Under the surface

Digging deeper into the cooperative mission

What can a hayfield teach us about his-tory? Quite a lot. In this issue of Kentucky Living, an article explores metal detecting and the stories it can uncover about the past. Even ordinary objects—buttons, bullets and melted lead—can reveal pieces of the past that were once lost. Sometimes, you just have to dig a little deeper.

When we are new to any subject, it’s easy to overlook complexity. But as we gain more experience, we begin to appreciate how much more there is to know. What do we see when we look be-low the surface of electric cooperatives?

At first glance, Farmers RECC might look like just another electric utility. Looks would be deceiving. Our core mission is to provide safe, reliable electricity—but dig a little deeper, and you’ll see that the way we run our business sets us apart. We operate on a not-for-profit basis, and are owned by you, the members we serve. We are guided by a board of directors that you elect. We are active in our community, investing in scholarships and youth programs and supporting local organizations like our area Back Pack Programs. The more I’ve learned about the cooperative model, the more I’ve found to appreciate.

The energy industry, too, might ap-pear simple on the surface—power plants generate electricity, Farmers RECC distributes it and you, the member, en-joy reliable power at the flip of a switch. We may not consider how much we rely on electricity until it’s disrupted by a major weather event. And it’s not until we look closer that we understand the importance of the electrical grid.

Often called the world’s most complex machine, the grid is, in reality, a vast, interconnected network of power plants, substations, poles, wires, transformers, switches, monitors and people. This network ensures the reliable and and safe
energy, the more I’ve learned not to take reliable power for granted. This is why Farmers RECC continually advocates for policies that protect your interests as a consumer-member.

There’s more to the cooperative model than meets the eye, but there’s one thing I hope you never have to dig too deep for—that all of us at Farmers RECC are here to serve you. We are your neighbors, and we’re proud to power our communities.