Windwehen, John E.

Head shot of suited businessman (John Windwehen)
Name: 
Windwehen, John E.
Title: 
GM. at Cargill Animal Nutrition
Texas A&M Class: 
1976
Inducted: 
2004

Biography:

A highly successful agribusiness manager and a willing contributor to many enrichment activities for students, John Windwehen received his Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University in 1976. He continued his studies at Texas A&M and obtained his Masters degree in 1978.  

Following the recommendation of his major professor, Dr. Vernon Schneider, upon his graduation, Mr. Windwehen began working in sales and marketing with Cargill, a multi-national company specializing in grain merchandising, feed manufacturing, food processing and marketing.  He first worked in the Southeast for several years, moved to Fort Worth in a Sales Manager role, and later was promoted into an Administrative Manager position.  In 1985, he was made General Manager over Cargill's animal nutrition businesses in the Southwestern part of the U.S. These units manufacture and ship animal nutrition feed products, under the Nutrena and ACCO Feeds brands, into Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico and have grown by a measure of six times since 1985.  

Mr. Windwehen moved his offices to Giddings, Texas where Cargill has a major manufacturing facility.  As the second youngest General Manager to have been named to this position in the company, the operating business unit has won the Cargill District of the Year award three times, an annual award given to the highest performing operating unit worldwide for Cargill Animal Nutrition; and Mr. Windwehen has also personally been awarded the Cargill President's Club Award three times, an annual award given to the highest performing individuals.  As the 2006 Feed Mill of the Year, it is the only plant in the program's 22-year history to win top honors a second time.

Mr. Windwehen is a member of Cargill's Vision Team, charged with strategic planning for the future, and is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Office of the State Chemist.  He has been a member of Texas A&M's Agricultural Development Council for the past ten years.  Cargill has given Texas A&M University more than $500,000 in the past four years alone in grants to benefit the departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and both Mr. Windwehen and Cargill have a long-standing, close relationship with the university and the Agricultural Economics Department dating back many years.  They have donated substantial gifts of support into various programs benefiting the students.  Cargill is a major supporter of the department’s banquet and underwrote the development of the Food and Agriculture Career Counselor.  

John Windwehen is a frequent ‘Prof-for-a-Day’ in several classes and says that “my greatest reward is seeing young people grow and learn and become successful and having the satisfaction of knowing that I had a positive influence on them.”  

Mr. Windwehen and his wife, Becky, reside in Giddings.

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