Work hard. Play Hard.
That’s our motto. Well, maybe not officially, but just ask any of our crew. Farming takes a lot of patience, a lot of early mornings and late nights, and a lot of faith. But it also gives us the chance to play with big machinery, to take tractor rides with our children and friends, and to feed our community.
The BDFC team includes some of the best folks around. Some have worked for us for more than twenty years, some have joined us just for the season. Regardless, being a part of the crew here is a great opportunity for farmers looking to work on a top-tier farm.
Benjamin Riensche | Owner & Manager
Ben owns and manages every aspect of BDFC’s crop production, from applications to planting and harvesting, from marketing to delivery. Ben has been farming as the Blue Diamond Farming Company since 1993. Prior to this, Ben attended Jesup High School and served as Jesup FFA President from 1978-1979. He then went on to Iowa State University, where he graduated in 1984 with a degree in Ag Business. He is a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Afterward, he earned his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1989. Between school and farming, he worked for Wells Fargo Bank and the United Bank of Switzerland in their Wall Street, Chicago, and Basel, Switzerland offices. In 1994, Ben was chosen for an Eisenhower Fellowship. It was then that he moved to Hungary to use his banking and farm management skills in aiding local officials in adjusting to free trade. In 2001, Ben won the Farm Journal Top Producer of the Year award. Ben continues to run BDFC today using innovative and cutting-edge technology and management practices.
Lisa Riensche | Owner & Manager
Lisa and Ben first met when they were at Jesup High School, and they’ve been together ever since. Lisa attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1985 with a degree in Elementary Education/Special Education. She is a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She was a teacher at Phenix Elementary in West Des Moines, Iowa from 1985 until 1989. Afterward, she taught at Wescott Elementary in Northbrook, Illinois from 1990 until 1993. After moving back to Jesup, Iowa, Lisa was elected to the Jesup Community School District Board of Directors. She has served on the school board since 1999 and is currently board president. She also helps out with the high school Future Farmers of America (FFA) program and received an Honorary Membership Award at the chapter’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2010. Additionally, Lisa is a member of the Allen Hospital Foundation Board. She and her family are active members of the Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa. There, she volunteered for Vacation Bible School and was a Confirmation guide. Lisa and Ben celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2019.
Lauren, Hannah, Hans, & Faith | The 6th Generation
As shown: Lisa & Ben Riensche, Faith Riensche, Grace & Hans Riensche, Hannah & Mike Hammes, Lauren Riensche & Luke Gosse
The Crew | BDFC’s Elite
In addition to the Riensche family, there is a great group who help the Blue Diamond Farming Company to run every day. From driving grain carts, to fixing broken cultivator shanks, to putting the new crop in the ground, this team can do it all.
Blue Diamond Farming Company 