One of the first eco-friendly
additions to the operation was
sheep. With erosion problems
surfacing, Colleen discovered that
a number of vineyards in Europe
and California use sheep to control
vegetation.
She analyzed their costs
for spray, labor and fuel and
discovered how sheep could be a
cost effective alternative to weed
control.
“We use the sheep to take
care of the weeds and grass under
half of our vineyard because we’re
able to put our vines on a six foot
trellis,” Jason said. “The sheep
can’t reach the fruit, but they can
take care of the grass. We don’t
have to mow, we don’t have to
buy diesel, we don’t have to spray
herbicide to kill the weeds under
the vines so there’s an ecological
advantage to that.”
Chickens have also been
added to the operation to help
control pests. Eggs are marketed
through the winery’s tasting room.
A charging station for electric
vehicles also complements the
vineyard.
“It’s what makes us different
than our neighbor,” Jason said.
It’s a marketing technique that
is helping win over customers, too.
“If they forget the name Jowler
Creek, you say, ‘You know, the
place with the sheep,’ and it’s ‘oh,
yeah, yeah, I’ve been there,’” Jason
said.
Leaning on Each Other
As longtime members of the
agriculture and agri-business
communities in Missouri, the
Gerkes were already familiar with
FCS Financial. So when it came
time to expand their operation,
turning to FCS Financial seemed
only natural.
“We not only expanded the
production facility, but also added
a little bit more land so that we
had more of a buffer, more room
on the outside of our vineyard,”
Jason explained.
In an area with a huge
urban influence, quick action
you, especially when it’s something
that could help you get exactly
what you want without having to
buy the whole property,” Colleen
explained.
FCS Financial’s Clint Callow
added, “I always tea