Celebrating the eighth decade of Cooperative Living
September 2026
by Laura Emery, Staff Writer
In celebration of Cooperative Living’s 80th anniversary, each issue this year spotlights one of the eight decades since this publication — first published in October 1946 — began inspiring, informing and connecting electric cooperative members.
Through triumphs and tragedies, celebrations and challenges, Cooperative Living’s eighth decade — 2016 through 2026 — demonstrated the enduring role of the magazine.
From stories of women breaking barriers to features celebrating military service, acts of kindness, educational history and resilience during a global pandemic, the magazine continued to tell the stories that mattered most — about the people and places that make cooperative-served communities special. The articles reflected a changing world while remaining rooted in the cooperative values that have guided the publication for generations.
Advances in technology transformed the way people communicate and consume information, as electric cooperatives themselves navigated new challenges related to workforce development, broadband expansion, cybersecurity, renewable energy and an increasingly complex electric grid.
In the July 2016 issue, Executive Editor Richard G. Johnstone Jr. reflected on the enduring value of trusted print journalism. In an era increasingly dominated by digital content, social media and rapidly changing news cycles, he reaffirmed print’s ability to foster meaningful connections between cooperatives and their members.
STORIES THAT MATTER
The magazine continued its emphasis on storytelling centered on co-op members and cooperative-served communities. Readers followed lineworkers responding to major storms, restoring power after natural disasters and answering the calls for mutual aid when neighboring utilities required assistance. Articles highlighted the dedication and sacrifice required of the men and women who work to provide reliable electricity.
A highlight of the decade was a May 2017 cover story on Lizzie Wyant Wood of Fishersville, Va., the commonwealth’s oldest living resident at age 112. The article explored her life, faith, family and the changes she witnessed during more than a century, including the arrival of electricity and indoor plumbing. Just one month later, the magazine reported her passing.
The January 2018 cover story, “Into the Light,” marked a first for Cooperative Living by tackling the often-overlooked issues of mental illness, depression and suicide prevention. By sharing the stories of families affected by these challenges and highlighting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness walks, the article helped bring an often-stigmatized topic “into the light.”
The decade also showcased the cooperative commitment to preparing for the next generation of energy workers. Features examined workforce initiatives such as Girl Power Camp, created by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives in 2021 to introduce young women to careers in linework and energy, fields where women have historically been underrepresented. Readers also learned about the dedication of the state-of-the-art training center in Palmyra, developed by the electric cooperatives of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware to provide hands-on training and instruction for future lineworkers.
BREAKING BARRIERS
The magazine celebrated women who blazed trails in their professions and communities. In the March-April 2019 issue, readers met Bettina Ring, whose upbringing in Craig County and lifelong commitment to forestry, conservation and rural economic development led to her appointment as Virginia’s first female secretary of agriculture and forestry.
In January 2020, Genevie Boarman was featured. Boarman became Virginia’s first female electric cooperative lineworker after being hired by Northern Neck Electric Cooperative shortly after graduating from Southside Virginia Community College’s Power Line Worker Training School.
The March 2023 issue profiled Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Dylan Davenport, the first Black woman appointed commander of the agency’s Area 44 office serving Caroline and King George counties.
Two years later, the March 2025 issue shared the story of Sonja Cox, the first female CEO in the VMDAEC system, tracing the leadership journey that culminated in her becoming the first female president and CEO of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. Together, these stories reflected expanding opportunities for women in fields and leadership roles once dominated by men.
The February 2020 issue included one of the decade’s most historically significant cover packages. Through stories about Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, George Washington Carver Regional High School in Culpeper and A.T. Johnson High School in Montross, the magazine examined Virginia’s segregated educational history and the individuals working to preserve those stories.
POWERING POSSIBILITY
Cooperative Living also explored how access to electricity transformed communities around the world. Readers followed lineworkers who traveled beyond the borders of the U.S. to help bring electricity to underserved communities. In the November-December 2019 issue, the cover story featured an international electrification project and the life-changing impact electricity had on rural communities in Bolivia and to families who had lived without it for generations. Then, in the January-February issue, the magazine followed electric cooperative crews bringing power to rural communities in Guatemala.
As the electric utility industry evolved, so did the magazine’s coverage. Readers learned about broadband initiatives, emerging cybersecurity concerns, grid modernization efforts and new approaches to energy generation. Articles explored how cooperatives balanced innovation with reliability while working to meet the changing expectations of their members.
No event shaped the decade more profoundly than the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooperative Living became an important source of information during a period of uncertainty and disruption. Familiar events, including the Gaff-n-Go Rodeo, were canceled as public health concerns grew. Throughout the pandemic, Cooperative Living provided information about public health and safety, remote learning and staying connected, while highlighting how electric cooperatives maintained reliable service during unprecedented challenges.
The decade also marked the loss of influential leaders, including longtime Cooperative Living editor Bill Sherrod. In June 2020, a Co-op People article celebrated Sherrod’s receipt of VMDAEC’s Distinguished Service Award for his exemplary stewardship of Cooperative Living and commitment to cooperative values. By the time the issue reached readers, Sherrod had died of pancreatic cancer.
FUTURE FOCUSED
By the start of 2026, Cooperative Living focused on its milestone with the introduction of the 80th Anniversary series, along with retro recipes and other nostalgic content throughout the year. While celebrating its past, the magazine also highlighted issues shaping the future of the electric cooperative industry: rising energy demand driven by data centers, reliability and affordability challenges, the future of the nation’s generation mix and emerging technologies ranging from electric vehicles to small modular nuclear reactors.
As Cooperative Living celebrates its 80-year journey, one thing is clear: Readers have always been, and continue to be, the heart of the magazine. In a world shaped by social media, streaming content and constant connectivity, cooperative members continue to spend time with each issue, trusting the magazine to connect them with their co-ops, their communities and one another.
