Leila Weah, Communications Specialist
Aug 21, 2026
This summer 18-year-old Peyton Garner had the opportunity to shadow employees at PGEC. “It was cool to go out myself and see what goes on, instead of getting told what goes on,” says Garner.
The journey to becoming a lineman can look different for each person. For 18-year-old Peyton Garner, his journey started when he was young.
Garner grew up around the electric industry. His grandfather was the master mechanic at Prince George Electric Cooperative for 11 years, until he retired in 2020.
“They definitely took care of him really good,” Garner remembers.
It was Garner’s grandfather who told him about the “Day in the Life of a Lineman” event that PGEC was hosting in April 2026. Garner was a part of the first cohort to complete the program. Then, in May, Garner’s grandfather called him with another opportunity.
“He called me on my birthday and told me about the internship,” Garner says. “Before the internship, I wanted to get here, but I feel like the internship may have bettered my chances of coming back.”
Garner began his utility internship in early June. Coming into it, he knew he wanted to be a lineman, but the internship also exposed him to different departments across the cooperative, giving him an opportunity to be behind the scenes and in the field.
“I started out in the office with the MSRs, [but] I'm not really an office person; I'd rather be outside,” Garner admits. “Then I went to the engineers, and then Liam– who does fiber– I'd pretty much ride around all day with him and install people's fiber.”
Working alongside Liam Holcomb and other employees in the RURALBAND department, Garner got hands-on experience installing members’ fiber to the home. But his learning didn’t stop with installations– Garner got to get his hands dirty out in the field, shadowing the electric linemen as well.
“It was cool to go out myself and see what goes on, instead of getting told what goes on,” Garner says. “It's definitely hard work, especially wearing gloves and long sleeves on a 100 degree day.”
The shadowing– and the camaraderie Garner built over the summer– only strengthened his appreciation for the work linemen do. He says the internship program opened the door for him to learn more about a career as a lineman, and now he’s ready to pursue one himself.
“It's hard work but it's very rewarding, especially when a bunch of people are out early during a storm and you restore power,” Garner says.
Garner will be attending the lineman program at Southside Virginia Community College in February, where he says he hopes to apply the skills that he learned over the summer to his vocational training. The aspiring journeyman encourages all youth who are curious about a career in electricity to pursue their dreams and take advantage of the programs that are available to them.
“If you get a good job opportunity that might not be the best money right off the bat, take it, because it can build very quickly,” Garner says.