a long time properly taken care of….

The flavor becomes more intense in dry weather…so this year’s wine should be really good, even with a short crop….(that means it’ll probably cost more to buy ’07 wine…..so have your wallets ready….)

God program Chris…..

Anyone with emails for Cole and Mark, get them to me…I’ve lost them some how…..