Power line crews will compete in equipment operator’s and lineman’s rodeo June 3-4

The skills and equipment of crews who work to safely restore power following an outage event will be on display Friday and Saturday, June 3-4 at the 14th Annual Terex® Gaff-n-Go Equipment Operator’s & Lineman’s Rodeo.

More than 150 line workers and volunteer judges from five states are slated to compete at Meadow Event Park in Doswell. Friday’s competition starts at 11:15 a.m. with the equipment-operators’ rodeo, which will test each team’s ability to maneuver the bucket trucks and digger derricks used to help maintain electric distribution systems.

Beginning at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo will feature competitions among 50 individual apprentices and 21 three-man journeyman teams.

“There’s something for everyone at the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo,” says Richard Johnstone, executive vice president of the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC), which hosts this event.

Johnstone explains that the name Gaff-n-Go refers to the “gaff,” or metal spike, that linemen attach to their boots to assist in climbing wooden utility poles. “Working 40 feet above the ground on a course of utility poles, these professionals will be judged on whether a variety of tasks are performed according to safe and efficient work practices, as well as the time it takes them to complete each,” he notes.

Saturday has been declared “Electric Utility Lineman Day” by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. Parking and admission are free both days, with a food vendor on site. Families can also enjoy a petting zoo, face-painting and balloon-artist activities from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information and directions to Meadow Event Park, go to http://www.gaff-n-go.com Faceb.ook fans can see photos from previous years and find out the latest news at http://www.facebook.com/gaffngo