Career Change Pays Off for Two-time Winner
Two out of three ain't bad for Bryce Dickson, who was named New Zealand Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year for the second time at the 2023 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards.
The Field Technician at the Brandt John Deere dealership in Whangārei won the title in 2021 and was also a finalist at the 2022 Awards, prior to once again claiming the top honour at the Awards gala event in Brisbane in late August.
"I can't quite believe I've managed to win it again!" Bryce said.
"The first time was at the height of COVID-19 with a virtual awards ceremony, so it's really nice to be back in person to enjoy the win.
"I had a few people saying to not bother coming back home unless I win the gold! It's awesome to be able to go back having really stamped my mark on the competition, particularly given the standard of talent this year and the difficulty of testing.
"It's great that John Deere celebrates the work we do as technicians. It really makes a difference to receive this kind of recognition — I even had customers congratulating me several months after my win in 2021!"
The self-professed 'petrol head' began tinkering with cars at an early age, leading to a career in the automotive industry. The Global Financial Crisis sparked his move into the agricultural sector, where Bryce was able to transfer many of his skills from cars to tractors.
"The ag industry was bustling at the time, and while it was a steep learning curve, looking back I think it's the area I should've been working in right from the start of my career," he said.
"A lot of my work in car dealerships was monotonous and repetitive, so the dynamic and challenging nature of working in ag was instantly appealing.
"Whether it's diagnosing complex problems with tractors, tackling precision agriculture technologies, or optimising equipment performance, each day presents new opportunities to learn and grow.
"The critical role we play in keeping farmers' tractors operational adds a sense of urgency and purpose to our work. I take immense satisfaction in knowing that I have contributed to enhancing their efficiency, productivity, and overall success."
New Zealand's leading grower of kumara (sweet potato), Fieldco, operates a fleet of John Deere tractors, and Bryce has worked closely with them to help increase productivity and meet sustainability goals using John Deere precision ag technology.
"Bryce's methodical diagnostic skills and knowledge of tractor operating systems has been instrumental in implementing new projects and solving complex problems," Jamie Doouss, Fieldco Crop Manager, said.
"Bryce is a great advocate for John Deere's Operations Centre which we can view on our phones to check work outputs, status of machines and receive machine alerts from. He has shown us how to use GPS data in Operations Centre to create elevation maps to identify problem areas in our paddocks.
"His diligence and work ethic are appreciated. Bryce knows farming is not an eight-to-five job and we often have small weather windows to work in, so he reacts accordingly to keep us moving."
Bryce said approaching your local John Deere Dealership was the best way of gaining hands-on experience and understanding of the technician role.
"Most of them are more than happy to take on people for work experience," he said.
"It gives you a good idea of what the job's about and what the day-to-day would look like.
"John Deere's commitment to training and providing top-notch technical support is unparalleled in the industry — it's why I chose to work with them.
"The support you get from the company gives you the confidence to go out in the field and talk to customers, and it makes you look better because you know what you're talking about!
"Being part of the John Deere team has been truly rewarding. Their equipment is known for its advanced technology, reliability, and exceptional performance. I feel fortunate to be part of a company that values knowledge and expertise."