SPECIFICALLY designed for John Deere enthusiasts, AFGRI Equipment is hosting the “trip of a lifetime” to the United States and Canada in July this year.
The tour will include visits to some of the most memorable sites and attractions the two nations have to offer.
With the success of its South Africa Out of Season Tour in 2018, AFGRI is very pleased to be able to offer this new tour in 2019.
The luxury small-group tour features 15 nights away from July 7-22 and highlights the best of US and Canada’s ag industry, mixed with fantastic events and local tourism attractions.
The trip combines pre-planned guided tours with plenty of free time for exploring.
Flying in to sunny San Francisco, tour-goers will enjoy an evening’s rest before the next day’s tour of Alcatraz, the infamous prison and a special welcome dinner at the world-renowned Fisherman’s Wharf.
The following morning, the tour embarks on three days of guided tours of John Deere’s factories, starting with Sprayer Works in Des Moines, Iowa, Tractor and Engine Works in Waterloo, Iowa and Harvester Works as well as John Deere’s world headquarters in Moline, Illinois, with personal tour guides.
The John Deere Pavilion, at Moline, is the world’s largest agriculture museum and celebrates the past, present, and future of agriculture, as well as the company’s history.
The 14,000-square-foot pavilion is encased in glass walls.
To see a tractor or combine in action, take a virtual tour at one of the touch-screen displays.
‘Tour’ the combine factory and watch employees assemble machinery, then see the machine in action.
At another station the ‘tour’ shows workers assembling tractors.
‘Cornucopia’ is a touch-screen exhibit that takes you from the beginning of a product’s life until it gets to market.
Another interactive exhibit called ‘The Past’ walks you through the history of agriculture, while ‘The Future’ educates guests about how the world will feed its booming population, which may double in the next 40 years.
Timed to perfection, tour delegates will kick off the first weekend attending the John Deere Classic.
The premier golf event is a must for all golf fans and with exclusive access to skyboxes on the 16th and 18th holes, this part of the tour is sure to get many in full swing.
Next morning, the tour will travel to Chicago.
The Windy City section of the trip features a cruise down the Chicago river admiring the city’s famous architecture and impressive skyline.
After Chicago, the tour waves goodbye to the States and says hello to Canada with the first stop being Saskatoon for a visit to one of Canada’s biggest ag shows, Ag in Motion.
This is followed by a few days in the bustling west coast city of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Tour goers will enjoy the picturesque city’s thriving art, theatre and music scene as well as a visit to the world famous Butchart Gardens, an idyllic botanical garden on Vancouver Island that inspires gardeners and nature lovers alike.
After a couple of free days in the exciting city and a fantastic farewell dinner, the group will fly back to Perth.
But there is an option to extend the program with an Alaskan inside passage cruise, travelling from the seaport city through to Alaska, with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka.
AFGRI marketing manager Jacques Coetzee, who will lead the tour, said the itinerary was sure to create some fantastic memories for guests.
“After a lot of planning, I believe this tour has everything to provide a fantastic experience for our tour patrons,” Mr Coetzee said.
“Whether it’s touring the factories, attending the John Deere Classic or marvelling at the big cities, I think this tour has something for everyone.”
More information: contact Mr Coetzee on 0427 083 442 or jcoetzee@afgri.com.au, or your local AFGRI branch.