Nishnabotna Valley REC members elect Peters, Backhaus to board of directors

Nishnabotna Valley REC members reelected two directors and elected two new directors during the cooperative’s annual meeting in Harlan on August 6, 2026.

In District 4, Mason Peters defeated Jerod Johnson to fill the seat being vacated by Tom Pattee, who is retiring from the board. In District 7, Bill Backhaus defeated Kirk Henningsen. Backhaus will serve the final two years of Darrell Stamp’s term after he recently moved out of his district.

District 1 Director Gene Kenkel and District 3 Director Donna Olson were both reelected after running unopposed.

Following the annual meeting, the board of directors held its organizational meeting and selected officers for the coming year. Dave Applegate, District 6, will serve as president; Monte Schechinger, District 2, will serve as vice president; and Bryan Greve, District 5, will continue to serve as secretary and treasurer.

“Democratic member control is one of the seven cooperative principles,” said Nishnabotna Valley CEO Bill McKim. “As a member-owned electric cooperative, our members play an important role in helping set the co-op’s direction. We rely on members to elect directors to represent them and establish the co-op’s policies and priorities. We thank the more than 600 member-owners who voted in this year’s board election for making their voices heard.”

Nishnabotna Valley REC’s board comprises seven directors, each representing a portion of the cooperative’s service area. Directors serve three-year terms. More information about the Nishnabotna Valley REC board and director districts is available at NVREC.com/board-of-directors.