Skills on display

Florida Lineman Competition field layout at the World Equestrian Center. [Image courtesy FMEA]

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Posted February 26, 2025 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

It’s easy to take electricity for granted in our homes. But it takes a lot of infrastructure and skilled labor to keep those lines flowing.

On March 1, the Florida Municipal Electric Association’s 2025 Florida Lineman Competition will take place at the World Equestrian Center. It is an event in which utility line workers from across the state compete as teams as they demonstrate their skills and knowledge in a fun and safe environment. The event is being hosted by Ocala Electric Utility.

An opening ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m., with remarks from several officials and the presentation of the colors by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit and 2024 FLC Champs, Ocala.

The competitions will include such activities as pole top pin insulator change out, faulted cable swap, hurt man rescue, mutual aid, arrester and insulator replacement and more.

The Ocala Electric Utility Host Team includes Beau Spears, Bobby Whitehead, Chad Lynch, Chris Drivas, Doug Peebles, Glen Moehling, Greg Davis, H. Buck Lovell, Joyce Doss, Tammy Hoff, Terri Rivas and Tyler Puckett.

The OEU Journeyman team is Clinton Bishop, Regnaldo Butler and Joseph Allen. The OEU apprentices are Travis Richardson, Garytt Gamble, Evan Vandeventer, Ryan Preston, Kameron Matvejs, Chris Rutt, Don Yaney, Riley Hodges, Matthew Reider, Garrett Wilson, Joshua Earhart and Kyle Kalbaugh.

“We’d love for as many people as possible to come out and support our skilled linemen as they compete,” said Tammy Warren, public relations specialist with OEU.

The World Equestrian Center is located at 1750 NW 80th Ave., Ocala. The event is free for spectators. There is no charge for parking.

For complete event details, go to flpublicpower.com/events/florida-lineman-competition-2025