Duke Energy teams received nine awards at the International Lineman’s Rodeo, held on October 18 in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The competition is recognized globally and drew about 1,200 participants this year, including 78 competitors from Duke Energy who had previously earned top spots at regional events.
Among the honors, Tyler Nickols, Joshua Buckner and Tyler Manick secured third place overall in the journeyman category. Keith Griffin, Jay Tipton and Sandy Barnhill won first place in the journeyman seniors division.
Other notable results for Duke Energy teams included fourth place finishes in Journeyman Mystery Events #1 and #2 by Jordan Henderson, Heath Burrell, Miles Bell; and William Gandy, Zachary Haithcock, Joshua Haithcock respectively. In the Journeyman IOU (investor-owned utility) category, Nickols’ team took first place while Henderson’s team came second. Additional fourth place finishes were recorded by Gandy’s team in the same category and Matthew Clark’s team in the seniors division.
The International Lineman’s Rodeo has been running for more than four decades. It features job-related events that replicate typical lineworker tasks required to maintain electrical service or restore power after disruptions. Competitors are evaluated based on speed, agility, technique and safety practices.
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 journeyman lineworkers added: “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 an important role by helping ensure reliable electric service throughout all seasons. They respond after severe weather events such as storms by restoring power quickly where possible using technologies like smart self-healing systems that can reroute electricity automatically when outages occur.
Duke Energy continues its investment into grid improvement projects aimed at supporting community growth with a skilled workforce ready to meet rising energy demands while maintaining reliability across its service areas.
Duke Energy serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states—North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky—and operates significant natural gas utilities as well.
More information about Duke Energy can be found on its website (https://www.duke-energy.com/) or via social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/duke-energy), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/duke_energy), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DukeEnergy), as well as through its news portal Illumination (https://illumination.duke-energy.com/).
