A journeyman linemen team from Jackson EMC was named the top electric cooperative team at the 35th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo, which was held recently in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The event features some of the top linemen from around the world to compete in traditional linemen skills and tasks
Jackson EMC sent two journeyman teams, each with three competitors, to the rodeo. Both teams won some of the highest awards at the international event.
The journeyman team with Justin Cash, Austin Gragg and Clay Phillips, all of Jefferson, won first place overall in the electric cooperative division at the rodeo. The team also placed second as the top overall team at the International Lineman’s Rodeo with a total time of 22:03.89. In addition, they won second place in an event to replace polymer insulators and seventh place in an event to change switches on a pole.
Kevin Grant, Matt Tolar and Scotty Tompkins, all of Oakwood, won third place as the top overall journeyman team with a total time of 22:17.83. They also won second place overall in the electric cooperative division, eighth place in the polymer insulator replacement event and eighth place in the switch changeout event.
This year’s event featured more than 300 apprentices and more than 200 journeyman teams competing in a series of events to test their skills. Apprentices compete as individuals, while journeyman teams include three team members.
One of Jackson EMC’s apprentices, Dillon Welborn of Jefferson, placed ninth in the hurt man rescue event with a time of 1:02.13. The hurt man rescue simulates the rescue of an injured worker stranded at the top of a utility pole.
Complete results from the International Lineman’s Rodeo may be viewed at: https://www.linemansrodeokc.com/results-final/
