Jackson EMC lineman teams ranked among the best at the Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo last Saturday in Fort Valley, Georgia.
Three Jackson EMC teams placed in the top five among all teams at the annual competition.
The electric cooperative sent 21 apprentices and eight journeyman teams to the rodeo, where they competed in a series of events in traditional lineman skills and tasks.
A total of 136 apprentices and 27 journeyman teams across the state competed in the competition.
Apprentices compete as individuals while journeymen compete in teams of three.
“The Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo is a powerful reminder that safety and teamwork are at the heart of everything we do,” Patrick McAuliff, Jefferson district director of engineering and operations for Jackson EMC, said. “These events sharpen the skills our linemen rely on daily to safely and quickly respond when our members need us most.”
Teams compete in the hurtman rescue and a “known skill” challenge, as well as two mystery events revealed the day before the competition.
Competitors are scored on skill and speed for completing tasks in each event.
The top Jackson EMC performers will represent the cooperative at the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Kansas in October.
Those top performers were as follows:
Team honors:
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Ben Brissey, Ben Adams and T.J. Witherell, of Jefferson, finished third overall, third in the cooperative division, third in the single-phase tap event and ninth in the riser pole switch change event.
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Easton Tuggle, Cody Watson and Brandon Sanders, of Neese, finished fourth overall, fourth in the cooperative division, second in the hurtman rescue event, second in the riser pole switch change event, fifth in the single-phase tap event and ninth in the grounded insulator change event.
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Ben Campbell, Austin Lewis and Brandon Carter, of Neese, finished fifth overall, fifth in the cooperative division, fourth in the single-phase tap event, fifth in the riser pole switch change event, sixth in the grounded insulator change event and 10th in the hurtman rescue event.
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Kaleb Chapman, Jeff Sutton and Justin Roper, of Oakwood, finished eighth overall, eighth place in the cooperative division, first in the riser pole switch change event, fourth in the hurtman rescue event, eighth in the grounded insulator change event and ninth in the single-phase tap event.
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Austin Yearwood, Aaron Krumenacker and Jose Rodriguez, of Oakwood, finished fifth in the hurtman rescue event.
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Austin Gragg, Devin Triplett and Justin Cash, of Jefferson, finished sixth in the hurtman rescue event.
Individual honors:
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Shawn Thurston, of Gwinnett, placed second in the insulator change event and fifth in the hurtman rescue event.
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Shaffer Meisner, of Gwinnett, placed fourth in the written exam and ninth in the neutral jumper change out event.
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Kirby Mitchell, of Oakwood, placed seventh in the obstacle course event.
“It’s important for our linemen to participate in the rodeo because it’s hands-on training with safety as the top priority,” Tommy Parker, Jackson EMC’s vice president of operations, said. “It also builds stronger crews. When our linemen train together, they build trust and confidence that directly benefits the members we serve.”
Full results of the rodeo can be found here.
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