David Jaindl, owner and president of Jaindl Farms, Jaindl Turkey Sales, Jaindl Land Company, and Schantz Orchards, all of Orefield, has been chosen to receive the 2013 Associates Award from the Associates of Cedar Crest College during the Associates Luncheon, noon March 6, Tompkins College Center.

Jaindl served on the Cedar Crest College Board of Trustees 2005 - '10. During his tenure, he participated in the transition from president Dorothy Gulbenkian Blaney to president Carmen Twillie Ambar.

"It's a great honor. When you look at the past recipients, which include some of the most accomplished individuals in the Lehigh Valley, it's certainly humbling," said Jaindl, who has had several family members attend Cedar Crest including sisters, Alice Jaindl Brown '79 Nursing and Cathy Jaindl-Leuthe '83 Management.

Jaindl is a trustee for the Jaindl Foundation. In 2006, he co-founded the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley, which provides a baseball field where nearly 300 physically and mentally challenged children and adults play annually. In 2011, he and wife, Jackie, chaired Lehigh Valley Health Network's Children's ER fund-raising campaign.

Jaindl Farms was founded by David Jaindl's father, Fred, and grandfather, John L. Jaindl, in the early 1930s. John managed the farm until the 1980s, when David stepped in to manage the farm operations upon his grandfather's passing.

The company has expanded to an operation that provides nearly one million turkeys. Jaindl distributes turkeys from Maine to Florida, and for the first time in 2012, distributed fresh turkeys to Arizona, Colorado and California. Jaindl now exports to Japan and the Dominican Republic.

Jaindl Farms largely remains a family business. Jaindl's sister, Cathy, nephew, John Jr., and sons, Adam and Jake, work full-time for the company. His wife, Jackie, mother, Anne, and siblings Alice, Mary and John all help out part-time or on a seasonal basis. His three younger children, Luke, Josh and Joanna help out when not attending school.

In addition to the thriving turkey business, the family farms 11,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and organic grains. Jaindl also has a 300-acre orchard where he annually produces apples, peaches, plums and cherries.

Jaindl has been responsible for land development in the Lehigh Valley, including residential, commercial and industrial projects. This includes Lehigh Valley West Industrial Parks in Upper Macungie Township, home of such established companies as Nestle, Perrier, Bridgestone-Firestone, Coca-Cola, and soon to be the home of Ocean Spray.