Utility workers from all over the globe recently gathered in Kansas for the 2014 International Lineman’s Rodeo. The Lineman’s Rodeo attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman tasks and skills.  

The first Lineman’s Rodeo was held in September 1984, with 12 participating teams from Kansas and Missouri. The Rodeo has grown to over 200 teams and 250 apprentices.  

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) scored several victories, including three first place world championship awards. Anthony Albright, Adam Beene, and J.P. Richard — electric linemen who serve the Grass Valley area — took home three first place world championship awards after competing against more than 200 lineman teams from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The team was one of several representing PG&E and the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) Local 1245 that were honored in the competition.  

The PG&E team began the evening with a first place win in the "Mystery Event"— an exercise designed to simulate the unforeseen elements that lineman often confront as they perform their critical jobs. They also took home first place for all Investor-Owned Utilities competing at the rodeo, and they capped off the evening with the biggest honor of all: best overall performance in the journeymen linemen category. In addition, the linemen took second place in an event to see how quickly and safely they could climb a utility pole.  

Click the links below to see how the teams scored:

Journeyman Best of the Best

Apprentice Best of the Best

The event, which is designed to help promote work safe practices that improve the safe performance of line work by offering all attendees the opportunity to come hear from industry experts on hot topics evolving in the electric utility industry, also included the opportunity to participate in a one-and-a-half day conference with speaker presentations, training demonstrations, and roundtable discussions.

Another highlight of the event included a fun video presentation, “Top 20 Reasons Rodeo Linemen Rock.”