Long before sunrise, the International Lineman’s Rodeo grounds were already stirring. Competitors arrived in the dark and near-freezing cold, their breath visible in the air as dim light revealed an army of hard hats moving between trucks, tool bags and utility poles.
As the sun rose over Bonner Springs, Kansas, the field came into focus. Crews stretched, checked equipment and walked through final details. There were flashes of nerves, but mostly a quiet shift into competition mode, the practiced focus of lineworkers preparing to do demanding work safely, precisely and under pressure.
Then the events began, and the calm gave way to a dance of controlled chaos. Across the grounds, 1,250 lineworkers from around the world climbed, rigged and raced through challenges modeled on the work they perform every day. Judges watched every movement, measuring speed, agility, technique and strict adherence to safety procedures.
For Duke Energy’s 57 competitors, the moment represented months of preparation and years of experience. Each had earned a place on the international stage by ranking among the company’s top performers at regional rodeos earlier in 2026. Once the clock started, however, the larger spectacle narrowed to the task at hand: trust the training, look out for one another and complete the work the right way.
Six awards — and a standout finish
By day’s end, Duke Energy teams had earned six awards. Justin McCarson, Heath Burrell and Miles Bell delivered one of the strongest performances of the competition, placing first in Journeyman Mystery Event No. 1 (insulator changeout), second in Journeyman Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) and second overall in the journeyman division.
Keith Griffin, Jay Tipton and Sandy Barnhill took first place in the Journeyman Seniors division. Matthew Clark, Danny Haithcock and Hunter Boone finished second in that division, while Tyler Nickols, Joshua Buckner and Tyler Manick placed fourth in Journeyman IOU.
“Competing at the International Lineman’s Rodeo and bringing home an award is something I’m incredibly proud of, but it’s bigger than any one person,” said McCarson, a senior engineering technologist in Hendersonville, North Carolina. “This job takes teamwork, trust and looking out for the person working beside you.”
Competition rooted in real-world service
For more than 40 years, the International Lineman’s Rodeo has celebrated a craft built on skill, discipline and safety. The competition is intense, but the work it reflects carries far greater stakes. Every day, Duke Energy lineworkers maintain and upgrade the electric grid, restore power after storms and outages, and help deploy smart, self-healing technology that can detect damage, reroute power and often restore service in less than a minute.
“We are incredibly proud of our competitors and the way they represent Duke Energy and the communities we serve,” said Scott Batson, executive vice president and chief power grid officer. “The skill, discipline and commitment they demonstrate at the International Lineman’s Rodeo reflect the dedication all Duke Energy lineworkers bring to serving customers every day.”
Matt Richardson, a Duke Energy journeyman lineworker in St. Petersburg, Florida, brought his wife and two sons along. "It's fun coming out here … with everyone who does the same kind of trade as you," he said, "sharpening your skills and seeing how they stack up against the rest of the people."
Our winners
Journeyman Mystery Event #1
- First place – Justin McCarson (Hendersonville, N.C.), Heath Burrell (Hendersonville, N.C.), Miles Bell (Tryon, N.C.)
Journeyman IOU
- Second place – Justin McCarson (Hendersonville, N.C.), Heath Burrell (Hendersonville, N.C.), Miles Bell (Tryon, N.C.)
- Fourth place – Tyler Nickols (Marion, N.C.), Joshua Buckner (Marion, N.C.), Tyler Manick (Old Fort, N.C.)
Journeyman Seniors
- First place – Keith Griffin (Marshall, N.C.), Jay Tipton (Marshall, N.C.), Sandy Barnhill (Fuquay Varina, N.C.)
- Second place – Matthew Clark (Benson, N.C.), Danny Haithcock (Timmonsville, S.C.), Hunter Boone (Southern Pines, N.C.)
Journeyman Overall
- Second place – Justin McCarson (Hendersonville, N.C.), Heath Burrell (Hendersonville, N.C.), Miles Bell (Tryon, N.C.)
