Western Sugar Cooperative recently recognized the Kuntz family of Custer, MT, as their “Growers in the Spotlight.” The Kuntz family are fifth-generation farmers (soon to be sixth) on a piece of land first cultivated by Vincent Kuntz in 1926. It has since been passed down through generations-from Vincent to Adam, then to Edwin, followed by Cody, and now Chad. Soon, Chad’s son, Trent, will carry on the tradition, marking him the sixth generation to farm this land.

Today, Chad and his wife, Holly, along with Cody and his wife, Susan, operate the nearly 100-year-old family farm, which spans close to 4,000 acres. On this land, they farm about 1,400 acres of sugar beets, 850 acres of corn, 600 of barley, and more. The farm’s success is driven by all of the people who help keep it running, including six of Cody’s grandchildren, four full-time farmhands, and more who help during harvest. The Kuntz family attributes much of their success to maintaining a dedicated and happy crew, some of whom have been part of the operation since 2007. Chad says, “Our crew is great, and we couldn’t do it without them.” Holly plays a major role as well, serving as the farm’s bookkeeper and operating the defoliator during harvest. Farming is a demanding job, but the Kuntz family takes pride in handling all of their own maintenance work. Chad attended diesel school in Arizona, and Trent is currently attending in Laramie, Wyoming, preparing to continue the tradition when he comes back north.

As shareholders of Western Sugar Cooperative, the Kuntz family is even more motivated to do the best job possible. They collaborate with their neighbors and always root for each other’s success. “The better our neighbors do, the better we do,” they say, recognizing the collective voice they have in the industry. A good harvest for everyone means more financial security and a stronger start to the next year.

For Cody, Susan, Chad and Holly the highlight of the year is harvest time – specifically, digging that last beet out of the ground. After months of hard, nonstop work, they can finally relax, especially if they’ve had a successful season. In an industry that never stops, they take great pride in the satisfaction of finishing the job.

This tight-knit family has only grown closer through working together. They’ve even talked about what they would do if they could go anywhere in the world, without money or time as an issue. They unanimously agree that they would stay right where they are, and continue building their farm. This family’s bond and dedication exemplify their deep commitment to their land, their community, and, most importantly, their family.

About the Author

Kaitlin Crawford oversees sales and marketing initiatives for Western Sugar Cooperative. She first served as the cooperative’s Marketing and Health and Wellness Representative and then transitioned to sales in 2015. Kaitlin previously worked at the U.S. Olympic Training Center with the Weightlifting Team as their public relations and marketing representative.