JAMES CROSSEN BUSINESS AWARD GOES TO FARMING FAMILY

Northumberland farmers Chris, Amy, Rod and Nancy Dejong were chosen as the recipients of this year's James Crossen Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement and contribution to the business community.

Sponsored by Alliance Security Systems of Northumberland, the prestigious award will be presented at the Business Achievement Awards at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn and Convention Centre on Friday, March 24.

The James Crossen Lifetime Achievement Award is named after James Crossen, founder of Cobourg Car Works and one of Cobourg's earliest and most successful entrepreneurs.

"It's truly an honour to receive the prestigious James Crossen Lifetime Achievement Award," said the Dejong brothers in a news release. "We proudly share this award with our families who have been instrumental in the farming operations."

Gerban and Anne Dejong purchased a farm on South Burns Road in 1966, with cashcropped corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and pigs being raised from birth to shipping weight. Today, sons Chris and Rod honour the family legacy by continuing in the agriculture industry.

Chris and his wife Amy manage the pig operation, while Rod and wife Nancy have expanded into the turkey business with the start of Knollcrest Poultry.

Third-generation Dejong cousins Trevor and Kyle, who will both be graduating this spring with a degree in agriculture, have actively been working on the farm for the last few years and look forward to contributing to the family business by managing the cash crops.

"Congratulations to the Dejong family! We're honoured to celebrate their multi-generational success in the constantly evolving agribusiness sector,"

said Ann Newell, co-chair of the Business Achievement Awards.

The Dejong family belongs to the Northumberland Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Pork

Producers, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and the turkey board.

Joel Scott will act as MC this year at the official presentation.