PRAISE & THANK YOU
A WORD FROM NVMC DIRECTOR JESSEL MILLER
A WORD FROM NVMC DIRECTOR JESSEL MILLER
Jessel Miller of the Jessel Gallery Has a Vision
A Note from Jessel 2024
I planted a tiny mustard seed in the artistic soil and soul of this amazing valley in 2022, and the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration was born. I contacted my amazing web designer, Jenny Lomanto, and in a day she created the start of our now welcoming website, inviting all who participate in this 3-month (first time in the history of the area) event to add to the festivities.
The first year, Thomas Bougetz from Bougetz Cellars and I introduced the concept to the valley, and the following year, several key players jumped on board, including all the chambers from Calistoga to American Canyon, Do Napa, and Visit Napa Valley, and the "little engine that could" started humming along. With the focus on each community building their own brilliant events, this organic rhythm started sprouting wings!
Now, in its third year of life, the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration keeps budding and growing with exciting new visionaries.
I have devoted my entire existence to living a creative life. I truly believe that spending time focusing on sharing our inspired imagination and building community helps all of us lead a more peaceful existence.
I thank all of you who joined the NVMC family and welcome your input and wisdom to grow this amazing Mustard dream!
The first year, Thomas Bougetz from Bougetz Cellars and I introduced the concept to the valley, and the following year, several key players jumped on board, including all the chambers from Calistoga to American Canyon, Do Napa, and Visit Napa Valley, and the "little engine that could" started humming along. With the focus on each community building their own brilliant events, this organic rhythm started sprouting wings!
Now, in its third year of life, the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration keeps budding and growing with exciting new visionaries.
I have devoted my entire existence to living a creative life. I truly believe that spending time focusing on sharing our inspired imagination and building community helps all of us lead a more peaceful existence.
I thank all of you who joined the NVMC family and welcome your input and wisdom to grow this amazing Mustard dream!
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Thank you Jessel for your love of this beautiful valley and your incredible inspiration! Thank you for including my little business in your vision.
xo Debbie Dever Vintage Sweet Shoppe Congratulations Jessel, Mustard Celebration is back in full force! Big hugs right back at you! Noel
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Thank you again for including us in the 2024 Napa Valley Mustard Celebration! The events this year were truly amazing! This would not be possible without your leadership and commitment to the Mustard Celebration and the entire Napa Valley. We are so fortunate to have you in this valley not only for your amazing Jessel Art Gallery, but because of the way to lift up and promote the Napa Valley to not only the residents, but all of the visitors who come here from all over the world.
We were new to Napa Valley, and you made us feel so welcome and included from the first minute we met you. Your committee was incredible, and they all worked so well together. We were proud to have the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration label on our Olive Oil. We hope you will include us again next year! We don't know how you will be able to top this year's event! Please feel free to include the comments we have shared with you! A quick side note: We just received word today, that our Scarlata Farms Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil has won Best of Class and Gold for the 2024 CA State Fair! That is also the olive oil that is in the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration bottles! We are just over the moon! Thank You again! Kim Scarlata, Co-Owner Scarlata Farms |
Notes from 2023
Director of the Napa Valley Mustard Celebrationm Jessel Miller Photo by Gary Miller
Legend has it that the first mustard plants arrived in Napa Valley in the 1800s when Jesuit priests traveled California. They scattered the mustard seeds as they traveled across what is now Napa Valley. |
Jessel Miller was fortunate enough to be the face/poster artist 4 times for the former Napa Valley Mustard Festival and was about to finish the painting for her 5th year when the festival was cancelled in 2011.
Fast forward to 2022 and a seed was planted in the fertile soil surrounding her gallery. She approached her neighbor, Thomas Bougetz from Bougetz Cellar and asked if he would use her Mustard Muse painting on a wine bottle. He did not hesitate for one minute. VOILA! The NAPA VALLEY MUSTARD CELEBRATION was born. The Kick Off Event in February and the Artist Demonstration Day in March were so successful that Travel and Leisure Magazine supported and announced our event in their magazine. Cities up and down the valley took notice. Jessel started contacting possible participants in August 2022 and with the help of Ronda Schaer from Yountville Arts and Whitney Diver McEvoy from the Yountville Chamber of Commerce every city in the valley decided to join the party for 2023. This is a Valley amazingly diverse and unique and for the first time in history everyone is joining hands to celebrate and honor each community with exceptional offerings. During a normally sleepy season in the Napa Valley this 3 month long event promises to bring exciting happenings while honoring the history of mustard. The NVMC is an amalgamation of Sight, Touch, Taste, Smell, and Sound! "My goal is to give every business the opportunity to thrive during our vineyards' dormant days and to let the bright golden light from our mustard fields excite the economy as well as honor the earth we are blessed to live on." - Jessel Miller |
A WORD FROM 2023
In Recognition
To Michael Schaer, Director/Founder of PhotoFinale:
Michael Dear,
What an amazing show of over 70 photos whipped together since we started preparing for the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration in August 2022!
YOU are a consummate professional and with Ronda by your side...well that is what I call a Dynamic Duo!
This show will only grow (as we are seeing all the events blossom). You taking the lead from our tiny show last year at Bougetz Cellars has certainly proven that with determination, instinct, life experience and great expertise, you have honored the history of the original Photo Finish and made it your own!
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS and their beautiful tribute to the miracle of our Mustard Views.
Jessel Miller
Michael Dear,
What an amazing show of over 70 photos whipped together since we started preparing for the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration in August 2022!
YOU are a consummate professional and with Ronda by your side...well that is what I call a Dynamic Duo!
This show will only grow (as we are seeing all the events blossom). You taking the lead from our tiny show last year at Bougetz Cellars has certainly proven that with determination, instinct, life experience and great expertise, you have honored the history of the original Photo Finish and made it your own!
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHERS and their beautiful tribute to the miracle of our Mustard Views.
Jessel Miller
Jessel Miller was awarded this Certificate of Recognition by State Senator Bill Dodd for her tireless work in reestablishing the NVMC with the aim of supporting local business. February 2023
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Jessel Miller
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Sen. Dodd & Jessel Miller
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NVMC prints & products on display
In Thanks
I am humbled and teary eyed as I write this Love Letter to Whitney and her staff and Senator Bill Dodd and his beautiful wife Mary.
Whitney pulled out all the stops last night and put on one of the most exciting community events (which you know is my intention for every city.) She and her amazing staff SOLD OUT their event called "Yountville Community Center Tastings." Whitney, YOU AMAZE ME and I am thrilled to have your dedication and energy as we grow this concept together. THANK YOU for the lovely tribute and acknowledgement. YOU do not know how deep this touched me..I tear up every time I think about the moment! YOU are a shining example of commitment to community.
I brought my team including Beverly Wilson, John Roos, Clara Blair and Diane Pope and together after days of preparation we rolled out our red carpet (with all the merchandise and offerings created to support our featured artist Beverly Wilson and Hurley Farms plus the NVMC) for the guests who packed the Heritage Room.
My team shared so many stories they heard from the guests who expressed their joy at the return of this event! It warmed all our hearts!
Midway through the evening I was shocked and a little overwhelmed when Whitney introduced Senator Bill Dodd who proceeded to introduce me and honor me with words of appreciation and support for restarting a much loved event. I was given a Plaque of Recognition from Yountville Chamber of Commerce and Senator Bill Dodd! WHAT A CLASS ACT this was. I was so emotional I could not speak (and you know me...I can talk) So I want to say what I would have said if I could talk through tears (Bill had tears as well!)
"YOU KNOW my efforts to restart a once thriving event in the Valley is not about accolades, yet to be acknowledged for a "job well done" is the greatest reward I can receive. Knowing I can make a difference for our business community as well as the locals and visitors is the gift that keeps on giving. I am working hard every day to find new and inventive ways to Spread the Golden Light of our Mustard Season around the world so visitors will plan vacations to attend our events in the future. This was a global event in its Heyday (the period of one’s greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity) and with all of your help and devotion it will rise to this level once again. I thank everyone participating in the 2023 NVMC and know the momentum is just getting started."
Jessel Miller
Whitney pulled out all the stops last night and put on one of the most exciting community events (which you know is my intention for every city.) She and her amazing staff SOLD OUT their event called "Yountville Community Center Tastings." Whitney, YOU AMAZE ME and I am thrilled to have your dedication and energy as we grow this concept together. THANK YOU for the lovely tribute and acknowledgement. YOU do not know how deep this touched me..I tear up every time I think about the moment! YOU are a shining example of commitment to community.
I brought my team including Beverly Wilson, John Roos, Clara Blair and Diane Pope and together after days of preparation we rolled out our red carpet (with all the merchandise and offerings created to support our featured artist Beverly Wilson and Hurley Farms plus the NVMC) for the guests who packed the Heritage Room.
My team shared so many stories they heard from the guests who expressed their joy at the return of this event! It warmed all our hearts!
Midway through the evening I was shocked and a little overwhelmed when Whitney introduced Senator Bill Dodd who proceeded to introduce me and honor me with words of appreciation and support for restarting a much loved event. I was given a Plaque of Recognition from Yountville Chamber of Commerce and Senator Bill Dodd! WHAT A CLASS ACT this was. I was so emotional I could not speak (and you know me...I can talk) So I want to say what I would have said if I could talk through tears (Bill had tears as well!)
"YOU KNOW my efforts to restart a once thriving event in the Valley is not about accolades, yet to be acknowledged for a "job well done" is the greatest reward I can receive. Knowing I can make a difference for our business community as well as the locals and visitors is the gift that keeps on giving. I am working hard every day to find new and inventive ways to Spread the Golden Light of our Mustard Season around the world so visitors will plan vacations to attend our events in the future. This was a global event in its Heyday (the period of one’s greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity) and with all of your help and devotion it will rise to this level once again. I thank everyone participating in the 2023 NVMC and know the momentum is just getting started."
Jessel Miller
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You are too kind. Thank you for all you have done to bring back the Napa Valley Mustard Celebration. So much wonderful momentum this year, can’t wait to see what the Valley does next year.
A big thank you to Beverly and Tom from Bougetz for joining us too! Looking forward to making it bigger and better next year! Cheers! Whitney Diver McEvoy President & CEO Yountville Chamber of Commerce Jessel, congratulations! What a lovely and well-deserved commemoration of your work. Well done!
Cheers! Jennifer Dadesho · Visit Napa Valley Director, Marketing I have to tell you how impressed I am with how you’ve taken Mustard to a new level. Under your leadership/prompting, this will again be a national (international?) hit. Thanks for all that you do to make our community such a great place!
Craig Smith Executive Director Downtown Napa Association What a nice message to wake up to! You deserve all the credit for making it happen! It was a nice event and a great chance for us to mingle and connect after the crazy pandemic years…I really felt appreciation from so many people for creating “Up and Away" to celebrate this beautiful season.
❤️ BEVERLY WILSON Congratulations again Jessel!
More than well-earned and I know it made the Senator’s night as well. Thank you for your ongoing contributions to our community! Alex Prader Vertical Divider
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Thank you so much for being a part of our Yountville Mustard Celebration event! We could not have pulled off such a fantastic evening without you, your team, and your grand vision of bringing back the Mustard Season Celebrations! Thank you for your continued support of our Chamber and Community!
We have heard nothing but wonderful feedback from the attendees who have raved about the exquisite art and merchandise, excellent wine selection, and delicious food bites. Thank you again for your participation, our community and entire Valley is so lucky to have you in it! Please pass on our gratitude to Beverly, John, Diane, and Clara as well. Warmly, Danielle Matteucci Programs & Events Manager Yountville Chamber of Commerce Congratulations again on the recognition you received last evening from Senator Dodd! I hope you enjoy the attached photos.
Sincerely, Robin 
Jessel Miller with the clients who purchased her homage to Beverly Wilson
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Jessel Miller Acrylic
