In 1955 a 270-acre dairy farm was purchased by the Derks family in Chesterville, ON, forming the foundation of what has become Derks Farms Inc. and Derks Elevator Inc.

 

In 1978 Gary purchased the farm from his father and made the transition from dairy farming to cash cropping (corn).

 

Gary added soybeans to the cash crop rotation and expanded farming and storage operations until the functions were divided into the two separate businesses we see today.

 

Gary then introduced Soybean Roasting and Soybean Crushing within Derks Elevator Inc., producing roasted soybeans, soybean meal, soybean hulls and soybean oil for farmers and other businesses in Ontario and Quebec.