Our Director of Operations Reflects on 40+Years

Randy Coleman: A Lifetime on the Line

Randy Coleman never planned on a 46-year career at Wheatland Electric. He was just looking for a job out of high school!  Instead, what he found was a calling—one that took him from the warehouse floor to the line crew, through leadership roles, and into communities across Wheatland Electric’s service territory. In this episode, Randy talks about the early days of linework, unforgettable storms, the importance of safety, and the people who made the job matter. It’s an honest, down-to-earth conversation about work ethic, service, and why the cooperative family means so much!  🎧 Listen now to hear Randy’s story in his own words!  Connect with us on social! [https://www.facebook.com/WheatlandElectric/]

The Trip of a Lifetime

In this episode, we sit down with Kamryn Meyer (Scott Community High School) and Sophia Wedel (Wichita County High School), our 2025 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour delegates, to talk about their experiences during Youth Tour—a whirlwind week in Washington D.C., sponsored by Wheatland Electric!  While they visited some incredible landmarks, the moments that stood out most were with the the people they met along the way, including peers from across Kansas and even Hawaii!  In this episode, Kamryn and Sophia share what it was like to meet others who share a passion for leadership and service, and how these new friendships have given them a deeper appreciation for the cooperative spirit that brought them all together. Tune in to hear their favorite memories, share a few laughs, and hear some heartfelt insights into why Youth Tour is more than just a destination—it's an unforgettable journey! Connect with us on social! [https://www.facebook.com/WheatlandElectric/]

Safety First: Habits That Save Lives

In this episode, we talk to Luke West, director of corporate services and water, and Kyle Strickert, manager of substations and metering, about one of the most important aspects of our work—safety.  Hear from both Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., employees about when a typical day at the WEC office last summer turned into a life-saving incident and how our culture of safety played a key role in these life-saving efforts. Thanks for listening!  Connect with us on social! [https://www.facebook.com/WheatlandElectric/]

Answering the Call from Carolina

In early October, Wheatland Electric sent a dozen linemen to South Carolina to assist with repair and relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, America's deadliest storm in nearly two decades. Helene, a catastrophic cyclone that produced a wide swath of damage and loss of life, extended from northwestern Florida, across Tennessee, to Georgia and the Carolinas. Some estimates put the economic impact of the storm as high as $200 billion, making it the the costliest storm in U.S. history.  In this episode, hear from two of our linemen, Jesse Harbrige and Kris Lehmann, about their trials and experiences answering a mutual aid request from Aiken Electric Cooperative in South Carolina. Harbrige and Lehmann joined about 70 additional lineworkers from Kansas to aid with the infrastructure rebuild in this part of the country. Mutual aid requests are part of a longstanding culture of cooperation within the national electric cooperative industry, aimed at restoring power quickly and safely for affected communities. It's one of seven principles that guide what we do: Cooperation Among Cooperatives. Listen to learn more!  Connect with us on social! [https://www.facebook.com/WheatlandElectric/]

Our Director of Operations Reflects on 40+Years

Rick Klaus has loyally served Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., for over 40 years. Starting as a groundman in 1982 soon out of high school, Rick worked his way up —literally! — and today serves at WEC's director of operations. He is responsible for running one of the largest electric distribution cooperatives in Kansas, with over 32,000 meters across southwest and central Kansas.  As we celebrate WEC's 75th anniversary this month (founded Oct. 25, 1948), hear how life on the job has changed over the decades and how we continue to keep the lights on — through rain or shine — across the communities we serve!  Connect with us on social! [https://www.facebook.com/WheatlandElectric/]