Yakima Chief Ranches (YCR) was founded in the 1980s, when three family-owned hop farms joined forces to create a new hop production and research farm in the Yakima Valley. Today, YCR has grown to include 41 of the Yakima Valley’s hop farms and is recognized as a leader in hop breeding and brand management. The company just announced the appointment of two new key officers. Jason Perrault is now the Board Chair and Jason Champoux is the new Chief Executive Officer.
Here is the press release from YCR.
Yakima Chief Ranches Announces Leadership Transition
Jason Perrault Becomes Board Chair and Jason Champoux named as New Chief Executive Officer
Yakima, WA: Yakima Chief Ranches (YCR), a leading hop breeding and brand-management company, announces a strategic leadership transition in alignment with long-term vision and continuity.
Effective January 1st, 2026, Jason Perrault, who has served in a leadership role for over 25 years and as Chief Executive Officer for over a decade, will assume the role of Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Jason Champoux, previously serving as Vice President of Crop Production, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.
This announcement formalizes a succession plan developed years ago. Recent crop seasons have brought some of the toughest challenges the industry has seen in decades. “Jason Champoux’s leadership of our Grower Services and Global Procurement efforts during this period exemplified our mission, vision, and values. Observing Jason navigate the complex challenges in his unique leadership style made it clear to me that he was the leader YCR needs,” says Perrault of his successor. “I am excited to work with him in my new capacity as board chair and steward of our vision.”
Champoux joined YCR in 2022 with 21 years of leadership experience in the packaging and tree fruit industry. Since joining the team, Champoux has made incredible strides leading the global hop procurement for Yakima Chief, the aligned partnership between Yakima Chief Ranches and the grower-owned global hop supplier Yakima Chief Hops. Under his stewardship, the partner organizations navigated a supply restructuring that restored balanced inventory for the long-term success and sustainability of the hop and beer industry.
“The trust placed in me by the Board to lead this organization fills me with purpose and determination,” says Champoux. “I have felt very blessed to work with an incredible team at Yakima Chief Ranches, Yakima Chief Hops, and our growers.”
Under Perrault’s leadership Yakima Chief Ranches has been able to grow alongside the hop industry’s evolving market due to a relentless pursuit of value creation. He has honored the vision of connecting growers and brewers, creating economic sustainability for the entire supply chain. Perrault will continue to represent YCR on the HBC Board of Directors, direct the Breeding Program at YCR and remain CEO at Perrault Farms, his family hop farm.
Yakima Chief Ranches’ world class breeding program roots started as a backyard effort over thirty-five years ago and today employs 75 people at their state-of-the-art campus in Zillah, Washington, complete with a research laboratory, pilot brewery, and plant propagation complex. The organization builds resiliency and sustainability throughout the hop supply chain with a value centric Create, Grow and Protect philosophy. These efforts have contributed to the development and release of some of the most impactful hop brands and crop management systems that shape the brewing landscape today.
Both Perrault and Champoux look forward to continuing to work together to fulfill the mission and vision of Yakima Chief Ranches in their new respective roles.
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Yakima Chief Ranches
Yakima Chief Ranches is an integrated crop management company that specializes in breeding new hop varieties for the global brewing industry. YCR exists to create and sustain value in the hop market- from family farms to the drinkers of great beer worldwide! Connecting Farmers to Brewers – Yakima Chief Ranches
