From Apprentice to Mentor: Will Nelson’s Hands-On Journey

For Will Nelson, learning has always been about getting hands-on. After completing his fourth year with McIntosh & Son Narrogin, Will has now been signed off as a qualified service technician and will officially graduate from the McIntosh Training Academy in February 2027.

His apprenticeship has been marked by a willingness to learn, a strong work ethic and a genuine desire to get involved. But perhaps what stands out most is that Will is already looking at how he can help the next generation coming through.

Learning by doing

Will began his apprenticeship at McIntosh & Son Katanning in 2023 before moving to Narrogin around six months later when McIntosh & Son expanded.

Coming from Narrogin Agricultural College and with some harvest experience under his belt, Will quickly found that agricultural machinery is where he wanted his career headed.

“I do a lot better in the workshop than the classroom,” Will said.

That made the workshop-based approach of the McIntosh Training Academy particularly valuable to his development.

McIntosh Training Academy Lecturer, Steve Wierobiej, has worked to adapt classroom learning for different apprentices, giving Will opportunities to put theory into practice and develop his understanding through practical work.

“Steve is very good at adapting the classroom for some of us that don’t learn well in a classroom,” Will said.

Working on headers, tractors, training equipment and even his own ute helped Will turn classroom concepts into practical knowledge.

Putting his hand up

From his second year, Will began heading into the field alongside qualified technicians, taking on basic diagnosis and fault finding. By the end of his second year, he was undertaking pre-seeding work independently or alongside another apprentice.

In his third year, he took responsibility for pre-season work on around 10 headers.

By his fourth year, Will was taking on more diagnostic work and actively looking for opportunities to tackle more complex jobs.

“Diagnosis is exciting because the farmers are stoked when you find it,” he said.

His willingness to put his hand up extended to busy periods too, regularly taking on weekend work during harvest and seeding to gain additional experience in the field.

That commitment also saw Will selected for the 2026 Western Australian New Holland Apprentice Program Supercar Experience with the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team. Open to all New Holland apprentices across Australia and New Zealand, the program selected just seven apprentices throughout the year. Will’s skills, commitment and the recommendations submitted as part of his nomination placed him among a select group of apprentices recognised through the program.

“It’s shown me that putting in the extra work has paid off. It’s all been for something.”

Learning from the people around him

Will’s development hasn’t happened in isolation. The Narrogin service team has grown significantly since he first arrived, from six people in 2023 to a team of approximately 20 by 2026.

He has also benefited from the wider McIntosh & Son network, with experienced technicians from other branches sharing their knowledge and helping younger technicians work through challenging jobs.

That culture of knowledge-sharing has helped Will understand that becoming a good technician isn’t about knowing everything. It is about being willing to ask questions, listen and learn from the people around you.

His experience with the parts team reinforced that lesson.

After breaking his arm during his third year, Will spent several weeks working alongside McIntosh & Son Narrogin service manager Byron Blevin and the parts team, helping with calls and parts enquiries. While an unexpected change to his usual role, the experience gave him a greater understanding of the challenges involved in diagnosing issues over the phone and identifying the right parts.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for parts staff, trying to diagnose issues over the phone,” he said.

From apprentice to mentor

Rather than simply thinking about what he wants to learn next, he is increasingly interested in helping younger apprentices develop their own skills.

“I’d like to become a mentor to the newcomers,” he said.

Working alongside a young service team, Will enjoys helping apprentices coming through behind him and believes learning should be enjoyable as well as practical.

“My favourite part is probably just getting around with the young fellas, having a bit of fun and teaching them,” he said. “A lot of them, I think, like learning off me. I try to make the day fun and teach them more.”

He is also quick to acknowledge that mentoring works both ways. Different apprentices develop strengths in different areas, and Will is just as willing to learn from those around him.

“There’s apprentices that teach me things too,” he said, referencing colleagues who have developed particular expertise in areas he has had less exposure to.

The next chapter

Will is looking forward to continuing to build his skills as a qualified technician.

He wants to take on more complex diagnostic work, continue developing his technical knowledge and, perhaps most importantly, become a mentor for the apprentices following in his footsteps.

Interested in a career in Ag?

McIntosh Training Academy is committed to providing a high-quality, immersive learning experience for apprentices like Siosi. With a focus on practical, real-world skills and personalised training, the Academy is shaping the next generation of parts interpretation professionals.

For more information about McIntosh Training Academy and its apprenticeship programs, visit mcintoshacademy.com.au

We are always looking for passionate and enthusiastic people to fill a range of roles within our dealerships. If you think you can add value to our team, head to our website for current opportunities, or contact hr@mcson.com.au for further information.