Kinze Manufacturing Founder Showcases Lifelong Passion for Vintage Tractors
Jon Kinzenbaw, founder and CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kinze Manufacturing in Iowa, is widely recognized across agriculture for building one of the most respected equipment companies in the world. From the iconic blue grain carts to innovative planters used globally, Kinze Manufacturing has become synonymous with quality and farmer-focused design. But beyond the machinery bearing the Kinze name, Kinzenbaw is also known for another lifelong passion: vintage tractors.
Long before Kinze Manufacturing became a household name in agriculture, Kinzenbaw was a young entrepreneur operating out of a modest machine shop not much bigger than a single-car garage. It was during those early years that many in farm media first met him, when his ideas were big but his operation was small. Throughout that journey, one thing never changed—his love for tractors.
Kinzenbaw has been a “tractor guy” since his youth, collecting vintage and classic tractors for decades. That passion grew alongside his business success, eventually resulting in a collection that numbers more than 600 tractors. The collection spans multiple brands, eras, and designs, reflecting the history and evolution of American farm machinery.
Recently, Kinzenbaw made the decision to part ways with a small portion of his expansive collection, offering select tractors at auction. While only a handful were sold, the interest was strong, and two tractors clearly stood out as top sellers.
One of the highlights was a 1971 John Deere 4020, a model long considered one of the most popular and versatile tractors ever produced. Also drawing attention was a custom-designed monster truck tractor created by Kinzenbaw himself, showcasing not only his collecting passion but also his engineering creativity. Rounding out the top sellers was a 1969 Massey Ferguson 1130, another powerful and highly regarded tractor from a golden era of farm equipment manufacturing.
Despite the auction results, Kinzenbaw’s tractor story is far from over. With hundreds of tractors still in his possession, the collection remains one of the most extensive private vintage tractor assortments in the country. For Kinzenbaw, tractors are more than machines—they represent innovation, history, and the foundation of modern agriculture.
While Kinze Manufacturing continues to push forward with new technology, its founder’s deep respect for the past remains evident, preserved in steel, paint, and engines that helped shape farming as it is known today.
Audio Reporting by Mark Oppold for Southeast AgNet.