OLATHE, Kan. — To recognize the vital role that America’s farmers play in feeding the world this harvest season, John Deere is attempting a world-record at constructing a full-sized sculpture of its new S-Series combine from more than 300,000 cans of food at the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline, Ill.
According to Nicole Schneider, project manager, communications for John Deere Ag and Turf Division, the John Deere Project “Can Do” combine sculpture and food donation program are designed to raise awareness of the essential role farmers and ranchers play in producing safe, healthy and abundant food for a growing world population, while supplying much needed food supplies to a local food bank during the holiday season.
“With the global population expected to increase from 7 billion to more than 9 billion by 2050, farmers will need to increase food production by 70 percent while using the same amount of land, water and other resources,” said Schneider.
Project “Can Do” also gives consumers a chance to be a part of building the can sculpture by “virtually” creating cans of food, explains Richard Williamson, art director for John Deere Ag and Turf.
Participate
“Anyone interested in participating can go to the John Deere Facebook page www.facebook.com/JohnDeere to submit their name and a photograph, which will be wrapped around their virtual personalized food can as part of a virtual sculpture.”
The more than 300,000 cans of food needed to complete the sculpture are donated by John Deere with delivery from Hy-Vee Food Stores. When completed, the sculpture will be 60 feet wide, 80 feet long and 16 feet tall and will weigh nearly 170 tons.
The sculpture depicts John Deere’s new S-690 Combine, which is the world’s most powerful combine that can harvest more than 350 acres of grain a day.
Design
Helping to design the combine sculpture is a team from the Chicago office of architectural firm, RTKL. John Deere employees and retirees will also volunteer to assist with the overall project.
The combine-can sculpture will be on display at the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline from mid-November to mid-December.
All the canned food will be donated to the River Bend Foodbank when the sculpture is dismantled.
Help
For more information on the John Deere Project “Can Do,” visit www.JohnDeere.com or go to www.Facebook.com/JohnDeere for details on how to sponsor a can of food until Nov. 16.
