Matthew Vaughan

I am an agricultural machinery operator with experience across the UK, USA, New Zealand and Australia, now looking to move into snow grooming. I have spent two silage seasons buckraking and stacking with large wheeled loaders, and carried out cultivation and other field work on steep and uneven ground. I am used to taking responsibility for the machinery I operate, including daily checks, servicing and mechanical repairs.

Snow grooming appeals to me as a way to combine my machinery experience with my interest in snowboarding. Although I have no direct grooming experience, I am keen to learn from experienced operators and take instruction and feedback.

Machinery Operator - Wrights Agriculture - UK

(2026-03)

• Unimog with chemical bowser. Mixing & transporting chemical loads for sprayers
• Ran a John Deere S790 combine + 40ft Macdon header during harvest.
• Completed primary cultivations using discs and subsoilers on a John Deere 8r
• Other general farm duties such as topping, carting muck etc.

Tractor Operator - Ellis-Lea Farms - New Zealand

(2025-10 - 2026-01)

• Tractor work including cultivations on steep and uneven ground, and silage stacking
• Operation of large tractors and loaders - Fendt 930 up to Fendt 1042 and JCB 457
• Supporting seasonal workload across silage, cultivation, and general farm operations
• General machinery and farm duties as required

Chopper Operator - Robinson Farms - New Mexico, USA

(2025-03 - 2025-09)

• Operated John Deere 9900i forage harvester harvesting maize, wheat, and sorghum
• Worked long hours under tight harvest windows across multiple states
• Responsible for daily servicing, maintenance, and machine setup

Seasonal Tractor Operator - Jackson Holmes Contracting - Methven, NZ

(2024-09 - 2025-04)

• Silage buckraking/stacking with JCB 435 during spring and early summer
• Operated 4-rotor rake for grass and straw once silage slowed
• General silage, straw, and machinery work
• Worked as part of a large, fast-paced contracting team

Air Seeder Operator - Hy-Yakka Farms - Newdegate, Australia

(2024-04 - 2024-06)

• Operated John Deere 9570R with 60ft Bourgault air seeder
• Truck driving and machinery maintenance duties
• Supported seeding operations under time-sensitive conditions

Seasonal Harvest Worker - Clayton Station - Fairlie, NZ

(2023-11 - 2024-04)

• Primarily operated New Holland combine, cutting barley, rye corn, oats, linseed and hemp
• Machinery repairs, yard work, and drill rebuilding
• Involved in hay and silage making within a mixed farming system
• Cultivation and other field work on steep and uneven ground

Custom Harvest Worker - BT Harvesting - Oklahoma, USA

(2023-04 - 2023-11)

• Grain carting, combining, and trucking on the US harvest run
• Assisted with building and preparing combines (bin extensions, concaves, kits)
• Transported combines and headers between locations (oversized loads)
• Harvested wheat, canola, soybeans, and corn across seven states

General Farm Worker / Tractor Driver - MWB Farms Ltd - Dumfries, Scotland

(2019-12 - 2023-04)

Progressed into a 2IC-style role over time on a 460-cow New Zealand–style system, with responsibility for grazing management and coordinating relief milkers and a tractor operator.

• Tractor work including fertiliser spreading, mowing, drilling, rolling, and slurry tanking
• Responsible for TMR feeding & bedding during winter
• Spraying operations and grassland management
• Developed spreadsheets to track fertiliser usage and improve efficiency

Part-Time Tractor Driver - I.G. Faulkner Contracting - Dumfries, Scotland

(2019-12 - 2023-04)

• Silage, slurry, tillage, and grassland operations
• Fertiliser spreading and spraying work
• Regular support during peak periods alongside main farm role

BTEC Level 3 Diploma - Agriculture - Rodbaston College