Please call 1-800-794-1989 or use the SmartHub mobile app. To talk to a person, press zero.
Ballots will be mailed beginning March 24, 2025 and should be expected at your home by April 1.
Who do I vote for?
The entire FreeState membership will vote for all trustee positions up for election. Candidate information is available in the annual report, in Kansas Country Living, and on the official ballot. Candidate biographical information is printed in the March issue of Kansas Country Living and will be reprinted in the April magazine for your reference. It will also be included with mailed ballots. The candidates have provided the information published.
Who are the candidates?
More information on each candidate can be found below. Click the boxes with each candidate's name to visit their information and learn more about their desire to serve their cooperative and members like you!
Meet the Candidates
Find the name of each candidate in this year's election on the tabs above. Click on each name to read more about what the candidate has submitted for your consideration.
East District - Ralph Phillips
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East District Candidate
Ralph Phillips, Mayetta
Incumbent
Ralph Phillips has been a cooperative member for 51 years, and for 39 of those, he has served as a trustee. He has earned all three certifications for board members from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He earned Credentialed Cooperative Director in 2002, Board Leadership Certificate in 2008 and the Director Gold Credential in 2023. Phillips and his wife, Phyllis, live in rural Mayetta. They are parents to five children who have blessed them with 15 grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren, including a set of very active twin boys.
Education and Experience
Tell us about your educational background.
- 2002 Credentialed Cooperative Director
- 2008 Board Leadership Certificate
- 2023 Director Gold Credential
What is your community or board experience?
- FreeState board member for 39 years-former president
- Mid-Am Dairy Co-op
- Dairy Farmers of America Area Council
- Jackson County Farm Bureau
- 4-H Community Leader
- Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Board - former president
Candidate Q & A
Explain the Cooperative Difference.
At a cooperative, the members are the owners of the business.
What are three critical issues that you believe the cooperative should focus on in the next few years?
We need to be diligent about transparency and focus on renewables, such as wind and solar. Another challenge is that many in the work force are approaching retirement.
What interests you most about serving on the board of trustees?
The interaction with the other trustees.
What knowledge and expertise would you bring to FreeState's board and members?
I worked 51 years as a dairyman. When I first ran for the board, I was looking for ways to reduce power bills for myself and others. I enjoyed transitioning through the merger. It had been considered for many years before we found such a good match.
As a trustee, how would you promote the cooperative in your community?
I would emphasize members are owners. There is a local supply co-op in Holton with the Seven Cooperative Principles on the wall where members can see it. I have relatives that work there -- at Jackson Farmers.
What makes you the ideal trustee?
Due to my years of experience, I can double as a historian. I have built meaningful connections with leaders at other cooperatives in the state and nation, which is invaluable for making wise business decisions.
East District - Karol Lohman
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East District Candidate
Karol Lohman, Leavenworth
Incumbent
Karol Lohman has been a cooperative member for 44 years and has served as a trustee for the past three. She earned Credentialed Cooperative Director status through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in 2022, and the Board Leadership Certificate in 2024. Lohman and her husband, Terry, have two adult sons and an 18-month-old granddaughter.
Education and Experience
Tell us about your educational background.
Basehor High School 1976 grad Kansas State University - College of AG AnimalScience & Industry, AG Business - BS 1980
What is your community or board experience?
Throughout my work career in the farm cooperative system and in my KSU Extension job I worked with Board of Directors on a monthly basis. I have been an active community volunteer in several organizations. I am an active member in our rural church where I have successfully acquired several grants for improvements. The last 3 years I have served on the FreeState Electric Board of Trustees where I have never missed a meeting. I have successfully completed the “Credentialed Cooperative Director” (CCD) curriculum of 5 courses designed for educating new directors. I have also completed the “Board Leadership Certificate” (BLC) which was 10 additional courses for advanced knowledge of the electrical industry and director education. I plan to continue to engage in additional courses for the goal of achieving the Director Gold Credential (DGC).
Candidate Q & A
Explain the Cooperative Difference.
Compared to private industry…The Cooperative Difference is the fact that cooperatives are owned and governed by the members. All facets of the Co-op business are transparent to the member-owners. All members have a voice; they vote for representatives (Board Members) that serve on the Board and that Board gives direction to Management who has the day-to-day responsibility to run the cooperative. As a not-for-profit organization, all margins above cost of operations are returned to the members.
What are three critical issues that you believe the cooperative should focus on in the next few years?
Making sure our leadership is staying tuned into critical electrical industry current trends, legislative changes--everything that encompasses this industry! Employees and Members as a whole: considering their needs and morale and making sure the culture of the Cooperative always makes them a priority. Keeping up-to-date equipment and facilities, adequate staffing and technology upgrades; no short cuts when it comes to safety.
What interests you most about serving on the board of trustees?
As a member, I want to serve to give back to the Co-op for being able to have safe, reliable power at our farm and home! I have a passion for member-owned cooperatives and believe we all need to appreciate what all goes into running a cooperative on the day-to-day. I want to be able to serve my neighbors with their concerns and be able to help make sound decisions to help our rural electric cooperative be successful!
What knowledge and expertise would you bring to FreeState's board and members?
My strong cooperative background in the farm supply industry - working my way from the ground up to management - is one of my greatest strengths I bring to the table. The past three years of serving on the FreeState Board has increased my knowledge of the electrical cooperative world through attending meetings and taking courses for education specific to Board responsibilities and industry knowledge. I pride myself in keeping an open mind and hearing all the information, following through and speaking up.
As a trustee, how would you promote the cooperative in your community?
Along with being available to members through phone, in person, and email to discuss any questions or concerns I also utilize social media to help share updates and events that are happening with FreeState.
What makes you the ideal trustee?
I feel I am a solid, honest, open-minded person. I am well educated in all facets of cooperatives with my past experience along with the previous 3 years of serving on the FreeState Board, in addiiton to the educational opportunities I have completed specific to our electrical industry. I am available to our members, I have the time available to serve on the Board and to be totally engaged in the responsibilities of serving on the Board.
West District - Mark Wulfkuhle
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West District Candidate
Mark Wulfkuhl,
Lawrence
Incumbent
Mark Wulfkuhle has been a cooperative member for 45 years and a trustee for 15 years. He earned Credentialed Cooperative Director status through NRECA in 2010, and the Board Leadership Certificate in 2021. Wulfkuhle and his wife, Brenna, live in Lawrence and have three grown children. They were honored to be named the Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year.
Education and Experience
Tell us about your educational background.
Wulfkuhl earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science and industry, and has leadership training from the Kansas State University board, Farm Credit Association board and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). He has a Kansas Commercial Applicator 1A. Wulfkuhle is the president of Rocking H Ranch, Inc. and manager of both 2BMD Farms, LLC and M&B Applicating, LLC. Wulfkuhle earned Credentialed Cooperative Director status through NRECA in 2010, and the Board Leadership Certificate in 2021.
What is your community or board experience?
Freestate board (15 yrs) Vice chair, Frontier Farm Credit Board (12 yrs) Vice chair, Stull Community of Faith Ad Team chair, Ks Jr Angus Association Senior advisor, Farm Bureau state committees - Marketing committee chairman, Young Farmer and Rancher committee
Candidate Q&A
Explain the Cooperative Difference.
Being a member of an electric cooperative is very different than being a customer of an investor owned electric provider. Most importantly, by being a member of the co-op I can have a voice in how the business is run. I’m able to vote for the board of trustees who make the ultimate decisions on the direction of the co-op. Also I am an owner of the business. All margins are returned to the members in form of capital credits -- not sent out to investor owners.
What are three critical issues that you believe the cooperative should focus on in the next few years?
Securing a long term power contract with cheap dependable power sources. Working to keep costs low which helps keep rates low for our members. Using the new smart meters to better understand the ever-changing needs of our customers.
What interests you most about serving on the board of trustees?
I have enjoyed working for our members over the years. Having several meters on our system, I am affected by every decision that is made, just like every other member. I have always enjoyed the challenges and critical thinking that comes with serving on this board.
What knowledge and expertise would you bring to FreeState's board and members?
Serving on both the Kaw Valley Electric and now Freestate Electric boards over the last 15 yrs has given me a great understanding of how the co-op runs. I have also chaired several committees and have previously held the office of Secretary and currently serve as Vice Chairman. I have also served and held offices on the Frontier Farm Credit board of directors where I learned financial experience as we managed several billion dollars of assets.
As a trustee, how would you promote the cooperative in your community?
I try to attend every event that I can to not only promote the co-op but to make myself available to our membership. Listening to the comments and/or concerns of our members has always been important to me.
What makes you the ideal trustee?
15 yrs of experience.
West District - Tom Sloan
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West District Candidate
Tom Sloan,
Lawrence
Challenger
Tom Sloan has been a cooperative member for 44 years and has seven meters among his properties. Sloan and his wife, Gail, have been married 45 years, raise corn and soybeans and have a registered sheep farm in Douglas County.
Education and Experience
Tell us about your educational background.
B.A. Syracuse University M.A. Michigan State University PhD University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
As a Kansas Legislator, I was selected by the Dept. of Energy, Federal Communications Commission, Dept. of Defense, and EPA to serve on advisory committees. I am the only state legislator to serve on all of those advisory committees. I was recognized by the National Conference of State Legislatures and Conference of State Governments (two leading professional legislative organizations) for my leadership on energy issues. The Policy Summits that I organized involving federal agency heads and Kansas stakeholders were unique in the nation. Federal representatives did not come to make keynote speeches and leave. Instead, they stayed and interacted with Kansans to identify ways that federal, state, and utility providers could collaboratively best use their respective resources to improve the generation and delivery of electricity.
What is your community or board experience?
Douglas County Rural Water District #1 - 43 years, Chairman for 42 years, Information Network of Kansas - appointed by the Governor - 5 years, Chairman 5 years LMH Health Board of Trustees - 6 years - Board Chair 1 year, Vice Chair 1 year, Secretary 1 year, Treasurer 2 years Kansas Rural Water Association Board 1 year, Vice Chairman 10 months, Chairman 2 months
Candidate Q&A
Explain the Cooperative Difference.
Cooperatives are owned and led by their member owners. Investor-owned utilities have non-member Boards and out of state investors who expect a good return on their investment. Cooperatives return unneeded revenues to their owner/members through more reasonable rates and refunds. Management of cooperatives tend to be more responsive to member/owner suggestions and requests because of the local ownership model.
What are three critical issues that you believe the cooperative should focus on in the next few years?
Aging infrastructure, especially in light of increasing summer temperatures and adverse weather events. Technological innovations to make system monitoring easier and more efficient. Aging workforce and the need to compete for employees in an ever tightening market.
What interests you most about serving on the board of trustees?
Free State Electric Cooperative is operated very efficiently. I would like to focus some attention on opportunities for additional collaboration with our sister cooperatives, increase dialogue with federal regulatory and financial agencies that have influence over Free State's operations, and explore opportunities to collaborate with technical colleges to attract and train new employees.
What knowledge and expertise would you bring to FreeState's board and members?
I have a deep understanding of how the electric industry works - from the different types of generation through transmission and distribution. I understand ratemaking, budgets, and the time necessary to be an engaged and valuable Trustee. I also understand the difference in roles of Trustees and operational managers.
As a trustee, how would you promote the cooperative in your community?
Because of my non-partisan approach to policy-making as a legislator and board member for other organizations, community members frequently contact me with questions. I expect the same to be true if I am elected to the Free State Board. In addition, I am frequently invited to speak to community groups and those would be opportunities for me to explain how cooperatives are different. Finally, I would hope that Free State staff and Trustees could occasionally write for publication about how this cooperative is meeting the challenges confronting the industry.
What makes you the ideal trustee?
I have substantive knowledge of the electric industry and cooperatives. I understand how cooperatives interact with other utilities, state and federal regulatory agencies, and with state and federal policy-makers. I understand strategic planning and budget management. Finally, I understand commitment to the people the cooperative serves and employs.