The JAV Family
Jim and Barb Ballard
Jim Ballard had a hunch. The many customers of James Arthur Vineyards are glad he followed it. Jim thought his father-in-law’s farmland, situated north of Lincoln, Nebraska, was fertile ground for growing grapes. With his father-in-law’s blessing, Jim planted several grapevines with the hope that his hobby would someday produce fine homemade wine and something to share with family and friends. It did, and Jim’s hobby took a new twist. James Arthur Vineyards opened five years later. A former broadcast journalist and Master’s graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln In Journalism; Jim is JAV’s head winemaker and still helps with the winery’s daily operations and special events. His goal is to produce award-winning Nebraska wine while providing guests to James Arthur Vineyards with an experience that is educational, exciting and interesting.Although she considers herself “retired,” Barb Ballard stays plenty busy. Top priority is being Mom to the couple’s three children, Benjamin, Beau, and Edyn. Next comes managing the day-to-day operations of JAV as well as the winery’s gift shop, plus putting in time at the From Nebraska Gift Shop in Lincoln’s Haymarket. She also coordinates the many special events JAV holds throughout the year and coordinates the tasting room. Not bad for being retired!
Barb graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in broadcast journalism. She first worked as a producer for a Lincoln television station then as a talent and casting agent in Omaha. Later, she worked as office manager for her father’s meatpacking plant. Barb stopped working full-time when the Ballard’s were expecting their second child. She came out of “retirement” when her parents started the winery. Her focus now — as it always has been — is family, friends and working with people. It’s the perfect combination.
Josh Rockemann
Born and raised in the Davey, NE area; Josh Rockemann has been minutes away from the vineyard for as long as he can remember. His first days at the vineyard began in the summer of 2000 as a part-time summer job that has since grown into much more. Today, Josh is JAV’s Vineyard Manager, managing and maintaining the nearly 20 acres of vineyards here at JAV. As a 2002 graduate of Waverly High School, Josh enjoyed sports year-round and always found time to slip away for a weekend pheasant hunt with his father. A few years later, hunting is one sport that he has not given up. Along with pruning in the winter Josh enjoys his time in the field. From November to January, he can also be found wandering across a CRP field looking for that perfect shot. Josh’s wife Andrea is also a Waverly graduate and is now a teacher in the Fremont School system. In 2014, Josh and Andrea welcomed their new pride and joy into the world, Benson. Can’t wait to hear about Benson’s first buck!Mike Spiehs
Meet Mike Spiehs! Mike is director of sales and distribution for JAV and makes sure all our customers across the state can always find their favorite JAV wines in local stores and restaurants. Mike is no stranger to JAV and the Ballard and Jeffers families. Mike was born and raised in Grand Island and is a lifelong friend of our owner, Jim Ballard. Mike also helped out in the tasting room at JAV in the early years, pouring wine on the weekends and helping out with special events. A graduate of UNL, Mike has spent most of his career in the insurance business as an adjuster before he joined JAV. His territory included a good portion of southeastern Nebraska, so he’s familiar with the open road and small town life of that area. However, Omaha has been a whole new experience for Mike, as he is getting used to making his rounds in the big city. No matter where he’s at, Mike’s approach is always the same—a friendly smile, good conversation and the chance to show off his newest passion, JAV wine. Mike now lives in Cortland, where he spends as much time as he can with his true passions – his twins Shandra and Jeanne, and the baby of the family Trina. So, if you happen to see Mike out and about in the JAV van, tell him hello! He might even tell you a good story or two about his glory days with Jim in good old GI!
Jeff Korbelik
Jeff Korbelik is the winery manager, joining JAV after 30-plus years in newspapers as an editor and reporter. He really wanted to be a starting pitcher for the New York Mets or a running back for the New York Jets, but with no athletic ability, he turned to writing about them. He spent 10 years as a sports journalist, covering three Nebraska football national championships for the Grand Island Independent and Lincoln Journal Star before switching gears and joining the features staff in at the Journal Star as an entertainment reporter in 1998 and features editor in 2012. He’s best known for writing restaurant reviews for Ground Zero, the Journal Star’s entertainment magazine, and authoring the memory book “Lost Restaurant’s of Lincoln, Nebraska.” He joined JAV as its manager in 2018 after having worked part time in the tasting room from 2005-12. He and co-owner Jim Ballard have been friends since college, where they were members of Acacia Fraternity. Jeff and his wife Rebecca live in Lincoln and have 2 dogs (Satchel and Oscar) and backyard chickens.Shawn Barger
Shawn Barger, JAV’s assistant winemaker, was born in Hastings and raised in Wahoo, where he attended Bishop Neumann High School. With a lifelong dream of working with animals, he pursued an animal science degree at NCTA. However, he soon realized that path wasn’t his true calling and returned home to Wahoo. There, he earned his CDL and EMT licenses to keep his career options open. Fate stepped in when he met Edyn Ballard, the daughter of JAV’s owners, Jim and Barb Ballard. After spending time together, Shawn and Edyn eventually married. This connection led to an incredible opportunity: Jim offered Shawn a position at JAV, which he gladly accepted. Shawn is now training to become the winery’s next winemaker.
