An international rodeo is underway this week in Overland Park, Kansas…..a Lineman’s Rodeo. It’s competition among the men and women who climb utility poles in the middle of stormy weather to make repairs and restore electrical power.
Oklahoma crews will be among those taking part in the competition as they go up against crews from utilities throughout the U.S. The competition is based on traditional lineman tasks and skills.
The first such Lineman’s Rodeo was held in September 1984 and a dozen teams from Kansas and Missouri took part. this year, there are more than 300 teams and 450 apprentices.
Oklahoma’s competing teams were decided in August when Oklahoma Gas and Electric held its own local rodeo.
The 2024 International linemen’s rodeo included more than 5,300 attendees, 198 exhibitors, 100 utilities, 11 countries represented and 292 journeyman teams.
The winners of the 2024 International Linemen’s Competition were Ameren Illinois (Jason Novak, Clayton Gulley, and Austin Lewis) for the overall journeyman team competition and Zackery Gough from Pedernales Electric Cooperative for the overall apprentice competition. The team from Ameren Illinois achieved a perfect score of 400 event points with a total time of 20:05:30.
A team from Oklahoma finished 61 in the final rankings.