In 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to fund the expansion of electricity to rural America. With federal funding, small electric cooperatives began to appear in the area, eventually merging into a larger tri-county cooperative called Farmers Electric. The first 50 miles of lines were energized on September 14, 1938, supplying power to 101 customers. After one year, more than 800 customers had power which allowed for a simplified and safer home. Despite the difficult financial time during the depression, the need and desire for electricity meant a growing membership for the cooperative. This not only included electricity, but also a community of neighbors and friends.