Xcel Energy employees showcase skills in Lineman's Rodeo

Xcel Energy held its 31st Lone Star Lineman's Rodeo on Friday, featuring some of its best lineworkers showing off their best climbing, safety and team skills at the Don Taylor Training and Rodeo Grounds in east Amarillo.

This year’s event had more than 50 individuals, and eight teams competed in events like pole climbing, hurtman rescue, and various repair tasks. There were mystery and written events as well. Lineworkers came from across the state of Texas and New Mexico for this competition with a chance to qualify at Xcel's national rodeo in Kansas City.

Wes Reeves, a spokesperson for Xcel, spoke about the event and its origins.

“When this event started in the '80s, it was created to highlight safety skills, and over the years, it has turned into a friendly competition and somewhat of a family reunion for our employees spread out all over the regions,” Reeves said. “This gives us all a chance to see the challenging work that these linemen do in the field in a relaxed atmosphere with their families present. It's a really cool thing for their families to get to watch what they do."

Reeves described the purpose behind the pole climb, which involves lineworkers ascending with a bucket and descending the pole with an egg in their mouth, as emphasizing safety and efficiency. In another event, the hurtman rescue requires a lineman team to work together to rescue a 180-pound dummy from a simulated energized line.

“This is all about practicing safety skills and fine-tuning skills they may not use all the time,” he said. “Above all, this is a chance to show their families and fellow employees the jobs that they do while showcasing their skills."

Mitchell Hutchens, a transmission line supervisor, spoke about the reasoning behind the lineman’s rodeo.

“These guys are out here to show how good they are and claim bragging rights,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is just a way to showcase how well our linemen are trained and give their families a chance to see them in action.”

The top three finishing teams were

1-Sterling Justus, Sean Williams and Oscar Zapata from Lubbock, Seminole, and Littlefield

2-Dilly Selman, Clayton Thompson,and Joseph Webster for Amarillo Northeast Service Center

3- Corbin Baker, Ryan Martinez, and Wyatte Howell for Amarillo Southwest Service Center

The top senior team was Shea Bramlet, Patrick Kennedy and Danny Marquez for Lubbock, Amarillo Technical Center, Littlefield

The top individual apprentice performers were:

1. Zackry Owens Amarillo Northeast Service Center
2. Michael Mckinney, Amarillo Technical Center
3. Levi Brook, Amarillo Southwest Service Center
4. Israel Vasquez, Littlefield Service Center
5. Cody Cash, Roswell Service Center
6. Tristan Hughes, Amarillo Northeast Service Center
7. Austin Green, Roswell Service Center
8. Stephen Byrd, Plainview Service Center
9. Jayden Richardson, Pampa Service Center
10. David Gabriel, Lubbock Service Center

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Xcel Energy employees showcase skills in Lineman's Rodeo