When severe weather strikes and the power goes out, our electric cooperative linemen also go out. They go out to restore that power safely and efficiently. They brave the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer. They do it to keep our lights on.

Each spring, they also go out and compete against other linemen--for fun, and for bragging rights. That competition is the South Carolina Lineman's Rodeo, and it's happening on March 21.

Black River Electric Cooperative and Santee Electric Cooperative will be the hosts co-ops at the Clarendon County Industrial Park near Manning.

What, you might ask, does one see at a lineman’s rodeo? There are numerous events for individual linemen as well as groups. Who can climb the fastest? Who can lift heavy objects? Who can operate machinery with the most skill? Who can change out an assembly at the top of the pole the fastest? And always—who does it in the safest manner? All these questions will be answered.

There are events for relatively new linemen, called apprentices, and there are also events for our more experienced folks, typically referred to as journeymen. Family members, kids, folks of all ages come out to see how those linemen perform.

The event starts at 8 a.m. and runs all day long. The location is on Joe Rogers Boulevard in Manning near Exit 115 on I-95 (Highway 301 exit).