Q.C. Deere engineers take top honors

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) is honoring five engineers with connections to Deere & Company along with the Quad Cities.

Michael DeSpain brought home the 2010 Ergonomics, Safety and Health Award. DeSpain is a senior product safety and standards engineer for Deere in Moline.

Tractor historian and author Larry Gay was inducted to the 2010 class of ASABE Fellows. Gay retired in 1992 after a 35-year engineering career at Deere.

Shannon Brockmann is winner of the 2010 Gale Holloway Professional Development Award. Brockmann is a staff standards engineer with Deere in East Moline.

Michael Senneff received Evelyn R. Rosentreter Standards Award for 2010. He’s a manager for product safety and compliance for Deere in East Moline.

And Ryan Mackin takes home one of the 2010 Sunkist Young Designer Awards. Mackin is an engineering team leader for Deere in Moline.

Congratulations to all!

Sister city gets Deere technology center

After spending the day covering flooding across our region, this item grabbed my attention on the web. John Deere has officially opened its new European Technology and Innovation Center in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

It will employ around 90 engineers, computer experts, technicians and administrative personnel. Staff members will gradually increase over the next few years to around 200 employees.

They’ll work on developing intelligent solutions, integrating electronics into tractors and harvesting equipment. They’ll also work on technologies to boost automation, reduce operator fatigue and increase machine productivity in the field.

Interesting note about Kaiserslautern. It became Sister City to Davenport, Iowa, back in 1960. But in 2000, it traded us for Columbia, South Carolina. No worries, Davenport now maintains Sister City status with cities in Brazil and Ireland.

While Deere wants to tap into nearby German know-how, too bad all this didn’t come to Davenport, Iowa.

Morthland morphs into John Deere

The political season is certainly heating up here in Illinois. The state’s financial troubles and the Blago trial have provided plenty of copy for us reporters.

While out on the campaign trail today covering Sheila Simon, the Democrat running for lieutenant governor, I stopped by to see Rich Morthland.

Rich is the Republican candidate for state representative in the 71st District. Right now, his day job is speech professor at Black Hawk College in Moline.

When he’s not busy on the campaign trail these days, you might find him stepping into another role. Morthland gets dressed up in an 1860’s era outfit to portray John Deere for community groups.

That’s pretty cool.

Youngsters, grown-ups and folks of all ages get a living history lesson about the ag giant. It’s an interesting step back in time, and for Rich, probably a welcome break from the rigors of 2010 Illinois politics.

Oosthuizen celebrates Open win with a Deere tractor

Okay, so both the John Deere Classic and British Open are history for another year. But the stories just keep popping up.

The latest involves British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen. After sealing a seven-stroke win at St. Andrews, he decided to splurge and buy a nice John Deere tractor for his farm back in South Africa.

The golfer, 27, said that Deere is very close to his heart. He says that he’ll drive around on the tractor and wanted to make sure that there was enough space for his young daughter Jana to sit beside him.

Construction at John Deere Middle School

John Deere Middle School is the epitome of the neighborhood school in Moline. The nice-looking school runs along 11th Street and is right in the middle of a pleasant neighborhood.

The school began a major construction project this summer. The nearly $17 million dollar renovation will install a new geothermal heating and cooling system. There will be new classrooms. And starting in Fall 2011, sixth graders will begin attending.

Like most construction projects, there are some pros and cons. Neighbors must put up with the inconvenience of closed streets at times and parking problems. (There are some 85 construction workers assigned to the job.)

Then there’s the problem of getting kids to and from school safely in the construction zone. The Moline district is working to develop a plan that will be ready in time for class registration.

Everything should be complete by Fall 2011, and it will be quite an investment in the future.

Former Deere Tech Center turning into WIU Campus

While I was out and about covering a $4 million boost for funding the design of the Western Illinois University Riverfront Campus in Moline, I got a chance to get an insider’s look at the progress on Building One.

The former John Deere Tech Center is a work in progress along the riverfront. With about 80% of the demolition complete, the building is really just a shell.

Crews are recycling brick, concrete and other materials. It’s “green” deconstruction before the actual construction begins.

The $15.2 million project, where future Engineering students will attend classes starting in the Spring of 2012 captures the imagination.

Piece-by-piece, the Riverfront Campus is coming together. Phase Two funding will help to complete design drawings by this time next year. Once it gets the green light, the building is expected to cost around $42 million.

It’s an investment in the future of the Quad Cities.

Post number 100 and counting

We’ve made it to post 100 of the “Deere, John” blog, and there isn’t much going on. Seems like everybody is recovering from the John Deere Classic.

I was in Sterling, Illinois today for a story about how businesses and communities are learning to compete for government contracts.

The notion is that they will be able to land some of the business generated when the Thomson Correctional Center becomes a federal prison.

This could be important for regions that have been battling double-digit unemployment.

And just when you think the economy is recovering, take a look at your latest 401K statement. Mine took a big hit during the last quarter. Hope yours looks better!

Until next time…

Deere Pavilion hosts Ag Education Day

Life on the farm gets the focus as the John Deere Pavilion hosts its third annual Agriculture Education Day. It takes place from 10-4 on Saturday, July 17.

Special exhibits include a crafting center, a pedal tractor test track, blacksmith demonstrations, a petting zoo and more.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. The John Deere Pavilion is located at 1400 River Drive in Molne.

Record-setting Round at Classic

I’ll be the first to tell you that I’m not much of a golf fan. Don’t really know why. Growing up, it was always baseball, basketball and football.

But the accomplishment at TPC Deere Run on Thursday is enough to make me a believer. That’s after Paul Goydos became just the fourth golfer in PGA history to shoot a 59.

Goydos, 46, has just two top 10 finishes this year and hasn’t won since the 2007 Sony Open.

“Gravity is the best friend I have,” Goydos told his playing partners.

A magical start to the Classic, indeed!

Caterpillar comes through for Peoria Journal Star

I came across an interesting article in the Peoria Journal Star the other day. It’s a profile on Caterpillar’s new CEO Doug Oberhelman.

Mr. Oberhelman appeared to be quite gracious during the interview. The Journal Star came away with a nice behind-the-scenes look at the leader of the world’s largest heavy equipment manufacturer. They even scored an interview with his dad!

Wish I could say the same was true with Deere & Company. To my knowledge, Deere’s top boss Sam Allen hasn’t spoken a word to local media since his promotion.

I’ve heard that he’s a nice guy from others who have had contact with him over the years. But despite several requests for an interview, it’s always been a no-go from the gatekeepers. I’ve heard that from some newspaper friends, too.

Since Deere & Company is one of our top employers, it would be nice to get to know a little more about Mr. Allen. I did notice that apparently he gave an interview to Bloomberg recently. I guess us locals are low on the food chain to them.

Perhaps the CAT coverage in the Journal Star might provide Deere with food for thought. We won’t bite!