Fresh Connection

Past, present and the power in between

Welcome to Ozarks Connections!

Every other month, you’ll find us in your mailbox with original, local stories about the people and places that make up the Ozarks Electric Cooperative service area across Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma.

This magazine was created with one goal in mind: connection. We want to connect you to one another and to your cooperative — not just through poles, wires or Wi-Fi, but through the people and purpose behind them.

I grew up in southwest Missouri (shout-out to Barton County Electric Cooperative!) but I’ve called Northwest Arkansas home since 1998 and used to do corporate communications for Walmart and Tyson. I earned my journalism degree at the University of Missouri, but my family has deep roots here. My dad, Ben Lamb, is a University of Arkansas graduate (BSBA ’69), and his family is from the Muskogee/Tahlequah area. My husband, Lawrence, and I have 13-year-old boy/girl twins.  

Most recently, I taught STEM at Owl Creek Elementary in Fayetteville. Every day, I saw how community support can shape a child’s world. Joining Ozarks Electric has opened my eyes in new ways, especially to the legacy of electric cooperatives. While researching this first issue, I learned what life was like in the 1930s and how many rural families were left behind when electricity came to town. I gained a deep respect for the farmers who changed their own future by recruiting neighbors to establish Ozarks Electric Cooperative.  

The same spirit that built our co-op guides how we serve members today. This magazine aims to tell those stories.

Ozarks Connections will highlight:

+ Tools and tips to help you use electricity wisely and affordably.

+ Neighbors and places making a difference.

+ Local events, culture and history.

+ A behind-the-scenes look at the people keeping your power safe and reliable.

If you know someone doing something special or have a story to share, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me anytime at editor@ozarksconnections.com. 

Sincerely,

Amy Merck
Editor