QC, That’s Where Local Leads to Global with John Deere
November 10, 2021
The John Deere Effect
I celebrate my three years living in the Quad Cities this week. Not being from this region and relocating my family here, I knew two things about this area I am now proud to call our home. The QC is home to John Deere and the Mississippi River. By the way…QC, That’s Where the Mississippi River (our world-renowned asset) flows east to west.
Not a single day goes by without a visitor engaging with Visit Quad Cities and asking our team a question about John Deere. Our visitors could be here for business, attending a meeting, convention, conference, sporting event, or experiencing us a leisure traveler. They all share a common thread and ask us about John Deere. We proudly refer to this in our brand elements as “The Deere Effect”.
When I travel for business, my colleagues always ask me about John Deere. Living previously in Nashville, if you traveled anywhere, inevitably someone would say, “Oh you’re from Tennessee, home of Jack Daniels.” Well, that captures the essence of the reach of the John Deere global brand and the Quad Cities when we are marketing and promoting the QC as a destination for prospective visitors. Simply put, John Deere is known around the globe, and I love to brag about this is where local leads to global. John Deere is in our elevator pitch from a tourism perspective because if you are not from here, it is the strongest brand based in the QC that everyone knows. It is what our customers from outside the area ask us about in nearly every conversation we have, and we have a lot of them.
John Deere is a shared and common community value. They are leaders by action and example - Innovators, community investors, problem solvers, colleagues, and friends that make this place better. John Deere’s story, impact, and significance to our region’s future prosperity is the guidepost for our desired outcomes. We must compete to develop the most robust pipeline for talent, visitors, quality of life/place, and opportunities for all. John Deere moves us forward to grow in a 21st century economy and compete for world-wide attention.
Their products and production, coupled with the talented and committed people who believe in making a difference, is an important story to tell. I know we will continue to tell it because we believe in bragging very loudly about John Deere and what they mean to the Quad Cities.
Thank you to the thousands of John Deere employees who call the QC their home. It’s a privilege to share your story.
Dave Herrell
President and CEO
Visit Quad Cities