Founding Member to Open the 2026 “Gathering of the Green”
Ken Reese
Longtime Gathering planner and founding member, Ken Reese will welcome everyone to the 2026 Gathering at the Opening Night Reception on Wednesday, March 18. Ken is one of the original Gathering planners and has been on the planning board since before the first Gathering in 2000. He is a retired high school administrator, John Deere collector and restorer and member of a John Deere dealer family. In addition to extending a warm welcome, Ken will share some Gathering history as well as a bit of personal John Deere family information. Come and enjoy refreshments, join old friends and make new ones as we kick off the 12th Gathering of the Green conference.
Gathering of the Green Banquet Speaker – Saturday, March 21
David Jones
The Gathering 2026 banquet keynote speaker, David Jones, a near 20-year career employee with Deere & Company, held a range of positions within the ag and marketing communications group. David is a former editor of the The Furrow Magazine, a legendary publication since 1895 and current host of Deere’s On Life & Land podcast. He played a critical role in the development of the messaging introducing the 9960 cotton picker, as well as the 5D and 5E Series utility tractors and implemented and oversaw the partnership between Deere and custom auto builder Chip Foose, ultimately leading to the design and construction of the Foose 4020 tractor now on display at the Waterloo factory. David also co-produced Deere’s first public-facing podcast, which attracted 40,000 listeners during its first year.
Gathering attendees will enjoy hearing about aspects of David’s many years with the company in a variety of interesting and important positions as he focuses on John Deere: A Uniquely American Brand.
David Jones retired from Deere & Company in January, 2020 and now lives in east Tennessee. He considers the trust placed in him with any degree of stewardship of the John Deere brand to be one of the greatest honors of his professional life, and he has spoken to groups ranging in size from dozens to hundreds about the history of Deere & Company and of The Furrow.
Plan to attend the banquet on Saturday night for an enjoyable evening as David shares his experience and insight into the history of a venerable American company.
Gathering attendees will enjoy hearing about aspects of David’s many years with the company in a variety of interesting and important positions as he focuses on John Deere: A Uniquely American Brand.
David Jones retired from Deere & Company in January, 2020 and now lives in east Tennessee. He considers the trust placed in him with any degree of stewardship of the John Deere brand to be one of the greatest honors of his professional life, and he has spoken to groups ranging in size from dozens to hundreds about the history of Deere & Company and of The Furrow.
Plan to attend the banquet on Saturday night for an enjoyable evening as David shares his experience and insight into the history of a venerable American company.