After 26 years John and Gail Kautz have decided to bring to an end their annual summer gathering of family and friends on their farm in Lodi. For more than two decades, this party for 2,000 -- featuring food, fun and live music from Randy Sparks and the New Improved Minstrels -- has been one of the biggest shindigs of the California summer. The guest list reads like a who's who in the world of ag.

"In one of our gatherings we had probably the greatest number of secretaries of Ag, US Secretaries of Ag that had ever come together and we had them all here. We had five of them here," said John Kautz. The party has truly been a national celebration with guests flying in from the East Coast to attend.

But this year's party also had an international flair. To celebrate the German heritage of the Kautz family and the contributions of German immigrants to US agriculture, John showcased a traveling photo exhibit entitled "German Immigrants in Rural America." The contributions continue today with farming families like the Kautzs, who own Ironstone Vineyards. Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary of the USDA, also springs from German roots and the Romingers' contributions are remembered in this exhibit which will travel the state for the next few years.

But one contribution must come to an end. While they will continue to celebrate in smaller gatherings, the Kautzs have decided to phase out this extravaganza. And they made sure their party went out in style.

For more information on Ironstone Vineyards, visit www.ironstonevineyards.com.