Brandt Employee's Win John Deere Awards

In 2021, the John Deere Technician Awards were established to honour the dedication and expertise exhibited in the Agriculture, Turf, Construction, and Forestry sectors in New Zealand and Australia. These awards now annually recognise the accomplishments of apprentices, as well as qualified parts and service technicians, with hundreds of nominations pouring in each year.

There are five distinct award categories for competition: Agriculture & Turf Technician of the Year, Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year, Parts Technician of the Year, Service Apprentice of the Year, and Parts Apprentice of the Year. These categories provide a comprehensive overview of excellence in the industry year after year.

Although the awards have only been running for three years, Brandt Australia and New Zealand have already established a rich tradition of representation at the annual awards. In 2021, Bryce Dickson earned the title of New Zealand Ag & Turf Technician of the Year, and Cass Brown was crowned the 2021 John Deere Parts Technician of the Year. The following year, Sarah Lewis secured the Australian Parts Technician of the Year award in 2022, and Adam Kent claimed the title of Turf Technician of the Year. This year's event in Brisbane continued the trend, with six regional finalists from Brandt competing in late August.

Sarah Lewis from Brandt Terang, Australia, and Mollie Clarke of Brandt Gisborne, New Zealand, represented Brandt in the Parts Technician of the Year finals in their respective countries. Sarah, who won the award for the second year in a row for Australia, is celebrated for her problem-solving skills and leadership within the Brandt Terang branch. Meanwhile, Mollie is known for her excellent communication and extensive knowledge of John Deere equipment. Her passion for teamwork and competitive hockey extends to her job, and she credits her growth to the support of her Gisborne teammates.

Bryce Dickson from Brandt Whangarei clinched the NZ Ag Service Technician of the Year title for the second time, having also won it in the inaugural 2021 competition. Bryce transitioned from the automotive industry to agriculture during the global financial crisis.

Aaron Roberts from Brandt Ballarat, Australia, and Tom Fyfe from Brandt Rotorua, New Zealand, competed in the Service Apprentice of the Year finals. Both embarked on their John Deere Technician apprenticeships last year. Aaron, a former light vehicle mechanic, sought more variety in his career and found it as a John Deere service technician. Tom, with 15 years of experience in agricultural parts and 8 years as a Parts Manager, shifted to a heavy diesel apprenticeship, leveraging his prior knowledge.

Nick Fargher from Brandt Fielding made his second appearance in the John Deere Tech awards, but this time as a Brandt employee. Born into a family of machinery enthusiasts, Nick's passion for mechanics started early. After working with various brands, he fell in love with John Deere products and shifted to exclusively working on Construction & Forestry products in 2020.

All competitors valued the learning experience and the opportunity to connect with others in the industry during the competition. Many emphasised that it's not just about the competition but also about learning, networking, and building friendships within the industry. Bryce aptly summed it up, stating, "It's great that John Deere celebrates the work we do as technicians. It makes me feel like we are a part of the team, and they create a challenging competition for us."

Overall, all the finalists have done Brandt proud and represented the company admirably. We eagerly anticipate what 2024 will bring.