Duke Energy teams received nine awards at the International Lineman’s Rodeo, held on October 18 in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The competition brought together about 1,200 lineworkers from around the world. Among Duke Energy’s participants were 78 competitors who had previously earned top placements at regional events.
Key achievements for Duke Energy included a third-place finish in the overall journeyman category by Tyler Nickols, Joshua Buckner, and Tyler Manick. In the journeyman seniors division, Keith Griffin, Jay Tipton, and Sandy Barnhill secured first place.
The International Lineman’s Rodeo is an annual event that has drawn skilled lineworkers globally for over four decades. It features job-related challenges designed to replicate tasks involved in maintaining and restoring electric service. Participants are judged on speed, agility, technique, and adherence to safety procedures.
Scott Batson, executive vice president and chief power grid officer for Duke Energy, said: “Our teammates’ commitment to excellence for our customers is evident in the work they have voluntarily put in to compete at the rodeo. Safely ensuring consistency and reliability each day is their priority and ours. Whether or not they walked the stage and won an award at the international event, we couldn’t be prouder of these teams’ hard work.”
Joshua Buckner of Marion, N.C., one of Duke Energy’s winning journeyman lineworkers stated: “Participating in the International Lineman’s Rodeo means more than just competition – it represents pride in my craft, respect for my brothers and sisters in the trade, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve daily. It’s a chance to showcase the skill, precision and teamwork that define what it means to be a lineman. Placing at the International Lineman’s Rodeo is more than just a trophy; it showcases how we as a team have sharpened our skills to respond to storms and outages in a safe and efficient manner.”
Lineworkers play a key role in keeping electric grids reliable year-round by responding after storms or severe weather events as well as installing new technologies like smart self-healing systems that can quickly detect outages and reroute power.
Duke Energy continues its efforts toward grid improvements with investments aimed at building resilience against outages while preparing for community growth across its service areas.
The company serves 8.6 million electric customers across six states—North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky—and provides natural gas service to 1.7 million customers across five states.
More information about Duke Energy can be found at duke-energy.com or through their social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or their Illumination stories page.
