Promoting the beauty of the Valley and its agricultural bounty on the vine is the idea behind the Whole Vine Festival, slated for Fresno State Oct. 21-22. Photo by Ben Hensley

Years ago, when Innovation Flooring co-owner Vicky Goudreau had visions of a festival aimed at bringing a sense of pride to the Central Valley, the event seemed like a dream that required a miracle to get off the ground.

That dream will become a reality later this year when the first annual Whole Vine Festival comes to the campus of Fresno State. It will be a celebration of the region’s grape and vine industry, as well as its agricultural and cultural prowess as one of the nation’s leaders in food production and distribution.

Goudreau moved to the Valley 20 years ago, and was initially hesitant to give the area a chance. Prior to moving to the Valley, Goudreau’s colleague, Carole Sund, along with her daughter Juli and foreign exchange student Silvina Pelosso were the victims of a high-profile triple homicide that rocked the Yosemite area in nearby Mariposa County — a tragedy that nearly encouraged her to give up on the region.

But after moving to the Valley, Goudreau told herself to give the region a chance.

“I made a commitment to love the Valley, to seek its good, to be solution-minded in regards to its problems and to never speak angst about it again,” she said. “You fix what’s broken when you love it.”

With that mindset, Goudreau was motivated to spread positivity in the Valley as a whole, aiming to showcase what the Valley can offer, and that – despite the negative stigma that she says many natives continue to propagate – residents have a lot to take pride in.

Now partnered with Fresno marketing firm Butler Branding, Goudreau began fundraising for the event last year, aiming to lay the groundwork for the festival and focusing on taking a step-by-step approach to make the festival a reality.

“It is really the input of brilliant people and supporters that are going to make this happen,” she said. “This is not the effort of one [person].”

Fashioned in a similar manner to Fresno State’s Vintage Days, the Whole Vine Fest will celebrate the bountiful resources of the Central Valley, but will focus more heavily on the grape and vine industry, featuring grapes, raisins, wines and other vine-based products.

“This is really important to me [because] the whole thing needs to be authentic,” she said. “I have to have people who are involved in the grape, raisin and wine industry as a core of this festival.”

While focusing on vine-based goods, Goudreau said that other vendors will be featured as well, opening the door to showcase the overall bounty of the Central Valley.

The festival, however, will not be possible without fundraising. Goudreau said they are currently about halfway to their fundraising goal.

“For our first one, we need about $50,000 to secure fencing, toilets, insurance, security,” Goudreau said. “After we get those things in place and we know they’re in place, then we can sell vendor booths and sponsorships.”

Vendor booths will become available after the initial fundraising goal has been reached.

Goudreau is focusing on connections with local farmers to help get the event off the ground, adding that the support she’s received has helped her meet local industry leaders who would be willing to support the festival.

The event, scheduled to take place this fall, will take place on campus at Fresno State, however, it is still being decided where specifically. Construction at the university altered the location of Vintage Days this spring, and Goudreau said it would likely affect the placement of the Whole Vine Festival.

“We were hoping for the area where Vintage Days is usually held,” Goudreau said. “It may be that we have to have a ‘plan a’ and a ‘plan b.’”

She said that for their first festival, they would likely not need as much space as Vintage Days, but it would depend on how many vendors they are able to secure.

Goudreau said that throughout the entire process, Fresno State has been nothing but supportive, from her work with Jordan College Dean Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, marketing professor Betsy Hays and Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval.

“President Sandoval is probably my biggest supporter,” Goudreau said. “Working with him is one of the most exciting things for me because he is driven from a place of gratitude.”

The first annual Whole Fine Festival is scheduled to take place Oct. 21-22. Vendor and volunteer opportunities will be available soon, and an email newsletter is available through www.thewholevine.com, where visitors can also donate to the organization.

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Correction: This version contains a correction to the dates of the festival which were published incorrectly in the June 16 issue of The Business Journal.