The 2024 Meeker Cooperative Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Event took place on August 6 at Powder Ridge in Kimball, MN. With 728 members and subscribers in attendance, the evening combined food, fun, and Cooperative business, making it a memorable and productive event for all.
The meeting highlighted the Cooperative’s achievements and future plans. Reports were delivered by several key individuals, including Mark Larson of the Qualifications & Election Committee and Holly Schultz-Anderson, who announced that the Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust had reached a significant milestone of $1 million in grants. Finance Manager Scott Froemming provided a positive financial update, announcing a clean audit. CEO/General Manager Luke Johnson shared the Cooperative’s recent success in securing $23.6 million in county, state, and federal grants, and the Cooperative’s ongoing efforts to apply for additional funding. Johnson also discussed the impacts of Minnesota’s carbon-free by 2040 mandates, specifically addressing concerns about transmission, reliability, and affordability.
An election was held for Board seats in Districts 4, 5, 7, and 9. The only contested seat was in District 4, where ballots were mailed to members and counted at the meeting. Barbara Ann Nelson was elected as the new District 4 director. Incumbents Randy Bryant (District 7) and Jesse Turck (District 9) were re-elected. David Leonhardi (District 5) was elected after appointment to fill a vacant position.
The event wasn’t all business. Attendees enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, chips, and cookies, along with live music from local musician Steve Michaud. 24-25-344 Kids were entertained with lawn games, a bouncy house, a power bungee jump, and a petting zoo. Adults had fun too, with bucket truck rides and several rounds of Bingo, including a Blackout Bingo round where a lucky winner took home an electric lawnmower. This event was a celebration of community and a reminder of the power of member involvement in shaping the future of Meeker Cooperative.