AGCO Names Levi Stefanson 2024 North American Technician of the Year

Mar 13, 2025
By Mathew Murphy
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Honouring the skilled hands and sharp minds that keep farmers moving forward

Hard work, dedication, and a passion for keeping farmers running—these are just a few qualities that set Levi Stefanson apart.

The field technician from Full Line Ag Sales Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, has been named AGCO’s 2024 North American Technician of the Year after a challenging three-day competition in Hesston, Kansas.

Every year, AGCO honours outstanding dealer technicians who go above and beyond in diagnostics, maintenance, and customer service.

Stefanson was among six finalists, all nominated by AGCO dealerships across the U.S. and Canada, but his expertise and commitment earned him the top spot—and a $5,000 grand prize.

“Winning this award means a lot to me and my dealership,” said Stefanson. “The competition allows technicians to showcase our skills and passion for serving our farmers. I’m honored to represent Full Line Ag, and I’m proud to be recognized along with the other technicians.”

“AGCO congratulates Levi and all our finalists for their outstanding performances and a great competition,” said Ash Alt, Manager of Technical Training, North America.

“This event honors the often ‘unsung’ heroes at our dealerships – the technicians who ensure our farmers’ vital equipment runs smoothly. The finalists demonstrate the skills and values celebrated by Technician of the Year, benefiting both farmers and dealers.”

Maintaining and servicing AGCO’s Fendt and Massey Ferguson brands takes a highly trained professional, and AGCO is committed to nurturing talent.

Through programs like the Technician of the Year competition and the AGCO Service Technician A.A.S. associate degree program at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, the company ensures a strong pipeline of skilled professionals.

This year’s competition put finalists through six hands-on challenges designed to test their critical thinking, technical skills, and ability to troubleshoot under pressure.

The focus was on Fendt’s IDEAL® combine, but future competitions will spotlight other AGCO brands and equipment.

For technicians looking to take their skills to the next level, nominations for the 2025 competition open in October.

Photo Credit: agocorp.com

Video: Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

When was the last time you read the label on your honey?

We spent a day at Molenkamp Honey Farms with Michael Molenkamp, who has been keeping bees for 17 seasons and runs three to four thousand hives. In mid-September, he was finishing treatments and getting his bees ready for winter, and he walked us through how Alberta honey gets made.

Alberta has just 150 commercial beekeepers running 300,000 colonies, and together they produce 40% of Canada’s honey. Long summer days and golden canola fields give Alberta honey a light flavour that’s hard to match anywhere else.

Molenkamp calls Alberta beekeepers some of the most resilient farmers he knows. There’s plenty of Alberta honey to go around, but a lot on our shelves isn’t from here, so his ask is simple. Give the label a second look and choose honey made by Alberta beekeepers, or buy straight from a beekeeper near you.