Six linemen from Community Electric Cooperative were among more than 150 competitors at the 13th Annual Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo, held March 27 and 28 at the Caroline County Agricultural Fairgrounds near Ruther Glen.

The co-op’s Danny Beale, Ricky Brame and Steve Saunders entered both the equipment operator’s and journeyman team events. Jonathan Powell and Erik Thiede competed in the apprentice events, and Eric Galford paired with the two apprentices to form a second equipment operator’s team.

The only event of its type in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo offers professional linemen the opportunity to demonstrate their technical skills as they perform a variety of designated electric line-work tasks. Their performances are timed and scored, with safe work practices the most important factor in judging.

“This event promotes teamwork as well as safety,” said Steven A. Harmon, CEC’s president and CEO, who served as a lineman earlier in his career. “The job line crews do to ‘keep the lights on’ is a hazardous one. Despite working in all types of weather to restore service, CEC linemen have maintained our co-op’s outstanding record of safety.”

The rodeo received formal recognition from Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who declared March 28, 2015 as “Electric Utility Lineman Day” in the Commonwealth.

Delegate Buddy Fowler, who presented the proclamation on the governor’s behalf, noted, “We just suffered through a pretty extreme winter. The importance of the job you do to ensure the safety of our public by making sure the lights and heat stay on is very clear to me.”

Headquartered in Windsor, Community Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit member-owned energy provider that serves nearly 11,000 homes, farms and businesses in Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry and Sussex.