Electric Co-op Linemen Compete in Regional Rodeo

Electric Co-op Linemen Compete in Regional Rodeo

 

Testing their skills against more than 150 linemen from six states, four Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) line crew members took part in the 15th Annual Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo, held May 19-20 at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Va.

 

Apprentice lineman Jake Hudson competed against 46 other apprentices, while the journeyman team of Dave Morgan, Brent Elzey and Mike Layton competed against 19 other teams from investor-owned, municipal and cooperative utilities. DEC’s Stephen Hearn and Shane Payne served as volunteer judges for this year’s event.

 

Named for the spike linemen attach to their boots when climbing electric utility poles, the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo is organized by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC).

 

“The Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo promotes safety and teamwork,” notes Bill Andrew, DEC’s president and CEO. “The job our linemen do to ‘keep the lights on’ for our members is a dangerous one, and we’re thrilled that our linemen did well in this year’s competition.”

 

Not only did DEC’s journeyman team finish fourth overall in the journeyman competition, the co-op’s t-shirt design was also chosen as best of the year’s entries.

 

The only competition of its type in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo offers professional linemen the opportunity to demonstrate their technical skills as they perform a variety of designated electric line-work tasks. Their performances are timed and scored, with safe work practices the most important factor in judging. For full results and photos from this year’s event, visit www.gaff-n-go.com.

 

Delaware Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Greenwood, is a not-for-profit energy provider that serves 93,000 homes, farms and businesses in Kent and Sussex counties. For more information, go to www.delaware.coop