MEET OUR PEOPLE
Garret Schaefer
Jw Moore Vineyards / Vineyard Manager
HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN FARMING WINEGRAPES?
I have been farming winegrapes for 10 years. The Moore family has been farming winegrapes in Lodi since 1894.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU’D LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT LODI?
Lodi is a great community, especially the farming community. I have always felt welcome in the industry and have made great friendships along the way. In Lodi, there is a sense of family – everyone looks out for each other, and we all want each other to succeed.
I FARM BECAUSE...
I love taking care of the land that God created. Farming is good, hard, HONEST work that you can take pride in every day. There is something special about taking care of living plants that produce a crop that people can enjoy. I like knowing that the winegrapes I grow are going into a wine that is being enjoyed by someone – hopefully, it’s in celebration of something. It is a great feeling to know that you are responsible for providing joy, love, and laughter.
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ANOTHER CAREER OR START OVER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I hope the day I can’t farm never comes but if it did, I would go back to running my own construction company. I have always loved working with my hands and completing various building projects.
WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF FARMING GRAPES?
Mother Nature is the most difficult part of farming. Every year you try to plan; you look back at what you may have done wrong the previous growing season or how you could have handled issues differently. You look at these things and try to plan for the coming year and Mother Nature laughs and says, “good luck with that.” It is a good reminder that we are not in complete control.
WHAT CHORE DO YOU ABSOLUTELY HATE DOING?
Taking care of our chickens. My hat is off to all of you, chicken farmers!
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I still own my first car – a ‘68 Chevrolet Camaro.
FORD, CHEVY, OR DODGE?
Chevy all the way!
