2025 Gaff-n-Go Event Participants

Teams

Requirement: 1 judge  registration per team 

Each team will consist of two Journeymen (anyone who has or had the classification can compete) and a Groundman. Scoring is based on correct work procedures and safety. Utility supervisors and past Rodeo contestants are the judges and will follow very strict criteria. Each team participates in five mandatory events. The name of events and event construction information can be found here.

A Groundman is a non-climbing participant of the team. He will be allowed to climb if one of the climbing lineworkers should have to drop out for any reason. The Groundman must be a Journeyman to replace a climbing member of the team. If the Groundman were to replace a Journeyman, an alternate, as Groundman, must replace him to keep the team as a whole unit.

All team members must be sponsored and employed by a cooperative/muni/investor-owned utility/contractor and covered by their employers workers’ compensation insurance.

The top three teams will receive paid entry to the International Lineman’s Rodeo competition held in Kansas City, KS from October 15 – 18, 2025. Outstanding individuals and teams will receive awards at the conclusion of the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo.

2025 Senior Division. All 3 team members must be age 45 or older as of May 12, 2025. If at least 4 Senior Division Teams are entered, the highest-scoring Senior Division Team will receive paid entry to the International Lineman’s Rodeo Competition held in Kansas City, Kansas from October 15-18, 2025. A Senior Team will be a team whose members are all 45 years of age or older. An award will be given to the highest scoring Senior Team for each event, provided at least 4 teams compete.

Apprentices

Requirement: 1 judge registration per 2 apprentices

Apprentices also compete in the Lineworker’s Rodeo. They compete as individuals in five events.

One of the events will be a written test (5:00 P.M. on Friday, May 16).  All questions will be taken from The Lineman’s and Cableman’s Handbook, 13th Edition.

The names and descriptions of the other four events can be found here.

  • No cell phones or electronic devices will be allowed in the testing area.  Using a cell phone or electronic device during testing will result in disqualification.

A person is considered an Apprentice up to four years after they enter an Apprenticeship.  That definition will be used as the criteria for eligibility in entering the Lineworker’s Rodeo.

If a person has been an Apprentice over four years they will not be allowed to enter the Apprentice events.  If a person who is classified as a Journeyman with one company was to obtain employment with another company in an Apprentice classification, that person will not be permitted to enter the Apprentice event.

The highest scoring three Apprentices will receive paid entry to the International Lineman’s Rodeo competition and also will receive awards at the conclusion of the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo.

Tools

All contestants need to bring their own hooks, belt, hard hat, safety glasses, cotton or flame-retardant long-sleeved shirt, hand tools, 20KV rubber gloves, protectors, hand lines, hood bag, and line hose bags. Rubber gloves may be inspected in all events, as required. Velcro straps on climbers must be used as manufactured. No modifications, such as cutting the Velcro shorter, are allowed. In general, no tool modifications are allowed.

1. Each team must provide a hand line.

2. All participants will be required to use the fall restraint device.

All teams must use the Bashlin #35 hand line hook. The hand line (or pulley line) must have a sheave in it and must have an approved “becky” for hanging on the pole. An approved “becky” consists of an eye plaited into the sheave, another eye on the other end to snap back into the sheave, and three loops for adjustment of length.

In all Journeyman events the last person who comes down the pole must be the one to drop the handline.

Any special tools required for the mystery events will be provided and must be used. Please make sure that your tools are clearly marked with your name for identification.

Judges

The GAFF-n-GO LINEWORKER’S RODEO is growing rapidly so we are requiring 1 judge per journeyman team, and 1 judge per two apprentices. If you are or ever were a qualified practicing, working lineworker, you are eligible to be a judge. When you volunteer to be a judge, it is important to attend the Judges’ Meeting at 4:00 P.M. on Friday, May 16. In this meeting, each event is reviewed and final instructions are given so that our judging can be fair and consistent.

The journeyman teams and apprentices participating in the rodeo have spent many hours preparing to compete and deserve dedicated judges interested in fair and consistent judging. Please review the list of items below to see what is expected and needed to participate as a judge.

• Prior experience in the Electrical Lineworker Trade

• Attend the Judges’ Meeting on Friday

• Wear Hard Hats

• Wear Long Pants

• Wear Hard Sole Shoes

• Inclement Weather Gear is not required; however, it is a good idea to be prepared because the rodeo will be held – rain or shine.

Judges will receive a complimentary lunch on Friday and Saturday, and a ticket for the awards banquet on Saturday evening, where they will receive recognition for their contributions.

We need and welcome judges from all participating utilities and companies. Thank you for your support!!

Photo ID: All participants must bring a photo ID with them to register. This identification will be needed to pick up your packets.

In order to ensure your name is included in the Rodeo Program, please have your entry form and fees returned by April 4, 2025. If you miss the April 5st cut-off, you may still be able to compete. We will accept check, VISA, or MasterCard, or American Express for entry fees. EQUIPMENT OPERATOR’S RODEO registration check-in will be held at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia, on Friday, May 16  from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.

TEAMS

A team consists of three participants in any combination of equipment operators, apprentices, and journeymen. First, second and third-place winners will receive prizes and awards at the Awards Banquet on Saturday evening, May 17.

All teams members must be sponsored and employed by a cooperative/muni/investor-owned utility/contractor and covered by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.

JUDGES

The EQUIPMENT OPERATOR’S RODEO continues to grow, so we are asking for your help in judging. If you are or ever were a qualified practicing, working lineworker/equipment operator, you are eligible to be a judge. When you volunteer to be a judge, it is important to attend the Judges Meeting at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 16, before the rodeo. In this meeting, each event is reviewed and final instructions are given so that our judging can be fair and consistent. The teams in the rodeo have spent many hours preparing to compete and deserve dedicated judges interested in fair and consistent judging. Please review the list of items below to see what is expected and needed to participate as a judge.

• Prior experience in the Electrical Trade
• Attend the Judges Meeting on Friday
• Wear Hard Hats
• Wear Long Pants
• Wear Hard Sole Shoes
• Inclement Weather Gear is not required; however, it is a good idea to be prepared as the rodeo goes on, rain or shine.

Judges will receive a complimentary lunch on Friday and a ticket for the awards banquet on Saturday evening where they will receive recognition for their contribution. We need and welcome judges from all participating utilities and companies. Please use the Judges Registration Form to volunteer for judging. Thank you for your support!!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Where do the lineworkers/equipment operators have to be employed?
Any operating utility and/or contractor. The lineworkers/equipment operators must be sponsored by their employer and covered by workers’ compensation insurance.

Will any events use aerial buckets?
Yes.

Will we have to sign a liability release?
Yes.

Will there be a First Aid Station and/or a Paramedic at the Rodeo?
Yes. There will be two EMS units on site.

Will there be seating for family members and spectators?
You are encouraged to bring lawn chairs since seating is limited at the rodeo site. There is little to no natural shade at the Meadow Event Park. Utilities are also invited to bring team tents.

Will there be soft drinks and food to purchase at the Rodeo?
Concession stands will be selling soft drinks and food.

Where do participants check in?
All participants should check in on Friday, May 16, from 10:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. at the Farm Bureau building in front of the festival loop. (All three team members must be present to sign waivers and receive rodeo packet.)

Will video footage be allowed to settle judging disputes?
No.

Is parking available to unload tools and equipment?
Parking is available at the Meadow Event Park. You should arrive by 10 A.M. on Friday, May 16, to unload equipment and tools.

Who may protest a call?
The team must be the one to protest a call. Involvement by spectators in a protest may result in the team being disqualified. No team will be allowed to protest another competitor.

Scoring will be judged for:
  • Safety
  • Work practice
  • Neatness and ability
  • Equipment handling
  • Timely completion of the event

Time will be used only to break a tie.

Total number of events for each team: 4

The events must be completed in the order shown on your schedule. Each event must be marked complete by an event judge before you can start the next event. The winning team will be determined by the total number of deductions. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the total time to complete all events. Bonus points will not be added for winning or placing in an event.

Scoring Verification

Teams are encouraged to verify the scores that are input into the scoring system. The results will be available at the registration building after a team completes all their required events. The final score and team standings will not be available at the Rodeo Event. All final scores and event standings will be posted on the www.gaff-n-go.com homepage by Monday, May 20th.

Tools

All contestants need to bring their own hard hat, safety glasses, cotton or flame-retardant long-sleeved shirt and leather work gloves.

Each event is worth a total of 100 points. All safety rules are to be observed during the events. See the following list for point deductions:

Infractions – 2 Point Deduction
  • Late for event
  • Lose hardhat
  • Wearing hardhat backwards
  • Not wearing safety glasses
  • Improper cover-up – i.e. No rubber on reach, fall or slip
  • Dropping tools
  • Cutouts, burnouts, or slips
  • Operation of hand line while team is climbing
  • Misuse of tools
  • Misuse of rubber
  • Failure of Groundman to wear work gloves
  • Twisted hand line operation
  • Not wearing OSHA approved lineworker belt or harness
  • Poor housekeeping
  • Exceeding the mean time to complete an event, except for hurtman rescue and pole climb. The mean time will be given for all mystery events.
  • Failure to wear long sleeved shirts. If shirt has buttons on the sleeves, they must be buttoned, not pushed or rolled up.
  • Exposed blade on skinning knife
  • Safety strap not being under control. Both snaps of the safety strap must be hooked in a ‘D’ ring while climbing the pole. The safety strap may be carried on the shoulder, but if it should slide off the shoulder, the contestant will receive a 2-point deduction.
  • Hanging tools on phase conductors, neutrals, cross arms or safety straps.
INFRACTIONS – 10 Point Deduction
  • At each climbing event for Apprentices or Journeymen, a ring will be painted around the pole at the six-foot mark. If the contestant cuts out from below the ring and comes to the ground, 6 feet or less, this will result in a 10-point deduction. If after both feet pass above the six-foot mark, the climber cuts out and comes to the ground, the Journeyman team or Apprentice will be disqualified from the rodeo. If after transitioning past the neutral the climber cuts out and falls to the neutral, then there will be a 10-point deduction. Any other cutout or slip will be scored as found in the infraction section.
  • Accidental contact with phases
  • Working opposite phases at the same time
  • Not using hand line or bucket for sending material up or down pole
Disqualification
  • At each climbing event for Apprentices or Journeymen, a ring will be painted around the pole at the six-foot mark. If the contestant cuts out from below the ring and comes to the ground, 6 feet or less, this will result in a 10-point deduction. If after both feet pass above the six-foot mark, the climber cuts out and comes to the ground, the Journeyman team or Apprentice will be disqualified from the rodeo. If after transitioning past the neutral the climber cuts out and falls to the neutral, then there will be a 10-point deduction. Any other cutout or slip will be scored as found in the infraction section.
  • Unprofessional behavior
  • Practicing on the Rodeo field prior to the Rodeo
  • Intentional sabotage or tampering with materials, tools or equipment on the Rodeo field
  • Unapproved use of alternates or changing status of team members during the events. See Master Judge for approved use of alternates or changes in team status during Rodeo
  • Protests made by someone other than contestants
  • Modifying rubber gloves in any way