Team PEC shines at International Lineman’s Rodeo
Crew in blue brings home 10 awards
On October 15, PEC lineworker apprentices and journeyworker teams competed against the best in the world during the International Lineman’s Rodeo Competition. The event, held just outside of Kansas City, drew more competitors than ever before with over 240 journeyworker teams and more than 360 apprentices from across the globe.
On October 15, PEC lineworker apprentices and journeyworker teams competed against the best in the world during the International Lineman’s Rodeo Competition. The event, held just outside of Kansas City, drew more competitors than ever before with over 240 journeyworker teams and more than 360 apprentices from across the globe.
Three journeyworker teams and five apprentices put their skills on the line for PEC. Together, they brought home 10 awards, including four first-place titles, for standout performances in the following categories:
- First Place Overall Apprentice Best-of-the-Best, First Place Apprentice REA (Cooperative) Division, First Place Apprentice Written Test: Zackery Gough (Cedar Park)
- First Place, Journeyworker Hurtman Rescue, Third Place in REA (Cooperative) Division: Caleb Brodock, Garrit Afman, Thomas Logan (Canyon Lake)
- Second Place Overall Apprentice Best-of-the-Best, Second Place Apprentice REA (Cooperative) Division, Second Place Apprentice Written Test: Crispen Davis (Canyon Lake)
- Third Place Apprentice REA (Cooperative) Division: Phillip Stapp (Junction)
- Fifth Place Journeyworker Hurtman Rescue: Darren Donhauser, David Hernandez, Jason Dean (Canyon Lake)
Apprentices dominated the event, winning the top two overall best in the world as well as the top three overall in the cooperative division. In his first ever international competition, Lineworker Apprentice Zackary Gough proved himself the best of the best. “All the hard work and studying ended up really paying off,” Gough said. To put it mildly, “it was a good feeling.”
PEC has competed in the international rodeo since 2010, and over the years has earned a solid reputation worldwide. PEC’s Director of Safety and Technical Training Brian Magott says the primary purpose of rodeo competition has always been safety; providing motivation for lineworkers to develop safe-work skills and have a forum to display them is the goal.
“This year’s international competition was the biggest ever, and while we’re a large cooperative, we tend to outperform our size at these events,” said Magott. “Teams now recognize us when we pull up to compete and they know we’ll be tough to beat.”
“After seeing how focused and dedicated our competitors are, I see a continuation of this success into the future,” Gough said. “PEC gives us the resources we need to be the best.”
Team PEC has built its culture of excellence through hard work, by investing in PEC’s Safety and Technical Training Center, and through the apprenticeship program. As crews graduate out of competition, they continue to be involved through coaching, coordinating, judging, and mentoring. They pass on their passion and knowledge to the next generation. Even amid historic growth across the cooperative’s service area, PEC crews have maintained outstanding outage response times.
PEC Chief Operations Officer Eddie Dauterive said, “The cooperative’s commitment to safety and training has paid dividends not only in rodeo competition, but most importantly, in the field for our members. Day in and day out, I am amazed at the dedication and commitment to excellence our crews show each other and the cooperative.”