Cassidy James and her sons, Dylan and Jacob, watch their dad, Little River Electric lineman Levi James, at the S.C. Lineman’s Rodeo.
by Josh P. Crotzer
Dylan James, the 13-year-old son of lineman Levi James, loves that his dad is a lineman for Little River Electric Cooperative.
“I think it’s a pretty cool job,” says Dylan. “He’s able to climb poles and get people’s power back on.”
Dylan’s mom, Cassidy James, is just as proud of her husband. But she also knows that the job requires him to encounter hazards every day while working with high- voltage equipment.
“Every time he goes out, I worry,” she says. “He’s working in such dangerous conditions. I tell him to pay attention, take it slow and do everything you should.”
Doing things the way they are supposed to be done—and keeping lineworkers safe—is what the 2024 South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo is all about. Sponsored by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, the rodeo features events such as a written safety test, overhead transformer changeout and streetlight replacement.
Held at Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s Moncks Corner facility in March, the event allowed 98 lineworkers representing 10 electric cooperatives to show off their skills in front of family, friends and peers. The rodeo features two divisions. Apprentice lineworkers (less than 4 years of experience) compete individually in four events, while journeymen compete as three-man crews in four events. In each, the emphasis is on applying safe practices more than speed.
The Little River Electric journeyman crew of (from left) Gavin Magaha, Bret Timmerman and Levi James placed third in the Hurt Man Rescue event.
Little River Electric’s journeyman crew of James, Bret Timmerman and Gavin Magaha placed third in the Hurt Man Rescue competition. Using a 150-pound dummy, Hurt Man Rescue simulates how lineworkers should respond when another is rendered unconscious at the top of a pole. Little River Electric linemen are familiar with the exercise. They practice it at least once per year, not for the rodeo, but for the welfare of their fellow lineworkers.
“That’s something that you have to do for this job,” says Levi James. “It’s a competition, but we want to do it safely, do it right and get the man down.”
With activities for children and special areas set up for spectators to watch the competitions, James says the rodeo is also an opportunity to grow the existing bond between the co-op and families.
“All of these co-ops are family-oriented,” says James. “When Little River Electric says we’ve got a rodeo team and to bring your family, that’s what it’s all about. We’re here to support each other.”
