Top techs bring home awards

Two South Island technicians claimed high titles on the third annual John Deere Technician of the 12 months Awards in Brisbane final week.

Rolleston-based Mark Haughton took out the Development & Forestry Technician of the 12 months Award whereas Blenheim’s Jimmy O’Donnell has been named New Zealand Elements Technician of the 12 months.

They had been amongst 5 finalists from South Island to make it by way of to the ultimate leg of the awards.

Haughton from Drummond & Etheridge in Rolleston received the title within the first 12 months of the John Deere Technician Awards in 2021 and is taken into account a pacesetter in his discipline.

He beat two from Australia technicians and a fellow Kiwi, Nick Fargher, from Fielding to win the award.

Haughton grew up with a love of equipment since childhood and changing into a technician was one thing of a calling.

He started his profession with an automotive apprenticeship, earlier than travelling to Western Australia to work within the mining business. He later returned house to New Zealand to work with John Deere.

“I work fairly laborious for patrons and love that it’s being rewarded.”

Nonetheless, Haughton stated probably the most rewarding a part of being a technician was the day by day interplay with prospects.

He additionally enjoys engaged on John Deere tools and utilizing full suite of accessible instruments to diagnose and restore machines.

A typical day sees him journey to a few of New Zealand’s most distant areas to get John Deere tools again up and operating.

Two years of laborious work and dedication have paid off for Jimmy O’Donnell from the Blenheim department of Drummond & Etheridge.

He beat Mollie Clarke from Gisborne for the NZ Elements Technician of the 12 months Award within the finals.

O’Donnell first developed a fascination for equipment whereas rising up on his household’s farm. After eleven years working as a service technician for a photocopier firm, he noticed a job commercial for a components technician at his native John Deere dealership and made the leap to agricultural equipment.

Two years on he’s received the Elements Technician of the 12 months title and is “stoked” with the title.

“Probably the most rewarding half about being a John Deere technician is the shopper interplay and offering the components that the shoppers ask for – as soon as they get them of their hand, they stroll away pleased.”

O’Donnell stated he had all the time been fascinated by equipment and loved the problem-solving side of his job.