Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/70680
Enology and Vit Program At Kent State School offers associate's degrees in response to labor demand shtabula, Ohio—Starting in fall 2011, students at Kent State University at Ashtabula will be able to major in enology and viticulture and, after complet- ing the two-year program, receive an associ- ate of applied science degree in the field. The Kent State program will be affiliated with the Viticulture Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA), a National Science Foundation-funded partnership between the Missouri State University system, two-year colleges and universities in the Midwest, state agriculture agencies and vineyards and wineries in 11 states. VESTA was established about eight years ago to promote education in grapegrowing and winemaking. A Through its affiliation with VESTA, the Ashtabula campus will offer its associate's degree programs throughout the state. Most courses are online, but students may also attend classes at Ashtabula or participate in intensive weekend sessions at other Ohio locations. Students will get practical experi- ence at wineries and vineyards in their home areas. Susan Stocker, dean of Kent State's Ashtabula campus, pointed out that the degree programs are an economic develop- ment issue, adding that they "support local employers, and graduates go out and get jobs and start working." Serving the needs of Ohio's growing grape and wine industry has become increasingly important. Just two decades ago, according to Stocker, Ohio had fewer than 40 winer- ies. Today there are nearly 130, according to WinesVinesDATA. For additional information, contact Dean Susan Stocker, Kent State University- Ashtabula at (440) 964-4212 or email sjstocker@kent.edu. —Linda Jones McKee "Paper or Plantra" The choice is yours! ® Paper Tube or "GROW" the whole vine! Paper Tube vs. Temporary (single-season?) spray cover, shorter height means more vine training trips. Opaque sidewall construction blocks sunlight vines need to optimize healthy, balanced growth. Plantra JumpStart® Grow Tubes Multi-season field life, spray protection, full tube height for one-trip vine training. Twin-walled for light diffusion and translucent to the specific sunlight vines need, JumpStart® Grow Tubes are packed with advanced greenhouse technology to stimulate the vine's own phytochrome to grow the whole vine from roots to shoots. Bigger, healthier vines for earlier, larger, and sustained harvests. Take the Plantra pledge and "Plant Like You Mean It!" Visit Plantra.com today to discover the impact phytochrome with JumpStart® Grow Tubes can have to get your next planting to Survive, Thrive, Succeed! www.plantra.com 800-951-3806 ©2011 Plantra, Inc. Wines & Vines MAY 2011 59 WineEast