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Biscuits, Bluegrass and the 114th General Assembly

Hours before the 114th General Assembly began, the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association hosted the inaugural Biscuits & Bluegrass Brunch. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, legislators and their family members along with Tennessee business and electric co-op leaders gathered in Nashville at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum to celebrate the start of the legislative session.

“Anytime co-op leaders can fellowship with lawmakers in Nashville, the outcome is usually positive,” Dion Cooper, Volunteer Energy Cooperative’s president and CEO, said. “The Biscuits & Bluegrass event is an outstanding venue for that. Hosting it on the opening day of the legislative session shines a positive spotlight on our industry.”

A spotlight, or light switch that is, was shone at the event as Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally conducted the ceremonial “flipping of the switch” symbolizing the official start of the legislative session.

“We are excited and honored to have welcomed the general assembly back to session,” Ryan King, TECA’s vice president of government affairs, said. “In order to successfully serve our communities, it is important to tell the electric cooperative story and educate lawmakers about the impact of proposed legislation. Hosting events like this brunch and being involved in this fellowship will allow us to better do so.”

500 attendees from all corners of the Volunteer state enjoyed fellowship, food and bluegrass music. The room was full of chatter and the twang of a banjo while everyone enjoyed over 1,000 Loveless Café’s iconic biscuits, their various jams and even Nashville hot chicken. Pick Tennessee Products partnered with TECA to bring the drink of the morning, Frothy Monkey coffee.

After the event concluded, legislators picked up their own pair of Tennessee electric socks to take with them back to the capitol building.