Lineman rodeos limited and canceled due to coronavirus
Florida
The 20th Annual Florida Lineman Competition, which kicked off the 2020 lineman rodeo season was closed to the general public Friday, March 13, but still open to participants and families of lineworkers.
As a precaution for preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the City of Tallahassee and the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) announced that the two-day Florida Lineman Competition would be open t0 participants and their families only.
FMEA issued a statement saying, "We apologize to any members of the public who may have planned to attend, but we along with the City of Tallahassee thought this was a necessary step to take. Families of lineworkers are still permitted to attend."
FMEA said they would videotape and live stream some events.
Kansas
Meanwhile, the American Public Power Association made the decision to cancel the Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo scheduled for April 17-18 in Bonner Springs, Kansas and the Engineering & Operations Conference, scheduled for April 19-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.
APPA made the decision, "given the evolving situation with regard to COVID-19 and travel restrictions issued by some member utilities."
APPA announced the 2021 Lineworkers Rodeo will be held March 26-27, 2021, and the Engineering & Operations Conference will be held March 28-31, 2021, at the Pasadena Convention Center in California.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina postponed the 2nd annual South Carolina Lineman’s Rodeo scheduled for March 20-21 as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. A reschedule date has not yet been announced.