Pete Erickson, North Central Electric Cooperative (NCEC) member services manager, received the Community Service Award, which recognizes his passion for helping others and the lasting impact on the Bottineau community.

Robert Grant, board chairman of Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, received the Cooperative Leadership Award, recognizing four decades of exceptional leadership and outstanding devotion to duty.

The association presented Erin Oban with the Helping Hand Award in recognition of her support of North Dakota’s electric cooperatives and the rural communities they serve, which she demonstrated as a North Dakota state senator and the state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.

Erickson’s legacy of service is most evident on the baseball field, according to his nomination. An American Legion Baseball coach and co-founder of the Bottineau Baseball Boosters, he has been instrumental in growing the sport and fostering a community spirit. When Bottineau needed a field that could support its baseball programs, Erickson secured crucial funding, making the Lumberyard ballpark a reality. Thanks to his vision and determination, generations of players have a place to swing for the fences and build a love for the game.

Pete Erickson

Erickson’s impact extends far beyond the dugout. A dedicated community leader, he has served on the local museum board, helped establish the Bottineau Community Fund and organized volunteer efforts to prepare Lake Metigoshe State Park for each season. In addition, his early work as a promoter for Thunder Mountain Speedway played a key role in shaping Bottineau’s thriving racing community.

“Pete’s commitment to the cooperative principle of ‘concern for community’ is unparalleled, and his extraordinary talent for inspiring others has been a driving force behind the success of many community projects and worthwhile causes,” says NDAREC General Manager and Executive Vice President Josh Kramer.

Also a steadfast leader and dedicated volunteer, Erickson has helped foster a culture of service at his local electric cooperative. Under Erickson’s leadership, NCEC’s Willie Wiredhand Christmas Giving Fund has grown from just a few hundred dollars to more than $6,000 annually, providing Christmas gifts, holiday meals and clothing to families in need. Erickson also initiated the cooperative’s Volunteer of the Month and Volunteer of the Year awards, motivating employees to step up and give back.

“As a leader in our organization, it’s inspiring to watch Pete encourage and guide our employees to think of the cooperative as more than poles and wires, but also an organization that cares a great deal about the people we serve and the communities we are a part of. His community mindset inspires others to answer the call in their own communities by being involved and dedicating their time,” said NCEC General Manager Jon Beyer.

Kramer called Grant a trusted voice in the rural electric industry.

“Bob has proven to be a steady, guiding force, ensuring North Dakota’s electric cooperatives remain strong, resilient and well positioned for the future,” he said.

First elected to the Mountrail Electric Cooperative board of directors in 1981, Grant helped guide the electric distribution cooperative through a merger with the neighboring Williams Electric Cooperative, forming Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) in 1991. Over the next 30 years, he helped grow MWEC into the powerhouse it is today. Under his leadership, MWEC successfully built out its system to meet the overwhelming demands of the Bakken oil boom, positioning itself to power the lives of its members today and in the future.

“Bob’s leadership on the Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative board has been critical to navigating the challenges of a growing cooperative, while staying true to our cooperative roots,” said MWEC General Manager Alex Vournas. “With 43 years experience at MWEC, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and he is always willing to share it with others. Bob is a great mentor; he makes others around him better.”

In 1992, Grant was elected to represent MWEC on the NDAREC board of directors. As president of the statewide trade association from 2008 to 2024, he was at the forefront of many impactful and consequential decisions.

Understanding the importance of a well-trained workforce, he led the association through a major headquarters renovation and construction of an all-seasons Lineworker Training Center. These state-of-the-art facilities provide opportunities to train the current and future cooperative workforce. Under Grant’s leadership, NDAREC also formed the North Dakota Rural Electric Cooperatives Foundation, a public charity that provides resources to empower communities to address challenges and improve quality of life.

“Bob has been instrumental in shaping the future of North Dakota’s electric cooperatives. His vision and dedication have strengthened the workforce, enhanced crucial infrastructure and expanded opportunities for the communities we serve. He has left an indelible mark on our cooperative family, and his impact will be felt for generations,” Kramer said.

He also commended Oban as a champion over the last decade for electric cooperatives and members at the end of the line.

“She has a keen understanding of cooperatives and has helped secure critical state and federal funding for co-op priorities. Erin is a tireless advocate for rural North Dakota, and we are grateful for her unwavering support,” Kramer said.

As a North Dakota state senator, Oban championed several issues critical to electric cooperatives and their members. She spoke in opposition to net metering proposals and in support of efforts to ensure electric cooperatives remained in tax parity with other utilities. Oban also championed efforts to improve quality of life in rural communities, addressing important issues such as workforce and community development, food access and child care.

In 2022, Oban was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the North Dakota director of USDA Rural Development. In this role, she continued to support electric cooperatives and rural communities, successfully directing critical funding to strengthen water, electrical and broadband infrastructure, expand food and health care access, provide affordable housing and create jobs.

“Rural America needs more advocates like Erin Oban. She has earned the respect and trust of colleagues across the political spectrum and builds coalitions to make things better for rural communities,” Kramer said. “Her dedication, proven track record and belief everyone should have a seat at the table is a testament to her effectiveness as a leader and her willingness to always lend a helping hand.”