Local vendors enjoy community involvement, economic boost at the JDC
One of the defining features of summer in the Quad Cities is the John Deere Classic. For volunteers, JDC employees - and of course vendors - the event marks one of the busiest times of the year and gives a significant economic boost to local businesses, with the total economic impact of the Classic at $70M.
For several local companies, being a JDC vendor is not only good for business, it’s both fun and fulfilling.
“Whitey’s Ice Cream has participated in the John Deere Classic since about its second or third year in existence,” said Annika Tunberg of Whitey’s, whose headquarters is in Moline. “Our signature item that people always love is our Cherry Ace, which is Cherry Slush with a scoop of our Classic Vanilla Ice Cream.”
According to Marshal Lamb, Manager of Tournament Operations at the JDC, Whitey’s is a vendor that JDC fans look forward to every year. “On a hot day, it’s always a hit,” he said.
Tunberg says Whitey’s is incredibly proud to be part of the "wonderful tradition" that highlights the Quad Cities on a global stage. “Each year the excitement surrounding the John Deere Classic seems to grow, and as a vendor and sponsor we love being able to engage with the patrons and continue to offer our ice cream on the course,” she said. Among the other items Whitey’s offers is its John Deere Classic Ice Cream which was created with the JDC team for the tournament’s 50th anniversary a few years back. “The flavor is a mix of Lemon Custard and Lime Sherbet, giving it the perfect green and yellow color combination,” said Tunberg.
Known for beautifying the grounds at TPC Deere Run, Uncommon Ground of the Quad Cities provides the Classic with premier landscaping services including flowers, shrubs and stonework. “Once everything is placed throughout the property, Uncommon Ground comes in and adds some pop,” says Lamb. “They’re one of the best in the Quad Cities."
According to Mike Cavins of Uncommon Ground, Bettendorf, the process of preparing for the Classic begins in late winter, around March 1, with 10,000 plugs being planted specifically for tournament week in June/July.
"It takes about a week to get the flowers and shrubs planted, then we do special requests from the tournament staff, as well," he said, adding that about 80 - 100 cubic yards of mulch is used for the plantings. "When the tournament is over, almost everything goes back to the nursery, and we gift the flowers to volunteers."
Cavins said the company has been involved with the Classic since 2012, and looks forward to it every year. "We're grateful to be a part of it," he said. "We have 30 people on-site getting everything ready. It's a fun event for the company - really like a team-building activity," he said. Along with knowing they're doing something important in the community, he says his team enjoys working with the tournament staff and seeing the other vendors every year, "is like a reunion."
Cathy Edwards, of Edwards Creative, Milan, said their team - who created the popular giant golf balls and driver - has been involved with the JDC for the past 15 years. She said that what began as signage on the course has evolved in scope. "We now do far more carpentry, fabrication and brand ideation for the tournament. Working side-by-side with so many tremendous volunteers, tournament staff and other stakeholders continues to be such a rare opportunity and we are so grateful to be a part of it," she said.
In their bright yellow shirts, the Edwards team is highly visible during set-up week. From signs and banners to custom tee markers and life-size cutouts, Edwards designs, fabricates and installs nearly every element of signage seen at the Classic.
"We’re proud to be a part of an event that supports so many charities within our region through Birdies for Charity," said Edwards. "We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the John Deere Brand Team and the John Deere Tournament Office to bring so many brand activations to the course."