Stetler Young born in Montoursville, PA.

Stetler enters the gear industry, joining Rynel Gear Corp. in Sterling, IL.

After the sale and liquidation of Rynel Gear, Stetler is approached by a former client, J.E. Porter, to establish a gear company that could supply its needs.

Forest City Gear moves to Roscoe, just north of Rockford.

Stetler and Evelyn gradually step away from the business as Fred takes on more responsibility.

Forest City Gear buys its first European-made machine, a Koepfer 6” diameter hobbing machine. This leap forward in technology allows FCG to grow rapidly and reinforces for Fred the importance of continually investing in the world’s best equipment.

Forest City Gear enters the American Gear Manufacturers Association.

Gears manufactured for Spirit and Opportunity, NASA’s first Mars Exploration Rovers.

Spirit and Opportunity rovers land on Mars.

Gears manufactured for another Mars rover, Curiosity.

On-campus facility, Roscoe Works, is built to better accommodate Make Complete and high-volume customers.

Gears manufactured for the fourth Mars rover, which is set to launch in 2020.

Kika Young, Fred and Wendy’s second daughter, named one of Rockford Register Star’s “People to Watch in 2018.”

Kika Young is named president of Forest City Gear.

Forest City Gear obtains Nadcap accreditation for magnetic particle inspection nondestructive testing.

Evelyn Joelson born in Russia.

Stetler works his way up to president of Rynel Gear.

Forest City Gear founded in Rockford, IL — nicknamed “the Forest City” — in the downtown plant formerly occupied by Skandia Furniture. The first products are spur gears used to operate the crankshaft in home ice cream makers, and worm gear hoists and electric winch winders for raising and lowering gymnasium basketball hoops; all are manufactured by J.E. Porter.

Fred graduates from Rockford College (now Rockford University) with a BA in English literature.

Forest City Gear buys its first brand-new machine, a Barber-Colman Type Q precision hobber. All previous machines were bought used and refurbished. Stetler’s focus on quality, paired with the capabilities of this new machine, lead to a growing business, counting Woodward Governor, Slick Electrode and Sall Brothers among its customers.

Fred Young and Wendy Nutter wed on the banks of the Wolf River in Wisconsin. They honeymoon in Europe, including an extended visit to the Koepfer plant in Germany, where lifelong friendships are made and additional machinery and tooling are acquired.

Forest City Gear buys a Hofler EFRS630 gear checker. All of the new precision equipment lures customers who have more precise demands. To prove the superior quality of Forest City Gear parts, investment in gear-inspection equipment ramps up quickly.

Forest City Gear expands to 12,000 square feet, a 60% increase in floor space.

NASA’s Curiosity rover lands on Mars.

The Senior Leadership Team forms: Fred and Wendy Young, Jared Lyford, Jeff Mains and Kika Young.

Perseverance rover lands on Mars.

Wendy Young posthumously receives the AGMA Chairman’s Award. Her daughters Appy, Kika, and Mindy accept on her behalf.