Next Gen Farming

April 1, 2026

By Anna Toot

Kollyn Lentz may clock out of his sales role at Unverferth MFG Co. at 5 p.m., but his work is just beginning. Lentz has a to-do list waiting for him, including hog barn chores, keeping up with field operations and participating in Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) educational events whenever he can.

Balancing a full-time manufacturing support job with farming is no small task, but if anyone is up for it, it’s Lentz, a sixth-generation farmer in the Plainfield-Clarksville area. For him, farming isn’t a career that fits neatly within business hours — and that’s exactly how he likes it.

First Steps into Farming

Born and raised in Plainfield, Lentz grew up surrounded by agriculture, helping on his grandparents’ farm. His passion for farming evolved as he grew up, participating in FFA and 4-H at Nashua-Plainfield High School, then attending Hawkeye Community College to study agricultural business and Iowa State University (ISU) to earn his bachelor’s degree in agricultural studies.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, Lentz was a high school senior looking for something to fill his newfound free time. His neighbor, Rick Juchems, a past ISA district director, called and offered him a job on his hog farm, assisting with daily chores, including feeding, loading and everything in between.

“Long story short, now I manage two of his hog barns and rent his ground for farming,” Lentz said.

This experience led to his first foray into farming in 2021, when he rented land with his father and grandfather. 

“Even though my family farmed, it’s still tough to get started. Thankfully, when I met Rick, everything changed,” Lentz said. “I always tell young people who want to be farmers to find their niche and their way into the door however they can, whether it’s getting involved in local organizations like ISA or the Practical Farmers of Iowa, or getting to know local farmers who may be retiring soon and are looking for a young person to pass their operation onto,” Lentz said.

Currently, Lentz farms row crops in Butler and Bremer Counties alongside his father, uncle and grandfather. He doesn’t consider himself a full-time farmer, despite spending countless hours in the field.

Fortunately, his day job supports his farming dreams.

 

Beyond the Field

Lentz’s interest in manufacturing was sparked during his time at ISU, where he took courses across multiple departments, including agronomy, agricultural systems and technology and agricultural business. An internship at Unverferth, which sells agricultural equipment for fertilizer, tillage, grain handling and more, led to a full-time role starting in June 2024.

At Unverferth, Lentz provides technical support to customers and dealers, assists with product improvement programs and serves as the ears for the engineering team, providing them with field feedback on what’s working and what isn’t. 

Lentz balances two careers as well as he can, but some days are better than others. His vacation days are typically used as “farm days” to help him catch up on farmwork and operations.

“My boss is understanding, so if something comes up on the farm, I can always head over there for an hour or take an early lunch to check on it,” Lentz said. “It’s a tough balance, but flexibility is key.”

Lentz loves his day job, but his love for farming runs deep. His work as a crop scout for AgVantage FS in the summer of 2021 sparked his interest in agronomy and sustainable agricultural practices. 

“What I love about farming is that you get to do a little bit of everything. You’re not just doing one job,” Lentz said. “With farming, if you want to be a mechanic, you can be a mechanic. If you want to be an agronomist, you can be an agronomist. If you love animals, you can make that a part of your daily routine. You can make it what you want it to be.” 

 

Learning Never Stops

Despite being early in his farming career, Lentz has embraced several new practices, including cover cropping and no-till, and hopes to incorporate more cutting-edge technology on his farm in the future. No doubt he’s learned about additional conservation practices from Juchems, who grew cover crops on all his acres and added filter strips and prairie strips to conserve the precious soil and water resources. 

ISA has played a positive role in Lentz’s farming journey. As a member of ISA’s Soy Squad in college, Lentz dug deep into the soybean industry, discussing research, demand, policy and education with policymakers and other young farmers.

“The Soy Squad was really cool to be a part of,” Lentz said. “I was able to meet other great young people from different schools and better understand what ISA does.”

Looking ahead, Lentz hopes to buy a farm — which seems likely given his work ethic — and to continue growing his career at Unverferth.

As he navigates two successful careers and works toward his goals, Lentz follows his own advice.

“Keep your chin up. Times can be tough, but we must keep riding the tide and know that it will get better,” Lentz said. “Farming is my life, but it’s also my passion. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”