Electric lineworkers from across Kentucky converged on the Murray-Calloway County Fairgrounds Sept. 13-14 to compete in the 14th annual Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo. More than 125 linemen from 17 Kentucky electric cooperatives competed in a variety of individual and team events to celebrate their jobs, challenge one another in friendly competition, and demonstrate their safety and skills.

Events at the rodeo represent the day-to-day duties lineworkers perform, from running new electric lines to de-energizing a capacitator.  The “hurtman” competition focuses on following the correct procedures in the event someone needs to be rescued after coming into contact with a live wire.

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, was the top individual, placing in the top three in eight categories. A complete listing of winners from Blue Grass Energy is below.

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 safety culture which underscores 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.