Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative will send one senior journeyman lineworker team, three journeyman lineworker teams, 10 apprentice lineworkers, nine competition judges, a barbecue team and volunteers to the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo at Nolte Island Park near Seguin on July 20. 

The event gives lineworkers a chance to compete against their peers from cooperatives and other electric utilities across the state in order to showcase some of the skills they perform on the job. It also helps promote safe work practices, recognizes skilled lineworkers and celebrates their profession. Other competitions include a dexterous pole climb while carrying a raw egg in a bag — and not breaking it — and a pole-top rescue of a mannequin the size and weight of a person. There are other events that test lineworkers’ skills at equipment replacement and wiring, as well as a barbecue cook-off. 

Come cheer on our teams in person or keep track of their progress via Bluebonnet’s Facebook, Instagram and X pages throughout the day. Learn more about the event at tlra.org

Agenda

• 6:30 a.m. Opening ceremonies
• 6:45 a.m. Competition begins
• 4 p.m. BBQ cook-off judging
• 6:30 p.m. Awards ceremony

Lydia Huebner and Chasidy Nowicki are set to represent Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative when they join hundreds of other high school juniors and seniors in Washington, D.C., this summer for an immersive week of connection, education and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

Huebner, a Bellville High School junior who lives in Industry, and Nowicki, a Brenham High School senior, were selected to represent Bluebonnet on the annual Government-in-Action Youth Tour. Alexis Macik, a senior at Snook High School, is the alternate representative and will join the tour if one of the winners is unable to attend.

Along with a weeklong all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., Huebner and Nowicki will each receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their higher education. The recipients were selected in March from among 15 applicants.

The tour, planned for June 16-24, will include visits to historic sites and the U.S. Capitol. Participants will meet members of Congress and attend events hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Texas Electric Cooperatives, the youth tour’s sponsors, organizers and hosts.

Huebner, who turns 17 this month, has been Bellville High School’s band drum major for two years and plays the French horn. She is also active with the local FFA chapter. She does volunteer work with her area’s Blessing Box project, helping cancer patients by sewing pockets on shirts and making pillows for use during post-treatment recovery.  She also has her own business creating floral arrangements.

Huebner says her drum-major experience and holding officer positions in FFA have given her leadership experience, as has serving on the student advisory board for the Bellville ISD superintendent. “I feel like leadership is something that you show to other people,” she said. “Good leaders are ready to work and be a role model.”

Huebner plans to attend a four-year university after graduating in 2025. She is unsure where she will focus her studies, but wants a career about which she is passionate. 

Nowicki, 18, of Brenham, is a cheerleader, FFA officer, member of the National Honor Society and a volunteer with children at the Cowboy Church of Brenham’s Sunday school. Her favorite volunteer experience is the Bucket Calf Program at the Washington County Fair, which teaches 4- to 8-year-old children the responsibilities of raising and caring for livestock.

She has years of volunteer and leadership experience as reporter for her local FFA chapter and as her high school’s spirit coordinator. These opportunities have helped her connect with others. “I am outgoing, welcoming to new people and open to hearing others' stories. It will really help when we are meeting new people from across the nation on the youth tour,” she said.

Nowicki plans to attend Texas A&M University in the fall to study agriculture communication. She wants a career in agriculture marketing, working as a brand ambassador to talk about the benefits of products at livestock shows across the state.

Macik, 18, of Caldwell, graduates from Snook High School at the end of this month. She participated in volleyball, basketball, track and field, and softball and was a high school cheerleader. She participated in 4-H, FFA, National Honor Society and the student council, and was the Burleson County Fair queen for 2022-2023. This fall, she plans to attend Texas A&M University to study marketing, and hopes to work for the Houston Astros.

“I am sure there were a lot of great applicants. It is special to be chosen as one of the winners,” Nowicki said. Huebner echoed that statement: “The opportunity and experience is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

Applicants were asked to list their academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities and community service work, and to submit a video answering the question, “If you had the opportunity to change one thing about your school or community, what would it be and why?”

Huebner had many compliments for her school in her video, but said she hopes more of her classmates would participate in extracurricular activities. That would lead to more engagement in the classroom and the community, she said. 

In her video, Nowicki said she believes that schools should prioritize agricultural education. “In my ag classes, I am learning to be a good steward of the land and furthering my education about the livestock industry. More people should know about the importance of it,” she said.

This is the 58th year of the Government-in-Action Youth Tour program. It has more than 50,000 alumni, including CEOs, state and national elected officials, and countless business and community leaders.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors unanimously voted during its April meeting to return $6.23 million in capital credits to member-owners of the cooperative, an increase of more than $500,000 over last year. Beginning in May, Bluebonnet’s members will receive a credit on their electric bill for their share of $6.23 million in capital credits.

“We are proud to return historic amounts in capital credits to our members year after year,” said Ben Flencher, Bluebonnet’s board chairman. “It demonstrates the commitment from our Board of Directors and employees to invest in and serve Bluebonnet’s members and communities for more than 85 years.”

Capital credits are revenue above what it takes to operate the co-op. Every April, Bluebonnet’s Directors approve the capital credits payment. When determining how much to return to members, the Directors consider the impact that the amount returned to members will have on electric rates and the co-op’s financial strength.

The amount each member gets back depends on how much electricity they used in previous years through 2023 and how long they have been a Bluebonnet member. Current members will see a credit on their May electric bill for their share of this year’s capital credits retirement. Former members who are still owed a capital credit will be mailed a check in May or June.

During the past 20 years, Bluebonnet has returned $94 million to members in capital credits.

“The continued, historic growth in Bluebonnet’s service area and sound fiscal management has enabled Bluebonnet to return record amounts in capital credits the past several years,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “In addition to having one of the lowest electric rates in the state, the credit our members will see on their bills in May is one of the most important benefits of being a member-owner of Bluebonnet.”