Clarence “Topper” Barth isn’t just our District 4 director. He first joined the board 30 years ago and has since served as president of both MEC’s board and the board of our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative.
Topper has seen MEC through name changes, the establishment of our fiber internet service, and much more. Armed with multiple decades of experience, he continues to work hard to provide meaningful, impactful service to our customers and to the members he represents.
Topper was born in Marion, Indiana, but in 1947 he moved to Three Rivers, Michigan and became a member of MEC. Although it was called Fruit Belt at the time, it was still the same cooperative, with many of the same needs Topper deals with today: the need to provide reliable power, the need to serve customers in the best way possible, and the need to support rural communities and help keep them vibrant, relevant, and sustainable.
Topper’s father, Martin, was elected to the board of directors shortly after moving and served on the board for 20 years. When Martin stepped down, Topper was chosen to fill the vacancy. His decision to join the board was born out of love for the cooperative and the community it serves.
“I wanted to join the board to keep it viable,” Topper says. “Knowing my dad’s experience, I wanted to take care of the cooperative and help keep it going for members.”
Topper was an excellent choice to fill the vacancy his father had left. As a commercial farmer he knew how to steer a business in the right direction, how to quickly adapt to new situations and challenges, and how to ensure that a company’s finances are in order. Topper also liked to stay involved in his community, having led the rocket football program in Three Rivers and coached the eighth grade girls’ basketball team – roles that required him to be extremely familiar with southwest Michigan’s rural communities.
In his time as a director, Topper has ushered MEC through multiple forward-thinking initiatives and opportunities, including:
It’s not all about looking ahead, though. Topper says the most rewarding part of being a director has been bringing fiber internet to customers who might otherwise not have the option.
“In the ‘30s, rural electric cooperatives connected people in the countryside to electricity when big providers wouldn’t,” Topper says. “We did a similar thing when we built fiber internet to our customers. Being a cooperative director means you get to serve the people who have been looked over by other companies.”
Topper says he’s been blessed to serve the members of District 4, and hopes he can continue serving in meaningful ways. He and his fellow board members know that whenever a new challenge presents itself, they’re ready to take it on – never losing sight of the members who rely on them for reliable, sustainable service.