Three linemen from the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Public Utilities will compete against hundreds of other utility workers from across the nation and as far away as Canada, Hawaii and Jamaica at the 33rd Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kan.
The utility workers will test their professional and trade skills in a unique competition that is open to the public. Thousands of utility professionals are in town for an annual trade show and expo in Overland Park, Kan., with the highlight being the “Lineman’s Rodeo,” a series of competitions testing various lineman skills and safety techniques.
The rodeo competition will occur on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, kicking off at 7 a.m. Team and apprentice events will include The Hurtman Rescue, the Pole Climb, and several mystery events. An Awards Banquet will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center at 7 p.m. that day.
BPU will be represented by Matt Campion, Jeremiah Waldeck, and Paul Howell this year, competing against more than 200 teams from various private and municipal utilities. In 2015, BPU’s team scored 392 out of 400 possible points, placing 16th out of all the teams in the Municipality Group.
The International Lineman’s Rodeo was first held in 1984, and was created to maintain a focus on safety and safe work practices and to recognize the technical craft skills of utility lineman. One other purpose has always been for the participants to have fun while sharing work knowledge with others in their trade from different companies and different parts of the country. Go to www.linemansrodeokc.com for more information about this event.
– Story from BPU