FOR BANDERA EC MEMBERS
BEC’s Virtual Annual Meeting is August 15 SEE PAGE 19
AUGUST 2020
BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE • BANDERA, TX
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Members of the Bandera Electric Cooperative will be held online on August 15, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. for the election of three (3) directors and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the membership. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. In accordance with the Nomination and Election of Directors provisions of the cooperative’s bylaws, the following qualified candidates are to be placed on the ballot and voted upon by the cooperative’s members—districts 1, 2 and 3 candidates will each serve three-year terms as director. The candidate for any particular voting district receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the director of that particular voting district:
JERRY N. WORD SR. DISTRICT 1
FRANCES “FRAN” LAUE DISTRICT 2
JEFFERY “JEFF” SLOCUM DISTRICT 3
Voting by mail and online is permitted on matters to be acted upon at the annual meeting. All voting will be completed prior to the annual meeting. You will receive a ballot via mail or email with directions beginning July 20, 2020. No postage is necessary for mail-in ballots. Voting closes at 11:00 a.m., August 14, 2020.
Bandera Electric Cooperative Voting Districts
A chAmpion of
cool foods for
Women’s suFFrage
hot days
nAtionAl pArks And
F o r e l e c t r i c c o o p e r at i v e m e m b e r s
MY H TX W h at b e i n g t e x a n m e a n s
coming home
august 2020
contents
August 2020 04
currents
06
tcp talk
18
29 30 34 08
36
MY TX
38
What does being a texan mean? A variety of folks with special connections to the state share their thoughts. Introduction by Joe Holley
co-op news Get the latest information plus energy and safety tips from your cooperative. Footnotes in texas history Empowering Every Vote By Tanya Estes tcp Kitchen Cool Foods By Megan Myers hit the road Mysterious Message By Chet Garner Focus on texas Photo Contest: On the Water observations Coming Home Story and photo by karla k. morton and Alan Birkelbach
On the COver
David torres of texas hatters. Photo by Wyatt McSpadden AbOve
One reason we love texas? bluebonnets! Photo by Eric W. Pohl t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3
Currents
“Texas is the finest portion of the globe that has ever blessed my vision.”
Bee Aware F lo W h i v e , an Australian company that markets
a structure to harvest honey without disturbing the bees, reminds us as we recognize World Honey Bee Day on August 15 how essential bees are to life on Earth. The more than 19,000 species of bees are responsible for pollinating 30% of the world’s food crops and 90% of wild plants. For the past 15 years, bee populations have been declining at an alarming rate largely due to climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use. Worker bees, which are female, produce about a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in their five- to six-week life span. These are the only bees most people ever see.
—sAm houston
What can you do to help bees thrive? put the sprays away.
plant bee-friendly flowers. let your veggie and herb plants flower.
Educate children on the importance of pollinators.
Finish this sentence WHEN I THINK OF TEXAS, I THINK OF ...
tell us how you would finish
that sentence. email your short responses to letters@texas
Cooppower.com or comment on our Facebook post. Include your co-op and city. here are some of the responses to our June
prompt: to me, being a texan
It’s already 90 degrees by 9 a.m. and saying, “Oh, what a beautiful day.” mIke WhItley g r Ay s O n - C O l l I n e C mCkInney
being the salt of the earth and having a salty story or two to prove it. mArk brOWnIng sAm hOu stOn eC gOODrICh
not being a Californian anymore. DAlene mAsDen meDInA eC mICO
naturally saying y’all and fixin’. CA n Dy p e n n I n gtO n k I e sOW hOu stOn COunt y eC grApelAnD
to see more responses, read Currents online. 4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
t e x AsC O O p pOW e r .C O m
hO ne yCO mb: bI g blue st uDI O | shu t te rstO Ck .CO m. bee : DAnIe l pru De k | s hut te rstO Ck .CO m
means …
tcp’s neW looK
From cover to cover, Texas Co-op Power is a new magazine. read, enjoy and share your ideas about every section. We want to hear from all 3.7 million of you, by email or on Facebook.
bArbe r tO O ls : rOu bICkO | shu t te rstOCk .CO m. trICyCle : ke v In t IChen O r | sh u t ter stOCk .COm. bAllOOn: tImquO | shut terstOCk .COm
127.36 feet
Ashrita Furman caught an intact water balloon thrown 127.36 feet by Bipin Larkin—a world record—on August 8, 2012, in New York. August 7 is National Water Balloon Day.
Acclaimed Clipper h e n ry m i l l e r m o r g a n
opened the first college for African American barbers in 1933 in downtown Tyler. The school had only five chairs, but it thrived, and within 20 years Morgan had opened schools in Houston, Dallas, New York, Mississippi and Arkansas. Morgan was born 125 years ago—August 25, 1895, in Tyler.
Contests and More on texascooppoWer.com
Focus on texas photo contest On Wheels $500 recipe contest vegetarian
Win a booK enter to win copies of three books mentioned in this issue.
From our archive Want more about cowboy hats? Check out Cowboy Hatters from April 2016.
t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 5
TCP Talk an alternate reality
DOn r utl eDg e | C Ourtesy W Ing s p r es s
“I read Black Like Me in 1967 in high school. Eye-opening and inspiring, which led me to choose I Have a Dream for a class presentation.” J o y c E B At tA r B E E n AvA s o tA vA l l E y E c JEwEtt
rare treat
The last time I saw a horny toad was 15-plus years ago, and that was the first time I had seen one in probably 25 years [The Lizard Brigade, June 2020]. I caught the little guy to show my boys; they had never seen one before. We looked him over. I didn’t want to let him go, but I knew we had to. tammie Frenzel heart of texas eC Westphalia
oh, my: no mi tierra? I grew up playing with these prehistoric lizards just a mile from where I currently live [The Lizard Brigade, June 2020]. these fellas are still breeding strong out here. A l I C e A lO g A n mAsters v I A FAC e b O O k
I am aghast you did not include Mi Tierra in the heart of El Mercado [We Brake for Queso, June 2020]. Opened in 1941, sitting 500 patrons at a time and slinging enchiladas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. noble Dunson Central texas eC kingsland
We don’t want to forget Guadalupe’s Mexican Restaurant in Gladewater. I’ve been eating there for 24 years and have not had one bad meal. patricia martin Cherokee County eC starrville
dear dairy
I love the photo on telling us Texas Tech University will have a vet school [More Critter Care, Currents, June 2020]. Texas A&M is a fabulous institution, but they discontinued their dairy science program several years ago. (Your photo showed a Holstein dairy calf.) Texas Tech will, I hope, bring dairy science back to our veterinary programs. gabrielle gordon tri-County eC tarrant County
Write to u s
letters@texasCooppower.com editor, texas Co-op power 1122 Colorado st., 24th Floor Austin, tx 78701 please include your electric co-op and town. letters may be edited for clarity and length. texas Co-op power
texas electric cooperatives board oF directors chair Alan lesley, Comanche • vice chair robert loth III, Fredericksburg secretary-treasurer gary raybon, el Campo • board members mark boyd, Douglassville greg henley, tahoka • billy Jones, Corsicana • David mcginnis, van Alstyne president/ceo mike Williams, Austin communications & member services committee marty haught, burleson • bill hetherington, bandera • ron hughes, sinton boyd mcCamish, littlefield • mark mcClain, roby • John ed shinpaugh, bonham robert Walker, gilmer • brandon young, mcgregor magazine staFF vice president, communications & member services martin bevins editor Charles J. lohrmann • associate editor tom Widlowski production manager karen nejtek • creative manager Andy Doughty advertising manager elaine sproull • senior communications specialist Chris burrows print production specialist grace Fultz • communications specialist travis hill Food editor megan myers • communications specialist Jessica ridge digital Field editor Chris salazar • senior designer Jane sharpe proofreader shannon Oelrich 6 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
texas co-op power volume 77, number 2 (usps 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by texas electric Cooperatives (teC). periodical postage paid at Austin, tx, and at additional offices. teC is the statewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is texasCooppower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@texasCooppower.com. subscriptions subscription price is $4.20 per year for individual members of subscribing cooperatives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Individual copies and back issues are available for $3 each. postmaster send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (usps 540-560), 1122 Colorado st., 24th Floor, Austin, tx 78701. please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old address and key numbers. advertising Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in other states, contact elaine sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. the publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. © Copyright 2020 texas electric Cooperatives Inc. reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2020 national rural electric Cooperative Association.
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Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 7
MY H TX W h at d o e s i t m e a n t o b e t e x a n ?
d u r i n g m y t i m e as a staff writer at The Washington Post some years ago, I also taught a journalism course every semester at George Washington University. One morning in class, I happened to mention that I had crafted something of an unofficial beat I called “eccentric Texans.” A young woman remarked, “Gee, Mr. Holley, you sure must be busy!” I suppose I was. There was something about my native state that seemed to lend itself to individuality, if not necessarily eccentricity, whether I was writing about big-time politicians, athletes, show people, even a renowned lady wrestler from Amarillo. If they were Texans, chances are there was a particularity about them that defied predictability. Living in D.C. and working at The Post, I was still a Texan. The place where I was born and where I had lived most of my life was in my bones, in my blood. I couldn’t shake my Texas identity any more easily than I could smooth out my Central Texas twang. It gradually dawned on me that when I wrote about Texas, I wrote with more authority, more concreteness, more feeling for the place and its people. I decided to come home—home to Texas. My return meant coming home to family, literally and figuratively. Once again covering the immense expanse of Texas as a journalist, I rediscovered not only the rich diversity of this place but also the shared sense of identity that transcends difference. Whether I’m talking to a Panhandle rancher near Lipscomb or an East Texas teacher in Kirbyville, a Gulf Coast shrimper out of Port Isabel or a West Texas nurse in McCamey, I know—and they know—that we both are Texans. This place has shaped us. Black, brown or white; man or woman; old or young— we’re family. Like your kinfolks and mine, we don’t always get along, but as Texans we share an identity and an abiding respect for what we have in common. We know each other well. J o E h o l l E y 8 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
t e x AsC O O p pOW e r .C O m
“the moment i KneW
what it meant to be Texan was the evening my wife and I were
invited to watch George Strait play a private show at Gruene Hall a few years back. There were all kinds of people in the room—professional wrestlers, songwriters, regular folks, you name it. The random group of people came from all walks of life to see and hear JAy b sAu CeDA
King George. It was the epitome of ‘Texanness.’”
J Ay B s A u c E d A is an entrepreneur and photographer whose book A Mile Above Texas features 150 photos of texas taken from a Cessna 182t. sauceda was raised in la porte. t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 9
he has made music
guItAr: W yAt t mC spAD Den . e rle WIne : COu rt esy mArk erle WI ne
for decades, though you’ve probably never heard Mark Erlewine play. He’s a luthier—a repairer and creator of guitars at his shop in Austin. A badly mangled instrument affirmed his karma as a Texan, though it’s not the threadbare acoustic guitar for which he is legendary. “I was in my shop about 20 years ago, when a man and woman, decked out in full Texas attire—jeans, cowboy boots and hats—came in with a large black garbage bag holding the pieces of a Martin guitar,” Erlewine says. “The man explained that she had put the guitar over his head during one of their arguments, but since then they had started counseling to mend their relationship. They told me part of the process of putting their relationship back together was to have the guitar put back together. “I was able to mend the guitar and can only hope their relationship has fared as well.” There’s no question about the love story of the other guitar—Willie Nelson’s Trigger. Willie’s pick and fingernails have carved a gaping hole in the spruce wood of his Martin N-20 classical guitar. The strains of that relationship fall to Erlewine to mend, and as he has since 1976, he lovingly and tenderly nurses Trigger. Reunited with Willie, they continue a love story that has enraptured a state and changed its musical history.
m A r k E r l E w i n E first fell in love with texas when he visited with friends from high school in 1967. he moved his guitar shop to Austin from Ann Arbor, michigan, in 1974.
blue bOn ne t s : e rIC W. pOhl . Chen s: COu rt esy tIF FAny Ch en
“ s to p p i n g t h e c a r
immediately to place down kids and puppies
in a field of bluebonnets for pictures. Could there be a snake in there? Sure. But the pictures are worth it.”
t i f f A n y c h E n , who, with husband leon, started tiff’s treats in 1999 in an Austin apartment while they were students at the university of texas. today the cookie and brownie delivery company has 46 locations in texas and operates in Atlanta, nashville and Charlotte.
t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 1
“ s t e v i e u s e d to s i t t h e r e and play for tips to pay for getting his hat blocked,” David Torres says, gesturing toward the two-seat shoeshine stand by the front door of Texas Hatters in Lockhart. “We modified the flat top and named it the SRV.” Not every celebrity gets a Texas Hatters style named for them. There is no Prince Charles or Pierce Brosnan or George W. Bush. Stevie Ray Vaughan did get the SRV. Torres apprenticed at Texas Hatters when he met the owner’s daughter, Joella, who later became his wife. She represents the third generation to operate the celebrated business, which moved to Lockhart from Buda in 2006. “I grew up in the shop,” Joella says, “and making a hat is like making a sculpture.”
d A v i d t o r r E s and J o E l l A G A m m A G E t o r r E s operate texas hatters in lockhart.
many texans will remember the original Austin location on south lamar boulevard.
1 2 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
t e x AsC O O p pOW e r .C O m
hAt: W yAt t mC s pADDe n. CO uple : CO u rt esy te x As hAt t ers. CAps ule An D spACe WAlk : n AsA .gOv. hArrIs: COurtesy nmsI
“ i h av e lo g g e d
more than 438 hours and traveled over
7.2 million miles in space. No matter where I traveled and lived, I have always returned to Texas.”
B E r n A r d A . h A r r i s J r . , a physician, former astronaut and the first African American to walk in space. the temple native is CeO of the national math and science Initiative in Dallas.
t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 3
“ W e ’ r e p r o u d to b e t e x a n s , ” says Tom Perini, who with his wife, Lisa, owns Perini Ranch Steakhouse. “We’re out here in the real Texas, surrounded by wheat and cattle.” They share the story of the day four men in suits came in. “They were looking around and made me nervous. I thought they might be insurance inspectors or something,” Tom says, “so I went over and sat down.” It turns out the four were developing a steakhouse concept for a restaurant chain. “What do you do to make this place so Texas?” one asked. “We don’t,” Tom answered. “It is.”
W yAt t mC spAD Den
t o m and l i s A p E r i n i own the legendary perini ranch steakhouse in buffalo gap. W e b e x t r a enter online to win an overnight getaway or the book Perini Ranch Steakhouse: Stories and Recipes for Real Texas Food. 1 4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
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Dept. 5VD409 1309 Mt. Eustis Road Littleton NH 03561-3737 Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 7
BANDERA ELECTRIC News
Solar Interest Increases With New BEC Solar Rates almost $5 million in revenue for Bandera Electric Cooperative. In 2019, BEC Solar saw its best year ever, generating nearly $2 million in revenues for BEC while reducing our overall power costs by more than $200,000. That reflects a 43% increase in revenue from the previous year, and just as we prepared for another great year, the pandemic occurred. When the pandemic hit in March, we suspended all BEC Solar activities to minimize member contact and redirected those resources to assist with the exponential demand for fiber broadband services. There is a slowing in the demand for residential solar nationwide due to the pandemic, shelter at home orders and the phasing out of tax incentives, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association. Along with the sluggish demand, we have seen price reductions on solar panels due to a surplus of materials. So as we restart our BEC Solar activity, our new solar customers will see lower, more competitive pricing. There is also good news for our existing distributed generation solar members. Last month, the BEC Board of Directors adopted new electric rates for the amount paid to Distributed Generation (DG) solar members. The new, optional rate program went into effect on July 1, allowing these DG members to be paid on a time-based structure for the energy they export back to BEC. Modeled after our existing time-based usage (TBU) energy rates, which are designed to follow more closely the market prices on energy usage. This new rate, DG-TBU, is structured to pay more for energy generated and exported back to the grid during higher priced energy periods (summer months from 2-6 p.m.) and less during periods of lower energy consumption like spring and fall. On average our existing DG solar members will see about an 8.6% increase in revenue by going on the new DG-TBU rates. In light of these new rates and continued price reductions for solar panels and inverters, we have seen a renewed interest in solar energy among BEC members. We do not expect to have revenues as strong as 2019, due to the pandemic and the associated economic uncertainties, but we do expect an improving economic return for our existing and new DG solar members. SINCE 2017, BEC SOLAR HAS GENERATED
MESSAGE FROM BEC CEO BILL HETHERINGTON
1 8 T E X AS C O - O P POW ER AUGU ST 2020
BA ND E R A E LE CT R I C
Bandera Electric Cooperative CONTACT US P.O. Box 667 • Bandera, TX 78003 Mas@BanderaElectric.com
1.866.226.3372 (1-866-BANDERA) BanderaElectric.com
Bandera Electric Cooperative’s First Virtual Annual Meeting Annual Meeting of the Membership has been changed from an in-person meeting to a virtual meeting due to the coronavirus outbreak. The board of directors voted in favor of a virtual meeting to ensure the health and safety of employees and members. The board elections will continue as usual by mail and email for directors from districts 1, 2 and 3. All voting will be completed prior to the annual meeting. Each member household will receive a ballot via mail or email with directions beginning July 20, 2020. No postage is necessary for mail-in ballots. Voting closes at 11 a.m., August 14, 2020. In addition, BEC will still draw names for prizes. Every member who votes in the election will be eligible for a prize. Winners will be chosen at random after the business of the meeting has concluded. This is an opportunity for all members to participate in the democratic cooperative process and in BEC’s board elections. Eligible members who vote in the election will be eligible for a prize. To learn more about the board of directors, visit www.BanderaElectric.com/Directors. The virtual meeting will be held Saturday, August 15 at 10 a.m. with minimal staff, board officers and BEC’s general counsel in attendance. Again, members cannot attend the meeting in person. This meeting will be live-streamed from the BEC headquarters in Bandera. Members will receive a unique link via email to the member's billing email address. The full Annual Report will be provided in advance of the meeting at BanderaElectric.com/AnnualMeeting, a condensed version can be found beginning on page 21. The Annual Meeting video will be made available at a later date on BEC’s website. Virtual booths will be available for members who would like to learn more about our products and services after the conclusion of the prize drawings. If you have any questions, please call 866.226.3372. THE 2020 BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Turn the page for BEC’s 2019 Annual Report, followed by prizes! BAND E R A ELE CT RIC COOPE R ATIVE • 2019 AN N UAL REPORT
Board of Directors District 1 Jerry N. Word Sr. District 2 Frances “Fran” Laue District 3 Jeffery “Jeff” Slocum District 4 Jeremy Diller, Vice Chairman District 5 Jerry S. Pierce District 6 Richard “Dick” Earnest District 7 Christopher “Chris” Blakemore District 8 Michael D.T. Edwards, Chairman District 9 Kurt Solis, Secretary-Treasurer Key Staff William “Bill” Hetherington, CEO Becky Bradburn, CFO MISSION STATEMENT At Bandera Electric Cooperative, our mission is lighting the grid to empower our members. VISION STATEMENT Reimagining Rural America
Report Outages 24/7
TOLL-FREE 1 (866) 226-3372 myBEC Mobile & Desktop app Online Outage Map BanderaElectric.com/OM
OFFICES Bandera • Headquarters Open M-F, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 3172 Highway 16 North Boerne Open M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Closed 1-2 p.m. 2 Spencer Road, Suite 103 Comfort Open M-F, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 739 Front Street (Highway 27) Leakey Open Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 485 West Ranch Road 337 PAYMENT OPTIONS • myBEC online or mobile app bill payment • Free bank draft service • Paperless billing • Level billing • Automatic recurring credit card payment • Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted • ECheck payment by phone • Cash or check payments in office • 24/7 payment kiosks at select offices • Payments accepted at Fidelity Express • Time-Based Usage program • PrePay program AU G U ST 2020 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 9
‘Texas Co-op Power’ Gets a New Look But all your favorite content is here to stay
noticed something was different when you pulled this magazine out of your mailbox this month. Perhaps you thought the cover looked a little different. Well, you’re right, but the changes go deeper. Texas Co-op Power has undergone a complete redesign. But even though it has a new look and feel, it’s the same magazine you know and love. Every month, Texas Co-op Power is delivered to you to entertain, enlighten and educate you and your family. The magazine is a warm and friendly source for all things Texan, and like a well-informed neighbor, it can offer the secrets to making fabulous, family-pleasing meals; reveal hidden gems of the Texas landscape; and recount the humorous, quirky, solemn and often untold stories of our state’s history. Also like a good neighbor, it even reminds you how to save on your electric bill. Most importantly, Texas Co-op Power is one of the primary vehicles through which Bandera Electric Cooperative communicates directly with you, our members, and is a critical component in our efforts to fulfill Cooperative Principle No. 5— Education, Training and Information. Through these pages, we report on matters important to the co-op, such as director elections; share tips to help you maximize the energy efficiency of your home; and offer safety information that could save your life. We also H use this magazine to help you understand how new technologies fit into your daily life. As with everything in life, tastes change—and magazine design is no exception. While BEC is not one to jump on the bandwagon for the latest craze, we do realize when one of our products or services is in need of an overhaul. That’s why we’re excited to share this redesign with you. For more than a year, the team behind Texas Co-op Power has worked diligently to update the look and feel of the magazine without sacrificing any of the content or character that inspires our members, month after month, to crack open these pages for some uniquely Texan stories—and a healthy dose of the cooperative spirit. One of the major changes you may have noticed is the refreshed cover design and new Texas Co-op Power logo. The last time the logo was updated was in the mid-1990s, and though it suited that era well, sensibilities have changed. The new logo incorporates a modern feel that’s in line with the magazine’s evolution but sticks to its roots. Texas Co-op Power remains dedicated to telling the stories of Texas’ unique people, history, mythology, culture and geography—the Texan way of life—as seen through the equally unique co-op lens. Readers will still enjoy all the best the magazine has to offer, from recipes, contests and event listings to travel narratives and other features, as well as local news concerning BEC and the communities we serve. Readers can also still enjoy expanded content, contests and other special treats at TexasCoopPower.com and on our Facebook page. The magazine has evolved with an eye toward the future, but it retains all the hallmarks that generations of rural electric cooperative members have cherished since the first issue in 1944. Just like BEC, it’s here to stay and better than ever. D YOU MIGHT HAVE
A CHAMPION OF
COOL FOODS FOR
WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE
HOT DAYS
NATIONAL PARKS AND
F O R E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E M E M B E R S
MY TX W H AT B E I N G T E X A N M E A N S
2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW ER AUGU ST 2020
COMING HOME
AUGUST 2020
C HARL OTTE L AKE | ISTOC K.C OM
Tasty Tuna Tacos
1 box taco shells, 12 count 2 cans (6 ounces each) chunk light tuna in water ¼ cup finely chopped green onions ¼ cup finely chopped red bell pepper ¼ cup finely chopped yellow bell pepper 1 bunch fresh cilantro (rinsed, dried, stems removed) ½ cup finely grated carrots 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (half of 1 large lime) 2 cups thick and chunky mild salsa 8 ounces grated Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese 1 can (4 ounces) sliced ripe olives
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange taco shells in a single layer. Warm 5–7 minutes.
2. For filling, drain and chop tuna and place in a medium-sized bowl. Add onions, peppers, cilantro and carrots. Add lime juice to tuna mixture. Thoroughly mix all ingredients using a large mixing spoon. 3. Remove taco shells from oven and add 1/4–1/3 cup of filling mixture to each taco shell. Follow with 2 tablespoons salsa and 2 tablespoons grated cheese. Garnish with 10–12 olive slices. Serve immediately.
Find this and more delicious recipes online at TexasCoopPower.com.
BA ND E R A E LE CT R I C
2019 ANNUAL REPORT Our Vision
Reimagining Rural America
866.226.3372 | BanderaElectric.com
Executive Message: Annual Meeting & Reimagining Rural America
Bandera Electric Cooperative will host its 81st Annual Membership meeting. Unlike in years’ past, due to the ongoing pandemic, our annual membership meeting will be a virtual one. While I will miss the physical interaction with the membership, this new format does allow the opportunity for more members to participate from the safety and comfort of their homes. We will still share the results of your directors’ elections, give away prizes, answer questions and share with the membership our vision and how we are reimagining rural America. In 2019, we exceeded financial expectations thanks in part due to higher than expected broadband margins and lower energy costs. That's why last month your board of directors elected to increase the amount of patronage capital returned to our members by 67%. Equally important is our emphasis on improving electric system reliability and energy efficiency, which also contributed to the financial success of the organization. So what does reimagining rural America really mean? If you were to look at the United States’ classification of the words urban and rural in 1950, rural America today is crushing it. It’s home to about as many people as urban America, and it’s growing faster. Last year, Bandera Electric saw its largest member growth in nearly a decade. So why do headlines and statistics paint rural areas as perpetually in decline? Because the contest between rural and urban America is rigged. Official definitions are regularly updated in such a way that rural counties are continually losing their most successful places to urbanization. ON AUGUST 15, 2020,
A 1 BA N DER A EL ECTRIC C OOPER ATI VE 2019 AN N UAL REPORT
The official definition of rural has changed 10 times over the last 70 years. So when a rural county grows, it becomes an urban one. Bandera and Kendall counties are no longer considered rural. They are urban areas based on the new definition of rural, but the rural culture and values of community commitment don’t change just because we hit a population threshold. Since we already share the values of community, what we are missing in rural America is critical infrastructure and adequate access to quality education and health care. Bandera Electric Cooperative is committed to providing access to reliable and affordable electricity, renewable energy and high-speed broadband access. We are also working with our school districts and health care providers to improve broadband access. In doing so, Bandera Electric Cooperative is reimagining rural America. I hope that you exercise your right to vote in our director elections and join us online for our upcoming Annual meeting.
BILL HETHERINGTON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Bandera Electric Cooperative Board of Directors District 1
Medina Lake (partial) Pipe Creek
District 2
Bandera Area (partial) JERRY N. WORD SR. DISTRICT 1
FRANCES “FRAN” LAUE DISTRICT 2
JEFFERY “JEFF” SLOCUM DISTRICT 3
District 3
Bandera Area (partial) Center Point (partial) South Tarpley
District 4 Boerne East Cordillera
Walnut Grove JEREMY DILLER DISTRICT 4 VICE CHAIRMAN
JERRY PIERCE DISTRICT 5
RICHARD “DICK” EARNEST DISTRICT 6
District 5 Medina
North Tarpley Turtle Creek Utopia
Vanderpool
District 6 Concan Hunt CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” BLAKEMORE DISTRICT 7
MICHAEL D.T. EDWARDS DISTRICT 8 CHAIRMAN
KURT SOLIS DISTRICT 9 SECRETARY-TREASURER
Leakey
District 7 Lakehills
Medina Lake (partial)
elect directors or trustees from the membership to serve on the cooperative board. These democratically elected directors govern and direct the affairs of the cooperative, guide how the co-op’s money and assets are used to fulfill the cooperative’s mission, and represent their members’ interests and concerns as they develop policies that guide the cooperative’s operations and strategic direction. MEMBER-OWNERS OF THE COOPERATIVE
In accordance with the Nomination and Election of Directors provisions of the cooperative’s bylaws, qualified candidates are to be placed on the ballot and voted upon by the cooperative’s members—districts 1, 2 and 3 candidates will each serve three-year terms as director. The candidate for any particular voting district receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the director of that particular voting district.
Mico
District 8
Boerne (west of IH10) Ranger Creek
Tapatio Springs
District 9
Center Point (partial) Comfort
2019 A NNUA L R EPO RT BA NDE R A E LE CT RIC C O O P E R AT IV E A 2
Minutes of the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Membership of Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. of the Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at the Bandera County Show Barn in Bandera, Texas, on the 18th day of May, 2019 in accordance with the Bylaws. Bruce Forey welcomed members to the Annual Meeting and asked that District 4 Director Jeremy Diller give the invocation at 10:00 a.m. Bruce Forey then asked for everyone to stand for the posting of colors by the all-volunteer Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment. Our National Anthem was sung by Aaron Patterson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP
General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, John Padalino, introduced himself then called the meeting to order at 10:11 a.m., explaining a quorum was present in person, by proxy, or having voted by mail. Chairman Michael Edwards, District 8 representative, was introduced by Mr. Padalino and welcomed members and visitors.
was presented to Hunter and Paula Beaton for the Day 1 Bags program. Checks for $5,000 each were presented to the Bandera Frontier Times Museum and the Golden Age Center of Comfort.
CEO Hetherington explained that funds for the BEC Foundation come from the round up campaign and the annual golf tournament. He encouraged all members to round up their monthly bills to support the foundation. At 10:31 a.m., Chairman Edwards informed the Members of the Cooperative’s 2018 Annual Report, including statements from BEC management and other Cooperative statistics. He indicated that this information was handed out during the meeting registration and that any questions regarding the annual report or other business matters would be addressed after the adjournment of the meeting.
District 1 Jerry N. Word, Sr.
General Counsel Padalino returned to speak at 10:32 a.m. and stated that no petitions were made for candidates for the Board of Directors, and in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws, the following incumbent persons were placed in nomination as the official candidates:
District 3 Douglas (Rob) Sandidge (Vice Chairman)
Chairman Edwards introduced the Directors, and each stood to be recognized.
District 2 Frances (Fran) Laue District 4 Jeremy Diller District 5 Jerry Pierce
District 6 Dick Earnest
District 7 Zeda Alvarado
District 9 Kurt Solis (Secretary/Treasurer)
Director Solis read the Notice of Meeting and Proof of Mailing at 10:13 a.m.
He then stated that the next order of business was the reading of the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Membership held on May 19, 2018. He indicated that copies of these minutes were distributed to each Member in the annual report given at the registration desk and entertained a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes. A motion was made to dispense with the reading of and to approve the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Membership held on May 19, 2018. The motion received a second and was approved by the membership at 10:15 a.m.
District 7 Zeda Alvarado
District 9 Kurt Solis
District 8 Michael D.T. Edwards
Mr. Padalino stated that votes received by the May 17, 2019, 11:00 a.m. deadline had been tabulated by Survey and Ballot Systems. The final tabulation of votes included all electronic, phone and mail-in ballots. General Counsel Padalino read the report regarding the final tally of votes for each candidate at 10:32 a.m. The votes received were as follows:
Zeda Alvarado - 2,099 votes.
Kurt Solis - 2,007 votes.
Michael D.T. Edwards - 2,059 votes.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the report. This motion was approved by the membership.
With no unfinished business, Mr. Padalino entertained a motion to adjourn. A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the membership to adjourn the meeting at 10:34 a.m.
Director Solis called on Bill Hetherington to present the CEO Report.
At 10:15 a.m., Bill Hetherington welcomed members and recognized LCRA representative Steve Dyer. He then asked all veterans to stand to be honored on this Armed Forces Day.
At 10:17 a.m., Bill Hetherington presented the CEO Report and highlighted the growth the Coop experienced in 2018, including 10% growth in membership, 9.6% growth in electric energy sales, and 376% increase in high-speed internet sales. CEO Hetherington shared that Bandera Electric Cooperative is ranked first in the state for reliability among electric cooperatives. At 10:20 a.m., Mr. Hetherington introduced the BEC Foundation via video. Immediately following, a check in the amount of $2,500
A 3 BA N DER A EL ECTRIC C OOPER ATI VE 2019 AN N UAL REPORT
Kurt Solis Board Secretary-Treasurer
Michael D. T. Edwards Board Chairman
Statement of Financial Condition & 2019 Revenue and Expenses A S S ETS Total Utility Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $306,115,481 Less: Accumulated Depreciation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ($76,491,351) Net Value of Utility Plant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $229,624,130 Investments in Associated Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,372,987 Deferred Charges & Other Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $33,195 Current Assets Cash in Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,666,101 Accounts Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,577,209 Other Current Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,992,957 Total Current Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,236,267 Total Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $245,266,579 E QUI TI E S & L I A BI L I T IE S Memberships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $641,290 Patronage Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $79,401,154 Other Equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000,422 Accumulated other Comprehensive Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,330,874 Total Equities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85,373,740 Long-Term Debt Less Current Maturities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $134,834,515 Deferred Credits and Other Long-Term Liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,226,974 Current Liabilities Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,859,515 Short-Term Notes Payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,652,651 Accounts Payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,533,968 Other Current and Accrued Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $785,216 Total Current Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21,831,350 Total Liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $159,892,839
BEC Solar generated revenues of $1,992,716.
BEC Fiber generated revenues of $3,560,902.
Total Equities & Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $245,266,579
O PERAT I NG R E V E NU ES Energy Revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $69,526,982 Revenue from Divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,553,618 Other Electric Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,949,900 Total Operating Revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80,030,500 O PERAT I NG E XP E NSES & FIX E D C H A R GE S Cost of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34,864,888 COGS—Divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,789,344 Operations and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,279,883 Depreciation and Amortization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,272,836 Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,942,677 Other Deductions (Additions). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $471,366 Total Operating Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,620,994 Operating margins—After Fixed Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,409,506 Nonoperating Items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ($874,835) Net Margins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,534,671
I, Kurt Solis, do hereby certify that I am the elected Secretary-Treasurer of Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc., and that to the best of my knowledge, the financial and statistical information is true and correct as of December 31, 2019.
Kurt Solis Board Secretary-Treasurer
As of December 31, 2019. These are audited financials.
2019 A NNUA L R EPO RT BA NDE R A E LE CT RIC C O O P E R AT IV E A 4
2019 Facts & Figures Total Members
26,793
Co-op Employees
Total Active Meters
37,131
Miles of Line
217
Community Solar Subscribers
116
ASAI Reliability
99.991%
4,648
Meters per Mile
8
136
BEC Solar Installs
Total Distributed Generation in Kilowatts
3,718
Total BEC Solar 1,655 Distributed Generation KW
Total Fiber Broadband Subscribers
4,904
Fiber Residential
KW
Fiber Commercial
578,324,283
2017
581,898,713
2018
634,200,236
2019
641,686,867
4,696 208
Total Energy Storage Capacity
426
Total Fiber Broadband Phone Subscribers
461
KW
Electric Member Growth
Kilowatt-Hours Sold 2016
37
Apolloware Installs
2.7%
1.3%
1.2%
2016
2017
2.4%
2018
2019
How Your Member Dollar Was Earned in 2019
Residential 70.39%
Small Commercial 23.21%
Seasonal 3.34%
Large Commerical 2.82%
Irrigation / Other 0.15%
How Your Member Dollar Was Spent in 2019
Purchased Power / COGS 45.31%
Maintenance / Other 24.18%
A 5 BA N DER A EL ECTRIC C OOPER ATI VE 2019 AN N UAL REPORT
Margins 15.92%
Depreciation 9.24%
Interest 5.35%
The BEC Foundation: 2019 Community Impact The BEC Foundation awarded $80,432 in grants to local nonprofits in 2019. 1,301 members rounded up their bills in 2019, donating $7,330 to the Foundation. The 2019 BEC Foundation Charity Golf Tournament raised a total of $82,696. 2019 Grant Recipients
2019 Charity Golf Tournament Sponsors
Bandera Fire & Rescue
N-Com
CFC Utilities
Bandera Youth Soccer Organization
Electricom Inc.
Texas Electric Cooperatives
Bandera Natural History Museum
Castle Lake Volunteer Fire Department Comfort Food & Pantry Day 1 Bags
Frio Canyon Parks Association Frontier Times Museum Golden Age Center
Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries
Burns & McDonnell
Belle Oaks Ranch
Alpha Technologies Calix
Schneider Engineering
James Power Line Construction Power & Tel
Superior Essex
LCRA
Wesco
KGPCo
Hubbell
Graybar
Repcom
Hill Country Samaritans
Kendall County 4-H STEM Robotics Club Kendall County Women's Center
Lakehills Pipe Creek Little League Association Leakey ISD
Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Real County Junior Livestock Show Association Sabinal Canyon Senior Council Foundation
Round up your bill today or learn how you can make a change at
BanderaElectric.com/Foundation 2019 A NNUA L R EPO RT BA NDE R A E LE CT RIC C O O P E R AT IV E A 6
Our Mission
Lighting the Grid to Empower Members
Our mission is lighting the grid to empower our members by enhancing quality of life with highly reliable electric, broadband and other energy-related services, that are valued by members, at the lowest possible cost.
Cast your vote for the chance to win a prize! Voting is open until 11 a.m. on August 14, 2020. Vote in our annual director election for the chance to win a prize at the virtual annual meeting on August 15.
Members who cast their vote before the cutoff time will be eligible for prize drawings. One vote per member account/household is permitted. Prize winners will be randomly selected and announced during the virtual annual meeting after the close of businesss.
All voting will be completed prior to the annual meeting. Members will receive a ballot via mail or email with directions from Survey and Ballot Systems on behalf of BEC beginning July 20. No postage is necessary for mail-in ballots. Ballots will not be accepted at any BEC offices. Voting closes at 11 a.m. Friday, August 14, 2020.
Members will receive an email and/or post card notifying them of their unique link to access the online meeting. For more info, please visit BanderaElectric.com/AnnualMeeting.
GRAND PRIZE John Deere Z535M ZTrak Zero Turn Lawnmower MSRP $4,439.00
Donated by
4 Day/3 Night Stay at Rio Bella Resort on the Frio
See prize details and restrictions online.
See more prizes online!
BanderaElectric.com/Prizes
BAND E R A E LE CT RIC.COM
•
1 .866.226.3372
AU G U ST 2020 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 2 5
The BEC Foundation’s mission is to support qualifying nonprofit organizations in its service area through charitable contributions with a focus on education, safety and overall concern for community.
Round up your electric and/or fiber bill, select the BEC Foundation as your AmazonSmile recipient, or make a one-time donation today. Learn more at BanderaElectric.com/Foundation.
NEW EASY-TO-USE MOBILE APP The new myBEC mobile app makes it easy to manage your account wherever you go. Its user-friendly interface makes paying your bill a breeze. Download it today!
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Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!
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he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for. The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion. The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact, binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers. Call today!
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Footnotes in Texas History
illu str at io n: dav id vo gin . ame s photo : Jane Y. mccallu m papers | au stin h isto rY ce nte r
Empowering Every Vote activist Jessie daniel ames took on women’s suffrage and lynching B Y T A N YA E S T E S D U R I N G A T I M E W H E N W O M E N fought for the right to vote, a widowed mother of three mobilized thousands of women to vote in just 17 days. In a race against the clock, Jessie Daniel Ames employed an unexpected resource to register voters before a critical election that changed the course of Texas history by diminishing the political influence of the Ku Klux Klan. The Ames family moved from Palestine to Georgetown when Jessie was a child. She led a quiet and dutiful life, graduating from Southwestern University in 1902, a rare accomplisht e x asc o oppower .com
ment for a woman at the time. Ames married a few years after college, but her husband died in Guatemala of malaria in 1914, leaving her a pregnant widow with two children. To support her young family, Ames went to work for her family’s telephone company in Georgetown. Managing a communications business taught her how to succeed in a male-dominated industry, and this success further paved the way for her equal rights activism. Ames founded the Georgetown Equal Suffrage League in 1916 and wrote Weekly Suffrage Notes, a column in The
Williamson County Sun. By 1918 she became treasurer of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association. In 1918 the Legislature passed a bill that gave Texas women the right to vote in a primary but gave them only 17 days to register before the election. Using the telephone company to contact voters, Ames and her fellow suffragists registered more than 3,500 women to vote in Williamson County. In just two weeks, they provided voting instructions and staged mock elections to prepare these women for their historic first vote. This voter registration campaign helped secure the election of anti-klan candidate Dan Moody as Williamson County attorney, and Moody actively prosecuted many klan members. This election victory gave Moody the momentum to get elected Texas attorney general and go on to become governor. Ames continued to register voters by founding the Texas League of Women Voters. One hundred years ago this month, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted women the right to vote and was ratified August 18, 1920. Though proud of her suffrage efforts, Ames felt such organizations did not do enough for African American civil rights. She led campaigns against lynching as an atrocious act of racism and set about ending it through work with the Texas Interracial Commission and the Commission on Interracial Cooperation. She also founded the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching, which excluded Black women under the belief that only white women could influence other white women. After more than 30 years working for social justice, Ames retired quietly. She is buried in Georgetown, a few blocks from the courthouse where she mobilized thousands of women in a movement that confirmed the power of every vote. D
au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 2 9
TCP Kitchen
Cool Foods Chill out with salads, slaws and sauerkraut By mEGAn myE rs, food E ditor
At the height of summer, the last thing my husband and I want to do is turn on the stove. We do plenty of grilling, of course, but when the temperatures soar, we seek out chilled recipes that help our family cool down at the end of the day. this recipe uses juicy summer tomatoes to create a quick and easy chilled soup that goes with just about any meal. If you have fresh herbs in your garden, feel free to add those. basil is the perfect accompaniment, but thyme or oregano also works well.
Easy Gazpacho
4 large tomatoes, about 2 pounds 1 cucumber Âź cup chopped red onion 1 clove garlic 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper, to taste
1. Core and quarter tomatoes and remove seeds, then add tomatoes to a blender or food processor. 2. peel and quarter cucumber lengthwise and remove seeds. Add cucumber, onion, garlic, vinegar and olive oil to blender.
3. blend mixture until completely smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste and chill soup until ready to serve. garnish with fresh herbs, as desired. sErvEs 4 W e b e x t r a Follow along with megan myers and her adventures in the kitchen at stetted.com, where she features a recipe for Cucumber tomato salad With pesto.
Baja Black Bean Salad DebI mArIOn g r Ay s O n - C O l l I n e C
black bean salad is a versatile dish that can serve as a meatless main, side or scrumptious topper for tacos. making it ahead of time ensures that the flavors intermingle and keeps you out of the kitchen during the heat of the day. 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed ⅓ cup diced celery ⅓ cup peeled, seeded and diced cucumber ¼ cup diced red bell pepper ¼ cup diced green bell pepper ¼ cup diced red onion ¼ cup crumbled feta or cotija cheese ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro ½ jalapeño pepper, minced ¼ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 lime, zested and juiced
1. In a medium bowl, combine beans, celery, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, cheese, cilantro and jalapeño.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, and lime zest and juice. pour over bean mixture and stir to coat.
reCI pe phOtO s: m egAn my ers. WIn ne r: CO u rt esy lOry vO n stADe n
3. Cover and refrigerate 2–4 hours to let flavors meld. sErvEs 4
$500 WInner
Mama’s Chilled Sauerkraut Corn Relish
l O r y v O n s tA D e n heArt OF texAs eC
summer’s hot dogs and sausages get a boost from this lively sauerkraut topping. It’s an excellent side dish for other grilled fare, too. von staden recommends using it to add a peppy zing to steaks. sErvEs 12
1 can (14.5 ounces) sauerkraut ¾ cup sugar ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup vinegar ½ teaspoon celery seeds 1 can (15.25 ounces) corn, drained ½ cup chopped red or green bell pepper 1 jar (4 ounces) pimientos, drained salt and pepper, to taste
1. pour sauerkraut into a colander set over the sink. press with the back of a spoon or use your hands to drain excess liquid from the sauerkraut.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, vinegar and celery seeds. stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture is well blended.
3. Add the drained sauerkraut, corn, bell pepper and pimientos to the dressing and mix well. season with salt and pepper to taste. 4. Cover and chill at least 8 hours before serving, to let the flavors meld.
$500 Recipe Contest
mOre reCIpes >
t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
vegetarian Due Aug 10 A new year is the perfect time to add more vegetables and legumes to your diet. We’re looking for your go-to vegetarian recipe. enter our January 2021 contest online by August 10.
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3 1
Mama’s Watermelon Salad
1 teaspoon celery salt 1 teaspoon sugar
tInA hAll CArter hOu stOn COunt y eC
sAlAd
serve this vibrant salad as soon as it’s prepared to keep the watermelon crisp and the greens from wilting. 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar salt and pepper, to taste ½ medium watermelon, diced 1½ cups baby greens 1 cup diced cucumber ½ cup chopped mint leaves ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ red onion, sliced very thin
Chicken With Confetti Slaw ChrIstIne henDersOn g u A D A l u p e vA l l e y e C
1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper. set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine watermelon, greens, cucumber, mint, feta and onion. Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette and toss gently to coat evenly. sErvEs 6
this chilled salad is wonderful on a hot day. make it ahead of time to let the dressing flavors meld, but be sure not to add the peanuts until just before serving so they retain their crunch. drEssinG
½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup prepared French onion dip 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seed oil 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder
5 cups finely chopped green cabbage ¾ cup finely chopped carrot ¾ cup chopped celery ¾ cup chopped red bell pepper ½ cup finely chopped red onion 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 3 cups shredded cooked chicken 1 cup coarsely chopped dry roasted peanuts
1. d r E s s i n G Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside or refrigerate until ready to make the salad. 2. s A l A d In a large bowl combine cabbage, carrot, celery, bell pepper, onion, parsley and chicken.
3. Add the dressing to the salad and stir to combine thoroughly. 4. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Just before serving, stir in the peanuts. sErvEs 6
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Know Before You Go some events may have been affected by COvID-19. Call or check an event’s website for scheduling details.
AUGUST 07 COurtesy C he t g A r ner
new braunfels [7–8] Whiskey myers, (830) 964-3800, whitewaterrocks.com Kerrville [7–sept. 19] texas: the land & the legacy, the art of robert pummill, (830) 896-2553, museumofwesternart.com
mysterious message
Kerrville [7–8, 14–16, 21–22] Little shop of Horrors, (830) 896-2553, caillouxtheater.com
prehistoric rock art at White shaman preserve seems to tell a story By chE t GArnE r Who is the White shaman?
It’s a mystery that has intrigued archaeologists ever since the discovery of this rock art mural decades ago. I made the trip to Comstock for my opportunity to ponder the mystery for myself. You’ll find the White Shaman Preserve, owned by San Antonio’s Witte Museum, on U.S. Highway 90, less than 2 miles from Seminole Canyon State Park, about halfway between Comstock and Langtry. The surrounding landscape, the Lower Pecos Canyonlands, holds hundreds of drawings and murals dating back 2,000–4,000 years. After a short hike led by Bryan Bayles, curator of anthropology and health at the Witte Museum, we climbed a treacherous path to a rock shelter approximately 30 feet long and 15 feet deep and perched along a cliff near the Pecos River. A mural, a complicated composition covering the shelter’s entire wall, includes figures, animals, squiggly lines and dots. In the middle stands the White Shaman, an ominous figure with tiny arms and legs. Without an interpreter I could not have understood this cryptic scene. As Bayles began to explain, the complexity of the mural came to life. Figures I didn’t see at first suddenly became clear. Colors that I had missed became vibrant. And I realized that there was much more to this mural than my untrained eye could have noticed. According to tradition, a shaman is a Native American healer and a conduit to the spirit world. And so it’s believed that this mural tells a spiritual story—perhaps even the story of creation. The most amazing aspect is that it was all painted at one time to tell one story. Deciphering that story’s mystery is something every Texan should try.
AbOve
bryan bayles of the Witte museum stands with Chet.
see Chet’s video from White shaman preserve and check out his texplorations on The Daytripper on pbs. enter online to win the book The White Shaman Mural by Carolyn e. boyd. Web extra
3 4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
13 14
edinburg [13–15] edinburg uFo Festival, (956) 383-6246, edinburgufo.com ingram [14–15, 21–22, 28–29] No Body Like Jimmy, (830) 367-5121, hcaf.com ingram [14–sept. 18] point of view—hill country arts Foundation annual Juried show, (830) 367-5121, hcaf.com
15
Kerrville Kids’ triathlon, (830) 257-7300, kerrvilletx.gov lake Jackson bird banding, (979) 480-0999, visitbrazosport.com
17 21 22
dallas inks & skylines, (214) 712-7040, reunion tower.com/hours-events/ tyler [21–23] texas rose breed show, (817) 683-8284, texasrosehorsepark.com lakeway cool arts sales & studio tour, (512) 261-1010, lakeway-tx.gov
t e x AsC O O p pOW e r .C O m
23
castroville st. louis day celebration, (830) 931-2826, saintlouisday.com tyler Western dressage lite, (903) 882-8696, texasrosehorsepark.com
28 29
Kerrville blackwood singers, (830) 896-9393, caillouxtheater.com college station dancing for the health of it! back to the ’80s, (979) 774-4176 Kerrville river roadster show, (830) 257-7300, kerrvilletx.gov
SEPTEMBER 02 tyler [2–6] texas rose sporthorse cup, (903) 882-8696, texasrosehorsepark.com
03 05
la grange [3–6] Fayette county Fair, (979) 702-2426, fayettecountyfair.org doss vFd benefit Fish Fry, (830) 669-2352, dossvfd.org Fort mcKavett new exhibit debut and movie screening, (325) 396-2358 hilltop lakes equestrian association Kentucky derby gala, (713) 503-0470 mcKinney [5–Feb. 15] dinosaurs live!, (972) 562-5566, heardmuseum.org
Submit Your Event We pick events for the magazine directly from texasCooppower.com. submit your event online for October by August 10, and it just might be featured in this calendar. t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Perini Ranch
Getaway Contest Enter online for a chance to win an overnight getaway to picturesque Perini Ranch Guest Quarters and meal at Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap!
Situated south of Houston, Pearland is both a destination all its own and the ultimate starting point to exploring the Texas Gulf Coast region. Prepare to love it!
Enter Today
TexasCoopPower.com
VisitPearland.com Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3 5
Focus on Texas
On the Water
this month, our readers blew us out of the water with terrific catches that flowed in from around the state. texas photographers of all ages take amazing nature shots like a duck takes to water. you’ll be in hot water if you miss out, so let’s get quackin’! G r A c E f u lt z
ClOCk WIse FrOm tOp ste ven ChernOsk y bryAn te x As utIlItIes
“social distancing on the brazos river at sunset near batts Ferry.” k Aren Fulghum bAnDer A eC
“my husband, mike Fulghum, skiing on beautiful medina lake years ago.” mArIA FrIes sen l AmAr eleCtrIC
A stream rushes by after a march rain in brookston. JAmIe b. WAgner peDernAles eC
tricolored heron wading in the salt marsh on south padre Island.
3 6 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
t e x AsC O O p pOW e r .C O m
ClOCk WIse FrOm tO p yeIshA Culp gr AysOn- C OllIn eC
“my 10-year-old daughter, Jacque, took this while playing in the backyard.” Anne lehnI Ck bluebOnne t eC
“skyler at 2½ feeding the seagulls in rockport with her dad.” tInA Webb bluebOnne t eC
“my son, Colin, is an avid fisherman. One of his favorite spots, as seen here, is lake somerville.” JAsmIne ChAnDler gr AysOn- C OllIn eC
Chandler’s son, beau, and husband, kai, play in lake bridgeport.
Upcoming Contests Due Aug 10 Due sep 10 Due OCt 10
On Wheels Forests Saddles
enter online and review submission rules at texasCooppower.com/Contests. W e b e x t r a see Focus on texas on our website for more photos from readers.
t e x AsC O OppOWer .COm
Au g u st 2 0 2 0 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3 7
Observations karla k. morton’s suitcase at White sands national park. Web extra
enter online to win morton and birkelbach’s book, The National Parks: A Century of Grace.
coming home
the wonders of texas prepared distinguished poets to appreciate America’s national parks story And photo By k Arl A k . morton And Al An BirkE lBAch
3 8 T E X AS CO-OP POWER Augu st 2020
t h e n at i o n a l pa r K s are America’s priceless treasures. These lands still need those who are willing to give their time and hearts to make sure the parks continue to be protected. As poets laureate, this was our calling: to visit all 62 national parks and write poems and take photos for each, with a percentage of our book sales going back to the national parks. We, however, are Texas poets laureate. There are new meanings of grand. Even by national park standards, Texas stands up: Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains, ocean, plains, Big Thicket. Because our eyes were already widened by Texas, we had the capacity to appreciate all the wonders the national parks had to offer. Certain things should never fall out of
social consciousness. In this digital age, there is no replacement for nature at its most profound. Wonder cannot be exported or imported but can be captured with words—and those words can travel unlimited miles. The parks are a gift, a legacy, something uniquely American. What better way to instill inspiration in our fellow humans than by bringing these beauties, in the form of books, into their homes. We believe poetry is every person’s art, just as the national parks are every person’s inheritance. Texas was built on big dreams and big quests. Had we lived in a lesser state— another state—we would not have had that in our blood. It prepared us culturally to think beyond borders, to think past the horizon. Travel doesn’t make San Antonio or Fort Worth less iconic. Texas prepares you for wide-accepting visions and makes you appreciate home even more. A lot of the early parks were created under monumentalism. Consider the Alamo, the Chisholm Trail and Willie Nelson—is there anything more monumental than Texas? This is what we came home to, and still come home to—every time. Texas has a rich and deep literary history. We were spoon-fed this from our youth. Like Homer recounting the journey of Odysseus, we longed to be the eyes and ears for the homebound, to bring our tales back to the hearth. We’re certainly not the first artists who believe inspiration could come through great natural beauty, who have fallen in love with the grandeur of our national parks, but we wanted to take it one step further and try to do something incredible: to infuse that beauty into the written word—the eternal language of poetry. D
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*39464919* 39464919 LIMIT 1 - Exp. 10/1/20*
SUPER COUPON
Side tray sold separately.
23999
YOUR CHOICE
OF 7 COLORS
.
Save ITEM 60497/63095 65% 62399/63096/63097/63098 shown Compare to Use Online & In-Store Buffalo Tools
*39473608* 39473608 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 10/1/20*
6999 Save 33%
Use Online & In-Store
*39477151* LIMIT 1 - Exp. 10/1/20*
ITEM 38391/64083 56349/62306 shown 3 9 4 7 7 1 5 1
1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com *Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 10/1/20.
9
$ 99
ITEM 64059, 64722, 64033, 64721, 64031, 64720, 56429
$
1399 .
Save 28%
Use Online & In-Store
*39475569* 39475569
LIMIT 1 - Exp. 10/1/20*
ITEM 63124 63145 shown
Use Online & In-Store
*39475063* 39475063 LIMIT 4 - Exp. 10/1/20*
SUPER COUPON
g
(1394)
(4997)
(2217)
5999
1-1/4 Gallon Home and Garden Sprayer
Save 28
g
$
(902)
Compare to $ Snap-on Blue-Point KRBC10TBPES $830
SUPER COUPON
3-in-1 Portable Power Pack With Jump Starter
Compare to Super Start 55001 $89.99
19999
$
7
®
13999
$
(1514)
30", 5 Drawer Mechanic's Cart
$ 99 $ 99 10
SUPER COUPON
Save $ 90
SUPER COUPON
18" x 12", 1000 lb. Capacity Hardwood Mover’s Dolly
HDFDOLLY $22.99
1 Ton Capacity Foldable Shop Crane
.
.
Use Online & In-Store
29 Piece Titanium Drill Bit Set
(6043)
$
*39476031* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39476031
SUPER COUPON
1099
.
ITEM 62859/63055 62860 shown 39469455
Use Online & In-Store
*39461852* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39461852
ITEM 64284 69594/69955 42292 shown
(1117)
g
SUPER COUPON
10 ft. x 17 ft. Portable Garage
Compare to Schumacher Electric SC1 $30.41
$
(1778)
$
Use Online & In-Store
*39458789* LIMIT 2 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39458789
ITEM 63255 63254 shown
Save 83%
.
8 ft . 10 "
.
SUPER COUPON
9
SUPER COUPON
*39464427* LIMIT 1 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39464427
ITEM 56808 63190 62896 shown
$ 99
Save $ 94
Compare to Briggs & Stratton 20600 $174.44
4
$ 99
99
7 AMP Electric Pole Saw 9.5" Bar
(2899)
*39463228* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39463228
ITEM 40187 61607/62389 94635 shown
$
(6653)
Compare to Worx WG309 $99.98
Automatic Battery Float Charger
$
SUPER COUPON
Save 65%
.
Save 44%
2799 .
Compare to Portfolio SLC12BK $39.98
$ Compare to Norsk 001119346 $19.99
99
(3753)
®
1750 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
.
6 ft . to
$ 99
SUPER COUPON (5446)
99 79 21 99
8
$ 99 Save 70%
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchase d. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, power stations, safes, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Atlas, Bauer, Central Machinery, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 10/1/20.
SUPER COUPON
YOUR CHOICE OF COLOR
SUPER COUPON 4 Piece Anti-Fatigue Foam Mat Set
*39444789* Exp. 10/1/20* 39444789
(3194)
24 ft., 18 Bulb, 12 Socket Outdoor Linkable String Lights
72" x 80" Moving Blanket
LIMIT 3
Use Online & In-Store
SUPER COUPON (5717)
Compare to Blue Hawk 77280 $19.99
2
Use Online & In-Store
*39436604* 39436604
$ 89
Compare to ProElite AZC0AB $5.99
*39441840* LIMIT 1 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39441840
ITEM 56241/64857 shown
ANY SINGLE ITEM*
¢
• Protective shroud
85
.
Save $ 85
4.0
• Easy access drain valve
RUNNING HP
$
Compare to Porter-Cable 118903799 $249.99
1.6
• Powerful induction motor won’t trip your breaker
MAX. PSI
20% OFF
(5885)
12" x 12" Microfiber Cleaning Cloths Pack of 4
(586)
20 Gallon, 135 PSI Oil-Lube Air Compressor
SUPER COUPON
SAVE 88%
4 Piece, 1" x 15 ft. Ratcheting Tie Downs
6
ITEM 63056 63057/63150 56668 63094 shown
Rapid Pump 1.5 Ton Lightweight Aluminum Floor Jack
5999
$
$ 99 Compare to Keeper 5505 $22.80
®
$
1239 .
Save 69%
Use Online & In-Store
*39480619* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39480619
7999
$
Compare to K Tool KTI63094 $151.42 ITEM 64552 64832/64980 64545 shown
Save $ 91
Use Online & In-Store
*39489204* LIMIT 2 - Exp. 10/1/20* 39489204
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
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