The sun rose over what looked like a scene straight out of an old Western film on October 18. Longhorns roamed, wooden storefronts lined the street, and a covered wagon sat near the bank and pharmacy. But this wasn’t a movie set — it was the 86th Annual Meeting of Bandera Electric Cooperative, hosted at Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne.
This year’s event traded the traditional meeting setting for a fall festival full of family fun, complete with a cowboy breakfast, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, wagon rides, and live music. Members explored the Old West town while learning more about their cooperative, connecting with neighbors, and enjoying a day designed to celebrate community.
“While tools and technology will continue to change, our focus on you — the member — and improving your quality of life will not,” said CEO Bill Hetherington.
During the meeting, it was announced that incumbents Chris Blakemore (District 7), Michael Edwards (District 8), and Kurt Solis (District 9) were reelected to three-year terms on the BEC Board of Directors. Hetherington also highlighted BEC’s continued growth in electric and broadband service, including surpassing 15,000 broadband subscribers this year, and praised the success of BEC’s innovative Smart Thermostat and Battery Programs, which have saved members more than $227,000 in 2025.
Members like Laura Taylor, who attended her first co-op event this year, said the fall festival format was a welcome change. “It’s a way to meet people,” she said. “It keeps everything less commercial and more about community — the people who make a difference, like electricity.”
With its blend of family fun, community connection, and cooperative business, this year’s annual meeting showed that while much has changed since BEC’s early days, its commitment to serving and celebrating its members remains as strong as ever.
Bandera Electric Cooperative extends a heartfelt thank-you to all our members who attended and helped make this year’s annual meeting such a success.