News Release

Walton EMC Line Technicians Make Impressive First Showing at Rodeo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2007

Contact Heather Hodges, 770/266-2408

MONROE, Ga. – Despite being first-time competitors, Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) line technicians (the modern term for linemen) made an impressive

Ryan West of Watkinsville took home a second place win from the Georgia Lineman's Rodeo.

showing at the

Georgia Lineman’s Rodeo in Perry, bringing home a second place win and high expectations for upcoming years.

Held annually for 13 years, this is the first year that Walton EMC has entered a team in the competition, which was held May 5 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Driven by a passion for his job and a desire for competition, Ryan West, apprentice line technician of Watkinsville, urged Walton EMC to enter a team in this year’s Rodeo.

West, along with apprentice line technicians Bradley McCallister, Bogart, Dustin Richardson, Monroe, Preston Roberts, Monroe, and Brandon Waters, Athens, competed for Walton EMC. Greg Pannell, journeyman line technician of Monroe, served as a coach for the team. David Fitzpatrick, line crew supervisor of Madison, and Brad Adcock, journeyman line technician of Good Hope, represented Walton EMC as judges.

The team competed in four events: a written test, Hurt Man Rescue, Normal-Open Switch Installation and a mystery event. The events are designed to test their knowledge, experience, speed, agility, utilization and awareness of safe practices, and overall skills as line technicians. Hurt Man Rescue is designed to simulate a situation in which a line technician is injured; the competitor must get the injured man (a mannequin) to the ground quickly and safely.

West received a second place award for the Normal-Open Switch Installation event, with a time of four minutes 21 seconds, just six seconds behind the first place winner.

Not only does the annual event give line technicians the opportunity to hone and display their skills, it promotes safety, training and pride in a job well done, says Fitzpatrick.

The team began practicing in January, concentrating on speed and picking up a few tips from competitors from other EMCs. “We started on Hurt Man, and our times were not good,” says West. “Within two months of practicing, we all saw a drastic change.” Still, the team didn’t know what to expect from their competition. “Going down there, we thought we would be competing against superstars,” says West.

“When we got down there,” he says, “we realized we could compete with anybody. Walton EMC does a good job of training their linemen, and it shows.”

Next year, they’ll be seasoned pros. “We expect to take a few first place events next year,” says Pannell.

Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves 115,000 accounts over its ten-county service area between Atlanta and Athens.

# # #

Click here to view images from the event.