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Nearly a century of progress

A lot has changed for Fayetteville Public Utilities as the cooperative looks back in time on its 90-year anniversary of rural electrification in Lincoln County — and of course, the near century of progress called for a celebration. Hundreds of members helped FPU celebrate the milestone occasion on Thursday, Oct. 9, at the co-op’s administration building in Fayetteville with food, giveaways and fellowship.

“FPU’s story is a testament to the employees, customers and community members who have guided us through the years,” said Britt Dye, FPU’s CEO and general manager. “This celebration is a way to honor them and the visionaries who laid our foundation.”

The long-standing partnership between FPU and the Tennessee Valley Authority began on Oct. 1, 1935. During that time, many rural residents and farmers were without power. However, the Tennessee Electric Power Company provided electricity to those who lived in the city. The rural community worked together to form their own electric cooperative, the Lincoln County Electric Membership Corporation, with the mindset to transform life in that region.

Over time, Fayetteville left private power behind and created its own electric utility in 1937. In 2002, the city combined Fayetteville Electric System, Fayetteville Water and Wastewater System and Fayetteville Gas System into what it is today — Fayetteville Public Utilities. Since that day, FPU has begun offering cable, internet and digital phone services to further strengthen the community.

“We are proud to continue providing essential services that not only power homes and businesses but also fuel economic growth and improve quality of life,” Dye said.

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People Behind the Power – Meet Wally Childress

Whether he is running a successful row crop operation, sharing the rural lifestyle on a podcast or embracing the local community at his restaurant and local electric cooperative, Wally Childress prides himself in leaving things better than he found it.

“Now with that I am talking about our farmland and community but also with who I am as a person and how I interact with others,” Childress said. “I want to be a better person tomorrow than I was today.”

Childress lives in Bogota, a small farming community in Dyer County, with his wife, Tracy. Together they have a daughter, a son and a beautiful granddaughter. Childress himself is a farmer on a century farm that began in 1906.

“I’ve known since I was a young boy that farming is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” Childress said.

On several thousands of acres, Childress raises cotton, corn, soybeans, rice and wheat while also creating a suitable wildlife habitat for many species. Through his work, he incorporates precision agriculture and conservation methods. Childress was even named Quail Forever’s 2024-2025 Farmer of the Year.

After many long days in the fields, Childress and his employees decided to open a restaurant in town to provide somewhere close to eat breakfast and lunch. While its primary purpose is to provide the workers on the farm a meal, it also attracts the Bogota community as well as many duck hunters in the winter season.

“No Limits Café is not a money maker, but you can’t buy the experience and happiness that it brings me and my family,” Childress said. “Plus, I get to eat with my mama every day and you can’t beat that.”

Childress is all about the rural way of life. That passion stemmed the “Bogota Boys” podcast. Childress and three others can be found monthly on all listening platforms talking about hunting, farming, history and their rural community.

“We are sharing the rural lifestyle with people, and we hope they enjoy it,” Childress said.

“Bogota Boys” has sponsors and the four involved take the money raised and host a big youth event for their community. They spend all the money to buy gifts for a youth waterfowl banquet which has expanded to helping with youth hunts too.

“We’re just trying to give back to our community,” Childress said. “We are fortunate to have a lot of ground that we can share with people to try to keep the lifestyle of the rural people going.”

“Bogota Boys” recently hit their 50th episode and it had a very fitting special guest — Childress’ 84-year-old mother.

There is one other place one would find Childress, and that’s at Forked Deer Electric Cooperative. He serves on the board of directors and helps anyone in his district. Childress also helps make decisions about the direction the co-op is heading. His latest victory is helping FDEC members receive broadband access.

“I feel like I am helping people get something they wouldn’t have at an affordable price,” Childress said. “We are able to help our community have a good, comfortable living the cheapest and safest way we can. I am happy I get to be a part of that.”

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Focusing on and awarding safety

Every year electric utilities and related organizations from across the nation gather to spend time solely focused on safety at the National Utility Training and Safety Education Association conference. This year the 83rd annual event was hosted by Tennessee Job Training and Safety at the HeartSong Resort at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge on Sep. 14-17.

“It’s one of the best safety conferences I’ve ever been to,” said Danny Sutton, the director of operations at Caney Fork Electric Cooperative.

The NUTSEA Conference provides a platform for members to exchange information, share experiences and attend training sessions to improve safety practices back home. Speakers, discussions and workshops each year are tailored to different areas of the industry.

This year the conference had three keynote speakers. Coach Ken Carter spoke during Monday’s general session. The film, “Coach Carter”, featuring Samuel L. Jackson, is based on his efforts to get his state play-off bound basketball team to focus on academics. Coach Carter shared hard-hitting advice about accountability, integrity, teamwork and leadership to succeed both on and off the basketball court. Jake Suttles, who also operates under the name Tennessee Drug Testing, spoke to attendees during Tuesday’s general session about federal drug and alcohol testing laws and that type of communication. Lee Shelby shared an empowering message about encountering over 13,200 volts of electricity during the final general session. Shelby emphasized the dangers of complacency at work and encouraged everyone to remain vigilant and proactive in their safety practices.

During the annual event, one of Tennessee electric co-ops’ own was recognized for his efforts towards safety. Danny Sutton was awarded the OG Anderson Safety Award for distinguished achievement in line maintenance and safety.

“This is the first award I have ever received in the industry, and it just tickled me to death,” Sutton said. “When they called me up, they wanted me to say a few words, and I didn’t have much to say. I am very grateful.”

Sutton has been working at CFEC for almost 50 years. For 25 of those years, he was the co-op’s safety director. During his time in that position, he helped start the Middle Tennessee Safety Roundtable. Every other month for over 20 years, co-op leaders, municipalities and utilities come together for updates, connections and advice on safety matters.

The 84th annual NUTSEA Conference will be held Oct. 11-14, 2026. More information will be released soon at nutsea.org.

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Connecting the Portland community

Cumberland Connect, the broadband subsidiary of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, is making great strides in connecting their community through a new public Wi-Fi location.

“This investment in public Wi-Fi represents an important step toward greater digital inclusion in our community,” said Chris A. Davis, CEMC’s general manager. “Reliable internet access is essential for residents, visitors and businesses alike, and we are grateful for the collaboration that made this project possible.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Cumberland Connect joined the City of Portland and the Sumner County Government in unveiling free public Wi-Fi at Meadowbrook Park. Community members, local leaders and project partners gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and viewed a live demonstration of the new Wi-Fi service.

“We celebrate CEMC – and other electric cooperatives like it – that continue to find new and innovative ways to ensure their communities are connected,” said Paige Shapiro, the director of strategy and broadband support at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Cumberland Connect and its partners aren’t just providing free Wi-Fi, they are providing a gateway to education, opportunity and economic development.”

This project was funded through the Broadband Ready Communities grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. The initiative provides secure, reliable Wi-Fi coverage across Meadowbrook Park and the Main Street corridor. The purpose of the project is to enhance community connectivity, support economic development and provide residents and visitors with improved access to essential online resources.

On top of expanding internet access, the project also includes a digital literacy training initiative for residents of Portland. Sumner County will provide resources and instruction to help the community develop the digital skills needed to thrive. This was made possible through a partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

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Preparing Tennessee’s future leaders

Twenty-three people from across Tennessee who are interested in running for public office participated in the Tennessee Agriculture and Commerce Candidate School on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16 and 17, in Columbia. The event was hosted at the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation’s headquarters in collaboration with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

“Electric cooperatives have always existed to empower rural communities — not just through delivering power, but through leadership, opportunity and connection,” said Ryan King, TECA’s vice president of government affairs.

The two-day event is designed to educate candidates or those considering public service on the fundamentals of running a campaign. The training was hosted primarily by American Farm Bureau Advocacy staff who boast an 80%+ success rating. Attendees learned the basics of running for office, gained confidence to execute a successful campaign, participated in mock interviews and fellowshipped with like-minded individuals. Some of Tennessee’s very own political figureheads and officials also shared some insight to the group.

“Partnering in the Candidate School is one more way we invest in the future of rural Tennessee,” King said. “When local leaders are equipped to run strong campaigns and effectively lead, rural voices stay strong in every level of government.”

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Wired for service

NASHVILLE – 700 volunteers, 31 projects and 1,860 service hours sum up how Tennessee electric co-ops went out across the state on Thursday, Oct. 16 to make a difference through the ninth annual Tennessee Electric Co-op Day of Service.

“We sometimes call this our favorite day of the year,” said Trent Scott, vice president of communications for the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Co-op employees serve their communities every day but today is special.”

From hosting bingo at senior centers, to planting trees for an arboretum development to even assembling and delivering snack bags to first responders — the Day of Service projects reflect and put into action the seventh cooperative principle of “Concern for Community”.

“It’s inspiring to see so many come together with one purpose—to make life a little better for their neighbors,” Scott said. “Co-op people love their communities, and it shows on a day like today. The local connection we have with the people we serve makes this work personal—it’s neighbors helping neighbors in the truest sense.”

TECA spent the day volunteering at “The Store” which is a non-profit grocery store founded by Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley. “The Store” is like a food pantry in the sense that it provides free groceries to individuals and families in need. However, the customers can choose the goods that best meet their nutritional needs and personal preferences. This choice-based model reduces waste, ensures satisfaction and upholds the dignity of those served. TECA staff helped run the cash registers, bagged and sorted groceries, helped customers out the door with their items and restocked shelves.

Sponsors of the 2025 Day of Service were the Tennessee Valley Authority, Bass, Berry & Sims, Central Service Association, Silicon Ranch Corporation, Tennessee 811 and The Tennessee Magazine.

Since its inception the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Day of Service has made a significant impact across the state. Over the past nine years, the program has completed 241 projects with the help of 4,871 volunteers who have collectively contributed 12,013 hours of service. These efforts have not only improved local communities but also strengthened the bond between electric cooperatives and the people they serve.

Co-ops participating in the 2025 Day of Service and the projects they completed:

Appalachian Electric Cooperative – Volunteered at CARE Animal Rescue

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation – Spent multiple days helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity

Gibson Electric – Helped host bingo at Obion County Senior Center, Gibson County Office on Aging, Ridgely Senior Center, Tiptonville Senior Center and Crockett County Senior Center

Holston Electric Cooperative – Assembled hygiene and winter kits at Array of Hope Homeless Center

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative – Hosted a blood donation drive, assembled and delivered snack bags to first responders, stuffed care packages and backpacks with Child Help Task Force, sorted and distributed donations at local food bank, picked up litter in downtown Waverly and sorted and distributed donations at Rose’s Mission

Middle Tennessee Electric – Participated in a home build in Lebanon with Habitat for Humanity, helped rebuild a home in Readyville after tornado damage, set up an angel tree toy distribution with Graceworks in Franklin, hosted a school restoration project at Allendale Elementary and developed a school pollinator project at Johnson Elementary

Pickwick Electric Cooperative – Volunteered at Jesus Cares

Plateau Electric Cooperative – Planted trees to assist in the arboretum development at Oneida City Park

Powell Valley Electric Cooperative – Supported teachers and staff and local schools with an appreciation bag of goodies

Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative – Assembled birthday boxes and hygiene kits for local food bank and schools and hosted a veterans lunch

Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation – Lent a helping hand at various schools in the service area

Volunteer Energy Cooperative – Hosted food drives at Meigs County Ministries, The Caring Place, Monterey High School, Burks Elementary School and House of Hope

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People Behind the Power – Meet Manny Bibian

Whether he is keeping the lights on for Middle Tennessee, spending time with his family or providing a life-changing opportunity for remote mountain communities in Guatemala, Manny Bibian centers his life on serving others.

Bibian is originally from the Golden State of California but has called Wartrace in Bedford County home since 2023. Bibian moved to the Volunteer State for a better and quieter life for his wife of 11 years and their two children.

Bibian has been a lineworker for eight years and has been a part of the Middle Tennessee Electric team for over a year now. He completes his daily responsibilities of working and checking on the system and also responds to power outages when needed. To him, though, it’s more than that.

“First and foremost, it’s about keeping the lights on for all the members here in Middle Tennessee,” Bibian said. “Within that, though, we are serving. Not only are we getting to serve and help people, but we also have this camaraderie every day of working alongside people who become your family.”

Bibian expanded that service and family footprint last month on a life-changing project to bring electricity to two rural villages in Guatemala. For 17 days, Bibian and 14 other lineworkers from six other Tennessee electric cooperatives worked in Corral Viejo and La Paz, villages that the men had to drive through some rough terrain and up some mountains to get to. The volunteer team built nearly 8 miles of power line to connect 28 homes, two schools and a small business to electricity for the first time.

“You should have seen how happy the community was when we arrived,” Bibian said. “Then that happiness turned into huge smiles and tears when we brought them power. It was a heartwarming experience for us all.”

While all of Project Highlight was an incredible experience for Bibian, his favorite part of the trip was the people.

“People over there are really oriented on family, being outside and supporting their community,” Bibian said. “It was really nice seeing a slower-paced life. It’s what I imagined Middle Tennessee being like 60-plus years ago.”

When the lineworkers weren’t hard at work, they spent their down time interacting with the people, especially the kids. Every morning the 15 men would bring different candy and treats from town for the children. The kids would line up and grab a few pieces. Some would even jump back in line for more, but the lineworkers didn’t mind. Evenings were spent playing soccer matches.

“While we played, all I could think about was how great it was to provide power to this community in general, but knowing that we brought power to two schools for these kids was even more rewarding,” Bibian said. “Now they have the power to learn and study. We were able to provide a life changing opportunity, and I am so thankful I was able to be a part of that.”

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The cooperative spirit fights food insecurity

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation and Cumberland Connect are taking new steps into putting the “Concern for Community” cooperative principle into action. The co-op and its subsidiary have partnered with Manna Cafe Ministries on their Full Table Initiative to fight food insecurity across Montgomery and Stewart counties.

“At CEMC and Cumberland Connect, we recognize that food insecurity is a reality for too many individuals and families in the communities we serve,” said Susie Yonkers, CEMC’s community relations coordinator. “As a member-owned electric cooperative, we are guided by the cooperative principles, especially “Concern for Community”. This principle reminds us that our responsibility goes beyond delivering reliable electricity, it includes caring for the well-being of our neighbors.”

Through this partnership, CEMC and Cumberland Connect are directly investing in the lives of local families who face the challenge of putting nutritious food on the table every day. Every dollar that is contributed through the Full Table Initiative will go toward efforts including but not limited to food distribution, mobile pantries and emergency services.

“We believe that no one should have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table,” Yonkers said. “That’s why we support local food banks, community outreach programs and initiatives that work to ensure everyone has access to nutritious food. It is a privilege to serve alongside agencies like Manna Cafe to help create a stronger community.”

Manna Cafe Ministries has been a vital resource for alleviating hunger and supporting those facing food insecurity in the area since 2010. Last year alone the group distributed 27,000 shopping carts, containing approximately 90 pounds of food each.

To learn more about the Full Table Initiative, visit https://mannacafeministries.org/full-table/.

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Empowering the innovators of tomorrow

Multiple programs throughout Tennessee’s electric co-ops have been selected as recipients for the first ever robotics awards program provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. $665,000 in funding has been distributed to either create a new robotics program or enhance an already existing program in 179 schools and non-profit organizations, with 34 being in electric co-op service areas.

“TVA and BVI are working hand in hand to expand the reach of robotics education, which will help create more opportunities for youth across our seven-state region,” said Don Moul, TVA’s president and CEO, in a press release. “Skills in robotics are already required for many careers today, and we want to equip our future workforce with the tools they need to step into and excel in those fields.”

Awards given out spanned between $2,500 to $5,000 to support learning opportunities, encourage competition participation, assist in team setup and enhance core skills in robotics.

Chickasaw Electric Cooperative had an award-winning school in their service area. Fayette Academy in Fayette County was given $5,000 to help enhance their already existing robotics program that was started in 2022.

“Chickasaw Electric is proud to see Fayette Academy recognized with TVA’s Robotics Award,” said Andrea Kee, CEC’s communication specialist. “Through this funding, TVA and local power companies like ours are investing in education, innovation and the bright future of our communities.”

Holston Electric Cooperative also had award recipients in their service area.

“We are grateful for TVA’s continued investment in local education through these grants,” said Brooke Manis, HEC’s communications specialist. “At Volunteer High School, the funding will strengthen the robotics program. It will allow students to design and construct robots for competition, giving them opportunities to apply their skills in exciting ways. Surgoinsville Middle School and Hawkins Elementary School will also expand their STEM resources. Holston Electric Cooperative is proud to serve these schools and support the bright futures being built in our communities.”

Other Tennessee electric co-ops with programs that received funding include Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, Fayetteville Public Utilities, Gibson Electric, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative, Middle Tennessee Electric, North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, Powell Valley Electric Cooperative, Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Cooperative, Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation and Volunteer Energy Cooperative.

Even though this was the first year for the robotics awards, TVA, BVI and the TVA Retirees Association have supported robotics programs for the past decade. More than $10 million has been donated to robotics programs. For the past two decades, TVA employees and retirees have served more than 250,000 students by volunteering as mentors, judges and cheerleaders.

A complete list of this year’s awards as well as the 2026 Robotics Award Program timeline can be found at tva.com/robotics.

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Connecting candidates with who they hope to serve

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association co-hosted a bipartisan Congressional District Forum on Monday, Sept. 8 with the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Tennessee Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The event was held at the Wonders Center & Science Museum in Dickson where constituents from Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District were able to meet and hear from 10 of the candidates running in the upcoming special election.

“We hope the forum gave rural and suburban constituents from across the district an opportunity to learn more about the candidates and how they will support them on rural issues,” said Ryan King, the vice president of government affairs for TECA. “Cooperatives are rooted in the fabric of rural communities and the strong participation in the forum reflects both the importance of this special election and rural Tennessee.”

The event began with a candidate morning reception. Members of each hosting organization as well as concerned citizens from the 14-county district had the opportunity to engage with the men and women vying for the seat in the United States House of Representatives.

From there, attendants moved into the auditorium for opening remarks. Leaders of each co-hosting organization, including TECA’s CEO, Mike Knotts, welcomed the audience. Before kicking off the candidate discussion, Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative’s President and CEO, Keith Carnahan, led the room in prayer. Then, Jody Barrett, Aftyn Behn, Gino Bulso, Darden Copeland, Mason Foley, Joe Leurs, Bo Mitchell, Lee Reeves, Matt Van Epps and Tres Wittum each had eight minutes to speak on their vision for agriculture, commerce and rural Tennessee. The importance and betterment of farmers, lineworkers, commerce and conservation were overall recurring themes in the forum. Following the formal discussion, the candidates stuck around for more meet and greet opportunities.

The 7th Congressional District includes Cheatham, Decatur, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Perry, Robertson, Stewart, Wayne counties and portions of Benton, Williamson and Davidson counties. The candidates in the race are running to replace U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, who resigned from his seat in July of this year.

The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, and the general election will be Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. TECA encourages everyone to vote and make sure the co-op voice is heard.

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TVA EnergyRight Roadshow

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s EnergyRight is going on the road! TVA EnergyRight is the residential division of the public utility and helps electric consumers find ways to make their home or business more energy-efficient. The division has put together an interactive event, deemed the TVA EnergyRight Roadshow, in order to provide information and practical advice on energy-efficiency, electric vehicles and demand response programs to help homeowners and businesses save money and live more comfortably. Below is a list of some upcoming events.

Visit this link to register.

Upcoming Events

EnergyRight Roadshow

September 18, Jackson, TN
EnergyRight Roadshow  

September 22, Sevierville, TN
EnergyRight Roadshow

September 23, Georgetown, TN
EnergyRight Roadshow  

September 24, Huntsville, AL
EnergyRight Roadshow

September 25, Starkville, MS
Virtual EnergyRight Roadshow

October 2, 9:00-11:00 AM CT

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People Behind the Power – Meet Bobby Robinson

Whether he is meeting with customers, volunteering with local and state fairs or investing in the youth of today, Bobby Robinson exemplifies the cooperative spirit.

Robinson and his wife, Lisa, live on a small working farm in Sparta. Together they own and operate not one but two small businesses — one where they outfit trucks for contractors and another where they create signs for businesses. Aside from that work, Robinson serves on the board of directors for Caney Fork Electric Cooperative.

“I enjoy giving back to the community, and that’s the reason I ran for the Caney Fork board,” Robinson said.

Robinson is one of 10 CFEC members who sit on the board, and he represents White County. He has been on the board for two years now, and through that role, he makes sure the co-op is a good steward of the members who own the co-op.

“It has been very enjoyable to me to be involved with the co-op, learn about the electric business and, most importantly, keep the lights on for people,” Robinson said. “I’ve met so many wonderful people. The co-op world is full of like-minded people who want to give back.”

The desire to want to give back began at a young age for Robinson. He was involved with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, where so many mentors took the time to invest in him. Now, he has served as a leader in that organization for three decades with the goal of doing the exact same thing.

“Anything we can do to get kids headed in a good direction, that’s what I’m about,” Robinson said.

Robinson also works toward that objective through his involvement with the Tennessee Bass Federation’s Junior Anglers Program. That is where young people compete in fishing tournaments for scholarships and prize money. Robinson and his wife also have their hands in fair volunteering. Lisa helped kick off that journey through her involvement on the White County fair board for 30 years and her time serving as the president for the Tennessee Association of Fairs. Now the two volunteer at the Warren County and Smith County fairs where they host the kids’ tractor pulls. The couple also helps with the various festivals hosted in Granville.

“It’s all about the community and keeping these kids engaged,” Robinson said.

On top of all of that, the Robinsons also find the time to volunteer at the best t10 days of the year at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair. This month they have spent countless hours at the fairgrounds with whatever is needed. They have helped specifically with the Made in Tennessee building, which is where The Tennessee Magazine had their booth. The Robinsons have helped get all the county and best of Tennessee exhibits checked in and out and really made the celebration of the state in that building worthwhile.

“It’s just giving back,” Robinson said. “I know it sounds corny, but we are giving back to the communities that gave so much to us.”

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Goin’ hog wild and bacon memories

The Tennessee Magazine went hog wild while bacon some memories at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair this year.

“It was such an honor to sponsor and participate in the state fair this year in a way we never have before,” said Amber Weaver, the writer and content creator for The Tennessee Magazine.

The magazine team as well as the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association staff were able to be a part of every day of what is deemed “the best 10 days of the year.” That effort kicked off on Thursday, Aug. 14 at the grand opening in front of the Made in Tennessee building. Along with the flag raising, the pledge of allegiance given by Tennessee 4-H and FFA and a presentation of the flag that was flown in space by Captain Barry “Butch” Wilmore ­— Chris Kirk, the editor of The Tennessee Magazine, presented the September cover of the publication which features the winner of the Shutterbug Photography Contest. The team was able to unveil a giant copy of the magazine, showcasing “Moses Takes a Dip” by Michelle Ariston. In this shutterbug installment, The Tennessee Magazine partnered with the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair to highlight “95 Reasons to Celebrate Tennessee” with an emphasis on the fair’s theme this year­ of “goin’ hog wild and bacon memories”. Following Kirk at the podium were Mark Ezell, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourism, Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Gov. Bill Lee. Then, Kirk joined the state leaders among others to cut the ribbon to officially open the fair.

The Made in Tennessee building was home away from home for the magazine from Thursday, Aug. 14, through Saturday, Aug. 23. With an electric co-op lineworker and a past shutterbug honorable mention winner framing the background — visitors were greeted into a building all about celebrating the best of Tennessee with an inviting and familiar presence. While at the booth, staff met co-op members and magazine readers and shared information about TECA and The Tennessee Magazine.

The magazine held five meet and greets at the booth with some of the remarkable people that have been spotlighted over the years. That schedule consisted of the Adorno family with Adorno Sourdough, Robert and Wendy Davis with Davis Branch Blueticks, photographer and former editor of The Tennessee Magazine Robin Conover,, tatting expert Tammy Stover Phillips, tatting expert and Lena and Don Winters, the oldest man to complete an ice mile.

When fair goers exited the building, they were able to participate in a real life Find the Flag game all over the fairgrounds for a chance to win prizes back at the booth. Many stickers were given out to selfie takers, and a few have even been entered to win a Barns of Tennessee book and an iPad.

“We found so much joy in getting to interact with the fair goers and share more with them about how we celebrate the extraordinary nature of everyday life throughout our state,” Weaver said. “Our team is already looking forward to next year’s event.”

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Supporting the future of agriculture

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association had the opportunity to support the future of agriculture this year at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair.

“We were proud to support 4-H and FFA at the Tennessee State Fair this year,” said Ryan King, TECA’s vice president of government affairs. “These organizations cultivate leadership, responsibility and innovation in the next generation — values that align with our commitment to strengthening rural communities across our state.”

TECA was honored to be a white ribbon sponsor of the fourth annual Tennessee 4-H Picnic at the fair. Sponsors, donors, 4-H members and more gathered under Johnson Event Pavilion to support 4-H camp scholarships and educational conferences. Those attendees heard from Lelan Statom, senior meteorologist for NewsChannel 5, and Dr. Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor/senior vice president for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, about their support for the organization. Kaisen Dietz, a Franklin County 4-H member, also shared his moving 4-H camp story and how that experience has changed his life for the better. $93,000 was raised at the event through table sponsors and the live auction. A football autographed by UT football coach, Josh Heupel, state fair prize-winning jams and jellies and Tennessee’s best apple and pecan pie were all a part of that auction.

TECA was also proud to be a blue-ribbon sponsor of the 10th annual Tennessee FFA Ham Breakfast at the fair. Sponsors, legislators, FFA members and more gathered in the Farm Bureau Expo Center to support agricultural education and the future leaders of the agriculture industry. Attendees heard messages from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden, Gov. Bill Lee, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Congressman John Rose and Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. The 2025 Ham Auction Winners for the country style ham were H&R Agri-Power and Catesa Farms LLC for a total of $35,000. Tennessee Farmers Cooperative Foundation, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, CPC Feeds, Gold River Feed Products and ProTrition Feeds matched their purchase of the packer style ham, also for $35,000. Altogether, the event raised over $230,000 for Tennessee FFA programs statewide.

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Co-op leaders gather for legislative policy discussions

Tennessee’s electric cooperatives are already looking ahead to the 2026 legislative session. In order to prepare accordingly, the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association held legislative policy discussions earlier this month to take a closer look at a number of issues. James Wright, president and CEO of Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, was among the number who participated.

“The benefit of a meeting like this is getting cooperative leaders together,” Wright said. “Gathering in one room helps us discover common threads and exchange best practices. There are key opportunities for co-ops that we all share, and events like this present a meaningful opportunity to make progress and build momentum toward those goals.”

Two focused working groups convened at the TECA office to examine specific policy items in greater detail. Leaders and operational personnel gathered to form the annexation and broadband expansion working group. Many TECA members have expressed concern about the erosion of service territory as result of municipal annexations. This working group discussed potential remedies and the political ramifications of policy actions. As for broadband expansion, electric co-ops are restricted to their service territories when serving broadband. With BEAD funding soon to be in circulation, the state will be deciding how to best serve remaining unserved areas. The group, including Dion Cooper, Volunteer Energy Cooperative’s president and CEO, discussed the best way to move forward with this conversation.

“Ryan and the team do a great job of keeping us informed regarding legislative issues that impact our electric cooperatives,” Cooper said. “We as cooperatives are always willing to share information and help each other in any way that we can.  However, pulling a larger group of co-op leaders together to discuss common issues is much more productive than multiple one-off conversations.”

The second working group was focused on TDOT Chapter 86 regulations. During the 2025 legislative session, TECA and other stakeholders initiated several strategic policy items to bring greater attention to the challenges posed by those regulations. One outcome of this work is that TDOT invited electric co-ops to organize and submit a comprehensive list of recommended adjustments to the program. The working group gathered ideas and will be submitting them to the department for review and consideration.

“This meeting format produces a multitude of great ideas and helps us move forward with well- thought-out recommendations and solutions to use with our legislative bodies,” Cooper said.

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Tennessee lineworkers bring light to two remote Guatemalan villages

NASHVILLE – 15 volunteer lineworkers from seven electric cooperatives across Tennessee have returned home after completing a life-changing project to bring electricity to two rural villages in Guatemala.

For 17 days the crew worked in the remote mountain communities of Corral Viejo and La Paz, building nearly eight miles of power line across rugged terrain to connect 28 homes, two schools and a small business to electricity for the first time. The work will allow children to study after dark, families to refrigerate food and store medicine and entrepreneurs to open or expand their businesses.

“It is impossible to fully grasp the impact this project will have on the people of these villages,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Their lives will be forever changed thanks to the service and sacrifice of these volunteer lineworkers.”

The Tennessee team says the greatest impact wasn’t measured in miles of line or number of connections — it was in the relationships formed.

“The work we performed was excruciating at points,” said Chris Miller, a lineworker from Volunteer Energy Cooperative. “but at the end of the day, it was more gratifying than anything I’ve ever accomplished.”

For many residents, it marked the first time they could flip a switch and see their home illuminated.

“I thank God for this blessing that has come to our village,” said Corral Viejo resident Leonel Perez. “I have lived here for 34 years, and I never thought we would see anything like this.”

The work was especially important for one lineworker.

“I was born in Guatemala before I was adopted and brought to the states,” said Micah Hagan, a lineman with Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. “I was really drawn to doing something for the people here, and it was a special opportunity. I’m thankful I was able to do it.”

The project was part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International Program, an ongoing effort to extend electric service to underserved areas, reflecting the cooperative principle of Concern for Community — a commitment that extends beyond state or national borders.

“The people in the villages are experiencing something that we experienced in our communities 80 years ago,” said Mike Partin, CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and president of the NRECA board of directors, “and it will change lives forever.”

The volunteers are excited about the opportunities created by the project and the bond formed with fellow lineworkers from across the state.

“For me to be able to come here and maybe initiate a small spark that might help these communities to grow was an opportunity I really wanted to jump on to,” said Nick Gipson, a line foreman for Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and team leader for the project. “These were some of the best men that I’ve ever worked with, and I would work with them anywhere in the world.”

In addition to building power lines, Volunteer Energy Cooperative donated 50 pairs of shoes for the children in the villages, while Middle Tennessee Electric, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, and Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative provided six new laptops for the village schools. These gifts will help students take their first steps into a brighter academic future and give teachers new tools to prepare the next generation.

Tennessee co-ops, along with supply partners United Utility Supply and Gresco, also provided new hardhats, work gloves, rubber gloves and headlamps for the lineworkers at the local Guatemalan utility.

The volunteer lineworkers for the project were Chase McSpadden with Appalachian Electric Cooperative; Micah Hagan, Josh Kennedy and Jake Perry with Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation; Lucas Burke, Chase Cares and Cody McIlwain with Duck River Electric Membership Corporation; Donny Thomas with Gibson Electric Membership Corporation; Manny Bibian, Mike Diggs and Terrence Floyd with Middle Tennessee Electric; Nick Gipson and Danny Walker with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative; and Chris Miller and Kaleb Waldrop with Volunteer Energy Cooperative. Mike Knotts and Trent Scott with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Mike Partin with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative attended the project inauguration.

The project would not have been possible without the support of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, CoBank, TVA, United Utility Supply and Gresco.

“We especially thank the participating co-ops,” Knotts said. “There’s no other way to say it – lives were changed as a result of their investment and support of this program.”

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People Behind the Power – Meet Zach Stewart

Whether he is restoring power to his community, working to care for his cattle or shaking hands with the President of the United States, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative’s Zach Stewart shines a light on his profession wherever he goes.

Stewart was raised on his family farm outside of Marion County and he, along with his wife, Mandy, and their 7-year-old daughter, Lorel, still call the land home today.

“I’m a family man,” Stewart said. “I enjoy being on the farm, hunting and being at home with my family.”

Stewart has worked with SVEC for over seven years and is now a journeyman lineworker in the Marion County district. He works with eight other lineworkers on his team to keep the lights on for his local community. He is not the first in his family to serve in this type of position, though. In fact, Stewart is a third generation lineworker, following the footsteps of his grandfather, father and uncle.

“I’m rooted in this, and I love that,” Stewart said. “It means the world to me to be a part of a co-op. It’s been in my family for so long that I knew it was where I wanted to be. I’m rooted in serving the people that I’m around, rather that be the people I bump into at the grocery store or those I see when I go out to eat. The local lineman life is all I’ve ever known.”

That local lineworker life is what made Stewart a perfect fit to attend President Donald Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Event. President Trump invited a group of working-class Americans, including truck drivers, law enforcement, farmers and lineworkers, to the White House for the meeting.

“Mr. Mike Partin called me on a Tuesday at 2 o’clock and asked me to be there,” Stewart recalled. “I was in Washington the next morning at 10 o’clock. So, it was a pretty quick whirlwind experience but an honor of my lifetime to represent the people where we live and serve.”

Before going to the White House, Stewart was able to attend lobby meetings with Partin, SVEC’s president and CEO and the board president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“I got to meet representatives who are interested in hearing the co-op’s side of the story,” Stewart said. “It was interesting to just listen to their discussions and the different problems facing each state.”

From there, Stewart toured the NRECA headquarters and learned more about the history of the trade organization and what it does for state electric co-ops. Then, he took a quick tour of some of the memorials around Washington, D.C., taking in as much of the country’s history as he could.

“Just to know that I was walking on that type of hallowed ground where so many of our country’s decisions have been made and are made every day was incredible,” Stewart said.

That afternoon, Stewart made his way through White House security. He was able to see in person the official White House portraits of the U.S. presidents. Stewart waited in the Red, Blue and Green Rooms before entering where the event was held. The Red Room has served as a parlor, music room and space for small dinners. It also houses original furniture that President Abraham Lincoln’s wife picked out for their bedroom. Stewart also got to see the room that the Trump family eats dinner in every night before being ushered into the Ballroom.

During the event, Stewart stood behind the podium with other American workers, facing every member of the president’s cabinet on the front row. He essentially had the closest seat, though, to President Trump as he gave his speech and was one of the few who shook his hand.

“I was lucky enough to be one of the ones President Trump shook hands with,” Stewart said. “I told him ‘Thank you for what your do, Mr. President.’ He looked at me and smiled and said, ‘Thank you, sir.’ That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Since that interaction was photographed and Stewart flew back to Tennessee the next morning, he has had so many people reach out and say congratulations. He has even shared his story countless times already. What matters to him most, though, is representing a profession, co-op and community well that has given back so much to him and his family all these years.

“It’s an honor on my part to be able to be chosen to represent all of the people who work here, who are more deserving than me,” Stewart said. “I just hope and pray that I’ve represented the people of the co-op as well as all lineworkers across our state well.”

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Improving safety practices one discussion at a time

In 2005, a couple of Tennessee electric co-op leaders brought an idea back home that has spurred fellowship, discussion and better safety practices across the state ever since.

“We have these safety roundtable discussions where we go around the room and everyone shares,” said Sean Joyner, the safety director at Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation. “It’s a way for us to learn, improve and do what’s best for our employees and lineworkers.”

Safety roundtable discussions have since been held across Tennessee in each region. Joyner helps put together the quarterly meetings in West Tennessee.  Over 20 different co-ops, municipalities and utilities come together at a different location every three months or so for an update.

“We each take turns sharing,” Joyner said. “We talk about different issues and make sure we’re all kind of working on the same page. Everybody has different ways of doing things, and these discussions are a way for us to learn from each other and take them back home and continue sharing.”

Some of the recurring topics include regulation compliance, workplace safety, lineworker safety and OSHA heat standards. The conversation is blended as participants include, as expected, safety directors but also supervisors, managers and employees on the operations side of things.

“We get together, share ideas and try to improve our safety cultures at each workplace,” Joyner said. “We do what we can to be proactive and try to curb the possibilities of accidents or incidents.”

Joyner has been a part of the safety roundtable discussions since 2015, and he thinks the most valuable part of the meetings is the connections made.

“No matter the situation, I know I can call around and see how other utilities are handling a situation through the connections made at these roundtables,” Joyner said. “It’s always been a great experience for me to sit with those who have more experience, learn what they have been through and do my best to keep passing that knowledge down.”

If you or anyone at your co-op is interested in attending these safety roundtables, please contact Sean Joyner for more information at [email protected].

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Tennessee lineworkers bring hope, power and opportunity to Guatemala

15 Tennessee electric lineworkers are preparing for a trip to Guatemala to provide hope, power and opportunity.

“This is a mission for us to go and be a part of something bigger,” said Nick Gibson, the team lead of the trip and a lineworker with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative.

This mission marks the first for a full Tennessee crew to go on this type of trip with NRECA International. 13 lineworkers and two apprentices will leave for their journey on July 23 and work for 16 days to bring a whole new way of life to a community in need. Before they arrive, locals are preparing the area and setting poles. The team has a goal of building two power lines for two different villages. That means they will pull all the wire, hang the transformers, pull the secondary wire and help wire in all the houses and schools in that area. The project extends for around 38 poles.

“It’s one project together, but we’re knocking out quite a bit of work,” Gibson said. “We get this opportunity to help those that are in need and in want of something, though. We are going to get to help these communities grow and become more productive.”

Micah Hagan with Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation is one of the men going on the trip, and he has a unique connection to the mission. Hagan was born in Guatemala and moved to the U.S. after he was adopted at 8 months old. Not only is he excited to see where he is originally from for the first time, he is also eager to return the kindness they showed him.

“To me, it’s a way to give back to a community that gave me a chance to have a better future,” Hagan said. “Originally being from Guatemala, I’m excited to go back and give a little bit, even though they gave more for me than I can give in this instance. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association is proud to support this mission and asks that you keep these men in your prayers as they travel and bring light to Guatemala. To keep up with these lineworkers and their time away, follow the hashtag #ProjectHighLight on TECA’s social media accounts. You can also track their progress on our Project Highlight website.

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Middle school students energize every moment at 4-H Electric Camp

More than 150 sixth and seventh graders from across Tennessee experienced a fun-filled, rewarding adventure in electricity at the 2025 4-H Electric Camp. The annual event was held at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, on Tuesday, June 24, through Friday, June 27.

“4-H Electric Camp is an incredible opportunity for young people to explore the world of energy through hands-on learning and real-world applications,” said Laura Beth Laden, member services specialist at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

Throughout the week, campers explored the theme of “Energizing Every Moment” through the world of energy, electricity, energy conservation, electrical safety and other basic sciences. Some of the learning centers this year featured making electric lamps, designing wind turbines and programming robots. Some of the other learning topics included how to conserve electricity in your home, more on the latest technology in electric vehicles and how to play it safe around high-voltage power lines.

“We’re excited to support this camp because it not only sparks curiosity and confidence in science and technology, but it also helps shape the future leaders of our communities and the electric industry,” Laden said.

Electric camp is a partnership among 4-H, Tennessee’s cooperative and municipal electric utilities, the University of Tennessee, Tennessee State University, the Tennessee Valley Authority and Tennessee Valley Robotics.

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association provides leadership, advocacy and support for Tennessee’s 23 electric cooperatives and 2.5 million consumers. The association also publishes The Tennessee Magazine, the state’s most widely circulated monthly periodical. Visit tnelectric.org or tnmagazine.org to learn more.

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