Beaudesert RDO Equipment’s Daniel Barnes has been nominated as Service Apprentice of the Year under this year’s John Deere Technician of the Year Awards.
The Awards program, established in 2021, recognises and celebrates the important role technicians play in keeping John Deere’s customers operating to support Australia’s vital agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Two dozen Australian finalists are in the running with more than 130 nominees from 69 dealerships locations put forwards for this year’s event.
Daniel’s 15 years of working on dairy farms globally gave him firsthand knowlegde of different farming equipment and technology, which he used to help drastically increase milk production as a team leader at Australia’s largest camel dairy.
His interest in diagnosing and repairing machines sparked a career change to the RDO Equipment John Deere dealership in Beaudesert, where he is now in the third year of his apprenticeship.
Daniel had extensive experience using equipment before joining RDO, particularly from his work in Germany, and said John Deere was always his favourite brand of machinery to use while farming.
His previous career has given him a deep understanding of the needs of customers, and he knows how important it is for their equipment to operate in a safe and efficient manner to help avoid downtime.
Daniel said helping customers also enables him to continue to grow as a technician and as a person, and is grateful for the team at RDO Beaudesert for creating such an enjoyable and collaborative environment.
He encouraged others thinking of becoming a technician to “hook in” and give it a go, and to utilise John Deere’s extensive learning platform and support system.”
Daniel alongside the other Australian finalists will travel to Brisbane in early September for a final round of intense judging where they will be tested on their ability to perform hands-on diagnostics and troubleshoot and solve technical issues on the spot.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, congratulated the finalists and recognised the huge value they bring to their dealerships, communities and the broader industries they support.
“Technicians require a unique combination of mechanical knowledge, proficiency in digital technology and advanced problem-solving skills to support customers’ operations, helping them to increase their uptime, enhance productivity and promote sustainable practices across their business,” Mr Chandler said.
“All the finalists should be extremely proud that their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellent customer service was recognised by their dealerships and congratulated on passing the first round of internal judging.
“We look forward to welcoming the finalists to our headquarters at Crestmead, where their diagnostic and problem-solving skills will be put to the test in a series of complex real-life scenarios.”
Eight titles will be awarded across five categories in the 2024 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards, which includes individual country awards for the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, Parts Technician of the Year, and Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Director of Aftermarket and Customer Support, Emma Ford, said while the group of Australian finalists were all individuals with exceptional skills, the one common thread was their commitment to their customers.
“This year, across our Australian finalists, we have a number of new entrants from all across the country, and we are pleased to welcome back several returning regional finalists and winners from previous years,” Ms Ford said.
“Some have come from traditional farming backgrounds and always had an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture or heavy machinery, whereas other finalists have made this career choice later in life.
“Regardless of their pathway to their current role, they are all deeply committed to delivering exceptional service for customers, and to making the most of all the opportunities they have to grow their career and excel in their field.”
The Award winners will be announced at the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards gala event on Thursday, 5 September 2024.
