Press Release – District Employee Wins 2026 APWA National Roadeo Title

Maintenance Worker Greg Soto Wins National Title for Backhoe and Mini-Excavator Operation

The Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District (District) is excited to announce that earlier this week District Maintenance Worker Greg Soto won the 2026 National Roadeo Title for Overall Backhoe and Mini-Excavator Operation at the American Public Works Association’s (APWA) Public Works Expo (PWX) Convention in Houston, Texas. The competition requires participants to navigate a series of obstacles with the buckets of a Caterpillar backhoe and Bobcat mini-excavator with scoring based on precision and speed. During the competition, Mr. Soto placed first in the mini-excavator and second in the backhoe competitions, with his combined score securing the overall title. Mr. Soto qualified for the National Roadeo by successfully defending his state title in the backhoe competition at the APWA Washington Chapter’s conference in Yakima last October, allowing him to compete against the top qualifiers from across the country.

Operations Manager Jason Dahlstrom said, “Greg’s victory in Houston is a historic moment for the District. The national competition brings together the absolute best operators from across the US and Canada, and seeing Greg take the top spot is incredibly rewarding. This win highlights the high standards, hard work, and technical expertise our entire crew strives for. We are thrilled to welcome a National Champion back home to Washington.”