Power to Farmers: Electric Co-ops of Okla. to Wire Homes of Farming Families in Northeastern Guatemala

CO-OP HIGHLIGHTS:

• Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives, along with co-ops from Colorado and Arkansas, will send volunteers to wire farming homes in the north central part of Guatemala this coming December

• The mission is a partnership between the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) philanthropic arm, NRECA International, and Heifer International

• The project, which could impact as many as 1,200 farmers and their families, consists of wiring approximately 200 structures to safely receive electricity

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Farmers in the mountainous region of north central Guatemala will soon have their homes and farming structures fully equipped to safely receive electricity for the first time.

Volunteers from Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives as well as from cooperatives in Colorado and Arkansas will take part in the wiring effort which is a partnership between the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) philanthropic arm, NRECA International, and Heifer International.

The project will consist of conducting internal wiring of approximately 200 structures and could empower as many as 1,200 farmers and their families to increase incomes and economic opportunity, improve quality of life and enable agricultural communities to thrive.

“It is a privilege for electric cooperatives to contribute to this mission. Access to electricity will bring economic empowerment to these farmers and opportunities to enhance overall quality of life, including education, health care and safety,” says Chris Meyers, General Manager for the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. “This mission reinforces our commitment to empower rural communities both at home and abroad.”

The Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives has selected a group of eight volunteers to wire homes in this mission. The team will spend 2 weeks in December working alongside volunteers from Colorado and Arkansas to wire structures.

The following volunteers were selected to serve on the project: Team Leader Jarrod Hooper (Cotton Electric Cooperative, Walters-Okla.), Josh Stocum (Indian Electric Cooperative, Cleveland-Okla.), Stephanie Jones (Cimarron Electric Cooperative, Kingfisher-Okla.), Thomas Gleason (Kay Electric Cooperative, Blackwell-Okla.), Heath Morgan (Cotton Electric Cooperative, Walters-Okla.), Billy Patterson (CKenergy Electric Cooperative, Binger-Okla.), Jerry Cundiff (Central Rural Electric Cooperative, Stillwater-Okla.), Larry Crowell (Cotton Electric Cooperative, Walters-Okla.).

Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives have established a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, The Oklahoma Energy Trails Foundation, to support international electrification efforts. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Media Contact:

Anna Politano, Director of Public Relations & Communications, Okla. Assn. of Electric Co-ops

Phone: 405-761-0289

E-mail: apolitano@oaec.coop