John Deere Birthday Party Theme Ideas

Ideas for a John Deere Tractor Birthday Party Theme.  Ideas for John Deere invitations, decorations, food, activities, games, goody bags and party favors.

John Deere Invitations Print out party information on large rectangular labels and stick to the side of a box of animal cookies/crackers. Print out party information on note cards or postcards with the John Deere logo on the front and then wrap in a green bandana.  Ask guests to wear the bandana to the party. Cow cards can be made easily by drawing black spots on white note cards or gluing construction paper spots to the cards. Here are some cute John Deere invitations we found online - John Deere Invitations

John Deere Party Decorations
The main colors for the John Deere party should be yellow and green with black accents.  Cover the party table in a green table cloth and use yellow plates (wheels) with black cutlery.  On the table place hay bales or John Deere tractors and tie green, yellow and black helium balloons to them.  Or you can place bright yellow sunflowers in mason jars (or glass vases) on the table and tie with a green bandana or ribbon.  Place black or green rocks, pebbles or marbles at the bottom of the container that holds the flowers. 

John Deere Activities
Animal Treasure Hunt - Hide items that are numbered for the guests to search for during the treasure hunt.  Most of the items will have a number that corresponds to a prize that they can trade the animal in for during the treasure hunt.  Before the party buy lots of small plastic farm animals (or you could also use John Deere Tractor cutouts) and write numbers on most of them that correspond to the prizes you are giving out.  Then hide the animals around the party area, backyard or park.  Have the guests go on a Treasure hunt to find the lost animals.  When they bring them back they will get a prize - or you can let them keep the animal they find.  You can also turn it into a chicken egg hunt by using plastic Easter eggs.

John Deere Hayride - Take the birthday guests on a hayride.  If you don't have access to a trailer you can fill the back of a pickup or large wagon with hay. 

Petting Zoo or Pony Rides are always fun at a birthday party and this would be a great way for children to experience animals that they would have on a farm.

Tractor Pictures - If you have a John Deere tractor or know of someone who does take pictures of the party guests in the drivers seat.  Print them out before the party ends for them to take home as a favor or include them in the thank you note.

John Deere Party Games
Dress up relay - Gather two sets of clothes including overalls, cowboy boots, cowboy or John Deere hat, sunglasses, flannel shirt, etc. and place them in two separate piles a good distance from where the teams will start.  Divide party guests into 2 teams and have them line up behind each other at the start line.  The object is for the first person in line from each team to run to the pile of clothes, put everything on, run back to their team and tag them ... then run back to the pile and take off the items.  They then run back to their line and tag the first person in line and that person continues the relay until everyone has had a turn. 

Hay Bale Obstacle Course - Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or the park using hay bales and other items such as swing sets, trampolines, slides, hula hoops, etc.  Set up a course that goes over, under, around and through the area.  You can set up teams to compete against each other or use a stop watch and time each of the party guests.   When they have run through it a few times you can change it by having them run through it backwards, on their hands and knees or walking. 

Horseshoes - Horseshoes is a fun game and one that is easy for everyone to play.  How to play horseshoes.     

Wheelbarrow Race - This is a fun relay type race to play with two teams.  Players choose partners and the first child gets on their hands and knees while the second player grabs their feet and lifts their feet off the ground.  They run wheelbarrow style around a marker (a hay bale would be fun ... use a real one or spray paint a box yellow to look like one) or a cone at the opposite side of the play area and then back to their team so the next pair can go.

Water the Crops - This is a fun relay and kids love it ... careful, they can get wet!   You will need Two large tubs filled with water and two smaller containers that are equal in size.  The idea is to get water from the larger containers, run across an area (more then 20 feet) and put the water into the smaller containers.  The team that fills their container first wins.  There are several ways to do this - you can transfer the water using spoons, sponges or, our personal favorite, plastic cups with a few holes punched in the bottom.  Divide the guests into two teams and have them line up behind one another.  One by one they take their "water carrier" and dip it into the big bucket - run across the play area and then put the water into the smaller container.  Then they run back and hand off to the next player on their team.  This continues until one team has filled their water container to the top - or to a pre-determined mark.

Cow Patty Toss - You will need brown Frisbees and several hula hoops or large baskets for this game.  Divide the party guests into 2 teams and have them line up behind one another at one side of the play area.  At the other side of the play area place hula hoops or large baskets in a pyramid shape - these are the targets that they will be throwing their "cow patty" into to score points.  Tag each target with a different point value.  Give each player three tries to make as many points as they can.  This game can be played individually too.  * You can use brown bean bags instead of the Frisbees.

Needle in a Haystack - You will need a large container full of hay, Styrofoam peanuts, raffia or shredded newspaper and something for the party guests to find - the "needle" - such as small toys, candies or John Deere stickers on yellow paper.  We do not recommend using a real needle or anything that is sharp and pointy.  Hide the items in the container and let the party guest search for them.  Give them a time limit and see how many they can find.

John Deere Party Food Ideas
Set out small galvanized silver buckets with snack food such as chips, candies or fruit kabobs. 
Pigs in a Blanket
Homemade Ice Cream
Apple Pie
Watermelon
Chicken Nuggets