Canterbury Farmer Builds on 160 Years of Dairy Legacy
Gareth Hale is the current custodian of a 160-year legacy that saw his great grandfather dairying in Taranaki since the mid-1850s and grandfather dairying in the Waikato from the early 1900s.
These include Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year, Parts Technician of the Year, Service Apprentice of the Year and Parts Apprentice of the Year.
Judges say the competition across all categories this year is among the strongest seen since the inception of the program in 2021, with finalists representing a mix of emerging talent and experienced professionals from dealerships across Australia and New Zealand.
John Deere director of aftermarket and customer support, Steph Gersekowski, said the stories behind this year’s submissions were incredibly powerful, demonstrating the real-world impact technicians have on customers and the communities they serve.
“We saw examples of technicians going above and beyond to support customers, often in critical situations, where keeping equipment operating had a direct impact on a customer’s business,” Gersekowski said. “Those outcomes don’t happen by chance. They are the result of dealerships creating environments where people can develop their skills, embrace new technologies and build long-term careers.”
The regional finalists will now progress to the next stage of the competition, with winners to be announced at the John Deere Technician of the Years Awards gala event in Brisbane in September.
The New Zealand finalists for the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year Award include James Doherty of Drummond & Etheridge, Rolleston and Thomas Fyfe, of Brandt, Rotorua.
James is a farm kid who grew up with John Deere tractors, started out completing work experience with his local dealership. Today, the 26-year-old is a field technician, known for his exceptional product knowledge and outstanding attitude, which sees customers frequently requesting James specifically to work on their machines.
Thomas Fyfe of Brandt, Rotorua, is originally from Pukekohe, who after more than 15 years as a parts manager, expanded his skills by taking on an adult apprenticeship. Today, as a qualified service technician, Tom is committed to making each customer’s experience as positive as possible by holding himself and his work to a high standard and takes pride in cultivating a positive environment.
