2026 Minnesota Service Cooperatives Outstanding Service Award Recipient South Central Service Cooperative

South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) is proud to recognize Darla Remus of Sleepy Eye as the region’s 2026 Minnesota Service Cooperatives Outstanding Service Award recipient. Remus was selected for her lifelong commitment to children, public education, community leadership, and dedicated service to south central Minnesota.

Outstanding Service Award recipients are selected annually by each Minnesota Service Cooperative Board of Directors to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, support the regional delivery system, contribute to the work of the board, and advance the goals and philosophies of the Minnesota Service Cooperatives. Honorees embody the spirit of cooperation and use their understanding of member strengths and needs to positively influence and improve outcomes throughout their regions.

For more than 40 years, Darla has owned and operated Learn-A-Lot Daycare in Sleepy Eye, providing nurturing care and learning opportunities to generations of children and families. Her passion for helping children grow and succeed has remained constant throughout her career. She continues to invest in learning and professional growth within her field and deeply values the partnership and support of her longtime coworker and “partner-in-crime,” Kelly.

Darla’s dedication to children extends far beyond her daycare. She has served on the Sleepy Eye Public Schools Board of Education for more than 22 years, contributed to numerous district committees, and spent 25 years on the Sleepy Eye Area Fastpitch Association Board. She has also served on the South Central Service Cooperative Board for the past eight years, helping guide efforts that support schools, local governments, and communities across the region.

Darla grew up on a farm near Leavenworth, Minnesota, with her parents and nine siblings. She attended Japanese Martyrs Catholic School through sixth grade before graduating from Sleepy Eye Public Schools. Growing up on the farm taught her the values of hard work, compassion, commitment, and dedication—principles that continue to guide her life and service today.

Family has always been central to Darla’s life. She is the proud mother of four children—Sam, Vanessa, Sydney, and Karrah—and a devoted grandmother to six grandchildren whom she absolutely adores. Darla credits her parents for teaching her the importance of caring for others and instilling values she carried into raising her own family and serving those around her.

Through every role she has held, Darla has remained focused on strengthening opportunities for children and supporting the educators, families, and communities who help shape future generations. Her compassionate leadership and lasting impact continue to make a meaningful difference across south central Minnesota.