Super Safety Saturday

Community outreach is more than a calendar of events at United Cooperative Services—it’s part of the co-op’s mission and a reflection of the principles that guide the co-op.

United embraces the seventh Cooperative Principle—Concern for Community—by investing time and resources into the communities it serves. That commitment extends beyond providing electricity and high-speed internet to educating and building relationships with members and future members alike. Safety is central to that mission. 

Earlier this year, United surpassed 1 million work hours without a lost-time accident, reflecting the safety culture that employees practice every day, both on the job and through community outreach.

This spring, those values came together as United participated in 12 school and community outreach events across the service territory, dedicating more than 150 employee hours to school visits, career fairs and STEM activities focused on safety education, career exploration and community engagement.

Super Safety Saturday

Hosted by Texas Health Resources, Super Safety Saturday brings together first responders, healthcare organizations and community partners and is focused on family safety and accident prevention. For the third year in a row, United joined the event with hands-on demonstrations designed to teach electrical safety in a memorable way.

Brody Weems, safety & loss control coordinator at United, said events like Super Safety Saturday create an opportunity to connect directly with families in the community while teaching lessons that could potentially save lives.

“Electrical safety isn’t something most people think about until they encounter a dangerous situation,” Weems said. “When families can see the power of electricity and experience the equipment our employees use, the lessons become more meaningful.”

Carlton and Nikea Johnson of Burleson brought their three children—Josiah, 10, Nolan, 7, and Malachi, 1—to the event for a fun family outing with a twist. As the boys experimented with lineworker gloves and protective equipment, Nolan laughed with excitement. Nearby, Josiah watched the arcing demonstration intently. When asked what made it interesting, his answer was simple: “Electricity is cool.”

Amber Fogelman, program manager of community relations and physician outreach for Texas Health Resources, said the event continues to grow because of the strong community response and orgaizations willing to invest time into educating local families.

“We love seeing families interact with organizations in a hands-on environment where safety education becomes fun and memorable,” Fogelman said. “Having United and the arcing demo helps kids see why electrical safety matters, in a simple yet memorable way that can help keep them safe.”

Madison Strickland of Cleburne also stopped by United’s booth with her 9-year-old daughter, Kyleigh, and Kyleigh’s friend, Callie. The girls laughed at themselves as they struggled to force the wire cutters closed, and Madison said the hands-on demonstrations helped reinforce important safety lessons as the children become more independent.

“As they get older and start doing more things on their own, it’s good for them to learn about all kinds of safety,” Madison said. 

Kyleigh said trying on the gloves gave her a new appreciation for the work lineworkers do every day.

“They were really big and hard to use,” she said. “I don’t know how they work in those all day, but they were really fun to try on.”

Beyond the Badge

Another of United’s spring outreach events took place at Beyond the Badge in Godley, where United crews showed off a bucket truck and safety equipment and taught students and families about utility work and electrical safety.

The event was organized by Anna Haubert, a senior at Godley High School, as part of her senior project. After eight months of planning, Haubert said her goal was to strengthen relationships between students, families and first responders.

“I wanted to raise awareness for the first responders and overall show kids that these are the people they should trust,” Haubert said. “A lot of them come from backgrounds where they are taught to fear authority figures.”

Students interacted with first responders while exploring emergency vehicles, equipment and demonstrations. Haubert said United’s interactive setup helped create a more engaging experience for the children attending.

“Since the kids were able to see how the machinery works instead of just hearing about it, it made it more engaging and fun,” she said.

United’s First Class Lineman Jeff Marrs operated the arcing demonstration during the event while his family watched.

Jeff’s wife, Kristi, attended Beyond the Badge with the couple’s children. She said the event created a unique opportunity for families to learn together while building stronger connections with the people who serve their communities.

“It’s nice to see the kids get excited while learning something important,” Kristi said. “I like that families come out, ask questions and get to know the people at United who are here to help.”

For Jeff Marrs, community events offer more than an opportunity to demonstrate electrical safety—they create conversations that can leave a lasting impression.

“The kids are usually curious from the start, but once they see the demonstration and start asking questions, that’s when you know they’re really paying attention,” Jeff said. 

Building Community Connections

Though the settings may vary—from classrooms and career fairs to community festivals and ballparks—the mission remains the same: helping young people and families learn, connect and better understand the people and professions that help power their lives.

Kevin Keesee, United’s vice president of human resources and safety, said participation in the events reflects United’s ongoing commitment to building safer, stronger communities through education and engagement.

“We hope these events leave students and families with more than just a fun experience,” Keesee said. “Whether they’re learning about electrical safety, exploring career opportunities or simply asking questions, our goal is to help build awareness and connections that can make our communities safer and stronger.”