John Deere’s annual awards highlight the work of its top technicians across a range of industries
Five Australian technicians have taken home trophies at the fifth annual John Deere Technician of the Year Awards.
From a technician who started their career in Romania, to one now working in Roma, the winners demonstrated an outstanding excellence over two days of rigorous testing at John Deere’s headquarters at Crestmead, south of Brisbane. This year’s successful technicians also included a major first, with New Zealand’s Bryce Dickson becoming the first person to take home a trophy in three separate years.
The categories honoured at the 2025 awards were:
- Australian Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
- New Zealand Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
- Australian and New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year
- Australian and New Zealand Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year
- Australian and New Zealand Service Apprentice of the Year
- Australian and New Zealand Parts Apprentice of the Year
John Deere Australia and New Zealand managing director Luke Chandler says the awards recognised the technicians’ skills and their vital contribution in the industries they serve.
“Congratulations to all our Australian winners, who have shown exceptional technical knowledge, customer focus and ability to solve problems under pressure,” he says.
“They are the people who keep our customers moving every day and it’s fantastic to see their talent and hard work acknowledged.
“I also want to recognise every finalist who competed. The finals process is rigorous and designed to test even the most experienced technicians.
“To reach the finals is a huge achievement and speaks volumes about the capability and commitment of each participant.”
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news in the earthmoving industry
- Never miss a great deal and subscribe to our monthly magazine
- Download a free copy of our latest digital magazine to catch up on the biggest news and developments in the earthmoving industry
Chandler says that this year’s finalists represent the next generation of service excellence in agriculture, construction and forestry.
“Their professionalism and problem-solving ability ensure farmers, contractors and businesses can achieve more with their equipment,” he says.
“I would also like to extend my congratulations to Bryce Dickson, from Brandt, Whangārei, New Zealand, for taking home the New Zealand Agriculture and Turf Service Technician of the Year Award for the third time.
“Bryce is committed to being the best in his field by consistently challenging himself and continuing to grow his technical expertise in John Deere’s suite of precision ag technology and equipment.”
John Deere Australia and New Zealand customer support business manager Marko Koelln says this year’s winners and finalists reflect the diversity of people entering and excelling in technical careers.
“Our finalists come from a wide range of backgrounds, with many starting their careers in different industries before finding their calling as technicians,” Koelln says.
“What unites them all is a passion for learning, a drive to deliver great service, and a genuine connection to the customers and communities they support.
“That’s what makes these awards so important. They shine a light on the people who keep our customers running.”
John Deere Australian Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
Daniel Popovici, AFGRI Equipment, Albany, Western Australia
Starting his career with a John Deere dealership in Romania more than 10 years ago, Daniel Popovici grew up around machinery and was exposed to engines, tools and the process of diagnosing and fixing machines, which made him curious about understanding how things work and ignited his passion for modern machinery and technology.
Now working for the AFGRI Equipment dealership in Albany, Western Australia, Popovici’s positive attitude to his role and his commitment to advancing his technical skills has resulted in him taking out the prestigious 2025 John Deere Australian Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, John Deere says.
Popovici says it was an honour to win and be recognised as Australia’s top service technician.
“This is a huge boost,” he says.
“As a technician, we do our jobs, and we don’t always receive thanks.
“This event is amazing, and it really feels good to be recognised for those long hours through harvest and those long weekends – it’s seven days a week and it’s absolutely amazing to win.”
Popovici’s win is not only going to be celebrated here in Australia, but also in Romania where both his father and brother work at the local John Deere dealership. Their shared passion for the brand and the industry motivates Popovici to continually improve his skills and uphold the high standards valued by his family.
“My father will be extremely proud, as he already was when the finalists were announced,” Popovici says.
“He actually went to a job and the customer said, ‘hey I saw Daniel on John Deere’s Facebook’.
“That day exploded. I got so many messages and calls from people who I haven’t spoken to for years, so it’s been a great experience overall.”
John Deere Australian & New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year
Poppy Blohm, AFGRI Equipment, Narrogin, Western Australia
From winning the Parts Apprentice of the Year Award in 2023, Poppy Blohm’s career has not only progressed, but flourished, with her strong work ethic and exceptional customer service skills seeing her awarded the 2025 John Deere Australian & New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year.
While Blohm is no stranger to the spotlight, she says she was very happy and surprised to hear her name called out during the Awards ceremony.
“I was surprised last time I won, and I’m surprised tonight too,” she says.
Her path to being a technician was not a typical one for the Perth native, who had no exposure to farm machinery until going to Ag school in Harvey, WA, before working at the local grain handling facility. When a job beckoned at AFGRI Equipment in Narrogin, Blohm grabbed onto it with both hands and hasn’t looked back.
“Farming is these people’s livelihoods, and when they’re down, they’re broken down, it affects their mood and it affects their mentality,” she says.
“As silly as it sounds, giving them a tiny little part that might get them up and running again, means a lot to them and that’s the satisfaction and biggest return.”
When she’s not at work, Blohm enjoys spending time with her animals, a lifelong love inspired by her mum, who was a vet. She has two horses, Magic (an off-the-track Thoroughbred) and Flora (a Clydesdale–Thoroughbred cross), along with a miniature Dachshund named Brandy.
John Deere Australian & New Zealand Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year Damian Aspinall, RDO Equipment, Roma, Queensland
Usually, a trifecta is a good thing, until you get three ducks (and a diamond duck) at the start of your first cricket season in a new club, in a new town, and an award is created in your honour. That’s what happened to Damian Aspinall when he relocated to Roma in Western Queensland and made an immediate impression with his teammates – just not on the scoreboard.
Thankfully, he’s scored more runs since, and his career as a John Deere technician has also taken off – bagging the 2025 John Deere Australian & New Zealand Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year Award.
Growing up in Richmond, in North West Queensland, Aspinall lived a life many children would envy given his proximity to large machinery. His grandfather had a small earthmoving business and when his father bought a grader when he was 12, the passion for machinery and mechanics was ignited. He later started an apprenticeship with the local council, where he was first exposed to John Deere equipment after a 770G grader was added to the fleet.
After relocating to Roma two-and-a-half years ago and securing a role with RDO Equipment, Aspinall says he was excited to learn new skills on the range of John Deere construction equipment. He also paid tribute to the strength and camaraderie of his friends and colleagues in Roma.
“I’m over the moon,” he says.
“This award is a big thanks to all the team back in Roma. Without them I wouldn’t be here. Everyone in the team relies on everyone and we all learn from each other.”
When asked about his career aspirations, mentoring the dealership’s apprentices was at the top of his list.
“I just want to continue doing what I am doing and helping the apprentices come along and for them to reach their best potential,” he says.
“We’ve got three apprentices back at Roma. They’re all good young fellows and it would be a great feeling to sign them all off.”
John Deere Australian & New Zealand Service Apprentice of the Year
Henry Barkley, Haeusler’s, Mildura, Victoria
After school holidays spent helping on his uncle’s farm near the Barossa Valley and just one week of work experience at the local John Deere dealership, Henry Barkley’s decision was cemented to pursue a career in the agriculture industry.
During a school-based apprenticeship, Barkley worked at his local John Deere dealership before moving from South Australia to start a role at the Haeusler’s Mildura branch in Victoria. Four years on, his decision is now reaping benefits, being named the 2025 John Deere Australian & New Zealand Service Apprentice of the Year.
Barkley says he still remembers the advice he received back in those early days on the farm.
“My uncle always said, ‘don’t give up when times are tough’,” Barkley says.
“Jobs can be challenging, and you get tough customers, but just keep pushing through, there’s always a solution.
“It’s a matter of working it out and getting through it, and his advice helped me a lot with that.”
It’s been a big year for Barkley, who has not only won the John Deere Service Apprentice of the Year Award, but has also moved interstate and bought his first home with his partner Jaymee Ireland, who won the John Deere Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year Award in 2022.
“I’m pretty excited and honoured and feel like I’ve come along way,” Barkley says.
“I’m quite blown away and proud of the journey I’ve taken.”
John Deere Australian & New Zealand Parts Apprentice of the Year
Olivia Barsley, Hutcheon & Pearce, Cowra, New South Wales
For someone who grew up in Perth’s CBD with no direct connection to agriculture, Olivia Barsley’s interest in showing livestock was her first introduction to the agriculture industry and she hasn’t looked back.
After completing school, there were no specific university courses that interested Barsley, so she moved to New South Wales where she completed a Certificate III in Agriculture at Tocal College.
Gaining a hands-on experience on cattle stations, feedlots and mixed farms, she pursued a career with John Deere dealership Hutcheon & Pearce in Cowra, NSW, leading her to win the title of the 2025 John Deere Australian & New Zealand Parts Apprentice of the Year.
“I really still can’t believe it,” she says.
“But it’s really thanks to everyone at work pushing me to get out and have a go.”
The same supportive team has encouraged Barsley throughout her journey and was the catalyst for her nomination in the NSW Training Awards, where she also won the 2025 Trainee of the Year for the Western Region.
Every day brings something different, with Barsley saying likes the pressure of having to get machines back up and running quickly for customers.
“The most rewarding part of my day is probably seeing that customer satisfaction,” she says.
“Seeing the customer walk through the door and leave with a smile and never knowing what’s going to come in the door.”