Farming isn’t just work for Randy Kneebone—it’s in his blood. Randy started driving tractors before he turned ten, learning early from his father and grandfather. By age 12, he was already hauling grain with a semi-truck, legally permitted to drive within 100 miles of the family farm.
Randy’s father drove trucks, tractors, and more, while his grandfather ran a dairy farm in Lafayette, near what is now the Kneebone Open Space. Grandpa Kneebone instilled in Randy a love for hard work and farming that continues strong to this day.
Ask Randy about harvesting wheat in Colorado, and you’ll see his eyes light up and a genuine smile appear. His face carries the lines earned through laughter and long hours under the Colorado sun. Randy is the kind of person for whom a handshake is all you need to seal a deal—his word is his bond. It’s refreshing in today’s world to work with someone who values honesty, integrity, and hard work. Doing business with Randy feels like stepping back in time—in the best way possible.
In Randy’s words:
“Farming and harvesting just get in your blood. It’s not about the money. There’s something special about it—I love it. At the end of a long day, I know the hard work goes directly to feeding people.”
The wheat harvested by Randy Kneebone Excavating and Trucking, Inc. (RK Excavation) goes directly to grain mills in the Denver area. From there, it becomes bread, pasta, and flour. Brands like Oroweat and Wonder Bread use wheat grown right here in Colorado.
The Kneebone Farm and Open Space Legacy
The Kneebone family farm once spanned about 260 acres around what is today Kneebone Open Space, at the corner of Arapahoe Road and North 111th Street. This dairy and wheat farm traces back to Randy’s great-grandparents, George and Eliza Kneebone, who settled here in 1890. The family continued farming on that land well into the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In 1997, the City of Lafayette acquired approximately 30 acres of that land to create Kneebone Open Space. The property offers panoramic views of the Front Range and features a network of trails that connect to nearby Rothman Open Space, Bob Burger Recreation Area, and the Great Bark Dog Park.
Today, visitors enjoy walking, running, biking, and wildlife viewing in this beautifully preserved patch of prairie that honors the Kneebone farming legacy.
Preserving Boulder County’s Farming Heritage
The Kneebone story is deeply tied to the broader history of farming in Boulder County. Randy’s great-grandparents first established the family farm that became Kneebone Open Space, and his grandparents farmed there through the mid-20th century.
On his mother’s side, the Clyncke family helped shape Boulder’s agricultural history. Andre Clyncke emigrated from Belgium in 1886 and, in 1905, purchased 80 acres in Boulder County. The farmstead stayed in the family for nearly a century, remaining active until the late 1990s.
Nearby, the Stingle (Stengel) Farmstead on 75th Street stands as another testament to the area’s farming past. Preserved today under Boulder County Open Space, it remains a visible reminder of the pioneering families who first turned prairie into farmland.
Together, the Kneebone, Clyncke, and Stingle farmsteads form a living mosaic of Boulder County’s agricultural heritage—a story of resilience, family, and stewardship that continues through Randy’s work today.
About RK Excavation | Colorado Wheat and Corn Harvesting
RK Excavation operates a fleet of John Deere equipment, including combines, tractors, grain carts, semi-trucks, and grain trailers. Throughout July and August, you’ll find us harvesting wheat on thousands of acres around our home base in Fort Lupton, Colorado. We’re also available for fall harvesting needs such as corn and more.
Contact us today at 720-575-2426 or email info@rkexcavationco.com.
We look forward to working with you.