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Tom Hoffman enjoys being festival president

By Layla Bohm
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Some three decades ago, Tom Hoffman graduated from high school in Lodi and headed off to pursue a college degree and teacher’s credential in Chico.

He moved to Peru to teach English, got married and then spent some time in Chile before returning to Lodi in 1982.

 

Now he is president of the Board of Directors of the Grape Festival and Harvest Fair — the official San Joaquin County fair — that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.

His full-time job is that of a commercial grape grower, but Hoffman is also active in organizations groups.

After settling in Lodi, Hoffman became involved in the Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. Then, in 1991 his neighbor told him about two different boards — the North San Joaquin water board and the Grape Festival board.

“He felt like he’d done enough, so he got me involved in both of those boards,” Hoffman said.

Now, 12 years later, Hoffman is the festival’s president.

As the days count down to the start of the annual festival, the grape grower and wine maker doesn’t seemed stressed with the preparations.

Hoffman is tending 170 acres of grapes, and will sell much of the fruit to Mondavi and Gallo vineyards.

He and two friends also bottle their own wine as a hobby, he said as he stood in his temperature-controlled wine room.

“Our wine operation is a hobby that has just gone too berserk. We’re making way too much wine and having way too much fun,” he said.

Wearing a straw hat to shield his face from the hot sun, Hoffman smiled as he talked about the Grape Festival.

“We have a wonderful staff. They take care of almost all the details, so really my job is to motivate all the Board of Directors,” Hoffman said.

That’s not all he does, though, said Mark Armstrong, general manager of the festival.

With the cancellation of the annual Grape Festival Parade, Hoffman began coming up with other ideas.

First he changed a few bylaws.

Then he and Armstrong launched “Taste of the Festival,” an event that will kick off the Grape Festival by featuring wine tasting and food from numerous local wineries and eateries.

In addition, the parent of two grown boys is forming a youth committee that will be in charge of an entertainment show.

Not only will the six high school sophomores and six juniors be in charge of finding the entertainment, but they’ll also hold auditions, set up the stage and make sure the entire production goes smoothly, Hoffman said.

He hopes to find students interested in pursuing such things in the future, and the main purpose is entertainment, “because the fair is entertainment,” Hoffman said.

The first such event is expected to be held at next year’s Grape Festival.

Next year, a different member of the board of directors will take over as president, but for now, Hoffman is enjoying his role.

“It’s something I’ve looked forward to for a long time,” he said.