Clay Wallace Green

Born in Southern California in Long Beach at Memorial Hospital, Clay always had a thing for dirt.  Starting at about age 8 Clay and a neighboring kid mowed hillside fields for income with the parental high weed mower.  It took two kids to run the mower because it was so big.  A couple of years later Clay graduated to his grandfather's Cletrac HG tractor and disc.  This led to his lifelong love for tractor's.

In the 5^th & 6^th grades, Clay ran a tractor, pulling a harvest gondola during the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir harvest and counted picker's buckets.  After 6^th grade the Green's moved full time to Healdsburg, which meant there was always a job to do in the vineyard.

Clay graduated from Healdsburg High then went on to UC Davis earning a degree in Agriculture Economics in 1982.

Since Hoot Owl Vineyards was already well managed, he started an earthmoving company Cats 4U with mainly vineyard clients.  When the vineyard planting slowed in 2000, they diversified to working on custom home sites, wetlands, sewer and water plants, etc.

In 1996, Clay realized there was both fallow and undeveloped hill land perfect for earthmoving work.  By 2000, he finished developing and planting the last of the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards you are enjoying today in our wine.

Locally, Clay served as past president of the Alexander Valley Community Hall and prior to that the Alexander Valley Association.  He is presently on the North Coast Builders Exchange board.  In 2004, he won the first "Mr. Healdsburg" contest, a tongue and cheek fundraiser with his rendition of Roger Miller’s "King of the Road".

Clay has been a member of NCBE for close to 25 years and CATS4U has been a member company of Workers’ Comp Trust for over 15 years. Like many of us who that thoroughly enjoy our profession, Clay has found himself consumed by his work. A trip to the auction to add to his collection of graders and dozers has taken the place of hobbies.