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Trico’s Apprentice Lineworkers Excel at State Rodeo

Written by mlitwicki on . Posted in Lineworkers.

Trico’s Apprentice Lineworkers excel at state rodeo

June 1, 2025

Trico’s Apprentice Lineworkers performed very well at the 2025 Arizona Lineworker Rodeo in April, taking first place in several events. The rodeo was held at Trico, which gave our Trico family a chance to see our Apprentices in action.

Conor Garcia won two events and finished second in another event while Anthony Anaya finished first in the Hurt-Man Rescue. Matt Ward and Tyler Russell won team events. Ward finished seventh overall out of 40 Apprentice Lineworkers from nine state utilities.

“We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and hard work,” said Matt Fredericksen, Vice President of Electric Operations. “I would also like to applaud Bryan English and Colby Brown for stepping up to coach the guys this year. All of Trico’s Journeyman Lineworkers have played crucial roles in the development of these Apprentice Lineworkers.”

The rodeo included three individual events, a written test and two team events. Garcia completed the Obstacle Course in 3 minutes and 43 seconds. The Obstacle Course gives Apprentices the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work efficiently with gloves, move insulators and perform tasks like leaning out and transferring equipment while maintaining safety and precision.

“Conor showcased his climbing skillset in the Obstacle Course,” Fredericksen said. “Lineworkers have to navigate over two crossarms and move material carefully in order to come ahead of their peers in this event.”

Garcia, Anaya, Ward and Russell finished first through fourth in the Mystery Event, which involved terminating an elbow connector on an underground cable.

“This event is unknown to the competitors until the day of the rodeo, so preparation is very limited,” Fredericksen said.

Anaya and Garcia finished first and second in the Hurt-Man Rescue event. The purpose of the Hurt-Man Rescue is to demonstrate speed while safely lowering an injured worker (represented by a mannequin), who is unconscious, from the top of the pole.

“This is a really competitive event that requires the ability to be swift and careful as it represents rescuing a fellow Lineworker who has been incapacitated,” Fredericksen said.

For the team events, Ward and Mario Hernandez of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) finished first in the Cross-Arm Change Out, while Martin Mares of Trico and Sean Hahn of SSVEC placed second. For this event, Lineworkers demonstrated their ability to detach the conductors from the old cross arm, removing the old cross arm from the pole, attaching the new cross arm, and then reattaching the conductors to the new cross arm.

Trico’s Russell and Gabe Ornelas of SSVEC won the Overhead Transformer Change Out. They finished third overall. Teammates are randomly selected from different utilities and at different stages in their apprenticeship.

“These events require extensive communication on the fly in order to obtain the best times,” Fredericksen said.

The state rodeo is a great opportunity for our Apprentice Lineworkers to showcase the skills they’ve learned on the job. We are proud of their hard work and dedication to our Members.

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2024 Lineworkers Rodeo

Written by mlitwicki on . Posted in Lineworkers.

State Rodeo gives lineworkers a chance to show of their skills

December 1, 2024

Around 50 Apprentice Lineworkers from electric cooperatives and electric districts across Arizona competed in the state Lineworkers Rodeo on October 29, 2024 at Trico. It was Trico’s first time hosting the event.

“We witnessed incredible skill and teamwork in action,” Trico CEO & GM Brian Heithoff said. “The event showcased not only technical expertise required in our line of work, but also the camaraderie that defines our industry. The rodeo allowed Trico to shine.”

The rodeo is a unique competition event designed to help lineworkers compete safely, as well as showcase their physical ability and technical skills. The competition included an obstacle course, hurt-man rescue, written exam, mystery event, and two team events – installing an overhead secondary and cross‑arm change out.

Trico Apprentice Lineworker Conor Garcia won the Obstacle Course event in a time of

4 minutes and 19 seconds. “We’ve been doing a lot of training. It was nice to be rewarded for all the hard work.”

Conor said this year’s event was well organized. “Everyone I talked to said it was a blast. It was nice having it here and having everyone cheering for us.”

Trico’s Anthony Anaya placed second in the Hurt-Man Rescue, just 5 seconds behind winner Efren Gallego of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC). Trico’s Matt Ward finished second in the Mystery Event and third in Hurt‑Man Rescue and the Obstacle Course. Conor, with Joseph Brandt of SSVEC, placed second overall in the team events. Trico’s Troy Mead and Shelbey Joel Fulton of SSVEC finished fifth in the team events.

Lisandra Teran, Records Management Specialist at Trico, said watching the Lineworker Rodeo was a great experience. “Getting to see them in their element and support them at their competitions was fun. They take great pride in their work and have a great culture of teamwork.”

“It was such a great experience to be able to see our apprentices in action, doing what they do every day. It was extra special for me watching my son (Tyler Hornung) compete,” Yoli Lazos said.

Trico will be hosting the 2025 Arizona Lineworker Rodeo April 14–16.

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Light Up Navajo Humbling Experience

Written by mlitwicki on . Posted in Community, Lineworkers.

Light Up Navajo is humbling experience for Trico lineworkers

August 1, 2024

For the second year in a row, Trico sent line crews to a remote area of the Navajo Nation to participate in the Light Up Navajo program. This mutual-aid program began in 2019 to extend electricity to homes without power.

Trico lineworkers Anthony Anaya, Bryan English, Joe Tsethlikai, Martin Mares, Matt Ward and Troy Mead spent two weeks working in Naschitti, New Mexico to bring power to those in need.

“I’ll go back every year until everyone has electricity or I’m dead,” English said. “I’m happy to give back.”

Trico’s crews built 3.5 miles of line and put up 40 poles to feed power to nine homes. “The conditions were not great,” Tsethlikai said. “We had to use special pressure diggers. It took one to two hours to dig one hole. For the people to live there without power is mind blowing.”

Tsethlikai said they met an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran who never had electricity except for his time in the Marines. 

“This is history in the making,” Tsethlikai said. “This is generational. We’re not just bringing power to these nine homes. This is something that is going to be there forever. Their children and future generations will benefit from what we’re doing.”

Brian Heithoff, Trico CEO/GM said, “The work to provide the residents of the Navajo Nation a reliable source of energy is vital to providing them a brighter future, and reflects the co-op spirit that helped electrify Trico’s service territory starting almost 80 years ago.”

Ward said he was honored to be selected to participate in Light Up Navajo. “It was an extremely humbling experience. You would never guess that people still to this day continue to live without what we consider to be basic necessities, such as running water, electricity, etc. To know that I was able to be a part of changing someone’s life by providing power alone is very honoring. The work experience along with meeting the homeowners is amazing. They taught us the Navajo language and they are some of the friendliest people.”

Anaya said “the whole experience made me grateful for the life I live with my family and everything Trico has provided for me. Hopefully I get the opportunity to do it again next year.”

Ann Nadeau thanked Trico for “what you are doing for the Navajo Nation. These residents need to be cool. The crews are heroes.”

Trico was the first cooperative in the state of Arizona to participate in the mutual-aid program last year. According to the American Public Power Association, of the approximately 55,000 homes on the Navajo Nation, nearly 14,000 still do not have electricity. They represent 75% of all U.S. households without power.

Learn more at https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/03/us/navajo-nation-power-grid-connection/index.html. 

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Apprentice Lineworkers Participate in State Rodeo

Written by mlitwicki on . Posted in Lineworkers.

Apprentice Lineworkers show off their skills at the state rodeo

January 1, 2024

Congratulations to our Apprentice Lineworkers Anthony Anaya, Colby Brown, Conor Garcia, Tyler Hornung, Martin Mares, Troy Mead and Matt Ward for their effort at the Arizona Lineworkers Rodeo hosted by Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) November 7–8 in Benson.

The competition put 43 lineworkers through a series of challenges, beginning with a written test assessing their knowledge before heading outdoors. The hurt-man rescue drill is designed to emulate an on-site emergency where a lineworker lowers a fellow lineworker, a victim played by a life-size dummy.

There’s a technical obstacle course, a mystery event, and two team events, to install an overhead secondary, and cross‑arm change‑out. All events are designed to reinforce fundamental skills, safety, and challenge the resourcefulness of each apprentice.

Tyler finished third overall in individual events. Colby had the fastest time in the Mystery Event and placed fourth in the Obstacle Course. Conor and Colby finished third and fourth respectively in the Hurt-Man Rescue. Team Trico also placed well in the team events.

“The State Rodeo this year was great,” Martin said. “Having all seven apprentices there was a huge help, from helping each other out on events, letting each other know what to look for on the mystery event and having them there cheering each other on was a great experience.”

Martin’s favorite event was hurt-man rescue. “Having this event in the rodeo makes us work on our climbing and perfecting our rescue also,” he said. 

We are proud to see our Apprentice Lineworkers’ commitment to safety, learning and serving our Members. Great work, team Trico!

Hector Acuna of The Herald Review contributed to this story.

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Trico helps bring power to the Navajo Nation

Written by csadmin on . Posted in Community, Lineworkers.

Concern for Community and Cooperation Among Cooperatives are two of seven principles that cooperatives like Trico pursue. In June, Trico employees Bryan English, Joe Tsethlikai, Tyler Hornung and Conor Garcia spent a week in Chinle, Ariz. – near Canyon de Chelly National Monument – to bring power to the community as part of the Light Up Navajo program.

Trico is the first cooperative in the state of Arizona to participate in the mutual-aid program that began in 2019 to extend electricity to homes without power. According to the American Public Power Association, of the approximately 55,000 homes on the Navajo Nation, nearly 14,000 still do not have electricity. They represent 75% of all U.S. households without power.

Tsethlikai, who is a descendant of the Zuni people, said it is unthinkable that in 2023 there are people in the United States without electricity.

“Being half-native, I’m glad I got the opportunity to help them,” he said. “They need all the help they can get. It’s going to be a long process. At the rate they’re going, it will take 30 years for everyone to get power. Until they have electricity, they don’t have access to basic necessities that we take for granted, such as water, ice to keep their food cold, telephones, internet, or indoor plumbing.”

The working conditions in Chinle weren’t great. The temperature was in the 90s. The wind was 40-50 miles per hour. The elevation is around 7,000 feet.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said Tsethlikai, a Journeyman Lineman at Trico for 16 years. “It was a lot of work, but it was rewarding. After meeting the people and seeing what a life-changing experience it is for them, it was all worth it. It was an eye opener for me. My family on the (Zuni) reservation has electricity and water. It was sad, but I was happy to be there. I don’t look at it as charity. It’s the right thing to do.”

It was a great learning experience for Hornung and Garcia, who are apprentice linemen. All four men said they wished they could have done more. During their week in Chinle, they installed four meters. There was also a crew from Alabama working in another part of town.

“I hope more utilities continue to help,” said English, who has been a Journeyman Lineman at Trico for eight years. “It was a good experience. I wish we could have done more. Maybe next year we can stay longer.”

Apprentices Gain Experience at Lineman’s Rodeo

Written by mlitwicki on . Posted in Lineworkers.

Apprentices Gain Experience at Lineman’s Rodeo

January 24, 2023

Apprentice linemen Tyler Hornung, Martin Mares and Shem Scott had a great time learning and competing against apprentices from other state electric cooperatives and utilities at the Arizona Lineman Rodeo in November.

The Lineman Rodeo is an event created to offer lineworkers a way to showcase their pride in their profession. The event is composed of volunteers devoted to the promotion of educational and electrical safety activities, including, but not limited to, the continued education of lineworkers, building relationships of trust, teaching teamwork techniques, sharing of ideas to bring innovation to the industry, and networking that will foster better working relationships between utilities. Martin said the Lineman Rodeo was a great experience. “I met a lot of apprentices at different steps of the apprenticeship. It was great camaraderie.”

Martin said his favorite events were the Hurtman Rescue and the Obstacle Course. He said both events make you a better climber. “The Hurtman Rescue makes you practice over and over on what needs to be done if you ever need to rescue someone hurt on the pole. The obstacle course helps you find what works better for you on installing or replacing material on the pole.”

Crew leader Jeremy Konski, who volunteered as a judge for the rodeo, said Tyler, Martin and Shem did well for their first rodeo. “Overall, it was a great experience, and we look forward to next year,” he said.

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Trico Linemen Help Motorist

Written by mlitwicki on . Posted in Community, Lineworkers.

Trico Linemen Help Motorist

August 26, 2022

Trico is dedicated to making a difference in the communities we serve. Trico journeyman lineman Bryan English and apprentice Anthony Anaya exemplified the cooperative’s concern for community when they stopped to help a woman change a flat tire while driving down Avra Valley Road.

They parked behind her and put out cones, and then came over to help her.

“They told me to put my tools down and that they would handle it for me,” Lillee Soriano posted on the Avra Valley Community Facebook page. “They got the car up and lug nuts off, but my rim was stuck on the rotor. Luckily, they had a pry bar and were able to get it off. They put the donut on. I thanked them multiple times for taking the time out of their day to help me. It almost brought me to tears. I have never experienced something like that in my life. Just pure kindness.”

Caption: Trico apprentice lineman Anthony Anaya changes a flat tire for a member of the community.

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Apprentice dreamed of being lineman like his dad

Written by Monica Pugno on . Posted in Lineworkers.

From a young age, Trico apprentice lineman Anthony Anaya dreamed of being a lineman. His father, Dan, has worked at Trico for 30 years.

When Anthony was 4-years-old, he grabbed his dad’s climbing gear out of his truck and put it on.

“I knew from day one that this is what I wanted to do,” Anthony said. “I grew up around here (Picture Rocks, Avra Valley). I’d see the linemen wave as they drove down the road in their bucket trucks. I saw how our Members looked up to my dad with respect. It intrigued me to want to be lineman.”

When Anthony was younger, he also wanted to pursue a baseball career. He played second base for a club team from 8-years-old until 14-years-old. He played baseball in high school at Marana High. He still plays ball for an all-men’s league at Sports Park.

“But the more I thought about it, I knew baseball wouldn’t take me far,” he said. “It took money to make money. I realized being a lineman is what I wanted to do.”

Anthony started at Trico as a Groundman in September 2020. He is now in the first year of a four-year lineman apprenticeship. Anthony said he got emotional when he found out he was hired by Trico.

“For years, it’s what I dreamed of,” he said. “It was a dream come true. I still feel the same way. It’s a great work environment. We’re like brothers out there. Everyone works safe because we all want to get home safe.”

Working safely is one of the many lessons Anthony learned from his father.

“He has taught me to double check everything, to work safe and work hard,” Anthony said.

Dan started at Trico in May of 1992 in the Auto Shop and was a Meter Reader. In April 2003, he became a Journeyman Lineman after a four-year apprenticeship. During his apprenticeship, he learned that Trico and its Members come first. Family comes second. He hopes Anthony and the other young lineworkers understand what it takes to be a good lineman. Over the years, Dan missed some of Anthony’s baseball games, birthdays and holiday gatherings because he was on call.

“Some people dream of becoming a lineman and some people do it for the money,” Dan said. “I told Anthony to do it because it’s what you want to do, not for the money. I’m happy (he wants to be a lineman). It’s nerve-wrecking. I want him to do it the right way and for the right reasons. I try to teach him some tricks. I test him on different scenarios.”

Dan said what makes a good lineman is being able to do it all – overhead and underground power line work – and knowing the whole system and how to troubleshoot.

“I know the system in my head,” Dan said. “I want Anthony to be like that. It’s more than just knowing how to do overhead line work. It’s a credit to Trico that our linemen know how to do all aspects of power line work.”

Anthony knows being a lineman won’t be easy. He understood why his dad couldn’t be there all the time when he was growing up.

“He was the only one working in the family because my parents agreed that my mom would stay home and raise my sister and I,” Anthony said. “My mom did a great job raising us. I understood that he was trying to give us the best life he could. He’s always been dedicated to Trico and his job. It’s a lifestyle. I know at times it’s going to be hard. That I’m going to miss holidays and birthdays.”

Anthony said his father would go out of his way to make up for missing occasions, which wasn’t necessary.

“He was there for me when I was growing up,” Anthony said. “After work, he’d be tired, but he still tried to make a baseball game, play catch or ride dirt bikes. I’m really proud of him, what he did for me and my sister. He always had our back. He put his body through a lot. In his eyes and mine, it was for a good cause.”

Anthony hopes his son, Hudson who is 10-months-old, will want to be a lineman and carry on the family tradition.

“There are several linemen in my family,” he said. “My girlfriend’s family are linemen too. There is a lot of stuff my dad taught me that I want to teach my son. I will teach him to work safely, work smart and think ahead.”

To all the amazing fathers out there, we hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day.