ATLANTA—Outgoing NRECA President Tony Anderson gave his farewell address Tuesday at PowerXchange, urging electric cooperative leaders to “refuse to give up" in the face of new challenges.

Anderson, who has run marathons in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, compared leading a co-op to competing in the grueling 26.2-mile race.

“In the marathon world, there is a term called DNF," said Anderson, who comes to the end of his two-year term this month. “It stands for 'did not finish.' Nobody wants a DNF.

“In the years ahead, there will be victories, and there will be setbacks. To move forward, we can't let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses. We need to refuse to give up."

Electric co-ops will face obstacles “with cooperative grit and with the amazing NRECA staff," Anderson said.

“These folks don't DNF," he said, citing NRECA's efforts on wildfires, direct-pay tax credits, dam breaches, the need for increased generation and more. “No matter the challenge, NRECA staff has always found a way to finish for you."

Anderson, the retired general manager of Cherryland Electric Cooperative in Grawn, Michigan, said there is nothing harder in a marathon than the last six miles.

“There is also nothing I loved more," he said. “Your strength is all but gone. It now comes down to what is in your heart. I always drew energy from those around me. Together, we were suffering but moving forward."

Similarly, co-ops must draw energy from one another, Anderson said.

“When the going is hard, we must move forward together. There will be reasons to quit, but we won't."

During his two-year tenure as president, Anderson helped spread the word about the Cooperative Family Fund, after coming up with the idea for a charity that supports the children of co-op employees who have passed away. The fund provides a one-time payment to kids when they turn 18 to help with college or other expenses that come with entering adulthood.

“In the 26 months since we began, 85 cooperative kids have lost a parent," he said. “Together, we will be there for the next 85 because we are family."

Anderson declared that, as of Tuesday, “my marathon is over."

“But the race goes on. With unified grit, we will face every challenge together. When you find yourself in your last six miles, look around and smile—you will be with your people."