Skip to content
The Latest John Deere News and Trends
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • John Deere parts catalogs and manuals
    • JOHN DEERE 8100, 8200, 8300, 8400 TRACTORS PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE 8130, 8230, 8330, 8430 and 8530 TRACTORS PARTS CATALOG
    • John Deere Parst catalog Planter 7200 MAXEMERGE
    • JOHN DEERE 9400 MAXIMIZER COMBINE PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE 9410 MAXIMIZER COMBINE PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE 9500 AND SIDEHILL 9500 MAXIMIZER COMBINES PARTS CATALOG
    • PARTS CATALOG 9550 SELF-PROPELLED COMBINE WITH 90 SERIES CORN HEAD
    • 9600 MAXIMIZER COMBINE WITH 900 SERIES CUTTING PLATFORM PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE 9610 MAXIMIZER COMBINE WITH 900 SERIES CUTTING PLATFORM PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE 9650 SELF-PROPELLED COMBINE WITH 90 SERIES CORN HEAD PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE 9650STS SELF-PROPELLED COMBINE WITH 900 SERIES PLATFORM PARTS CATALOG
    • JOHN DEERE CTS (RISE & SMALL GRAIN) COMBINE WITH 900 SERIES PLATFORM PARTS CATALOG
    • CTS II COMBINE WITH 900 SERIES PLATFORM PARTS CATALOG
  • John Deere Parts Lookup
  • JOHN DEERE FAULT CODES LIST
  • Contact us
  • John Deere for Kids
    • John Deere Monster Treads
    • Interactive Games with the John Deere Kids Crew!
    • Nursery Rhymes
    • Sing-Alongs
    • Fun with Vehicles
    • Sing-Alongs
    • Meet the John Deere Kids Team
    • Best Moments
    • Activity Books
  • John Deere Customer Service ADVISOR
    • Buy John Deere Service Advisor
    • Laptop requirements to install Service Advisor John Deere
    • Customer Service ADVISOR installation instructions
  • John Deere Jobs
  • John Deere tractor serial numbers
  • About John Deere
    • The evolution of the John Deere logo and brand
  • FAQ
  • John Deere products
Menu

Golden Opportunity

Posted on March 12, 2020August 18, 2022 by John Deere News

Alvin Furr grew up in a rural area near Charlotte, North Carolina. At night during high school, he worked second shift at the local cotton mill, operating the spinning machine while dreaming of bigger things.

After moving to Winston-Salem in the early 1980s, Furr began working as an interior finish carpenter for a contractor. “I found a small tract of land, so I approached him about developing it together. I guess he liked my work because he became the investor. We became friends and wound up business partners. Thirty years later here I am.”

LEAP OF FAITH
The first two projects Furr and his partner completed were four and 30 lots. The third: 300 lots. “By the third development, my investor had faith in what I was doing so he stuck his neck out a bit. We jumped in headfirst.”

When scouting new areas for development these days, Furr adheres to the old adage “location, location, location.” “I look for places that are growing. I like to see new businesses in the area, along with plenty of restaurants and places to shop, that sort of thing.”

After completing the 300-home development in Thomasville, Furr and his partner built a 165-home development in Winston-Salem. Then in 2008, the U.S. housing bubble burst and the economy went south. “We were just getting ready to start building houses on a 31-home development, but I held off.”

Furr bided his time, making ends meet through rental properties and a few other sound investments. Eight years later, T.A.F. (which stands for Thomas Alvin Furr) Building & Development got back into the game. Furr now builds four or five houses a year. He tries to do much of the work himself, subcontracting out the rest.

READ  John Deere Foundation to Invest Over $ 200 Million Over Next Decade

With experience digging and pouring footings, framing, siding, interior finishing, and landscaping, Furr says, “I enjoy running machinery more than anything else. You can get in, shut the world out, and focus on what you’re doing. You can accomplish a lot sitting by yourself in a machine.”

Furr started running construction equipment out of necessity. “I couldn’t find anyone to dig footings — I’d have to get on a three- or four-week waiting list. So I bought a backhoe and started digging my own footings.”

Furr has run John Deere machines since the beginning. In addition to buying the backhoe, he also acquired a Deere 455D Crawler Loader and 550B Dozer so he could do his own landscaping. “I’ve always been a fan of John Deere machines. I’ve had nothing but good service out of them.”

DAILY GRIND
An important part of Furr’s equipment arsenal is a John Deere 333G Compact Track Loader (CTL) with a mulching head, which he uses to clear lots. The combination allows him to grind up brush and small trees, so he can get the land in shape to pass local inspections for erosion control and obtain a building permit. He also uses a grapple and bucket to clean up, and a tiller to prepare yards for seed.

“The 333G gives me the power I need to clear the land. It can do the work of much larger machines, yet it’s maneuverable so it won’t disturb bigger trees, which I want to preserve for the lot. I like the speed, smooth control, and the way it handles. It’s just an all-around good machine. I enjoy operating it a lot.”

READ  John Deere 944K Hybrid Wheel Loader Reaches 1 Million Field Hours

The 333G came equipped from the dealer with a forestry package. Side and rear screens shield the operator against branches, and a Level II FOPS plate helps safeguard against falling debris and limbs. A rear bumper guards the back of the machine from trees and other objects. Additional guarding protects the lift cylinder hoses and hydraulic coupler.

Furr’s local John Deere dealer, James River Equipment, also helps keep the machine up and running. “I can usually get the parts I need, when I need them. And if the dealer doesn’t have them in stock, they can get them for me right away.

“John Deere and James River have been a big part of my success,” he adds. “The machines are easy to service and very reliable. The value and quality you get in a Deere machine can’t be beat. And the guys at James River, including my salesman David Smitherman, are tremendous to work with. They always try to meet all my needs.”

Recent Posts

  • John Deere Precision Farming Technology Updated: New John Deere G5 Family of Displays and JDLink Modem March 6, 2023
  • John Deere Enters the Space Industry February 13, 2023
  • Deere launches green lawn equipment lineup. Available from today, Feb. 13 February 13, 2023
  • John Deere Will Not Participate in SIMA 2024: Shifting Focus to Alternative Communication Channels February 13, 2023
  • Who will John Deere partner with this year? January 24, 2023
  • CES 2023: John Deere Launches New ExactShot Technology January 24, 2023
  • John Deere introduces 185 E-Cut and 225 E-Cut cordless mowers, and announces other hybrid solutions in its products. January 24, 2023
  • John Deere partners with Microsoft to improve dealer efficiency and value January 20, 2023
  • Right to repair will be!!! John Deere and the Farm Group Farmers Association have reached an agreement on the right to repair your own equipment. January 10, 2023
  • The new John Deere 6R and 6M tractors will be assembled with 3D printed stainless steel parts. December 30, 2022
  • John Deere X9. How did it work on corn in Poland? December 16, 2022
  • John Deere will upgrade 7R Series tractors in 2023 December 5, 2022

John Deere Parts

Categories

  • News
  • Technology

Archives


Albedo (1) Anelo Photonics (1) artificial intelligence (1) CES2023 (1) ExactShot (1) Exhibitions (1) Farming Technology (1) Gator (1) Grai Matter Labs (1) Hybrid Innovation (1) ioT (1) JDLink (1) John Deer (1) John Deere Operations Center (1) John Deere X9 (1) lawn equipment (1) mowers (1) new technologies (6) OnLink Technology (1) precision farming (5) SIMA 2024 (1) Space Race (1) StarFire 7000 (1) startups (1) sustainable development (2)

CONTACT:

e-mail:info@news-jd.com

MENU:

  • News
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Medium
  • Reddit
©2023 The Latest John Deere News and Trends