HDD Rodeo Set for Sept. 25-27 in Independence, MO
For the first time in more than 20 years, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) will crown a new champion at the HDD Rodeo. The 2024 HDD Rodeo is set to take place Sept. 25-27 in Independence, Missouri, bringing all sides of the HDD community together for an incredible week of education, networking, exhibits and, of course, intense drilling competition!
And the winning drill crews will share a prize haul, worth more than $233,000 in cash and equipment, donated by the leading HDD companies
The 2024 HDD Rodeo is presented by Benjamin Media Inc. and Mark One Electric, which is hosting the exhibition and drilling competition. Kansas City-based Mark One Electric provides construction services from design-build and pre-construction to underground, data/comm and specialty systems. During its tenure, Mark One has grown to more than 200 employees and is the specialty contractor of choice for the Kansas City construction community.
“The HDD Rodeo is back!” says Benjamin Media Inc. president Rob Krzys. “We have wanted to bring this incredible event back to the HDD event stage to showcase the best of this fantastic trenchless sector and in 2024 all the stars have aligned to make it happen.”
Benjamin Media spearheaded the original HDD Rodeo in December 1998, at a time when HDD was coming to the forefront of the trenchless industry. Held in Grapevine, Texas, the mood, atmosphere and energetic response of the drilling community took this event to incredible heights during its initial run. As the economy slowed, the Rodeo was placed on hold — until now.
“HDD has climbed its way back to a strong place within the construction industry with the application becoming the go-to and accepted application for new installation,” says Krzys, who has championed this event from the get-go. “This is the perfect time to put this application on the construction stage to showcase its capabilities, as well as the capabilities of the contractors who perform HDD every single day. The drillers are amped for this event!”
As noted, the 2024 HDD Rodeo is a three-tier event focusing on education, exhibiting companies and its premier component, the competition.
The competition takes place in Independence, Missouri, about 20 minutes from downtown Kansas City. The HDD Rodeo competition showcases skill, accuracy and speed, pitting drilling crew against drilling crew. Crews will take their best shot at completing a 230-ft bore and are judged on line and grade and the time it took to complete the shot. No pullback will take place. The top winners will receive a combination of cash and HDD-related prizes, donated from HDD companies around the industry — to date, totaling more than $233,000.
“Our thanks to the HDD community for the incredible response in wanting to be a part of this event by exhibiting and donating their time and money to these crews,” Krzys says. “It’s a testament to the strength, energy and excitement of the HDD market that so many companies want to be a part of this.”
Seminar Sessions
Before the competition gets under way, the HDD classroom is the place to be, as industry experts gather to share their knowledge and expertise with attendees. Topics range from case studies to bidding practices to new HDD technology. These sessions take place in Kansas City are perfect for drill crews, contractors, utility crews, engineers, system owners and other industry stakeholders looking to learn more about today’s HDD practices and latest equipment.
“Education is critical to keeping HDD growing and evolving,” Krzys says. “We have put together a terrific lineup for the Rodeo educational sessions who know their stuff and want to share it with the HDD audience. Education is the key to a safe and innovative future for HDD.”
The Educational Sessions take place at Mark One Electric 1414 Genesee Street, Kansas City, MO 64102.
Seminar Schedule
Track 1: Equipment & Technology Session: Today’s Technology for HDD Equipment
Who should attend: Drill Crews, contractors, utility crews and industry professionals looking to learn more about today’s HDD practices the latest equipment.
- 9 – 10 a.m. – Drill Rig Technology
- 10 – 11 a.m. – Locating Technology
- 11 – 11:15 a.m. – Networking Break
- 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Pumps & Drill Pipe
- 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. – Lunch / Mandatory Drill Crew Meeting / Lane Drawing for the competition.
- 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Tool Technology
- 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Drilling Fluid Tech
- 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – First Look at the Field Site & Exhibits
Track 2: HDD Application & Case Study Session
Who should attend: Owners, consultants, engineers, system owners and any stakeholders who rely on HDD.
- 9 – 9:45 a.m. – Past / Present / Future of HDD –A brief history of HDD and plot the course towards the future of HDD.
- 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. – 811 / One-call
- 10:15 – 11 a.m. – Geotechnical Considerations for HDD Projects
- 11 – 11:15 a.m. – Networking Break
- 11:15 – 11:45 a.m. – Broadband Case Study
- 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Undergrounding Electric – Minimizing the Impacts of Electrical Construction – Benefits and Considerations of Utilizing HDD Technology for Electric Utilities
- 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. – Lunch/Mandatory Drill Crew Meeting
- 1:30 – 2 p.m. – Large Diameter Installation – HDD Installation for the South County Potable Water Transmission Main for Hillsborough County, Florida
- 2 – 2:30 p.m. – Pipe Materials in HDD
- 2:30 – 3 p.m. – Training and Education – A look at the Utility Systems Technician Associate of Applied Science degree program offered at State Technical College of Missouri.
- 3 – 3:30 p.m. – Bidding Practices for HDD
- 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – First Look at the Field Site & Exhibits
World Trenchless Day and Networking
Two fabulous trenchless events collide: the HDD Rodeo and World Trenchless Day! World Trenchless Day is a day of global celebration (commemorated on the fourth Thursday of September each year) that shines a spotlight on all of trenchless technology’s benefits — safety, economics, environmental, social. World Trenchless Day unites the entire trenchless industry — manufacturers, contractors, engineering firms, associations, public works and publications — to share the world of trenchless technology, reaching out to those who have not yet realized the impact that trenchless methods have on their communities.
The commemorate World Trenchless Day on Sept. 26, Rodeo organizers are hosting a party and networking event at GrindersKC in downtown Kansas City.
For more information or to register on the HDD Rodeo, visit hddrodeo.com.
Sponsors
Barbco Inc. is the Diamond Sponsor and Digital Control Inc. is the Platinum Sponsor for the Rodeo. Additional sponsors include: Ring-O-Matic, Superior Pipeline Services, TuffRod, Truvac, Buckhorn Pumps Inc. and American HDD Pumps.
In addition, there are several Sponsoring Organizations, including: Distribution Contractors Association (DCA), North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT), National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA), Power & Communications Contractors Association (PCCA), Horizontal Directional Drilling Association (HDDA) and Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada (PLCAC).
Exhibitors (as of 7/24/24)
- American HDD Pumps
- Barbco
- Baroid Industrial Drilling Products
- Buckhorn Pumps Inc.
- CETCO
- Contractor Solutions Trench Shoring
- Digital Control Inc. (DCI)
- Drillchem Drilling Solutions
- Drillworx LLC
- DrilRite Chemical
- Elgin Separation Solutions
- INFINITY Tool Mfg.
- INROCK/Brewis Engineering
- IUOE/PLCA National Pipeline Training Fund
- Kondux Corp.
- Melfred Borzall
- NUMA HDD Systems
- Radius HDD
- Ring-O-Matic
- Superior Hydrovac
- Truvac
- Underground Magnetics
- Underground Tool Inc./TuffRod