In May, electric co-ops celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act (REA), which provided low-cost federal loans for building electric distribution systems in rural areas. It empowered member-owned electric co-ops and helped revive America’s economy in the wake of the Great Depression. It’s inspiring to think about, though not surprising that rural folks without electricity banded together to get things done and strung the lines themselves.

At a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C., commemorating the birth of electric co-ops, the administrator of the Rural Utilities Service — the predecessor to what was born from the REA — held up a copy of “The Next Greatest Thing.” This 1984 book provides a history of the first 50 years of rural electrification. I have a copy on my desk. And as it happens, the nationally acclaimed book was edited by Richard “Dick” Pence, a former editor of (drumroll please) Carolina Country magazine.

It’s inspiring to think about, though not surprising that rural folks without electricity banded together to get things done and strung the lines themselves.

That brings me to yet another anniversary to celebrate: 80 years of our magazine serving members of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. What started as Carolina Farmer magazine in 1946 has grown into the publication you hold in your hands today. Why a magazine? For one, we all like good news, and it provides a great way to share successes, inspiring stories and good recipes from our communities. Perhaps more importantly, though, it’s a way for your electric cooperative to provide regular updates — including notices of board elections and annual meetings — in a timely, cost-effective way.

Thanks to economies of scale and postage rates available to our type of publication ,  everything it takes to get Carolina Country into your mailbox each month — from the work our staff does, to printing, paper and postage — costs less than the price of a postage stamp. That’s pretty remarkable.

It’s then our goal to make the most of these combined efforts to ensure each issue meets the trusted expectations of 80 years of service. To that end, we made some changes you may have noticed last month, starting with the magazine design.

We’re using a cleaner look to better showcase photos and stories, echoing the style of the new carolinacountry.com. We’re also focusing on local advertising, so you may notice fewer ads, but likely ads more relevant to your interests.
And of course, we’re making room for more reader-submitted stories and photos, like the ever-popular I Remember, Carolina Voices and Snapshots sections. We love hearing your stories, so please keep them coming.

I hope you enjoy this issue and many more to come. I speak on behalf of all of us at Carolina Country when I say it is our pleasure to serve you on behalf of your electric co-op, reporting on the communities we call home.