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TRIPS & TOURS
"It's GREEN
they say."
"It's Not Easy
Being Green"
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This site is hosted by:
Chicagoweb
1/22/12
"Gathering of the Green"
A biennial nationwide conference forJohn Deere collectors, restorers & enthusiasts.
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TRIP & TOURS - 2012
Hi, I'm Meli, your tour guide. Along with a lineup of excellent workshops, vendors, speakers and other activities, “Gathering” planners are putting together several interesting trips and tours during the “Gathering” which will appeal to both guys and gals. Below are brief descriptions of these activities along with tentative details.
TRIPS & TOURS – Wednesday, March 14, 2012:THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
KINZE MANUFACTURING & KINZENBAW TRACTOR COLLECTION - Located in Williamsburg, IA (west of Iowa City), Kinze Manufacturing Company manufactures grain wagons and planters and maintains a large collection of antique tractors of many shapes, sizes and colors. Participants will tour the factory, enjoy a catered lunch and then visit Jon Kinzenbaw’s famous and extensive tractor collection. IMPORTANT: This is a smoke free tour. Maximum on tour is 100.
Note: Tour participants must be 12 years of age or older. No shoes with open toes. The bus(es) will depart from the RiverCenter * at 7:45 a.m. and return at approximately 4:30 p.m. Cost including transportation and lunch is $35. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION. * IMPORTANT NOTICE: Participants on the WEDNESDAY Kinze Mfg. tour who are staying at the Clarion Inn will be picked up at the Clarion shortly after 7:45 a.m. To repeat, if you are staying at the Clarion and you are on the WEDNESDAY. Kinze tour, the bus will pick you up at the Clarion. It will not be necessary to go to the RiverCenter to board the bus. WALLACE GARDEN CENTER, Bettendorf, IA – An afternoon of learning and shopping at the beautiful Wallace Garden Center. Attend two interesting and informative sessions, one on the top ten easy ways to grow house plants and another on container gardening. After the sessions there will be time to browse and shop in their large store. Maximum on tour is 45 people. The bus will depart from the River Center at 1:00 p.m. and will return at approximately 3:30 p.m. The cost of the tour including transportation will be $10. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION. JOHN DEERE HARVESTER WORKS, East Moline, IL – This factory is the largest, most modern combine manufacturing facility in the world. Located in East Moline, IL, it has approximately 90 acres under roof and has produced products since 1913. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions. TRIPS & TOURS – Thursday, March 15, 2012:THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
KINZE MANUFACTURING & KINZENBAW TRACTOR COLLECTION - Located in Williamsburg, IA (west of Iowa City), Kinze Manufacturing Company manufactures grain wagons and planters and maintains a large collection of antique tractors of many shapes, sizes and colors. Participants will tour the factory, enjoy a catered lunch and then visit Jon Kinzenbaw’s famous and extensive tractor collection. IMPORTANT: This is a smoke free tour. Maximum on tour is 54.
Note: Tour participants must be 12 years of age or older. No shoes with open toes. The bus(es) will depart from the RiverCenter at 7:45 a.m. and return at approximately 4:30 p.m. Cost including transportation and lunch is $35. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION.
THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
DEERE WIMAN HOUSE & BUTTERWORTH CENTER, JOHN DEERE PAVILION & JOHN DEERE STORE – Moline, IL – Located in the Overlook Historic Neighborhood in Moline, these majestic Deere homes offer an extraordinary journey into the history of John Deere and his family. John Deere’s youngest son, Charles, built the beautiful Deere-Wiman House in 1872. In 1892, Charles Deere built the Butterworth Center, a block from his beloved Overlook, as a wedding gift for his youngest daughter, Katherine and her husband William Butterworth. Join us for a guided tour and an authentic glimpse into Victorian family life, architectural innovations of the past century, and beautiful formal gardens and walkways. Enjoy a catered lunch in the old Carriage House.
On the way back to the River Center, you will stop at the John Deere Pavilion and John Deere Store. Don’t forget your plastic! The bus will depart from the RiverCenter at 8:55 a.m. and will return at approximately 1:30 p.m. The cost of the tour including transportation and lunch will be $28. Maximun number is 45. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION. BISHOP HILL HISTORIC SITE, Bishop Hill, IL & JOHN DEERE HISTORIC SITE - Visiting this National Historic Landmark will be an experience you won’t forget. Discover why Bishop Hill is acknowledged as the most significant force in immigration of millions of Swedes and other Scandinavians to the United States. The colony, established by Swedish immigrants in 1846, was an early attempt in communal living. The Pre-Civil War community has remained intact and is very similar to the original village. Your tour will include a video depicting the history of the village followed by visits to several of the original buildings led by experienced and knowledgeable tour guides dressed in period costumes. The morning will end with a visit to the Colony Store and other interesting shops. Lunch will be on your own at P.L. Johnson’s Swedish restaurant or the Colony Bakery. The visit will be a walking tour or by bus, depending on the weather. After a leisurely lunch, you will board your coach bus for a short visit to Grand Detour and John Deere’s home, a replica of his blacksmith’s shop, a building housing an archaeological exhibit that shows the place of John Deere’s original blacksmith shop, and the gift shop. During this afternoon visit you will be greeted by members of the Historic Site staff who will guide you through the buildings and grounds located on several beautiful acres along the Rock River. The bus will depart from the RiverCenter at 9:00 a.m. and return at approximately 4:30 p.m. The cost including transportation and Bishop Hill admission is $26. Maximum number is 45. Note that lunch is on your own. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION.
THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED
JOHN DEERE WATERLOO TRACTOR ASSEMBLY PLANT & ENGINE WORKS View 7000, 8000 & 9000 Series tractors being assembled and engines being manufactured. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions.
THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
JOHN DEERE SEEDING GROUP , Moline, IL – Planters are assembled in this factory and it is the business center for John Deere planters, box drills and air seeders. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions.
JOHN DEERE DAVENPORT WORKS, Davenport, IA -- Visit the factory which manufactures John Deere industrial equipment including loaders, motor graders, log skidders and ADT trucks. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions. JOHN DEERE HARVESTER WORKS, East Moline, IL -- This factory is the largest, most modern combine manufacturing facility in the world. Located in East Moline, IL, it has approximately 90 acres under roof and has produced products since 1913. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions. TRIPS & TOURS – Friday, March 16, 2012:THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED
KENNY BUSH MUSEUM, Milan, IL
If you are an admirer of everything John Deere, then a tour of the Kenny Bush Museum in nearby Milan, Illinois is a must. Start the morning in the party room where you’ll see one-half of a full-sized windmill suspended from the ceiling. Kenny and his wife have transformed an old barn into a fascinating museum full of antiques, household items, photographs, a one-room school, old tractors, hay forks, pulleys - memorabilia seldom seen anywhere – a truly unique look at agricultural history. The Bush family has had close ties with Deere & Company’s seeding and harvester experimental program over the years. Many of the Deere planting and harvesting machines were tested and improved on the Bush farms. This tour will be of interest to both the guys and gals – and one which shouldn’t be missed.
The bus (capacity 45) will depart from the River Center at 9:00 a.m. A second bus (tour) will be available if there is sufficient interest. The tour will last approximately 1 1/2 hours. The cost of the tour will be $10. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form or register online.
BOTH DUBUQUE TOURS ARE FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS, Dubuque, IA – Watch the assembly of backhoes, crawlers, skid steers & log feller bunchers. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions.
THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
SHOPPING & LUNCH IN HISTORIC GALENA, ILLINOIS - “Shop ‘til you drop” on Galena, Illinois’ historic Main Street, home to 90+ shops and businesses, taking time out for lunch on your own at one of the many casual or more formal restaurants. Galena and Jo Daviess County, where steam boating and lead mining once ruled the day, still maintain the charm of this bygone era. The area was home to nine Civil War generals and United States President, Ulysses S. Grant. Some of early America’s most famous architectural
styles including Italianate, Greek Revival and Queen Anne abound throughout the city and county.
Your coach bus will depart from the RiverCenter at 8:30 a.m. and will return at approximately 3:30 p.m. Cost for coach bus transportation is $23. Maximum number is 54. Remember, lunch is on your own. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION. JOHN DEERE HARVESTER WORKS, East Moline, IL -- This factory is the largest, most modern combine manufacturing facility in the world. Located in East Moline, IL, it has approximately 90 acres under roof and has produced products since 1913. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions. JOHN DEERE DAVENPORT WORKS, Davenport, IA -- Visit the factory which manufactures John Deere industrial equipment including loaders, motor graders, log skidders and ADT trucks. See the JD Factory Tours page for tour details and sign-up instructions. TRIPS & TOURS – Saturday, March 17, 2012:THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED
BIG RIVER RESOURCES, Burlington, IA
Located in the heart of the corn belt, Big River Resources is an ethanol plant in West Burlington, Iowa. The plant processes corn into renewable fuel and feed products. Production at 40 million gallons per year started April 12, 2004. A doubling project from 40 to 92 million gallons per year was completed December, 2007. Learn more about the production of ethanol and tour this technically advanced plant. A buffet lunch will be PAY ON YOUR OWN at Ryan’s Family Steakhouse.
The bus will depart from the River Center at 8:30 a.m. and will return at approximately 2:30 p.m. The cost of the tour will be $23. Note that lunch is on your own. Maximum number is 54. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION.
THIS TOUR IS FULL - NO FURTHER SIGN-UPS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
ATTACHMENT DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE, Davenport, IA & I-80 TRUCK MUSEUM – Plan to visit this amazing and interesting 52,000 sq. ft. facility which warehouses and ships Deere-related attachments and complete goods for Seeding, Waterloo, Agosta, Turf-Care and Horicon factories. In addition, ADW picks and ships orders to dealers in the US and Canada as well as to Europe along with other services such as housing factory parts which come from Asia. Annually, ADW loads and ships over 40,000 trailers and containers.
Then on to the I80 Truck Stop Museum in nearby Walcott for lunch and a tour of this most interesting collection of old trucks and trucking memorabilia. The bus will depart from the RiverCenter at 9:30 a.m. and return at approximately 3:45 p.m. Maximum number is 45. Cost including lunch is $28. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION. SATURDAY LUNCHEON AND SPEAKER AT BEAUTIFUL HOTEL BLACKHAWK - Ladies (and guys too), put this special luncheon on your "Gathering" calendar for Saturday, March 17. It will be held in the Davenport Room of the Hotel Blackhawk (next to the RiverCenter). This lovely room has been artfully restored to its original grandeur and will provide the perfect setting for a delicious lunch. Sally Lang, Manager, Dealer Licensing for Deere & Company, will be our guest speaker. She will share her experiences growing up in a dealer family (her father was a central Iowa John Deere dealer for 42 years), helping out in her father's store, traveling with him to visit John Deere dealers around the country when he served as president of the National Farm Equipment Dealer's Association, and serving as a long-time Deere employee herself. The luncheon will begin at 12:noon and conclude at approximately 2:00 p.m. Cost is $28. Maximum capacity is 100. Please preregister on the “Gathering” Registration Form which you can download and print from this site or register online. Click on REGISTRATION.
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