“Agricultural people—the farmers—don’t take time to step back and recognize the importance of organizations like Eastern States and how they bring us all together,” said Jay McCrum “They share about agriculture with the greater public—the importance of it and the positive environmental impact that supports sustainability and the way of life in America… To have someone like Eastern States recognize a family like ours is very humbling and it’s an honor of ours to be recognized. It makes us want to be more active in Eastern States.”
The McCrum family’s six generations of potato farmers began in the Northern Maine town of Mars Hill in 1886. In 1960, Dana McCrum of the family’s third generation moved the farm to its current location. Jay and David of the fourth generation of McCrums assumed ownership and operation in 1972. Their brother-in-law, Bob Lunny, was warmly welcomed into the fold when he married into the family. They presently run the farm with help from Jay’s sons, Darrell and Wade; David’s sons, Nicholas and Jonathan; and Bob’s son-in-law, Jason Woollard.
The McCrums describe themselves as stewards of the land, and they take pride in their commitment to integrity, sustainability and high standards. They collectively recognize that the current millennium is driven by continuous innovation, from enhanced crop quality to cutting-edge farming techniques to technologically advanced operational facilities. They embrace these changes and claim that adaptability is “the McCrum way.”
They serve their entire state and have optimized each stage of potato production through a system of vertical integration that ensures strict quality control to get product from field to table. In 2004, they revitalized and established business by acquiring the assets of Penobscot Frozen Food of Belfast, Maine, to form Penobscot McCrum, LLC. This merger united two far-reaching Maine-based companies to form one of North America’s leading suppliers of premium specialty potato products.
In 2019, they expanded into Aroostook County. In 2020, they opened a state-of-the-art frozen French fry facility in Washburn, Maine. In 2025, they sold the Penobscot McCrum French fry facility to McCain Foods, a global leader in prepared potato and appetizer products. The McCrums then entered into a long-term potato supply agreement with McCain’s, and their employees were absorbed into the McCain team, with McCrum’s CEO and CFO supporting the transition.
These additions allowed them to expand their offerings to better meet customer demand. Today, the farm is comprised of more than 4,500 acres of harvesting fields.
Their success is apparent in their strategic partnerships; through work with Frito-Lay, they have distinguished themselves as the largest supplier of chip potatoes on the East Coast. To secure this relationship, their product had to meet a high and meticulously maintained standard, verifying the quality and consistency of their harvest.
Their innovative farming techniques are also to be commended. During the growing process, advanced irrigation systems maximize water efficiency, precision planting and the latest harvesting equipment optimize yield, sophisticated monitoring systems ensure optimal growing conditions and pest management programs reduce chemical input.
As stewards of the land, they view environmental protection as an obligation. They implement comprehensive soil conservation practices, including cover cropping to prevent erosion and improve soil health, crop rotation strategies to maintain fertility, water quality management and reduced tillage practices to preserve soil structure.
Their storage and processing facilities are a testament to their commitment to vertical integration and value-added agriculture, and the plant strengthens the economy and generates significant employment opportunities for those in rural Maine. The family’s substantial investment in the facility’s construction reflects a total confidence in their state’s agricultural future. They are a prime example of a viable, large-scale farming operation in New England, and they have established valuable market connections for the potato industry.
This family’s impact echoes louder than Maine; Jay, David and Bob have become influential voices in respect to New England agriculture by sharing their knowledge and experience with other farmers and entrepreneurs. They host field days and educational sessions, which provide a community-wide understanding of the impact and importance of potato farming.
Additionally, the family leads by example, mentoring young farmers, advocating for rural development and agricultural infrastructure, supporting relevant research and education and participating in organizations and policy discussions that impact the future of farming. In 2001, Jay and David were recognized as the Maine Potato Board Farm Family of the Year. In 2010, they were honored with a Congressional Record.
Dana, father to Jay and David, was a longtime Mars Hill FFA Advisor. He brought countless students to The Big E during his tenure. Nearly every member of the family has represented Maine through FFA contests, as state officers or as a volunteer at the Maine booth in the Pine Tree State’s flagship building on the Avenue of States at the Fair.
Jay and David McCrum and Bob Lunny have made exceptional contributions to New England agriculture through innovation, leadership and achievement, and they have done so together with Eastern States Exposition. The family’s story is one of vision and perseverance, and these brothers—by blood, marriage and business—are deserved recipients of the Agricultural Adventurers Award.