Don Van Houweling started as a John Deere intern and then working in the plant. He was tasked with improving repair parts forecasting, visiting over 120 dealerships across 18 months. He developed forecasting strategies based on equipment usage and crop acreage estimates. Recognizing his entrepreneurial nature, he became a 20% junior partner with Barney Wall in Woodward, Iowa, in 1977. When Wall retired 3 years later, Van Houweling bought out the remaining ownership over 10 years.
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