October is National Co-op Month, and it’s a good opportunity to reflect on something we don’t always stop to think about: what it means to be part of a cooperative.

At Farmers Electric, being a co-op means we belong to the people we serve. That’s you.

Our cooperative was founded in 1938 when local people came together to bring electricity to an area where other utilities wouldn’t. A lot has changed since then, but one thing hasn’t: our commitment to serving our members and our communities.

That local connection matters. When we make decisions at Farmers Electric, we’re not trying to satisfy outside investors or shareholders. We’re thinking about the people at the other end of the line—our friends, neighbors and fellow community members.

You can see that commitment every day. It’s in the lineworkers who head out in bad weather to restore power.

It’s in the employees who answer the phone when you have a question. It’s in our support of local organizations and events. And it’s in the board members you elect—people from the communities we serve—who help guide the cooperative’s future.

Being a cooperative doesn’t mean we’ll always agree on every issue or decision. But it does mean we share the same community, and we have a common interest in seeing it thrive.

During National Co-op Month, I want to thank you for being a member of Farmers Electric. We’re proud to be your local energy partner, and we never take for granted the trust you place in us.

After all, Farmers Electric isn’t just a company that serves this community. We’re part of it, too.