Planning a summer getaway?

Are you thinking about taking a car trip this summer? If you are and you can convince your wife to spend time looking at farm machinery, I have a couple of destination suggestions.

First, this is John Deere's 175^th corporate birthday. And the company has updated its tourist-oriented John Deere Pavillion in Moline, Illinois. The attraction had a major makeover earlier this year. So if you've been there before, it should be a completely new experience this time.

The Pavillion includes a variety of displays. There is ag and construction equipment on show, equipment simulators so you can practice your technique on an excavator, or just wander around and learn about the company's rich 175-year history.

Then there is the John Deere historic site, which includes, believe it or not, an archeological dig of John Deere's original blacksmith shop. It's in East Decatur, Illinois, not that far from the pavillion.

You can also take tours of Deere's tractor assembly plants in Waterloo, Iowa, or its harvester works in East Moline, Illinois.

And if Massey Ferguson red or Challenger yellow is your favourite color, AGCO management is hoping their new “Intivity Center” in Jackson, Minnesota, will catch your attention.

On June 7^th, Most of AGCO's senior management in North America were at the Jackson tractor and sprayer assembly plant for the grand opening ceremony of the new “Intivity Center”, which is a 17,000-square-foot facility designed to welcome visitors. I, along with several members of the farm media, was there as well to attend the ribbon cutting.

The Intivity Center includes a variety of displays that chronicle the history of the Massey Ferguson, Challenger, RoGator and TerraGator machines built at the attached plant. You can schedule a free tour of the assembly plant and then go through the visitors center. Of course there is a gift shop and bistro there, too.

An overall look at the Intivity Center at AGCO's Jackson, Minnesota, tractor and sprayer assembly plant

Jackson is a three-hour drive southeast of Minneapolis. If your family is bugging you to take them to the gigantic Mall of America in that city, maybe you can rent a car and slip away to Jackson for they day while they rack up your credit card debt.

For more information on John Deere's attractions, check out www.deere.com. For details on AGCO's jackson facility go to http://jackson.AGCOcorp.com.

Scott