Celebrating 35 Years of Service: Ron Schwartau's Legacy of Leadership, Cooperation and Community
After 35 years of dedicated service to Nobles Cooperative Electric, Board Chair Ron Schwartau has announced he will not seek re-election in 2027. His remarkable journey reflects a lifetime of public service, a commitment to cooperative values and a belief that the greatest accomplishments come from people working together.
For Ron Schwartau, serving on the Nobles Cooperative Electric Board of Directors has always been about more than electricity. It's about people, relationships, responsible stewardship and building something that will benefit future generations.
After 35 years on the board, including serving as chairman, Ron recently announced that he will not seek re-election when his term concludes in 2027.
His years of service have taken him from the farms of southwestern Minnesota to cooperative communities around the world. Along the way, he has helped guide Nobles Cooperative Electric through changing technology, challenging weather events and a growing need for long-term planning.
A Lifetime of Service
Public service has long been part of Ron's life. After college, he worked with the University of Minnesota Extension Service before returning to the family farm in 1979.
In 1984, Ron and his wife, Connie, began hosting international agricultural trainees through the University of Minnesota's MAST program. Over the years, they welcomed individuals from around the world, sharing their farming knowledge and helping trainees gain valuable experience they could bring back to their home countries.
That same commitment to helping others would carry over into Ron's many years of cooperative service.
Leadership Here and Around the World
Throughout his tenure, Ron has held numerous leadership positions, including serving as chairman of the Nobles Cooperative Electric Board. He also represented electric cooperatives at the state and national levels, serving on the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) Board for approximately 30 years and on the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Board from 2004 to 2020.
"To be elected by your peers to represent other electric cooperatives is quite an honor," Ron said. "It's something I've always been very proud of."
His national leadership also opened doors to another passion: helping bring electricity to communities around the world.
While serving with NRECA, Ron was selected to chair its international efforts, traveling to countries including Uganda, Southern Sudan, the Philippines and Guatemala. There, he witnessed firsthand how communities could work together to develop electrical infrastructure and build a foundation for economic opportunity.
One experience that left a particularly lasting impression was learning about Cooperative Rural de Electrificacion (CRE) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Founded with assistance from NRECA, CRE has grown to become the largest rural electric cooperative in the world.
"To me, CRE is really an example of what cooperatives are all about," Ron reflected. "They've survived and thrived because of the determination and persistence of their members."
Through those experiences, Ron saw how the cooperative model could improve lives, strengthen communities and create opportunities far beyond southwestern Minnesota.
Protecting What Members Have Built
When Ron first joined the board, things operated a little differently.
"Board meetings could last all day," he remembered. "We were involved in more of the day-to-day decisions, and a lot of our planning was done a year or even a month at a time."
One of the changes Ron is especially proud of is the board's shift toward long-range strategic planning and responsible financial management.
Rather than responding to needs as they arose, the cooperative began planning ahead for equipment, trucks, system improvements, emergencies and unexpected challenges.
"We became more efficient with our resources, more thoughtful about our spending and better prepared for the unexpected," Ron explained.
For Ron, it all comes down to doing what's best for the members who own the cooperative. Every investment, from new trucks to technology upgrades, must balance maintaining a safe, reliable electric system with being good stewards of members' money.
"That's something we take seriously. We're making decisions with our members' money, and we need to make sure we're using it wisely," Ron said.
That responsibility also means listening, learning and considering different perspectives.
"We don't always have all the answers, and that's why we work together," Ron reflected. "We learn from other cooperatives, from our employees, and from each other. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing — to do what's best for our members."
Adapting to a Changing Industry
Technology has also transformed the electric industry, from smart meters and system automation to more energy-efficient appliances.
Ron points out that while homes may have more electrical devices today, many use far less electricity than older models.
"Years ago, you might have had one television in the house. Now, how many homes have one in nearly every room?" he laughed.
Ron recently heard a story from a cooperative member about an older gentleman whose International Harvester freezer had been running for decades.
"He was pretty proud that his freezer was still working when everybody else's newer appliances seemed to wear out," Ron recalled.
But that dependable old freezer used considerably more electricity than newer models. Eventually, the gentleman replaced it.
"His electric bill went down $50 a month!" Ron recalled with a smile.
It's a simple story that illustrates how much has changed — and why cooperatives must continue learning, adapting and planning for the future.
1996: When the Lights Went Out, Everyone Stepped Up
Of all Ron's memories from his years on the board, few stand out more than the devastating blizzard of 1996, when more than 2,000 poles came down across the Nobles Cooperative Electric system, creating an enormous challenge for employees, members and neighboring cooperatives.
"We didn't have the smart meters or automation we have today," Ron recalled. "They gave me a map and a radio and sent me out to look for downed poles. I'd drive around and call back to the office with what I found."
Board members pitched in wherever needed, picking up parts for line crews, delivering meals and supporting mutual aid crews from neighboring cooperatives working to restore power.
"It was a tremendous challenge, but what I remember most is how everyone pulled together," Ron said. "Employees, board members, neighboring cooperatives — everyone just did what needed to be done. That's something I'll never forget."
For Ron, that experience captured the true meaning of cooperation.
The People Who Make It All Work
Despite tremendous changes in technology, equipment and the electric industry, Ron believes it's the people who make Nobles Cooperative Electric special, especially the lineworkers who head out in all kinds of weather to keep the lights on.
"Unless you've seen what those guys do firsthand, I don't think you can fully appreciate it," Ron reflected. "They're out there in the cold, the wind, the storms and, sometimes in some pretty dangerous situations. They take a lot of pride in their work, and I have an enormous amount of respect for them."
Ron has watched crews work long hours, often sacrificing time with their own families to restore power after storms and everyday outages.
"We are fortunate to have the people we have at Nobles Cooperative Electric," Ron said. "They care about what they do, they care about our members, and they care about each other. As a board, you couldn't ask for much more than that."
For Ron, board service goes beyond budgets, policies and meetings. It means ensuring employees have the equipment, training and resources to work safely and effectively, while building lasting friendships with fellow directors, employees and cooperative leaders.
Even after 35 years, Ron believes there's always something new to learn.
"We attend training, go to meetings, and work with other cooperatives facing many of the same challenges. You never stop learning. There's always something new, and you learn a lot by listening to others."
A Life Built Around People
While Ron's cooperative service has taken him across the country and around the world, some of his most treasured relationships began on the family farm.
Since 1984, Ron and Connie have welcomed international agricultural trainees into their home, sharing their knowledge, community and friendship.
Although they never had children of their own, many of those young people have become like family.
One of those relationships is with Blair Hellewell, who came to work on their farm years ago. Blair eventually married Tami, who has local connections, settled in the area and became an important part of Ron and Connie's lives.
Today, Blair manages and operates Ron's farm, and Ron and Connie are godparents to their children.
Their story reflects the lasting bonds Ron and Connie have built with people from around the world — and the cooperative values Ron has spent 35 years supporting: helping others, working together and building something that lasts.
"It's been a great experience. One I'll treasure for the rest of my life."
An Invitation to the Next Generation
As Ron prepares to step away from the board, he hopes his retirement will encourage others to consider serving. His seat will be open for election at Nobles Cooperative Electric's Annual Meeting in April 2027.
Members interested in helping shape the cooperative's future are encouraged to learn more about serving on the board.
For information about the nomination process and upcoming elections, visit nobles.coop/elections
Thank You, Ron, for 35 Years of Service
From all of us at Nobles Cooperative Electric, thank you, Ron, for 35 years of dedication, leadership and service.
Your commitment to our members, employees and cooperative values has helped shape who we are today.
Through difficult storms, major industry changes, financial decisions and opportunities to help communities around the world, your leadership has reflected the principles on which electric cooperatives were founded.
We wish you and Connie all the best in this next chapter, surrounded by the family, friends and community you've spent a lifetime helping to build.