Some of South Carolina’s top electric cooperative lineworkers will head to Clarendon County this weekend for the 6th annual South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo, a statewide skills competition and community event hosted by Santee Electric Cooperative and Black River Electric Cooperative.
The event is set for Mar. 21, at the Clarendon County Industrial Park, located at 2414-2163 Joe Rogers Jr. Blvd. in Manning. Organizers describe the rodeo as a free, family-friendly event open to the public.
According to promotional materials, opening ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the competition grounds opening at 10:15 a.m. and events running until 1:15 p.m. An awards ceremony will follow under the shed at the conclusion of competition.
The South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo is open to electric cooperative lineworkers employed by one of the state’s 18 electric cooperatives that are members of The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. The event is designed to highlight the technical skill, safety training and teamwork required in the profession while giving lineworkers a chance to compete against peers from across the state.
Santee Electric Cooperative announced that Corbett Collins, Dustin Shady and Evan Mizzell will compete in the journeyman division, while Abbi Davis will represent the co-op in the apprentice division.
“These dedicated lineworkers have spent the past several weeks training hard and sharpening their skills in preparation,” Santee Electric Cooperative said in a social media post announcing the event.
In addition to the competition, the day’s schedule includes sponsor recognition, a flag-raising ceremony, the national anthem and invocation.
The rodeo’s mission, according to event organizers, is “to inspire a culture of safety with a focus on training while encouraging an atmosphere of competition and community among the brotherhood of South Carolina’s electric cooperative linemen.”
For more information, visit ecsc.org/rodeo.
