Kansas City International Linemen’s Rodeo

“The Heartbeat of the Trade”

Kansas City – From Thursday, October 18 to Saturday October 20, 2024, Journeymen Linemen, Apprentices and their families together with their unions and company leaders gathered for the 40th annual International Rodeo in Kansas City, Missouri. The event is not only a competition, but a celebration of the best in the trade.

“It is a fantastic exercise in brotherhood and unity, while watching the best of the best compete,” declared IBEW Business Manager Bob Dean. “And, as always, our teams are right there at the top,” he added.

Crews of Journeymen Linemen showcased their extraordinary skills, from scaling 40-foot poles in record time while adhering to strict safety protocols to running hurt man rescue drills.  Vendors showcased the latest tools and innovations in the industry. Family members and friends witnessed their loved ones executing their craft with precision and passion. The rodeo is a tribute to the craft, to excellence and to the brotherhood and sisterhood. 

IBEW 1245 Business Representative and Journeyman lineman Fred Aboud brought his fifteen years old son, Brayden, to witness his first ever rodeo.  

“The trade has such passion. To be surrounded by men and women who were so passionate about what they do for work is so cool.  The trade is alive. And this is the heartbeat of the trade,” said Aboud. IBEW 1245 sponsored teams  of Linemen and Apprentices from PG&E, Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and the City of Redding.  The union also provided experienced staff – Journeymen Linemen – to judge the events.

Preceded by two days of exhibitions of tools, competition opened with the national anthem and raising of the flag. Teams then took their positions to begin the task at hand – simultaneously climbing upwards of 150 poles.  Judges monitored each crew, tracking their progress and making sure they met the strict safety criteria as they conducted each exercise.

IBEW 1245 members Josh Klikna, Dustin Krieger, and John Damas from Turlock Irrigation District (TID) took first place in the Municipal Utility competition. The veteran team also ranked first in the Mystery #1 competition – replacing the top tie in a hot stick mode.

When asked what his favorite part of the event was, Klikna, who started competing in 2006, said, “I like the competition, trying to do well, especially the international’s mystery event.”  He added, “It’s the largest lineman competition in the world with 220-300 teams, a lot of talented people good at what they do.  That, and the comradery, the industry coming together with other competitors from different parts of the country,” he said.

PG&E Apprentice Jonathan Pacheco placed 3^rd in the IOU (Investor-Owned Utility) Division.

In the overall rankings, IBEW 1245 members Francisco Flores Dustin Curry and Brandon Dance from PG&E came in an impressive third. “We worked hard. We got third place. We’re happy with the result. Third place is very good out of 200 plus teams” said Dance.

The event culminated in a sumptuous banquet. Linemen, apprentices and their families celebrated the winners of the competition, the craft and the brotherhood and sisterhood. The room rocked to the Brooks & Dunn song, “Hard Workin’ Man” –  though the artist adapted the title and lyrics to “Line Working Man,” capturing the ethos of the linemen gathered with the chorus:  

Cuz I’m a hard line workin’ man!

I put it all on the line for folks all across this land

I’m workin’ my ass 24/7.

The only way to keep your power goin’ is to outrun the wind.

I can’t wait to get up in the morning and do it all over again.

Thanks to all who competed and to all who worked so hard to produce this event.

–Eileen Purcell, Sr. Advisor with contributions by Fred Aboud, IBEW 1245 Business Rep

Photos by John Storey

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2024 Kansas City International Lineman Rodeo

Teams and Apprentices Sponsored by Local 1245

Turlock Irrigation District

Josh Kilkna

Dustin Krieger

John Damas

City of Redding

Eric Bainbridge

Chris Bryant

Anthony Villarreal

PG&E

David Angove

Francisco Curry

Dustin Curry

Brandon Dance

Anthony Albright

Adam Beene

JP Richard

Daniel Lofstrand

Steve Bentley

Chris Martin

Dave Snowden

Marty Gonzales

Sean Joaquin

Drew Fitzgerald

Justin Schuppert

Chris Alfaro

Eric Banbridge

Chris Bryant

Anthony Villarreal

Apprentices  –  PG&E

Dean Devlin

Jonathon Pacheco

Marshall Martens

Dennis Spars

Sam Peck

Dean Devlin

Bartholomew Bondietti, Jr.

Apprentices  –  Modesto Irrigation District

Kevin Mathiesen

Judges

Scott Goldston/PG&E

Jerry Camacho, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

Jesse Greene, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

Ben Contreras, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

Mark Mau Mau, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

Fred Aboud, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

Mike Saner, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

Casey Barker, IBEW 1245 Business Representative

IBEW 1245 Staff Support

Bob Dean, Business Manager

Ralph Armstrong, Senior Assistant Business Manager

Bob Gerstle, Senior Assistant Business Manager

Ryan Skelton, Business Representative

Marsha Burnett, Assistant Business Manager

Gerald Williams, Business Representative