Texas Lineman’s Rodeo

Going above and beyond

By Tom Widlowski October 2016

From left, Rick Walden, David McDowell and Danny Moss of Farmers Electric Cooperative are the 45-and-older champions.

Dave Shafer

Competition at the 2016 Texas Lineman’s Rodeo

Dave Shafer

Jaice Sheffield of Farmers EC works with a high-reaching tool called a hot stick.

Dave Shafer

Hamilton County EC’s Rhett Keith hoists son Amos.

Dave Shafer

The New Braunfels Utilities barbecue team has high hopes for its brisket.

Dave Shafer

The competition includes performing mock rescues of injured linemen.

Dave Shafer

Adam Gaston of Trinity Valley EC competes in the apprentice division.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Apprentice lineman Jake Bauer of Mid-South Synergy competes in the three-phase transformer bank event.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Lineman Daniel Craig of Deep East Texas EC hoists a ditty bag during the competition.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Electric poles serve as flagpoles displaying the banners of participating organizations.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Rodeo competition

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Jaice Sheffield, an apprentice at Farmers EC, pulls his gear in a wagon and carries his hot stick between events at the rodeo. He walks past a group of people watching their friends and family members compete.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: An array of ropes and gear hangs on a cart that linemen pull to transport equipment around the rodeo grounds.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Barbecue smokers get an early start among the stately pecans at Nolte Island Park in Seguin. Attendees feast on barbecue after the competition, and 39 teams also enter their meat in the barbecue cook-off.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Apprentice lineman Jacob Morrow from Guadalupe Valley EC competes in the three-phase transformer bank event while judge and journeyman lineman Jason Faucett from Bartlett EC inspects his work.

Dave Shafer

Web Extra: Devices called climbers or hooks strap around a lineman’s legs and boots. They have sharp gaffs along the inner soles that dig into the wood, enabling lineman to more readily and safely climb poles.

Dave Shafer

The annual Texas Lineman’s Rodeo in Seguin brings out the competitive drive among linemen, and it brings out family and friends to cheer on their favorite linemen. After the competition, the day turns into a huge family picnic.

More than 250 electric linemen challenged themselves in tests of skill July 16 at the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo in Seguin. Every event demanded that competitors race the clock and pass the scrutiny of the judges, who scored the linemen on proper technique and safety requirements.

When the competition ended, the linemen joined their families to celebrate with a Texas-sized barbecue cook-off.

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Tom Widlowski is the Texas Co-op Power associate editor.