Three linemen from the City of Edmond recently traveled to Roseville, California, to compete in the American Public Power Association (APPA) Lineworkers Rodeo – and no, it does not involve horses.
“When people hear ‘rodeo,’ they think of bull riding,” said Travis Matthews. “But we’re out here doing the everyday tasks of our job in a competitive, judged environment—with a heavy emphasis on doing it safely.”
Journeymen Chance Tipken, Tristan Stefani, and lead lineman Travis Matthews represented Edmond in a national event that tests safety training and features a skills-based competition. Oklahoma lineman David Trent acted as a judge at this year’s events. Held annually in a different host city, the 2025 rodeo featured 61 three-person journeyman teams and 115 apprentices from 52 publicly owned utilities across the country…