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April 6, 2026

Lineworkers: Powering our Communities

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Each year, Lineworker Appreciation Month gives us the opportunity to recognize the individuals who perform an essential — and often unseen — role in keeping our communities powered. At Pioneer Electric Cooperative, our lineworkers are on the front lines of delivering safe and reliable electricity to the homes, farms, schools, and businesses we serve. While most people simply flip a switch and expect the lights to come on, our lineworkers know the complex system and hard work that makes that possible. They build and maintain the infrastructure that powers daily life across our service territory, often working in challenging environments...

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April 5, 2026

Pioneer Awards Children of Members Scholarships

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Fifteen area high school seniors have been selected to receive the Pioneer Electric Cooperative 2026 Children of Members Scholarship. The program recognizes outstanding students whose families are members of the cooperative and supports their pursuit of higher education. Each selected student will receive a $500 scholarship to help offset the cost of continuing their education after high school. The scholarships are awarded annually as part of Pioneer Electric Cooperative’s ongoing commitment to supporting education and investing in the future of the communities it serves. This year, Pioneer received 79 applications, representing 30 different schools. The strong response highlights the high...

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February 2, 2026

Pioneer Awards Technical/Trade Scholarships

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Four high school seniors from the area have been selected to receive Pioneer Electric Cooperative’s 2025-2026 Technical/Trade Scholarships. Each recipient, the child of a Pioneer member, will be awarded a $750 scholarship to support continuing education in trade and technical fields from a community college or trade school. Scholarship winners include:   These scholarships demonstrate Pioneer’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future of skilled professionals and supporting the next generation as they pursue technical and vocational careers. We’re proud to support students as they plan their futures and hope that, in time, their talents and training may benefit our...

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April 5, 2025

Powering Barejones

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Pioneer Linemen recount Project Ohio In the remote village of Barejones, Guatemala, a team of linemen from Ohio, including Pioneer Serviceman Curtis Schmidt and Manager of Safety and Construction David Overman, embarked on a life-changing mission — to bring electricity to a community that had been waiting decades for power. Through Project Ohio, they worked to turn the lights on — a testament to the cooperative spirit that first electrified rural America. The work was physically demanding, but the sense of fulfillment was unmatched. The Ohio linemen were divided between overhead work and interior electrical wiring, building upon the foundation...

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January 13, 2025

All in the Family: Cooperative Members Bring Individual Talents to their Small Business

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6S Products in Anna started with five family members, one injection molding press, and a mission to find a niche while building a foundation of trust, dependability, and value. “We didn’t have a goal of being a large company; we just wanted to be able to personalize and help find solutions for companies when they need it,” says Neil Schroer, who owns the company along with his wife, Genny; two of their daughters, Emily Schroeder and Tracy Platfoot; and son-in-law, Josh Platfoot. (By the way, entrepreneurial spirit runs through the family: Neil and Genny also have a son, Eric, who...

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