For 86 years, Farmers Electric has called the communities within its service territory home. We call it “home” because we see ourselves as more than an electric cooperative. We are the friends and neighbors who work and live alongside you – in good times and bad.

Tuesday, May 21 began like many other spring days: with an eye on volatile weather headed our way. Like any storm, our co-op staff gathered to review and communicate plans for possible power outages or post-storm clean up. But unlike any other storm, the day would end with devastating loss and a community struggling to figure out what to do next. Media attention was intense as residents surveyed the damage, searched for precious belongings, and generally mourned the town of Greenfield that would never look the same.

Farmers Electric is grateful for the mutual aid assistance from a neighboring electric co-op, Clarke Electric in Osceola, whose linemen helped the co-op begin the recovery process of replacing approximately 40 broken poles. In the cooperative spirit, they came ready to work a long day and with their help, widespread outages were resolved by Friday, May 24.

Though several co-op employees including myself either completely lost or had damage to their properties, all were safe. In times like these, I am proud of my community, my coworkers, my family and friends, and our fellow RECs that didn’t hesitate to jump in and help. It’s because of them that we can restore hope – along with power - to those who need it most.