National Lineworkers Rodeo April 2 at Canterbury

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National Lineworkers Rodeo April 2 at Canterbury

April 1, 2016

Electric lineworkers from across the country compete April 2 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, in the American Public Power Association (APPA) National Lineworkers Rodeo. Opening ceremony is at 8 a.m. The event is expected to conclude by 4 p.m. It is free and open to the public. There will be food on-site and a number of educational and interactive displays for children and adults.

At the Rodeo, journeyman and apprentice lineworkers compete for professional recognition, attend training courses and practice essential skills in a safe environment. Attendees also have a unique opportunity to connect with and learn from the nationwide community of lineworker professionals.

• There are approximately 650 people involved—competitors, volunteers and judges. There are approximately 65 teams (of 3-4 people each) competing from around the country. These teams include more than 160 journeyman linemen. In addition, 130 apprentice lineworkers will compete in separate events.

• The Rodeo is divided into journeyman and apprentice classes, with five events in each class. Each event in the journeyman class will be held on pole lines built to three-phase specifications. There are five, 18-pole ‘pole lines’ for the journeyman class, and four more for the apprentices.

• This “once in a lifetime” for Minnesota event is a big deal: the area of the rodeo grounds is approximately nine acres (roughly the size of eight football fields), set with 132 pole structures.

• The rodeo grounds construction was coordinated by Shakopee Public Utilities and the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA). Shakopee Public Utilities provides electric and water service. MMUA represents the interests of Minnesota’s 125 ‘public power’ utilities. Approximately a quarter of these utilities helped build the rodeo grounds.

• Among the benefits of attending the event, according to those involved, are: team building; goodwill between company and employee; lineworkers get to rub shoulders with some of the best lineworkers in the country; exposure to best practices; become a better lineman.

• Established in 2001 by the American Public Power Association (APPA), the Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo is where public power lineworkers demonstrate their skill and knowledge in the craft of linework.