Randy Huntsman

Ken Soder

Kevin States

HUNTINGDON — Members of Valley Rural Electric Cooperative reelected three incumbent directors during the co-op’s annual meeting April 10 at the Huntingdon County Fairgrounds.

The meeting, held in a drive-through format from 4 to 7 p.m., drew participation from 1,822 memberships.

Randy Huntsman, of Martinsburg, was reelected to represent District 1, while Kevin Sates of Hesston retained his District 3 seat and Ken Soder, of Petersburg, was reelected in District 5. Todd Gates, of Saxton, also appeared on the ballot for the District 3 seat.

Each year, three of the cooperative’s nine board seats are up for election, with members voting at-large to fill the positions for three-year terms.

The drive-through format, adopted in 2021 following the cancellation of the 2020 meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, has continued to draw strong participation.

“We continue to receive very positive comments about our drive-thru annual meeting,” said President and CEO Rich Bauer. “Many more of our members are able to participate this way and exercise the cooperative principle of Democratic Member Control.”

Traffic entered the fairgrounds from both the north and south ends of the property, a change first implemented last year to improve traffic flow. Cooperative employees were on hand to direct vehicles, register members, distribute ballots and provide giveaways. Attendees will also receive a $20 bill credit.

Members who attend district meetings each February nominate candidates for the annual ballot. The cooperative returned to its traditional in-person nominating meetings in 2023 after pandemic-related changes in prior years.

Valley REC, headquartered near the fairgrounds, provides electric service to nearly 22,500 accounts across eight counties in south-central Pennsylvania, including Mifflin, Juniata, Huntingdon and Centre counties. The cooperative was incorporated in 1938 and energized its first lines in 1939.