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The QCBJ devotes the Newsmakers series to looking back on some of the biggest and most noteworthy stories we covered in 2025 across the Quad Cities region. Each story also includes a small update on the topic or news event. The stories are not ranked, but rather, appear in chronological order.
The original story ran in October of 2025
At this writing, John Deere’s Davenport Works was still awaiting its Assembly Plant of the Year banner from Assembly Magazine. But that didn’t stop the Davenport factory’s leaders and Moline-based Deere & Co. from celebrating the plant’s employees who made it happen in other ways.
That included a post on John Deere’s website that, in part, said: “Walk through the doors of John Deere Davenport Works and you’ll feel it immediately. The hum of precision. The rhythm of progress. The pride in every weld, every bolt, every machine rolling off the line. This isn’t just a factory. It’s a living legacy — one that’s constantly evolving.”
In addition, each employee also received a special hat to thank them for what they do, along with an information card with details about the award and why Davenport Works earned it, Deere & Co. said. Factory leadership also emailed employees about the award, announced it on digital signs, and shared the news in employee team meetings.
A story about the recognition appeared on John Deere Online, the company’s private internal intranet. A video also was created featuring several Davenport Works employees who shared their perspective on what the recognition meant and why Davenport Works earned it. It was shared throughout the company as well, Deere said.
