Lineman’s Rodeo explained
Skills competition emphasizes safety first
IN MID-SEPTEMBER, more than 100 electric cooperative lineworkers from across the commonwealth competed in the 2025 Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo at East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Winchester.
Coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, the two-day event featured individual and team challenges that mirror the work lineworkers perform every day, rewarding precision, safety and efficiency:
1. Wooden brace and cutout change
This event demonstrates the skills needed to climb, maneuver and perform various tasks while on a pole, including changing a crossarm brace and relocating a fused cutout.
2. Line de-energize
The steps and procedures of properly de-energizing a single-phase primary line are shown in this event. This procedure is commonly referred to as lockout-tagout, or LOTO.
3. Underground riser arrestor change
This event demonstrates the changing of a lightning arrestor on a primary underground line where it takes off from an overhead pole. All safety rules, steps and procedures must be followed to ensure the safety of the crew.
4. C8 cross-arm replacement
The steps involved in changing out a crossarm on a C8 double circuit pole are the focus of this event. A C8 is a structure in which the wire is dead-ended on each side and a circuit is an individual three-phase line. This event is performed as though the line is de-energized.
5. Hurt man rescue
This event simulates the proper procedure for rescuing an injured co-worker from a pole containing an energized transformer. Lineworkers must follow all proper safety procedures to ensure their own safety and the safety of those they are rescuing.
LINEMAN’S RODEO WINNERS
Top Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo honors went to Josh Hess of Nolin RECC (Senior), Cooper Wafzig of Shelby Energy (Individual Journeyman), Logan Davis of Jackson Purchase Energy (Apprentice) and David Dennis, Timothy Patton and Richard Steele of Clark Energy (Team Division).
Other first-place finishes include:
Senior Events: Mike Ramsey, South Kentucky RECC (Mystery 1, Mystery 2); Tony Bach, Owen Electric (Hurt man rescue).
Individual Journeymen: Richard Steele, Clark Energy (Mystery 1); Clay Mills, West Kentucky RECC (Mystery 2); Brent Johnson, Jackson Energy (Hurt man rescue).
Apprentice: Cole Burns, Jackson Energy (Hurt man rescue); Logan Davis, Jackson Purchase Energy (Mystery 1, Mystery 2).
Team Events: Farmers Team 2 (Hurt man rescue); Clark Team 3 (Mystery 1); Clark Team 4 (Mystery 2).
