Liam top of the C&F tree
For Liam Gee, being a John Deere technician is all about variety.
The Construction & Forestry specialist, based at the Drumond & Etheridge dealership in Blenheim at the top of New Zealand's South Island, said no two days are the same in his role.
"I get to work on so much really cool gear, from log skidders to bulldozers to graders," he said.
"One day I'll be in the workshop carrying out repairs, the next I'll be two hours away in the middle of a forest repairing a machine.
"My job takes me to some really cool locations, and I get to work on the great products that John Deere produces."
Liam's passion and expertise led him to being crowned the New Zealand Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year at the 2024 John Deere Technician Awards, a result which came as a surprise to the 25-year-old.
"It feels amazing but quite shocking — I never expected this to happen," he said.
"I thought the other finalist in my category had the edge on me, as I was a bit unsure how I did in some of the tests, but I'm proud I pushed through and must've done pretty well!
"There's a lot of people behind the scenes who have helped me get to this point, like branch managers, service managers, other techs in our dealership etc.
"The Tech Awards was a great experience and the chance to meet a lot of cool people and other like-minded experts in their fields."
Liam received endorsement for the award nomination from one his regular customers, Mike Lagrutta.
"Liam's communication is excellent, as is his knowledge of the John Deere products," Mike said.
"He sticks at tricky jobs to ensure he comes out with great results. Liam always shows integrity and is invested in this industry, giving his best and always being willing to learn."
Liam grew up around machinery and always had a keen interest in figuring out how things worked.
He approached the Service Manager at his local John Deere dealership about the potential to undertake work experience after he finished school, which developed into an apprenticeship, and six years later, Liam is now New Zealand's leading Construction & Forestry Technician for John Deere equipment.