Registered Charolais Herd
Harvesting Corn
Digging Potatoes
This is part of our 4th generation. God Bless the USA!
Members of the Lenz Family actively involved on the farm. Our family size doubles if everyone is added. 156 members and counting!
Lenz Farms is a diversified multi-generational crop and livestock farm that operates out of Wray, Colorado. Lenz Farms is owned and operated by partners: Mike Lenz, George Lenz II, Marty Buoy, Brian Meisner, Bevan Lenz, Corwin Lenz, Russell Heier and Matt Lenz. Together, along with seven full time employees, we farm 5000 acres of irrigated sand hills farm land, 1200 acres of dry land ground and run cattle on 5500 acres of prime sand hill grassland. Crops grown include: corn, wheat, edible beans and potatoes. The potato operation, operating under the name Lenz Family Farms, is enhanced by a wash and packing shed that allows Lenz Family Farms to provide a complete line of yellow fleshed potatoes for re-packers and retailers across the nation. Lenz Farms also has registered Charolais cattle herd that operates under the name Sand Creek Charolais. The unique difference of Lenz Farms is that all partners are working partners that have day to day responsibilities. From checking sprinklers to fixing equipment, you can find any of the partners with their hands dirty and their wheels turning. During harvest, ”busy”, is an understatement. Harvesters, trucks, combines, tractors, the wash shed, and the office are humming along at a brisk pace, trying to beat the weather and winter. However, even when things are busy, we all try to make time for anyone who drops in with a question or a request. “PEOPLE ARE OUR PRIORITY” is more than a slogan, it is the reason that we do what we do!
Our family has continued to increase in number since this picture was taken in 2013. We are blessed!
How We Got Here
George Sr. and Betty Lenz (our 1st Generation Farmers) grew up in western Kansas, where they were high school sweethearts. They married and relocated to northern Colorado in 1953. George took the opportunity to work as a hired hand on several farms near Greeley, Colorado. During their time in the Greeley area, George and Betty had eight children and moved up to share crop farmer status. It was during this period that George developed his love for potatoes and raised fresh potatoes for the Denver area and chipping potatoes for the Red Seal and Clover Club.
In 1973, during the development of the Ogallala Aquifer, they made the monumental decision to uproot and move to Eastern Colorado and become landowners near Wray, Colorado. Over the years, as their 8 children finished school, they were afforded the option of joining Lenz Farms, with their dad. Ultimately, four of the eight children partnered up with the farm. Over the next 30 years, Mike, Jim, Rod and George Jr (2nd Generation Farmers), along with George Sr, grew the farm from one marginal center pivot, to over 5000 acres. Lenz Farms diversified into corn and dry bean, commercial and registered cattle production, along with their potato production. They have grown spuds for Frito Lay, Red Seal and just about every potato repacker in the United States.
In 2001, the Lenz Family created Lenz Family Farms and started their own packing shed. 2006 saw the first of the 3rd generation as partners, with Marty Buoy joining the farm. This was followed by Brian Meisner, Corwin Lenz, Bevan Lenz, Russell Heier and Matt Lenz joining in the following years.
George Sr. passed away in 2013, leaving the operation in the excellent hands of his four sons and several of their children and spouses. To date, there are seven 3rd generation Lenz Family members involved in the operation. In addition to the above mentioned partners, Nolan Lenz is our Packing Shed manager and Darth Lenz manages and farms a satellite farm in Northern Nebraska. Rod and Jim have recently retired, but continue to share insight and labor during the busy season. As the third generation assumes its leadership role in Lenz Farms and Lenz Family Farms, the George Lenz Legacy of integrity, work ethic and shared value system continues to provide nutrition for the great nation.
Blessed does not even begin to describe what we have.