Narrogin’s Poppy Blohm announced as finalist for John Deere Parts Apprentice of the Year

Second-year apprentice Poppy Blohm has been announced as a finalist for the 2023 John Deere Parts Apprentice of the Year in recognition of her stellar work at AFGRI Equipment Narrogin. “I feel fortunate to be picked,” Ms Blohm said. “There are so many talented people throughout our group which is part of the reason why I was surprised when they nominated me — I work with so many talented and deserving people.” Ms Blohm will head to Brisbane later this month to demonstrate her skill as she troubleshoots tech issues and performs hands-on tasks in the second round of judging. The awards will see a diverse field of finalists compete with John Deere Australia and New Zealand director of aftermarket and customer support Emma Ford calling the calibre of the cohort impressive. “This year, our finalists include a mix of mature-age apprentices, young people starting their trade straight out of school and five female apprentices,” she said. “While they’re all diverse in their experience and background what they have in common is a deep enthusiasm to learn and a commitment to deliver exceptional aftermarket service.” For Ms Blohm, the most rewarding part of the job is being able to help people out. “Not every day is smooth sailing and to be fair I do have off days,” she said. “For the most part just being able to make someone’s life that little bit easier is always a win for me. “It really shines through when we’re in harvest or seeding and everyone’s itching to get back up and running again.” Ms Blohm said that she originally wanted to pursue a career working with livestock before arriving in Narrogin and taking on the role she has excelled in. “I think that it would be great, especially for young people who are new to the workplace, to know that sometimes it pays to explore all your avenues, even if they might not be your first pick,” she said. “I have really grown to enjoy what I do — AFGRI has provided me with so much training and even life lessons that have really equipped and bettered me as a person.” Award winners will be announced on August 24.