East River Electric Power Cooperative held its 75th annual meeting Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at the Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. This year’s annual meeting theme was “A Legacy of Service: Celebrating 75 Years.” The special anniversary meeting celebrated and reflected upon East River Electric’s history and focused on current efforts, working alongside its member systems to power people’s lives and provide value to communities by providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity as well as giving back and investing in the people and communities in rural America that founded its cooperative network. Attendees participated in the event both in person and via a livestream viewing option.
“East River’s board, our employees and our member systems are continuing a legacy of service. Doing the work that needs to be done today, while planning for the power grid of the future. We’re facing challenges, the potential of growth like we’ve never experienced, continued supply chain issues and legislative and regulatory changes. But if we continue to work together, collaborate on these big issues, we’ll continue our forward momentum,” said East River CEO and general manager Bob Sahr.
During the annual meeting presentation, East River leadership reflected on the cooperative’s 75 years of service and reviewed the achievements of the past year. They highlighted work on the largest construction work plan in East River’s history and ongoing transmission system upgrade plan projects, which strengthen infrastructure, meet growing demand and enhance reliability.
At the annual meeting lunch, East River’s leadership honored Jim Ryken, member-owner of Clay-Union Electric, with East River Electric’s Eminent Service Award. Jim served the cooperative family for nearly four decades, with 36 years of cooperative service on the Clay-Union Electric board of directors, including 27 years as the Clay-Union representative on East River’s board, 16 of which he served as board president. His leadership helped strengthen East River Electric and its member systems, improving the lives of people across the region. The Eminent Service Award is the most prestigious honor given by East River’s board of directors to individuals who have had a great impact on East River Electric and the rural electrification program. Outgoing director Trevor Job, from the City of Elk Point, was recognized for his service, and board treasurer Bert Rogness of H-D Electric received a service award for over 20 years of service on the East River board of directors.
The afternoon session opened with a look back at the last 75 years of East River’s history, specifically focusing on the past 25 years, presented by Chief Member and Public Relations Officer Chris Studer, followed by a manager’s panel discussion on East River’s history featuring Ken Schlimgen of Central Electric, Matt Hotzler of H-D Electric and Tim O’Leary of Lyon-Lincoln Electric. During the panel, managers reflected on their own cooperative systems and how they see the road ahead by sharing perspectives on the changes they’ve experienced and the opportunities they see for the future. After the panel, Basin Electric Cooperative CEO Todd Brickhouse provided an update on Basin’s priorities and ongoing work. A business meeting followed the general session of the annual meeting, during which the election of directors was held and the cooperative’s policy statements were adopted.
East River Electric Power Cooperative CEO and General Manager Bob Sahr (left) and East River Electric Board President Alan Vedvei (Right) provided an update to the co-op’s membership during East River’s 75th annual meeting.