“GATHERING OF THE GREEN”
2010!
"Where Friends Meet"
March 17, 18, 19 & 20, 2010
River Center – Davenport, IA
The “Gathering of the Green” is a biennial event for John Deere two-cylinder and new generation tractor enthusiasts and collectors. Over the years, thousands of event participants have traveled to the Quad Cities from coast to coast and from foreign countries to spend time with fellow collectors and fans. You can visit with old friends, make new ones, share and learn more about your John Deere passion, and talk tractors “round the clock. Remember, the “Gathering” is “Where Friends Meet".
On March 17-20, 2010 we were at a place where 2,200 friends met. Yes, you read that right…2,200 John Deere collectors, restorers and enthusiasts converged in Davenport, IA at the RiverCenter for four days of outstanding workshops, exceptional vendors , over-the-road trips, local trips to John Deere factories, special activities for the ladies, excellent evening speakers, fun auction and a closing banquet for over 700 attendees. The “Gathering” 2010 brought the highest attendance at a “Gathering of the Green” since the first one in 2000 with people coming to Davenport from 37 states, Australia, Canada and The Netherlands to immerse themselves in everything John Deere.
With attendance increasing at each “Gathering” over the years, we realized in 2008 that we had simply outgrown the Moline Holiday Inn, so a search was begun to locate an appropriate venue for the 2010 conference. It was apparent that the RiverCenter located just across the Mississippi River could accommodate our attendees with room to spare, but as we viewed the huge facility, it crossed our minds that if you’ve got that much room and aren’t able to fill it, the result might not be very positive. Not to worry…the vendor hall was filled with 74 vendors, some of whom chose to pull their trailers right into the room, and others who took the option to request 5 to10 eight-foot tables to display their wares. Needless to say, the vendors were happy campers. The many rooms set aside for the 50 workshops were spacious and well-equipped with any manner of AV equipment necessary, and the workshop leaders were described as outstanding.
For the first time, two-cylinder clubs and related organizations from across the nation were invited to create displays for the 2010 conference. As described above, there was plenty of room at the RiverCenter for such displays, and it was a perfect way to add interest to the many nooks and crannies located throughout the site. The response was very gratifying, for in addition to the four sponsoring club displays, fourteen other clubs stepped up with creations that depicted or described their activities. It was a great way to share ideas for stimulating enthusiasm and keeping the history of our hobby front and center.
The opening night reception on Wednesday, March 17 was attended by over 700 individuals, many of whom had chosen to arrive a day early in order to also take part in the Wednesday morning bus trip to the Sindt Antique Museum in Keystone, Iowa. The attendance for this trip required three over-the-road buses, and that great response signaled the realization that this just might be a very successful conference. The evening reception included live music from the Harvest Home Band, John Deere cookies, ice cream, a welcome from the Mayor of Davenport, a special welcome from Doug Roberts from Deere & Company and plenty of time to visit with old friends and make new ones.
We asked 700 plus attendees at the closing banquet to complete a short conference evaluation form, and the results were overwhelmingly positive – a few of which are bulleted below. While we obviously enjoyed reading the glowing ones, we were equally grateful to those who shared constructive criticism and excellent ideas for ways we could improve the 2012 event, should it be held. That’s right…a decision has yet to be made regarding an eleventh edition of the “Gathering of the Green.” Almost to a man/woman, the makeup of the 2010 “Gathering” organizers for the most part consisted of the same individuals who organized the first conference in 2000 and who are now ten years older, so we’ll need a bit of time to recharge our batteries and decide if we’ll give it another go in 2012.
So as we close the book on the 2010 “Gathering of the Green,” we will end this overview with an observation from a reporter at a local Quad Cities area news magazine. In an interview, we referred to the “Gathering” as a convention-style program. The reporter, after learning more about the event and reading comments from attendees from prior years, wrote that “convention” is perhaps the wrong word. He went on to write that the “Gathering” is more a meeting of the minds, a place one participant called his “Field of Dreams” – something built for friendly folks to come together and share stories about the two-cylinder and New Generation eras. We think he was right on target. Yes, the “Gathering” is about learning and restoring old tractors, finding that important item for your tractor, listening to speakers on topics related to our hobby and touring factories and other related sites – but the “Gathering” has become something equally important - an event where people of like interests can come together, enjoy each other’s company, talk tractors and celebrate the legacy of John Deere and the green and yellow – the “Gathering of the Green” is truly a place where “Friends Meet.”
We think the comments shared by “Gathering” attendees on the evaluation forms, e-mails, letters and telephone calls tell the story of what people experienced during their time in Davenport. Turn the PAGE to see a few....
See Dean Van Peursem's collection of photos of the 2010 "Gathering of the Green" Click HERE.
Members of the four sponsoring two-cylinder tractor clubs located in central and northern Illinois and eastern Iowa have worked for many months to put together this conference...
