Walton EMC Line Technicians Place in International Competition

Lineman's rodeo team preparing to compete
The journeyman lineman team of, second from left, Bradley McCallister, Ryan West and Preston Roberts get their equipment ready for competition while receiving instructions from the event judge at the recent International Lineman’s Rodeo near Kansas City, Mo. (photo courtesy Ann Brown)

BONNER SPRINGS, Ks. – Several apprentice and journeyman line technicians from Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) recently competed and placed at the International Lineman’s Rodeo.

The journeyman team of Bradley McCallister, Preston Roberts and Ryan West placed third in the EMC division and went on to finish 12th overall out of 206 teams.

Competing for Walton EMC in the apprentice division were Brandon Brooks, Ben Campbell and Jacob McNary.

Apprentices and journeymen compete in different divisions. Apprentices compete individually while journeymen compete on three-man teams.

The rodeo tests line technicians’ knowledge and skill in building and maintaining electrical distribution systems. Practicing for and competing in the event translates into more efficient and safer work habits that save time, money and lives.

The annual event, first held in 1984, “attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman tasks and skills,” according to the event’s website.

Walton EMC provides electric service to 125,000 residential and business accounts in a 10-county area between Atlanta and Athens. Because its customers own the company, service – not profit – is Walton EMC’s primary focus.

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