Buffalo County members will elect a director at their District 3 Meeting on June 10, 2026. The official notice will be mailed 10 to 25 days before the meeting in accordance with the cooperative bylaws. The District Meeting and election will be held at the Tribal Hall Gymnasium in Fort Thompson. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and a meal will be served from 12:00-12:30 until the food is gone.
Voting registration closes at 12:30 p.m. and an election will be held. Boston Knippling of Chamberlain and Donita Loudner of Fort Thompson both turned in valid petitions for the Buffalo County Director position. Below, you can read more information that was provided by each candidate.
CANDIDATE BOSTON KNIPPLING
Boston Knippling expressed that he is interested in serving on the Central Electric Board of Directors because he wants to learn how businesses outside of farming and ranching operate. He also wants to bring a different viewpoint that could benefit Central Electric.
Boston is self-employed at his family’s ranch, Knippling Land and Cattle. In the past, he worked for other farmers, a feedlot operation and Agtegra. He has a degree in Precision Agriculture from Lake Area Technical College. Boston and his wife, Monica, have three children.
CANDIDATE DONITA LOUDNER
Donita Loudner resides in Fort Thompson and currently serves as Buffalo County’s elected representative on Central Electric Cooperative’s board of directors, a position she has held for 15 years. From 2019 to 2024, Donita was Central Electric’s representative on South Dakota Rural Electric Association’s statewide board. As a Central Electric director, she has remained focused on keeping rates affordable for members, and she is always looking to the future with opportunities such as electric vehicles and solar technology.
Donita has been a Buffalo County Commissioner since 2002 and longtime Executive Board member for District III Planning and Development. She is active on Law and Order Committee, Foster Care Committee, Tribal School Parent Advisory Committee and Dacotah Tipis Habitat for Humanity. This past year, she assisted with Tribal contract renewals for the WAPA Irrigation Allocation and the Basin Electric Transmission Agreement. She also represents the Tribe on the Oceti Sakowin Power Authority (OSPA) Board of Directors as Treasurer.