Georgia Magazine - January 2025 - 15

Georgia teams shine at
International Lineman's Rodeo
G
eorgia's electric membership corporations (EMCs) took home several prizes at
the International Lineman's Rodeo at the Overland Park Convention Center in
Overland Park, Kan., Oct. 16-19.
The timing of the annual event-while many Georgia co-ops still were grappling
with repairs after Hurricane Helene-caused fewer teams from Georgia to participate,
but those that did excelled. The International Lineman's Rodeo features competition
events such as " hurt-man rescue, " in which linemen strive to rescue a " hurt " dummy
atop a power pole in the shortest amount of time without any point deductions.
The team of Clayton Patterson, Austin Cunningham and Jeremy McBrayer from
Marietta-based Cobb EMC took second place overall among all 227 competing
journeyman teams and first overall in the division only for the 37 teams from
electric cooperatives.
Also finishing in the top 25 overall were teams from Jackson EMC in Jefferson
(sixth overall; third in the co-op division), Snapping Shoals EMC in Covington (14th;
fifth), Habersham EMC in Clarkesville (19th; seventh) and Flint Energies in Reynolds
(24th; eighth).
Georgia teams accounted for six of the top 10 scores in the co-op division, with
another team from Snapping Shoals finishing 10th.
Mason Tolbert of Monroe-based Walton EMC was the top-finishing apprentice
from a Georgia co-op. He placed third overall among the 380 apprentice linemen
competing and second among 84 apprentices in the division just for cooperatives.
Other top finishers were Hunter Walton from Flint Energies, who was seventh overall
and fourth in the cooperative division, and Phillip Mork from Walton EMC, who
finished 24th overall and seventh in the cooperative division.
For more information about the International Lineman's Rodeo, including
complete results, go to linemansrodeokc.com.
Engineer Ed Hutter (left) helped make the
accessible treehouse envisioned by Scott Fuss
(right) of Snapping Shoals EMC a reality.
W
ith the donation of utility poles and the
help of employees, Covington-based
Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corp.
(EMC) was instrumental in the creation of an
all-accessible, two-story treehouse at Chimney
Park in Covington.
Scott Fuss, public relations and marketing
coordinator at Snapping Shoals EMC, serves on
the board for Chimney Park and conceptualized
the design for the treehouse in 2016.
" The treehouse was one of the first ideas
for the park when this all started [more than
20 years ago]. Mike and Kelly Hopkins, a former
[Snapping Shoals EMC] employee, were a big
driving force in it being an all-accessible park,
as they have had three children with special
needs, " Fuss said. " Snapping Shoals has had a
big role to play in the park. Melvin Allen, retired
[co-op] employee, and former employee Danny
Stone have served on the board. Brian Worton
has joined me as the newest member of the
Chimney Park board.
" Bruce Watts, manager of operations, and
Bobby Fincher, director of line services, helped
to load and deliver the poles to the property
for the foundation. Don Ritchey, senior vice
president of line services, helped get the
utility poles signed off for the base. "
The treehouse was built in true
cooperative spirit.
" All of the money was raised through
friends of the park. Nothing was donated by the
county or taxpayers; it was all privately funded.
It was the community coming together to build
the treehouse, which is now a centerpiece for
the park. It was pretty exciting to see it come
together after 20-plus years, " Fuss said.
To learn more about Chimney Park and its
From left, Cobb EMC linemen Clayton Patterson, Austin Cunningham and Jeremy McBrayer
and their coach, Ian Hansman, celebrate their team's second-place fi nish overall and fi rst
among all competing electric cooperatives.
vision of providing an outdoor sanctuary for
people of all abilities, visit chimney-park.com.
www.georgiamagazine.org
15
Snapping Shoals EMC
creates accessible treehouse
COURTESY COBB EMC
COURTESY SCOTT FUSS
COURTESY RAYLE EMC

http://www.linemansrodeokc.com http://www.chimney-park.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - January 2025

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