Something that distinguishes cooperatives from other types of utilities is their adherence to the seven cooperative principles. One of the ways St. Croix Electric Cooperative (SCEC) demonstrates the seventh cooperative principle of “Concern for Community” is through its support of area community organizations and events. One of the longest running county- wide events is the fair held on the eastern edge of the county in Glenwood City – designated as the St. Croix County Fair in 1948 by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors. In 2013, SCEC began a unique program offering its members “A Day at the Fair” via redemption of a one-day free parking pass printed in the July issue of the co-op’s newsletter Energy Lifestyles Magazine. Fair parking attendants accept the passes in lieu of a parking fee, and SCEC donates an amount dependent on the number of valid passes collected.

To date, 2,630 passes have been redeemed for a total of $18,895. Many members stopped by SCEC’s exhibit at this year’s fair to thank the co-op for the pass – some of them saying they'd never realized it was ouered before.

2022 turned out to be a record year with 478 parking passes redeemed for a total of $3,824. “THANK YOU! This is the best response we have ever had,” Fair Board President Gail Maier (herself an SCEC member) said. “We are very grateful for this partnership.”

About St. Croix Electric Cooperative St. Croix Electric Cooperative is a distribution cooperative serving the west central Wisconsin county of St. Croix and parts of the neighboring counties of Pierce, Dunn and Polk. Headquarters are in Hammond – “The Heart of St. Croix County.”

Since being founded in 1937, SCEC has grown to distribute electricity to more than 11,200 member accounts over 1,800+ miles of line and employs 30 people who work, live and raise their families in the communities served by the co-op.

Submitted by St. Croix Electric Cooperative

St. Croix Electric Cooperative representatives visited the St. Croix County Fair Board before their Aug. 11 meeting at the Fairgrounds in Glenwood City to present this year’s donation for a record amount of 478 parking passes redeemed by co-op members this year. Pictured are Fair Board members, unless otherwise noted (back row, from left): Dick Sullwold, Emeritus; Greg Tellijohn, County Board Representative; Lori DeBoer, Secretary; Doug Jamieson, Director; Phoebe Shores, HCE (Home & Community Education) representative; Larry Amundson, Director; Joe Sippl, Director; Jackie Kumm, Director; Cindy Croes, Director; (front): Carole Schurtz, Director; Kris McNamara, SCEC Finance Manager; Gail Maier, President; Cindy VanDyk, Treasurer; and DaNell Jamieson, Director. Photo courtesy of Michele Delong