Significant Dates in Farmer's History
March 18, 1938, the first Annual Meeting of members was held. A group of early founders of Farmers Rural Electric met at 142 North Green Street in Glasgow. From this group of pioneers, seven men were destined to become a Board of Directors including Rodney Young, E. B. Hatchett and L. L. Wells of Barren County; C.L. Adair and H.C. Moss of Hart County, and F.E. Asbury and Joel R. Depp of Metcalfe County. This date also marks the first Board of Directors meeting of Farmers Rural Electric.
July 7, 1938, the Board of Directors authorized application for allotment of loan funds for construction of the first 173.4 miles of line.
August 27, 1938, Mr. Henry E. Gardner was hired as Project Superintendent for the Cooperative.
September 13, 1938, the Cooperative secured $191,300.00 of allotted loan funds.
January 12, 1939, the switch was closed at the Goodnight substation north of Glasgow, energizing the first electric line for Farmers and providing electrical power to the first 107 members along 51.1 miles of distribution line. This was the beginning of the provision of dependable electricity at low-cost to consumers of Farmers Rural Electric.
June 24, 1939, the first regular annual meeting of members was held in the Circuit Court room of the Barren County court house.
July 12, 1941, Farmers joined the Ohio Valley Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, an organization formed to obtain electric power at low cost for distribution cooperatives in Kentucky. This action was taken by the Board of Directors after unsuccessful attempts to secure wholesale electric power from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
October 21, 1944, Farmers joined the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to assist in the task of providing strength and guidance to the rural electric program on a national basis.
May 16, 1946, Farmers began publication of a monthly newsletter designed to keep members better informed about the operation of their cooperative.
January 18, 1947, the Board of Directors passed a resolution applying again for the TVA Power. In response to this request, on March 15, 1947, the Tennessee Valley Authority again declined to serve Farmers Rural Electric with wholesale power.
November, 1947, the Munfordville Substation was energized in order to relieve the Goodnight Substation of the load in the northern section of the project.
In 1948, Farmers joined Kentucky RECC, an organization formed to collectively provide many services at less cost than individual cooperatives can provide.
August 9, 1949, the Cooperative adopted the Capital Credits Plan. In accordance with this plan and established Cooperative Principles; all funds paid in by members in excess of costs of operation are credited to the accounts of each individual member and will be refunded annually to each member in proportion to his use of power. These refunds started being made immediately to the estates of deceased members and will be made to all members annually when the equity of the Cooperative reaches 40%.
August 19, 1950, at the Annual Meeting of members held at Cavalry Field at Glasgow, the first Miss Farmers RECC was crowned. She was Miss Wanda Matthews, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Paul Matthews, Route 4, Glasgow Ky.
January 20, 1951, the decision was made by Farmers Board of Directors to join the East Kentucky RECC which would provide dependable low-cost wholesale electric power for some 18 member cooperatives.
August 31, 1951, the third substation was energized at Temple Hill.
June 4, 1954, the Knob Lick Substation, the fourth substation to be added to the system, was energized.
December 12, 1954, the first wholesale electric power was received from East Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation. Previously all power distributed by Farmers had been purchased from the Kentucky Utilities Company.
October 15, 1959, the Beckton Substation, the fifth to be added to the system, was energized.
October 1, 1971, the sixth substation to be added to the system was energized at Cave City.
November 13, 1987, the Parkway Substation, the seventh substation to be added to the system was energized.
November 16, 1987, Capital Credit refund checks totaling $154,658.03 were issued to Farmers’ consumers who received service during the years of 1950 through 1956. This first general retirement of Capital Credits reflects the Cooperatives equity position of 40 per cent which was reached in 1986.
March 15, 1988, Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation is 50 years old.
March 15, 2008, Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation is 70 years old.