BATTLE CREEK, Mich., July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, Cheez-It crackers - the little cracker with big cheese taste - saluted one of America's "big cheeses" by commissioning a cheese carving of patriotic significance, known as The Cheez-It Big Cheese(TM). This year, to commemorate the bicentennial year of Abraham Lincoln's birth, master cheese carver Troy Landwehr created his tallest Big Cheese statue to date: a life-sized rendering of America's 16th president.

At 6-feet, 4-inches tall, Lincoln is truly one of America's "biggest cheeses" - he still holds the record as the tallest U.S. President. Using a 1,000-pound block of Wisconsin cheddar cheese, Landwehr carved a rendering of Lincoln that measured 6-feet, 8-inches tall: Lincoln in a standing position, complete with his famous top hat.

The Cheez-It Big Cheese carving of life-sized Lincoln was on display at 2215 Constitution Avenue N.W. (between 22nd Street N.W. and 23rd Street N.W.) in Washington, D.C. - in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial - from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on July 3, to kick-off the Independence Day holiday weekend. Patriots and cheese enthusiasts alike had the opportunity to visit The Cheez-It Big Cheese carving of Lincoln, take photographs with the life-sized replica, and sample Cheez-It crackers.

"We are honored to help Americans celebrate the July 4th holiday each year with The Cheez-It Big Cheese carving," said Scott Hamric, senior director, brand marketing, Kellogg Company. "Cheez-It crackers bring the big cheese taste baked into each little bite, so it seemed fitting for the brand to tip our hat this year to our nation's 'biggest' president during his bicentennial year."

In 2007, The Cheez-It Big Cheese debuted with Landwehr's intricate masterpiece of the presidential portraits on Mount Rushmore, created from a 700-pound block of cheddar cheese. The Mount Rushmore carving was named one of the "Quirkiest Stories of 2007" by PARADE magazine. The 2008 Cheez-It Big Cheese carving was even larger: a replica of John Trumbull's iconic painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, created from a one-ton block of cheese.

About Kellogg Company

With 2008 sales of nearly $13 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. The Company's brands include Kellogg's(R), Keebler(R), Pop-Tarts(R), Eggo(R), Cheez-It(R), All-Bran(R), Mini-Wheats(R) , Nutri-Grain(R), Rice Krispies(R), Special K(R), Chips Deluxe(R), Famous Amos(R), Sandies(R), Bear Naked(R), Kashi(R), MorningStar Farms(R), Gardenburger(R) and Stretch Island(R). Kellogg products are manufactured in 19 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit www.kelloggcompany.com. Kellogg Company's Corporate Responsibility report including its approach, progress and future direction in the marketplace, workplace, environment and community can be found at www.kelloggcompany.com/CR. For information on Kellogg Company's commitment to nutrition, visit www.kelloggnutrition.com.

SOURCE Kellogg Company