Kansas Week: Why the International Lineman’s Rodeo Has Become a Meeting Place for the Utility Industry

For several days each October, Kansas becomes a focal point for America’s lineworker community.

The 2026 International Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo takes place from October 14–17, bringing utilities, contractors, apprentices, journeymen, trainers and equipment manufacturers together for a programme combining education, industry networking and competition.

For Norse Safety President Steve Layton, the gathering provides a valuable opportunity to spend time with the people at the heart of America’s electrical infrastructure.

“There is a special atmosphere around Rodeo week because so many parts of the lineworker community come together,” said Layton. “You have experienced journeymen, apprentices beginning their careers, utility leaders, families and suppliers all sharing the same space and celebrating the trade.”

The week begins with the Safety & Training Conference, followed by the Expo at the Overland Park Convention Center. Attention then moves to Bonner Springs, where Saturday’s competition at the National Agriculture Center & Hall of Fame brings together more than 300 teams and 450 apprentices.

For competitors, the Rodeo provides a stage on which to demonstrate skills developed through training and years in the field. For the wider industry, its value extends into the conversations taking place throughout the week.

Utilities can exchange ideas with peers. Apprentices can watch experienced professionals perform at the highest level. Manufacturers gain direct access to the people using their equipment, while families have an opportunity to celebrate a profession that frequently becomes part of their own lives.

That combination has made Kansas an important date in Norse Safety’s calendar.

The Greenville, South Carolina-based FR specialist has built much of its product philosophy around direct engagement with lineworkers. Its presence at previous Rodeos has provided field feedback, product insight and relationships across the utility community, including its 2025 support for the all-women Valkyries team from IBEW Local 77.

“You can learn an enormous amount during a few days in Kansas,” Layton added. “People share experiences, talk about their work and discuss the equipment they rely on. Those conversations help us understand where the industry is heading and what lineworkers want from their FR clothing.”

The week also offers Norse an opportunity to reconnect with customers and friends made during its growth across the American utility market.

For Layton, that community remains the central attraction.

“The Rodeo celebrates skill, safety, competition and pride in the trade,” he said. “We are looking forward to being back in Kansas and spending the week with the people Norse was created to serve.”

For Norse Safety, Kansas represents more than an industry event. It is a chance to listen, learn and participate in one of the defining gatherings of America’s lineworker community.