Our Story

A Story With Humble Beginnings.

In 1965, a 21-year old farm boy from Victor, Iowa opened his own welding shop with a small bank loan and $25 in his pocket. Everyone who knew young Jon Kinzenbaw at the time could see that he had a gifted ability for “fixing things.” However no one could have predicted that his welding business would one day grow into one of the largest, privately held agricultural equipment manufacturers in North America.

The first product Kinzenbaw manufactured and sold was a 13-knife, 30-ft anhydrous ammonia application toolbar. His first patent was for a high-clearance, variable-width moldboard plow.

In 1975, it was the urging of local farmers who wondered why a planter couldn’t be “folded up” for transport instead of loading it onto a trailer, that set Kinzenbaw’s business on a growth trajectory that continues to this day. “There is nothing more powerful than a satisfied customer. That first rear-fold planter we built, sold twenty more. Those next 20 sold an additional 80. And that's the way it happens,” Kinzenbaw says.

As business grew, Kinzenbaw bought 10 acres of land just off Interstate 80 and moved his operation to Williamsburg. Upon completing the manufacturing plant at the new location, Kinzenbaw ramped up production of his new folding toolbar. In 1976, he added a new 600-bushel auger wagon and in 1979 he added an 800-bushel model to the product line-up.

Today, Kinze is still privately held by the Kinzenbaw family and is a market leader in innovative, durable and efficient planters and grain carts. The company’s world headquarters and manufacturing facilities span over 25 acres under roof. The Kinzenbaw family continues to reinvest into the future of the company with state of the art facilities and manufacturing equipment. The company currently employs over 650 people and markets their products through a worldwide dealer network.

The Kinzenbaw family and many Kinze employees own and operate row crop farms. This brings a unique perspective to the design and manufacture of equipment. There is nothing quite like evaluating equipment through using it on your own farm. 

Growth has come from listening to customers. Farmers want their equipment to be at the forefront of innovation, taking advantage of new technologies that will maximize grower productivity.  Our people listen, then build, then test, then farm with our products and finally, build them for you.