Lake Michigan College to host wine industry hiring fair

The event will connect students and the public with regional wineries looking for seasonal workers.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 2:00am

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Lake Michigan College's Wine and Viticulture Technology Program is planning a wine industry hiring fair next month to help connect students and the general public with local wineries seeking seasonal workers for vineyard work, winemaking, and wine hospitality roles. The event is open to all and will feature 15 wineries from the Lake Michigan Shore American Viticultural Area.

Why it matters

The wine and viticulture industry in Southwest Michigan relies heavily on seasonal workers, especially during the busy summer and fall seasons. This hiring fair provides an opportunity for both job seekers and local wineries to connect and fill critical staffing needs.

The details

The hiring fair will take place on April 8 from 4-6 pm at the Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture Technology on the Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor campus. Attendees are encouraged to bring resumes to share with the 15 participating wineries, which include Free Run Cellars, Fenn Valley Vineyards, St. Julian Winery & Distillery, and others in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA region. The event is open to the general public, not just LMC students, as the program aims to serve all those interested in exploring career opportunities in the local wine industry.

  • The hiring fair will take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 4-6 pm.

The players

Tim Godfrey

The director of the Wine and Viticulture Technology Program at Lake Michigan College.

Lake Michigan College

A community college in Benton Harbor, Michigan that offers a Wine and Viticulture Technology Program to train students for careers in the local wine industry.

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What they’re saying

“The wine and viticulture industry has a lot of seasonal work. The summer season is heavy with vineyard work out in the field. In the fall, we have seasonal winemaking work. And then, as we're all aware, we live in an area that sees a lot of tourists, and during that busy tourist season, our local tasting rooms also need a lot of help with the wine hospitality side of things.”

— Tim Godfrey, LMC Wine Program Director

“All walks of life. Everybody is invited. Wine brings people together.”

— Tim Godfrey, LMC Wine Program Director

What’s next

The hiring fair will take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 4-6 pm at the Welch Center for Wine and Viticulture Technology on the Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor campus.

The takeaway

This hiring fair provides a valuable opportunity for both job seekers and local wineries to connect and fill critical seasonal staffing needs in Southwest Michigan's thriving wine industry.