Five Emmetts team members have been recognised among Australia and New Zealand's best technicians and apprentices, earning finalist positions in the 2026 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards. The achievement highlights the depth of technical expertise, customer commitment, and emerging talent across Emmetts' South Australian and Victorian branch network.

Emmetts is proud to announce that five team members have been named finalists in the 2026 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards, recognising some of the most skilled service and parts professionals across Australia and New Zealand.

The awards celebrate technical excellence, customer service, and professional development within the John Deere dealer network, with finalists selected from dealerships across agriculture, turf, construction, and forestry industries.

Representing Emmetts in this year's awards are:

Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year

• Luke Gray – Kadina, SA
• Robb Burrows – Murray Bridge, SA

Parts Technician of the Year

• Alex Tyler – Murray Bridge, SA

Service Apprentice of the Year

• Ilias Apostolidis – Cummins, SA
• Kyle Burns – Horsham, VIC

The recognition reflects not only the individual achievements of each finalist, but also Emmetts' ongoing commitment to developing highly skilled technicians and apprentices who help keep customers operating when it matters most.

Technical Excellence Across the Emmetts Network

The five finalists represent a diverse mix of experience, backgrounds, and career journeys, united by a shared commitment to supporting customers and continuously developing their technical expertise.

Luke Gray from Kadina has been recognised in the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician category less than a year after completing his apprenticeship. Entering the trade with no prior mechanical experience, Luke's dedication to learning and continuous improvement has seen him quickly establish himself as a highly capable technician.

Murray Bridge Regional Master Technician Robb Burrows returns as a finalist after also reaching the final stage of the awards in 2025. With nearly two decades of industry experience across New Zealand and Australia, Robb is recognised not only for his advanced diagnostic capabilities but also for his leadership and mentoring of fellow technicians.

Also from Murray Bridge, Parts Technician Alex Tyler has been named a finalist in the Parts Technician of the Year category. Known for his professionalism, reliability, and commitment to customer support, Alex consistently goes above and beyond to source critical parts and keep customers working during time-sensitive periods such as harvest.

At Cummins on the Lower Eyre Peninsula, fourth-year apprentice Ilias Apostolidis has earned recognition in the Service Apprentice category. Drawing on experience from his family's farming background and previous engineering and manufacturing work, Ilias has embraced advanced diagnostics and precision agriculture technology while building strong relationships with customers.

Horsham-based apprentice Kyle Burns rounds out the Emmetts finalists. After a 20-year career installing auto electrical systems in emergency service vehicles, Kyle made the transition into agricultural machinery and has quickly become a valued member of the Emmetts team, recently taking on a leadership role supporting fellow apprentices.

Supporting Customers Every Day

While technical capability is central to the awards, the judging process also places significant emphasis on customer outcomes.

John Deere noted that many finalist submissions included customer testimonials highlighting the role technicians play in helping businesses overcome challenges, minimise downtime, and maximise productivity.

For Emmetts, that customer focus is at the heart of what the service and parts teams do every day.

Whether supporting growers during harvest, diagnosing complex machine issues, sourcing urgent parts, or helping customers adopt new technology, technicians and apprentices play a critical role in helping farmers and contractors keep their operations running.

Looking Ahead

The finalists will now progress to the next stage of judging before winners are announced at the 2026 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards Gala on 3 September 2026.

Congratulations to Luke, Robb, Alex, Ilias, and Kyle on this outstanding achievement and for representing Emmetts, their branches, and their local communities on the national stage.

We wish all finalists the very best for the final judging process!