Brian Wolken

Like many in agriculture, Brian Wolken was born and raised on a farm. By age 10, he was helping anywhere he could with his family’s Jones County operation. But Brian’s path to farming wasn’t traditional. He spent many years abroad doing jobs ranging from working at a salmon hatchery in Ireland to growing hops in New Zealand. After some persuasion from his grandfather, Brian moved back to Monticello in 2012 to once again become a part of their third-generation farm.

Operating 300 of his family’s 2,000 acres, Brian has worked hard to put conservation at the forefront. After seeing the care farmers put into their ground in Europe, Brian wanted to follow suit. He now practices no-till and plants cover crops on 100% of his acres. Brian admits that making changes on the farm can be intimidating, but notes that many of these practices need time to reveal their benefits. The greatest challenge is taking the first steps in breaking the mold and taking risks to increase conservation on the farm.

Brian hopes to carry on the tradition of farming that he inherited from his grandfather. Being the third generation to work the land, Brian is proud to add diversity back to the landscape and leave the farm in better condition for younger generations.

Building a Culture of Conservation: 

“I just want to leave things better than I find them. That’s something that my grandma and grandpa were pretty proud of. Sometimes it’s hard work, sometimes it’s contributing to a project.”

Contact Information

Brian Wolken
321 E 3rd Street, Monticello, IA 52310
319-480-3175
brianrwolken@gmail.com