The medal's obverse bears portrait of John Deere,facing half right. Around, HE GAVE THE WORLD THE STEEL PLOUGH; in exergue, JOHN DEERE; signed over shoulder at left, KILENYI
The reverse bears steel plough. Around, JOHN DEERE / CENTENNIAL; in center field, 1837 / 1937
John Deere (1804-1886) is the founder of Deere & Company, better known under its brand name John Deere. Deere briefly attended Middlebury College in his homestate of Vermont before becoming the apprentice of Captain Benjamin Lawrence, a successful Middlebury blacksmith. He started his own shop in 1826 but it failed in 1836. In 1837 he left Vermont for Grand Detour, Illinois, and started a new shop which became the seed from which the well-known company grew.
His key invention was the steel plow, which solved the problem of the rich, fertile Midwestern soil sticking to iron plowshares, which in turn forced the farmers to stop frequently to clean them. The company grew quickly and in 1853 his son Charles joined him in the business.
John Deere served as President of the company till his death at the age of 82.
The circular medal measures 76.6mm and was struck in bronze by the Robbins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts. No mintage is reported.