The 87th Annual Meeting of Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc. (HOEC) was held Friday, May 1, 2026. The meeting was held at the West Plains Civic Center and more than 800 people attended the meeting.
Hamburgers and hotdogs with chips and drinks were available and kids enjoyed the inflatable slides and obstacle course. Ozarks Healthcare offered blood pressure checks and distributed health information and Ozark Action was available to talk about home energy savings. Sho-Me Power Cooperative and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., (AECI) had displays explaining energy efficiency and power generation. AECI also had a Virtual Experiences, where members could view, through a VR headset, a crew replacing a utility pole or learn about the energy generation process.
Stringed Union entertained the crowd with music including bluegrass and gospel favorites. Natives of the southern Ozarks, the group played live music on mandolin, guitar and bass. Many of the band members are also members of HOEC.
During the meeting, committee members gave their reports, as did CEO/General Manager, Aaron Wheeler. He introduced himself, as the new manager, since taking over in January and gave a state of the cooperative address. Individuals elected to the Board of Directors were David Newman, District 1; Clinton Reeves, District 2; Glen Johnson, District 3; and Darren Andy McLain, District 4.
The following is a list of cooperative members who won prizes during the meeting:
$50 Gift Card for Hirsch Farm and Feed – Steven Bainbridge, West Plains
Bicycle – Aiyana Boyett, Mountain View
$25 Gift card for Bass Pro – Carlton Hitt, Birch Tree
Potted Plant – David Wehmer, Willow Spring
Bicycle – Faith Roberts, West Plains
Samsung Tablet – Kimberly Yutzy
Overnight Stay @ Echo Bluff State Park $400 Value – McKenzie D Propst, West Plains
$50 Colton’s Gift Certificate – Patsy McCauley, West Plains
Bicycle – Emma Tripp, West Plains
$50 Bass Pro Shop Gift Card – Kristopher Taylor, Moody
Potted Plant – Wesley Kearns, Willow Springs
Stihl Battery Operated Vacuum – James Blunk, Mountain View
Vizio 43″ TV – Steve R Buckner, Alton
$25 Walmart Gift Card – Dwaine Carey, Thayer
Stihl Battery Operated Mini Chainsaw – Gingerella Tackett, West Plains
$87 HOEC Account Credit – La Donna S Harris, West Plains
$50 Gift Card from Hirsch Farm and Feed – Steven Formanek, Willow Springs
Bicycle – Zaiden Jewell, Koshkonong
Quail Hunt for 2 @ Ozark Wings – Monty Wiens, West Plains
Amazon Gift Card – Royal O Richards, Thayer
$87 HOEC Account Credit – Wayne Dean Foster, West Plains
Lunch Cooler – James Williams, Alton
$87 HOEC Account Credit – Elizabeth M Schroeder, West Plains
Noco Battery Jump Starter – Brian W Schnurbusch, West Plains
$87 HOEC Account Credit – Scott Cressman, West Plains
Bicycle – Weston Kerns, Willow Springs
$25 Bass Pro Gift Card – Kimberly K Wilson, West Plains
Springfield Cardinals Season Tickets – Max Ficken, West Plains
Gourma French Door Digital Air Fryer – Linda Reddy, Birch Tree
$87 HOEC Account Credit – Antonius R Rigus, Thayer
Potted Plant – Carl Campbell, West Plains
Apple iPad – Greta McKinney
Nintendo Switch Lite – Kaiden Yutzy
Bass Pro/Cabela’s Gift Card – Doil P Hickinbotham, Thayer
Potted Plant – Michael B Pace, West Plains
$100 Hirsch Gift Card – Stephanie D Brassfield, West Plains
Adirondack Bench – Vicki L Springer, Koshkonong
$100 Gift Card for Hirsch Farm and Feed – Ab & L Retail, Alton
$50 in Visa Gift Cards – Michael J Main, West Plains
3 Smoke Alarms – Bill Alsup, Peace Valley
Stihl Battery Powered Weedeater – David (Jr) Bunch, West Plains
$100 Gift Card to Hirsch Feed and Farm Supply – Donnie Cooley, Alton
$25 Walmart Gift Card – Ray A Johnson, West Plains
Skull Candy Ear Phones – Lincoln Aaron
Bicycle – Daniel Fritz, Alton
12 Gauge Shotgun – David A Wiese, Willow Springs
