Caleb Dover (centre) with his team at the
AFGRI Equipment dealership in Western Australia. Image: John Deere
Returning for the fourth time, John Deere’s annual Technician of the Year Awards are set to recognise unsung heroes.
When Caleb Dover visited the Ulverstone Show in Tasmania as a young child, it set him on an award- winning career path.
For Dover, the day spent exploring the historic equipment in Ulverstone ignited a passion for restoring machinery, a journey that continues to this day, filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment.
He kept that passion as a young apprentice with Midland Tractors in Latrobe in Tasmania’s North West, where Dover was crowned John Deere’s inaugural Australian and New Zealand Parts Apprentice of the Year in 2021.
“At the time, when I was an apprentice, it felt like the pinnacle of my career,” he said.
“I care deeply about my customers, the John Deere brand, and making sure I always do my job to the absolute best of my ability, so winning the award and getting recognised for the care and effort I put in felt like a vindication of all that work.
“To this day, it still means a lot to me, and I look back on it as one of my proudest moments.”
Three years after that success, Dover has advanced his career and relocated to Western Australia, where he helps those in the Wheatbelt region as the parts manager for AFGRI Equipment in Wongan Hills.
While he may have moved to the other side of the country, his approach to the role is based on the same fundamentals that earned him award recognition three years ago. As he leads a team of four in the parts department, Dover has invested in professional development through John Deere University to expand his skill set.
“I’ve always focused on finding new solutions for customers, and this role allows me to do that,” Dover said.
“I enjoy having some younger people to mentor and encourage them to give that high level of customer service.
“My journey shows how you can end up in a management role in a completely different part of the country than you started because of the strong John Deere network.”
Caleb’s career journey and accomplishments are one of the many success stories that have emerged since John Deere launched its Technician of the Year Awards.
The awards recognise an Australian and New Zealand winner across several categories. The Service Apprentice and Parts Apprentice of the Year awards will be chosen from a combined pool of applicants from both countries.
In their fourth iteration, the awards will see finalists tested at John Deere’s Australian headquarters in early September before the award night is held at a gala dinner on September 5 in Brisbane.
“This year, contestants will complete additional technical testing before they can move to the in-person testing at our Crestmead head office, and they must also hit specific training targets,” John Deere Australia and New Zealand director of aftermarket and customer support Emma Ford said.
“We want to ensure our technicians are best equipped to meet the needs of our customers and John Deere’s ever-expanding portfolio of equipment.
“Continuous investment in building capabilities is key to what sets a John Deere technician apart, so it’s important our awards program assesses both the technicians’ technical skills and their commitment to ongoing training.”
Nominations have increased by 30 per cent compared to 2023, with more than 130 technicians being submitted across the eight award categories.
“We’re incredibly proud to highlight the invaluable service they provide and the role they play in helping industries and communities thrive,” Ford said.
Dover encouraged technicians to nominate for the event due to its positive impact on his career to date.
“Winning the award helped build trust, respect, and a better relationship with our customers, and it helped people understand that the service we offered was among the best in the country. We had the certificate to prove it,” he said. •
For more information, visit deere.com.au
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