Every day, lineworkers across Kentucky are out in remote areas of the state doing what it takes to keep the power flowing to more than 1.5 million people served by electric co-ops. Once a year, however, a select group of these lineworkers come together for two days of competition like no other, the Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo.
On Sept. 13-14, 125 lineworkers representing 17 of Kentucky’s electric co-ops converged on the Murray-Calloway County Fairgrounds to compete in the 14th annual rodeo.
“It’s about teamwork, it’s about camaraderie and it’s about showing off the skills these linemen have learned,” says David Smart, president and CEO of West Kentucky Rural Electric, which hosted this year’s event.
Blue Grass Energy was the big winner, sweeping the overall individual journeymen category and taking first in the overall team category. Tim Hembree, a journeyman lineman from Blue Grass, placed in the top three in eight categories.
“The Kentucky’s Lineman’s Rodeo is an opportunity for linemen to demonstrate their commitment to safety while showcasing their skills,” says Mike Williams, president and CEO of Blue Grass Energy. “I’m very proud of the hard work and dedication to safety that not only our lineworkers, but all linemen demonstrated while participating in this event.”
The Lineman’s Rodeo was created by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives to promote safety for co-op linemen around the state. The training and skills of these linemen are part of the mission of Kentucky’s electric cooperatives, to provide a high level of electrical services at the lowest possible price through a local, consumer-owned form of business.
“Training for the rodeo has really helped our younger guys,” says Randy Meredith of Nolin RECC, which will host the 2019 rodeo. “They improved in safety and they improved in their technique. So, it was a real win, win situation.
Seven senior individuals, 36 individual journeymen and 36 apprentice lineworkers competed in these events: Capacitator De-Energize, Line De-Energize and Armor Rod & Tie. There were 31 teams from the 17 co-ops that competed in the OCR Changeout, Line Replacement and Underarm Disconnect competitions. Individuals and teams competed in the “Hurt man” competition, which focuses on following the correct procedures in the event someone needs to be rescued after coming into contact with a live wire.
Jason Isaacs, a lineman for Blue Grass who competed for the first time, says the experience was one he plans on repeating.
“It was nerve-racking, but it was a great experience,” he says. “With everyone watching, you just want to do good.”
First place, Senior Hurtman: Gerald Lakes, Jackson EnergySecond place, Senior Hurtman: Mark Hutchinson, Grayson RECCThird place, Senior Hurtman: Michael Nethery, Shelby EnergyFirst place, Senior Capicitator De-Energize: Mark Hutchinson, Grayson RECCSecond place, Senior Hurtman: Michael Nethery, Shelby EnergyFirst place, Senior Line De-Energize: Michael Nethery, Shelby EnergySecond place, Line De-Energize: Lance Moore, Warren RECCFirst place, Armor Rod & Tie: Gerard Lakes, Jackson EnergySecond place, Senior Armor & Tie: Mark Hutchinson, Grayson RECCThird place, Senior Armor Rod & Tie: Lance Moore, Warren RECCFirst place, Individual Journeyman Hurtman: Jon Tillery, Jackson EnergySecond place, Individual Journeyman Hurtman: Tim Hembree, Blue Grass EnergyThird place, Individual Journeyman Hurtman: Royce Baker, Jackson EnergyFirst place, Individual Journeyman Capacitator De-Energize: Kevin Vance, Clark EnergySecond place, Individual Journeyman Capacitator De-Energize: Tim Hembree, Blue Grass EnergyThird place, Individual Journeyman Capacitator De-Energize: Geoffrey Beck, West Kentucky RECCFirst place, Individual Journeyman Line De-Energize: Jeremy Rayborn, Jackson EnergyThird place, Individual Journeyman Line De-Energize: Jon Tillery, Jackson EnergySecond place, Individual Journeyman Armor Rod & Tie: Tim Hembree, Blue Grass EnergyThird place, Individual Journeyman Armor Rod & Tie: Royce Baker, Jackson EnergyFirst place, Apprentice Hurtman: Tommy Parks, Fleming Mason EnergySecond place, Apprentice Hurtman: Justin Staniford, Grayson RECCFirst place, Apprentice Capacitator De-Energize: Trevor Evans, Owen ElectricSecond place, Apprentice Capacitator De-Energize: Tommy Parks, Fleming Mason EnergyFirst place, Apprentice Line De-Energize: Tommy Parks, Fleming Mason EnergySecond place, Apprentice Line De-Energize: Brandon Miller, Owen ElectricThird place, Apprentice Line De-Energize: Ryan Ray, Nolin RECCFirst place, Apprentice Armor Rod & Tie: David Cotton, GibsonSecond place, Apprentice Armor Rod & Tie: Trevor Evans, Owen ElectricThird place, Apprentice Armor Rod & Tie: Brandon Miller, Owen ElectricFirst place, Team Hurtman: Thomas Waltman, Tim Hembree, Adam Mink, Blue Grass EnergySecond place, Team Hurtman: Marlon Coffey, Jon Tillery, Brent Johnson, Jackson EnergyThird place, Team Hurtman: Tony Bach, James Juett, Charlie Colligan, Owen ElectricSecond place, Team Line Replacement: Jeremy Rayborn, Royce Baker, Kris Cunigan, Jackson EnergyThird place, Team Line Replacement: Kyle Strunk, Derek Bell, Jason Isaacs, Blue Grass EnergyFirst place, Team Underarm Disconnect: Thomas Walton, Tim Hembree, Adam Mink, Blue Grass EnergyThird place, Team Underarm Disconnect: Tony Bach, James Juett, Charlie Colligan, Owen ElectricFirst place, Team OCR Changeout: Thomas Walton, Tim Hembree, Adam Mink, Blue Grass EnergySecond place, Team OCR Changout: Tony Bach, James Juett, Charlie Colligan, Owen ElectricThird place, Team OCR Changeout: Kevin Vance, David Dennis, Christopher Keyton, Clark EnergyFirst place, Senior Overall: Michael Nethery, Shelby EnergyThird place, Senior Overall: Mark Hutchinson, Grayson RECCFirst place, Overall Individual Journeyman: Tim Hembree, Blue Grass EnergySecond place, Overall Individual Journeyman: Thomas Walton, Blue Grass EnergyThird place, Overal Individual Journeyman: Derek Bell, Bluegrass EnergyFirst place, Overall Apprentice: Tommy Parks, Fleming Mason EnergySecond place, Overall Apprentice: Brandon Miller, Owen ElectricThird place, Overall Apprentice: Brett Alder, Warren RECCFirst place, Overall Team: Adam Mink, Tim Hembree, Thomas Walton, Blue Grass EnergyThird place, Overall Team: Michael Nethery, Brandon Keyton, and Tyler Workman, Shelby Energy
