History was made at the Adams Electric Cooperative Board Meeting held September 30, 2021. For the first time, a female was elected to the seat of Board President. Not only that, three females were elected to board officer positions.
Becky Barlow, of Clayton, was named Board President at the Cooperative’s September Reorganizational Meeting. Barlow has been on the board of directors since 2009. She has earned her Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate, as well as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s highest achievement, Director Gold status.
Becky was the first female to serve on Adams Electric’s board of directors since Clara Robertson Neuer. Clara, of Fowler, was a co-member of the Rural Electrification Committee along with Frank H. Shriver and Roy L. Sharrow who helped organize Adams Electric Cooperative. Clara was nominated to serve on Adams Electric’s first board of directors along with six male nominees. The slate of seven directors was unanimously elected to the board in 1938. Clara remained on the board until February 1941 but never served in an officer position. She was first referenced in the minutes as Mrs. James Robertson.
Adams Electric is one of the few, if not the only, electric cooperative in the U.S. to have three females simultaneously serving in board officer positions. Laura Meyer, of Liberty, was elected to Vice President. Kris Farwell, of Plymouth, was elected to Secretary. Both Laura and Kris have attained their Credentialed Cooperative Certificate and Board Leadership Certificate. Laura has also earned her Director Gold Certificate. Tom Travis, of Payson, was elected to Treasurer and is the only male in an officer position. Tom has also earned all three certificates.
Adams Electric Cooperative would like to congratulate Becky, Laura, and Kris on making history. We look forward to our new officer leadership!