Lineworker teams from across the region came together to showcase their skills and compete in the 26th Annual Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo on June 2-3. Hosted by TVPPA member CDE Lightband, the competition was held at Liberty Park in Clarksville, Tenn.
The rodeo kicked off on June 2 with a stunning professional skydiving exhibition by Team Fastrax and a flag-raising ceremony by CDE Lightband lineworkers. Then, CDE Lightband General Manager Brian Taylor and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts welcomed competitors and their friends and families to the city.
Rodeo events took place over the next two days. Participants competed in four categories: Seniors, Individual Journeymen, Teams and Apprentices. Seniors and Individual Journeymen competed on June 2, and Team and Apprentice events took place on June 3. On the evening of June 3, the winners from each category were presented with awards during a banquet at the Austin Peay State University Dunn Center. The results from each category are as follows:
SENIORS
Arrestor Change-out (Chief Judge: Mike Matheny)
3rd Place: Tommy Barksdale – Nashville Electric Service
2nd Place: Charlie Brown – Lenoir City Utilities Board
1st Place: Mike Diggs – Middle Tennessee Electric
Cutout Change-out (Chief Judge: Sean Joyner)
3rd Place: Todd Payne – Huntsville Utilities
2nd Place: Chris Gossett – Middle Tennessee Electric
1st Place: Tommy Barksdale – Nashville Electric Service
Hurtman Rescue (Chief Judge: Keith Davenport)
3rd Place: Todd Payne – Huntsville Utilities
2nd Place: Darin Parker – Paris BPU
1st Place: Tommy Barksdale – Nashville Electric Service
Overall Senior
5th Place: Durwood Burks – Nashville Electric Service
4th Place: Scott Deese – CDE Lightband
3rd Place: Mike Diggs – Middle Tennessee Electric
2nd Place: Todd Payne – Huntsville Utilities
1st Place: Tommy Barksdale – Nashville Electric Service
INDIVIDUAL JOURNEYMAN
B1 Tie-in (Chief Judge: Greg Crouch)
3rd Place: Jesse McKeral – Tri-State EMC
2nd Place: Shane Huston – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
1st Place: Logan Barber – Middle Tennessee Electric
Wooden Brace Change-out (Chief Judge: Shane Scott)
3rd Place: Greg Meador – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
2nd Place: Jeremy Swafford – Tennessee Valley Authority
1st Place: Branson Hammrich – Middle Tennessee Electric
Dead Lift (Chief Judge: Jeremy Wood)
3rd Place: Greg Meador – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
2nd Place: Jesse Sears – Dickson Electric System
1st Place: Shane Huston – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
Hurtman Rescue (Chief Judge: Glen Risner)
3rd Place: Jeremy Swafford – Tennessee Valley Authority
2nd Place: Jake Perry – Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation
1st Place: Logan Barber – Middle Tennessee Electric
Overall Journeyman
5th Place: Billy Jack Alexander – Middle Tennessee Electric
4th Place: Greg Meador – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
3rd Place: Elijah Stearns – Southwest TN EMC
2nd Place: Branson Hammrich – Middle Tennessee Electric
1st Place: Logan Barber – Middle Tennessee Electric
TEAMS
Mystery Event (Chief Judge: Shawn Blomgren)
3rd Place: Team 4 – Southwest TN EMC
2nd Place: Team 15 – Nashville Electric Service
1st Place: Team 20 – Huntsville Utilities
Polyinsulator Change-out (Chief Judge: Gaspo Dixon)
3rd Place: Team 18 – Huntsville Utilities
2nd Place: Team 4 – Southwest TN EMC
1st Place: Team 20 – Huntsville Utilities
C8 Arm Replacement (Chief Judge: John Thomas)
3rd Place: Team 8 – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
2nd Place: Team 7 – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
1st Place: Team 15 – Nashville Electric Service
Hurtman Rescue (Chief Judge: Keith Davenport)
3rd Place: Team 3 – Middle Tennessee Electric
2nd Place: Team 4 – Southwest TN EMC
1st Place: Team 20 – Huntsville Utilities
Overall Teams
5th Place: Team 3 – Middle Tennessee Electric
4thPlace: Team 10 – Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation
3rd Place: Team 18 – Huntsville Utilities
2nd Place: Team 7 – Memphis Light, Gas and Water
1st Place: Team 15 – Nashville Electric Service
APPRENTICE
Written Test (Chief Judge: Barry Smith)
3rd Place: Bryan Smith – CDE Lightband
2nd Place: Zeb Ferguson – Huntsville Utilities
1st Place: Andy Blalock – Sevier County Electric System
Wooden Brace Change-out (Chief Judge: Shane Scott)
3rd Place: Dylan Parker – Middle Tennessee Electric
2nd Place: Taylor Weakley – Huntsville Utilities
1st Place: Nolan Farris – Middle Tennessee Electric
Arrestor Change-out (Chief Judge: Mike Matheny)
3rd Place: John Mayo – Southwest TN EMC
2nd Place: Seth Lay – Southwest TN EMC
1st Place: Nolan Farris – Middle Tennessee Electric
Slack Blocks (Chief Judge: Steve Stanfill)
3rd Place: Dylan Parker – Middle Tennessee Electric
2nd Place: Chris White – Jackson Energy Authority
1st Place: Collin Diggs – Jackson Energy Authority
Hurtman Rescue (Chief Judge: Glen Risner)
3rd Place: Seth Lay – Southwest TN EMC
2nd Place: Clay Webb – Southwest TN EMC
1st Place: Nolan Farris – Middle Tennessee Electric
Overall Apprentice
5th Place: John Mayo – Southwest TN EMC
4th Place: Caleb Newman – Volunteer Energy Cooperative
3rd Place: Clay Webb – Southwest TN EMC
2nd Place: Dylan Parker – Middle Tennessee Electric
1st Place: Nolan Farris – Middle Tennessee Electric
Congratulations to each of our member systems and their talented lineworker teams who showcased their dedication and skill within their field. Check out our Facebook page to see more great moments from the competition.