MEET JENTZSCH-KEARL FARMS
About Us
Jentzsch Kearl Farms got its humble start when Rod Jentzsch set out to make his mark on the world. With only a few hundred acres of borrowed land, a handful of employees, and tenacious determination, Rod began building his farm. In 1986, Rod partnered with Joe Kearl, and Jentzsch Kearl Farms was born. The two proved to be an unstoppable duo as the strengths of each partner melded into a successful business. Together, they developed one of the most extensive farms in the Magic Valley.
Now farming in seven counties across southern Idaho, Jentzsch Kearl Farms is dedicated to being good stewards of the land while producing the highest quality potatoes and sugar beets in the region. We strive to provide our employees with a safe and encouraging place to work and to be positive contributors in each of the communities that we farm in.
Our Timeline
Jentzsch Kearl Farms History
1986 – Joe Kearl and Rod Jentzsch partner together and create Jentzsch Kearl Farms
1986 – First potato crop is grown
1995 – Constructed our Main shop
2002 – Expanded to Lincoln County
2006 – Started farming in Gooding County
2006 – Planted first tree crop
2008 – Started farming in Cassia County
2011 – Created an entity for the tree farm: Teton Trees
2013 – Became a partner in Mart Produce
2018 – Expanded to Owhyee and Elmore Counties
2019 – Added Hagerman Canyon Farms
2019 – Became board managed
2023 – Expanded into Twin Falls County
Board Ran and Directed
Board of Directors:
James Price - Board Member - CQO Officer at ClearWater Analytics
James is the Chief Quality Officer at Clearwater Analytics. He is responsible for driving quality throughout this successful organization via controls, automation, improved testing, and advanced reporting. James brings unmatched expertise in problem solving through data analysis. Prior to his time at Clearwater, James excelled as a Software Engineer at Hewlett Packard and a Senior Software Developer at CQG. His 21+ years of experience in software engineering brings a fresh perspective to both challenges and opportunities at Jentzsch Kearl Farms.
James has a unique ability to teach and lead others and has proved to be a mentor for many. He has an incredible ability to both influence and tactfully direct his team to obtain needed results. He readily sees those he works/associates with as members of a team and creates an environment where they feel appreciated and valued.
Damon Jentzsch - Board Chairman - Vice President of Technology at Tree Source
Damon Jentzsch is a highly accomplished professional, renowned for his expertise in the field of technology and his significant contributions to the Jentzsch Kearl Companies. As the Chairman of the organization, Damon brings a wealth of experience and a passion for innovation to his leadership role.
Damon’s journey began with a strong educational foundation, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He then embarked on a remarkable 10-year career as a software engineer, honing his skills and making a notable impact across various industries. His exceptional programming abilities led him to develop software solutions for esteemed companies such as CBS, Starbucks, and Apple, among others.
In 2017, driven by a desire to contribute to his family’s legacy, Damon returned to the Jentzsch Kearl Companies. Currently serving as the Vice President of Technology, he plays a pivotal role in overseeing a dedicated team responsible for designing and implementing customized software solutions. With a particular focus on optimizing inventory management and facilitating seamless operations, Damon’s contributions have been instrumental in the company’s ability to handle an impressive annual sales volume of over 50 million dollars for their tree farms and nurseries.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Damon finds great joy in spending quality time with his wife and three daughters. He appreciates the outdoors and engages in various activities, including cycling, water skiing, snow skiing, and recently, he has taken up Taekwondo as a means of further personal growth and self-discipline.
Jeff Newgard - F&A Committee Chair – Board Member - Chairman, President & CEO of Bank of Idaho
Jeff Newgard joined Bank of Idaho as President & CEO in July of 2015. This position brought him back to his roots in community banking following a short tenure as Regional President at Home Street Bank, following that institution’s acquisition of Yakima National Bank, where he had also served as President & CEO. Mr. Newgard, who has held several leadership positions in community banking since 1998, is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Walla Walla College, as well as an MBA from Washington State University. Jeff is an active volunteer with many local & regional non-profits, serving as the Area 5 Committee Chair of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Director with Idaho’s Oldest Rodeo, the War Bonnet Roundup, and as a member of the Special Committee on Cyber Security with Independent Community Bankers of America, to name a few.
Duane Grant - G&C Committee Chair – Board Member - CEO of Grant 4D Farms
A native of the “Famous Potatoes” state, Duane Grant is the President & CEO of Grant 4-D Farms LLC, a diversified irrigated row crop farm located on the Snake River plain of southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Mr. Grant’s farm products include seed, fresh & process potatoes, onions, sugar beets, malt barley, corn, alfalfa hay and wheat, and holds an interest in a commercial dairy in Idaho. Mr. Grant has held various leadership positions in the sugar industry including serving as the Chairman of the Board for Amalgamated Sugar Company from 2008 to 2019 and serving 15 years on the Sugar Industry Biotechnology Council. Mr. Grant is a recognized expert in agricultural biotechnology, having served 5 years as a member of the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture, and as a Stakeholder representing agricultural producers on the Pew Foundation Initiative for Food and Biotechnology Stakeholder Forum. Mr. Grant was a founding member of the wheat industry Joint Biotechnology Committee and in 2003 was named as an Eisenhower Foundation Agriculture Fellow to study implications of agricultural biotechnology within the European Union. Mr. Grant also served as the US Agricultural Producer representative on the 2003 German Marshal Fund project “The Transatlantic Relationship: The Hunger Crisis in Southern Africa, and Genetically Modified Food.”
Mr. Grant has been an invited speaker before numerous international audiences including the International Sugar Organization, the Commodity Classic, the Russian Grain Union, the American Sugar Beet Growers Association, the Cotton Council, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and the World Beet and Cane Growers Association.
Lance Archibald - Board Member - President & CEO of HomeStat Farms
Lance received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Brigham Young University and his M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.
He currently lives in Heber City, UT with his wife and three children.
Meet The Team
