It may be late on Friday but I did mention earlier this week that we’d have a big announcement today. It’s the Drive Green Utility Tractor Show blog, which is now official and public (final tweaks being made as speak).
Yes, it’s a ZimmComm project, working closely with the folks at BCS Communications and the public relations staff at John Deere. I’ll be the Drive Green Guy at many stops along the Show route starting the first week in December at the kickoff event in Middleburg, FL.
In case you’re wondering just what this is all about, let me bring you up to date. To start with, this is the truck that’s going to be pulling in to John Deere Dealers, starting in the Southeast. We’ve already got 45 locations scheduled in the coming months. You’ll always be able to find the upcoming locations here or on the John Deere Drive Green page. This custom tractor transporter will hold a variety of new John Deere utility tractors for display and ride-and-drives at each stop. You can see pictures of many of them in this online photo album.
To help you understand what the show is all about I spoke with Eric Hodson, John Deere Senior Writer, Public Relations. We were at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention. Eric says the company wants people to know “that there’s a John Deere tractor for you at a price you can afford.” To prove it, he says, they’re taking the tractors on the road so people have a chance to see them and drive them for themselves.
You can listen to my interview with Eric here: drive-green-hodson-1.mp3
A program designed to give rural property owners, agricultural producers and other interested consumers a chance to operate and ask questions about the latest models of utility and compact utility tractors is being launched by John Deere. The company-sponsored Drive Green Program includes special equipment displays and ride-and-drive events at more than 45 currently scheduled locations starting in the Southeast.
In addition, the Drive Green Program features a uniquely detailed semi-tractor and trailer that will start with events in Florida in December. The Drive Green truck will transport several of the company’s new utility tractors to all the events where John Deere tractor specialists will be on hand to demonstrate the equipment and answer questions.
“With more people moving to acreages near larger metropolitan centers, we’re finding that many people have lots of questions about the type, size, features and operation of the equipment they need to maintain their properties,” says Steve Geick, tactical marketing manager, John Deere.
Geick notes that date, location and other information on all the Drive Green
activities are posted on the John Deere Web site and a special blog site that is updated daily with news, interviews and photographs from all the events. An updated list of all events can be found on the Web site at www.JohnDeere.com/drivegreen.
Full Release (pdf)