Kevin Hemann of SMART Transit in Austin is one of 37 professional public transit bus operators planning to complete in the 28th Annual Minnesota Statewide Bus Roadeo, this year held at the Minnesota Department of Transportation Training Facility at 3725 12th St. N. in St. Cloud.

The Bus Roadeo provides the drivers, who represent more than 20 agencies, a chance to showcase their driving skills and be recognized for the jobs they do every day, while gaining new insights through challenging competition.

Participants are scored on navigating through an obstacle course of orange road cones with a time limit, testing various real-life driving scenarios.

The event is planned by volunteers from the Minnesota Public Transit Association. This year’s host agency is St. Cloud Metro Bus. The competition starts with an opening ceremony at 7 a.m. Saturday and is expected to end by 3 p.m. that afternoon.

The event is free and open to the public. Winners will be announced at a private awards reception later that evening and will be shared publicly via Twitter (@MNPublicTransit) after the awards presentation. Winners also will be posted on the transit association’s website at www.mpta-transit.org.

More information about the 2015 Minnesota Statewide Roadeo may be found on the MPTA website: www.mpta-transit.org