Each year, the Lodi Grape Festival draws thousands of visitors who come to enjoy food, wine tasting, grape murals, live entertainment, a carnival, and more. The grape mural competition is a trademark of the festival, where community groups—including FFA chapters—design and create murals that are covered by locally grown grapes. Each grape is polished with vegetable oil before the artist glues it into place on a foil covered framework.
In addition to the grape murals, there is also a mural competition that allows the use of fresh and dried agricultural commodities, like beans, nuts, fruits, and grains. All murals are judged on the Danish system, which means contestants compete against their own work and the rule book, not each other, so multiple first-place awards can be given. It can be slow and pain-stakingly hard work, but there are also some sweet rewards. Participants are awarded cash prizes of up to $1,000 for their winning designs. Each mural is also judged on how well it represents the festival’s annual theme—this year it was ‘Take Flight.’
Chapter Highlight: Bear Creek FFA
By Lexi Lowery, Chapter Publicity Chairman
Bear Creek FFA chapter in Stockton designed two murals, including an 8-foot by 12-foot grape mural. The mural brilliantly depicted a scene from the movie, Up, when an elderly balloon salesman named Carl fulfills his lifelong dream of floating away to the South American wilderness. The text on the mural reminds us, “Adventure is out there.” The chapter also created a commodity mural that used San Joaquin grown commodities to illustrate an airplane taking off.
The projects took a significant amount of creativity and patience. “We started our murals at the beginning of August and didn’t complete them until September 13,” explained Tatyana Latino, FFA Chapter Historian and floral student. “It was a great way for us to get to know other students in our agriculture program.”
At the festival, Bear Creek FFA’s grape mural placed second overall and was awarded ‘Best Use of Theme.’ The chapter’s commodity mural placed third. Members in the chapter were proud of their accomplishment. After the event, many students reflected on their experience, including Alexis Stevenson, FFA member and floral student. “I loved seeing the murals completed! I felt proud seeing the final result!” For more photos of the event, follow @BearCreekFFA on social media.
Chapter Highlight: Lodi FFA
By Lu Frederick, Chapter Secretary
Members of the Lodi FFA chapter also participated in the competition. The chapter has been participating in the grape mural competition for more than 20 years, and it has become an important tradition for the students.
For two weeks, FFA members worked on planning and constructing their mural which depicted an agricultural landscape, including a red barn, dairy cows, row crops, orchard, and an airplane flying overhead. The mural was crafted out of small mural frames that were assembled at the fairgrounds. The chapter received a first place award for their creation, but according to some students, the greatest reward was creating connections with other FFA members. “Overall, the competition was a good bonding experience for my classmates, as well as a new learning experience,” reflected one FFA member.
The grape mural and commodity mural competitions are a great example of FFA supporting the agriculture industry and learning more about local commodities. Not only did the FFA members learn more about the varieties of grapes, they also played an important role in promoting the grape industry. According to Lodi FFA’s chapter advisor, Mrs. Schmierer, the whole community wins. “It’s a great community activity to see the creative minds, teamwork, and hard work that all of the local non-profits put together.”
