Sunflower and its distribution cooperatives have been dedicated to community service and rural development for many years. Cooperatives were formed by groups of local people coming together to do things they could not do alone. This philosophy of "local control" has always helped
inspire cooperative workers to improve the well-being of their neighbors. Ten percent of the state’s population lives in the western half of Kansas. This low density requires rural people to work closely with one another to preserve the
quality of life coveted by those living in more urban areas of the state.Local cooperative employees have historically been involved in many community projects. Whether it’s coaching little league, fund raising for charities, or serving in elected office, cooperative employees work for their communities. Many have participated in and continue to manage local and regional leadership programs designed to create a new generation of leaders who will help ensure the long-term success of rural western Kansas.
One of the most successful projects organized by Sunflower is the western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (wKREDA). This group of nearly 100 western Kansas companies and individuals work together to improve the economic well-being of the 300,000 people living in the 46 counties of our region. Two of the primary goals of wKREDA are to educate its members about economic opportunities and to work together to formulate legislative positions to influence policy decisions made by our Legislature.
The wKREDA organization focuses its attention on recruitment by annually attending several national trade shows to deliver the gospel about life in rural Kansas. This effort has helped in the creation of many new "mega" dairies. These new dairies have dramatically increased the size of the Kansas dairy herd and promise to result in the construction of new dairy processing facilities in the near future. wKREDA also recruits other businesses including those who take advantage of the abundant natural resources in western Kansas.
Why does all of this matter? Because as we enter a competitive marketplace, it is important to realize that price alone is not the only thing that matters when choosing electric service. As we have done for decades, cooperative employees represent local people involved with issues in all the small towns of western Kansas. This involvement is not provided from a large office building in some far away metropolis. It is actions taken by neighbors helping neighbors as they work side-by-side to overcome challenges and enjoy the benefits of life in rural Kansas.