Somewhere on the grounds of the Nampa Fire Training Center in Idaho, a 150-pound body is hanging off the top of a scaffold, and six Simplot employees have about ten minutes to get it down without anyone getting hurt. None of them do this for a living. One runs equipment at a mine. Another works a plant floor. But today they are a rope rescue team, and the clock is running.
This is the 15th year Simplot has gathered for its two-day Rescue Competition. The premise is simple: take employees from across Mining and Manufacturing, stage the worst emergencies, and let them practice until the right response becomes instinct.
Six teams came to Nampa in June. Five represented established response teams from individual operations in the Simplot Company including Rock Springs, which fields two of the teams, along with the Vernal Mine, the Smoky Canyon Mine and the Don Plant. The sixth, the Maverick Team, borrowed one responder from each of the others, challenging participants to work alongside teammates from different sites and build trust across the Company.
Every responder is first and foremost a Simplot employee, someone who learned these skills on top of the job they already clock in for. The competition gives those teams the chance to prove how ready they are for the worst.
“The Annual Rescue Competition reflects the care our people have for one another,” said Thelma Houlis, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Simplot. “The time and effort these teams put into training and preparing for real-world scenarios helps keep our workplaces safer and demonstrates a shared commitment to making sure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day."
Over the two days, teams responded to simulated high-angle rescues, confined-space emergencies, mass-casualty medical incidents, trench collapses, hazardous materials situations and structure fires. Volunteers and community partners helped recreate the conditions of a real call, down to the smoke, the language barriers and the split-second triage decisions, requiring teams to think fast, communicate clearly and work safely under pressure.
Aside from some high scores and winners, every scenario reinforces Simplot’s commitment to protecting its people through preparation, continuous learning and a culture where safety comes first. It’s also a rare chance for teams from across the Company to learn from one another, and from local emergency professionals who train alongside them.
The event closed with the Rescue Rodeo Relay, a long-running tradition hosted by a different team each year. Skateboards stood in for ambulances. Participants hobbled on splinted legs and tied knots with both hands submerged into buckets of ice water. Beneath the fun is a serious point to recognize: building trust and camaraderie matters as much as mastering the equipment.
“I’ve told you guys before that my best friends in the whole world are in this room, and I sure appreciate that friendship from everybody,” said Rowe. “Every year I’m absolutely amazed at the education, the skills, the knowledge that gets passed along, with Magic Valley Fire Department and Pocatello Fire Department right alongside us. I don’t know of any other Company that does this to this level. I’ll think of you guys every day. Thank you so much.”
The competition relied on a large network of volunteers and partner organizations to make the two-day event possible. Volunteers served in a variety of roles, including acting as mock victims, managing stations, tracking scores, and helping coordinate event logistics. The event also benefited from the participation and expertise of several partner agencies, including Magic Valley Paramedics, the Nampa Fire Department, and the Pocatello Fire Department.
Now in its 15th year, the Rescue Competition continues to serve as a key training and development opportunity for emergency response teams. Organizers say the hands-on exercises help responders sharpen critical skills before they are needed in real-world emergencies. The training reflects an ongoing commitment to safety and readiness for personnel working at mines and plants, as well as for the surrounding communities that may depend on a rapid emergency response.
