Krystale Neitzel

Krystale and her husband Lowell run a fourth-generation farm just outside Lawrence, KS, raising corn and soybeans, and operating a small beef cattle feedlot.

The farm is in a transition phase as Krystale’s parents, Kent and Debbie Nunemaker, gradually pass the business on to Lowell and Krystale, and her brother Lyle Nunemaker and his wife Shelly. Together, they are Bismarck Farms.

For many years, Bismarck Farms operated a garden market, which provided opportunities to share stories and products from the farm directly with consumers. The market project has been phased out due the demands of a busy farm, family and off-the-farm employment, but Krystale says the farm partners are excited to grow their business in other ways, including learning more about raising bison and eventually owning their own herd.

Krystale works off-the-farm as an operations manager for a growing insurance business. In her free time, Krystale enjoys baking, cooking, writing, running, hiking, biking, arts and crafts, movies and reading. She is also involved in the Woodlawn Elementary Site Council USD 497 and American Business Women’s Association.

Krystale joined the CommonGround™ Kansas team in fall 2017. About six years ago, Krystale says she became a food label reader, wondering how companies could label a product as something it’s not. That confusion inspired her to get involved in opportunities to share firsthand stories from her farm with consumers. She believes transparency is vitally important in raising the food that we put on our dinner tables.

Expertise: Biotechnology/GMOs, Sustainability and Conservation, Family Farms vs. Corporate Farms
Ag Connections: National Corn Growers Association, Kansas Corn Corps, 4-H