Pedernales Lineworkers Take Three Top Rodeo Spots
Three Pedernales Electric Cooperative journeyworker teams placed second, third and fourth in the cooperative division at the International Lineman's Rodeo.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Rodeo
Pedernales Electric Cooperative journeyworker teams won second, third and fourth place in the cooperative division at the International Lineman's Rodeo, held October 14-17 in Overland Park, Kansas. More than 650 teams of crews competed in the event.
Why it matters
The rodeo tests safety practices and high-voltage linework skills that line crews use to restore power, giving utilities and the public a measure of crew readiness. For Texas residents served by Pedernales Electric Cooperative, the results reflect the skill of the crews that maintain local power lines.
Three Pedernales Electric Cooperative teams placed second, third and fourth in the cooperative division among more than 650 crews at the International Lineman's Rodeo. The source does not report individual scores or the full division field.
The players
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Pedernales Electric Cooperative is a Texas electric cooperative whose training program is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and whose Safety and Technical Training Center is located in Marble Falls.
The details
Teams competed in safety and power restoration tasks that test high-voltage linework skills. The Pedernales team members placing in the cooperative division were Garrit Afman, Russell Albright and Andy Ridge in second place, Caleb Brodock, Justin Ferry and Jesse Salazar in third, and Darren Donhauser, David Hernandez and Michael Thyberg in fourth.
Timeline
October 14-17: International Lineman's Rodeo held in Overland Park, Kansas.
Season Trajectory
The result extends the recognition of Pedernales Electric Cooperative's training program by the U.S. Department of Labor into competitive lineman events. The team placements show that the cooperative's federally recognized training is producing results at a national competition.
The placements are a reminder of the training behind the crews that maintain local power lines in the Pedernales service area. Residents interested in linework careers can review openings through the cooperative's job portal.
The takeaway
Competitive lineman events show how safety training translates into skilled crews. Readers curious about the trade can look into the training pathways that utilities like Pedernales Electric Cooperative offer.
Further reading
For more on regional competitions, see Rodeo coverage across Texas.
More information
Explore linework careers and current openings at PEC careers in linework and job openings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hays Free Press and News-Dispatch.
