John Young, son of longtime CEO Dan Young, steps into leadership at Young’s Jersey Dairy

At Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm in Yellow Springs, autumn means a few things. Of course, the new chill in the air ushers in with it corn mazes and pumpkins and perhaps a few specialty food items. But this year, fall brought with it not just seasonal activities but a new CEO of Young’s. John Young, son of Dan Young, the CEO of Young’s for the past 48 years, will take over.

While John is entering the role of CEO for the first time, he has been helping out with the family business since he was a teenager.

“I’ve grown up here all my life, done all the things that the farm has to offer at least once,” he says.

“I helped Dan build our first website in ‘97 when I was 16 with Microsoft Front Page,” he says. However, it was this interest in business and marketing that led him to believe that his place may be elsewhere. Earlier in his career, having first moved away from Yellow Springs, he began his own digital marketing firm, Shout It Out Design, which now serves Young’s.

As he starts to lead the family business, he says it comes with some weight, as he will be responsible for a project that his family has been working on for ages. However, unlike most jobs, the pressure doesn’t come from difficulty.

“It’s a very easy job because all we do is serve smiles. It’s impossible to be sad with an ice cream cone in your hand,” he says. “[On the other hand] it’s quite a legacy that we have. I mean, we are one of the most recognized brands, at least in the state. So to continue that tradition, there is a little bit of pressure on your shoulders. But I know we’ve got an amazing team, both our employees and our family leadership. We’ve all been doing this for quite some time.”

Since the farm is no stranger to change—the farm opened in 1869—John Young has always sought to bring the farm into the future, from helping the farm start its first website in the ‘90s to helping the farm open its first year-round activity, a carousel. John’s goal to create an ever-evolving farm will continue during his time as CEO. Currently, the dairy farm is working on launching a non-dairy ice cream. Additionally, John says that he hopes to continue adding more year-round activities.

Beyond these more surface-level changes, John says that, in the coming years, the farm will have to undergo significant changes to meet needs that have changed in recent years.

“We’ve got some ideas there that are not really [ready] to get out into the world. But that’s our next jump, because our farming Youngs are getting old and they don’t want to milk cows twice a day.”

Those at the company are excited about John’s new role. Working with him for decades now, they are familiar with his abilities.

“I have watched John grow and develop into a confident leader through the tutelage of an inspiring boss and father. John is a great fit for leading this organization and continuing the traditions of Young’s brand,” Brian Patterson, director of hospitality at the farm, says. “John exemplifies a desire for continued growth of the brand, development of the staff and management, self-development and attention to detail that will only ensure a more memorable experience for generations to come.”

It was this trust in John that led the company board to choose him. But just because he was chosen as leader doesn’t mean that the job is a one-man show. John highlights that his new role means he is just as likely to scoop ice cream in the shop as he is to make decisions in a conference room.

“It’s what we talk about all the time. It’s the next man up or next woman up situation over here. If something needs to get done, whether you’re me and you have to dip ice cream for a little while, or whether you’re in the barn and you need to help get the carousel moving again, whoever’s around and there’s something that needs to get done, we all hop in and do it.”

Dan Young, John’s father, is also excited about what this new era of Young’s Jersey Dairy means for the future, although he feels reassured to whom he is passing the baton.

“The transition process has been multiyear, with thoughts to make it transparent and smooth for our staff, the businesses we work with and our guests,” says Dan Young. “An unusual qualification is that John is 43 [but] he has 30 years’ experience working at Young’s. His understanding of Young’s mission will serve our company and our community well for decades to come.”

With his decades-long experience and eye toward the future—and a uniquely robust support system— John hopes to keep his family business as an entertainment hub in the Dayton region. While vegan ice cream and new attractions may be on the horizon, John hopes to continue to honor the tradition of Young’s Jersey Dairy to make his time as CEO a successful one.

“[This new job], it’s exciting,” John says. “We’ve got quite a legacy here, not just for our employees, but we’ve got fourth and fifth-generation customers. So to be able to continue the legacy and the traditions that people have are great.”