Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative –
November 8, 2012
Our sister co-op, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative, is celebrating 75 years in business and we’re looking for your help!
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, most rural people in North Dakota
and the rest of the country lived without electricity. Power companies
were convinced that they couldn’t make money by serving the rural areas, so they refused to run power lines there.
All across the country, including in North Dakota, rural people
banded together to form electric cooperatives. Two such cooperatives,
Baker Electric Cooperative and
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, were among them. In fact, Baker
Electric was the first electric cooperative in the state and electrified
the first farm near York, N.D., in 1937.
The consolidation of Baker Electric Cooperative (Cando) and
Tri-County Electric Cooperative (Carrington) was approved in July of
1996. And in January of 1997, Northern Plains Electric Cooperative was born. Dakota Valley Electric was formed in 2000 after the consolidation of RSR Electric Cooperative (Milnor) and James Valley Electric Cooperative
(Edgeley).
Members, we want to hear the stories of what it was like when you first got electricity on your farms!
And kids, Win an iPad for your classroom or 4-H club when you
help us recall the story of our early days. Present the history of Baker Electric and
Tri-County Electric with stories of when
your family and neighbors first got electricity. Who advocated for it
in the household: women or men? What chores became unnecessary and which
new ones were created? How did electricity change your school, farm,
home, business or community? How did it change lives?
Share with us in one of three mediums: video, photo essay or written
essay. From your submissions, we will choose one winner in each
category. These three lucky winners will each receive an iPad for their
classrooms! And ALL participants will receive consolation prizes.
Deadline is Nov. 30. For more information visit nplains.com, email katiea@nplains.com or call us at 252-1474.