Manager Connection-National Lineworker Appreciation Day

General Manager Syd Briggs

April and May can be a time of extreme weather in southern Minnesota, and so it is most appropriate to pause and recognize our Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric lineworkers and all lineworkers in the nation with a National Lineworker Appreciation Day on Monday, April 13.

Our lineworkers are committed to keeping the lights on for our members by always being ready to answer the call, day or night, to keep our homes and businesses electrified. And the commitment started early; all lineworkers have to go through a four-year apprenticeship program before being classified as a journeyman lineman.

When storms or unexpected circumstances impact the communities in our service area and outages occur, many members experience the inconvenience, but our lineworkers see a call to action. Our crews are always ready when it matters most—leaving family dinners, working through the night and heading into challenging conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. That readiness is not accidental. It comes from rigorous training, deep experience and a shared commitment to serving others.

What makes lineworkers especially remarkable is they aren’t just restoring power to a system—they’re restoring power to a community. It may be where they live or raising their family. They understand electricity is more than a convenience; it’s essential to daily life, to local businesses, to schools, farms, commercial and industrial companies, and emergency services. Powering the places we call home is personal to lineworkers.

Electric cooperatives like Steele-Waseca were built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our lineworkers embody that spirit every day. They are the first to respond and the last to leave, often working long hours behind the scenes.

At times, serving our neighbors means going beyond our own service territory through a process known as mutual aid. During major outage events, Steele-Waseca crews stand ready to assist neighboring co-ops—sometimes close to home, and sometimes across state lines—to help restore power. This spirit of mutual aid strengthens all cooperatives and ultimately benefits the members we serve.

We understand any time the lights go out can be frustrating, bringing everyday life to a halt. We are incredibly grateful to our members for your patience and encouragement during these times. Linework is demanding, physical, and at times, it can be dangerous. Our crews approach each job with a focus on safety and teamwork. They take pride in their craft and in the trust our members place in them. On Monday, April 13, we will recognize National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Lineworker Appreciation Day, but one day is hardly enough. Every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and dedication, which are the backbone of our cooperative.