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Jessica Parr

DOSWELL

Community Electric Cooperative employees joined more than 150 utility professionals from seven states at the 16th Annual Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo, held May 11-12 at Meadow Event Park in Doswell.

On Friday, Eric Galford, Ryan Hewitt and Jonathan Powell demonstrated skills they use every day as part of the equipment operator competition, finishing fourth out of 25 teams. The cooperative’s grilling team, Buckhorne Barbeque, also took top honors in the Gaff-n-Grill contest.

During Saturday’s apprentice competition, linemen Eric Galford and Ryan Hewitt competed in five timed and scored events.

“The job these linemen do to ‘keep the lights on’ for our members is a dangerous one,” said Steve Harmon, CEC president and CEO. “We’re proud to support an event that promotes the safety and teamwork so critical to this profession, and delighted that our guys did so well in this year’s competition.”

Named for the spike linemen attach to their boots when climbing electric utility poles, the Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo is organized by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives.

The only competition of its type in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s Rodeo offers professional linemen the opportunity to showcase their technical skills in various timed and scored events.

For more information, photos and a video from this year’s event, visit www.gaff-n-go.com.

Community Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Windsor, is a not-for-profit member-owned energy provider that serves nearly 11,000 homes, farms and businesses in the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex and the City of Suffolk.

For more information, go to www.comelec.coop.

JESSICA PARR is with Community Electric Cooperative. Contact her at jparr@comelec.coop.