About Us
ROD LAKE
Rod started farming in 1988 with 22 acres of potatoes. He rented the ground from a local farmer who had hand lines for irrigation. His two
friends (later business partners) did all the field work, planting and harvesting. This was a time before norkotahs and so Rod grew Burbanks and killed them early to get on the early fresh market. That year his potatoes went about 350 cwt and Rod got $8.00 dollars/cwt. He thought that was a good deal and good money so he kept expanding and by 1998 was growing 1000 acres of potatoes and 1000 acres of grain.
However, the tides turned and they had a terrible year and couldn’t pay back the bank with only $1.47/cwt for the entire crop. Luckily Rod didn't have all his eggs in one basket and had started a crop consulting business in 1986 and was doing that at the same time he was farming. In 1999, Rod and his friends Robert Tominaga & Jerry Tominaga started growing fingerling potatoes under the name of Southwind Farms. This business grew and provided some income as well as crop consulting business. Over
time they got back on their feet and currently are involved in over 3000
acres of potatoes. They own the original 22 acres that Lake Ag was started on.
In 2013, Rod's son, Braden, joined the operation and he takes care of the day today responsibilities. They share marketing duties and Rod primarily takes care of the agronomics of the farm. We love growing potatoes for the fresh, processing and chip markets.
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208-431-1170
BRADEN LAKE
Braden is a 2nd generation potato grower. He was raised on his family's farm and learned much from his dad. After serving a religious mission in Minas Gerais, Brasil, Braden returned and began studying at Utah State University. While at Utah State, he met his wife, Katie. Although Katie did grow up in agriculture on a small dairy farm in Kamas, Utah; transitioning to the wife and life of a potato grower was a significant change to what she had experienced growing up on a dairy farm.
In 2013, Braden graduated from Utah State with a Bachelor Degree in Applied Economics and Finance. He and Katie moved back to Rupert, ID to work with his dad at Lake Ag. Since then Braden & Katie and Lake Ag have continued to grow and evolve. They now have 2 boys and a little girl.
With Braden's youthful energy, he has been able to help Rod in growing Lake Ag’s operation and expanding to new markets. Braden thrives on trying new things and developing relationships that will last for many years. His youthful background in business and finance synergizes well with Rod’s decades of potato production experience and agronomic expertise.
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208-260-2258