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OCTOBER F E AT U R E S

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D E PA RT M E N T S

12 | Serious About Safety

4 | 6 |

The culture at Pioneer Electric Cooperative is shaped by two commitments made by every employee, and the result is an organization where everyone holds one another accountable yet has each other’s back.

8 |

16 | Threats to the Grid

10 |

Cooperatives thrive on providing reliable service, which is why protecting our infrastructure from physical damage includes your keen eye and detailed attention. See how you can help your cooperative diagnose damage quickly.

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

You’re part of something big A RO U N D K A N S A S

Fall season activities statewide CO M M E N TA RY

Celebrate your membership E N E RGY W I S E

Energy efficient heating

Heat pumps may solve heating woes.

18 |

20 | Wild Times

YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N

Bringing the season inside

A pumpkin vase complements a fall table.

24 |

Adventure to Nickerson in south central Kansas for a weekend spent up close with exotic animals at this cozy bed-and-breakfast and working farm.

CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Stories of a teenage food editor Ghosts of food pages past haunting.

26 |

22 | The Super Generation

One generation of Monarch butterflies will return to Mexico for the winter, only to make the 3,000-mile journey back to the U.S. next year. Learn how to do your part in aiding the migration.

2 8 |

M A R K E T P L AC E

Barns, buildings, chicks SAFETY

It takes a lineman’s touch

Safety depends on technology, training and a lineman’s wisdom.

2 9 |

M O N T H LY R E C I P E S

Inspired by fall flavors

From hearty breakfasts to satisfying desserts and everything in between.

KEVIN MCIVER

J E R R I I M G A RT E N -W H I T L E Y

ON THE COVER Pioneer Electric Cooperative accomplished 1 million employee hours of no lost time accidents— and still counting. The co-op’s culture of safety begins with respect. See story on Page 12. OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

As a Co-op Consumer-Member, Did You Know?

(ISSN 0091-9586) OCTOBER 2019 VOL. 69, NO. 10 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC., 2019 WWW.KEC.COOP

Bruce Graham

Chief Executive Officer

Vicki Estes

Director of Communications, Editor

Carrie Kimberlin

Manager of Creative Solutions

Shaylee Arpin

you are part of something extraordinary? You are a consumer and a member of an electric co-op that plays a vital role in transforming your community. It’s one of more than 900 electric co-ops across the nation, not only providing energy, but also serving as an engine of economic development for more than 19 million American homes, businesses, farms and schools in 47 states. In fact: ffElectric co-ops invest $12 billion annually in local economies. DID YOU KNOW

ffElectric co-ops serve 42 million

people across 88% of U.S. counties. ffCooperatives are reducing emissions: Co-ops reduced sulphur dioxide emissions 68% from 2009-2017. Co-ops reduced nitrogen oxide emissions 34% from 2009-2017 Co-ops reduced carbon dioxide emissions 9% since 2009 while increasing generation by more than 12 million megawatt-hours ffCo-ops have jump-started renewable energy growth: Since 2010, co-op renewable energy capacity has increased

145% from 4 gigawatts to 9.7 gigawatts. More than 90% of electric co-ops provide electricity generated by renewable energy resources. Co-ops also purchase 10 gigawatts of hydropower from federal power marketing administrations. More than 560 co-ops in 36 states use enough wind energy to serve 2 million homes. ffIn 2017, electric cooperatives supported 611,600 American jobs, 68,200 electric co-op jobs, 97,600 contractor jobs, 170,900 supplier jobs, and 274,900 consumer spending jobs. ffIn 2017, America’s electric

co-ops returned more than $1.1 billion in excess revenue to their consumer-members. Now you know, as a consumermember of your local electric co-op, you are part of something extraordinary. We celebrate co-ops this month because co-ops truly make a difference in the rural communities they serve. KCL

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

Multimedia Communications Specialist Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Keith McNickle President

Terry Hobbs

Vice President

Craig Kostman

Secretary

Teresa Miller Treasurer

You receive Kansas Country Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DS&O, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Lyon-Coffey, Lebo Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Radiant, Fredonia Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington Tri-County, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.70 per year. Individual non-member subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).

Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554. Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching an audited circulation of 9,378,177 monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

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THROUGH OCT. 27 Mr. Gourdman’s

Pumpkin Patch, Derby. O pen Saturdays and Sundays; weekdays by appointment only. Variety of pumpkins and gourds in all sizes and colors, plus hayrack rides, corn maze, playground, boats and canoes, and Lil’ Rascals Clubhouse and movies. 3750 S. Dusty Rd., www. wichitaspumpkinpatch.com, 316-733-1887. SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS IN OCTOBER Fall Blast, Scott City. E njoy a challenging corn maze, hayrides and much more! Held at the Bellwether Barn. bellwetherbarn.com. OCT. 1-21 Area Artist Exhibit, Fredonia.

Fredonia Arts Council sponsors local artist’s work. Open house Oct. 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Stone House Gallery, 320 N. Seventh 620-3782052, stonehouse2052@gmail.com. OCT. 3-5 Fall Nationals XIII, Hays. M ore

than 200 IMCA national, state, regional and local champions compete on 3/8 oval dirt track. Held at RPM Speedway. rollingplainsmotor. speedway on Facebook, email info@ rpmspeedway.net or visit rpmspeedway.net. OCT. 4 First Friday Food Trucks, Garden City. Food Trucks in Stevens Park from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Call Garden City Downtown Vision at 620-276-0891. OCT. 4 Customer Appreciation Picnic,

Fredonia. The SKIL Resource Center invites you to their annual free public picnic held at Grace First Assembly Church, 1102 Washington, from 5-7 p.m. Event includes food, drawings and prizes. 620-378-4881 or www.skilonline.com. OCT. 5 Stitches in Time Quilt Show, Ulysses. V endors and refreshments available. Try your hand at winning a lap quilt. Tickets in advance or at the door. Grand County Civic Center, 1000 Patterson Ave., 620-353-4193. OCT. 5 Fall Fest, Ulysses. D owntown will be bustling with activities for the whole family beginning at 9 a.m. with a farmers market, safety fest, car show, tiger egg hunt, music,

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

vendors and more. Beer garden available for adults. 620-356-4700. OCT. 5 Country Tough Competition, Burns. Register online to enter the country tough competition with runs/walks and farm activities (like rolling a tractor tire!) Walter’s Pumpkin Patch, 10001 NW US Highway 77, 3 16-320-4150. OCT. 5 Casavant Pipe Organ Dedication, Dodge City. C elebrate the dedication of new Casavant pipe organ at St. Cornelius’ Episcopal Church at 6 p.m. Recital features Dr. Jan Kraybill performing great organ literature and familiar hymns. 200 W. Spruce, search St. Cornelius Episcopal Church, Dodge City on Facebook. OCT. 5 Street Race and Car Show, Argonia. 1 0 a.m. car show; 1 p.m. drag races; food vendors available. 620-435-6553, www. cityofargonia.com/events. OCT. 5 The Lord’s Acre Benefit Dinner

and Auction, Conway Springs. D inner begins at 5 p.m., Auction at 7 p.m. Meal delivery available. Mitzi Taton 316-540-0447. OCT. 5 Ride on the Wild Side, Kirwin. T ake a noncompetitive annual bike ride that loops 31 miles around Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy the scenic view and wildlife along the way. Phillips County CVB, 785-543-2321, www.phillipscountykansas.com. OCT. 5 Old Settler’s Day, Kirwin. R egister

for the 5K run/walk for all ages at 6:45 a.m. Parade begins at 10 a.m. Celebration includes food stands, games, horseshoe pitching, horse show and demo derby. OCT. 5 Asian Wellness Day, Wichita. T ake advantage of free or low-cost health screenings. Interpreters provided. Health fair open to the public and located at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 316-337-6047, audrey.nguyen@ks.gov. OCT. 5 Laboratory Health Fair, Holyrood. H eld from 7-9 a.m. at the Holyrood Fire Department. Test available

without physician’s order. No insurance filed. Pre-registrations available at www.ewmed.com until Oct. 4 at noon. Hosted by the Ellsworth County Medical Center. 111 N. Main Street. OCT. 5 Tallgrass Tales, Alma. S tories from

the Flint Hills program, includes a potluck lunch beginning at 12:30 p.m. Filmmaker Mark Fieden shares highlights from the interviews beginning at 2 p.m. 24098 Volland Road, 785-499-3616. OCT. 5-6 Cellar Tour, Alma. T ake a tour of

historic arched roof cellars, unique to the Flint Hills. Tours held by The Volland Store. Lunch available. thevollandstore.com. OCT. 5-6 Pumpkin Patch, Stockton. F rom 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday at Stockton’s Lower City Park on Highway 24. Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook, stockstonchamber@ruraltel.net. OCT. 6 Material Girls Quilt Guild

Auction, Phillipsburg. W allhangers, table runners, quilts and other items. Featuring quilted items made by guild members. Located at the Phillips County Extension Annex. 784 Sixth St., 785-302-1490 or email kansaskelly@ ruraltel.net. OCT. 6 Hungry Heartland, Alma. A

project by students and faculty of Kansas State University, the exhibit shows challenges of food deserts in America’s heartland. 913-5226270, patty@thevollandstore.com, 24098 Volland Road. OCT. 12 Murder Mystery Dinner Party, Ness City. Dress up for this Totally 80s murder theme, prizes awarded. Dinner at 6:30 p.m. , show at 7 p.m. Benefits United Credit Union post-secondary scholarships program. 785-798-3223, United Credit Union on Facebook. OCT. 12 Lords Acre Dinner, Tisdale. C ountry store starting at 4:30 p.m., dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Dinner includes chicken and noodles or smoked ham with sides. Auction

OCT. 12 Soup Dinner, Junction City. F all soup dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Little County Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Free will donation appreciated, military eat free. Lynn 785-482-3213, 9719 Clark’s Creek Road. OCT. 12 Oldies Night, Ottawa. S pecial

guests Duke Mason and Haylie Bagwell. Show begins at 7 p.m., pre-show performance prior. Dale Reese 785-214-0013, grandoopry@gmail. com, 301 S. Hickory. OCT. 12 Oktoberfest, Kinsley. A nod to

German heritage, gather and enjoy German food, beer and music. Live music from the Blue Notes Pola Band and Lucus Maddy and the Kansas Cartel. Search Oktoberfest-Edwards County on Facebook.

OCT. 15-JAN. 1 Midwest’s Largest Christmas Tree Display, Lecompton. Celebrate Christmas at the Territorial Capital Museum with 170 antique and vintage decorated trees. 640 Woodson, 785-887-6148, www.lecomptonkansas.com.

OCT. 18-19 Svensk Hyllingsfest,

Lindsborg. C elebrate Swedish heritage in Lindsborg. Multitude of activities and food available. www.svenskhyllningsfest.org. OCT. 18-20 Smoky Hill Trail Association Conference, Fort Wallace. “ Fort Wallace-The Fightin’est Fort on the Smoky Hill” conference. www.smokyhilltrail.com.

OCT. 17 Business Development Expo,

Clay Center. Twenty ways to start and grow your business including breakout sessions and vendors. Clay County Economic Development Group 785-632-5974, ccedg@ claycountyecodevo.com.

OCTOBER 12 Tisdale Lords Acre Sale

at 6:30 p.m. Located on Highway 160, east of Winfield 6.5 miles.

Continued on page 27 ACT I V I T I ES  C R A F T FA I R

Smoked ham or chicken and noodles dinner from 5-6:30 p.m. Baked goods, handmade items and produce for sale. Auction at 6:30 p.m. Call Tisdale Methodist Church at 620-221-2607.

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6.5 miles east of Winfield at 17507 US 160 Hwy.

TISDALE COUNTRY HOLIDAY E XTRAVAGANZA

OCT. 12 Car Show, Sedan. C ar show and

fish and mountain oyster fry held by the Sedan Area Economic Development Committee. OCT. 12 96th Annual Homecoming Festival, Fredonia. Festival includes parade, carnival, live entertainment, vendors, food trucks and more. Search Fredonia Homecoming 2019 on Facebook. OCT. 12 Kansas Indian Artifact Show, Leavenworth. D isplays of prehistoric artifacts, arrowheads, gorgets, axes and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Harvest Christian Center International. 616 Grand Ave., 913-244-5852. OCT. 12-13 Pome on the Range,

Williamsburg. Take wagon rides and pick your own apples and pumpkins. Food, kid’s activities, wine tasting and more. Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. 785-7465492, www.pomeontherange.com. OCT. 13 Falun Classic 32-Mile Bicycle Ride, Falun. T he Falun Classic is a fun, 32mile ride on blacktop. The ride begins at 1:30 p.m. in Swensson Park. 888-227-2227, www. visitlindsborg.com.

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OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

C O M M E N TA RY

Celebrate Your Membership in a Principled Organization

BY B R U C E G R A H A M

Bruce Graham

Your cooperative has principles. Co-ops follow seven cooperative principles, which combine to help build trust between the co-ops, its members and the community.

READERS OF Kansas Country Living are part of the electric co-op community, one of America’s great success stories. But a lot of electric co-op members might not know enough to tell that story well. So, here’s some help. About one in 10 Americans receives their power the way you do, from an electric co-op. An electric co-op belongs to the people it serves—that would be you and your neighbors—and were first organized in the 1930s because city utilities, owned by investors wanting to make a profit, ignored rural America. So, the unserved saw the vision of FDR’s Rural Electrification Act and banded together to bring light and a better life to farms and rural communities across the country. October is National Co-op Month, the time of year when co-ops celebrate the many ways they are unique. This year, we’re focusing on ties to the local community. Your co-op was built by the community, for the community, so let’s take a look at what that means for you, the members of the co-op. YOUR CO-OP IS HERE TO STAY. A co-op belongs to the members it serves so it’s not going to move out of the country, or even across the state. Sure, there have been a few electric cooperative consolidations in Kansas over the past few decades and sometimes that may mean a new place to pay your bill, but the cooperative keeps its roots nearby. Today there are 28 distribution cooperatives in Kansas and no two are alike. Because cooperatives are not-for-profit, they may be perceived as small operations. Far from it. The largest electric cooperative in the state has $507 million in assets and 273 employees. The median size for cooperatives in Kansas is $38 million in assets and 30 employees. Collectively, the Sunflower State’s electric cooperatives serve 335,908 meters, maintain 88,804 miles of line, and have 1,412 full-time employees. YOUR CO-OP IS PART OF A LARGER CO-OP FAMILY. Across the country, there are more than

900 electric co-ops. Those cooperatives, through the years, have formed many other cooperatives and associations to meet their needs for finance, information services, insurance and technology.

ranks of members. Cooperative board members establish policy and set goals for the organization, hire and direct management, and are ultimately responsible to the members. Each director brings different skills to the boardroom but they all have one thing in common—the recognition that the responsibility to serve you is significant. YOUR CO-OP CARES ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.

The co-op’s priority is to provide power to its members and empower the future. Because each cooperative belongs to the people who live there, the co-op listens to the community. Whether it’s working with the latest energy efficiency technologies or keeping the electric grid safe and secure, your electric co-op can offer solutions that make the most sense locally. Cooperatives also generate jobs, keep profits local and pay state and local taxes to help support services. Your co-op partners with local organizations on community events, fundraisers and youth programs. We’re your friends and neighbors. By investing in the region, your electric co-op supports local economic development and prosperity. YOUR COOPERATIVE HAS PRINCIPLES. Co-ops follow seven cooperative principles, which combine to help build trust between the co-op, its members and the community. For example, the second principle, Democratic Member Control, gives members a voice in the co-op’s policies and decisions. The Member Economic Participation principle means members contribute equitably to the co-op’s operation and allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the co-op, setting up reserves and patronage, and supporting activities approved by the membership. Through the fifth principle, Education, Training and Information, co-ops provide members with the knowledge to guide the cooperative’s development and operation. Studies show that consumers want to do business with companies that share their values, making today’s environment ideal for cooperatives and their commitment to the communities in which their members live and work. Join me in celebrating your cooperative membership this October. KCL

YOUR COOPERATIVE IS GOVERNED BY YOU.

Co-ops represent democracy in action, with control exercised by a board of directors elected from the

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

BRUCE GRAHAM is CEO of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka.

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E N E R GY W I S E

Is a Heat Pump Right for Your Home?

central heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system with a central system air-source heat pump. This system’s compressor is also located outside, but in this case, it’s connected to the home’s duct system to distribute cold or warm air through the existing vents. The central system heat pump can be an efficient option if your existing duct system is in good shape. A less common type of heat pump is a groundsource, or geothermal, system that taps into heat that’s naturally underground year-round. Geothermal systems are typically an expensive investment, but they are quite efficient. Heat pumps are typically much more efficient than electric resistance systems and can be a solid solution in a wide variety of circumstances. They can be the right choice in a manufactured home, a construction addition or as a replacement for a broken or inefficient HVAC system. They’re also becoming more popular for central heating in new construction. Here’s how heat pumps work: During winter, they pull warmth from the outside air into the home; during summer, the process is reversed and warmth from inside the home is exhausted outside.

MARCELA GARA, RESOURCE MEDIA

D E AR PAT: My cousin just installed a heat pump, so now she uses fan units placed on the walls instead of her baseboard heaters. My neighbors got a heat pump too, but they replaced their furnace and air conditioner so it blows through the old furnace vents? Could one of these options work for my home as well? – Anke D E AR AN KE : The short answer is yes. The two most common types of heat pumps, which you’ve just described, are often good options. It sounds like your cousin replaced her electric baseboard heaters with a ductless mini-split heat pump. This is a good solution because older baseboard heaters are typically inefficient. The mini-split system has a compressor outside that is connected with refrigerant lines to the blowers inside. A ductless system can serve up to four zones, so it can heat a small home or can be used in combination with another heating system in a larger home. The ductless mini-split system is a great option for a home that does not have a duct system, or if the existing duct system is inefficient or poorly designed. Your neighbors most likely replaced their

BY PAT K E E G A N A N D B R A D T H I E S S E N

Heat pumps are efficient options in most climates, even for new construction.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

Heat pumps are typically much more efficient than electric resistance systems and can be a solid solution in a wide variety of circumstances.

P I E D M O N T E L E C T R I C M E M B E R S H I P C O R P O R AT I O N

It may seem odd that warmth can be found in outdoor winter air, but heat pumps are amazing inventions. They’ve become much more efficient in recent years to the point that they can be effective year-round in most cold winter climates. The efficiency of a heat pump is measured in two ways: The HSPF (Heating Season Performance Factor) rating measures heating efficiency, and the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating measures cooling efficiency. The minimum ratings for a heat pump are HSPF 8.2 and SEER 14. Heat pumps with the ENERGY STAR® rating are significantly more efficient than the minimum standard. Here’s how to know if you should consider a heat pump for your home: ffWANT TO SAVE MONEY? If you are currently heating your home with electric resistance or propane or heating oil, and you seal air leaks and install additional insulation, installing an efficient heat pump could reduce your heating costs by up to 75%. And if you are currently cooling your home with an old A/C system or window A/C units, you could also cut your cooling costs. ffWANT HEATING AND COOLING FLEXIBILITY?

A ductless mini-split heat pump can serve up to four individual zones or rooms, and each room’s temperature can be controlled separately.

ffWANT SAFER HEAT? Heat pumps eliminate

the need to burn fuels inside your home and exhaust combustion gases. There’s no risk of carbon monoxide or gas leaks that can come from flaws in a system that runs on natural gas, propane, fuel oil or wood.

Before you consider installing any new heating and cooling system for your home, I strongly suggest you conduct an energy audit. Your electric co-op may provide energy audits or be able to recommend a local professional.

Your electric co-op may be able to provide energy auditors to help determine if a heat pump is a good solution for your home.

As with any major home improvements or installations, be sure to get a few quotes and references before committing or making any payments. KCL This column was co-written by PAT KEEGAN and BRAD THIESSEN of Collaborative Efficiency. For more information on heat pumps, please visit: www.collaborativeefficiency. com/energytips.

OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Respect Fosters CULTURE OF

Safety CULTURE OF

BY V I C K I E ST E S

Pioneer Electric Achieves 1 Million Employee Hours Without a Lost Time Accident

Pioneer Electric Cooperative, based in Ulysses, this summer reached 1 million employee hours worked without a lost time accident, a feat not accomplished since Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.’s Loss Control, Safety and Compliance department began tracking this information in 1991. LCS&C acknowledges yearly those Kansas electric co-ops who complete a full year without lost time accidents, which LCS&C defines as missing a complete eight-hour day due to work-related accidents or injuries. Pioneer’s milestone illustrates the emphasis Kansas electric co-ops place on safety—within the walls of the co-ops, in the field of work of the linemen and with the businesses, organizations and communities they serve. And co-ops walk the talk of the cooperative principles, in this case principle No. 5 – Education, Training and Information.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

THE CULTURE AT PIONEER ELECTRIC is founded on two commitments made by every employee: treat one another exceptionally well at all times no matter what; and provide world-class service to co-op consumer-members. “As a result, this is the standard we hold one another accountable to,” said Steve Epperson, Pioneer CEO. “There is acceptance among all employees that we choose to abide by a very high standard of behavior which absolutely requires teamwork and accountability.” This culture has fostered open communication among staff and given employees permission to hold one another accountable, while also having each other’s backs. From the board room to the bucket truck, Epperson says it’s truly about doing what’s right. “If you say you really care about people and care about your employees and you don’t help them or facilitate in allowing them to hold one another accountable to keeping one another safe and are vigilant about it, it’s just not believable.” Pioneer’s culture of safety also creates transparency in communications from board, to management, to staff to co-op members.

milestone safety record to the board and management’s commitment to ensuring employee safety. “They’ve been strategic in providing for all the training, including what’s provided by KEC, which gives us the ability to abide by all safety rules,” he said. By having what Epperson refers to as “the right people on the bus” he said less supervision is required which translates to fewer costs. “We save money not only in personnel costs but we save exponentially more money in what is hard to quantify in efficiencies—fewer bad things occurring that cost members money.” Epperson said Pioneer has the lowest personnel costs per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in the state and region, and one of the lowest in the country. The co-op’s member satisfaction scores also indicate high buy-in from those served by the co-op as the most recent customer service ACSI index showed Pioneer with the highest score in the nation, at the time of the survey, at a 91. “It’s proven how happy members are with what’s happening as well as the cost savings that are afforded us because of that. The formula is working,” Epperson said.

TOP DOWN

NO BLAME, NO GUILT

Pioneer’s top-down approach to safety is not about hierarchy within the organization but rather the board and management making safety a priority by investing in their employees and equipment. The co-op reviews safety metrics several times per year to continually evaluate and monitor whether they are living up to their high standards, and Pioneer management ensures the board and co-op members understand the co-op’s direction in compensation and personnel alignment. These metrics are shared with Pioneer members at every annual meeting and through various communication channels, like Kansas Country Living. “The board has withheld absolutely nothing and has resourced our employees with everything needed to get the job done, whether it’s tools or safety equipment,” Epperson said. “Our board’s approach is that we don’t mind paying a premium because we are getting premium outcomes.” George Bushnell, vice president of engineering and operations for Pioneer, also attributes Pioneer’s

Pioneer safety meetings encourage open discussion and disclosure of all incidents, even those that some employees may see as insignificant. “A key component to the safety program is that we don’t have cops and monitors. We have coaches who are there to support staff doing the right thing for the right reasons and encourage open and honest communications,” Epperson said. The co-op also depends on its safety team to review and make recommendations. The team of five to six employees comprises representatives from “inside” the co-op—those who work behind the scenes in customer service, billing, communications, etc.—those “outside” the co-op who work on the lines and equipment, and a crew foreman. The safety team meets after every monthly safety meeting to review accidents and near misses and offer corrective measures to avoid incidents in the future. They also generate ideas for future training topics based on their monthly discussions. Danny Law, safety and compliance manager

OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

for Pioneer, said employees volunteer for the safety team, and currently they are trying to rotate staff on and off the team every six months to make sure all voices are heard. “The safety team is our eyes and ears,” Law said. “We want everyone who has an interest to get a chance to participate.” Bushnell, who recently celebrated 38 years at the co-op, also credits the success of the co-op’s safety program to two additional reasons: no blame, no guilt. “We don’t blame. We want to figure out how to mitigate that risk in the future,” Bushnell said. “Often times, employees are harder on themselves than we are.” Law, an 18-year employee of Pioneer, says employee transparency in discussing incidents openly is the result of having no negative repercussions. “We review accidents and near misses to learn so the younger guys can learn about it and maybe not experience that situation in the future,” he said. According to Epperson, Bushnell, Law and Mike Haney, manager of engineering and operations, all embody what is required for open communications, particularly among a group of linemen who don’t want to rat somebody out or point fingers. “We’ve proven through experience it’s not about guilt or blame it’s just about improvement and safety.” Second chances are rarely afforded when mistakes are made working with high-voltage electricity and equipment, and Law believes Pioneer’s 1 million employee hours worked without a lost time accident underscores their commitment to each other. “The guys (linemen) don’t get a second chance to make a mistake,” Law said. “It can be detrimental to not only our organization, but we live in small communities out here. It would affect everybody if we had a serious accident.”

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Electrical safety education for the public is another important aspect of the co-op’s safety program. Pioneer’s board of trustees approved the purchase of a high-voltage demonstration trailer, which is used by the co-op nearly nonstop to provide electrical safety outreach to various organizations. The demo trailer allows linemen to take a transformer, step it up to live voltage and pull an 8,000-volt arc. “It opens a lot of people’s eyes,” Law said. The co-op routinely makes presentations at county fairs, area feedlots, and focuses on local farming operations. “Farm equipment has just gotten huge compared to what it used to be and they can end up getting into power lines,” Law said. At the end of September, Pioneer staff traveled with the trailer to Cherokee, Oklahoma, to demonstrate electrical safety to about 500 high school students. The team teaches kids how to respond if they are in a car accident and come in contact with power lines. “Until somebody shows them, they don’t really know and don’t think about it,” Law said. The board’s approval of purchasing the trailer and management’s willingness to allow staff time to give the community presentations sets the example for Pioneer staff and the communities served by the co-op. “Our community knows we are very serious about safety, about keeping them safe as well as us observing the same safety advice we give,” Epperson said.

IT’S IN THEIR DNA

Pioneer’s approach to safety—with both staff and co-op members—ties to the organization’s two commitments of exceptional treatment of one another with no exceptions and providing world-class service. Taking great care of one another is part of Pioneer’s DNA. Epperson says it’s the Pioneer way, to live up to what is uncommon and excellent and not settle for anything less. “We are blessed with incredible employees who routinely make us look better than we deserve as management because they’ve bought in, they take it personally,” Epperson said. “It’s a badge of pride to wear the Pioneer logo and know what that means.” KCL

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Ways Your Co-op

Manages Physical Threats

TO THE GRID

While the threat of cybersecurity attacks on the electric grid get a lot of attention these days, physical damage from storms or critters is much more likely to disrupt power. There are many physical threats to our power delivery system that your electric cooperative works hard to manage daily. From weather events, such as ice storms, tornadoes and flooding, to criminal activity including copper theft and shooting at a substation, it takes proactive commitment to consistently deliver reliable service. Even something as small as a squirrel can damage infrastructure and cause power outages. your co-op is ready to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible. Here are three key ways your co-op works to keep your power as reliable as possible:

IF THE LIGHTS DO GO OUT,

Being Part of the Community.

One of the most valuable things about being served by an electric co-op is that you also have an ownership stake in the way the cooperative operates. Electric co-ops know our communities. We live and work in the

neighborhoods and towns we serve. You know many of your co-op’s board members and employees. And, in turn, board members and employees are personally acquainted with or are a part of fire departments, county supervisors, EMTs, etc. We know emergencies can happen at any time, and these relationships are important in urgently responding to unplanned events or in preparing for more predictable events, including winter storms or summer flooding. Continued on page 17

WAYS YOU CAN HELP REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

We ask co-op members to be mindful of unusual situations and to immediately report them to your electric co-op or local authorities. For example, if you see non-cooperative personnel near a substation, that’s noteworthy and should be reported. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, we ask you to say something so that it can be investigated.

CHECK FOR DAMAGE If you have tree branches or other vegetation growing too closely to power lines or utility poles, please contact your electric co-op so they can keep the lines clear in order to provide the most reliable service. 16

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

Continued from page 16

Kansas electric co-ops routinely assist their sister co-ops when Mother Nature creates widespread outages in the state and region. We’re part of one large cooperative community, and cooperation among cooperatives is an essential principle of providing reliable electric service.

Planning, Preparing and Practicing.

Coordinating with Stakeholders.

There is a well-known saying that it’s not if a crisis will occur, but when it will occur. What constitutes a crisis can mean different things to members, depending on the role electricity plays in their daily lives or businesses. Your electric co-op tests disaster and business continuity plans regularly and takes pride in being prepared at all times. Plans not only focus on how to prevent threats, but also how to respond and recover in the event of an incident. Business activities, such as vegetation management or pole inspections, may seem routine; however, they are strategically performed to proactively reduce power disruptions. Trees that are too close to power lines can cause major damage during a storm and may result in a lengthy outage. Your electric co-op places a high importance on partnerships with fellow cooperatives, industry partners and government agencies to mitigate the potential impacts of all types of threats to our system. Electric cooperatives work closely with the rest of the electric industry, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on matters of critical infrastructure protection— that includes sharing necessary information about potential threats and working together to avoid disruptions to the extent possible. Although the electric grid is incredibly resilient and can withstand many physical impacts, it’s also a dynamic infrastructure that requires constant attention. Your electric co-op is vigilant in ensuring grid protection from physical and cyber threats in order to power your lives. KCL

KSU RECEIVES GRANT TO ADVANCE SOLAR ENERGY’S ROLE IN STRENGTHENING GRID RESILIENCY received a three-year, $2.8 million research award from the U.S. Department of Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Office to advance solar energy’s role in strengthening the resilience of the U.S. electricity grid. This project will enhance utility operators’ awareness of and resilience to cyberattacks. The existing U.S. power grid was designed to deliver power to customers from a central generator. As more solar and other distributed energy resources are added to the grid, utility operators must develop new tools that will allow them to integrate diverse energy resources, detect and mitigate disturbances, and provide strong protection against physical and cyber risks. However, the need for data sharing between the photovoltaic system, operational tools and the electric grid has led to increased vulnerability to cyberattack. This project, led by Bala Natarajan, the Clair N. Palmer and Sara M. Palmer professor in the Mike Wiegers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will develop cyber-smart photovoltaic inverter technologies, system-level coordinated cyberattack detection methods, robust state estimation strategies, and unique modeling and control capabilities. “Taken together, these technologies combine to enable measurements from solar inverters and grid sensors to be gathered and processed into actionable and visualized status updates for grid operators,” Natarajan said. “These tools and algorithms will enable utilities to better manage and use data from distributed energy devices and enhance operations.” The project is one of 10 selected nationwide in the Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies program to develop grid management tools and models that show how solar situational awareness will enhance power system resilience, especially at critical infrastructure sites. This project is among the largest to date in the electrical and computer engineering department at the university and is the first project from the solar office to be awarded to a university in Kansas. The research team includes co-investigators Hongyu Wu and Mohammad Shadmand, both assistant professors; Behrooz Mirafzal, associate professor; and Anil Pahwa, university distinguished professor, all from electrical and computer engineering at Kansas State University. Collaborating industries and organizations include Midwest Energy in Hays, Oracle America Inc., the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Typhoon HIL Inc., and Enphase Energy Inc. KCL

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

YO U R P L A C E I N T H E G A R D E N

Brighten Your Fall Table with a Pumpkin Vase

BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .

after the final frost, I noticed a large leafy plant that established itself in the compost heap near the garden. It was clearly a member of the Cucurbit family based on the shape and size of the leaves. I decided to transplant it into a spacious location within the garden to see what fruited. A few days later I noticed another and then another leafy plant in the compost heap. Ultimately, I transplanted five mystery plants into the garden. To my surprise each one turned out to be a pumpkin plant. By the end of July, we had more pumpkins than anyone ever needs during summer. Now that it’s officially fall, pumpkins are welcomed into most homes. Prepare yourself as the region turns to pumpkin spice, with some facts about your pumpkin harvest and a simple project to adorn your table. Pumpkins are in the same family, Cucurbitaceae, as squash, melons and gourds. They are the largest variety of squash. Pumpkin plants grow separate male and female flowers requiring pollen to travel from the male to the female flower for fruit to grow. Often this is the work of bees. Once the flower is fertilized it takes between 90 and 100 days to harvest a mature pumpkin. If the flower does not get pollinated it will fall off the plant. There are typically 10 to 20 times the number of male flowers as female flowers on a pumpkin plant. Both types of flowers open for a single day. Female flowers form a swollen ball shape at the base. At the end of the day the male flower closes and falls off the plant. If the female flower has been pollinated, it closes and the fruit will begin to form. If it did not get fertilized it will close and drop to the ground. Pumpkin flowers are edible with a taste described as sweet and earthy. Common problems with pumpkins include powdery mildew and cucumber beetles. A fungicide can be used to treat powdery mildew if it appears early in the growing season. Cucumber beetles can be eliminated using an insecticide, however, treat plants in the late afternoon or evening when the bees are less likely to be pollinating the flowers.

IN THE SPRING,

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.

Using a pumpkin as a vase for your fall floral arrangement is a creative way to brighten your table and can make a great host gift for the next party you attend.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

Pumpkins come in many varieties with differing shapes, sizes and colors. I have always been fond of the miniature pumpkins which coincidentally is one type that has spread out in my garden. As I pondered what to do with the influx of pumpkins in the garden, I tried out this design. Begin with a mini pumpkin. Cut a circle around the top removing the stem. Remove the seeds and pulp from inside. Fill the pumpkin with water and select small cut flowers to insert inside to create an adorable fall floral arrangement. You may choose to line the inside of the pumpkin with a votive candle holder or foil. You can also cut a small piece of floral oasis to fit inside the pumpkin which will hold the flowers more firmly in place. A larger pumpkin can be used for this project, but will require more effort to clean out the seeds and additional flowers to complete the arrangement. Using a pumpkin as a vase for your fall floral arrangement is a creative way to brighten your table and can make a great host gift for the next party you attend. It’s time to jump into pumpkin season with a fresh display. KCL CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.

This bright orange miniature pumpkin makes a perfect living vase for these tiny Zinnias.

Leading Acid Reflux Pill Becomes an AntiAging Phenomenon

Clinical studies show breakthrough acid reflux treatment also helps maintain vital health and helps protect users from the serious conditions that accompany aging such as fatigue and poor cardiovascular health by David Waxman, Seattle Washington: A clinical study on a leading acid reflux pill shows that its key ingredient relieves digestive symptoms while suppressing the inflammation that contributes to premature aging in men and women. And, if consumer sales are any indication of a product’s effectiveness, this ‘acid reflux pill turned anti-aging phenomenon’ is nothing short of a miracle. Sold under the brand name AloeCure, it was already backed by clinical data documenting its ability to provide all day and night relief from heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, irritable bowel, gas, bloating, and more. But soon doctors started reporting some incredible results… “With AloeCure, my patients started reporting less joint pain, more energy, better sleep, stronger immune systems… even less stress and better skin, hair, and nails” explains Dr. Liza Leal; a leading integrative health specialist and company spokesperson. AloeCure contains an active ingredient that helps improve digestion by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Scientists now believe that this acid imbalance is what contributes to painful inflammation throughout the rest of the body. The daily allowance of AloeCure has shown to calm this inflammation which is why AloeCure is so effective. Relieving other stressful symptoms related to GI health like pain, bloating, fatigue, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and nausea. Now, backed with new clinical studies, AloeCure is being recommended by doctors everywhere to help improve digestion, calm painful inflammation, soothe joint pain, and even reduce the appearance of wrinkles – helping patients to look and feel decades younger.

FIX YOUR GUT & FIGHT INFLAMMATION Since hitting the market, sales for AloeCure have taken off and there are some very good reasons why. To start, the clinical studies have been impressive. Participants taking the active ingredient in AloeCure saw a stunning 100% improvement in digestive symptoms, which includes fast and lasting relief from reflux. Users also experienced higher energy levels and endurance, relief from chronic discomfort and better sleep. Some even reported healthier

looking skin, hair, and nails. A healthy gut is the key to a reducing swelling and inflammation that can wreak havoc on the human body. Doctors say this is why AloeCure works on so many aspects of your health. AloeCure’s active ingredient is made from the healing compound found in Aloe vera. It is both safe and healthy. There are also no known side effects. Scientists believe that it helps improve digestive and immune health by acting as a natural acid-buffer that improves the pH balance of your stomach. Research has shown that this acid imbalance contributes to painful inflammation throughout your entire body and is why AloeCure seems to be so effective.

EXCITING RESULTS FROM PATIENTS

izing your entire body. When your digestive system isn’t healthy, it causes unwanted stress on your immune system, which results in inflammation in the rest of the body. The recommended daily allowance of acemannan in AloeCure has been proven to support digestive health, and calm painful inflammation without side effects or drugs. This would explain why so many users are experiencing impressive results so quickly.

REVITALIZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY With daily use, AloeCure helps users look and feel decades younger and defend against some of the painful inflammation that accompanies aging and can make life hard. By buffering stomach acid and restoring gut health, AloeCure calms painful inflammation and will help improve digestion… soothe aching joints… reduce the appearance of wrinkles and help restore hair and nails … manage cholesterol and oxidative stress… and improve sleep and brain function… without side effects or expense. Readers can now reclaim their energy, vitality, and youth regardless of age or current level of health.

To date over 5 million bottles of AloeCure have been sold, and the community seeking non-pharma therapy for their GI health continues to grow. According to Dr. Leal, her patients are absolutely thrilled with their results and are often shocked by how fast it works. “For the first time in years, they are free from concerns about their digestion and almost every other aspect of their health,” says Dr. Leal, “and I recommend it to everyone who One AloeCure Capsule Daily wants to improve GI health without resorting • Helps End Digestion Nightmares to drugs, surgery, or OTC medications.” • Helps Calm Painful Inflammation • Soothes Stiff & Aching Joints “I was always in ‘indigestion hell.’ Doctors • Reduces appearance of Wrinkles put me on all sorts of antacid remedies. Noth& Increases Elasticity ing worked. Dr. Leal recommended I try Aloe• Manages Cholesterol & Oxidative Stress Cure. And something remarkable happened… • Supports Healthy Immune System Not only were all the issues I had with my • Improves Sleep & Brain Function stomach gone - completely gone – but I felt less joint pain and I was able to actually sleep through the night.” HOW TO GET ALOECURE With so much positive feedback, it’s easy to Due to the enormous interest consumers have see why the community of believers is grow- shown in AloeCure, the company has decided ing and sales for the new pill are soaring. to extend their nationwide savings event for a THE SCIENCE BEHIND ALOECURE little while longer. Here’s how it works... AloeCure is a pill that’s taken just once daily. The pill is small. Easy to swallow. There are no harmful side effects and it does not require a prescription. The active ingredient is a rare Aloe Vera component known as acemannan. Made from of 100% organic Aloe Vera, AloeCure uses a proprietary process that results in the highest quality, most bio-available levels of acemannan known to exist. According to Dr. Leal and several of her colleagues, improving the pH balance of your stomach and restoring gut health is the key to revital-

Call the AloeCure number and speak to a live person in the US. Callers will be greeted by a knowledgeable and friendly person approved to offer up to 3 FREE bottles of AloeCure with your order. AloeCure’s Toll-Free number is 1-800-746-3210. Only a limited discounted supply of AloeCure is currently available. Consumers who miss out on the current product inventory will have to wait until more becomes available and that could take weeks. They will also not be guaranteed any additional savings. The company advises not to wait. Call 1-800-746-3210 today.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. ALL DOCTORS MENTIONED ARE REMUNERATED FOR THEIR SERVICES. ALL CLINICAL STUDIES ON ALOECURE’S ACTIVE INGREDIENT WERE INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED AND WERE NOT SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN GLOBAL HEALTH GROUP.

WIL Times at Hedricks BY D I A N A W E ST

LOOKING FOR A FAMILY-FRIENDLY bed-andbreakfast? Hedrick’s Bed and Breakfast and Exotic Animal Farm in Nickerson is devoted to nurturing the family experience. “We cater to kids of all ages,” Sondra Hedrick says. “Adults enjoy the animals as much as the children.” Her husband, Joe, adds, “Our bed-and-breakfast is unique in that guests can get up close and touch the animals. It’s ideal for kids or couples.” About 600 animals live out their days on the 3,000-acre working farm located 10 miles west of Hutchinson on Highway 96. The farm features about 30 different types of animals: zebras, giraffes, kangaroos, ostriches, onyx, water buffalo, North America bison, camels, wallabies, elk, goats, guanacos, miniature horses, deer, antelope, porcupines, watusi cattle, alpaca, llamas, emus, rheas, burros, pot-bellied pigs, yaks, African spurthighed tortoises and zedonks, which are a cross between a zebra and donkey. Guests can cuddle a kangaroo, be kissed by a camel and bottle-feed a zebra. “The animals love the attention,” Sondra says. Most of the animals are tame because they were formerly or are currently

featured in petting zoos that Hedrick’s Promotions provides for state and county fairs and other events throughout the country. “They’ve been around people all their life,” Joe says. The Hedricks started conducting tours on the farm in 1990 when Joe received requests to bring the animals and give talks about them to schools and other groups. Both Joe and Sondra’s backgrounds include teaching school and working rodeos.

Rooms and Suites

The Hedricks opened the inn in 1993 so they could share their love of animals with others. Seven of the nine guest rooms feature safari themes each emphasizing different exotic animal décor with original wall murals by local artists. Exotic touches include boomerangs and mosquito netting in the Kangaroo room and llama-lined foot warmers, bed cover and wall hangings in the Llama room. The Zebra Suite offers two queensize beds with zebra-striped bedding, a zebra light switch cover and zebra plant stand as well as a side room with bunk beds for kids. The Ostrich room features a glass-covered corner cabinet filled with hand-painted ostrich eggs. The Camel room has vintage suitcases and wicker trunk, camel tapestry, camel candelabra and camel-based table lamps. The Giraffe room includes a palm leaf top over the canopy bed.

Giraffes are one of 30 different types of animals guests can encounter.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

The Savannah Suite’s two-level jungle murals open into a full kitchen, living room and full-bath with attic bedrooms that sleep eight. The Pride of Kansas Suite features a king size bed, two bunk beds and full-size bath. Sunflower mural, toss pillow and curtains complete the setting as well as a hand-crank water pump table lamp. Large windows encircle two sides of an atrium where guests can look down into the kangaroo den in the evening. A common sitting area provides a rocking horse for little ones to ride and a teepee to play in, and table games, puzzles, magazines, books and TV. Downstairs is the Bird of Paradise Suite that is handicapped-accessible and offers a Jacuzzi tub. It connects through a full bath with the Petting Zoo room that has twin beds and two murals—one of a petting zoo and the other of pig races at the Kansas State Fair. The front of the inn features an Old West façade with a balcony on three sides that is accessible from all the upstairs rooms. Visitors can view the animals in their outdoor pens from that vantage point.

Touching Tours

Guests may check-in after 4 p.m. A short tour is conducted at 7 p.m. that allows an opportunity to feed apples and carrot slices to the kangaroos and tortoises. In the morning guests are awakened by cocka-doodle-doos and moos. An ample buffet-style country breakfast is served at 8 a.m. in the Old West Room that’s decorated with antique kitchenware on shelves and animal salt and pepper shakers on tables. Rodeo chaps and western wear from Joe and Sondra’s rodeo days fill the walls. Wide windows allow guests to view the animals from the breakfast area.

At 9 a.m. guests are taken on a one-hour tour by longtime employee Kristie Crile who calls the animals by name and gives a history of each species, such as what country they come from and their unique habits. Guests may bottlefeed the baby animals. Afterward, they may ride the camels and children under 60 pounds may ride the miniature horses. “Now we’re seeing a second generation coming back bringing their children,” Joe says. “Sometimes all three generations come together— the grandparents, parents and children. “It’s for anyone who enjoys animals and the outdoors,” Sondra says. Joe adds, “Most people have never touched a giraffe, zebra or kangaroo. They can do that here.” He believes the experience brings families closer. “We want them to touch and feed the animals. It brings out the kid in all of us.” The gift shop offers peacock feathers, porcupine quills and ostrich eggs in addition to T-shirts, stuffed animals and other toys. Tours of the farmyard and camel and pony rides are also available to groups by reservation. Call 888-849-8039 for fees. KCL OCTOBER 2019

Top: Hedrick’s employee Kristie Crile kisses a camel during a morning tour. MIddle: The Pride of Kansas suite includes a hand-crank water pump table lamp. Bottom: Guests can handfeed apples and carrot slices to the kangaroos.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

G E T T Y I M A G E S / T H A W AT S

Monarchs Making a Difference for

BY D E R R I L L H O L LY

GET TY IMAGES/MICHAEL BURRELL

THREE TO FOUR GENERATIONS of Monarch butterflies migrated to their summer ranges last spring. Now, a single generation will return to their wintering grounds only to begin the first leg of the 2020 migration early next year. “We call them the super generation,” said Mara Koenig, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “They live for about eight months, overwintering down in Mexico and waiting for the right conditions to return to their U.S. range in the spring.” According to Koenig, communications coordinator for FWS’s Monarch Butterfly/Pollinator Program, the largest migration of butterflies make a 3,000-mile journey to Mexico from states south of the Great Lakes and east of the Rocky Mountains. A smaller population migrates from Arizona and the Pacific Northwest toward the California Coast. The immature insects spend the next few months roosting and eating in super colonies in a phase called diapause, when their reproductive organs are not mature. “They develop those organs as they’re migrating north for the spring,” said Koenig. “They’ll do their first round of life cycle around Texas, Oklahoma and the southern United States and then slowly move north with each life cycle.”

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

Milkweed Makes the Difference

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are 128 million Monarch butterflies left in North America, including a non-migratory population in south Florida. Support for saving the species has grown in recent years, spurred by recognition of pollinator preservation and their symbolic value to environmental stewardship. “Everybody can play a part in Monarch butterfly conservation,” said Koenig. “It takes small, simple actions such as planting milkweed in a garden or even in a pot on your balcony, to having a large swath of landscapes that are conserved for pollinator habitats.” While various flowering plants provide the necessary nectar needed for nourishment, milkweed is crucial to the species survival because it is the only plant capable of hosting developing caterpillars. “The Monarch caterpillar requires the milkweed plant to survive and go through its life cycle process before it can then migrate back down to Mexico for the winter,” said Koenig, adding that “the plants provide the energy needed to spin cocoons.” Butterfly backers are out to change the image of milkweed, long considered a nuisance plant, often difficult to control in landscaping and excluded from windbreak and right of way plantings. “We want to plant over 1 billion stems of milkweed throughout the Monarch’s migratory range,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior director of community wildlife at the National Wildlife Federation. “It would provide enough habitat for the Monarch to increase its numbers and reproduce.” That’s spurred efforts to encourage gardeners to include ornamental

How Electric Co-ops Help

Keeping with the seventh cooperative principle of Concern for Community, electric cooperatives, their generation and transmission providers and their statewide associations have embraced Monarch conservation. Vegetation management programs, designed to help maintain the reliability of your electricity, have been adapted to help provide year-round pollinator habitats and food sources for migratory wildlife, including butterflies. “We also need the other plants that the adult butterflies can use as a food source. They need nectar, so we need other types of plants throughout the range,” said Fitzgerald. “All those blooming flowers that we see in the fall are a great source for them to fuel up,” said the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Koenig. “Making sure that those are available throughout the migratory range ensures that they have those reserves to go down to Mexico and wait out the winter, and

Below: Milkweed is crucial to the Monarchs’ survival because it is the only plant capable of hosting developing caterpillars. D A V I D M I Z E J E W S K I , N AT I O N A L W I L D L I F E F O U N D AT I O N

KEVIN MCIVER

milkweed varieties in landscapes and container gardens. Several colorful species can be cultivated and controlled to prevent them from overrunning garden space. The National Wildlife Foundation has also partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and dozens of environmental and conservation groups on the promotion of Monarch butterfly conservation initiatives. Fitzgerald authored the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, which serves as a blueprint for community action, recommending 25 steps groups and individuals can take to help support butterfly conservation and other pollinators. “We encourage people to look at parks systems, open space, rights of way, schools and other public and undeveloped areas where you could possibly plant and manage areas for Monarchs,” said Fitzgerald. “We have a guide online, and we have webinars to help land managers choose seed mixes and understand what decisions they can make that will help the Monarchs.”

Left: North America’s Monarch butterfly population is declining. That’s why electric cooperatives across the country are designing vegetation management programs to help provide year-round pollinator habitats and food sources for butterflies and other migratory wildlife.

enough reserves to start making that migration back north in the spring.” Along utility pole lines near roadside ditches, across expanses of rural rights of way, and on the grounds of electric substations, power plants and solar arrays, electric cooperatives are working with community groups to make open space even more nature friendly. “The more habitat that’s created, the more likely there is a possibility for the Monarch butterfly population to recover to a resilient population,” said Koenig, noting that the goal is to reverse a decline first identified more than 20 years ago. “We’re creating habitats for Monarch butterflies and for other pollinators, including grassland songbirds. Upland game birds and even waterfowl can benefit from this.” Officials at the NWF agree. They’re particularly optimistic about the potential of partnerships with electric co-ops, other utilities, state and local transportation departments and railroad operators. “They manage those strips of land that we would call wildlife corridors or Monarch corridors,” said Fitzgerald. “When we plant more milkweed and more native flowers in these areas, it could make a big difference.” KCL DERRILL HOLLY writes on consumer and cooperative affairs

for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

I Was a Teenage Food Editor: A Kinda Scary Story

BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D

professional daily newspaper was doing then, even had a weekly food page. And a couple of semesters into my tenure there, I became its food editor. Though young, I, along with my equally wetbehind-the-ear cohorts, were as professional and competent as we could be at that point, and our high aims with the creative possibilities of the food pages were reflected in themed and highly illustrative (the photogs tended to rule the roost) results. We had photos of giant eggs, hot dogs Rebecca Howard coated with photo solution to make them glossy, hands with bloody knives coming up out of popcorn boxes. Sometimes the photos took up the entire page with type wrapped around whatever food was featured. We spent little time cooking, but a great deal of time trying to get everything on the page to look just right. Even if that meant entering a pig pen in the wee hours of the morning to fulfill my fungi photo illustration concept of steering live swine toward a propped cropping of white button mushrooms to “sniff ” them, as they would do truffles. I can still hear the photographer, belly down in the dirt, yelling, “Herd those pigs, Howard! Herd ’em!” I was but 22, frightening but true, when I landed my first “real” newspaper job—as a food editor on a small daily newspaper serving a suburb of Los Angeles. I had the chops to do the work, but I did lack some seasoning— my column waxing rhapsodic on toast can attest to that. Still, at a young age, my This dip recipe will look familiar to many—it’s a classic that has been around photographer colleagues and I for years, perfect for football games, fall and holiday parties and potlucks. managed to produce some interesting and creative sections that really were a ff 1 10-ounce package chopped spinach, ff A pinch or two of cayenne centerpiece, of sorts, of the publication. thawed and squeezed dry of all liquid pepper (optional) A page on canning and preserving, ff 1 16-ounce container of sour cream ff 1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, where we carried out my visual idea drained and chopped (optional) and mummified (via endless yards ff 1 cup mayonnaise (you can also of gauze) the son of a woman who use plain Greek yogurt) ff 3 to 4 green onions, chopped (optional) or for milder flavor a worked in advertising, ended up ff 1 package dry vegetable soup mix handful of chopped chives winning a photo illustration award. (Knorr brand recommended) For another food page photo, we ff 1 round sourdough bread loaf got help from a local bodybuilder and used his bulky bicep (tattooed with an Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Chill for at least 2 hours. Stir dip. Hollow out the center of the bread loaf and fill it with the dip. Serve on a platter with chips, cut raw veggies, crackers anchor by our editorial cartoonist) to and the bread from the center of the loaf, cut into cubes, if desired. Makes 4 cups. create a Popeye-style theme for a page THERE WAS A TIME, way back in the 1980s, when the food page was the crown jewel of the newspaper. Remember when newspapers—not the as-yet-to-be internet—were the source of much of people’s news, information and even entertainment? During this somewhat heyday (at least as I am biased to remember it to be), the food page, which often led an entire food section, came out weekly in a blaze of color and large photos, with themed topics including stories and recipes. The photo illustrations created by newspaper food staffs and photographers reflected fun, creative interpretations of food stories (I remember a checkerboard where Oreos and Hydrox cookies served as game pieces) and a plethora of food pun headlines (“Give Peas a Chance”). It was in this era that my food writing and editing career was born. I was a teenage food editor. Well, I was actually just out of teen-hood when I was on staff at The (K-State) Collegian, a university newspaper that could match—in quality and content—any daily newspaper of the time. The Collegian, in keeping up with what any

GETTYIMAGES/EDALIN

Spinach Dip in an Edible Bread Bowl

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

I fielded such unorthodox phone inquiries as how to trim a basil plant and how to safely transport wontons to Palm Springs.

on spinach, which featured the dip recipe I share here. While there was no shortage of creativity, there was lacking in other capacities. The job didn’t pay much (no one gets rich working on a little newspaper), so the free promotional samples of cereal and a Mardis Gras king cake sent from New Orleans to our offices came to the rescue of me and my impoverished co-workers. I also got to eat by doing restaurant reviews occasionally, which came back to haunt me when the newspaper’s general manager informed me that I could only be a critic if the reviews were positive. My lack of culinary expertise (despite growing up cooking and baking), had other drawbacks, which I did my best to conceal when I fielded such unorthodox phone inquiries as how to trim a basil plant and how to safely transport wontons to Palm Springs. I once helped a woman break down a carrot cake recipe for 100 people to a more reasonable quantity. And when I accidentally omitted 1/4 cup of butter from a chocolate cake recipe featured in the section (one must tread cautiously when typing recipes), I thought the townsfolk were going to surround the newspaper office with torches. Ah, the horror of the printed page that cannot be undone! I love the food world too much to let the ghosts of food pages past scare me, though. Except I now draw the line at the pig pen—my creativity stays (mostly) in the kitchen. KCL REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”

OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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OCTOBER 2019

Continued from page 7

OCT. 18-20 Remembering Our Fallen exhibit, Plainville. T o pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice since 9/11 in combat, in training and as a result of PTSD, a traveling display. Opening ceremony Friday at 10:30 p.m. Exhibit closes Sunday at 3 p.m . OCT. 19 Coronado Heights Run,

Lindsborg. 1 5K, 5K, 1-mile youth run and 2-mile fun walk. The 15K run includes a 1-mile run up and back down Coronado Heights, with an elevation change of 300 feet. Chip timing available. 888-227-2227, www.visitlindsborg.com. OCT. 19 Stumpin with Marci Penner, Burns. P rizes will be awarded as our guests try to answer Marci’s questions about Kansas. Held at Walter’s Pumpkin Patch. 10001 N.W. U.S. Highway 77, 316-320-4150. OCT. 19 Fall Festival, Johnson. F all festival at the 4-H building with wreaths, pies, beauty items, decorations for sale. 620-492-6630. OCT. 19 Cellar and Barn Tour, Alma. T our

historic arched roof cellars and stunning barns with stories to tell. t hevollandstore.com.

OCT. 26 Veteran’s Celebration, Derby. J oin Mr. Gourdman’s Pumpkin Patch for Veteran’s Day, auction benefiting Kansas veterans. Dress in your Halloween costume to win the best dressed contest. 3750 S. Dusty Rd., www.wichitaspumpkinpatch.com, 316-733-1887. OCT. 26 UMC Lord’s Acre Dinner and Sale, Burden. Best meal around! Dinner served from 5-7 p.m. Country store opens at 4 p.m. and auction begins at 7 p.m. 620-229-9707. OCT. 26 Grand O’Opry, Ottawa. P erformances by Jim Winters, Cindy Boehler and Alexa Kriss. Show at 7 p.m., pre-show performance prior. 785-214-0013, grandoopry@ gmail.com, 301 S. Hickory. OCT. 29-NOV. 29 Zana Meadows Exhibit and Reception, Fredonia. V iew the exhibit and celebrate what would have been Zana Meadows birthday on Oct. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Exhibit runs all month. OCT. 30 Chili Cook-Off, Ness City. C hili

cook-off benefiting Finnegan LaMotte in his fight with brain cancer. Entertainment includes Back2Back with local artists Keith Burditt.

7 85-798-3223 or search United Credit Union on Facebook. OCT. 31 Halloween Spooktacular, Phillipsburg. Costume contest, hay rack rides and trick-or-treating. Begins at 4 p.m. at the Phillips County Courthouse Square. 785-543-2321, www.phillipscountykansas.com. OCT. 31 Trunk and Treat, Sedan. H osted by the Sedan Area Chamber of Commerce and Sedan Area Economic Development Committee. NOV. 2 Banner Art Auction, Garden City. Event auctions artist’s banner paintings. Held at the Clarion Inn at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Garden City Downtown Vision at 620-276-0891. NOV. 2 Country Holiday Extravaganza, Tisdale. C rafts, food, visits from Santa and more. Tisdale Gym, 6.5 miles east of Winfield. NOV. 2 Basehor Craft Show, Basehor. F rom 9 a.m.-4 p.m at Basehor-Linwood High School. 2108 N 155th, Basehor, basehorcraftshow@gmail.com, search ADK Basehor Craft Show on Facebook. KCL

OCT. 19 Harperfest Fall Festival, Harper. I ncludes a car show, craft and food vendors, a corn hole tournament and more activities for all ages. 620-896-2511, search Harper Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. OCT. 19 Craftique Craft Fair, Luray. M ore

than 270 booths. Held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. rain or shine. Proceeds benefit Luray Food Pantry. At 281 and K-18 intersection, halfway between Hays and Salina, luraycraftique on Facebook. OCT. 19-20 All You Can Carry Pumpkins,

Burns. All you can carry pumpkins and squash on your body. $25, $40 wheelbarrow full or 50% off. Walter’s Pumpkin Patch, 10001 N.W. U.S. Highway 77. 316-320-4150. OCT. 22-NOV. 30 Wandering Spirit Art

Exhibit, Montezuma. The Wandering Spirit exhibit follows the development of the African wax print sharing stories, dreams and personalities of the people who wear them. Held at the Stauth Museum. 111 N. Aztec St., www.stauthmemoiral museum.org. OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

SAFETY

While Technology has Improved Safety, Linemen Rely on Training B Y S H AY L E E A R P I N

and your power is out. Now what? For your family, no power could mean a rough morning. Maybe you must rid your fridge of the food you stockpiled previously. Maybe you go to work with air-dried hair, or maybe you spend a few extra minutes resetting your electric clocks. But more often than not, we sleep through our power outages, only to wake up with little evidence the power was ever out. Cooperative lineman have spent the early morning hours working to get your power restored. It’s nights spent in storms restoring power that call for special safety measures. Kevin Swenson, lineman at Bluestem Electric Cooperative, began working as a lineman in 1990. He’s the most experienced lineman on the job today at Bluestem and a lot has changed in safety since he began as a rookie 29 years ago. Swenson said the industry focuses more on safety than it ever has. “Not that we weren’t safe back then, but it’s just a lot more safety oriented now. The equipment we have now is a lot better than when I started. It’s modern and works faster.” The truck he takes to jobs runs fiberoptics. Even the FR [fire retardant] clothing has changed. “Back when I started, you’d come to work in an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Now we’re working in FR clothing and we always have our hard hat and safety glasses,” he said. Technology has certainly changed since 1990, but one thing hasn’t; in an emergency situation, it’s the touch of a lineman that’s needed instead of fancy gadgets.

IT’S 2 A.M. A STORM HITS

A Bluestem Electric Cooperative lineman works with his fall arrest before climbing a pole during pole top rescue training.

“I’ve been here long enough, you just kind of get to know the lines and actually where the problem might be,” said Swenson. “You can look at the outage and say ‘yeah, that might be where the problem is because there’s trees down that mile that probably need trimmed.’” It’s that knowledge and experience that help linemen quickly locate outages and restore power. Often cooperative members hear water and electricity don’t mix. So when the rain’s coming down and the power needs to be restored, measures are taken to ensure everyone gets home safely. “Usually if there’s lightning or it’s pouring rain, nowadays with modern technology, you can look at your phone and say ‘alright, it’ll probably stop raining in about 15 minutes,’ in that case we may wait it out. But if it’s just rain, you’re up there in a rain suit doing everything possible to get that line back up and get it back on. There have been some wet nights, some cold nights, but in the end it’s all worth it.” Swenson shared that while linemen are working up in the air during storms, the lines are grounded, the power is off and linemen place a set of grounds on either side of them for protection. But it’s not just the safety equipment that helps linemen return home safely—it’s also the training. Linemen take five years to become a journeyman, the top level in the profession. Those five years include a series of tests and on-thejob training to ensure accurate work and safety. Additionally, linemen take continual educational classes provided by Kansas Electric Cooperative’s Loss Control, Safety and Compliance department. At the end of the day, cooperatives want everyone to go home safely with power flowing in everyone’s homes. “I try to treat the consumer-member like my own family,” Swenson said. “That’s the way I was taught when I got here. When I’m out on an outage, it’s as if my family was on the end of that line or without power. I know how they feel, and I’ll do everything in my power to get them back on.” KCL This interview was conducted at a lineman training facility outside Manhattan during pole top rescue training for Kansas linemen.

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Cranberry Orange Breakfast Bars

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, OCTOBER 2019

Taco night just got a new favorite. Introduce smoky raspberry chipotle sauce to your tacos.

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, OCTOBER 2019

Don’t miss the most important meal of the day with this tasty on-the-go option.

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, OCTOB E R 201 9

your hand at crostata instead.

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, OCTOB E R 201 9

Usher in the fall season with a new take on the traditional pot pie.

Cinnamon Apple Crostata Skip the stress of baking apple pie and try

Turkey Pot Pie

ff 2 celery ribs, medium diced

ff 1 Spanish white onion, chopped

ff 2 Tbs. butter

ff 2 potatoes, peeled and medium diced

ff 4 cups turkey stock (or leftover gravy)

ff 4 Tbs. all-purpose flour

ff 2 Tbs. fresh parsley, chopped

Turkey Pot Pie ff 3 carrots, small diced ff 1 square prepared puff pastry

(dark meat preferred) ff 1 egg, beaten

ff 3 cups cooked, shredded turkey ff 2 Tbs. fresh tarragon, chopped

Heat oven to 375 F. In medium saucepot, melt butter; add onion and sweat 4 minutes. Add celery and carrots; cook 4-5 minutes. Add turkey and cook 4 minutes. Add tarragon, parsley and all-purpose flour; cook 4 minutes. Add stock and bring to simmer. Add potatoes and simmer until fork tender.

ff 1 tsp. vanilla extract ff 1 ½ Tbs. orange zest (zest of one medium size orange)

oats, uncooked

ff 1 1/2 cups quick

ff 1 ½ cups fresh cranberries

ff 1/4 tsp. salt

ff 1/2 tsp. baking powder

ff 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

wheat flour

ff 1 cup white whole

Cranberry Orange Breakfast Bars ff 1 cup low-fat milk ff 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce ff 1/4 cup honey ff 1/4 cup canola oil ff 1 large egg

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, honey, canola oil, egg, vanilla and orange zest.

Add oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt; stir to combine.

Fold in cranberries and pour batter into prepared baking pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center tests done with a toothpick.

Cool before slicing into bars; store in the refrigerator, or individually wrap bars in plastic wrap and freeze.

COURTESY E AT WHE AT.ORG

ff 8 whole wheat tortillas

ff ½ cup shredded pepper jack cheese

ff 2 cups grilled chicken, diced

Raspberry Chipotle Chicken Tacos ff 1 tsp. sugar (for sprinkling)

ff 2 cups shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix

ff ½ cup sour cream (or substitute

ff avocado, sliced

COURTESY E AT WHE AT.ORG

* You can substitute a combination of smoky barbecue sauce and raspberry jam for the roasted raspberry chipotle sauce.

Drizzle each taco with raspberry chipotle sauce.*

To each tortilla, add approximately ¼ cup diced chicken, sprinkle with pepper jack cheese, layer cabbage and sliced avocado.

Spread approximately 1 tablespoon of sour cream mixture over each tortilla.

Mix sour cream and 1 tablespoon raspberry chipotle sauce together in small bowl.

ff ½ cup roasted raspberry chipotle sauce*

plain Greek yogurt)

ff 2 Tbs. chopped pecans

COURTESY FAMILY TABLE BY ROBERT IRVINE

Pour filling into pie pan and top with pastry. Brush pastry with egg. Bake pie 20-30 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

ff 2 tsp. cinnamon ff 4 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples (4-5 medium sized)

Cinnamon Apple Crostata ff Pie Pastry Filling ff 1/2 cup sugar

ff 4 tsp. cornstarch

Heat oven to 450 F. In medium bowl mix together 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Stir in peeled and sliced apples until well combined. Place flattened pie crust on an ungreased cookie or pizza sheet. Spoon apple mixture onto the center of the crust, spreading the mixture to about 2 inches from the edge of the crust. Fold crust over mixture, pleating along the way. Brush edges of crust with water. Sprinkle sugar over crust and apple mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crust is a golden brown. Sprinkle pecans over apple mixture. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream. COURTESY CULINARY.NET

OCTOBER 2019

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

PUT TWO & TWO

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