[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E202-E203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF REX EUGENE GEITNER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Rex Eugene Geitner who has 
been selected as the 2011 Farmer of the Year by the San Mateo County 
Farm Bureau. Rex has cultivated land from the Midwest to California 
where he has grown some of the best wines in the world.
  Rex was born on August 6, 1950, in Davenport, Iowa, while his mother 
was visiting her sister. He then grew up in the family's hometown of 
Peoria and several other rural communities in Illinois. The family 
owned and operated a small farm near Elmwood which is where Rex 
developed his love for the land.

[[Page E203]]

  In 1966, the family moved to Orange, California, where Rex entered 
his junior year at Orange High School. He took classes in agriculture, 
became active in the Future Farmers of America, and raised steers until 
graduation.
  In 1972, Rex moved to Napa where the region was just starting to 
transform itself into one of the most respected and famous wine areas. 
Rex began his career by cleaning hillside land that was then planted 
with Cabernet Sauvignon. Sterling Vineyards acquired the land and kept 
him as their vineyard manager. From those humble beginnings, Rex 
evolved to be one of Napa's most experienced and sought after 
viticulturalists and hillside developers. During his ascent, he worked 
for well-known vineyards such as Stag's Leap, Domaine Chandon, Spring 
Mountain Vineyards and many others. Rex also took several courses about 
viticulture and enology at UC Davis.
  In the 1990s, Rex started a business that designed and developed 
environmentally responsible hillside vineyards. One of his clients, 
T.J. Rodgers, eventually hired him full-time. According to Dr. Rodgers, 
his company had to court Rex for five years until he decided that he 
``was ready to focus on making the world's best Pinot Noir.''
  Rex and his wife of 37 years, Amy, raised their children, Alison and 
Michael, in Napa. After living in the wine country for 27 years, Amy 
and Rex headed for the coast and now live in El Granada. However, Rex 
did not leave the wine business behind; he is now developing the winery 
and vineyards for Clos de la Tech. He also has served as the board 
president of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau since 2009.
  Mr. Speaker, the San Mateo County Farm Bureau is right to honor Rex 
Geitner as Farmer of the Year. His lifelong dedication to 
environmentally responsible farming and viticulture have both 
benefitted and delighted Californians and wine connoisseurs all over 
the world.

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