Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative director recognized for cooperative leadership
The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) recognized Arden Fuher, president, Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative, with the Cooperative Leadership Award during a Feb. 13 awards ceremony. The award recognizes service to enhance the prestige of electric cooperatives, exceptional leadership and unusual devotion to duty.
“A staunch advocate for the cooperative business model and improving quality of life in rural communities, Arden possesses all the qualities of a strong leader in the cooperative world. He listens to and cares about member concerns, and for the past 38 years, he has worked diligently to ensure their needs are being met. It is a great honor to present him with this award,” says NDAREC Executive Vice President and General Manager Josh Kramer.
Fuher began his electric cooperative service in 1986, when he was elected to the James Valley Electric Cooperative board of directors. As a director, he guided his cooperative through many notable accomplishments, including the battle for the Territorial Integrity Act and the consolidation of James Valley Electric Cooperative and RSR Electric Cooperative in 2000. Following the consolidation, Fuher continued his board service on the newly formed Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative.
Since 1995, Fuher has represented his co-op on the Central Power Electric Cooperative board of directors. In 2001, he was elected to serve as Central Power’s board president, a position he held for 10 years. He’s also served as a director for NDAREC and Basin Electric Power Cooperative. In 2015, he helped guide Basin Electric through one of the biggest policy changes in the cooperative’s history – a new transmission policy that brought consistent and comparable transmission service to all of the co-op’s Class A members.
Fuher is also a leader in his community. Over the years, he has served as a church trustee and on the boards of the Edgeley Golf Course and LaMoure County Summer Musical Theatre. Fuher was also instrumental in forming the Edgeley Area Dollars for Scholars Chapter, which provides financial support and encouragement to high school graduates pursuing higher education.
“I have known Arden for nearly my entire career in the rural electric cooperative program and know him to be a true leader and visionary. In his capacity on the boards on which he has served, he has not been caught up on the minute details, but rather focused on the big picture and strategically preparing for the future,” says Central Power General Manager Thomas Meland.
Every year, NDAREC recognizes individuals for their generous contributions to North Dakota’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. An eight-member committee of the NDAREC board of directors selects award recipients from nominations submitted by the association’s members, which include 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives.
NDAREC is the statewide trade association for 17 electric distribution cooperatives and five generation and transmission cooperatives operating in North Dakota. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to nearly 250,000 North Dakotans. NDAREC services include legislative advocacy, lineworker safety training, professional development, cooperative business development and communication services, including publication of the North Dakota Living magazine.