Spotlight: Yon Family Farms in Ridge Spring South Carolina
In the heart of Ridge Spring, South Carolina where the soil is rich and the community even richer, Yon Family Farms stretches across hundreds of acres of pasture, promise, and pecan trees. More than a cattle operation, more than a business, it’s a family legacy, a living example of what can grow when faith, hard work, and love of the land come together.
Since 1996, Kevin and Lydia Yon have steadily built their dream into a reality. Through storms, seasons, and generations, the Yon’s have established deep roots and are flourishing.
How Yon Family Farms Began: A Vision Planted in Family
Kevin and Lydia, both graduates of Clemson University, shared not only a background in animal science but a deep desire to build something meaningful. With three young children and just 100 acres to their name, they poured their hearts into the soil and never looked back.
Today, the farm is home to over 1,500 Angus, SimAngus, and Ultrablack cattle, raised with care and precision for both performance and quality. Their on-farm bull and female sales draw buyers from across the country, but the Yon’s never lose sight of what matters most.
“Every decision we make comes back to family,” said Lydia. “Not just ours, but the families we serve, employ, and share this life with.”
Their grown children Sally, Drake, and Corbin now work full-time on the farm, continuing the family legacy with energy, ideas, and a deep respect for the generation before them.
How Faith Sustains the Yon Family Through Every Season
Through the years, it’s been their faith that’s held them steady. Farming, by nature, is an act of belief; planting, breeding, building, often without immediate reward.
“Faith is at the center of what we do,” Kevin says. “It’s how we begin and end every day. It’s how we weather the hard seasons.”
That faith was never more tested than in September 2024, when Hurricane Helene tore through Ridge Spring and changed the landscape, literally and emotionally.
Recovering From Hurricane Helen: Faith, Neighbors, and Strength
Hurricane Helene leveled 75% of their century-old pecan orchard in a single night. Fences crumpled. Power failed. Water tanks ran dry. And the family watched decades of work and memories fall to the ground.
“The pecan trees weren’t just part of our operation,” Lydia shared. “They were part of our story.”
But like many farm families, the Yon’s did what they’ve always done: they pulled together. With the help of neighbors, faith, and a deep well of perseverance, they began to rebuild limb by limb, fence by fence, prayer by prayer.
A Trusted Partnership: Farm Credit and the Yon Family
Throughout their journey, during both bright seasons and stormy ones the Yon’s have relied on the guidance and partnership of lenders Ben Skelley and Matt Riddle at AgSouth Farm Credit.
From their first land purchase with Ben to navigating disaster recovery after Helene with Matt, both have been trusted advisors and friends. “Matt understands our farming because he spends time with us and gets to know us on a personal level,” said Kevin. “He’s not just a lender, he’s a part of our team.”
With AgSouth’s flexible financing, tailored solutions, and unwavering support, the Yon’s have been able to expand their herd, rebuild infrastructure, and begin replanting pecan trees that their grandchildren may one day harvest.
“Farm Credit has been more than financial support, it’s been personal support,” Lydia added. “We’re grateful every day for relationships like that.”
The Yon children didn’t just grow up on the farm, they grew into it. Each one brought their education, talents, and vision back home. Whether it’s Drake planning the next sale, Sally managing communications, or Corbin estimating pecan production, the farm pulses with multi-generational purpose. Even Drake’s wife, Nicole, contributes to the family business through her grant writing skills and by running the day-to-day operations of their local retail outlet, The Nut House.
But it’s not just the Yon’s who make up the family. A loyal team of full-time employees, many who’ve been with them for years, help carry out the daily work. As Lydia says with pride, “We’re not just a family farm. We’re a farm family.”
A South Carolina Farm Rooted in Resilience and Community
The orchard is slowly returning, one sapling at a time. The fences are rebuilt. The cattle are thriving. And the Yon’s, through their faith, family, and trusted partners, continue to write a story that’s not just about farming, but about hope.
“Farming teaches you to plant for tomorrow,” Lydia said. “Even if you may not see the fruit, you plant anyway.”
Yon Family Farms is more than a success story, it’s a community cornerstone, a testament to endurance, and a shining example of what’s possible when the land is cared for by hearts rooted deeply in faith, family, and Farm Credit.