Theo Cason, a Southern California Edison apprentice lineworker, has a distinct way of measuring his progress at work. He can gauge his growth by participating in an annual tradition of his trade, where competition and camaraderie comingle.

“I’m really competitive, so the rodeo is fun for me,” Cason said. “I’m not nervous about the events like I was last year so I know I won’t make the same silly mistakes.”

An SCE apprentice since 2023, Cason was still a beginner when he signed up for last year’s rodeo — a popular practice for apprentices in his service district of Santa Ana. Though he ranked well last year, this year Cason vied for victory.

On Saturday, he joined 38 other apprentices and 31 teams of lineworkers from various utilities and contractors who showcased their skills in SCE’s Lineman’s Rodeo. Each year, the top SCE performers earn a ticket to Kansas for the International Lineman’s Rodeo, dubbed the “Lineman Olympics,” in the fall.

Competitors put their skills to the test in various events that rodeo judges score based on speed and safety. In the Hurtman Rescue, contenders must lower an injured worker — represented by a dummy — from the top of a power pole. For the Pole Climb, competitors climb and descend a power pole without breaking a raw egg in their mouths. Each year the rodeo also features a mystery event revealed on competition day.

“One of the top things we pride ourselves on is making this a safe rodeo,” said Robert Torres, SCE principal manager of Employee and Contractor Safety. “Competitors can come here and know that the event is focused on their safety, will be competitive and judged fairly so they can enjoy the rest of their day with their families.”

While these events involve different conditions from day-to-day linework — where lines can be energized and speed isn’t a primary factor — the challenges still test specific skillsets from the trade. As for the safety score aspect, Cason said that core value is so ingrained in SCE culture that it comes like second nature.

“The pole climb shows how smoothly you can climb and how conditioned you are because it’s harder to breathe with an egg in your mouth,” he said. “To me, placing well in several rodeo events tells me that I’m adaptive and well-rounded.”

Before entering his apprenticeship, Cason knew little about linework but in his three years on the job, he’s come to love the sense of teamwork and problem solving. While in the rodeo Cason competed as an individual apprentice, it allowed him to compare his performances and see how much he has strengthened his skills in just one year.

“In this competition I really want to represent the district I came up in and pay homage to the people that showed me the way,” Cason said. “I learned all of these skills from someone and now I get to set a good example.”

Although Cason didn’t end up ranking as high as he hoped, he had fun sharing his craft with friends and family who came to support.