Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Transportation:
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) held its annual District Equipment Operators Roadeo for District 3 at the district office in Yazoo City on Thursday, March 31.
“Safety is always our focus. Everything we do is geared towards improving safety for the traveling public,” said Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District. “These roadeos give MDOT frontline workers an opportunity to improve and enhance the techniques and skills they use on the job.”
Focusing on efficiency and skill, MDOT’s roadeos provide employees with an opportunity to display their mastery of vehicle handling, trailer maneuvering and heavy equipment precision. The event and judging criteria provide feedback and let operators evaluate their strengths and challenges. Operators improve techniques and learn new skills while engaging in some friendly competition.
“These are the frontline workers that leave their families during severe weather to keep our highways safe and passable. In fact, the day before the roadeo, they were working to keep highways safe and passable throughout the district,” said Simmons. “It’s an honor celebrating these crews and their technical skills.”
District 3 events and winners are as follows:
Lowboy: First Place – Dquan “DJ Flex” Wilson; Second Place – Derrick “Stamps” Stamps; Third Place – James Burks.
Single-Axle Dump Truck: First Place – Alfred “Dean” Jackson; Second Place – Derrick “Stamps” Stamps; Third Place – Marshall “BJ” Duell.
Tandem-Axle Dump Truck: First Place – Dquan “DJ Flex” Wilson; Second Place – Larry Gray (not pictured); Third Place – Demarris “Dee” Brown.
Backhoe: First Place – Melvin “Mel Man” Taylor; Second Place – Robert “Lewis” Lewis; Third Place – Carl Little.
Motor Grader: First Place – James Burks; Second Place – James “Jamie” Hall; Third Place – Timmie “Tim” Jones.
Bushhog: First Place – Alfred “Dean” Jackson; Second Place – Donald “DJ” Jackson; Third Place – Derrick “Stamps” Stamps.
Winners are left to right in each photo. Also pictured in each photo is District 3 Engineer Earl Glenn (left) and Commissioner Willie Simmons (right).
The top two winners from each event advance to the state finals. At the state competition, winners from all six districts will compete and a state champion will be crowned.
