Some of the world’s best gas and electric workers showed off their skills earlier this month at the IBEW 1245/PG&E West Coast Gas and Electric Rodeo at the Livermore Training Center.
The annual rodeo brought together utility workers, apprentices, retirees and families to celebrate the trade and showcase the work crews perform every day in the field.
Top electric finishers will now advance to the Kansas City International Rodeo that will take place later this year. And the top Gas finishers will advance to the 2026 National Gas Rodeo in Kentucky this Fall.
On the electric side, teams competed in events including Hurt Man Rescue, speed pole climbs, hot stick and rubber glove events. Gas competitors competed in two-person and four-person team events including Meter set, pipe cut, hand dig and relay.
Teams from across the utility industry took part, including crews representing IBEW 1245, PG&E, APS/IBEW 387, Southern California Edison (SCE), Summit Line Construction, Sturgeon Electric California, LADWP, MID, 1884 Line Co., and ARB. Gas crews from PG&E Gas Distribution General Construction yards across Salida, Sierra, Fresno, Kern, Sacramento, and Mission also competed.
The event opened with remarks from IBEW 1245 Senior Assistant Business Manager Bob Gerstle, who welcomed competitors, retirees, families, and attendees to the annual rodeo. Gerstle also volunteered as a judge during the competition, alongside other 1245 leaders and members, including Business Representatives Steve Lange and Mike Saner.
For apprentice competitor Amy Mora, a fourth-step apprentice from Ukiah, the rodeo offered a chance to step outside the normal work routine and showcase the trade.
“I think it’s fun for everybody to come out and showcase what they do,” Mora said. “You get away from the everyday routine a little bit, but it’s also fun getting to compete and seeing everybody out here supporting each other.”
Mora said she first got into the trade through the Power Pathway program and quickly realized it was something she genuinely enjoyed.
The rodeo brought together generations of utility workers, from retirees to apprentices, alongside families and friends. Among them was 87-year-old retiree and IBEW 1245 member Jim McKenna, who spent 35 years working for PG&E and reflected on both the evolution of the industry and the importance of safety.
“As you can see, this is a massive turnout,” McKenna said. “I remember the first time we did a rodeo. It was nothing like this. It’s good to see it grow through the years.”
McKenna said one of the things he enjoys most about attending the rodeo is seeing how the trade continues to evolve, particularly the development of new tools and equipment.
“One of the things I love seeing when I come is new solutions to old problems,” McKenna said.
“In the good old days, it was easy to fall off a pole,” McKenna added. “All that stuff has been taken care of by new equipment and more concern about safety. Better to be a little slower and retire in one piece.”
For many families attending, the rodeo offered a rare chance to see firsthand the professionalism and trust behind utility work, as crews demonstrated the skill and preparation required to safely do the job every day.
Congratulations to all the competitors, volunteers and families who helped make this year’s rodeo another success.
The following competitors earned top finishes:
2026 Linemen Rodeo Apprentice Results Overall Top 10
1st Julio Molina Berber – 2nd Jake Colombo – 3rd Dean DeMoss – 4th Travis Eckberg – 5th Travis Henry – 6th Alex Stoffel – 7th Ethan Jorgensen – 8th Boston Lindlahr – 9th Justin Richards – 10th Cody Lango
2026 Journeyman Lineman Results Overall Top 10
1st APS / IBEW 387 Team 1 – Oscar Gonzales, Bobby Ellsworth, Mike Bast – 2nd District 51 – Justin Mapel, Vinnie Sanchez, Matt Katz – 3rd Local 47 – Fabian Gutierrez, Jose Leon, Fernando Valenzuela – 4th Surf City – Michael Farinsky, Cam White, Shane Collins – 5th BTEAM – David Angove, Brandon Gloria, Matt Newton – 6th Distro Dinosaurs – Adam Beene, Anthony Albright, JP Richard – 7th Sierra Speed – Jordan Ralls, Ben Boardway, Carson Penny – 8th Edenvale 1 – Isiah Avina, Aidan Galletta, Jacob “Floppy” Hunt – 9th The Okayest Lineman – Aaron Sabato, Dave Carlon, Sam Pack – 10th NDA INC – Nando Ibal, Donovan Niederlander, Andy Cochenour
2026 Gas Rodeo Results
Two-Person Division
1st Gas Money – PG&E GDGC Salida
2nd Hot Tie-In – PG&E GDGC Salida
3rd Squeeze Easy – PG&E GDGC Salida
Four-Person Division
1st Gas Godz – GDGC Salida
2nd Grumpy Old Men – GDGC Kern
3rd Gas Holes – GDGC Fresno
Dean DeMoss of PG&E earned 3rd place overall in the Apprentice Division.
2nd place winner overall for apprentices. IBEW Local 1245 member compete in the PG&E Gas & Lineman’s Rodeo in Livermore, Calif. on May 2, 2026.
Julio Molina Berber of PG&E earned 1st place overall in the Apprentice Division.
IBEW 1245 Senior Assistant Business Manager Bob Gerstle giving welcome remarks at the 2026 IBEW 1245/PG&E West Coast Gas and Electric Rodeo.
“Gas Godz” from PG&E Gas Distribution General Construction in Salida took 1st place in the Four-Person Team competition.
“Gas Money” from PG&E Gas Distribution General Construction in Salida earned 1st place in the Two-Person Gas Competition