[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 11, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING ANDY AND BETTY BECKSTOFFER

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 11, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andy 
and Betty Beckstoffer, the recipients of the Land Trust of Napa 
County's Acre by Acre Award. Andy and Betty have dedicated their lives 
to the preservation and conservation of land in Napa County, which is 
both honorable and deserving of recognition.
  Andy is the founder and owner of Beckstoffer Vineyards and its 
subsidiaries, which own approximately 1,000 acres of vineyard land in 
Napa County, 1,000 acres in Mendocino County, and 1,000 acres in Lake 
County. Andy and Betty have permanently preserved over 400 acres of 
Napa County land by placing nine separate properties in conservation 
easements with the Land Trust. From the 44-acre Carneros Creek and Las 
Amigas conservation easements, which protect rural viewshed and 
watershed areas in the Carneros area, to 181 acres of their Georges III 
vineyard in prime Agricultural Preserve area, the Beckstoffers have 
provided us with outstanding examples of the use of conservation 
easements to preserve the natural values of land. Andy once said of his 
work, ``we started as farmers, then became grape growers, and now are 
stewards of the land.''
  Andy and Betty Beckstoffer are the recipients of numerous awards for 
their grapegrowing, including Grower of the Year from Napa Valley 
Grapegrowers and Agriculturist of the Year from the Napa County Farm 
Bureau. They were also awarded the Award for Wine Industry Leadership 
by the U.S. Congressional Wine Caucus, and the Wine Award from Copia, 
the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts. Andy and Betty 
Beckstoffer have five children together, David, Dana, Tuck, Kristin, 
and Steven.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank 
Andy and Betty Beckstoffer for their commitment to our community and to 
preserving our beautiful lands. Their unyielding dedication to 
philanthropy and land conservation is inspirational and a testament 
that two people can make a significant difference in our community.

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