Welcome to the October 2026 edition of Bright Spots. This month, read about a Virginia co-op’s role in helping a record-setting sunflower get to the state fair, Ohio co-op employees pitching in to “rock the block” in a nearby neighborhood, and impressive days of service during National Co-op Month.

Have a Bright Spot you’d like to share? Please send your news and photos to Victoria Rocha and Katie Allen.

Soaring Sunflowers in Virginia

Getting a 25-foot sunflower to the Virginia State Fair takes more than a green thumb. When it came time to harvest his towering blooms, competitive gardener Jason Loris needed help navigating the flowers’ special scaffolding, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative answered his call. The Fredericksburg-based co-op sent First Class Lineman Brandon Pickeral and a bucket truck to the Amissville grower’s farm, and together they removed a specimen, taking care not to damage it. “I couldn’t have done this without you guys,” Loris told REC afterward.

At the fair, Loris earned a bumper crop of honors, setting four Virginia state records: tallest sunflower at 25 feet, 10 inches; tallest cornstalk at 18 feet, 4 inches; longest cucumber; and longest carrot.

No Generosity Spared at Bowling Fundraiser

In Florida, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative’s bowling fundraiser raised more than $56,000 to help a mental health group build a new clubhouse in Hernando County to meet growing demand for services. The Dade City-based co-op has been a longtime supporter of Vincent House in three Florida counties in its service area. Bowlers, community partners and volunteers from WREC and Vincent House gathered at the Bowl 360 Strike City in Spring Hill last month for a fun afternoon.

The response was “truly inspiring,” said David Lambert, WREC general manager and Vincent House board president. “Their generosity is an investment in hope, recovery, and a stronger future for individuals and families affected by mental illness.”

$10 Million Milestone

Walton EMC members have exceeded $10 million in Operation Round Up donations to support projects in their communities in the 10 counties served by the Monroe, Georgia-based co-op. Since 1998, the Walton Electric Trust Board has awarded more than 1,000 community grants to local organizations. Recent recipients include the Athens Area Diaper Bank and Because One Matters to support children in the foster care system with resources and confidence-building experiences.

“This program’s success is an expression of our cooperative’s core value of caring for the community,” said Walton EMC President/CEO Ron Marshall. “Our customer-owners have demonstrated the power of coming together for good.”

‘The Very Best of the Cooperative Spirit’

North Carolina’s South River EMC members recently donated nearly $50,000 in Operation Round Up funds to support a variety of programs. Since 2007, the Dunn-based co-op’s Community Assistance Corp. has funded more than 700 grants worth nearly $3.5 million. The latest awards include $5,000 to volunteer firefighters in Stedman for a new suppression skid mounted on a utility task vehicle for quicker responses in hard-to-reach areas.

“Operation Round Up reflects the very best of the cooperative spirit—members coming together to strengthen the communities we call home,” said Vice President of Member Services and Public Relations Catherine O’Dell.

Ohio Co-op Rocks the Block

Amid heat index values topping 100 degrees, Darke REC employees spent a sweltering day of service landscaping yards near a recently completed Habitat for Humanity home. Preble County Habitat for Humanity sponsors neighborhood “Rock the Block” efforts to engage residents near Habitat homes in playing an active role in work done on their street. Of the co-op’s 19 employees, 13 volunteered, while the rest held down the fort at the Greenville headquarters.

“What really struck me was the teamwork and the willingness to do whatever needed to be done,” said CEO Brad Flora. “Watching our employees work together to help their neighbors, while still making sure our members were taken care of, was pretty awesome to see.”

Dairyland’s Co-op Month Tradition

Nearly 120 employees from Dairyland Power Cooperative and 11 of its member co-ops volunteered in Wisconsin and Iowa for the fourth annual Cooperative Day of Service earlier this month. Dairyland Power sponsors the event in early October to mark National Co-op Month. Among this year’s projects was a cleanup and beautification effort at Josie Creek County Park in Tony, carried out by volunteers from the G&T, Jump River Electric Cooperative, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative and Taylor Electric Cooperative.

“It is incredible to witness the annual support our Dairyland teammates and member cooperatives give to Day of Service, which benefits wonderful organizations within our local communities,” Dairyland President and CEO Brent Ridge said.

A Helping Hand From Hoosier Co-ops

Employees at 31 Indiana electric co-ops volunteered across the state for more than 40 service projects as part of Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ annual Community Day, which took place Oct 9. Among the dozens of projects, employees at Warsaw-based Kosciusko REMC packed meals for Feed My Starving Children and Greensburg-based Decatur County REMC volunteers took part in cleanup and electrical work at Southeastern Baptist Youth Camp.

“When cooperatives unite around a common purpose, our impact multiplies,” said John Cassady, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives in Carmel. “Community Day is about showing what’s possible when we combine our efforts to improve lives across the state.”

Passing the Torch on Welding Skills

Mechanics at Mississippi’s Cooperative Energy stepped away from their regular duties at the R.D. Morrow, Sr. Generating Station in Purvis, Mississippi, for two weeks this summer to teach welding at Camp Tiak, which brings in experts to provide a taste of trade careers. Joshua Powe and Joe Renot worked with Scouting America troops, helping them safely set up welding equipment, strike and control a stable arc, and lay a basic weld bead.

“Every mechanic we’ve sent has returned in high spirits and reported they really enjoyed working with the children to teach them a valuable trade,” said Mechanic Foreman Shelby Lee.

Helping Seniors Thrive

A Texas senior center will soon have a brand-new commercial kitchen thanks to Fayette Electric Cooperative. The La Grange-based co-op recently awarded $10,000 to Senior Connections to renovate the kitchen space in its newly acquired facility. The funds come from the co-op’s Community Reinvestment Grant program, which harnesses eligible unclaimed capital credits to enhance the local quality of life.

“The center provides opportunities for friendship, social engagement and lifelong learning,” said Tracy Denton, the co-op’s director of marketing, communications and training. “We are proud to support a project that strengthens these services and helps ensure seniors throughout our communities continue to have a place to connect and thrive.”

Supporting Firefighters and Food Pantries

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is also putting unclaimed capital credits toward vital community needs, this time for fire departments and food pantries. The Bastrop, Texas-based co-op is awarding $1,000 grants to 64 fire departments and 26 food pantries in its 14-county service area. The grants, funded by unclaimed capital credit payments to former members returned by the state to the co-op, will cover fuel, equipment and repairs at the fire departments and holiday meals at the food pantries.

“Our partnerships with and ongoing support for these organizations are an integral part of Bluebonnet’s core and culture,” said Board Chair Ben Flencher.