More than 1,000 journeymen and apprentice lineworkers converged in Kansas in October for the 40th annual International Lineman's Rodeo, with IBEW members taking home the top prize.

Members from West Frankfort, Ill., Local 702, won the "Journeymen Best of the Best" category, with members of Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245 snagging third.

IBEW lineworkers from numerous other locals also proved their mettle, coming in at or near the top in the other categories.

"Everyone loves the event, not only as a competition but as a celebration of the craft and its history," said Bob Dean, Local 1245's business manager. "It's always great to see everyone with their family and friends, getting to see them do what they do, and share a beer. Winning is always nice, too."

In the journeyman contractor division, Diamond Bar, Calif., Local 47 members took first and second place. The top winners were Sturgeon Electric's team of Joe Maynes, Enoc Verdin and Dan Jameson, with Toby Claude, Curt Norris and Brian Wheeler coming in second.

Local 1245 members took first in the municipal utility division and shared a first-place prize with Local 47 in one of the rodeo's "mystery" events, where participants don't learn what the challenge will be until the day before. Local 47 apprentice Dwight Diaz also scored the big prize in one of the mystery events.

"The West Coast locals are always up at the podium and creating great competition for the teams involved," Local 47 Business Manager Colin Lavin said of the rodeo, held at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs. "This is a big event for the industry. Our members practice and train all year long at various smaller rodeos to prepare for the main competition."

On the Canadian side, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Local 2034 journeymen and apprentices took bragging rights as the highest-placing teams among all Canadian participants.

"While the rodeo events foster healthy competition, their impact reaches far beyond the field," Local 2034 Business Manager Mike Espenell said. "This occasion promotes enhanced safety measures, strengthens job skills including knowledge, builds relationships, and boosts morale among participants, which are qualities that serve us long after the event."

New this year was the International Kid's Rodeo, with two competitions in two age groups hosted by the Missouri Valley JATC and Buckingham Manufacturing. The training center and the company provided prizes, shirts that said, "This is my first rodeo," and child-size personal protective equipment to keep the next generation of lineworkers safe.

"I think we stole the show," said Missouri Valley JATC Assistant Director Leigh Conducy, who first had the idea for the event about 10 years ago. "We had 42 kids compete, but it could have easily been 100. It was absolutely incredible."

Kids competed in either the "First Step Apprentice" category for 8- to 10-year-olds or the "Future Lineman" category for 11- to 13-year olds. The two main events were a tower rescue involving a giant teddy bear named Bucky and a confined-space search and rescue. Conducy said he heard a lot of stories of fathers practicing at home with their sons and daughters before traveling to the event together.

"A lot of dads would finish their event, then rush over to see their kids compete," he said.

And just like the adult lineworkers, the young winners got to walk across the stage at the Overland Park Convention Center where they were given a World Wrestling Federation-style belt.

"The crowd completely erupted when they put that over their heads," Conducy said.

The plan is to return next year bigger and better so more kids can compete.

"The intention was to bring something unique to the rodeo and the trade, and I think we definitely accomplished that," Conducy said.