Heather Wright/The Independent

Warwick’s Birnam Orchards, Wyoming’s Scott Helps and the late Tom Lassaline of Alvinston will be inducted into the Lambton Agriculture Hall of Fame in July.

The organization announced their choices to add to the hall which already contains 24 members.

Lassaline was active in the beef industry in Lambton, and was one of the driving forces behind the Lambton Cattlemens’ Association.

He was always front and centre during the annual dinner in Alvinston. He served on the local fair board, the Lambton Farm Safety Association, the Ontario Soybean Board, including serving as its chair and led trade missions to Japan and Indonesia.

Helps has been active egg producer for 45 years, serving on Egg Farmers’ of Ontario in various capacities since 1985.

He’s also an active volunteer, acting as a catalyst with Lambton Egg Farmers on fundraisers such as Fusion for Lambton Developmental Services and the Bluewater Grandfondo for St. Joseph’s Hospice.

He’s also helped three Lambton organizations transition into the Lambton Grain Farmers.

And Birnam Orchards is being recognized for their impact on the industry.

“Birnam Orchards exemplifies the growth, innovation, and long-term vision that define exceptional agricultural enterprises in Lambton County,” says the Hall of Fame committee in a news release.

Since starting in 1985, the orchard has grown to about 375 acres with various crops and became the largest apple producer in Lambton County.

The Veens and Geerts families continue to farm over 200 acres in Warwick Township.

The families pioneered the adoption of high density orchard systems, when most fruit trees are still widely spaced. They were the first in Lambton to demonstrate the system leading to the more efficient orchard design which is now standard across Lambton.

The three will be inducted at a ceremony at the Wyoming Fairgrounds July 18.