Hoosier Energy member cooperatives once again put their linemen’s talents on display at the Fifth Annual 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo, held August 20-21 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, Indiana.

 

The nine participating Hoosier Energy members acquitted themselves well, taking home first place in all four overall competitions – Team, Apprentice Lineman, Journeyman Lineman and Senior Journeyman Lineman.

 

The team events are scored out of 100 points across four events for a total of 400 points with ties broken by the lowest elapsed time of finish. The Southern Indiana Power team of Travis Goffinet, Clint Heeke and Jim Applegate took first place, edging out the Jackson County REMC team of Travis Mull, Jarren Brown and Ethan Stidham by one minute and 10.42 seconds after both achieved perfect 400-point scores. Harrison REMC Team 2 of Kody Kennedy, Kyle Armstrong and Jacob White finished third.

 

The Harrison REMC teams display their hardware from the 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo.

A total of 28 teams competed across the four events. In the first event, Hurtman Rescue, it was Harrison REMC 2 that finished first, just ahead of their colleagues on Harrison REMC Team 1 (Randy Schoen, Tim Bland and Rusty Thomas).

 

In the 3 Phase Dead-end Changeout, it was Harrison REMC 1 with the best finish among Hoosier Energy members, coming in second.

 

Harrison REMC 2 took the top spot in the Fiberglass Crossarm Changeout with Southern Indiana Power taking second.

 

In the final event, UG Riser Arrestor Change, it was RushShelby Energy Team 1 of Chris Pile, Brandon McQueen and Nate Best claiming first place ahead of second-place Bartholomew County REMC’s Jonah Brewer, Zach Andis and Kaleb Audette.

 

The individual events were scored out of 100 points each for an overall total of 300 with ties once again broken by elapsed time.

 

The overall Apprentice winner was Trace Strouse of Clark County REMC, who completed his three perfect events 18.17 seconds faster than second-place Max Rickelman of Southern Indiana Power.

 

In the Hurtman Rescue, Decatur County REMC’s Caleb Litmer was first with Ethan Stidham of Jackson County REMC claiming third place.

 

Drew Walden of WIN Energy REMC won the Knot Tying event by less than a second over South Central Indiana REMC’s Broden Goodman.

 

The final event was the A2.3 Clip-In, won by Bryce Gentry of Clark County REMC with Stidham taking second place.

 

The Jackson County REMC team and supporters pose for a photo at the 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo.

The Journeyman overall winner was Harrison REMC’s Kennedy, who scored his 300 points in just five minutes and 57.21 seconds. Harrison REMC finished with four of the top five individual finisher as Armstrong was third, White fourth and Thomas fifth.

 

Kennedy was second in the Hurtman Rescue, then Harrison swept the top three spots in Knot Tying with Thomas first, Armstrong second and Kennedy third.

 

Kennedy capped things off with a first-place finish in the A2.3 Clip-In, while Wyatt Binkley of Clark County REMC took third.

 

The Senior Journeyman overall winner was Bland of Harrison REMC, who scored 300 points in six minutes and 47.36 seconds. Second was Applegate of Southern Indiana Power with Harrison’s Schoen finishing third.

 

It was Bland and Applegate finishing 1-2 in the Hurtman Rescue.

 

Schoen was first in Knot Tying with Bland second and Steve Ford of South Central Indiana REMC third.

 

Bland and Applegate again were first and second in the A2.3 Clip-In, while Jerry Applegate of Clark County REMC took third.

 

See more photos from the Lineman Rodeo here.