Verendrye Electric Cooperative celebrates its 80th annual meeting on Thursday in the State Fair Center in Minot.

Members of the cooperative can register starting at 4 p.m. and a free dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes and more will be served from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The Replacements, a country band, will perform from 5:30-6:30. There’s also kids’ activities starting at 4 p.m.

The business meeting will start at 6:30 p.m., and this year there is a contested race for the open seat on the board in the Central District. Declared candidates in the Central district are Clint Gjellstad, Velva, and Sue L. Hamilton, Minot. Blaine Bruner, of Drake, is the only declared candidate in the Eastern District and Karen Hennessy, Berthold, is the only one in the Western District. Voting occurs approximately 6:45 p.m. and members must be registered to vote.

A prize drawing of $2,500 or $800 will be given away at the end of the meeting, as well as a $500 scholarship. The drawing is for members only. If the person whose name is drawn for the $2,500 prize is not registered and in attendance, a drawing will be held for the $800 prize until a name is drawn of someone who is present and registered. The $500 scholarship drawing will be awarded to a dependent of a Verendrye member who is a senior in high school who graduated this year.

Download the VEC 2019 Annual meeting app for Apple or Android or go to www.verendrye.com for more information.