Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo coming to Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The annual Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo is coming to the Tennessee Rivepark this weekend.
EPB is hosting this year’s event, the first for the Scenic City.
“All this is the setup for the Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo,” said Grant Carriker of EPB. “It is an annual event that rotates different cities. It is in Chattanooga for the first time ever. It is a competition of most linemen from different local power companies from the Tennessee Valley Authority area.”
The Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo started in 1998. 
The rodeo features multiple competitions that involve scaling 45-foot-high utility poles.
Grant Carriker with EPB believes this rodeo will showcase line workers skills and knowledge in the field.
“For those competing, it is a great opportunity to showcase their skill set. It judges their safety, their quality of work, their time and efficiency,” Carriker said. “We are putting on display all the great things Chattanooga has.”
According to EPB, more than 40 teams from across the seven-state region will compete at this weekend’s lineman rodeo.
Tyler Neely with EPB considers it a privilege to compete in the rodeo.
“It is really exciting for me. Family and friends are going to be able to come and enjoy the festivities and actually get a perspective on what I do for a living,” said Neely. “I am sure that I speak for myself and most of the time, I think that would be a pretty well-rounded response.”
The Lineman Rodeo will kick off on Friday June 7 at 1 p.m.
Neely hopes the community will come out not only to show support but to learn something as well.
“We are out every day, all day doing maintenance, and then when a storm comes through, we are repairing our facilities. Then just getting to know us as linemen. We have families, you know, and that brings everybody out, and brings everybody together to get to know each other in the community. So that is a big deal for us,” Neely explained.
The Tennessee Riverpark is located at 4301 Amnicola Highway in Chattanooga.
