Competition and Camaraderie: Highlights From the 42nd International Lineman’s Rodeo
Hundreds of the most skilled lineworkers in the world recently traveled to Bonner Springs, Kansas, last month to compete in a series of skills challenges, celebrating the camaraderie and service that are foundational to their line of work. Look back on the event and watch EEI’s video from the rodeo to learn more about a day in the life of a lineworker. See the rodeo through a first-time attendee's eyes and hear the competitors discuss the skill, teamwork, and dedication behind linework.
Standing beneath towering power poles, surrounded by fellow lineworkers and thousands of cheering families, OG&E lineworker Broc Scales took on the challenges of the International Lineman’s Rodeo for the first time this year. Among the tests: tying knots on a crossarm and changing out a transformer lead, tasks that demand precision, teamwork, and the ability to solve problems under pressure.
“To be able to come here and meet a lot of the guys within the company that we maybe haven’t met before and then build relationships with them, and then compete and have those guys on the ground supporting you while you’re competing, it’s a pretty special deal,” Scales said.
The annual competition, held October 17 in Bonner Springs, just outside of Kansas City, celebrates the linework profession and the more than 100,000 men and women who build and maintain America’s energy grid. This year, more than 100 electric companies participated in the competition, featuring 290 journeyman teams and 364 apprentices from eight countries.
For Scales and hundreds of other lineworkers, the annual event is about more than competition. It’s a chance to showcase the skills behind keeping the lights on, strengthen bonds with fellow lineworkers, and celebrate a profession that often goes unnoticed until the power goes out.
OG&E lineworker Shawn Hill, who has more than 20 years of experience, said becoming a lineworker changed his life. “Personally, it's had a big impact on me. The people I worked for when I first started had a big influence on how I am, how I see things, and how I do things. I can't say enough good things about them.”
“We're pretty much like a family, we're around each other the majority of the time,” Hill said of his team. “We're like brothers — we fight and argue, and then you continue on. Some of the people I came up with, our kids are growing up together now.”
Hill's teammate, Mark Hamm, has nearly 20 years of experience in the industry and is now watching his son follow in his footsteps.
“He's been in the industry for two years now. He truly adores it,” he said.
That sense of camaraderie is on full display at the rodeo, where teams compete in events that test their technical abilities, speed and coordination. Events include pole climbs, equipment change-outs, and hurtman rescue events, which simulate rescuing an injured lineworker from a pole. Mystery events add another challenge, requiring competitors to adapt to an unfamiliar task and work through it as a team.
The competition also highlights the importance of safety, a responsibility that extends well beyond the rodeo grounds. Lineworkers routinely face challenging conditions while maintaining and restoring the infrastructure communities depend on, and competitors lose points for any safety violations.
Building Skills and Careers
OG&E lineworker Tad Holt entered the trade after working in the oil field. He emphasized that a willingness to learn is essential for those starting out.
“You’re not expected to know things when you start this trade, but you are expected to have a good attitude and be eager to learn,” Holt said. “If you have that, the sky’s the limit.”
Eversource Energy lineworker Robbie Yianakopolos offered similar advice to those considering the trade.
"Come in ready to learn, Yianakopolos said. "If you like working outdoors and seeing different things, it's a great career path to get into."
Linework also offers a career for people who enjoy working outdoors, solving problems, and facing different challenges each day. OG&E lineworker Dason Sheppard discovered the trade at a school job fair before attending Northwest Lineman College and beginning his career with the company.
Evergy lineworker Shane Miller pointed to the experiences and sense of accomplishment the career can provide.
"It's a good trade to get into. It's very fun and rewarding, and you get to see a lot of cool stuff," Miller said.
For those beginning their careers, Eversource Energy lineworker David Williams emphasized the importance of putting in the effort.
"Be diligent and give it everything you have and don't hold back, Williams said.
For many lineworkers, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the results of their work firsthand. OG&E lineworker Bruce Paulus said restoring electricity is what makes the work meaningful.
“Honestly, turn the lights on, and that’s kind of what you live for, work towards, turn power on,” Paulus said.
The rodeo gives spectators a glimpse of the skill and effort behind that everyday result, while giving lineworkers a chance to learn from one another and celebrate their profession.
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A Tradition Shared with Families
The International Lineman’s Rodeo is also a family event. Spouses, children, parents and grandparents gather to cheer on competitors and share in a tradition that can span generations.
Kimberly Cook-Nelson, Entergy’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the family atmosphere is one of the event’s defining features. Entergy brings teams that excelled during regional competitions across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to compete at the international event.
“You’ll see moms, dads, spouses, kids, grandkids in some cases out here cheering on their families,” Cook-Nelson said. “And it’s just the energy is amazing.”
For some children, watching a parent compete can spark an interest in the profession. Cook-Nelson described young children wearing miniature climbing spikes and looking up to their fathers as superheroes.
Families also help sustain the rodeo’s traditions. Warman’s granddaughter, Olivia Stewart, has attended for as long as she can remember, with family members volunteering over the years to help feed lineworkers and support the event. What began as a family tradition has become a source of pride as the rodeo has grown to welcome participants from across the United States and other countries.
Her family’s involvement has given her a close view of the work lineworkers do and the sacrifices that often go unnoticed.
“When the power goes out, we’re just annoyed because the power’s off and then it comes back on and we’re happy,” she said. “But no one thinks about who had to go out and get those lines back up and get the power back on.”
For Warman’s granddaughter, the event is also a chance to celebrate someone who helped shape that tradition.
“Oh my gosh. I’m proud of him,” Stewart said of her grandfather. “Forget him being proud of me. I’m proud of him. I tell everyone, I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s my grandpa. That’s Grandpa Dale. That’s my grandpa.”
To see more from the 2026 International Lineman's Rodeo, check out EEI's social media coverage for highlights from the competition and more from the lineworkers who power our communities: