Andrew’s journey with Versatile tractors began remarkably early. At just five weeks old, he had his first ride on the family’s Versatile 700 alongside his dad. Those early days in the cab left a lasting imprint, building the foundation for a passion that would only grow stronger as the years went by.
Fond memories of helping on the farm followed, especially delivering meals out to his dad on the tractor with his mum. These everyday moments created a deep familiarity with the machines that shaped his childhood.
Some of Andrew’s most vivid early memories revolve around attending the field day Ag-Quip with his family to check out the latest Versatile tractors.
“I remember looking at the Versatile 1150 with amazement,” he recalls.
“And the release of the Designation 6 series in the ‘80s was something I’ll never forget.”
The sheer size of the 1150s and 1156s he saw at these events left him in awe.
His passion became truly personal at age five, when he received a model 1150 tractor, a gift he still treasures today. While many kids were fascinated by a range of machinery, Andrew only had eyes for one brand.
“I wasn’t really interested in other brands as a child. There was just Versatile and the rest.”
Years later, Andrew has had the chance to operate many Versatile models, and his early impressions still ring true.
“I’ve found them extremely reliable, but still simple enough to work on when repairs and servicing were required,” he says.
What stands out most to him is the long-standing partnership between Versatile and Cummins.
“In my opinion, Cummins provides the best agricultural engines, with the perfect mix of horsepower, torque and reliability. And the backup support is excellent.”
Andrew’s career in agricultural machinery sales began after harvest one year, during a traditionally quieter period for machine operators.
When an opportunity arose to join a dealership in West Wyalong, he didn’t hesitate.
“I grabbed it with both hands,” he says, reflecting the same enthusiasm he had for tractors as a child.
That first step opened the door to a career where his passion and profession could finally align.
Today, Andrew is part of the team at Total Ag Solutions at the Canowindra (NSW) dealership, a proud Versatile dealership.
Total Ag Solutions consists of four dealerships that serve the agricultural, lifestyle and specialised mowing communities across the Riverina and Central West of NSW.
