Behind the Board: Kevin Bernhardt, District III
When Kevin Bernhardt looks across the fields of his District III farm, he sees more than business. He sees family history, sacrifice, and a commitment to rural life that stretches back more than a century.
Kevin grew up in Linton on the same land where he lives today. It’s the land his grandfather homesteaded after immigrating from Russia. His family’s story is not an easy one. Kevin’s great-grandparents faced terrible conditions in their homeland and were smuggled to safety through wagons filled with hay and straw. Once in the United States, the children lived with relatives until their parents could reunite with them. Kevin’s grandfather secured farmland in North Dakota and started a new life.
Today, Kevin has two sons who are currently farming with him and preparing to one day take over as fourth generation farmers on the family land.
Kevin and his wife, Ann, have been married for 37 years and raised four children: three sons and a daughter. All four are married and have their own families, blessing Kevin and Ann with nine grandchildren who love spending time on the farm.
Why Kevin Serves Rural Members Kevin has served on the BEK Board of Directors for 15 years, also currently serving as Vice President. He never expected to serve this long, but he believes deeply in the cooperative model and in what BEK does for its communities. “Growing up, co-ops were very important in rural areas,” Kevin said. “You had to help yourselves because urban America didn’t help you. Co-ops were the way people survived.”
Kevin has watched BEK grow, innovate, and bring essential services into rural homes, farms, and Main Street businesses across North Dakota. “I wanted to help keep the cooperative going and make sure rural members stayed connected, competitive, and cared for,” he said. “A cooperative is not about the top dollar. It’s about the people. That’s what keeps me grounded.”
The Importance of Member Relationships Kevin believes the future of BEK depends on engagement from members and the next generation. “If members don’t work with us, and we don’t work with them, we lose what makes a cooperative strong,” he said. “Once you lose that mentality, it’s very hard to get it back.”
He hopes younger families begin to appreciate the cooperative advantage and understand that sometimes value is bigger than price. “Customer service is unique with a cooperative. You get a real person. You get people who care,” he said. “Sometimes it isn’t about finding the cheapest rate. It’s about investing in something built for you, your family, and your community.”
Kevin understands that technology can feel overwhelming, but he sees it as essential to the future. “Change isn’t always fun, but we need to face it head-on,” he said. “We can’t live without technology today, and we need to stay ahead of it. If we don’t, someone else will, and I would rather see BEK continue to do it better than anyone else.”
