The 2024 International Lineman’s Rodeo: A celebration of skill and dedication
Xcel Energy teams shined in Overland Park
The International Lineman’s Rodeo holds a special place in the electric utility industry. For the past 40 years, it has served as more than just a competition; it is a celebration of the dedication and expertise that lineworkers bring to their vital roles every day.
From Oct. 16 to 19, lineworkers came from near and far to Overland Park, Kansas, to showcase the skill, bravery and camaraderie that goes into maintaining and repairing the power grid. Through events such as pole climbing, hurt man rescue and various timed tasks that replicate real-world challenges, the best of the best competed for top standing among their peers.
Each event is designed to assess the participants' speed, efficiency and adherence to safety protocols. The competition is divided into categories for apprentices, journeymen and senior linemen, allowing for a broad range of skill levels to be showcased.
“The events are secondary to the camaraderie of bringing lineworkers from our different areas together and hanging out as Xcel Energy under one banner,” said Tony Leeling, director of Distribution Operations in Colorado. He has attended the rodeo for the last 20 years.
Jeremy Trujillo accepts his first place award at the 2024 International Lineman’s Rodeo.
Xcel Energy was proud to have several of its lineworkers participating in this year’s rodeo, including journeymen and apprentices from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Minnesota. One of our journeyman teams placed 53rd out of 227 teams. In a standout performance, Xcel Energy apprentice Jeremy Trujillo from Alamosa, Colorado, finished sixth place overall out of 380 competitors and took home first place in the Investor-Owned Utility category out of 165 apprentices.
“I love to compete,” said Trujillo. “I just have a good time. I get to take my family out there, and my kids get to see what I do for work. And then to represent a small town of Alamosa — that’s pretty cool to put our name on the map.”
Highlights from the event:
- Out of 227 teams, the journeyman team from Colorado — Mark Edwards, Cody Nicholas and Heath Hammond — placed 53rd overall. Dillon Selman, Clay Thompson and Joseph Webster took home 64th place. Shea Bramlet, Patrick Kennedy and Danny Marquez placed 91st. Keith King, Jordan King and Tate King came in at the 94th spot. Matthew Robitaille, Ben Whitcomb and Charles Carrera placed 122nd. Nash Baker, Ryan Martinez and Wyatte Howell placed 213th and Sterling Justus, Brody Grimes and O.J. Zapata placed 218th.
- The journeyman team from the Northeast Service Center in Amarillo — Clay Thompson, Joseph Webster and Dilly Selman — placed fourth in the pole climb event.
- In the Senior Journeyman Team competition, Patrick Kennedy, Danny Marquez, and Shea Bramlet were second place overall in their division. Their performance across all rodeo events garnered them this honor.