2022 · John Deere may be in some hot water as a worker sues the company alleging that his coworkers and supervisors subjected him to racist jokes and threats for years. An article in the Des Moines Register says that Johnnie Ray Hogan III worked at John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny since 2010. Johnnie Hogan started his employment with John Deere in September 2010, when on day one, he was called a racial slur, according to the lawsuit filed June 29 in the Iowa District Court for.