Saralee McClelland Kunde has been a Sonoma County resident since her parents moved their already established dairy farm from Novato to Petaluma in the mid-1960s. She’s spent much of her professional career promoting the county’s agricultural bounty via various posts with county fairs throughout California. Today, she’s president of Richard’s Grove and Saralee’s Vineyard, Inc., which offers fruit from more than 75 clonal selections of 18 wine and 20 table grape varietals on four separate vineyard sites in Sonoma County, totaling more than 350 acres; 2012 marks their 23rd harvest.
Still a proud SoCo booster and winner of last year’s Best Business Community Leader award, Kunde continues to spread the word about the importance of North Bay agribusiness through her memberships, volunteerism and support of numerous Sonoma County organizations and boards, including Sonoma County Fair, 4-H, Farm Bureau and Land Trust; multiple agricultural and wine industry affiliations; and community-based endeavors including Leadership Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Museum and Select Sonoma County.
Are you a high- or low-maintenance person?
I’m not really high maintenance, but I do always seem to want instant gratification!
At what time of the day do you feel your best?
I’m definitely a morning person. I’m sure it has to do with growing up on a dairy farm.
Describe the worst thing you ever had to wear to school.
A cast on my leg during my sophomore year in high school. It went from the tip of my toes up a foot past my knee and was the old beige plaster kind. Very heavy and ugly.
How old were you when you first went to work? What was the job and how much were you paid?
I always had chores to do around our family dairy in exchange for the feed and care of my dairy cattle, so I was very young. My first real paying job was at Sonoma County Fair in the summer of 1967. I made whatever minimum wage was at the time. It wasn’t much….
Of all the things you’ve done in your life, what makes you most proud?
My involvement in the promotion of the agricultural community and products grown and/or produced in Sonoma County. I’m especially proud of the marketing efforts of grapes from Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley and the prominence they’ve found in the global world of wine.
What do you consider the most important event in the history of the human race (so far)?
Space exploration.
What item in your office has special significance for you?
My IBM Correcting Selectric Typewriter. I bought it for $964 in 1975 and it was the top of the line with the correcting feature. It still has its original cover that I put on it each night in 1975. Now it just sits on a stand collecting dust, but I can’t seem to let go. It sits next to my first Apple computer and printer that I purchased in about 1984.
What’s something you regret having sold, lost or given away?
I’d love to still have my first mobile phone. It was huge and weighed about five pounds. I’d like to put it on the shelf next to the typewriter and computer. Great conversation pieces—and my children can’t believe the size cell phones once were.
What movies have you watched over and over again?
“The Sound of Music.”
What personal trait is most responsible for getting you where you are?
“Never say ‘No’ or ‘It can’t be done’!”
What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
Empire Section Obituaries
What’s the nicest thing you’ve ever smelled?
The aroma of a Dutton Ranch truck and trailer, loaded with Gravenstein apples and parked in our driveway during Grape to Glass 2008.
What’s the secret to a happy marriage?
Communication and an understanding husband!
What’s your favorite food?
I just savor anything grown in Sonoma County.
What’s your favorite piece of art (it doesn’t have to be famous)?
Our Cork Cow, she’s fiberglass and covered with 4,793 wine bottle corks.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in life, and who taught it to you?
Both from my mother: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” And, “If you start something, you’ll most likely get help.”
What talent would you most like to have?
To be an auctioneer.
Do you live by any motto or rule?
Roughly taken from Hunter S. Thompson: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, “Whoo-hoo, what a ride!”
If you could look into the future to find out one thing, what would you want to know?
My “check-out” date.
If you could have any music group (past or present) play at your birthday party, who would it be?
The Irish Rovers.
