Tipmont linemen rustle up another great rodeo showing

Since the inaugural Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo in 2022, Tipmont has earned multiple first-place finishes each year. After the 2026 rodeo, that streak is still alive.

Congratulations to all 10 Tipmont linemen who participated in this year’s Lineman Rodeo — held on Thursday, Aug. 20, and Friday, Aug. 21, at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville, Ind.

This showcase of on-the-job skills featured 113 competitors from 23 electric cooperatives across Indiana. They simulated real-world scenarios like rescuing an injured lineman from atop an electric pole, line restoration and hardware installation / removal.

As they would on poles inaccessible from bucket trucks, linemen climbed using harnesses around their waists and spiked gaffes to their legs. Events were held for individuals (in apprentice, journeyman and senior journeyman categories) and teams. In step with linework priorities, each event was judged first by safety ratings and then by speed.

Tipmont sent three different teams this year, with 10 total linemen participating. For the second straight year, Tristen Hoffman took first place in his individual Hurt-Man Rescue. Meanwhile, the Tipmont team of Bo Bouwkamp, Christian Guimond and Dusty Manns led the leaderboard in the Three-Phase Changeout.

Among journeyman linemen, Hoffman also took second place in the A2.3 Clip-In event and second place in the overall standings. And in the apprentice division, Mason Bruns finished 10th overall among all competitors.

Each team event saw at least one Tipmont squad finish in the top three.

Bouwkamp, Guimond and Manns took third place in the Underground Riser Arrestor Change. Meanwhile, the team of Hoffman, Shafer Cox and Bobby Taylor, Jr. landed third place in the Three-Phase Changeout and the Hurt-Man Rescue, and second place in the Fiberglass Crossarm Changeout. The team of Connor McGhee, Scott Scherer and Nick Stewart ensured Tipmont took three top-10 spots in the team Hurt-Man Rescue.

And there’s yet another step for this year’s rodeo journey: Hoffman, Scherer and Taylor, Jr. are headed to the International Lineman Rodeo in Overland Park, Kan. later this month. (Bouwkamp will join them as a coach / alternate participant, and apprentice lineman Dylan Gretencord will also participate as a judge.)

Again, please join us in congratulating these Tipmont linemen on a great showing at the 2026 Indiana Electric Cooperative Lineman Rodeo. We celebrate their dedication to maintaining excellent service!