The final relay is a sequence of six events: a truck and trailer back up, an egg pickup with a backhoe bucket, pipe squeeze, a mini-excavator event, regulator bypass and water cooler. The team with the best overall relay time wins.

The 2017 National Gas Rodeo, held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Denver, Colo., and sponsored by Case Construction Equipment, announced the winners for the two- and four-person team events.

Organized by the Midwest Energy Association, the National Gas Rodeo draws teams from utility companies across the United States, and has grown to include 54 teams (29 two-person teams and 25 four-person teams) and more than 320 spectators attending the event.

The two- and four-person teams compete in various skill tests focused on safe, time-efficient performance using construction equipment and other tools of the trade.

The 2017 overall Rodeo champion in the two-person team category was Lil' Gas House Gang (Steve Bouse and Barry Hicks) from Laclede Gas Company in Spire-Laclede, Mo. This is the Laclede Gas House Gang's third back-to-back win — the first two being in the four-person category.

The four-person team winner for 2017 was Intense Ignition (Korey Ross, Dylan Middleton, Jeff Smith and Justin Wald) from Missouri Gas Energy of Kansas City, Mo.

“Case has sponsored the National Gas Rodeo for many years, and along with Titan Equipment we have supplied all of the heavy equipment that they use for the qualifying and relay events,” said Ed Brenton, brand marketing manager, Case Construction Equipment.

“This is an important event to us, and we are happy to see all the hard-working men and women of the gas industry out here with their families and friends, competing against one another and having a good time.”

Qualifying events include a timed meter set, service installation, pipe cut and wild card event, which is different each year. The final relay is a sequence of six events: a truck and trailer back up, an egg pickup with a backhoe bucket, pipe squeeze, a mini-excavator event, regulator bypass and water cooler. The team with the best overall relay time wins.

For more information, visit NationalGasRodeo.org.

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