Crews from Huntsville Utilities earned national recognition after bringing home eight awards from the American Public Power Association Public Power Rodeo held March 28.

Teams representing 60 public electric utilities from 20 states competed in the event, which simulates real-world challenges lineworkers face in the field, including pole climbing, equipment replacement and emergency rescue scenarios.

The Huntsville Utilities Electric Lineworker Rodeo Team won eight awards. A journeyman team made up of Cole Border, Adam Thomas and Colby Lipham captured multiple top finishes, including first place in URD New Install 12KV, Storm Restoration and Hurtman Rescue.

The team also placed second in OCR Replacement and third in Pin and Insulator Change Out 12KV.

The group earned top overall honors, winning first place as the Overall Journeyman Team in both the large utility division, representing systems with more than 100,000 customers, and across the entire competition.

A second Huntsville Utilities journeyman team, Zeb Ferguson, Taylor Weakley and Dakota Hill, also secured a first-place finish in OCR Replacement.

“We are incredibly proud of how well our teams did in this year’s Public Power Rodeo,” said Wes Kelley, President & CEO of Huntsville Utilities. “We already know we have some of the best lineworkers in the nation, and it’s especially meaningful to see their skill and dedication recognized among their peers on the national stage.”

The Public Power Rodeo is considered the premier national event for lineworkers from municipally owned utilities, highlighting the technical skill, speed and safety required to maintain and restore electrical infrastructure.

The competition, previously hosted in Huntsville, gives both industry professionals and the public a closer look at the demanding and often dangerous work performed by lineworkers who keep communities powered.