The fields around Tallman Equipment headquarters have gone from green to golden and now to bare. The harvesters have come and gone. The farmers around us are finishing up with the last of their crops, and the silos and grain bins are bursting at the seams. The dust is finally settling from the harvest, and the time to celebrate is here.

Every fourth Thursday in November, we gather around the table for the great American feast. And with that feast comes gratitude. The hand of Providence has brought us back to the table again to remember what brought us here and to give thanks for it. At those gatherings, thanks will be given for friends and family and jobs and homes, but given that it would be nigh on impossible to hold a proper Thanksgiving without their efforts, let us not forget the linemen who made it possible.

Give Thanks for Linemen

How many times do we just take the most vital things in life for granted? We have air to breathe. Our indoor plumbing is generally reliable. Our cars start most of the time. The lights turn on when we flip a switch. We manage to chew our food without also biting our tongues or cheeks. Most people aren’t thinking about these things as they go around the table recounting what they are thankful for, but I promise that as soon as you chomp down on your tongue or your toilet explodes, you will gain an instant appreciation for all the times these things didn’t happen. Nothing brings such clarity quite like a power outage. Suddenly we are left in the dark contemplating how our ancestors possibly survived without Netflix and AC.

The pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving could never have conceived of the conveniences of modern life made possible by electricity (and if a time traveler showed it to them, he’d likely have been burned at the stake for witchcraft). Now, in less than two centuries, much of the world has safe instant access to electricity out of every wall in our homes. What would have looked like magic to the founding fathers has become fundamental to almost every aspect of our lives, and is a critical component of our infrastructure. The fact that in such a relatively short span of human history we have achieved this level of technological advancement is thanks to spread of a reliable electrical grid. The Transcontinental Railroad gets all the headlines, but the linemen who covered the nation in utility poles and transmission lines accomplished an arguably greater feat. We are only two or three lifetimes removed from a time when most of us would have been tending fires and trimming lamps to keep warm and to keep out the dark. Now we don’t know what to do with ourselves when we don’t have instant access to live streaming sports 24/7.

Sometimes though, the ferocity of nature serves to remind us that we are a storm away from being taken back to those dark times before we had all the technology that electrical service enables. Mainland US may have gotten off light this year in regards to hurricanes, but some areas are still recovering from hurricanes Milton and Helene. Plus the waves of tornados from earlier this year are still a source of headache for people across the country and proof that no matter how advanced we become, we are not invincible. But it is in adversity that the best of humanity is brought to light. We’ve seen the images of bucket trucks lined up almost like tanks going to war with the elements to restore power. The assurance of knowing linemen are out there fighting for us with torque wrenches and shotgun sticks, gives us hope that we will not remain in the dark. It is these linemen that Tallman Equipment is so proud to serve and for whom we give thanks at this and every time of the year.

Therefore, as we gather around our tables this holiday season and enjoy the fruits of our labors, let’s not forget to give thanks for the men and women keeping our lights on and our appliances powered. Would it even be possible to survive Thanksgiving trapped in a house with Aunt Karen and Uncle Randy and that weird brother-in-law who brought a tofurkey if you didn’t have electricity to allow you to watch the football games? What would we do if Aunt Cathy couldn’t ruin another turkey? How would your mother-in-law survive if she couldn’t cover every square inch of her house in Christmas lights? So much for the “season of lights” with no linemen to power up those lights? Without them, it really would be Black Friday.

So, this Thanksgiving, as we enjoy the comforts of home and the company of loved ones, join us at Tallman Equipment as we raise a glass to the linemen and electrical utility workers who keep our world running. The fact that we don’t think about them more often is a testament to the job they do to keep our power supply uninterrupted, but one power outage and we remember just how much they impact our lives.

Thank you to these dedicated individuals for the light you bring into our lives, and may you all have a safe and restful Thanksgiving!

Trust Tallman

Since 1952, linemen have trusted Tallman Equipment because they know we strive to always do the right thing. For Tallman, that means providing the best lineman tools and utility equipment combined with industry leading customer service and support. Our goal has never been to sell the most tools or the most expensive gear. We pride ourselves instead on making sure linemen have the best tools and gear to get the job done right. It is an honor to be able to serve linemen.

For more about renting from Tallman Equipment, check us out here, and to learn more about Tallman Equipment and the 1952 Society, check out our blog.