The state is set for the Indiana Municipal Electric Association’s most energizing safety and training event – the Indiana Lineworkers’ Skills and Training Rodeo. The event, now in its fifth offering, will take place at the Mid-America Science Park (821 S. Lake Road) in Scottsburg, on Friday and Saturday, September 25 & 26.
The event will be held in conjunction with the IMEA Fall Conference (September 23-25) also at the Mid- America Science Park in Scottsburg. The Rodeo and Conference are being sponsored by the City of Scottsburg and Scottsburg Municipal Electric Department.
The rodeo, the only one of its kind for public power lineworkers in the state, is designed to showcase the skills and knowledge of a lineworker in a fun and safe environment. The event is open to anyone who is a practicing lineworker in municipally-owned and operated electric utilities and rural coops in Indiana and surrounding states.
The rodeo features four levels of competition: journeyman team, individual journeyman, journeyman senior and apprentice single. There are five events for apprentices, three for seniors (50+) and individuals and four in the team category. In addition, there will be a Mystery Mutual Aid event open to all competitors, judges and auditors.
There will also be two pre-rodeo events: Build the Field Day on Friday, July 31 at the rodeo grounds and a of practice on rodeo Events for individuals who have not participated in the past on Friday, August 14 at Scottsburg Municipal Electric Department.
Teams can be comprised of individuals from one utility or several small utilities can combine personnel to form a team. Events are judged on safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and speed. The local event offers lineworkers the opportunity to compete for professional recognition, attend a specialty training course, and practice essential skills in a safe environment as well as to prepare for competition at national and international levels. All safety rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Public Power Association (APPA) Safety Manual are observed during events.
The overall winner of the Journeyman Team and Apprentices events will receive a cash prize to be used toward the expenses for competition at the 2016 American Public Power Association National Lineworkers’ Rodeo. Winners of the overall Senior and Individual Journeyman events will have their entry fees waived for the 2016 Indiana Lineworkers’ Rodeo (Lawrenceburg, IN). Winner of the Fastest Hurtman time gets the coveted, hand-crafted traveling chrome transformer trophy for their utility for one year, along with an engraved plate with the year, their name and time.
The family-friendly event also features industry vendors with products for show and sale, food, rodeo souvenirs, children’s activities, live line demonstration, games and much more. For a complete schedule of events, registration, rules, to get involved and more information, go to www.imea.com. Online registration for this year’s event opens Monday, June 29.
About the Indiana Municipal Electric Association
The IMEA has operated as the statewide trade association representing the issues and concerns of municipally owned and operated electric utilities since 1941. IMEA serves the unified interests of Indiana’s public power communities as well as a forum for electric utilities to pool resources for effective representation and continuing education.
