When newly elected CFC Board President Brent McRae first considered running for the board of McCone Electric Cooperative, the timing wasn’t quite right.
A current McCone board member encouraged him to run in 2007, and although that first campaign was unsuccessful, the experience opened the door to a deeper appreciation for the cooperative world.
“I have always respected the vital and great service that McCone Electric provides its members,” McRae said. “The retirement of a board member opened the door in 2009, this time I was successful, beginning a ‘career’ of sorts in the rural electric cooperative world.”
Soon after joining the McCone Electric board, McRae realized the best way to build his knowledge was to step outside his comfort zone and become more involved. In 2011, he was appointed to serve on the board of the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association.
Two years later, he was elected board president of the statewide organization, representing 25 rural electric cooperatives across 56 counties in Montana while also serving on regional electric committees.
Through those experiences, McRae gained a broader understanding of the importance of electric cooperatives across Montana and the West, as well as the essential role they play in serving member-owners.
From Rancher to Co-op Leadership
Brent and sons inspect their herd of Angus cattle.
As a third-generation rancher in eastern Montana, McRae understands firsthand the importance of reliable electric service in rural communities. He and his wife, Hillari, raise registered Angus seedstock, providing area cow-calf producers with genetics for their herds.
The couple has three sons, two of whom work on the ranch with them, while their oldest son works for an HVAC company in the Gallatin Valley near Three Forks, Montana.
That rural perspective has shaped McRae’s approach to cooperative leadership.
When asked what has kept him committed to McCone Electric, McRae said, “Quite simply, our rural community. Rural electric cooperatives power not only homes, small businesses, schools, hospitals and medical services, but also farms and ranches.”
McCone Electric Cooperative serves 14,400 square miles with about 3,800 miles of line. At 0.62 members per mile of line, the cooperative serves almost exclusively residential members, farms and ranches.
In McRae’s view, cooperatives are especially important in sparsely populated rural areas, where they serve as a lifeline for technology and essential services. His leadership philosophy is centered on looking at the big picture, focusing on what will benefit members while leaving personal agendas aside.
His interest in cooperative leadership also grew through his relationship with CFC. After McCone Electric became a 100% CFC borrower in 2013, McRae began taking advantage of CFC’s financial education resources and developed a strong working relationship with Regional Vice President Eric Anderson.
McRae attended his first CFC Forum in New York City in 2019, where he met CFC staff, learned more about CFC’s products and services and spoke with then-District 9 Director Jay Hanson about board service.
That perspective ultimately led him to seek a seat on the CFC board in 2020, representing District 9.
“CFC was the brand I wanted to ride for,” he said. “I was trailing cows to pasture, far from a main street, but even farther from Wall Street, when I was notified that I was successful.”
Carrying Forward a Member-First Mentality
McRae’s cooperative leadership experience extends beyond McCone Electric and CFC. Through his service on industry and agricultural boards, he has developed a practical approach to decision-making, including an understanding of trends and a commitment to avoiding rushed decisions.
His time on the CFC board has also brought meaningful professional and personal connections.
“Certainly, a rewarding experience is the personal relationships that are built with fellow directors, with CEO Andrew Don and the staff at CFC,” McRae said. “All have been extremely supportive and are a resource for the directors to learn about high-level cooperative financing.”
Among the achievements of his board service, McRae points to the bylaw change ratified by members in July 2025, which mandated that all CFC directors be elected by the membership and added a director from the generation and transmission sector of the electric cooperative industry.
“I was and am honored to be a board member and officer when this occurred,” he said.
As CFC’s new board president, McRae brings a leadership style shaped by rural roots, cooperative service and a clear focus on the member at the end of the line.
“Are we meeting their needs?” McRae said. “Beyond loan funds, what tools, programs and educational needs will benefit distribution co-ops, small or large, to continue to provide electric service?”
From his ranch in eastern Montana to the CFC boardroom, his path reflects the same principle that has guided his cooperative career: strong relationships create strong cooperatives.