The horses were made of steel and they didn’t buck.

The first West Columbia Backhoe Rodeo was held Monday at the Community Center on B Avenue. It was held in celebration of Public Works Week.

Photo: Public Works Director Jamie Hook times competition.

The Backhoe Rodeo featured personnel from the public works department. In timed competition, operators were challenged with dropping a softball hanging from a shovel claw into a six-inch pipe opening. Other backhoe feats included moving an egg and filling wine glasses. Small-detail tasks done with large machinery.

“It takes a lot of dexterity and talent,” said Jamie Hook, the city’s director of public works.
In the end, Michael Bolger, from the sanitation department,was the best of eight backhoe jockeys.
Chris Cranford and Derek Cothran, both from water and sewer, were second and third, respectively. They have advanced to the Midlands Regional Competition in Backhoe Rodeo in Columbia, Friday.

West Colombia Mayor Bobby Horton said the Backhoe Rodeo is a chance to show off skills.
“This is a great opportunity for us to see the level of expertise of our city employees who do this in their jobs,” Horton said.

He also said it’s good to see the city’s workforce out in support of each other.
In addition to the backhoe games, hot dogs and hamburgers served for lunch.

Anna Huffman, West Columbia’s public information officer, said the camaraderie generated from an event like the Backhoe Rodeo is a morale boost.
Hook agreed. “This is great fellowship,” he said.

If the West Columbia winners are prevail in the Midlands competition, held at the City of Columbia Public Works facility, Hook said the next level is the statewide competition held in July in Charleston.
Regardless of the outcome, Hook said he has found that there are some very capable and attentive employees working for the city.