PEC brings home 20 awards from state competition

SEGUIN — Pedernales Electric Cooperative employees competed against the top lineworkers in the state at the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo, bringing home first and second place in the overall journeyman category.

The rodeo took place July 18-20 at Nolte Island Park near Seguin. PEC employees competed in numerous events, bringing home 20 awards.

“We are honored and humbled to have placed in multiple events against the best teams in Texas,” said Troy Whitehead, PEC regional operations director. “Their performance speaks to the dedication of our crews and commitment to providing our members safe, reliable power. We’re incredibly proud of everyone and look forward to competing at the International Lineman’s Rodeo this fall.”

The Texas Lineman’s Rodeo brings together lineworkers from across the state to showcase their skills in high-voltage linework, while emphasizing safe work practices. The same skills tested in the rodeo are those used out in the field, which helps PEC crews provide enhanced service and reliability, according to a news release.

PEC received the following awards:

Journeymen: Darren Donhauser (Johnson City), David Hernandez (Canyon Lake), and Michael Thyberg (Canyon Lake)

• First Place, Overall Journeyman Team

• First Place, Cooperative Division

• First Place, Switch Change Out

• Third Place, Hurtman Rescue

• Fourth Place, Insulator Change Out

Marble Falls Journeymen: Justin Ferry, Tyler Horn, and Marshall Verette

• Second Place, Overall Journeyman Team

• Second Place, Cooperative Division

• Third Place, Insulator Change Out

• Fifth Place, Hurtman Rescue

• Fifth Place, Switch Change Out

Canyon Lake Journeymen: Chris Gerchman, Crispen Davis, and Asencion Menchaca

• Fifth Place, Cooperative Division

Senior Journeymen Juan Hernandez (Kyle), Jason Fric (Kyle), and Kris Saladino (Johnson City):

• Third Place, Senior Division

Canyon Lake Apprentice Zack Gough

• Third Place Overall Apprentice

• Third Place Hurtman Rescue

• Third Place Written Test

Cedar Park Apprentices

• Justin Carbajal: Third Place, Transformer Bank

• Chayton Boyd: Fourth Place, Pole Climb

Liberty Hill Apprentice Collin Dickinson

• Third Place Jumper Change Out

Additionally, Aaron Alvarez, Marshall Swoda, Jeremy Abbott and Chris Wells out of PEC’s Liberty Hill District won fourth place in the barbecue competition for ribs. PEC’s communications team took home first place for the Best Advertisement. Winners will advance to the International Lineman’s Rodeo, October 16-19 in Overland Park, Kansas, to take the stage against the best in the world. Additional information on the event is available online at www.tlra.org.