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5/3/19 1:26 PM
E
CooperaN
COOPERATIVE
ws
News
Wisconsin
ENERGY Cooperative
contents June 2019
News
6
News BRIEFS
Cooperators bring rural and energy issues to D.C.
4 13 15 28 30
10
Brainpower BATTLE
Keen competitors seek science honors.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
The “M” word is “Millennial”.
THE HEAT IS ON
Take control of high summer bills.
24
20
27
On the
COVER
Naturally FUN
Cable Natural History Museum’s newest exhibit will pique your curiosity.
CRITTERS
Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.
Celebrate dairy with these recipes.
Photo courtesy of Katie Jagiello, Oconto Electric
Kids &
8
WHAT WOULD JUNE BE WITHOUT THE DAIRY INDUSTRY?
MY CO-OP
Find out what’s happening at your local electric cooperative.
CLASSIFIEDS
Buy, sell, and trade with readers from across Wisconsin.
EVENTS
Jump into June with a fun event.
ion head of cattle 3.5 mill
llion pounds of milk 30.3 bi
June 2019
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5/17/19 12:11 PM
LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR The “M” word
At a recent cooperative communicators conference, a keynote speaker expounded on Dana Kelroy, Editor generational differences in the workplace. If you’ve attended any type of conference in the past five years, I’m guessing you’ve heard a similar talk. If not, let me catch you up. Here’s how we all break down: Greatest Generation Born 1901–1924 Silent Generation Born 1925–1942 Baby Boomers Born 1943–1964 Generation X Born 1965–1979 Millennials (or Gen Y) Born 1980–2000 Gen Z or Gen Edge Born 2001–2013 Actually, it was at a different conference, sitting with staff and directors from a Wisconsin co-op, where I first realized that I am part of the Millennial Generation. Millennials have a reputation for being lazy, entitled, narcissistic, and unreliable. If that doesn’t make you sink a little lower in your seat, I don’t know what will. According to Forbes magazine, 68 percent of organizations find it challenging to manage my generation. However, Scott Stratten, the keynoter I mentioned earlier, had a message that generational bias hurts everyone. His talk was laugh-out-loud funny (look him up on YouTube) but reinforced that we’re all better off if we throw stereotypes out the window and work with each other’s strengths for the betterment of our cooperatives or workplaces. The biggest takeaway from his talk? Disdain for the younger generation is not new. Every generation disliked the generation that followed. On page 10, we profile a few folks from Gen Z. Five students from Marshfield High School competed at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Science Bowl Competition in Washington, D.C. Writer Dave Hoopman shares with us a sampling of the questions they faced at the competition. Calling them “difficult” would be putting it lightly. Team captain Suhaas Bhat characterized it, “You’re thinking several seconds ahead, calling up information you might not have looked at in five or six years.” The DOE sponsors the event to attract young minds to science and energy careers. The hope is that they will solve the energy issues we will face for years to come. With bright minds from Gen Z like Suhaas on deck to tackle these issues, this Millennial is ready to cut them some slack. Scott Stratten addressed the crowd at the recent cooperative communicators conference in Houston. He used humor and anecdotes to move listeners to get past generational biases in the workplace. Photo courtesy of NRECA
4
June 2019 Vol. 79 No. 12 The Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News (Formerly Wisconsin R.E.C. News) has been published monthly and distributed since July 1940 to members of Wisconsin’s non-profit, consumer-owned rural electric cooperatives. It is available to non-members for $10 per year or $28 for three years. Members pay $6.93 per year. Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Steve Freese, president & CEO. USPS number: 688-480. Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Periodicals postage paid at Baraboo, Wis. Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Phone (608) 467-4650. Web site: www.wecnmagazine.com. Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18. Steve Freese Dana Kelroy Mary Erickson David Hoopman Ann Bailey Dylan Pingitore Geri Miller
WECA president & CEO editor associate editor contributing writer graphic designer editorial assistant advertising consultant
For advertising opportunities please email ads@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. We reserve the right to refuse advertisers. Please recycle
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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4/23/19 2:00 PM 5/3/19 1:29 PM
NEWS BRIEFS
NJ OKAYS NUKE SUBSIDIES
Add New Jersey to the list of states extending out-of-market financial compensation for nuclear power plants based on their ability to make electricity without carbon dioxide emissions. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has granted “zero emission certificates” to three nuclear plants threatened with early retirements, a decision that could be worth as much as $300 million a year to owner-operator Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). Chicago-based Exelon Corp. is a part-owner of one of the plants. Both Exelon and PSEG have said they would shut down nuclear facilities ahead of their scheduled license expirations if they were unsuccessful in having them subsidized to keep producing emissions-free power in wholesale electricity markets that are unfavorable to their continued operation. Exelon won legislative approval of ratepayer surcharges for three of its Illinois plants in 2016. Opponents of the subsidy arrangements have argued that the plants are not unprofitable.
PAIR OF SOLAR PROJECTS APPROVED
Two utility-scale solar generation projects have won Wisconsin Public Service Commission approval, the agency has announced. The projects would more than quadruple the state’s solar capacity. The Two Creeks project will be in Manitowoc County north of Two Rivers. The Badger Hollow project will be sited near Cobb, in Iowa County. Nameplate capacity of Two Creeks is 150 megawatts from a 700-acre site. Badger Hollow is rated at 300 megawatts from panels covering 3,500 acres. Along with Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity authorizing construction of the two projects, the Commission approved Certificates of Authority for Madison Gas and Electric and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation to acquire the Two Creeks facility in its entirety and to acquire 150 megawatts of generating capacity from Badger Hollow. The remaining capacity of Badger Hollow (a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago-based Invenergy) would be available for sale on the open market. 6
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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More than 60 Wisconsin electric cooperative leaders lobbied their elected officials last month in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Legislative Conference. They discussed rural and energy issues facing cooperatives across the nation.
DOE SEES NO COAL SUBSIDIES
While individual states roll out initiatives to shore up the economics of nuclear generating facilities, the Department of Energy (DOE) is explicitly rejecting the idea of government help for economically troubled coal-fired plants that some contend are needed to ensure grid stability during extreme cold-weather episodes. The DOE’s position represents a departure from its earlier stance that plants keeping a 90-day fuel reserve on-site merited special considerations to keep them available even if they were economically uncompetitive in wholesale markets.
DOE Assistant Secretary Bruce Walker told reporters, “Nobody I know is looking at subsidizing coal, period,” after addressing a conference of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in Washington, D.C., a Platt’s report said. Walker’s NRECA speech stressed the need for grid resilience in the face of growing reliance on intermittent generation sources. He told the co-op audience the DOE regards coal as just one of several generation types available to backstop reliability in the event of problems with natural gas-fired plants served by pipelines.
RETAIL CHOICE HAS SLIM PRICE IMPACT
U.S. residential electricity rates have increased across the board, but in two decades since almost half the states allowed customer choice of retail providers, prices have risen slightly more in deregulated states. That’s the core finding in the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) update of its 2018 report, “Retail Electric Rates in Deregulated and Regulated States.” Published in April, the municipal utility group’s update shows an upward trend in both scenarios, but when the trend lines diverge, they reflect prices rising faster in retail choice states. Rates climbed steadily in both sets
of states during the first half of the past decade, but increased “dramatically” in deregulated states between 2005 and 2006 “as more rate caps came off and natural gas prices increased,” the APPA noted. State “deregulation” plans in the 1990s typically intensified regulation by legislating rate caps, in order to insulate the experiment against open market pricing and make the action appear successful at the individual consumer level. In 1997, the APPA update said, weighted average retail rates in deregulated states were 2.3 cents above those for regulated states, and the identical gap persisted two decades later.
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5/3/19 1:32 PM
WHAT
…or, what would June be without the dairy industry?
MONTH Y IS THIS…
Steve Freese President and CEO
ear after year, even a fleeting glance at this month’s edition of Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News confirms that June is Dairy Month, and it isn’t hard to figure out why. Through several decades of rural electrification in Wisconsin, a huge percentage of co-op members—and readers of the publication—were dairy farmers. That’s changed dramatically with a diversifying rural economy and more rural residents commuting to jobs in the cities. But there’s a reason why Wisconsin is known as the dairy state—as the song says, “nobody does it better”—and we’ll still be doing it for the foreseeable future. But a few weeks ago I was at least half serious when I asked, “If the Green New Deal actually manages to do away with animal agriculture, where will the school kids get their milk?” The “Frequently-Asked Questions” fact sheet that accompanied the Green New Deal’s rollout in February left no doubt about the intention to banish animal agriculture, along with other things we’ve grown accustomed to: “We set a goal to get to net-zero, rather than zero [greenhouse] emissions in 10 years because we aren’t sure that we’ll be able to fully get rid of f--ting cows and airplanes that fast,” the factsheet said. Later on it pledges a “national mobilization” to work with farmers and ranchers to create a “greenhouse gas-free food system.” Whatever else that might mean, it means livestock agriculture would either go away or become stupendously more expensive in a state that’s now
home to three and a half million head of cattle and counts on the revenue from 30.3 billion pounds of milk produced in 2017, according to Wisconsin 2018 Agriculture Statistics. In February, the fact sheet asserted that “The Green New Deal has momentum,” claiming it was supported by “92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans.” Six weeks later, when the U.S. Senate voted on the question of whether to bring up the Green New Deal for passage, it got the support of zero percent of Democrats, zero percent of Republicans, and zero percent of Independents. It got no votes. Not even its primary Senate sponsor would vote to take it up. Are concerns about banning animal agriculture absurd? Yes, theoretically. But the Green New Deal was introduced in Congress. It is real legislation with the full force of law if passed, and thankfully, its proponents spelled out their intentions. It will go nowhere, but it opens the door for serious consideration of slightly less absurd food-targeting. For example, in April, New York City adopted its own version of the Green New Deal and it prohibits food services at city-run facilities from serving hot dogs. So start thinking about what June might be called in the not-too-distant future. Thanks to Dotdash Publishing, we know it’s already Great Outdoors Month, Effective Communications Month, and Turkey Lovers Month. It’s also national Steakhouse Month, but of course that will have to go.
In this state, that would involve
3.5 MILLION
head of cattle, and the
30.3 BILLION
pounds of milk produced in 2017, according to Wisconsin 2018 Agriculture Statistics. 8
ion head of cattle 3.5 mill
llion pounds of milk 30.3 bi
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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June 2019
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BRAINPOWER
BATTLE KEEN COMPETITORS SEEK SCIENCE HONORS
QUICK: What is the effect by which a material with a small positive magnetic susceptibility creates a magnetic field in the direction of an applied field? If you answered “paramagnetism,” you might be a good candidate for a national competition that brought a team of Wisconsin students to Washington, D.C., this spring. Though not the overall winners, a team from Marshfield High School performed well in this year’s finals of the National Science Bowl competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It’s a big event, an important event, but by no means a new event for students from the school or their coach, retired science teacher Paul Herder, who’s been a member of Clark Electric Cooperative for 32 years.
Hard Science Help Wanted Introductory materials from the DOE identify the National Science Bowl (NSB) as “a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics.” Participation by middle and high school student teams is invited, with each team made up of four students, one alternate, and a teacher serving as advisor and coach. 10
Those who remember the 1960s television series “GE College Bowl” will have some familiarity: As described by the DOE, “teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and math,” or STEM for short—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—fields that government and the business and manufacturing communities have been urging more U.S. students to enter. The NSB was launched in 1991 to cultivate high levels of student achievement in math and science and to encourage career development in those fields. The DOE says about 305,000 students have participated during the course of the NSB’s 29-year history, adding that—not surprisingly—it’s “one of the nation’s largest science competitions.” Starting each January, more than 9,000 high school students and 5,000 middle school students join the competition in 65 high school and 50 middle school regional tournaments managed by the DOE’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and according to the agency, it’s “working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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5/15/19 11:57 AM
2019 The Best of Badgerland
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News found out about the Marshfield team’s involvement this past winter, through a DOE notification listing Wisconsin participants. The notice listed nine teams, mostly from Milwaukee, its suburbs, and the Madison area— Brookfield, New Berlin, Waukesha, McFarland and Middleton—along with Appleton and Marshfield. They would compete at the regional level in mid-January to determine which team would represent Wisconsin in the national finals at the end of April. For Paul Herder, this is an annual affair. He told us Marshfield High has fielded a team for 17 years and 2019 marks the sixth time they’ve made it to the nationals.
The Marshfield High School team competes during the High School Division Team Challenge at the 2019 National Science Bowl. All photos courtesy of Dennis Brack, National Science Bowl, Department of Energy, Office of Science
On January 13, Marshfield won its regional tournament in Milwaukee. In a congratulatory statement, Energy Secretary Rick Perry noted that the NSB “has grown into one of the most prestigious and competitive science academic competitions in the country, challenging students to excel in the STEM fields so vital to America’s future.” He noted that in the national finals, the Marshfield team would be “competing against some of the brightest science, technology, and engineering students across the country.” About that, there would seem to be little doubt. Marshfield’s team captain Suhaas Bhat shared with us some of the competition questions in addition to the one that opens this article. Contestants needed to be able to quickly answer queries like the following:
From the field of chemistry:
“How many orbitals are in subshells with the azimuthal quantum number equal to zero?” (Answer: one.)
Mathematics:
“What are the mean and the median, respectively, of the prime numbers less than 25?” (Answer: mean, 100/9; median, 11.)
Physics:
“Also known as braking radiation, what effect occurs when a charged particle is deflected and undergoes deceleration?” (Answer: Bremsstrahlung, and no, that is not a typographical error.)
Earth and Space:
“What fast-flowing, narrow currents form above sharp air mass boundaries in the atmospheres of rotating planets, including Earth?” (Answer: jet streams.)
The NSB finals are designed along lines similar to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s basketball championship, as a double-elimination tournament starting out with 64 teams. This year, Marshfield won three June 2019
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matches before being eliminated in a fourth. The ultimate winners were the team from Wayzata High School in Plymouth, Minnesota. Catching up by phone while the team was in a Washington airport awaiting the trip home, we asked Suhaas—a senior who’s headed for Harvard this fall—about the most fun and most demanding aspects of the competition. “There’s a whole lot of adrenaline involved,” he replied. “You’re thinking several seconds ahead, calling up information you might not have looked at in five or six years.” Suhaas’ younger sister, a sophomore, was on this year’s team and plans to return. All told, more than 20 Marshfield students tried out for a slot in the five-member group. Paul Herder, though retired, says he’ll stay on as coach “for as long as they’ll let me.”
Tough Challenge, Nice Reward
The Wayzata team will receive an all-expenses-paid science trip later this year to Alaska, where they’ll have opportunities to learn about glaciology, marine and avian biology, geology, and plate tectonics. How did they win? By answering this: “A group of DOE Office of Science researchers conducted a conformation analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor using modeling and time-resolved fluorescence microscopy. Identify all of the statements that are true concerning this protein.” The correct answer was, “It is a receptor tyrosine kinase.” Yes, they’re mostly still in high school. No, this isn’t kids’ stuff.—Dave Hoopman
1. The Marshfield High School team competes during the High School Academic Tournament at the 2019 National Science Bowl competition. 2. Marshfield High School’s team coach and Clark Electric Cooperative member Paul Herder, Coach Dean McFarlane, Suhaas Bhat, Tara Bhat, Hugh Steiner, Carter Chojnacki, and Davis Rens pose for a team photo during their recent trip to Washington, D.C. 3. The team tours the National Mall during a break in the competition.
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TAKE CONTROL
of High Summer Bills
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disappears when we leave the room, so turning fans off in unoccupied rooms will save energy. HVAC filters have a lot to do with airflow through your heating and cooling systems. Dirty filters restrict circulation through your returns, requiring your cooling system to work harder. If you can see dirt in a filter, it’s likely 50 percent clogged. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on replacing disposable filters or cleaning permanent ones. If you have pets, consider checking filters more frequently. You can save money and electricity by time-shifting some of the most energy-intensive activities away from But is your air conditioner ready for it? peak energy use periods that normally occur during the hottest hours As summer temperatures rise, so do electric bills. Follow these steps to help improve your of the day. Cooking, comfort and the efficiency of your air conditioner while prolonging the life of your unit. doing laundry, and using power tools can increase ● Routinely replace or clean your air filters— both heat and humidity it can lower your air conditioner’s energy inside your home, makconsumption by 5–15 percent. ing it harder to reach or ● Check your air conditioner’s evaporator coil maintain a comfortable every year and clean it as necessary. temperature. ● If your coil fins are bent, use a “fin comb” to Remember, constraighten them. trolling energy costs will ● If you have a split system, be sure to clean always work better with debris and leaves from the fan, compressor, and buy-in from everyone in condenser. the household. ● Occasionally pass a stiff wire through your unit’s • One open window drain channels to prevent clogs. anywhere can be like an uncapped chimney, ● For window air conditioners, inspect the pulling the condiwindow seals to keep cool air from escaping. tioned air you pay to Source: energy.gov cool outside.
e expect summers to be hot, but most of us do all we can to keep our homes as comfortable as possible, even as outdoor temperatures edge thermometers upward. When it comes to electricity, each of us has the power to help control our costs––we just have to make thoughtful choices to make energy savings pay off in dollars and cents. Look toward the west. If you don’t have trees, a porch overhang or awnings shading windows exposed to afternoon sun, there’s a good chance radiant heat could be driving up indoor temperatures
and adding to your overall cooling costs. Window coverings can help. Blinds or shades can deflect intense sunlight, and draperies lined with a thermal radiant barrier can block up to 95 percent of sunlight and 100 percent of ultraviolet rays. Comfort and cooling are easier to maintain when we take advantage of air flow. A ceiling fan can pull warm air up above your living zone, making a difference during summer months. The evaporative effect of circulating air blowing across our skin makes us more comfortable, but that benefit completely
THE HEAT IS ON!
April June 2019
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DRIVE ELECTRIC Ceiling fans help keep us cool during the summer, but that benefit completely disappears when we leave the room. Turn fans off in unoccupied rooms to save energy. Photo Source: Stefan Schweihofer Energy-intensive activities like doing laundry can increase heat and humidity inside your home. Try time-shifting these chores to off-peak hours, when energy demand is lower. Photo Source: Steve Buissinne
The average electric vehicle can save a driver who drives 15,000 miles in a year about $850 annually on fuel. All-electric vehicles start to pay for themselves a long time before they reach the end of their expected lifespans, leading to significant savings over time. -Fleet Carma
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CO-OP FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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• Gaming systems, computers, or big screen televisions left on while not in active use continue producing heat. • Lighting and ventilation fans add convenience and provide benefits when they are needed. However, when left on and unattended, they use energy. • A bag of ice poured into a cooler will chill summer beverages as effectively and less expensively than an aging refrigerator in a hot garage. Check with your local electric cooperative for details on programs that can help you control energy costs and avoid seasonal billing challenges. Your co-op may also offer energy audits or additional information that can help you identify and correct problems that might be contributing to higher bills and increased energy use in your home. 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. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.
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BEAT THE HEAT (and these summer energy-saving myths)
Brought to you by:
CHERP
During the summer months, your energy costs can rise along with the temperatures. There are easy ways to manage your energy use in the summer, but unfortunately, a few of the age-old remedies may end up costing you more instead. Here are a few of those myths and the truth behind them: 1. Crank up your thermostat to cool down quickly. Resist the urge to blast your air conditioner when you step inside on a sweltering day. Setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal won’t cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. It also puts more stress on your HVAC system, leading to quicker wear and tear on your unit. 2. Keep a room comfortable by leaving a ceiling fan running. This will work, but only if there are people in the room. Ceiling fans don’t actually lower the temperature of a room; they use a wind-chill effect that makes the people in the room feel cooler. If a room is unoccupied, an operating fan is doing nothing more than using energy unnecessarily. 3. Leave your air conditioner at a steady setting so it doesn’t use more energy kicking in and out. Constantly changing the setting of your air conditioner is not an efficient way to operate, but neither is cooling an entire house to the most comfortable setting while no one is home. A good solution is to use a smart or programmable thermostat so you can keep the temperature 8 to 10 degrees higher than your comfort setting while you’re gone for the day, but allow your home to start cooling back down gradually about a half-hour before you return. 4. Close air vents to unused rooms to save energy. Unless you have a zoned system, your air conditioner is designed and sized to cool your entire house. Closing vents in unused rooms adds pressure to your ducts because your system will keep cooling without having a space to deliver the air. You won’t save any energy, and your system will wear down faster.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy June 2019
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2 pkgs (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 1 jar (16 oz) chunky salsa 1 cup (8 oz) sour cream 8 oz (2 cups) Colby cheese, shredded 1/2 cup chopped green onions 3 bags (9 oz each) blue corn tortilla chips, divided 2 blocks (8 oz each) monterey jack cheese 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered 1 large (1 cup) sweet red bell pepper, chopped
Beat cream cheese, salsa, sour cream, Colby cheese, and green onions in a large bowl until blended. Spread Colby mixture into the bottom of a 9-x13-inch baking dish. Measure 1 cup crushed tortilla chips, set aside the remaining chips for serving. Arrange the crushed tortilla chips in a rectangle on top of Colby mixture, about 5-x4-inches. Cut 1 block monterey jack in half, making two 1/2-inch thick ( 4 ounce) blocks. Slice with a 1/2-inch star cookie cutter, using the handle of a small spoon to press and release cheese from cutter at star points. Place stars on chips. Shred 2 cups (8 oz) from remaining monterey jack. Combine tomatoes and red bell pepper in a medium bowl. For stripes, arrange tomato mixture and shredded monterey jack in alternating rows, each about 1-inch. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until serving. Serve with the reserved tortilla chips.
DAIRY Delicious 20
Photo and recipe of Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger courtesy Wisconsin Beef Council. All other photos and recipes are courtesy of the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
American Flag Taco Dip
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Photo and recipe of Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger courtesy Wisconsin Beef Council. All other photos and recipes are courtesy of the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburger 1 lb thick-cut bacon 2 lbs ground beef, 80% lean Salt and pepper 6 oz butterkase cheese, cut into 6 slices (1 oz each) 6 oz mild cheddar cheese, cut into 6 slices (1 oz each) 1 cup fresh arugula (or baby spinach) 6 brioche buns, split and toasted 1/2 cup tomato jam (or hot pepper jelly)
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place a lightly greased baking rack on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Place bacon strips in a single layer on rack, taking care not to overlap strips. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until bacon is crisp. Meanwhile, grease grill and heat grill to medium. Form beef into 6 patties, 1/3-pound each. Season patties with salt and pepper. Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat for 5–8 minutes on each side, or until a thermometer inserted into patties reads 160 degrees. Top with butterkase and cheddar. Cover and cook for an additional 1–3 minutes, or until cheeses are melted. Place arugula on bun bottoms; top with burgers and bacon. Spread tomato jam on bun tops; place tops.
Grilled Chicken Salad with Blackberry Vinaigrette 1-1/2 cups fresh blackberries, divided 1/3 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup honey 3/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste 4 (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breast halves 12 oz (14 cups) fresh baby spinach and kale salad mix 4 oz Sartori Merlot BellaVitano cheese, crumbled
Place 1/2 cup blackberries, basil, balsamic vinegar, and honey in a food processor. Cover and process until mixture is smooth; slowly stream in olive oil until blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour 3/4 cup vinaigrette in a sealable plastic bag. Add chicken; seal bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate remaining vinaigrette until serving. Grease grill grate. Heat grill to medium. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat for 5–7 minutes per side, or until a thermometer inserted into chicken reads 165 degrees. Transfer chicken to a cutting board; keep warm. Divide salad mix onto 4 serving plates. Cut chicken into slices. Top salads with chicken and remaining blackberries. Drizzle with reserved vinaigrette. Sprinkle with Merlot BellaVitano.
Strawberry Shortcake Tarts 8 oz mascarpone cheese, at room temperature 16 mini shortbread tart shells 8 strawberries, thinly sliced Honey Fresh mint
Stir mascarpone. Pipe or spoon mascarpone into each tart shell. Top with strawberries. Drizzle with honey. Garnish with mint.
Mushroom and Swiss-Stuffed Chicken with Wine Sauce 5 Tbsp cold butter, cubed and divided 1 pkg (8 oz) sliced fresh mushrooms Salt and pepper 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb) 6 oz (1-1/2 cups) Swiss cheese, shredded and divided 1 large shallot, finely chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine 3/4 cup chicken broth
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add mushrooms, cook and stir for 4–6 minutes or until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and wipe skillet dry. Meanwhile, slice each chicken breast half with a sharp knife, horizontally from the long side to within 1/4-inch of edge. Open chicken breast halves; cover with waxed paper. Flatten to 1/4-inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper. Top half of each chicken breast with 1/2 cup Swiss and 1/4 cup mushrooms. Fold chicken over filling; secure with toothpicks. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add chicken; cook covered, for 8 minutes. Flip chicken; cook covered, for an additional 7–8 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees. Top with remaining Swiss. Transfer chicken to a plate; tent with foil to keep warm.
Return pan to medium heat. Add shallot, cook and stir for 1–2 minutes, or until tender. Add wine, stirring to loosen any browned bits from bottom of pan. Cook and stir for 2 minutes longer. Stir in broth. Bring just to a boil; cook and stir for 5–6 minutes, or until sauce is reduced to about 1/3 cup. Remove from heat. Slowly whisk in remaining butter, 1 tablespoon at a time; until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in remaining mushrooms. Discard toothpicks; serve chicken with sauce. June 2019
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RECIPE EXCHANGE Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to dylan@weca.coop. For bonus recipes, go to http://wecnmagazine.com/recipes/.
Scalloped Potatoes Lori Putman, Friendship
3 lbs baking potatoes, peeled, thinly sliced Salt and pepper, to taste 9 Tbsp flour, divided 6 Tbsp butter, diced, divided 4-1/2 cups whole milk Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 9-x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 1/3 of the potatoes in bottom of baking dish. Sprinkle potatoes generously with salt, pepper, and 3 tablespoons flour; dot with 2 tablespoons butter. Repeat layering 2 more times, until all potatoes are used. Slowly pour milk over potatoes. (To make sure flour on the top layer gets moistened, press down gently on potatoes with a spatula to submerge.) Bake uncovered until milk comes to a boil, about 25 minutes; reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake until potatoes are tender, about 40 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Leftovers reheat well, covered at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. If desired, you can add cheese or other spices to layers.
Okie Baked Corn
Karen Simonis, Black River Falls
1/2 lb pork sausage 1 chopped onion 1 can Mexicorn 1 can cream-style corn 1 egg, beaten Salt and pepper 1/2 cup cracker crumbs Milk to cover Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown sausage and onion; drain. Combine onion, Mexicorn, cream-style corn, egg, salt, and pepper; add crumbs to thicken. Cover with milk. Pour mixture into a greased casserole dish and bake for 30–45 minutes.
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24 Hour Pickles
Fluffy Pancakes
Dill Large cucumbers 3 onions, sliced 3 cloves garlic 1 qt vinegar 3/4 cups sugar 1 qt water 1/4 cup pickling salt
1-1/2 cups milk 2 Tbsp white vinegar 2 cups flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 eggs 1/2 stick butter, melted
Barbara Kruzicki, Rosholt
In a one-gallon jar, place dill in bottom of jar. Slice cucumbers lengthwise and pack in jar with onions and garlic and place additional dill on top. In saucepan, boil together vinegar, sugar, water, and pickling salt. Pour hot mixture over cucumbers. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours; then refrigerate. Pickles will keep for at least 2–3 months, if refrigerated.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew Rosetta Gruss, Marshall
1-1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed 6 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch slices 1 medium onion, chopped 3 celery ribs, chopped 3 Tbsp flour 1-1/2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 can (14-1/2 oz) tomatoes, diced or stewed, undrained 1 can beef broth 1 tsp ground mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1 pkg brown gravy Layer potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery in a 5-qt slow cooker. Place flour in a large resealable plastic bag. Add stew meat; seal and toss to coat evenly. In a large skillet, brown meat in oil in batches. Place over vegetables. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, broth, dry mustard, salt, pepper, and gravy. Pour over beef. Cover and cook on high for 1-1/2 hours. Reduce heat to low; cook 7–8 hours longer or until meat and vegetables are tender (or cook on high for six hours).
Carolyn Creighton, Hazel Green
In large mixing bowl, stir together milk and vinegar. Let stand for 5 minutes so it can sour. In another bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk eggs and butter into milk mixture. Add flour mixture and whisk just until combined. Spray a frypan and heat to medium. Place 1/3 cup of batter per pancake on griddle, leave room for pancakes to spread. Cook until bubbles appear, about 1 to 1-1/2 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional minute. For any pancakes left: Wrap each one in plastic wrap, place in a ziplock bag, and freeze. Unwrap and put in either a microwave or toaster. Additionally, you can heat them in an oven at 300 degrees for 5 minutes.
REQUESTS from our
READERS Kathleen Meyer from Black River Falls is looking for ‘Old Fashioned Fudge Recipe” that was on the Hershey’s Cocoa Box. If you can help, have a request of your own, or would like to submit a recipe for publication, please write to Wisconsin Energy
Cooperative News, What’s Cooking? 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or contact us via our website, www. wecnmagazine.com. Thanks!
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Naturally FUN
CABLE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM’S NEWEST EXHIBIT WILL PIQUE YOUR CURIOSITY
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f you’re curious about Northwoods nature, then the Cable Natural History Museum is the place for you, especially this year as the museum unveils its new Curiosity Center.
A step through the stone archway marking the entrance to this newest, permanent exhibit transports you into an indoor forest where little visitors (and big ones, too) can climb a two-story tree to explore the oversized bird’s nest in the branches, walk across a ramp to slide down a log chute, and even send a flying squirrel across the room via zip line. On the forest floor, visitors can crawl into a bear den, turn over a rotting log to learn about the essential creatures that live underneath, and gather around log tables and stools to read or play games. There’s a puppet theater and a climbing wall, and even a live snake and salamander to study. The Curiosity Center’s grand opening over Memorial Day weekend culminated more than a year’s worth of preparations. “We did a big fundraising campaign in order to hire KidZibits, which is a big professional exhibit-building company in St. Paul,” said Emily Stone, naturalist/education director with the Cable Natural History Museum. “They designed this 24
Curiosity Center based on our dreams and specifications.” The Curiosity Center’s grand opening also served as an introduction to the museum’s main exhibit for the year, focusing on pollinators, an extension of last season’s popular Bee Amazed exhibit. The main exhibit is designed and built each year by the museum staff and volunteers. For this year’s Pollinator Power exhibit, some of the Bee Amazed displays were repurposed and expanded to include wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and hummingbirds. The exhibit includes a light-up wall display showing the seasonal cycles of various pollinators and oversized carnival-type games that help visitors match up pollinators with the appropriate plants. “We focus all of our exhibits on being really interactive and engaging for all ages, so in the main exhibit there is a pollinator playground, with a crawl space for toddlers and giant fake flowers to crawl around on like you’re a pollinator. We have text and interactive activities that work for all ages—adults on down to middle-schoolers can read and follow the exhibit, and we have the tactile features for the toddlers and younger children.” The exhibits, however, are not built with just children in mind.
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WISCONSIN FAVORITES
With a slide and a climbing wall, the Cable Natural History Museum’s new Curiosity Center is a great place for children (and adults) to burn off some energy while learning about Northwoods nature. (Photos courtesy of Cable Natural History Museum). The center is also filled with details like the rotting log, above left, which flips over to reveal the ecosystem underneath.
6,000 natural history specimens, including some rare pieces like the now-extinct passenger pigeon. All specimens are native to northern Wisconsin. Some are rotated through displays throughout the building’s hallways, while others are kept protected in a climate-controlled storage room, visible to visitors through the glass wall. The museum is home to some live Abundance of Opportunities The animals as well, all of which are used in Curiosity Center and Pollinator Power educational outreach programs. There’s a are this season’s main attractions, but red-tailed hawk and an American kestrel, there’s much more to see and do at this both featured in live raptor programs long-standing museum. Now in its 52nd year, the Cable Natural History Museum held every Tuesday during the summer; a hog-nosed snake; a rat snake; and a tiger is open year-round, with extended hours in the summer when the area’s population salamander. A large classroom area provides ample swells with the many families that vacation in northern Wisconsin. The museum space for some of the many programs expands people’s understanding of North- sponsored by the museum year-round. woods nature through exhibits and a wide The summer calendar alone is filled with more than 150 programs for all ages, invariety of educational opportunities. Permanent displays include those cen- cluding the long-running Junior Naturalist Day Camp, story time held in partnership tered around the museum’s collection of
“A fun thing about the Curiosity Center is that all of the elements are built big enough and strong enough that an adult can follow their toddler through,” Stone said. (For the record: Adults need not have a toddler in tow to take a turn in the tree climber.)
with the local bookstore, and specific workshops and events on a range of topics including snake feeding and kids’ yoga. The summer schedule also includes a series of drop-in nature tours to areas around the community including Wayside Wanderings, the museum’s natural play area located in the woods just down the road from the museum itself. There’s a full schedule of adult programs as well, including the free Joseph Jenkins Summer Lecture Series led by local and regional natural resource professionals and covering topics including invasive worms, owls, and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Stone said the museum has also been providing more training for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program, modeled after the Master Gardener Program. Stone described these training sessions as “super nerdy adult field trips,” including a canoe trip to count sturgeon, electric shocking June 2019
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The Cable Natural History Museum has enjoyed strong local support over its 50-plus years, with individuals volunteering their time to teach classes, build exhibits, maintain the facilities, and much more. In addition, area businesses and organizations have been generous with their support, including Bayfield Electric Cooperative, which donated power poles used to build a “stairway to the sky” in the museum’s Wayside Wanderings, a natural play area in the woods.
and counting fish, and plant pressing. Those adults who earn their Master Naturalist titles often serve as docents at state parks or in school programs, and participate in citizen science projects like frog call surveys or bird surveys, she said.
Always Evolving
The Cable Natural History Museum has the distinction of being the only museum in Wisconsin north of Eau Claire to have been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). In achieving this status in 2016, the Cable museum joined an exclusive club; according to AAM literature, only 3 percent of museums in the country are accredited. Among other benefits, accreditation helps facilitate continuous improvement, something the museum has been doing since Mary Griggs Burke first established it in 1967. Over the past half century, the museum has undergone additions,
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expansions, and new construction, while always staying true to its mission of “Connecting people to Northwoods nature through educational experiences that inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility.” Fresh exhibits are added routinely, with museum staff constantly dreaming up new ideas. In fact, even as the finishing touches were put on the new Curiosity Center and Pollinator Power exhibit, plans were already underway for next year’s main exhibit, to be built around a nocturnal theme. Your curiosity may be piqued here, but it’s not likely to be fully settled. More likely, the Cable Natural History Museum will make your curiosity just keep growing.—Mary Erickson The Cable Natural History Museum is located at 13470 County Highway M, Cable. For more information visit cablemuseum.org or call 715-798-3890.
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1. The museum’s extensive collection of natural history specimens includes mammals, fish, birds, insects, rocks and minerals, skulls and pelts, plants, and more. It’s too large to be displayed at once; however, visitors are able to view any item in the collection through the museum’s virtual database, accessed through the museum’s website. 2. Special programs and classes give young visitors an opportunity to get up close with nature. 3. A light-up board tracing the journey of various pollinators is part of this season’s Pollinator Power exhibit. 3. Weekly live raptor programs feature the museum’s American kestrel. 4. Equipment in Wayside Wanderings, such as this “spider web,” encourage natural play. (Photos 1, 2, 4, and 5 courtesy of the Cable Natural History Museum)
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YOUNG MEMBERS 1
Kids and Critters June 2019 3
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to the new wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be uploaded via wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. By submitting, sender implies that he/she has rights to and owns the image, and grants WECN permission to use the image. By submitting, the parent or legal guardian also authorizes us the right to publish the image.
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lavacek Karen HRS ENERGY SCENIC RIVE
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1. Jakoby feeds one of six orphaned kittens. Photo submitted by Jakoby’s aunt, Stephanie Sommerfield, a member of Oakdale Electric. 2. Blair meets a new friend at grandma and grandpa’s. Photo submitted by Adams-Columbia Electric member Shelley Hess. 3. Lorelei is all smiles with Gunner. Photo submitted by Lorelei’s papa, Scott Gralla, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric. 4. Ellie Mae milks her goat. Photo submitted by Julie Burton, a member of Oakdale Electric.
Spring is
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PHOTO CONTEST Go to the Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News Facebook page or website at wecnmagazine.com to see the winner of our “Spring is Finally Here Photo Contest.”
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CLASSIFIEDS MISCELLANEOUS
COLLECTOR BUYING WAR SOUVENIRS: German, Japanese, U.S. weapons, medals, helmets, daggers, swords, military items. 715-213-4565. WANTED: DEER TAGS, BACK TAGS. Trapping, bear, hunting, and fishing licenses. Otter, bobcat, fisher tags. Any old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284. WANTED: PAYING CASH FOR WW-2 GERMAN, JAPANESE FLAGS, DAGGERS, SWORDS, GUNS. ETC. 715-340-1974. USED BILLBOARD VINYLS/TARPS: Sizes available: 14x48=$50, 10x36=$28.80, 10x30=$24. Expired billboard faces, hemmed. Shipping and tax not included in listed price. Vinyls can also be picked up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. PLEASE CALL FOR AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO PICK UP 800-536-7446. GOT WOOD! NEW PORTABLE SAWMILLS. We sell Forestry Equipment for the hobbyist to the professional. Band Sawmills, Firewood Processors, Skidding Winches & more. A-F County Market an authorized Hudson Forest Equipment Dealer. Adams, WI 53910. Phone Joe or Rich 608-339-6703. SEPTIC PROBLEMS: Do you have standing water on your drain field? Have you been told you need a new expensive septic system? I have an alternative that works, also comes with a warranty (no digging). Call toll free 855-7976072 or email mmtagm@yahoo.com. GEC ELECTRIC LLC: Please call 608-792-8475 gecelectricllc1@gmail.com.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE: IDEAL HUNTING BASE: 3 bedroom lake cabin on Upper Clam Lake, Ashland County. Center of the Chequamegon National Forest. Includes furnishings, appliances, fireplace, boat, dock, and more. 23501 Nyberg Rd. Clam Lake, WI. See Craigslist Northern Wis. Lake cabin for sale. Call Tim 715-572-2632 or timgapen@ wctc.net. $82,000. FOR SALE: Remote half-acre lot in southern Price County. Located on small no-wake lake, heavily wooded, on town road. Electricity at road. Close to hundreds of acres of MFC open land. Abundant wildlife, great getaway spot. $18,900. Ph. 715-305-8721. 365 ACRES HUNTING LAND WITHIN 40 MINUTES OF LA CROSSE, Backwaters of Black River, ponds, sandy areas, wooded and open fields. Call Katy Wood, BHHS North Properties, 608-3040374 or email at KWOOD@BHHSNORTH PROPERTIES.COM. ORCHARD, 17A. 7 A Fenced – 900 Semi-dwarf apple trees, 600 blueberry, honeyberries, fall rasp. New 2,300 Sq. Ft. apple barn, finished, new well, septic, Lake Holcombe $219,000, 715-828-4875. TAMARACK LAKE LOT FOR SALE, WATERSMEET: Two+ acre parcel with 192 ft. frontage. Beautifully wooded with mature trees—pines and hardwoods. Great year ‘round outdoor activites. Outstanding fishing. Clean water. Located near Land O’ Lakes. Great views. $50,000. 715-937-1394.
COMMERCIAL BUILDING FOR SALE IN BEAUTIFUL CORNUCOPIA, WI HARBOR. Ideal location for tourist business. $49,000/offers. 615-224-4326; July– September 715-742-3264; cell 715-928-3534. WANTED: TO LEASE LAND FOR BOW HUNTERS (2). Bow hunting only in 2019. No doe or small bucks. 920-783-8268. VACATION RENTAL. Cape Coral, FL. Beautiful 3 bedroom home on gulf access canal. 10,000 lb boat lift. Weekly rental or more. Call Al. 608-295-7433.
PLANTS & SHRUBS PREMIUM SPRUCE TREES 7-8 FOOT TALL when planted. Balled & burlapped and ready to plant. Perfect for a manicured yard or a natural fence or along a driveway. These are nicely shaped and full from all sides. $79.99 call 608-981-2169. COVER SPRUCE TREES 8-10 FOOT TALL random sizes. Balled & burlapped and ready to plant. These trees are nice but they are not perfect. Great for wildlife or blocking a messy neighbor or even making a windbreak. $59.99 Call 608-981-2169. FOR SALE: Bare root fruit and shade trees, small fruits, perennials and shrubs. For varieties visit sunriseraspberryfarm.com. Stevens Point, WI 54482. 715-572-5381. HOSTA AND PERENNIAL GARDEN Walk at Witt’s Hosta Garden-May 31, June 1–2; 9–5. W2585 Rim Rock Rd., Eau Claire, WI . Exit 65 off I94 onto Hwy 37 South (4mi.) Turn left, (east) off 37 into Rim Rock Hills. 715-834-0447 – Plants available for purchase.
RURAL LIFE HISTORY BOOK: Machine Shed Memories – a Chronicle of Rural Life in Wisconsin. Order at www.machineshedmemories.com. ALUMINUM MELTING FURANCE: Melt Chamber 14x15. 3-gallon crucible. Fuel oil air or propane. $200. 715-787-4337. 54416.
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Classified ads reach more than 171,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classified ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classifieds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN, Attn. Dylan Pingitore, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4599. Email dylan@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.
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WISCONSIN EVENTS 1 Historical Society Summer Meeting—Greenwood. Branstiter Museum, 12–2 p.m. Potluck lunch. Presentation about rehab projects in Neillsville. 1 Dairy Breakfast—Gays Mills. Jody & Paulette Riley Family Farm, 6–10 a.m. Adults $2; children 6–12 $1. 1 Craft & Vendor Sale—Tigerton. Zion Lutheran Church, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 715-326-0204.
13–16 Camping Club Celebration—Chippewa Falls. Fairground, all day. Entertainment, games, flea market, door prizes, and rig decoration. Saturday, brat supper; Sunday, church service. 14, 15 Brat Fry—Lake Delton. Walmart, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
22 Free Airplane Rides for Kids—Adams County Airport. Friendship, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Ages 8–17 will have a chance to take to the skies. 22, 23 Cheese Curd Festival—Ellsworth. East End Park, Fri. 4–10 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Free admission. Live music, cheese curd eating contest, cheese, craft beer, wine, hard ciders, and more.
14, 15 Garage Sale—Ladysmith. First Church of Christ, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Gently used clothing, furniture, dishes, antiques, books, and games.
23 Memory Stroll & Tea—Janesville. Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Family fun events. Come enjoy the gardens, brain-healthy education, displays, and refreshments. Adults $15; Children 6 and under are free.
1 Dairy Breakfast—Gilman. Jump River Community Center, 8–11 a.m. 715-668-5360.
15 Camp Williams Reunion—Camp Douglas. Nelson Park, 12–5 p.m. All employees, past & present, of Camp Williams are invited to a reunion at Nelson Park.
27–29 Art Show—Necedah. Library, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Art displays from the community. Oil paintings, acrylics, pencil, pour paintings, and jewelry.
6–9 Co-ed Softball Tournament—Cambria. Tarrant Park, all day.
15 Dairy Brunch—Amherst Junction. 1499 CTY RD A, 8 a.m.–noon. 715-677-3809.
7, 8 Brat Fry—Lake Delton. Walmart, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
15 Classic Car Show—Osseo. Downtown, 10 a.m.–2:45 p.m. $5 registration for cars, general admission is free. DJ, craft show, carnival rides, beer, and food stands.
27–30 Homecoming Celebration—Necedah. High School, all day. Car show, fly-in, 3–5K run, basketball tourney, effigy mound tour, history museum, dance, parade, dedication, and veterans tribute.
1 Car, Truck, and Bike Show—Little Suamico. Geano Beach Bar & Grill, 1–4 p.m.; Live music from 5–9 p.m. Bring your ride in to the shores of the bay and enjoy music from Ghidora.
8 Garage Sale—Cambria. Village-wide, all day. Maps available at local businesses. 8 Spider Lake Run—Iron River. Community Center, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. 10K, 5K, and 2 mile walk/run. Student or seniors 55+ $30; Adults $40. 715-372-8558. 8 Rhubarb Fest—Fountain City. City Park, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Arts, crafts, music, plant sales, entertainment, and rhubarb games. Tasting contest featuring rhubarb food. 8 Firemen’s Steak Feed—Fennimore. Fire Station, 4:30–8:30 p.m. Goes until sold out. 9 Dairy Breakfast—Neillsville. Mathis Dairy. 7 a.m.–12 p.m. Breakfast and activities for everything. Check out the farm’s robot milking system. 9 Dairy Breakfast—Platteville. Kieler Farms, 7 a.m.–11:30 a.m. 11 Author Presentation by Kathryn Sullivan— Onalaska. Library, 6:30–7:45 p.m. Free, by Friends of the Onalaska Library. 12 Charcoal Chicken Dinner—Jim Falls. United Methodist Church, 4:30–7 p.m. $10 for 1/4 chicken; $12 for 1/2 chicken. Carry-outs available.
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13 Brat Fry & Bake Sale—Medford. VFW Clubhouse, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 715-748-3173 for pre-orders.
15 LaFollette Day—Argyle. Saxton House, 3–7 p.m. Historical program, refreshments, and music. 16 Lake Martha Days—Osseo. Downtown, all day. Family entertainment and food, with a Norwegian flair. 715-597-3993. 20 Country Store & Luncheon—Cable. United Church of Christ, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Homemade jam and bake sale. $10 luncheon fee, take-outs available. 715-798-3066.
29 Pie & Ice Cream Social—Fifield. Old Town Hall Museum, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Fundraiser for buildings and grounds maintenance. 29 Stubborn Mule Adventure Race—Cable. Namakagon Town Hall, 1–6 p.m. Paddle, bike, and hike to find the hidden checkpoints. With 5-hour, 12-hour, and 30-hour events, there’s something for everyone.
Upload events directly to the wecnmagazine.com through the “Events” tab.
21 Make Music Day—Platteville. Citywide, all day. Outdoor day music festival on the summer solstice. Various locations.
Upload your July events by June 7.
21 Midsummer Concert—Fountain City. Kinstone, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Concert with Peter Phippen (Flutes) and Rahbi Crawford (Singing Bowls) in the Stone Circle at Kinstone. Tickets, $20 at the door.
Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Submissions should be received early in the month prior to the month in which the event will occur. Due to space limits, we may need to eliminate details, so be sure to include a phone number (with area code) where callers may obtain more info. If we receive more listings than space allows us to print, we reserve the right to select those we believe will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. Please no virtual events.
22 Chalk & Cheese Festival—Platteville. City Park, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Sidewalk chalk artists, live music, food trucks, and prizes. Artists of all ages and levels welcome. 22 Golf Outing—Neillsville. Country Club, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Lots of fun to be had. 715-743-3780.
Upload events to wecnmagazine.com
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