Four men are vying for two spots on the Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services board of directors.

The winner of the elections in Districts 2 and 5 will be announced at the FMCS annual meeting Saturday.

Richard Carlson and Burton Magnuson are looking to represent District 2 and Tom Higgins and Alfred "Tony" Mudra are running against one another for the District 5 seat.

"They're campaigning, been going door to door and kissing babies like you would for a political office," said John Doran, FMCS director of economic development and member relations.

The seven-member board of directors represent their district when making decision about the coop's services. Because of redistricting, District 5 does not have an incumbent director. District 2 was left without a director after Lauren Grant died earlier this year.

The annual meeting for FMCS's 5,000 members will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday at Riverside Arena in Austin. Included in the meeting is a dinner and entertainment as well as an update on services.

Last year 1,300 members attended and FMCS is expecting from 1,000 to 1,300 to attend this year, Doran said.

"The weather always plays a role in it," Doran said.

FMCS will go over highlights of the past year and what it expects in the future. FMCS raised rates last May after its electricity provider Dairyland Power Cooperative raised its wholesale power service. FMCS absorbed most of the cost increase, but was forced to increase its rates to maintain its financial viability, Horan said.

This rate increase was communicated to its members via its "County Lines" monthly publication for months before the increase and also in a bill insert prior to the increase.

Horan does not expect rates to rise this year, but said costs would likely go up in the future.

The FMCS service area covers approximately 1,334 square miles, which includes 1,917 miles of distribution line and 14 substations, Horan said.