Co-op leaders gather for the 87th AMEC Annual Meeting
Education, training and information is one of the seven guiding principles for electric cooperatives. That mission was at the center of the Missouri Electric Cooperatives annual meeting, which was held Oct. 2 in Branson.
During the meeting, leaders from the state’s electric cooperatives heard an election preview from political consultants John Hancock and Michael Kelley, learned about issues facing electric co-ops from Associated Electric Cooperative’s David Tudor and discussed finances with speakers from cooperative lenders CoBank and the Cooperative Finance Corp. They also received insight on today’s rural youth from Youth Tour delegate Saul Logan, who represented West Central Electric Cooperative on the 2024 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
Rural Missouri’s Jim McCarty shares how electricity came to rural areas.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association President Tony Anderson shared lessons on how co-op leaders can overcome challenges in the industry. Rural Missouri Editor Emeritus Jim McCarty shared reflections on the Rural Electrification Act history in Missouri.
Gov. Mike Parson accepts the Cooperative Champion Award from Caleb Jones.
Gov. Mike Parson was honored with the Cooperative Champion Award for his unwavering support of co-ops in the legislature and executive branch. “I’ve always liked the co-op mentality,” said Parson, a member of Southwest Electric Cooperative. “At the end of the day you’re supposed to be a public servant — no matter the title.”
Retired Sho-Me Power Electric Cooperative CEO John Richards, Ralls County Electric Cooperative director John Hemeyer and retired Farmers’ Electric Cooperative director LeRoy Kern received the Distinguished Service Award.
Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn received the Co-op Neighbor Award. Nine longtime employees and directors were honored with the A.C. Burrows Award for their outstanding dedication to their cooperative, community and service areas. Retired Iowa statewide manager Chuck Soderberg was honored for his years of service to the electric cooperative industry.
MEC is the statewide service organization for Missouri’s 47 electric cooperatives.
Family band Lindley Creek plays during reception.