Coleman Agriculture’s fifth generation hop farmer, Bill Coleman, was recently awarded the prestigious International Order of the Hop award for excellence in his contributions to the industry. The award is presented by the International Hop Congress, an organization that advocates for the interests of hop growers and merchants globally. Coleman Agriculture is a sixth-generation family farm located in St. Paul, Oregon, and the largest producer of hops in the state of Oregon, cultivating over 6,500 acres of hops, hazelnuts, seed crops and a variety of vegetables which they sell directly to brokers and commercial partners.
The International Order of the Hop award was first given by John the Fearless in the 1300s. A descendant of the French Royal Family, John the Fearless wanted to honor those “who contributed to the development and prosperity of the noble plant, which is so important for beer production.”
“I’m so honored to receive this prestigious award for what has been my life-long passion,” said Coleman. “It is a true privilege to be recognized among an international group of the best hop growers and bring home the gold for all of us in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and my family at Coleman Agriculture.“
To be considered for the award, those nominated must be leading industry hop growers, brewers, teachers or drinkers of good beer. Nominations are made by hop growers and submitted to the Hop Growers of America board of directors for final selection.
Coleman began his industry career in 1964 and has since served on the Hop Growers of America Board, designed his own balers to maximize efficiency and was one of the first to utilize cooling tunnels in the storeroom to improve quality and reduce hop drying times.
“All of us at Coleman Agriculture are proud to be a part of the industry success and legacy that Bill pioneered,” said David Henze, president of Coleman Agriculture. “We’re known for the quality and diversity of our hops, and we’ll continue to cultivate his wisdom to support brewers in creating their best beers.”