The 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperatives Lineman Rodeo took place August 20-21 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. Now in its fifth year, the event gathered 113 linemen from 23 co-ops to showcase their skills.
Teams of three competed Thursday in hurtman rescue, 3-phase dead-end changeout, fiberglass crossarm changeout, and this year’s mystery event, UG riser arrestor change. On Friday, the individual events (hurtman, A2.3 clip-in, and knot tying) were held in the apprentice, journeyman, and senior journeyman categories.
Prizes were awarded for each event and for overall performance across all events. The overall teams first place trophy went to Southern Indiana Power’s team of Travis Goffinet, Clint Heeke, and Jim Applegate. The top overall apprentice was Trace Strouse from Clark County REMC, while Harrison REMC took home overall first prize in the other divisions: Kody Kennedy in journeyman and Tim Bland in senior journeyman.
Harrison REMC won the most prizes of any co-op, with 18 total top placements across all categories. Harrison’s tally included the third place team overall for the team of Kyle Armstrong, Kody Kennedy, and Jacobb White. Tipmont and Southern Indiana Power followed with nine and seven total placements, respectively.
The trophies awarded for the top prizes are custom creations by Jim Binkley, a retired lineman with 40 years of industry experience. The unique and impeccably crafted pieces are built from pieces of cross-arms, insulator pins, and other power equipment parts. This year’s trophies were even wired to light up.
See complete scores and standings for the 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo.
Safety is number one.
Throughout the event, members of the Indiana Electric Cooperatives team re-emphasized the importance of safety. In his opening remarks, Adam Lock, IEC apprenticeship training program director, reminded linemen of principles that apply in the competition and in the field: “Take your time. Do the work the right way. Watch out for the guy next to you.”
Speaking at the team banquet on the first night, IEC CEO John Cassady said, “Safety isn’t simply a requirement or something we measure. It’s a responsibility we have to each other and to every family represented in this room.”
The safety mentality is built into every component of the event, down to how results are determined. Teams and individuals are ranked first by judges’ safety ratings, then by speed. This motivates competitors to aim for a perfect score, as even one minor lapse puts a trophy out of reach.
The Danville Fire Department and EMS were on hand to ensure safety for all in attendance. They also collaborated with organizers to develop the event’s Incident Action Plan.
Fun for the whole family
Families in attendance cheered on the linemen and enjoyed a variety of festivities. The kids’ aone, sponsored by Hendricks Power Cooperative, brought family-friendly fun to the event. A bounce house area, face painters, and a caricature artist were available to attendees for free.
Cassady took time in his remarks to acknowledge the sacrifice of lineworkers’ families: “Being a lineworker is a significant commitment, and that commitment extends to the entire family. There are long days, nights, storms, and times when the call comes, and plans have to change because someone needs to get the power back on.”
See more photos from the 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperatives Lineman Rodeo.
Next year’s rodeo is planned for August 19-20, 2027, at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds.
