Sixteen teams of Illinois electric cooperative linemen participated in the annual Lineman’s Safety Rodeo sponsored by the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives on the Chuck West Lineman Training Grounds at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield on Sept. 30.
The rodeo gives linemen the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of families, friends and fellow linemen. Each year, teams of linemen participate in competitive events using skills that focus on agility, speed and accuracy. While these skills are part of the judging, above all the linemen are judged on safe work practices.
Linemen compete in five team events and three individual events. Team events included Hurt Man Rescue, Egg Climb (linemen climb a 30-foot pole with a raw egg in their mouth), H-Structure Obstacle Course, and two Mystery Events.
The Corn Belt Energy Corporation team of apprentice linemen Mitch Behrends, Jack Ross and Adams Shenaut received Best Overall team winning this year’s rodeo. Second and third place overall went to teams from SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative.
