It’s a busy time of year, as Emmetts service teams work hard to support customers throughout harvest. Both John Deere and Emmetts invest heavily in training and supporting technicians to equip them with the necessary skills to provide vital backup to customers, and ensure operators are getting the best possible performance from their equipment.

The John Deere Technician Awards were established in 2021 to recognise the skill and dedication of high-performing techs across Australia and New Zealand. Technicians are nominated by their dealerships, with input from customers, and judged on their mechanical and technical expertise, as well as their previous accomplishments in the field or on the job.

Over 100 nominations are received each year across Australia and New Zealand, and Emmetts couldn’t be prouder that our own service technicians have taken the title of Australian Agriculture Service Technician of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.

Emmetts Horsham's Josh was named the 2021 Australian Agriculture Service Technician of the Year. The dual-tradesman and father-of-two has worked for Emmetts in the Wimmera region for 15 years.

"I am humbled by the win as it is very rewarding to be recognised in this way," Josh said. "Technicians work hard each day to do the best job we can for our customers, so even being named among the finalists meant a lot to me. The effort and dedication we all put into the job every day was acknowledged through these awards, which was wonderful to see. I think all the technicians who were nominated by their dealership should feel incredibly proud of their achievements, it's clear these people are highly regarded in their roles."

For Josh, whose day-to-day work is predominantly spent supporting broadacre farmers running multiple machines across the Wimmera region, the best part of his job is forming long-term relationships with customers and contributing to their business's productivity.

"We work really hard to ensure our customers and their machines are well supported, and, seeing them up and running efficiently is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do," Josh said. "As a tech, there is never a shortage of something new to learn as the machinery and technology is continuously improving and evolving. That's what has kept me interested in the job, I have become passionate about the technology, and enjoy upskilling myself to keep improving."

A few months ago, Emmetts Roseworthy’s Jaymee was named the 2022 Australian Agriculture Service Technician of the Year. The harvester-specialist’s interest in heavy machinery was first piqued when growing up near cane farms at Mossman, Far North Queensland, where her grandfather, Charlie Brischetto, showed her the ropes of John Deere harvesters. Today, she plays an essential role ensuring farmers' equipment is working at peak performance across her region's thriving broadacre agriculture and vineyard industries.

"For me, it was an honour just to be nominated for the awards," Jaymee said. "All technicians work incredibly hard so it's special to see that effort being recognised. I have always had a huge love for John Deere, when I was a kid I had John Deere merchandise all throughout my bedroom, so I feel the younger version of myself is very proud."

With a deep passion for her work, Jaymee is eager to see more young women seize the opportunities of completing mechanical trades within the farm sector. "Whenever I am attending career days, I am always trying to catch the attention of the girls and bring them over to explain the job," she said.

"Being a John Deere technician can be so rewarding, as you know you are helping our farmers maximise their uptime and get the most out of their machines. It's always a great feeling when you can tell a customer is really happy with your work."

Anton Elliott, Emmetts Group Aftermarket Manager, said “Both Josh and Jaymee represent a team of service technicians across Emmetts who are dedicated to supporting operators get the most out of their equipment, eager to learn and always willing to support and mentor each other. With the evolution and adoption of technology across our industry, machinery gets more efficient and sophisticated. Our teams work tirelessly to ensure operators are well supported and I am proud of Josh and Jaymee for being recognised in their fields.”