Rural Missouri - April 2022 - 11

rallied to raise $14,000 toward the purchase of a much-needed tractor for
maintaining the property. Ozark Electric Cooperative helped pave the way,
almost literally, by providing materials for the bridge into the campground
and setting poles for its Big Dawg Zipline.
" What we adhere to is concern for community: It's one of our driving
principles, and we feel like we need to be involved and serve, " says Manager
of Member Services Jon Davis. " That's the driving force behind everything. "
During its 85-year history, the Mount Vernon-based co-op has supported
the next generation of co-op members in different ways. The longest running
is the annual donation of cordless drills to FFA coordinators at 24
schools in the co-op's service territory. The tools are then typically given out
at end-of-year award banquets to recognize outstanding FFA students.
" We were doing that when they were still hand drills, " Jon says with a
laugh, adding this will be the co-op's 64th year administering the program.
Electric safety is a big part of agriculture education in southwest Missouri,
where farms, burgeoning towns and suburbs and power lines all
intersect. Ozark Electric is a participant in Career Exploration Day at the
University of Missouri's Southwest Research, Extension and Education
Center in Mount Vernon. In addition to discussing potential co-op careers
with area high school students, Ozark Electric also puts on a version of its
Power On safety demonstration oriented toward ag students.
" Any time we speak to FFA groups it's more safety oriented around the
farm, where you have augers or different equipment that might come into
contact with overhead lines, " Jon says. " We also talk to kids a lot about
extension cords, because they might think, '120 volts can't hurt me,' but in
a certain situation it can be deadly. "
The Power On program, which is generally given to prekindergarten
through high school students, has been modified for multiple audiences
including civic groups and first responders.
Ozark Electric found some local professions, including rural volunteer
firefighters, school bus drivers and plant managers, had no dedicated
training in electric safety. Working with Central Electric Power Cooperative
Education Specialist Keith Mueller, the co-op set out to change that.
" The bus drivers here have found it very helpful, " Jon says. " We present
to the Missouri School Plant Managers Association at their annual meeting
with different ways for them to improve efficiencies and electric consumption,
because they're in charge of what those costs are. "
That commitment extends to students also as they prepare for the next
chapter of their lives. Whether educating graduating seniors about potential
co-op careers, bestowing $10,000 worth of scholarships or helping other
youth-centric organizations reach their goals, the co-op is committed to the
area's leaders of tomorrow.
" Ozark Electric encourages every child to reach their full potential, " says
Ozark Electric General Manager and CEO Patrick Oehlschlager. " Education
and opportunity is a huge part of that. We hope they feel our support,
whether it's continuing their education in college or pursuing a career after
high school. The bottom line is, Ozark Electric will always be there to cheer
them on. "
The effect of a community that rallies around its youth is palpable. For
Chief McClain, he needs look no further than the hundreds of kids who
have graduated from the Willard PAL programs.
" Some of those kids came from backgrounds that our kind of programming,
support and strengthening caused them to say to us, 'Willard PAL
saved my life. It put me in a mindset where I began to believe in myself to
an extent I never had before,' " Tom says. " We build good solid relationships,
and cause youth to believe hard work pays off and character counts. "
For more information about Ozark Electric Cooperative, visit www.
ozarkelectric.com. For more information on Willard PAL and Camp Character,
visit www.willardpal.org.
photo courtesy Williard PAL
Above: Ozark Electric's Ethan Moenning and
Justin Rock prepare a spot for another pole to
support Camp Character's Big Dawg Zipline. Top:
Crane High School FFA student Justine Scroggins,
left, receives a drill during the chapter's year-end
awards banquet. The co-op has awarded the drills
to outstanding students in its service territory for
64 years.
APRIL 2022 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 11
http://www.ozarkelectric.com http://www.ozarkelectric.com http://www.willardpal.org http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Rural Missouri - April 2022

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