The board of Eteläpohjalaiset kylät ry appointed Johanna Ikola from Lapua as the executive director of the association and the new provincial village representative. Juha Pohjonen, who has been the village representative for two decades, will retire at the beginning of April. He is already part-time retired, and Ikola will take up the sticks right from the beginning of March. Johanna Ikola has worked as a trustee in EPK since the beginning of the association's operations.
The provincial association of villages celebrated its 20th anniversary last November at Seinäjoki Kampustalo. Every year, the association chooses the Southern Pohja village of the year, and currently the title is held by Ylihärmä Yliluoma. The members of Eteläpohjalaiset kylät ry include villages in the province as well as other associations and municipalities. The chairman of the association is Heikki Korkealaakso from Kauhava.