NetworkNews. District caucus meetings April 10, 11 and 12 MARCH 2017 IN THIS ISSUE

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1 MARCH 017 Verendrye Electric Cooperative Velva, N.D. NetworkNews Velva: Minot: Website: LEGEND Offices Outposts Paved Road Board District Donnybrook Hartland Carpio RENVILLE Minot Air Force Base Glenburn 83 Towns Counties MCHENRY Berthold Lonetree Foxholm Burlington Deering Central District Denbigh Towner MCLEAN PIERCE Des Lacs Minot Surrey Norwich Granville RENVILLE Western District Logan MCHENRY SHERIDAN WELLS WARD Sawyer Velva WARD Voltaire Bergen Makoti 83 Balfour Ryder Drake PIERCE Douglas Kongsberg Anamoose Martin MCLEAN Harvey Eastern District SHERIDAN WELLS Lincoln Valley District caucus meetings April 10, 11 and 1 Attend lunch meeting to nominate directors, learn about your co-op Details inside MARCH 017 IN THIS ISSUE Cooperative values drive Bruner Operation Round Up nears $1 million milestone VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS, MARCH 017 C1

Blaine Bruner has served on the Verendrye Electric Co-op board since 001. He has been chairman since 01. Bruner lives north of Drake, where he and his family operate the Bruner Angus Ranch.

2 Blaine Bruner has served on the Verendrye Electric Co-op board since 001. He has been chairman since 01. Bruner lives north of Drake, where he and his family operate the Bruner Angus Ranch. Family, cooperative values drive Bruner to serve Verendrye members BY TOM RAFFERTY Cooperatives have helped Blaine Bruner s family for generations. As he grew up on the family farm north of Drake, he became aware of cooperatives, whether it was Verendrye Electric Co-op, credit unions, cooperative grain elevators or the local Farmers Union. The exposure to different types of cooperatives helped Bruner decide to run for the Verendrye Electric board of directors 15 years ago. He has served as chairman since 01. Our family grew up with co-ops. Everything was done with co-ops and it made me realize the importance of cooperatives, Bruner said. Bruner was raised on the family farm and ranch where he now lives. He graduated from Drake High School, where he played football and baseball. During his senior year, the nine-man football team took second in state and the baseball team took fourth. He received a scholarship to play baseball for Valley City State University, but it didn t take long for him to come back to his true passion: farming and ranching. He left Valley City about six months after enrolling in college there. The farmer in me didn t leave me at Valley City very long, Bruner said. When the cows started calving in March, I moved back home and I have been a full-time farmer and rancher ever since. Bruner and his family operate the Bruner Angus Ranch. He and his wife, Kim, are blessed to have all three of their sons, and their families, work on the ranch. Their oldest son, Travis, and his wife, Ashley, have children of their own, a daughter, Rayna, and a son, Frankie. Their son, Trenton, and his wife, Rachel, have a son, Landon. Blaine s youngest boy, Ty, is engaged to Erin O Shea and they have a wedding date set for September. Blaine s parents are the late Frank E. Bruner and Cecilia, who lives in Drake. All of their sons live close to the family farm. He is proud they are the fourth generation of Bruners to farm and ranch the homestead. He s also proud they will all be Verendrye members. By the end of September, we ll have all three sons being a member of Verendrye and all three sons having a yard light from Verendrye, he said. Family is another reason Bruner serves on the Verendrye board. His great uncle, Frank Bruner, served C MARCH 017, VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS

on the Verendrye board from 1954 to 1974. His father s cousin, Daniel Bruner, served on the Verendrye board from 1974 to 001.

3 on the Verendrye board from 1954 to His father s cousin, Daniel Bruner, served on the Verendrye board from 1974 to 001. His first memories of Verendrye Electric were from attending annual meetings, which until 000, were held mostly outdoors in Velva. He also remembers his cousin, Daniel, talking about Verendrye meetings. Before he ran for a position on the board, Bruner served on the Member Advisory Committee, which is a group of members who attend a few meetings a year to learn more about their cooperative and to provide input to the board and managers. He also served on the Operation Round Up board, a program in which members round their bills to the nearest dollar to support charitable organizations. When I decided to run for the board, I saw it as a great opportunity, because I looked up to a lot of the members on the board at that time and they were role models for the cooperative, he said. Bruner said Verendrye s objectives are the same now as they were in the beginning to keep rates as low as possible, while keeping the lights on. He is proud of the investments the cooperative has made to provide reliability to the system. We have only spent one night on the farm without power in all the years I can remember, Bruner said. Bruner s hope is to continue to see committed leaders willing to serve on the Verendrye board and for the membership to be involved in their cooperative. Democratic member control is one of the most important qualities of cooperatives. The fact that you have the right to vote for directors at the annual meeting, or run for the board, I think are important things cooperatives offer where other organizations of the same kind don t provide that opportunity, he said. Drake Breeder s Classic continues to showcase area cattle industry BY KRISTIE HOFF kristiekh@verendrye.com Bulls and heifers filled Main Street in Drake Feb. 1 for the 1st Annual Drake Breeder s Classic. The event brings cattle breeders from all over the region to display yearling bulls and yearling or bred heifers from their programs. This is a great way to showcase your cattle, said Blaine Bruner, committee member for the event. This is a big day for the community; it brings in people to buy gas, groceries and stop at local businesses. It also provides a good fundraiser for the Drake-Anamoose FFA, as they do a pie social and serve chili at noon. Angus, Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh, Saler, Charolais and Hereford were the breeds on display for present and potential customers to view and learn about. This is a good show to promote what you have, said Leo Heilman, a Simmental breeder from Voltaire. Every year is different. It s a great place to preview before sale day and get some potential buyers. This is the fifth year Heilman has participated in the Drake Breeder s Classic and had a pen of heifers for buyers to see. The winter has been harsh and trying for most and that takes a heavy toll on cattle and producers. It takes a lot of extra work moving snow, extra feeding and trying to keep waterers from freezing up, Heilman said. Dr. Gerald Kitto, from Sheridan Animal Hospital, was on hand and gave a presentation on bovine health. Cows are going to be tired this year come calving season, especially older cows, due to the extreme weather conditions. They are stressed and calving only adds more stress, Kitto said. Keep your herd young. Many of the event s sponsors were on hand to talk to customers and showcase their products. This takes a lot of community involvement and it s a great yearly event, Bruner added. For 1 years, the city of Drake has held the Breeder s Classic, which features cattle from several producers on Main Street. VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS, MARCH 017 C3

4 Co-op governance gives power to the people In this column, I want to visit with you about your electric cooperative s governance model. You all are well-represented by nine dedicated directors who are always looking out for the guy or the gal at the end of the line. This dedication goes beyond the monthly board meeting. Here is an example of this dedication. In January, your board of directors spent an extra day and a half visiting with management in a strategic planning session. The session was extremely helpful to management, as we continue to operate an electric cooperative in a forever-changing world. At Verendrye, we have three director districts with three directors in each district. One director from each district is up for election each year. Once elected, the Verendrye directors serve three-year terms. Cooperative governance model Electric cooperatives have a unique governance model when compared to other types of utilities. The members of the cooperative get to elect who they want to represent them on the board of directors. Directors must be members. Anyone who purchases power from the cooperative is a member. Each member gets one vote, no matter how large of an account they have with the cooperative. At Verendrye, a farmer living by Harvey gets one vote, someone living in the city of Minot gets one vote and Verendrye s largest member, the Minot Air force Base, gets one vote. The board of directors elected by the membership sets policies, rates and procedures for the cooperative to operate by. Because directors are members, their primary goal is for the cooperative to provide reliable, affordable energy. Directors live in the cooperative s Randy Hauck service area, which means they are also committed to their communities, one of the seven core value of cooperatives. Our governance structure allows us to put people over profits. Another common form of an electric utility is an investor-owned utility (IOU). In the case of an IOU, the folks who own stock in the company get to elect the board of directors. You do not need to be a customer of the IOU to own stock in the company. Normally, folks purchase stock in a company to make a profit and this is done by an IOU through the electric rates that they charge. The more stock you have in the IOU, the more votes you get, when it comes to electing directors. Directors elected by the stockholders set policies, rates and procedures for the utility. Caucus/ information meetings The first step in our governance model is director nominations. Each April, we hold a caucus/information meeting in each director district. I will refer you to the next page for the upcoming caucus meeting dates and locations. Anyone can nominate someone for the Verendrye board, as long as the person being nominated lives in the district of the directorship open for election. For example, at the Central District caucus, the person nominated needs to live in the Central District. There is no Nominating Committee that meets in private to come up with nominations and there are no petitions requiring so many signatures to be nominated. Those members nominated are then placed on the ballot at our June annual meeting. At our annual meeting, we also allow nominations from the floor of the meeting. We truly do have an open and transparent nominating process. Annual meeting The last step of your cooperative governance model is for you to attend your annual meeting and vote for the director of your choice. This year s annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 8, at the North Dakota State Fair Center in Minot. Normally, voting will occur around 6:45 p.m. in the main meeting hall, which is the 4-H Hall. This occurs after you get a free meal, musical entertainment and even games for kids. The annual meeting is also where you will hear how your electric cooperative did the past year, learn about who received grants from our Operation Round Up program and hear who won the Youth Tour and scholarship programs. It is also a good event to meet cooperative employees, including ones who will be recognized for years of service milestones. And of course, everyone s favorite part of the meeting is there will be lots of door prizes. So please participate in your cooperative s governance model by attending your electric cooperative s annual meeting June 8 and casting your vote for the director of your choice. I hope to see you there. C4 MARCH 017, VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS

5 LEGEND Offices Outposts Paved Road Board District Donnybrook Hartland Carpio RENVILLE Minot Air Force Base Glenburn 83 Towns Counties MCHENRY Berthold Lonetree Foxholm Burlington Deering Central District Denbigh Towner MCLEAN PIERCE Des Lacs Minot Surrey Norwich Granville RENVILLE Western District Logan MCHENRY SHERIDAN WELLS WARD Sawyer Velva WARD Voltaire Bergen Makoti 83 Balfour Ryder Drake PIERCE Douglas Kongsberg Anamoose Martin MCLEAN Harvey Eastern District SHERIDAN WELLS Lincoln Valley Caucus meetings to be held April 10, 11, 1 Do you or someone you know want to run for a position on the Verendrye Electric Cooperative board of directors? If so, attend a caucus meeting in your district in April. You can also come to the meetings to enjoy a free lunch with cooperative employees and members and to hear a quick presentation. Caucus meetings are held each year for the purpose of nominating candidates who will be voted on at the annual meeting in June. After the candidates are nominated, their photos and short biographies will be published in the May issue of North Dakota Living and in the annual report mailed to all Verendrye members. Any member can nominate another member, and you can even nominate yourself. A nominee must be a member and resident within the district in which he or she is nominated. There is no limit to the number of people who can be nominated. Please call us if you have a question about what district you are in. There are nine directors on the Verendrye board and they each serve terms of three years. The terms are staggered so that there is one seat up for election each year in each district. This year, the seats held by Maxine Rognlien (Eastern District), Robert Wolf (Central District) and Howard Bucky Anderson (Western District), are up for election. The details of the meetings are as follows: Eastern District April 10, noon Ranch House Cafe, 17 Main St. S., Towner This includes all members who live in Ranges 75, 76, 77 and all members who live in Sheridan, Pierce and Wells counties Central District April 11, noon Verendrye Electric Cooperative, 615 Highway W., Velva. This district includes all members who live east of Highway 83, in Ranges 8 and 83, and all members who live in Range 78 of McHenry County, and all members who live in Ranges 79, 80 and 81. This means all members living east of Highway 83 and west of the Eastern District. Western District April 1, noon Ryder Community Center, N. Main and Fifth Ave., Ryder. This district includes all members who live west of Highway 83, in Ranges 8 and 83, and all members who live in Ranges 84, 85, 86 and 87. This means all members living west of Highway 83. VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS, MARCH 017 C5

Verendrye Member Services Manager Tom Rafferty presents a $1,500 check from Operation Round Up to Jill MacDonald, executive director of the Domestic Violence and Crisis Center in Minot.

6 Verendrye Member Services Manager Tom Rafferty presents a $1,500 check from Operation Round Up to Jill MacDonald, executive director of the Domestic Violence and Crisis Center in Minot. Operation Round Up nears $1 million milestone Verendrye members have given nearly $1 million to many charitable causes by rounding their bills to the nearest dollar. Another $,000 was added to the total in January after grants were awarded to 18 organizations. Since 1996, the program has awarded more than 1,000 grants totaling $993,35. Another $7,000 and we hit the $1 million mark, said Member Services Manager Tom Rafferty. It s exciting to imagine how all of that small change has added up to a million dollars that has helped so many people. The following is a list of the grants awarded in January. Bishop Ryan Catholic School, Minot Equipment for science class $1,500 Harvey Kiwanis Playground project $1,500 Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Minot Tables and bench $1,500 Donnybrook Fire Dept. Grass and bunker gear $,500 Horn of Plenty Program, Minot Food and gift items for donating $1,550 Knights of Columbus, Drake Door replacement $1,500 Little River Child Care, Minot Outdoor playground equipment $1,500 Minot Symphony Association Music stand lighting $1,000 Northern Plains Children s Advocacy Center, Minot Fridge $500 Options Resource Center for Living, Harvey Lift Chairs, adjustable bed $ Our Lady of Grace Food Pantry, Minot Purchase food $1,550 Souris Valley Care Center, Velva New passenger van $1,500 South Prairie Public School Scoring table and padded chairs $1,500 Trinity Lutheran Church, Glenburn Roof repair and replace some windows $1,500 YWCA, Minot Shelter bathroom renovation $1,500 Total $1, C6 MARCH 017, VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS

You've planned every acre HAVE YOU PLANNED FOR YOUR SAFETY? As spring planting nears, Verendrye Electric Cooperative reminds hardworking farmers and ranchers to stay safe.

While you need to focus on the field and your machinery, Verendrye Electric Cooperative urges you to also watch for electrical hazards around the farm or ranch.

Practice extreme caution and use a spotter to make sure you stay far away from power lines when you use tall equipment.

In addition, shifting soil may also affect whether or not machinery avoids power lines from year-to-year. Power lines also may sag over the years.

7 You've planned every acre HAVE YOU PLANNED FOR YOUR SAFETY? As spring planting nears, Verendrye Electric Cooperative reminds hardworking farmers and ranchers to stay safe. Overhead power lines are necessary to deliver electricity, but those same power lines can also be deadly if not treated with respect. While you need to focus on the field and your machinery, Verendrye Electric Cooperative urges you to also watch for electrical hazards around the farm or ranch. Be aware Farmers and their equipment should always be 10 feet away from power lines on all sides. Field cultivators and sprayers can often reach as high as 1 feet in the air. Practice extreme caution and use a spotter to make sure you stay far away from power lines when you use tall equipment. If you have purchased new equipment, be aware of antennas or other attachments that may pose new hazards. A newer, bigger piece of equipment may no longer clear a line. In addition, shifting soil may also affect whether or not machinery avoids power lines from year-to-year. Power lines also may sag over the years. If power lines on your property are sagging, contact Verendrye Electric to repair the lines. Never try to move a power line on your own. Overhead power lines are not the only electric hazard on the farm. Pole guy wires, used to stabilize utility poles, are grounded. However, when one of the guy wires is broken, it can become charged with electricity. If you break a guy wire, call the cooperative to fix it. Don t do it yourself. Follow these other tips: Look over work areas carefully for overhead power lines and utility poles. Make sure you, your family and employees know the location of overhead power lines, and use routes to avoid the lines when moving equipment. Do this every year, as equipment sizes and soil conditions may change. Be aware of increased heights of equipment, especially new equipment with higher antennas. Avoid moving large equipment alone. Have someone watch as you move equipment to ensure you are clear of power lines. Be extra careful when working around trees and brush; they often make it difficult to see power lines. What if you contact a power line? Imagine that you are driving a tractor to the field when things come to a screeching halt. You look back to see what s stopping you, only to discover that you re tangled in an overhead power line! What do you do? First, DON T climb out. If your equipment does contact a power line, stay in the cab and call for help. Warn others to stay away and wait until the electric cooperative arrives. Most utility lines are uninsulated, bare wires. Do not let your body become a direct link between the power line and the ground. If you must leave the tractor due to immediate danger, such as a fire, jump as far away as you can, making sure that no part of your body touches the tractor and the ground at the same time. Land with both feet together and shuffle with your feet a few inches at a time, making sure to never break contact with the ground or cause separation between your feet. Once you re off the tractor, do not go back until Verendrye Electric Cooperativedisconnects the power line. VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS, MARCH 017 C7

Verendrye and its employees support the United Way Verendrye Electric Manager Randy Hauck presented donations totaling more than $8,000 to Patricia Smith, director of the Souris Valley United Way

The SVUW helps fund a variety of programs in the region that focus on improving people s health, education and income.

8 Verendrye and its employees support the United Way Verendrye Electric Manager Randy Hauck presented donations totaling more than $8,000 to Patricia Smith, director of the Souris Valley United Way (SVUW), including $3,30 given by Verendrye employees. Verendrye also gave a $,500 donation and Basin Electric Power Cooperative gave a matching donation of $,500. The SVUW helps fund a variety of programs in the region that focus on improving people s health, education and income. I m proud of our employees for the generously donating to the United Way, Hauck said. We appreciate all the support the United Way gives to many organizations in our communities. A flat tire didn t ruin her day My name is Jenny Filler and I am from Harvey. I drive to Minot three days a week for work and have driven past your building more times than I could count. On Jan. 18 at a little before 4 p.m., I ran over something and instantly had a flat. I was on the shoulder close to the cemetery with cars and semi-trucks going past me at 65 or more miles per hour as I worked to change my tire. (Which wasn t a safe feeling!) As I worked, I could hear a semi slowing down and getting closer. To my shock, your semi and work truck stopped to help me! Those guys easily could have chosen to go past me and call it a day. They told me they had moved snow all day and yet stopped to help me. I just want to say thank you again! Enclosed is a card for them to have coffee on me! You have awesome guys working for you and representing your company! Thanks again, Jenny Filler (Editor s note: Helping Jenny that day were Brock Sebelius, Justin Bullinger and Curt Peterson.) VERENDRYE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Velva, ND BOARD PRESIDENT Blaine Bruner MANAGER Randy Hauck EDITOR Tom Rafferty Velva: Minot: Toll-Free: Website: rec@verendrye.com Verendrye Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer. C8 MARCH 017, VERENDRYE ELECTRIC NEWS

NetworkNews. Karena Verbitsky wins Youth Tour contest APRIL 2016 IN THIS ISSUE. Verendrye Electric Cooperative Velva, N.D.

NetworkNews. Karena Verbitsky wins Youth Tour contest APRIL 2016 IN THIS ISSUE. Verendrye Electric Cooperative Velva, N.D. APRIL 2016 Verendrye Electric Cooperative Velva, N.D. NetworkNews Velva: 701-338-2855 Minot: 701-852-0406 Website: Karena Verbitsky, a sophomore at South Prairie High School, proudly displays a mock airline