A line stretched down the Capitol steps April 15 as electric cooperative leaders and employees from across Missouri welcomed nearly 1,000 guests to the annual Your Local Electric Cooperative Fish Fry at the State Capitol.

Nearly 90 cooperative volunteers served more than 630 pounds of freshly fried fish, along with traditional sides, to legislators, statewide officials, cooperative members and visitors.

“This fish fry is open to the public and gives us a chance to connect face-to-face,” said Gary Hamilton, member engagement director for Show-Me Power Electric Cooperative, which hosted the event. “It’s an opportunity to share the mission of electric cooperatives — delivering reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses across Missouri.”

Missouri electric cooperatives began in the 1930s and 1940s during the New Deal era, a time when many rural communities faced significant challenges in accessing reliable and affordable electricity. Disregarded by profit-driven utility companies, local farmers and residents formed electric cooperatives to pool resources and build the infrastructure necessary to deliver power to their communities. By the 1950s, these cooperatives were instrumental in transforming rural Missouri, facilitating economic growth and improving quality of life. Today, they serve millions of residents, focusing on providing dependable power, fostering community engagement, and promoting sustainable energy practices.

The Fish Fry, first held in 2002, is now an annual tradition that celebrates the partnership between Missouri’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. The event allows electric cooperative leaders to share the mission of electric cooperatives: delivering reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses across the state.

The Fish Fry is one of many outreach efforts by the state’s electric cooperatives to keep the lines of communication open between cooperatives and the people they serve.