Gathering of the Green Conference Organizers Glad to Be Back In The Quad-Cities
After being cancelled at the last minute in 2020, the biennial Gathering of the Green Conference returns on March 16-19, 2022. Almost 1,000 John Deere enthusiasts have registered for the full conference taking place at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport, Iowa. Attendees are coming from 32 states across the U.S. and four countries. The vast majority of these registrants have signed up to tour Ag sites in the Quad Cities region.
“Gathering of the Green is a valuable opportunity for the Quad Cities to serve as host community,” said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “The rich tradition of this unique event and the passion that people around the world have for Deere & Company makes the Gathering very special.”
Attendees will be amazed at the replica displays built by volunteers to coordinate with this year’s “It’s Fair Time!” conference theme. The journey through the RiverCenter will take attendees back to John Deere exhibits found at State and County Fairs in the 1930-70s.
Dave Herrell is president/CEO of Visit Quad Cities.
New in 2022 is the Plow City Tractor Show at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport. The show will be indoors at the Iowa Building on March 16-18. It will feature a diverse selection of tractors, implements, engines, lawn and garden tractors, and memorabilia to honor the agricultural manufacturing heritage of the Quad Cities. The inaugural show will include various rare pieces from locally-built brands such as John Deere, Rock Island Plow Company, Root & Vandervoort, Heider, J.I. Case, International Harvester, and Minneapolis Moline.
In addition, conference attendees can go to a full slate of 50+ workshops, evening speakers, one of the best vendor halls with over 65 vendors for John Deere enthusiasts and those with restoration projects.
“This conference is the largest gathering of John Deere enthusiasts in the world,” said Tony Knobbe, Gathering of the Green Board Chairman. “Most of our guests come for the comradery with fellow enthusiasts from all over the world.”
Full conference registration can be purchased for $40 on-site at the RiverCenter on Wednesday. Wednesday is only open for full conference registrants. On Thursday-Saturday, $10 day passes can be purchased at the door for access to the displays, workshops, vendor hall, and Plow City Tractor Show (Thurs.-Fri.) on that day. Free shuttles to the Plow City Tractor Show, John Deere Pavilion, and Mecum Gone Farmin’ Spring Class Auction at the Bend XPO will be included for full conference and day pass registrants.
If you only want to attend the Plow City Tractor Show at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, daily admission is $5 for the general public and the hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, March 17-18.
Visit www.gatheringofthegreen.com for more information.
The event is planned and produced by antique tractor enthusiasts from the Deer Valley Collectors, Illinois Valley Two-Cylinder Club, North Eastern Illinois Twin-Cylinder Club, Northwest Illinois Deer Collectors Club, and the Classic Green Club.
