Yakima Chief Hops proudly presents the Crop Year 2024 Top Cut Awards! The Top Cut Awards are a cherished tradition, honoring growers who supply Yakima Chief with exceptional hops. Using our Green Chief® scoring model, we evaluate and recognize those who exemplify outstanding growing practices. 

Each harvest season, growers are evaluated based on the Green Chief guidelines, with points tallied to recognize their performance. The Green Chief Program was created as a collaborative effort to support long-term goals in daily farm operations. It establishes a standardized grading system that acts as an internal audit, measuring best practices in sustainability and quality. By fostering healthy competition among farms, the program incentivizes excellence and tracks the impact of various sustainability initiatives. The program's ultimate goal is to drive continuous improvement in hop quality and farm efficiency.

Farms are categorized as small, medium, or large based on their production volume. Every lot of hops delivered is scored, and at the end of the season, an overall grower score is calculated using a weighted average. Scores are determined through a points-based system across three categories: Variety, Sensory, and Facility. The highest-scoring grower receives the Platinum award, while Gold and Silver recognize the runners-up.

The exceptional quality of our hop products starts in the field, nurtured by our incredible growers' dedication, experience, and hard work. To the growers, farm workers, and seasonal laborers who go above and beyond each year, thank you for your work and commitment to excellence!

Small Farm Category

SILVER

Coleman Farms: Founded in St. Paul, Oregon in 1847, Coleman Farms is a third-generation hop grower.

Sodbuster Farms: Third-generation Sodbuster Farms was established in Salem, Oregon in 1958. They have been growing hops for Yakima Chief for over 20 years.

GOLD

TV Hops: Established in Wilder, Idaho in 2016, first-generation TV Hops has been growing for YCH for 8 years. 

Cornerstone Ranches: Located in Toppenish, Washington, Cornerstone Ranches is a fifth-generation hop farm.

PLATINUM

Newhouse Farms: Established in Sunnyside, Washington in the 1940s, fourth-generation Newhouse Farms is one of our original growers. They have been delivering hops to Yakima Chief for over 30 years.

Medium Farm Category

SILVER

Brock & Phillip Obendorf Farms: The farm was established in Parma, Idaho in 1948. Brothers Brock and Phillip are third-generation hop growers and have been delivering to Yakima Chief since 2014. 

Sauve & Son Farms: One of Yakima Chief’s original hop farming families, Sauve & Son are fourth-generation hop growers. Established in Mabton, Washington in 1938, they have been growing with YCH for over 30 years.

GOLD

Van Horn Farms: Founded in Moxee, Washinton in 1904, fourth-generation Van Horn Farms are one of Yakima Chief’s original growers. They have been producing YCH hops for over 30 years.

Brulotte Farms: Now on its sixth-generation, Brulotte Farms was formally established in 1944 in Toppenish, Washington. They have been growing hops for Yakima Chief for over 30 years.

PLATINUM

Wyckoff Farms – Miller Facility: Third-generation Wyckoff Farms was established in Grandview, Washington in 1950. They have been delivering hops to Yakima Chief for over 30 years.

Large Farm Category

SILVER

Jackson Hop: First-generation Jackson Hop Farm was founded in 2008 in Wilder, Idaho. They have been delivering to Yakima Chief for 10 years.

Carpenter Ranches: Sixth-generation Carpenter Ranches was established in Granger, Washington in 1868. One of Yakima Chief Hops’ original growers, they have been delivering hops since the company’s inception 37 years ago.

GOLD

Loftus Ranches: Fourth-generation Loftus Ranches was established in Moxee, Washington in 1932. They are one of Yakima Chief Hops’ founding growers, delivering hops for 37 years.

Perrault Farms: One of the founding farms in the Yakima Chief Hops family, fifth-generation Perrault Farms was established in Toppenish, Washington in 1902. They have been delivering hops to YCH for 37 years.

PLATINUM

Double 'R' Hop Ranch: Fifth-generation Double ‘R‘ Hop Ranch was established in Harrah, Washington in 1945. They have been delivering hops to Yakima Chief for over 30 years.

 

COLEMAN FARMS - Silver, Small Farm Category

SODBUSTER FARMS - Silver, Small Farm Category

TV HOPS - Gold, Small Farm Category

CORNERSTONE RANCHES - Gold, Small Farm Category

BROCK & PHILLIP OBENDORF FARMS - Silver, Medium Farm Category

SAUVE & SON FARMS - Silver, Medium Farm Category

WYCKOFF FARMS - MILLER FACILITY- Platinum, Medium Farm Category

JACKSON HOP - Silver, Large Farm Category

LOFTUS RANCHES - Gold, Large Farm Category

PERRAULT FARMS - Gold, Large Farm Category

DOUBLE 'R' HOP RANCHES - Platinum, Large Farm Category