Every edition of Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News contains each electric co-op's own, personalized pages. Found on pages 15-18, the local news is developed by personnel at each co-op. Local pages have been a part of the magazine since May 1950.
In the spirit of friendly competition and as a way to encourage local editors and reward their efforts, each year since 1966, WECA has presented awards to individual co-ops for excellence in presenting their local news. Annually we present an award for overall excellence--the N. F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award, named for "Lefty" Leifer, former manager of Vernon Electric. Lefty was instrumental in the founding of the REA News back in the spring of 1940, making the statewide electric co-op publication the first of its type in the nation.
The Leifer Award winner is determined by an outside communications professional, who evaluates three chosen selections of each co-op’s local pages and determines which co-op was most successful in presenting local news.
Seen here in 1953, Lefty Leifer works on one of the first pieces of load-management gear installed at his co-op—it was called the Norwec Level-Load. The N. F. Leifer Memorial Journalism Award was named for the former manager of Vernon Electric Cooperative.
Lefty was instrumental in the founding of the REA News back in the spring of 1940, making the statewide electric co-op publication the first of its type in the nation.
PAST L.F. LEIFER MEMORIAL JOURNALISM AWARD WINNERS
2020   Eau Claire Energy Cooperative (Local Editor:  Mary Kay Brevig)
2021   Oakdale Electric Cooperative (Local Editor:  Deana Protz)
2022    Vernon Electric Cooperative (Local Editor:  Dave Maxwell)
2023    Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (Local Editor:  Liz Gunderson)
2024    Vernon Electric Cooperative  (Local Editor: Trevor Clark)
2025   Oconto Electric Cooperative  (Local Editor: Katie Jagiello)
2026   Jackson Electric Cooperative (Local Editor: Brandi Shramek)