From front desk to top tech
Kirsten Rush may be an expert in John Deere parts, but it's with people she feels most comfortable.
"The customers are what make my job so special," she said.
"Understanding the challenges they go through and being able to help them out and support them, it's incredibly rewarding."
After working as a sales consultant at a local radio station in Ballarat, Vic, Kirsten joined the local Brandt John Deere dealership in 2017 "not even knowing what a tractor was".
Her people skills helped her develop lasting relationships with customers, firstly as a receptionist then in a Service Administration position, before moving into a role as a Parts Technician in 2022.
In just a short time, her skills continued growing to the point she was awarded the Parts Technician of the Year title at the 2024 John Deere Technician Awards.
"I was totally shocked to be a finalist, so to take out the win was quite unbelievable," Kirsten said.
"I'm a pretty humble person, so celebrating my achievements in front of a lot of people doesn't come naturally, but it is important to celebrate all the talented techs out there.
"Everyone I spent the week with during Tech Awards was amazing, and all the finalists thoroughly deserved to be there.
"When I started at Brandt in 2017, I could never have even imagined becoming a Parts Interpreter, let alone winning something like this. It was a daunting decision to make the leap into parts, but I've had a lot of support from some incredible people over my journey."
Kirsten's seven-year journey since joining Brandt has given her a deep appreciation of agriculture and the importance of providing timely and accurate support to keep farmers operational.
"It's been so important to learn and understand farming needs, the urgency around getting parts out quickly and efficiently and getting the right parts to the customer," she said.
"I will be telling everyone I meet to join this industry and get involved because it's amazing. It's a challenging industry, it's a challenging job, but it's incredibly rewarding and the people you meet and the relationships you build - that's what makes it special."
Kirsten's award was well deserved according to one of her long-term customers, Alastair Wills of Lake McLaren Farming in Victoria's Western District.
"Everyone in our business knows Kirsten is the one to go to," Mr. Wills said.
"She always gets the job done spot on, and goes above and beyond no matter the time and pressure she is under. Kirsten is always diligent, honest and enthusiastic. I could not speak more highly of her."