A Te Puke apprentice who refused to leave the industry he loves after a life-changing accident has been named a finalist in a major transtasman awards programme.

Logan Dobbs, a parts apprentice with Brandt in Te Puke, is among 30 regional finalists in the 2026 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards, recognised in the Parts Apprentice of the Year category, a media release on behalf of John Deere said.

Dobbs grew up on a dairy farm on New Zealand’s North Island, developing an early passion for agriculture and heavy machinery.

He initially pursued a career as a heavy diesel mechanic, but a workplace accident in early 2025 resulted in the loss of his right arm, forcing a dramatic change in direction.

Rather than leaving the sector, Dobbs transitioned into a parts technician apprenticeship with Brandt Te Puke in late 2025.

“After the accident, I told myself ‘you can’t put the arm back on, so you may as well just keep going’,” he said.

“I still wanted to work with tractors and machinery, so parts seemed like a nice way to go.”

His background as a service technician has enabled him to bring strong mechanical knowledge to the role, helping him diagnose faults, recommend solutions and build trust with customers.

Dobbs is described as a positive and reliable team member who has quickly become a valuable part of the Te Puke branch despite being new to the business.

The John Deere awards, launched in 2021, recognise excellence among service technicians and parts professionals across agriculture, turf, construction and forestry industries in Australia and New Zealand.

John Deere Australia and New Zealand managing director Luke Chandler said this year’s finalists reflected both technical skill and real-world impact.

“What stood out this year was not only the technical expertise on display, but the clear connection between that expertise and the results being delivered to customers when it matters most,” Chandler said.

John Deere director of aftermarket and customer support, Steph Gersekowski, said many finalists demonstrated their value in critical situations where keeping machinery running directly affected customers’ livelihoods.

The winners will be announced at a gala event on September 3.