Drake Yon of Ridge Spring, South Carolina represented the Angus breed at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) 2026 Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC), May 28 through June 4. Annually, the Angus Foundation selects and sponsors a young Angus breeder to attend the conference.
Yon and 70 other passionate individuals were selected to be part of the 2026 YCC class. During the conference, attendees from across the nation began in Denver, starting at the NCBA office and concluded the trip in Washington, D.C., with a stop at Capitol Hill. Stops along the way highlighted all aspects of the beef industry from start to finish. Location visits included Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Empirical Foods, Tyson Foods beef plants and Certified Angus Beef.
“Getting to experience the event with 70 other people that are just as passionate about the beef business as I am, and that experience the same challenges I do, was the most gratifying part,” Yon said.
YCC is an opportunity for cattlemen of all different agricultural backgrounds and interests to come together to share experiences and dive deeper into aspects of the industry.
The opportunity to attend is especially meaningful for Yon and his family. His mother, Lydia Yon, was the first-ever YCC scholarship recipient when the program launched in 2003. Today, her son’s selection represents not only personal achievement, but also a powerful continuation of that legacy, highlighting how the program’s impact can span generations.
Yon is well versed in both involvement and history within the Angus breed. Yon, his wife and children reside in Ridge Spring, South Carolina, home to Yon Family Farm. What started as a leap of faith from his parents has quickly transformed into a successful operation.
Yon shares that one of his greatest joys is working alongside his parents, wife and siblings as they manage their Angus cattle operation. Additionally, Yon Family Farm serves as a Certified Angus Beef® Ranch to Table™ program and owns a retail store to market local beef and pecan products from their orchard.
“At almost every stop, I got to see the impact Angus has on the beef industry as a whole, not just for us Angus breeders,” Yon shared. “The Certified Angus Beef tour made me proud of our breed and the people that we have working inside it.”
Yon continued, “I’m so thankful to the Angus Foundation for the opportunity and the Association as a whole for entrusting me to represent the breed,” he expressed. “Don’t let the cows at home keep you from doing something that’s going to be impactful for the rest of your life.”
The Angus Foundation annually selects a young cattleman to represent the breed at the conference through a competitive application process, with a strong emphasis on leadership experience and active involvement in the American Angus Association® and the broader beef industry. The chosen representative’s trip is fully funded by the Angus Fund, which provides vital, unrestricted support for the Foundation’s mission to advance Angus education, youth development and research.
“Drake Yon brings a genuine commitment to the Angus breed, and we’re thrilled to see him step into this year’s YCC experience,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “Opportunities like this help shape the next generation of industry leaders, and we’re grateful for the donors whose support makes it possible for young cattlemen, like Drake, to grow, connect and lead with purpose.”
Applications to represent the Angus breed at the 2027 YCC will open December 1, 2026, and will be due January 1, 2027, of the upcoming year. To learn more about this opportunity and the work of the Angus Foundation, visit www.AngusFoundation.org.
