When It Matters Most, These Techs Answer the Call
Equipment uptime is critical for our customers. When a machine needs attention, every minute matters. Crops do not wait. Jobs do not pause. That is when John Deere dealer technicians step in.
Across our dealer network, more than 16,000 technicians support customers every day. “It’s never just about the machine,” said Cory Reed, President, Lifecycle Solutions, Supply Management, and Customer Success. “It’s about a customer’s livelihood and their ability to keep moving forward. Our dealer technicians understand that pressure, and they show up every day ready to help customers through it.”
When Fixing It Right Is Personal
Nick Helton works at American Implement, Inc. in Garden City, Kansas. He’s the technician customers call when the problem is complicated, urgent, or both.
Known for taking on the toughest repairs, Nick approaches every breakdown with a deep sense of ownership. Customers say he treats their operation like it is his own and never cuts corners.
“This is their livelihood, and I don’t take that lightly,” Nick explained. “The customers I help are not just producers or a name on a work order. They’re people in genuine need, and it’s fulfilling to be able to use my skills to solve their problems.”
That mindset shows up in the stories customers share: middle of the night calls, weekend repairs, and creative problem solving to get parts as quickly as possible. One customer put it this way: “Nick doesn’t just work on equipment. He restores our ability to function, to harvest, to move forward.”
The same customer shared one moment that stood out. “One night, our sprayer’s seat switch went out, threatening to stop our spraying. Nick was already on his way home after working all day, but he stopped to help us without hesitation. We then finished many fields that night because of him.”
Nick’s commitment to helping others does not stop when the equipment is running again. In his community, he is involved in mentoring and youth development, serving as an assistant scoutmaster and longtime volunteer with Boy Scouts of America and 4 H.
One night, our sprayer’s seat switch went out, threatening to stop our spraying. Nick was already on his way home after working all day, but he stopped to help us without hesitation. We then finished many fields that night because of him.
A Reputation Built on Trust
For Perry Poorman, being a dealer technician at C&B Operations in Idaho Falls, Idaho is about far more than responding to a service call. It is about the relationships he has built over years of showing up with professionalism and consistency.
Customers and coworkers alike describe Perry as someone who brings a calm, steady presence to every situation. He is known for listening first, explaining clearly, and treating every interaction with respect. That approach has earned him something that cannot be scheduled or assigned: customers who ask for him by name and trust him with their equipment season after season.
“Getting a customer back up and running is rewarding,” Perry said. “But what really matters to me is the relationship. Knowing customers trust me and feel confident calling when they need help means a lot.”
Customers echo that same sentiment. They describe Perry as dependable, approachable, and genuinely invested in their success. One customer shared that over years of working together, “Perry has become more than a technician. He has become a trusted partner and a true friend.”
Why Customers Keep Coming Back
Nick and Perry are just two examples among the many dealer technicians who earned this year’s John Deere Technicians of the Year recognition. Every year, customers continue to place their trust in technicians who listen, explain, and deliver when it matters most. That trust is built one repair at a time and it’s what keeps customers coming back by choice.
