The Waterloo Black Hawks’ annual John Deere Weekend is this Friday and Saturday – featuring unique, new John Deere jerseys and discounted tickets for Deere employees – during home games against the Tri-City Storm at Young Arena.

The Hawks will take the ice in the special sweaters for both 7:05 p.m. games. Following Saturday’s matchup, the jerseys will be sold at auction to benefit local chapters of Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters. This is the 10th edition of Waterloo’s annual John Deere jersey.

“For nearly 100 years, John Deere has been committed to making the Cedar Valley a better place,” said Black Hawks Vice President of Sales and Marketing Joe Greene. “The Black Hawks are proud to partner with Deere and Company in working toward that end, and because our organization strives for the same level of consistent quality to which Deere customers around the world are accustomed.”

The trademark “leaping deer” green and yellow logo returns to a prominent place on the chest of the primarily white 2017 jerseys. The bottom of the uniform, the collar, and the cuffs are fringed in green, while the shoulders and sleeves are highlighted by a camouflage pattern. Matching camouflage bands ring the midsection. The Black Hawks’ logo appears on the top of each shoulder. Sleeve numbers are white, outlined in green. Letters and numbers on the back of the sweaters are green, outlined in gold.

Last winter, the Deere jersey auction benefited Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters for the first time, generating a donation total of nearly $6,000, which the groups shared. Junior Achievement helps introduce real-world business concepts to students, with the goal of inspiring them to seek academic and career success. John Deere was instrumental in founding the Cedar Valley Junior Achievement chapter during the 1970’s. Big Brothers Big Sisters helps to grow mentor relationships by matching youths with adult volunteers. Research indicates children and young adults participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are statistically less likely to try drugs, skip school, or react violently to a stressful situation.

All fans in attendance during John Deere Weekend are encouraged to visit the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum at 500 Westfield Avenue, just blocks from Young Arena. Anyone displaying their Deere Weekend Black Hawks ticket between February 4th and February 11th will receive $1 museum admission. For more details about the Tractor & Engine Museum, call (319) 292-6126.

Hockey tickets for Deere employees and their families are just $8 for the matchups against Tri-City on February 3rd and 4th. To order, call the Domino’s Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680. Additional details are also available online from waterlooblackhawks.com.

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