MJF Foundation for Brewers of color made a historic visit to Yakima for 2025 Hop Harvest
In late September The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (The MJF), in partnership with Yakima Chief Hops, brought 11 awardees and one guest from the Lovibond Project to Yakima, Washington, for the annual hop harvest.
The visit marked the first time a group of MJF awardees participated in hop harvest and selection, a process central to brewing but historically reserved for brewery owners and senior brewers. For The MJF, this year’s hop harvest was more than sourcing ingredients. It was education, connection, and representation in action, showing tangible progress toward a stronger and more inclusive brewing industry.
“This trip was transformative,” said Garrett Oliver, founder of The MJF and brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery. “Hop selection is one of the most influential points in the brewing process, and being in Yakima during harvest is an experience every brewer should have. To stand in those fields with so many talented brewers of color was a glimpse of what the future of our industry can and should look like.”
An important part of The MJF’s overarching goal is to strengthen the entire beer industry by authentically developing the significant untapped potential to reach the more than 40% of Americans who identify as people of color. This massive consumer base, largely untouched by craft beer, offers a long-term growth pathway for the industry as a whole.
Purpose and Impact
Yakima Chief Hops designed the visit to introduce MJF awardees to the collaboration that happens between brewers and growers through hop harvest: sensory evaluation, constructive feedback back to the hop growers, and relationship-building. Awardees evaluated the 2025 hop crop, learned how to grade hop lots, and gained insight into the role of hop growers in shaping beer worldwide.
In addition to hands-on hop evaluation, participants toured leading farms and ranches across the Yakima Valley, including Double R Ranches, Perrault Farms, Loza Farms, Carpenter Ranches, Loftus Ranches, and Yakima Chief Ranches- an integrated crop management company that specializes in breeding new hop varieties.
“We were honored to host The MJF awardees at our farms and facilities,” said Victoria Garza, CSR Program Manager at Yakima Chief Hops. “The moments spent learning and experiencing the heart of hop country with The MJF awardees were truly invaluable. Opportunities like this connect brewers directly to the people and land behind their ingredients, fostering a deeper appreciation for the craft while reflecting the diversity of our industry. By bringing brewers and growers together, we cultivate meaningful connections that strengthen our community and inspire the future of brewing.”
Awardee Voices
Awardees described the experience as both educational and deeply personal:
“Being shown around on massive hop farms, drinking fresh hop beers in the middle of a Citra field, admiring the latest in hop science, every moment of this trip felt like a dream.” – Jocelyn Becker, Lead Brewer, Austin Beer Works, Austin, TX
“I left with a deeper understanding that the beer industry isn’t just about brewing. It’s about people, relationships, and shared purpose. Everything and everyone is interconnected, from the farmers growing the hops to the brewers crafting each batch, to the communities that enjoy the final product.” — Zack Day, Co-Founder & Director of Operations, Funkytown Brewery, Chicago, IL
“This experience has helped me to better understand growth. Seeing the soil, hands, and hearts that make hop harvest possible has inspired me to continue growing much like the hops in the very fields we visited.” — Joel Franklin, Head Brewer, Wood Foot Beer Co., Atlanta, GA
“Truly incredible work the foundation is doing of continuously providing opportunities, mentoring and connecting us within the industry.” — Juleidy Peña, Head Brewer, Notch Brewing, Salem, MA
“Thanks to The MJF and Yakima Chief Farms for flying me and 11 other amazing brewers to Yakima for hop selection. We toured hop farms, saw the processing facilities, visited breweries and wineries, and I became friends with some pretty incredible people. It was truly an experience I’ll never forget.” — Jorge Santana, Head Brewer, Brix City Brewing, Jersey City, NJ
Building Beyond Scholarships
Since its founding, more than 60 individuals have become MJF awardees, receiving technical education scholarships in brewing and distilling. Yet founder Garrett Oliver’s vision for the Foundation was always broader. From the start, he set out to go beyond scholarships, to provide experiences, mentorship, and visibility that fuel long-term professional success.
This trip to Yakima is one example of that vision in action. Others include the mentorship program that connects awardees with industry leaders, and the media training each awardee receives to help them build confidence and amplify their voices. Together, these programs prepare awardees not only to thrive in their careers, but also to help them eventually move into leadership positions where they can influence the industry.
The Foundation has also grown into a leader that creates space for others. The MJF invited the Lovibond Project, a group supporting early-career brewers, to send one of its awardees on the Yakima trip. In doing so, The MJF demonstrated that its strength now allows it to extend ladders for others to climb, serving as a platform for collaboration and growth across the industry.
About The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (The MJF) is a grant-making nonprofit that funds technical education scholarships for people of color within the brewing and distilling trades. Founded in 2020 and named in honor of legendary beer and spirits writer Michael Jackson, The MJF aims to create lasting change by investing in technical education and professional development for those historically underrepresented in these industries. To learn more, visit www.themjf.org.