JON E. KINZENBAW - Founder and Owner of Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
In 1965 at 21 years of age, with five dollars in his checkbook, a $3,655 loan from the local bank and a wagon-load of confidence and determination, a young man named Kinzenbaw starts a welding and repair shop in Ladora, Iowa. The $500 loan covered the down payment on a $2,000 block building and the balance was used to gather together the tools and equipment needed for his trade.
Today, just a few short decades later, that small investment has evolved into one of the largest, most progressive, privately-held equipment manufacturers in agriculture.
Jon Kinzenbaw was born and raised on a farm in Iowa County (IA). His mother was a country school teacher and his father, a hardworking farmer. Early on, it became quite evident that young Jon "liked fixing things" around the farm. And, his teachers were not that far away. He helped his dad (Jack Kinzenbaw) with field work, and at age 9, was making many of his own toys.
He continued to hone many of his skills working alongside his father and uncle (Fritz). Both Jack and Fritz Kinzenbaw were very talented in their own right, and highly respected locally for their work in carpentry, metalworking, welding and customizing machinery. And, both served as strong character models for a young man in search of success.
The skills learned (and satisfaction gained) "fixing things" around the farm quickly led to bigger machines and more opportunities from go-carts to motor bikes to custom-built cars and farm implements (i.e. cultivators and loaders). More often than not, equipment Jon rebuilt as a teenager, would end up looking and working better than it did BEFORE it broke!
After he opened his small shop in Ladora, Jon started to repower tractors, removing the old engine and replacing it with an increased horse power diesel engine. He also custom-built end-loaders (self-propelled) and 3-wheeled floaters for fertilizer and chemical application.
It wasn't long before Jon started knocking out some new ideas of his own. In 1971, he invented the first adjustable-width, high clearance moldboard plow and, in doing so, filed his first of many patents. In the same year, he designed and mass-produced his first auger wagon. In 1975, the company took a giant leap forward with a patented rear-folding corn planter; an immediate success highly acclaimed throughout the cornbelt. By 1980, Kinze had earned a reputation worldwide, for innovative design, backed by quality and reliability.
Low-profile row markers, contact drive systems, end mounted transmissions, Interplant® Systems for narrow row planting with push row units, in-line transport, mechanical brush-type seed metering - are just a few examples of Kinze planter innovations. But, more importantly, they reflect the focus and forward-thinking behind this industry leader.
So, what's the success formula for an innovative company like Kinze?
"First, finding a need; then designing and building the best, most reliable product to address that need. It's that simple," says Kinzenbaw. "If the need is truly there, and you fill it with a quality product, that product will sell itself.
"There is nothing more powerful than a satisfied customer. That first rear-fold planter we built sold four more. Those next four planters sold 20. Those next 20 sold an additional 80. And that's the way it happens.
"The key is in recognizing needs - by listening to yourself, customers, prospects, friends, business associates - and finding that one unique, simple solution that delivers both value and customer satisfaction. I get some of my best ideas by getting out in the field and seeing a machine work.
"I think the second reason for success is being able to surround yourself with good people and a strong dealer network. Individuals who have a high level of pride in their work; a work ethic that keeps customers satisfied and coming back because of the quality and care that goes into the products we build and the service we provide. We are very fortunate to have those kinds of people associated with Kinze."
What makes Jon Kinzenbaw different?
"It has never occurred to me that I have a talent greater than anyone else. I just look at problems and solutions a little differently. Success comes from (a) the people you work with, (b) the valuable insight and confidence of the customers you serve and (c) the experiences you gain along the way.
"If there is a difference in what we do, it's having the God-given ability to apply that experience and knowledge we've acquired to creative problem-solving, with solutions no one has ever thought of before. That's what I enjoy most about this business.
"I also want to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their business, past and present; and invite growers everywhere to expect even more from Kinze in the future."