Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative Journeyman Lineworker Duncan Marquart, left, accepts the Outstanding Apprentice Award from Eric Sieg, the cooperative's operations manager.
Seventeen North Dakotans recently completed yearslong apprenticeships – requiring thousands of hours of on-the-job training – in the electric trades.
“North Dakota’s electric cooperatives require a skilled workforce to keep the power flowing 24/7/365,” says Josh Kramer, North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) executive vice president and general manger. “These graduates have completed the intensive requirements to achieve journeyman status, demonstrating a commitment to their trade, a desire to learn from others in the field and a safety-above-all-else attitude.”
Eleven individuals completed lineworker apprenticeships, two completed meter technician apprenticeships and four became the first to complete relay technician apprenticeships since the program was added in 2025.
The relay technician program trains apprentices to install, maintain and test protective relay systems used in electric power grids. These relays are essential for detecting faults and ensuring the safe and efficient operation of electrical systems, helping protect people and equipment.
Duncan Marquart, a journeyman lineworker for Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative (BDEC) headquartered in Columbus, was recognized with this year’s Outstanding Apprentice Award.
“Duncan exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding lineworker: technical competence, safety awareness and teamwork. He consistently upholds high standards, whether working under challenging conditions, responding to outages or contributing to complex installations,” says Eric Sieg, the cooperative’s operations manager.
