MREA/MMUA Overhead School & Lineworker Rodeo
September 15-18, 2026
MMUA Training Center
Marshall, MN
OVERVIEW
The 2026 Overhead School offers a unique training opportunity that will focus on working through a mutual aid event. This is an opportunity for everyone from line personnel to crew chiefs and management.
Participants will be divided into groups to work through the event as if it were an actual emergency - from dispatch to initial repair.
Sept. 15th
9:00a Competitor check-in
9:45a Opening ceremony
10:00a Rodeo competition
11:00a Lunch
Sept. 15th
1:00p Registration/check-in
2:00p Mutual aid response: Pre-event group walk through
5:00p Reception and rodeo awards presentation
Sept. 16th
8:30a Hands-on mutual aid response: Crew and Leadership
12:00p Lunch
12:30p Hands-on mutual aid (continued)
5:00p Optional evening activities: Archery, sport clay shoot, or golf (at participants expense)
Sept. 17th
8:30a Hands-on mutual aid response: Crew and Leadership
12:00p Lunch
12:30p Hands-on mutual aid (continued)
4:00p Wrap-up
Sept. 18th
8:30a Hotwash and group debrief
12:00p Wrap-up
Two class options - on specifically for Crew, the other for Leadership
| Mutual Aid Response - Crew As with any mutual aid response, crews will not know their specific tasks until they arrive. Lineworkers will be dispatched to different areas across the training center field, with priorities established for what should be addressed first, second and so forth. Safety will be the top concern, emphasizing best practices and techniques to safely complete each task. The training may cover topics with scenarios such as: Proper techniques for switching, grounding, and tagging. Identifying potential dangers and hazards, such as back feed Tree trimming in an emergency Splicing Pole replacement Transformer banking Transmission/substation repair Single and three phase structure damage | Mutual Aid Response - Leadership (Advance class) Participants in the advanced class to focus on the management and system operations of an ongoing mutual aid event. Leadership personnel will have the opportunity to utilize and further develop essential skills to collaborate effectively. Learning opportunities include: How to prioritize and organize a large-scale mutual aid response Becoming familiar with and leading using MMUA's standardized system for damage assessment and other tools/resources Locating crews and needed equipment and resources Leading/assisting system operations Mapping and prioritizing system restoration Greeting and deploying outstate crews/resources Managing crew needs (lodging, food, etc.) Tracking crews and resources after deployment Leading in difficult situations-when to call for help/support; accident/injury situations; stranded crews and equipment breakdown; managing switching, testing, grounding Managing and mitigating potential dangers (customer's portable generators, debris, etc.) |
WHAT TO BRING
Please bring appropriate attire and materials, including:
High-visibility clothing/outerwear
Hard hat
Harness
Safety glasses
Work gloves
Rubber gloves
Safety footwear
Fall restraint (required for climbing, regardless of experience.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Lineworkers
COST
Overhead School
$875 Education Member
$975 Non-Education Member
$45 Rodeo Advance registration required by August 20th
HOTEL
Ask for the MMUA reduced rates
AmericInn, 1406 E Lyon St, Marshall, MN Phone: 507-537-9424
EverSpring Inn & Suites, 1500 E College Dr, Marshall MN Phone: 507-532-3221
Rodeo
T 9:00-1:00
Overhead school
T 1:00-4:00
W 8:30 – 4:00
Th 8:30 – 4:00
F 8:00 – 2:00