Distinguished Leadership Award 1991

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC) is the Des Moines-based service organization representing the state's rural electric cooperatives (RECs). The cooperatives distinguish themselves through the cooperative principles. These principles serve as the guiding business philosophies for cooperatives across the country.

Iowa's farmers began forming RECs in the 1930s when large electric companies bypassed rural Iowa due to the sparse population. These pioneering men and women borrowed start-up money from the Federal Rural Electrification Administration, which was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 11, 1935.

RECs offer more than reliable electric service. They also work to improve rural living. The cooperative-supported Iowa Area Development Group helps bring new industry and new jobs to rural Iowa.

Website: www.iowarec.org