The first Washington Policy Center Farm Hall of 2019 was held at Perrault Farms in Toppenish Monday, Sept. 16. Our panel featured Jeff Perrault, Jason Perrault, Steve Carpenter, and Frank Lyall discussing hops, H-2A and agricultural labor issues, food safety, farm regulations, and their concerns about Washington agriculture in front of 65 attendees from all over Washington state, including Sen. Jim Honeyford, Rep. Bruce Chandler, Rep. Jeremie Dufault, and a legislative aid from Congressman Dan Newhouse's office. After the panel discussion wrapped up, attendees were treated to personal tour of Perrault Farms by Jeff and Steve Perrault, curated beer tasting with Jason Perrault, pizza from Hoptown Pizza, and informal policy discussion with lawmakers throughout the afternoon.

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

Jeff Perrault is a fourth generation hop grower Toppenish, WA. Perrault Farms is a family farm that grows Hops and Organic Blueberries. 

In the mid 1990’s, while Jeff was attending college at CWU, the hop market’s future appeared very bleak with a depressed market and the introduction of powdery mildew. During that time period the hop industries future was questionable. Jeff chose to leave the ag industry and pursued a successful tenure in law enforcement serving the local community as a police officer, deputy sheriff, and detective for 10 years. 

In 2011, as the craft beer industry was giving the hop industry a fresh perspective, he came back to the family business. Back at the farm, Jeff started with the field crew.  Over the years his responsibilities developed into his current position, Vice President of Resources and Compliance.  Jeff believes that one should be proactive in outside issues that affect your business. He is a proponent of sustainable agriculture in terms of Economics, social impact, and environment. 

Jeff currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington Growers League and the Hop Growers of Washington. He is married to Silvey Perrault and they have three beautiful children. 

Jason Perrault is a hop breeder and farmer from the Yakima Valley in Washington State. In 2018 he was listed as one of the most influential beer drinkers in the world by Men’s Journal. He is currently CEO of both Perrault Farms and Yakima Chief Ranches. As a fourth generation farmer, Jason is deeply devoted to bringing long term sustainability and value to the hop industry through innovative breeding and management practices that will impact his family and others for generations to come. Jason became interested in plant breeding through the mentorship of the original breeder of Yakima Chief Ranches, Chuck Zimmerman. As a breeder for Yakima Chief Ranches and their partner company Hop Breeding Company, he is proud to have played an active role in the development and release of several novel hop brands including Simcoe®, Palisade®, Warrior®, Ahtanum®, Citra®, Mosaic®, Ekuanot®, Loral®, Sabro™, and Pahto™.