Drive Green

Our Drive Green Utility Tractor Show is winding down for the time being. But that doesn’t mean I won’t have some more new information posted here. Take today for example.

I just received photos from multiple western U.S. stops and have placed them into a new photo album which you can find here: Reno Branch Photo Album.

There are photos in there from cities like Odgen, South Jordan, Grand Junction, Yuba City, Chico, Salem, Pasco and Missoula. Thanks to Sarah Ruth for getting them to me.

So in coming days we’ll get a wrapup report from our truck driver, find out the final contest winner and even more. In the meantime, enjoy all the photos, videos and interviews.

Here are the latest updates from Sarah Ruth, Reno Branch, John Deere.

After finishing up the state of California, the caravan traveled to Redmond and Salem, Oregon. Floyd A Boyd hosted their Drive Green event in conjunction with their Grand Opening celebration in Redmond while Fisher Farm and Lawn hosted their event in Salem on Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks and see you down the highway!

Our Sales Promotion Coordinator for John Deere in the Reno Branch is Sarah Ruth. She has once again sent in a summary of our show stops way out west.

Ogden and South Jordan, Utah

Thanks and see you down the highway!

Well we’re on location once again. This time at North Washington Implement in Lynden, WA. This is beautiful country here in an area I haven’t personally visited before. I added a couple of photos I took on the way here this morning to show some of the scenery.

Our show event is now underway and I’ll be conducting interviews and taking more photos throughout the next several hours.

You can find the beginning of my event photo album here: North Washington Implement Photo Album

Your DriveGreenTractors.com blogger was on the road in Washington, DC this week working on a project but now he’s back in action.

I just received in these photos in my in box from our event in Shelbyville, KY. It’s always nice to have photos sent in that we can share with you.

Limestone Farm Lawn Worksite sponsored the event that took place at the Shelby County Fairgrounds.

They had beautiful weather and had a good customer turn out in the heart of horse country between Louisville and Lexington, KY.

There was a great deal of interest in small ag tractors and implements, specifically machines that meet the needs of equine enthusiasts including John Deere and Frontier hay tools and attachments.

If any of you dealers have photos of an event at your facility that I wasn’t able to attend please let me know and I can give you the contact information of who to send them to so we can add them to our growing library.

The Drive Green Utility Tractor Show was on location in Marietta, OH this week.

Our host was Bridgeport Equipment and just like at most of our stops, visitor were able to see for themselves all the new utility tractors and available implements, plus the new “Kicker” Gator™ utility vehicle.

Area residents interested in riding, driving and learning more about the latest in new utility tractors and other property maintenance equipment came out to participate in the fun.

Our specially outfitted Drive Green Utility Tractor Show semi-truck and trailer was getting lots of attention as usual.

I’ll have another edition of the Truck Driver Diary coming up soon so you can meet our third member of the truck driving team.

I’ll be back on location next week as we wind up our tour dates in the eastern part of the country.

So I’ll see you from the road again then.

I didn’t get to attend the James River Equipment event in Concord, NC but I did receive a couple photos to share and some information to share with you.

Nearly 150 people attended the show at the Cabarrus County Event Center. The indoor facility provided plenty of room to hold the tractors on the Drive Green truck and the equipment that JRE provided. And there was a lot of equipment including a John Deere 6115D Tractor with 358 Baler, a 6430 Tractor with 530 Mo-Co, a 5425 Tractor, a 5203 Tractor, and new 5D and 5E Series Tractors. In addition there was commercial mowing equipment, John Deere Gators™, riding lawn equipment, and workshop products also on display.

After sitting down for lunch, customers were presented with information on the full lineup of new John Deere utility tractors. Following the presentations, several names were drawn for the various door prizes.

The event wrapped up with a ride and drive session where customers went outside to test drive all of the equipment on display.

The crowd is already picking up at the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show exhibits at the Dixie Deer Classic.

Come on out and see a new kind of Deere.

Besides our display of tractors and Gators, you can get on a tractor for a quick drive and then we’ve got presentations scheduled this evening at 6pm and tomorrow at 10:30am and 2:30pm.

I’ll be on location today and tomorrow and hope to find out what some of these folks have to say and bring it to you right here.

I’ve already started a photo album which you can find here: Dixie Deer Classic Photo Album

It wasn’t hard picking a photo to use out the set I got from the SunSouth, Dothan, AL event. These kids sure seemed to be having fun.

Hundreds of people flocked to the extravaganza. Activities included six demonstration stations, an arena show, and lunch. In addition to the new 3E, 5E, 5D, 5M, and 6D tractors, an assortment of John Deere utility vehicles, Z Trak mowers, and riding lawn equipment were displayed.

DeWayne Williams, store manager, coordinated the planning, promotion, and execution of the dynamic event. Registered guests were presented a gift bag from the dealership. Door prizes were awarded every 15 minutes. Guests were treated to catered, but on-site grilled, extraordinary home-style ribs and all the fixings

Demonstration stations were set up for men, women, and children. Dealership personnel and John Deere personnel helped with the demonstrations. Tim Cagle, Frontier Field Product Specialist, worked with the Plot Master demonstrations. Andrea Rekeweg, Sales Promotion Coordinator, facilitated the XUV and toy Gator demo track. Kent Dold, TCSM, orchestrated the attach-ability stations. Allen Edwards and Dick Gohlke presented the arena show. The features and benefits of all the new tractor models were broadcast to customers as they ate lunch. Individuals were then able to visit displays for one on one presentations.

You can photos from the event here: SunSouth Photo Album

Thanks to the folks who attended the Drive Green event in Hattiesburg, MS, we got some photos and information to share.

The event was well attended with people from all around South Mississippi and flowed very smoothly. Our products included, of course, 6D, 5D, 5E and the 3E Series. We also had XUV Gators and ZTraks showcased at the event. Instructors, Dick Gohlke and Allen Edwards did an excellent job of presenting. Tim Cagle also highlighted Frontier products.

Thanks to everyone for their help and participation in the event.

I’ve uploaded the photos sent along into a set online which you can find with this link.

I’m gearing up for our stop tomorrow in Murfreesboro, TN at the Miller Coliseum. See you there.

While we’re gearing up for a great ring show here in Ft. Worth, I thought I’d share a photo and some information from last weekend’s event at Bramlett Implement in Stephenville, TX. It’s great seeing our young people involved at these events. This little girl sure seems to have enjoyed herself.

The event started well before 9:00. Coffee, Donuts, Soft Drinks, and Water were available for everyone in attendance.

Estimated Participant count is well over 500.

Way to go Stephenville, TX!

We are on location at the Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. The day started off a little cool but it’s sunny and warm now. We’re expecting a lot of people to stop and see us at our display.

Tomorrow evening we’ll have a ring show in Watt Arena starting at 6pm. This is going to be fun.

I’ve got a photo album started for the event which you can find here: Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Photo Album

Hello from the Houston Farm and Ranch Club.

This is the kickoff location for the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show in 2009, the Year of the Utility Tractor. I sure wish the new President had mentioned that in his inaugural speech today. It definitely is an exciting time and I hope you have a chance to pay us a visit. We’ll keep updating the schedule for you so you’ll see where we’re going to be.

I was on location this afternoon as the show was getting set up and you can find some photos in the Houston Farm and Ranch Club photo album.

Stay tuned for lots of interviews and pictures from tomorrow’s event.

Test driving the new John Deere equipment is what the show is all about and during the first stops a lot of people have had that chance like Eric Honigman, seen here checking out a new Gator utility vehicle.

After he got to drive it I spoke with him about the experience. He said, “I like ’em. They operate pretty smooth. That’s what I like.” He’d like to have a vehicle like this to use in some hilly area where he lives. He thinks he needs four wheel drive but had never had a chance to drive a vehicle equipped that way. He says that’s why he came out to the Middleburg, FL show stop.

You can listen to my interview with Eric here: jd-middleburg-honigman.mp3

With only a few stops under our belt so far I’ve already found out that the people who show up to test drive a tractor aren’t necessarily “local.”

Take Cindy and Sara Hicks here. They’re from Indiana where they have an 89 acre farm. After a test drive, Cindy says, “We would definitely get this.”

She encourages everyone to come on out to one of the stops even if they’ve never driven a tractor.

You can listen to my interview with then here: jd-middleburg-hicks.mp3

We saw that the love of green tractors is very generational today when Charles Hollingsworth came out to the show stop at GreenSouth Equipment with his great grandson.

He says that he was waiting on the boy’s Daddy to show up and take care of him so he could spend some time looking at the new equipment. One of the things he likes best about them is how “comfortable” they are.

You can listen to my interview with him here: jd-gainesville-grandpa.mp3

The Drive Green Utility Tractor Show rolls on to Gainesville, FL at another GreenSouth Equipment location and the action is underway. Boy do I hope the weather stays like this throughout all the stops in the schedule.

I’m taking a break to use some internet access in the company office and get some pictures uploaded for you which you can find in the GreenSouth Equipment – Gainesville photo album.

There’s a lot of test driving and discussion going on and I recorded the presentations about the tractors that are part of the show which got us started out here. I’ll be posting them in coming days.

One of the features of the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show is the opportunity to test drive a new tractor or utility vehicle. That’s what a lot of people did at GreenSouth Equipment at the kickoff event.

Here’s our first tractor tester, Jeremy Mathis, getting a look at the new John Deere 5065E. I spoke with Jeremy after his drive and he says it was his first chance to drive a tractor this size. He liked the features he saw and says that he and a relative are looking for a utility tractor to use with land development projects they’re working on.

You can listen to my interview with Jeremy here: jd-middleburg-mathis.mp3

I also caught Jeremy in action so you can see what it’s like to come out to a Drive Green event when it comes to your area.

And don’t forget to check out our first day’s photo album.

The Manager of GreenSouth Equipment here in Middleburg, FL is Jonathan Watts. He’s got a pretty display set up for people who are in the market for a new utility vehicle or tractor. I spoke to him as we got started today to see what’s going on at this kickoff event.