The 1800's were an extremely important time in the history of John Deere and began the trend towards innovation that would make them a household name for decades to come, according to the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association.

In 1838, John Deere himself invented a plow made from steel, an addition that was completely unheard of at the time. The idea took off with flying colors, with Deere and Co. selling thousands by 1853. The steel was a vast improvement over the iron-forged plow that was previously used by most people and provided a longer lasting product that could be easily repaired if broken.

The U.S. steel industry was extremely underdeveloped at this time and made poor-quality products, something that forced Deere to import steel from England to create a superior product. The decision, of course, paid dividends. Deere became the most respected name in the industry and was the only place people would shop if they wanted a quality product.

Over 180 years later, John Deere still stands at the forefront of innovation within the industry and will continue to do so for years to come.