Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas’ lineworkers not only serve Arkansas and other states, they also assist other countries by providing electricity to
rural areas.
The 2022 Operation Razorback mission in Guatemala began on Oct. 7 near Santa Martha. The crew constructed about 2 miles of power lines before a tropical storm arrived. The resulting storm’s rain required that they cease work due to flooding. They departed the project site on Oct. 12.
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas’ lineworkers bring electricity to rural areas of Guatemala. AECI/AECC
Materials were provided to EMRE, the local municipal electric utility, so
they can continue construction once conditions are favorable.
Lineworkers and their respective cooperatives participating in the mission project were: Kenneth Byrd with Arkansas Valley Electric of Ozark; Terry Harkey and Garrett Robinson with Craighead Electric of Jonesboro; Matt Wilder and Clint McNeely with First Electric of Jacksonville; Jay Jones with North Arkansas Electric of Salem; Richard Freeland with Ouachita Electric of Camden; Chase Hathorn and Bryar Burks with Ozarks Electric of Fayetteville; Steve Howard and Jamie Reeves with Petit Jean Electric of Clinton; Dakota Vickers, Tell Burney and Todd Spakes with Southwest Arkansas Electric of Texarkana; and Sam Lockhart with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI) of Little Rock.
These dedicated employees symbolize the cooperative core values and have improved the quality of life for our neighbors in Central America.