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THE PASSING OF AL MCQUINN, FOUNDER OF AG-CHEM EQUIPMENT CO.
Minnesota Star-Tribune reports:

Al McQuinn
Alvin "Al" Eugene McQuinn, a pioneer of precision agriculture, visionary entrepreneur, and devoted philanthropist, passed away peacefully early on Wednesday, October 23rd after celebrating his 93rd birthday surrounded by family.

His courageous journey with Alzheimer's disease coming to an end. Al had a date to make: his 70th anniversary with Mary Agnes on October 24th.

Al leaves behind a remarkable legacy that continues to shape the world of agriculture, improve farming technologies, as well as fostering education and research through his philanthropic contributions. Born October 22, 1931, on a farm near Butler, Missouri during the Great Depression, Al's humble beginnings laid the foundation for his lifelong passion for farming. His early exposure to soil, crops, and farm life never left him, despite a career that would see him build a global agricultural enterprise from its base in Minnesota.

1954 was a big year for Al, he earned his bachelor's degree as an Army ROTC graduate in agriculture from the University of Missouri and married the love of his life, Mary Agnes in Frankfurt, Indiana. Following graduation, he served as a pilot in the U.S. Army.

A visit to southern Minnesota in 1958 sparked a love for the state that eventually led him and Mary Agnes to settle in Edina, Minnesota. In 1963, with just $6,000, Al founded Ag-Chem Equipment Co. Inc. Over the course of 37 years, he grew it from a small shop into a NASDAQ-listed leader in the manufacturing of innovative agricultural equipment. Under his leadership, Ag- Chem developed two iconic lines, Terra-Gators and RoGators, revolutionizing the way farmers applied fertilizers and chemicals.

His relentless pursuit of technological innovation led to the creation of precision agriculture tools, merging GPS, GIS software, and yield data to optimize crop growthan approach that forever changed modern farming. Al earned seven patents and a reputation for putting the farmer first. He believed in the power of technology to transform agriculture and was equally committed to ensuring customer satisfaction, which was a guiding principle in his company's success.

In 2000, Al sold Ag-Chem to AGCO Corporation, securing the future of the Jackson, Minnesota plant, which remains a key hub for farm equipment production today. Jackson Mayor Marcus Polz said of his passing: "Jackson lost an iconic member of its community! Without his vision and leadership, the community of Jackson would not be what it is today."

Even after selling Ag-Chem, Al continued to shape the future through his firm, QuinStar Investment Partners. He viewed the power of his investments as a means to fund philanthropic endeavors. McQuinn's contributions went far beyond the fields.

Dedicated advocates of education, Al and Mary Agnes shared support for the University of Minnesota, Benilde-St. Margaret's High School, Columbia College, and the University Of Missouri where he received their highest honor: the Jefferson Club Golden Quill Alumni Excellence Award. They were longtime benefactors of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, funding the Alvin and Mary Agnes McQuinn Distinguished Chair in Arts and Sciences.

Al also served on the board of trustees at St. Thomas, offering his wisdom and leadership to help guide the institution. Beyond St. Thomas, the McQuinn's philanthropic pursuits included Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Orchestra, various scholarship funds and many more organizations close to their hearts.


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