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CooperaN

COOPERATIVE

News

Wisconsin

ENERGY Cooperative

contents July 2019

News

Cultivating CONGRESS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Co-op issues come front and center in D.C. Photo by Steve Freese.

6 15 28

Sensors and a GREENER GRID

Recipes

Electronics and analytics help increase renewables.

Distribution co-ops do not have energy source mixes.

NEWS BRIEFS

Stay up-to-date on the industry happenings.

MY CO-OP

Find out what’s happening at your local electric cooperative.

On the

COVER

Kinstone provides place to reﬂect and connect.

Blueberries create quite the hullabaloo.

CRITTERS

Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.

A MULTIPLECHOICE TEST —WHEN “ALL OF THE ABOVE” REALLY MATTERS The Dairyland Power system includes local distribution cooperatives serving parts of ﬁve states.

CLASSIFIEDS

Buy, sell, and trade with readers from across Wisconsin.

Kids &

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PEOPLE’S

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July 2019

WECN Jul19TOC.indd 1

6/17/19 10:51 AM

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Energy mix 101

Electric distribution cooperatives in another state were criticized recently for not posting their Dana Kelroy, Editor generation source mix on their websites. Evidently, the critic thought this would help evaluate the co-ops’ environmental choices and use of renewables. One problem: They wouldn’t have the information. Distribution cooperatives deliver electricity, generating little or none. They buy wholesale power; operate and manage the substations, poles, wires, and transformers to distribute the power; and deliver it to members. The generation mix (natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, etc.) keeping the lights on in your home is determined by which resources the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) dispatches at any given moment. MISO oversees wholesale power markets and maintains regional system reliability. At its website, misoenergy.org, a pie chart of the current fuel mix and pricing updates every five minutes. Eighteen of Wisconsin’s 24 distribution co-ops are members of Dairyland Power, a generation and transmission cooperative. Headquartered in La Crosse, Dairyland serves parts of five states, is “an active member of MISO and works to ensure that cooperative perspectives are included in decisions regarding the management of the vast electricity grid.” On page 10, we dive a little deeper into the grid’s energy mix. Stated briefly, if you’re a distribution co-op or a consumer connected to the grid, your generation mix is whatever your regional grid operator is dispatching. Electric co-ops support an “all-of-the-above” approach: a diverse portfolio of energy sources to best maintain reliable power for all members. As our page 10 feature explains, in times of intense energy demand like the recent polar vortex, a diverse mix of energy sources is what keeps power flowing and the lights glowing. 4

July 2019 Vol. 80 No. 1 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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NEWS BRIEFS LAWSUIT MAY DETERMINE 3PO STATUS

A lawsuit filed in Dane County by a Dubuque, Iowa-based solar energy developer seeks a judicial finding that third-party financing and ownership (3PO) of electric generation facilities is legal in Wisconsin. Named as defendants in the suit by Eagle Point Solar are the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) and Milwaukee-based WE Energies. The central issue is WE Energies’ denial of grid connection for solar panels Eagle Point wants to install on municipally owned buildings in Milwaukee. Eagle Point agreed to set up generating equipment at several locations and sell the power to city government. WE Energies maintains that because Wisconsin law does not authorize retail electric customer choice, the transaction would be illegal. Solar interests including Eagle Point have repeatedly asked the PSC to open the door for 3PO arrangements, but developers reject the idea that by engaging in the business of selling power to consumers, they would meet the statutory definition of a public utility and come under PSC regulation. The commission has said it’s the job of the state legislature, not the unelected regulators, to say what is a regulated utility and decide whether to allow retail choice.

DAIRYLAND INKS WIND PURCHASE

Dairyland Power Cooperative and Avangrid Renewables have finalized a power purchase agreement for 52 megawatts of generation capacity from a South Dakota wind farm. The 155-megawatt Tatanka Ridge Wind Farm is proposed for construction in Deuel County, South Dakota. It would site 56 wind turbines on some 18,000 acres, according to a joint announcement from Dairyland and Avangrid Renewables, the owner-developer. With a presence in 22 states, Portland, Oregon-based Avangrid Renewables is a primarily wind-energy subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., and is part of Spain’s Iberdrola Group. The new South Dakota facility is expected to achieve commercial operation by the end of 2020. 6

GADWILL RITES HELD

Funeral services were held May 14 at Eau Claire for Robert Gadwill, longtime director of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA), and Cooperative Network (CN). Aged 80, he died at home in Altoona May 8, following a November 2018 diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Born at Ojibwa, Wisconsin, Gadwill was a UW-Eau Claire graduate who served 25 years in the Marine Corps including two tours in Vietnam, rose to the rank of colo-

PENSION FIX CLEARS HOUSE

Legislation remedying overcharges for insuring electric cooperative pension plans has advanced by an overwhelming bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives as part of a wide-ranging package of retirement savings reforms. In April, co-op pension language authored by Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind was folded into the broader SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act, H.R. 1994. Its passage on a 417–3 roll call sets the stage for Senate consideration. Assuming enact-

nel, and was qualified as a combat engineer and logistics officer. Gadwill was first elected to the board of then-Eau Claire Electric Cooperative in 2000. In 2006 he was elected board chairman and served six years in that post. He was elected a director of both the WECA and of CN in 2009, serving in both roles through 2015. He became vice chair of the WECA board in 2012 and chairman in 2015. Gadwill is survived by Mary, his wife of 56 years, two daughters, one son, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

ment, it would save several hundred thousand dollars for Wisconsin cooperatives in its first year of application. Kind’s language would permanently reduce pension premiums for cooperatives and charities. The bill also makes multiple changes for retirement programs including repeal of the 70½-year age limit for contributions to individual retirement accounts, and would push back the mandatory age to begin withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k) plans to 72 from the current 70½.

FEDS FORECAST COOLED SUMMER DEMAND

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PSC DECLINES TO REVISIT SOLAR PERMITTING DECISION

A unanimous Public Service Commission has refused to reconsider its approval of Wisconsin’s first utility-scale solar farm. Opponents of the proposed Iowa County facility petitioned the commission (PSC) to reconsider its April decision approving the Badger Hollow Wind Farm. At the same time, the PSC also approved agreements for half of Badger Hollow’s 300-megawatt capacity to be sold to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Madison Gas and Electric.

The intervenors argued that the Badger Hollow developers failed to comply with a provision of Wisconsin law that requires the use of brownfield sites for large electric generating facilities “to the extent practicable.” The developers noted the PSC’s conclusion that Badger Hollow “requires approximately 3,500 acres of nearly contiguous developable land in close proximity to existing transmission facilities.” Developers say they expect to begin construction of Badger Hollow later this year.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

WECN July19Newsbriefs.indd 1

6/17/19 7:27 AM

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n May I wrote about our association’s activities at the state Capitol. This month I’d like to update you on what we’re doing on your behalf in Washington, D.C. Electric cooperative leaders and staff spent the last few days of April in Washington, lobbying to keep your electric service safe, reliable, and affordable. More than 65 cooperative leaders from Wisconsin joined me in this effort, along with 2,000 from other states. We talked to members of Congress about three issues affecting Wisconsin electric co-ops Congressman Ron Kind (center) confers with Rob Richard from the and the communities they Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (left) and Jim Matheson, CEO serve. of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. One issue was keeping the cost of electricity affordable. Recent changes to the federal tax code created an unintended consequence for electric employees in 47 states. The PBGC treats all 880 cooperatives. For the first time, government co-ops as single employers subject to great volatilgrants for economic development, storm-damity and likely to go out of business all at the same age restoration, or broadband deployment could time. These bizarrely unrealistic assumptions result jeopardize your co-op’s non-profit status by in Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives paying 87 being treated as taxable income. We told our percent more than they should—almost $700,000 federal representatives Wisconsin electric coannually—to insure their pension program. Our ops shouldn’t have to choose between restoring statewide association has been working with Conpower after a disaster and preserving tax-exempt gressman Ron Kind and he is advancing legislation status—after all, co-ops are taxed on excess that should correct this issue. revenues not plowed back into the business or The third issue we discussed involves the needs returned to members. We requested support for of rural communities in any infrastructure package House Resolution 2147 and Senate Bill 1032 arising from the bipartisan agreement that apthat will modify the definition of income in depeared, at press time, to be in the making. We told termining electric co-ops’ tax-exempt status. our representatives Congress should look beyond We also discussed an issue that could affect the big cities and standard road and bridge projthe reliability of your electric service because it ects. We encouraged them to look at three additionclearly affects your co-op’s ability to attract and al key infrastructure investments: modernizing the retain quality personnel to work on its electric electric grid, expanding rural broadband access, lines and systems. and electrifying the economy by expanding the use Co-ops have to offer good jobs with benefits of electricity as a basic energy source to supplant in order to compete for the services of top-notch fossil fuels. We as electric cooperatives will supemployees. Those benefits need to include health port a robust infrastructure package that improves insurance and a pension plan. Currently, the America’s rural communities. pension plan offered through the National Rural I had the opportunity to visit with seven memElectric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is bers of Congress or their staff and I saw the capabeing overcharged by the Pension Benefit Guarble lobbying performance of Wisconsin electric anty Corporation (PBGC). The NRECA pension cooperative leaders. I am hopeful we will be able plan covers more than 880 participating rural to report on success from these efforts in the near electric cooperatives, with more than 56,000 future.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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his being July, hardly anyone, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, is fretting much about freezing in the dark the way they might when the brutal cold of the Polar Vortex makes one of its periodic incursions into the Midwest—and even into parts of North America where temperatures below freezing seldom occur. But there are those who are thinking about these things even as you read this article, because six months from now frigid temperatures might be testing how well they’ve prepared the energy and utility systems that can make the difference between MINNESOTA life and death when winter does its worst. Though the term became part of the popular vocabulary IOWA relatively recently, the Polar Vortex is really nothing new. It’s an ever-present system of extremely cold air that rotates steadily around the Earth’s polar regions, driven by jet streams. When the vortex The Dairyland deviates from its usual, nomPower system inally circular pattern in reincludes local sponse to being blocked by a distribution cooperatives strong high-pressure system, serving parts of five it can dip into lower latitudes states. where its temperatures aren’t often seen even in winter.

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A Close Call, Well-Managed The vortex made its most recent visit to Wisconsin at the end of January. In the immediate aftermath, various analyses showed that electric generation facilities serving the regional grids most affected mainly performed up to expectations and experienced only limited interruptions of service. A review by the Scottish-based international energy consultants Wood MacKenzie said wind generation was the most volatile generation source during the extreme cold. The same report cited solar outages owing to reduced panel efﬁciency and diminished battery storage capacity caused by cold weather. WISCONSIN Xcel Energy said its Minnesota and North Dakota wind farms were unavailable for power production from the night of January 29 until ILLINOIS mid-day on the 30th after shutting down automatically when temperatures dropped below the machinery’s operational limits. In several small towns north of the Twin Cities, Xcel provided motel accommodations for its residential customers after a pressure drop on its natural gas system forced stringent conservation measures. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the sprawling, multi-state transmission grid that

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serves Wisconsin but also stretches all the way from the Gulf of Mexico into central Canada, operated under emergency procedures January 30 and 31. The MISO declared a “Maximum Generation Event,” which includes an all-hands-on-deck approach using all available generation and a directive to power providers to start up off-line resources. A MISO spokesman indicated this year’s demand during the critical period fell short of the record set during the slightly less-cold vortex event during the winter of 2013–14, but it exceeded the average over the four weeks from January 1–28 by 16 percent.

Strength Through Diversity

The U.S. electric generation system has undergone more than a decade’s worth of dramatic change. It’s become markedly cleaner in terms of air emissions, and it’s become notably more efficient both in terms of power generation and of the generation product’s end-use: Witness the aforementioned reduction of demand this year compared with the less cold vortex episode just five years earlier. Amid all this change and the accompanying policy choices, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has consistently taken an “all-of-the-above” position in terms of the varieties of generation resources it considers prudent to have available. Necessarily, this is at odds with the position that has as its central priority the eradication of some generation sources under a more politically-driven policy. NRECA’s veteran energy reporter and writer Derrill Holly recently examined some experiences that help focus the mind on why all-of-the-above can be literally a key to survival in harsh conditions. In an article for Electric Co-op News, Holly noted that Midwest and Plains-states temperatures plunging to 25 degrees below zero and even colder

triggered automatic shutdowns of wind turbines to prevent damage from frozen lubricants and icing of the blades. Intense cold wasn’t the only factor limiting renewable generation’s ability to perform: Turbines were also going into automatic shutdown mode because, ironically, there was too much wind. Turbines in North Dakota ceased operation as wind speeds approached 60 miles per hour. Holly quoted NRECA’s senior power supply and generation director Don Walsh noting that the MISO “lost most of its forecasted wind capacity in its northern zone.” Despite being several hundred miles from Wisconsin, inoperable wind turbines in North Dakota are not irrelevant here. States west of the Mississippi and across the Great Plains normally have far more favorable conditions than1 WisMorton_WIEnergy_7.19.qxp_Layout 6/3/19 consin for wind generation. The desire

of energy policymakers to utilize that resource and transfer the electrical output from its remote sources to population centers in the eastern half of the nation is arguably the chief motivation for the ongoing build-out of new, extra-high voltage transmission lines that’s been underway across Wisconsin and Minnesota during the past several years. Derrill Holly quotes NRECA Chief Engineer Paul McCurley saying higher electrical demand combined with constrained generation during severe cold weather “should serve as a reality check for anyone who sees promotion of specific technologies and the exclusion of others as a realistic path toward energy security and independence.” As noted above, wind was not alone in being impaired; solar, gas, and nuclear had a few problems as well, in partAM duePage to the 11:49 1 adverse effects of cold weather on mechanical components.

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Nevertheless, the lights stayed on, and the reason is not difficult to detect: The diverse inventory of generation sources enabled power providers to cope with the unforgiving weather. Without that diversity, they, and many of those they serve, would have been left in the cold and the dark.

Restraint is a Resource

Reduced power consumption stretches generation capacity and can make an important difference at critical times. Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News talked with Mitch Vanden Langenberg and Greg Flege, respectively, supervisor of load management and director of system operations Mitch Vanden Langenberg (left) and Greg Flege know how to trim power usage and at Dairyland Power Cooperative reduce demand when it really matters. In the background, an Illuminated schematic in La Crosse. The generation and diagram depicting real-time activity on the generation and transmission cooperatransmission cooperative partners tive’s grid covers a wall in the Dairyland System Operations Center. with its 24 member distribution Photo courtesy of Kelsie Olson, DPC. co-ops in what the two called a “marquee example” of demand Policy choices like denying permits for natural gas reduction strategies. pipelines to enter New York have contributed in recent During the most recent vortex, the deferred or winters to supply problems and this spring to more than time-shifted use of electric water- or space-heating one provider placing moratoria on new natural gas hooksystems and other consumer endpoint techniques were ups in areas around New York City and in Massachusetts, combined to reduce Dairyland’s system-wide demand by saying pipeline constraints mean they can’t guarantee 12–15 percent. This, they told us, “aided in power supply uninterrupted service. reliability” and helped avoid power-price spikes “in a In April, ISO New England, the MISO counterpart manner that did not rely solely on traditional bulk-energy serving Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, resources.” Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, published a discussion Dairyland’s load management program, they said, paper saying the energy industry’s evolution is consistent “can be a value-added complement to a diverse resource with “goals for a cleaner, greener regional power grid, yet mix by ensuring that grid operators have flexible access it also represents new challenges.” to both the demand side and the supply side of the energy A big new challenge is the necessity of “just-in-time” balance equation.” delivery of the energy source both for renewables—wind Diversity, We Said… Where the adaptability of a and sunshine—and the natural gas required to back them diverse generation portfolio is lacking, it tends to be by up—a pipeline-related problem. deliberate choice, and it’s a choice that can have unwant“During cold winter conditions, [the region’s] pipelines ed consequences. rapidly reach capacity and are unable to fuel many of New A classic example is the U.S. Northeast, where the England’s power plants,” the discussion paper said. strain of coping with the Polar Vortex has brought wild That rejection of diversity is unabashedly defended by electricity price spikes, legislative investigations of some on environmental grounds, but the results are that alleged gouging, emergency generation shifts to environsome plants turn to fuel oil and New England continues to mentally dirty fuels compared with those they had struggle with issues reported here years ago, in periodic to replace, and increased dependency on potentially conditions of genuine physical danger. problematic resources like liquefied natural gas imported Surviving the deep freeze is one multiple choice test from Russia. policymakers can’t afford to fail. —Dave Hoopman

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SENSORS HELP CREATE A GREENER GRID

ELECTRIC COOPS ARE USING ELECTRONICS AND ANALYTICS TO WELCOME RENEWABLE ENERGY

o actually see the green power revolution, look up at the power lines. If you spot a little box about the size of a tennis shoe clamped onto one of the wires, you’re looking at something that’s bringing in a whole new era in energy. It’s called a sensor, a container of electronics that collects and sends out information about the wire it’s on, from the voltage inside to the temperature on the outside. Sensors are starting to appear all over the nation’s electric grid— that’s the term for the nation’s network of power plants and substations connected with millions of miles of power lines. These sensors are also being used with other electrical equipment, like electric meters and transformers—those cylindrical containers you see on top of utility poles. Sensors are one of many technologies that are enabling changes in the way the electric grid is planned and operated, like the rapid growth in renewable energy, says Venkat Banunarayanan, senior director of integrated grid technologies for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

Managing Wind and Solar Power “The grid is going through a lot of changes,” says Banunarayanan. “It’s changing the way we create, transmit, and use electricity.” The U.S. electric utility network is moving from one that used to ship out a mostly steady stream of electricity from large coal or nuclear power plants to a more dynamic, decentralized system where power moves back and forth, off and on. Rooftop solar owners can sell excess electricity back to the utility along the same wires that bring power into their home. A wind farm that powers a utility might suddenly quit generating when the wind dies down. How does the electric grid manage all that? Part of the secret is in the sensors, says Banunarayanan. “You install those sensors at different points on the grid and you can get an accurate

picture of how the grid is performing,” he says. “The more sensors and realtime information you can get back to the grid operators, the better they can identify and address any problems.” Just a few years ago, electric utilities could plan their power plant production around one peak time of energy use a day—like 6 p.m., when people came home from work and school, and started to turn on lights, cook dinner, and watch TV. Large power plants ran nonstop to keep the electricity ﬂowing. Renewable energy changes how utilities need to plan around people’s schedules. Wind and solar power used to not matter so much—10 years ago, Above: New technologies, renewable energy, and other factors are creating changes to the electric grid. However, the basic function of the grid remains the same: to supply cost-effective, reliable, and safe power to consumers. Photo Source: Markus Distelrath Left: Sensors, like the Aclara power sensor shown here, measure voltage, current ,and additional data that’s important to electric utilities. Sensors are installed on overhead electrical equipment, like power lines and transformers. Photo Source: Aclara April July 2019

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they only generated 3 percent of our electricity. Today, that’s up to 8 percent and growing fast. The on-again, off-again nature of wind and solar means your electric co-op needs to be ready to switch among power sources instantly. There are also safety issues—utility workers need to know when rooftop solar panels are feeding electricity back onto power lines. These changes mean that electric utilities need to look at grid performance and plan accordingly––throughout every hour of the day and night––instead of just looking at the peak time of energy use in a day.

Plugging in Electric Vehicles Electric vehicles are also bringing changes. Banunarayanan notes that every major car company is planning to increase production of electric vehicles, including large and small commercial trucks. What happens at night when all those semi-trucks pull into a warehouse or a rest stop along the interstate and plug in? “There are infrastructure, business model, and communications issues,” says Banunarayanan. “What are the ways in which the infrastructure needs to be strengthened for commercial trucks to be electrified … even for sedans and other electric passenger vehicles, what are the implications in a residential subdivision if everyone plugs in at the same time to charge their vehicles?” Alternatives to infrastructure strengthening could include providing incentives for charging during “off-peak” periods––during mid-day or the middle of the night, and educating consumer-members on the most economical electric vehicle charging periods. In addition to installing more sensors, creating a greener grid could call for upgraded power lines. Besides electric vehicle charging stations, solar and wind power will have to be transmitted from the plains and deserts where it’s generated, to the communities where it’s used. 14

Sensors, like the Aclara power sensor shown here, allow electric utilities to quickly and cost-effectively gain better situational awareness of grid conditions. Unlike more traditional methods for monitoring grid conditions, which require utilities to do extensive planning and turn off power while work is done, power sensors are installed without disrupting operations. Photo Source: Aclara

One industry estimate predicts the utility industry will need to spend 20 to 50 percent more through the year 2030 to upgrade the grid, and 50 to 170 percent more from 2030 to 2050. While more power lines and more sensors are keys to greening the grid, Banunarayanan says another essential ingredient is professionals who know how to use all the information sent in through the hardware and software. “Data scientists or data analysts, who help create decision-quality insights from data––these are some of the hottest jobs right now,” he says. “Utilities are applying these techniques to the data that we get from the sensors to create quality insights and actionable decision making.” For all its cyber-age sophistication, Banunarayanan sees the greener grid as just another stage in the development of electric utilities. “The grid is changing; however, the basic function of the grid is not,” he says. “The grid exists to supply costeffective, reliable, and safe power. It’s just changing to give consumers more options.” Paul Wesslund 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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BLUEBERRY

Hullabaloo Blueberry Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter one side of each bread slice. Place bread on a work surface buttered-side-down. Drizzle honey over two of the slices; top with blueberries. Add a slice of cheese, then the apple slices. Top with remaining cheese. Top with remaining 2 slices of bread, buttered-side-up. In a heavy, oven-proof skillet, over medium heat, cook sandwiches until golden brown on the bottom. Turn sandwiches over and transfer skillet to oven. Bake for about 5 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and enjoy.

Recipes and photos are courtesy of U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

1 Tbsp butter, softened 4 slices whole wheat bread 1 Tbsp honey 1/2 cup blueberries 2â€“3 oz white cheddar or America cheese, sliced thin 6 thin slices apple

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Blueberry and Provolone Stuffed Chicken 1 cup frozen blueberries 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts 8 thin slices provolone cheese 32 fresh basil leaves 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 3 cups sliced mushrooms 1-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup white wine 1 tsp red wine vinegar 1 Tbsp fresh basil 1 Tbsp chopped parsley Salt and pepper, to taste

Place frozen blueberries in a colander over a bowl or sink; let juices drain. Halve the chicken breasts horizontally, keeping the long side attached. Open the halves like a book and pound breasts until 1/4-inch thick. Season all sides with salt and pepper. Place each chicken breast on a work surface, cut side up. Add about 1/4 cup blueberries on top of chicken, top with 2 slices provolone and basil leaves; maintaining a 1-inch border on the chicken. Roll the chicken breasts up lengthwise and tie with kitchen twine. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and oil in a large ovenproof skillet. Add the stuffed chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake until a thermometer placed in the middle reads 165 degrees, about 7–8 minutes. Transfer chicken to plates and let rest for about 10 minutes. While the chicken is resting, scrape any melted cheese from the skillet and discard. Set the skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon butter. Add mushrooms and cook, turning occasionally until mushrooms are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add in the white wine and cook for about 60 seconds. Add broth and vinegar and simmer until liquid is thickened and reduced, about 10–12 minutes. Stir in remaining tablespoon butter and herbs. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Cut off and discard twine. Cut chicken into slices and drizzle mushroom sauce over top and serve.

Blueberry Muffins 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 1-3/4 cups plus 1 Tbsp ﬂour, divided 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp nutmeg 3/4 tsp salt 1 egg

1 cup sour cream 1/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups. Toss blueberries with 1 tablespoon flour. Combine remaining 1-3/4 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt; set aside. Beat together egg, sour cream, and milk. Stir in flour mixture until just combined (batter will be lumpy). Stir in blueberries until evenly distributed. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

Blueberry Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread BLUEBERRY COMPOTE: 1 bag (16 oz) frozen blueberries 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp cornstarch

Combine frozen blueberries, sugar, and cornstarch in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until mixture is a thick jam-like consistency, at least 8 hours.

PULL-APART BREAD: 1 tube (16.3 oz) refrigerated jumbo biscuits 1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp ground cinnamon 4 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Generously grease a 9-x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Divide each piece of biscuit dough into thirds. Spoon 1 teaspoon chilled blueberry compote into the center of each dough piece. Carefully fold dough over top of the blueberry compote and firmly pinch the seams closed. If necessary, wet edges of dough with cold water to secure seams. Roll filled dough gently between your hands to smooth out the seams and form a ball. Repeat until all pieces of dough are filled. (You will have additional blueberry compote left to serve with baked pull-apart bread.) Microwave butter in a bowl until melted. Combine sugar and cinnamon in another bowl. Dip each stuffed dough ball in melted butter, roll in cinnamon sugar, and arrange in prepared loaf pan; forming two layers. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until top of loaf is golden brown, has puffed up, and is baked through. Let stand for 10 minutes. Serve hot with remaining blueberry compote. July 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/.

Bierocks

Patricia Mullens, Friendship Dough:

2 cups warm water 2 (.25 oz) pkgs active dry yeast 1/2 cup white sugar 1/4 cup margarine, softened 1 egg 2 tsp salt 7 cups all-purpose ﬂour, divided Filling:

1 lb lean ground beef 1 cup chopped onion 6 cups shredded cabbage 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1/4 cup melted butter Prepare dough in a large bowl. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand 10 minutes until creamy. Mix in sugar, margarine, egg, salt, and 3-1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add remaining flour until dough pulls together; place in an oiled bowl. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. In a heavy skillet, brown meat. Add onion, cabbage, pepper and salt; simmer for 30 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees; coat a cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Punch dough down and divide in half. Spread each piece of dough out on a non-stick surface and fill with 2 tablespoons of the filling. Fold dough over and seal edges. Place on a prepared cookie sheet and let rise for 1 hour. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with butter and serve. Enjoy!

Rosetta Gruss, Marshall

Diane Rinnman, Hayward

7 cups unpeeled pickling cucumbers, sliced thin 1 cup sliced onions 1 pepper, diced Canning salt 1 cup white vinegar 2 cups sugar 1 tsp celery seed 1 tsp mustard seed Mix together cucumbers, onions, pepper, and salt; set aside. Place vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and mustard seed in a pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool for 1 hour. Pour mixture over cucumbers. Put in 2 quart jars and place in fridge. Keep 2 months.

Brownies:

2 cups sugar 1-1/2 cups baking cocoa 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, ﬂour, cocoa, and salt. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla; beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Pour into a greased 9-x13-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely. Filling:

1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup sugar 2 Tbsp milk 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup ﬂour

Kansas Corn Scallops Susan Kozelka, Brookfield

1 (16 oz) can corn 1 (16 oz) can creamed corn 1 small can evaporated milk 2 eggs 4 Tbsp butter, melted 2 Tbsp instant minced onion 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 1 packet crackers, crushed 12 oz Swiss cheese, cubed

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Add milk, vanilla, and ﬂour; mix well. Spread ﬁlling over cooked brownies. Glaze:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain corn, set aside 1/4 cup. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Stir in corn, creamed corn, 1/4 cup reserved liquid, evaporated milk, butter, onions, salt, and pepper. Fold in crackers and cheese. Bake in a greased baking dish for 1 hour. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

1 cup chocolate chips 3/4 cups chopped walnuts 1 Tbsp shortening Melt chocolate chips and shortening in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Spread over ﬁlling. Immediately sprinkle with nuts, pressing down slightly. Refrigerate until the glaze hardens.

Lori Putnam from Friendship is looking for an old fashioned brown sugar (fudge-like) candy recipe. If you can help, have a request of your own, or would like to submit a recipe for publication, please write to

REQUESTS from our

READERS 22

Cookie Dough Brownies

Fresh Cucumber Salad

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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CIRCLES OF

Serenity KINSTONE PROVIDES PLACE TO REFLECT AND CONNECT

ristine Beck describes herself as a “land listener.” Don’t bother trying to look that up in the dictionary— you won’t find a definition there. You’ll find the meaning instead at Kinstone, the 30-acre haven of peace and tranquility that Beck coaxed out of land that’s been in her family for generations.

Located just off the Great River Road near Fountain City, along Riverland Energy Cooperative’s lines, Kinstone doesn’t much resemble the farmland it once was. Beck has spent the past nine years regenerating the land, nurturing the former ﬁelds and pastures back to their native state and installing plantings, gardens, naturally constructed buildings, and megalithic sculptures that work in harmony with the surroundings. A stroll through this comforting oasis will give you a clearer idea of what Beck means when she refers to herself as a “land listener.” It might even turn you into 24

a “land listener” yourself, not that you’ll likely hear the same things Beck does. Part of Kinstone’s magic is that its features are open to interpretation. For example, the megalithic sculpture known as Three Witnesses is a dry-stacked stone sculpture with three large columns of tillite. It was assigned a name, but not a meaning. The “three witnesses” could represent the past, present, and future; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; faith, hope, and love; or perhaps something else.

Cast in Stone

For Beck, all of what is now Kinstone has great meaning. “My father, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather all farmed here, so it’s got a lot of special deep roots for me—lots of good memories, lots of spirit here,” she said. She became the fourth-generation owner of the land in 1994, and began thinking about what she could build here in 2010. At the time, Beck owned a small software company. “What I was really hoping to do in 2010 was to create ‘a place to be,’ ” she said. “I felt like I needed ‘a place to be’ that was very different from and unplugged from corporate America.”

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Her ideas began to form after a nephew introduced her to permaculture, which she describes as “a system of design for creating more sustainable human habitats that mimic nature and that follow three basic ethics: care of earth, care of people, and returning any surplus or reinvesting any surplus into care of earth and care of people.” Beck said the idea resonated with her, so she hired a permaculture expert to help her shape her ideas and determine how best to put them in play on the steep, north-facing property. One thing she really wanted, she said, was to build stone circles like those she’d seen during her world travels. These ancient arrangements of standing stones are found in many places but are especially common in Scotland, Ireland, and England. Often aligned with the sun, moon, and stars, stone circles are believed to have been sacred spaces. “Stone places just have this mysteri-

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ous draw for me, ” she said. “So I started thinking about stone circles and stone places, and started looking at granite quarries in Minnesota mostly, and a lot of stones decided they wanted to come join me here on this land.” Beck began with Kinstone Circle, which has an outer ring of 19 large standing stones, an inner ring of smaller stones for sitting, and a sacred center of three stones. This monument aligns with the summer and winter solstice sunrise. The tallest stone on the north end of the circle is positioned directly beneath the northern star, Polaris, so at one point the star appears to be resting directly atop the stone. This circle remains the center of Kinstone, with some special performances and events held here. Beck also had a stone labryinth built at the bottom of a slope, with several standing stones installed near it. In 2012, she sold her software company and concentrated full time on developing Kinstone.

Many Hands Every piece at Kinstone was created from Beck’s own ideas and dreams, but they were built with many helping hands. Initially, Beck hosted permaculture workshops and classes on the land, and some installations were built as projects. Others were built with the help of family and friends. Kinstone today has more than 25 unique features. Some are stone circles like Kinstone Circle, but each has its own meaning, often derived from a distinctive feature on a stone. For example, the Circle of Mystery is a 12-stone circle dedicated to the questions in life; it got its name from a shape resembling a question mark in the side of the one of the stones. Others are single stones or smaller clusters whose shapes give them special meaning. The Basin Rock, with a natural depression that holds rainwater, is also known as The Giver because it offers water to the land. The Borderlands is made up of three large stones, one resembling

1. The Three Witnesses sculpture (also shown on the cover) has an “Equinox Window” through which the equinox sunrise shines, illuminating the human heart shape in the center “witness” stone (2). 3. The Pond is moon shaped; it is partnered with the great Stone Circle, which is sun shaped. Six standing stones in the water are aligned with the Summer Solstice Guardians in the Stone Circle and the Inner Guardians near the Chapel, forming a corridor to usher in the summer solstice sunrise. 4. A sequence of stones along a hillside through the prairie is called The Serpent of Transformation, symbolizing change and growth. Opposite page: The Stargazer Circle is dedicated to the night. (Photos 1 & 4 courtesy of Kristine Beck, Kinstone)

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the state of Wisconsin and the other Minnesota, with a long, flat stone between them representing the Mississippi River. Other Kinstone features include restored prairie lands, raised garden beds, fruit and nut trees, a composting area, and some animals including goats and chickens. Kinstone’s buildings include three cordwood structures: a sauna, a chapel with a thatched roof, and a pavilion with a living sedum roof. There’s also a light straw-clay cabin; a yurt; a utility building; and an education center with a classroom, library, offices, and kitchen.

Dream Come True Beck said her focus for Kinstone is now shifting away from building her own dreams to nurturing and supporting the dreams of others. “I keep finding that people who come here are inspired not just by the stone circles or the amazing beauty of the place, but they’re inspired by the idea that someone would actually say yes to a dream like this and make it happen,” she said. Beck said she wants to help others embark on their own transformational journeys, making Kinstone available “for people who are doing things that are in keeping with the spirit of this place.” “I’m listening to the land and trying to figure out how I can best help it do its work, because I think it has work to do here

for people, things to share with people that I can certainly be here facilitating,” she said. To that end, Beck is transitioning away from holding her own workshops here to offering Kinstone as a host for others. The property is already available for scheduled group tours and field trips, and also as a venue for weddings and corporate meetings. Beck is developing retreat opportunities as well. In addition, Kinstone hosts occasional musical or meditative events, usually in conjunction with the turn of the seasons. Solstices and equinoxes are celebrated with observances at sunrise and sunset when special alignments are visible. The next such event is September 23, when summer turns to fall. Mostly though, a visit to Kinstone is a personal experience. Kinstone is open daily from May 1 through October 31. The Education Center is usually staffed during open hours, but guests are also welcome to pay the entrance fee at a self-serve kiosk in the parking area and explore Kinstone on their own. The comments visitors leave behind indicate the land spoke to them as well; all they had to do was listen.—Mary Erickson Kinstone is located at S3439 Cole Bluff Lane, Fountain City, four miles off the Great River Road. It’s open daily, May 1 through October 31; those who wish to visit outside of the open hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. may call first, 608-687-3332. For more information, visit kinstonecircle.com or Kinstone’s Facebook page, facebook.com/kinstonecircle.

1. At the base of the native prairie is The Dolmen, with four upright columns topped with a 13-ton capstone. 2. The Labryinth is set at the base of a hillside, with a natural amphitheater surrounding it. 3. Lancelot is a stone set in alignment with the equinox sunset, which shines through the drill holes and illuminates its partner stone, Atlas. 4. The Dragon’s Keep is one of three cordwood shelters. It has a living roof and 19 dragons hidden in the walls inside. 5. Another cordwood building is the Chapel of Creation. The sun illuminates the glass bottles set in the walls, which tell the story of the Canticle of Creation by Saint Francis of Assisi. In the center is The Eternal Flame, a large piece of petrified wood serving as the chapel’s grounding stone. (Photos 1, 2, 3, & 4 courtesy of Kristine Beck, Kinstone)

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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6/17/19 10:05 AM

YOUNG MEMBERS

Kids and Critters July 2019 1. Bristol trains her future fair calf. Photo submitted by Grandparents Myron and Gloria Brooks, members of Jump River Electric. 2. “Did you have tuna for lunch?” Orangey asks Alex. Photo submitted by Marilyn Heiden, Jump River Electric. 3. Tucker makes sure Tobey’s face is clean. Photo submitted by Kerri Anderson, a member of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services.

1 3

4. Trot with a tot. Kaleigh and a week-old foal already practice for the show ring. Photo submitted by Kaleigh’s Grandma Sherry Kuelz, a member of Rock Energy.

Upload photos directly

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.

July 2019

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6/12/19 12:12 PM

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.

FOR SALE: Air Conditioning unit for Park Model trailer. 110V. Mounts under trailer. $600 OBO. 414-218-8838. Gary. FAULKNER CUR PUPS FOR SALE: They get the game and stay treed. 1-715-643-5010

REAL ESTATE 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. 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. 75 ACRES, SPOONER, WIS. County trails and lakes, trout stream. Building site. 2 miles off main Hwy. 608-846-9253. $158,000.00 WANTED: TO LEASE LAND FOR BOW HUNTERS (2). Bow hunting only in 2019. No doe or small bucks. 920-783-8268. FOR SALE: 4-story 290’x35’ factory. Great for manufacturing hemp, medical marijuana. 90% prestressed concrete. 2-million+ replacement cost. OSHA approved. $400,000/offers. Galesville. 608-582-2263. Noon-8PM CST. www. phonecoinc.com.

LOG CABIN ON THE LAKE, Taylor County, over 1000’ frontage on St. Claire Lake, dock, raft, boat, great swimming, ﬁshing, 80 +/- acres, trails, wildlife, 3BR, 2 Bath, loft, walkout basement, huge wrap-around deck, covered porch, 3 car garage, $329,000, call 715-427-3577. 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. 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.

GEC ELECTRIC LLC: Please call 608-792-8475 gecelectricllc1@gmail.com. RURAL LIFE HISTORY BOOK: Machine Shed Memories – a Chronicle of Rural Life in Wisconsin. Order at www.machineshedmemories.com. FOR SALE: Restored 1985 Lincoln Town Car. Collectors license. Widow will sell. Make offers. Iola. 715-445-3889.

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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July 2019

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6/6/19 2:44 PM

July 2019

WISCONSIN EVENTS 3 Dance—Melrose. American Legion, 8–12 p.m. Band “Whiskey Ditch.” 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Concerts in the Park—Sparta. Evans-Bosshard Park, 7–9 p.m. Free. Bring a lawn chair/blanket. 608-269-4123. 4 Fourth of July Parade—Melrose. American Legion, 11 a.m. Band and kids’ toy tractor pull after parade. 4 Fourth of July Celebration—Platteville. Citywide, all day. Bean bag tourney, 5K run, beer, food, live music, and fireworks. 4 Old Fashioned 4th of July—Sparta. Memorial Park, all day. Street dance & fireworks. 4 Craft Sale & Cake Walk—Gilman. Jump River Community Center, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Cake walk starts at 11. a.m. 4 Fourth of July Celebration—Jump River. Community Park, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Parade, tractor pull, fireworks. 715-668-5220. 4–7 Fastpitch Softball Tournament—Whitehall. Pleasantville Lions Club Park, all day. Charcoaled chicken, brats, and hotdogs. 6 Art & Music Festival—Seeley, Downtown, all day. Fine art, live music, beer garden, food, and poetry jam. Free admission. 6 4th of July Celebration—Camp Douglas, Eagles Nest Resort. 11:45 a.m.–11 p.m. Parade, kids’ events, fireworks. 608-4273235. 6 Art Show and Sale—Nekoosa. Woodland Lutheran Church, 1–5 p.m. 10 lakes area artists.Watercolor, acrylics, quilting, more. 6 Pie & Ice Cream Social—Augusta. United Methodist Church, 2–5 p.m.

13 Tractor & Truck Pull—Ashland. Sanborn Memorial Park, 2:30–10 p.m. Bring a chair. Fee at the gate. 13, 14 Logrolling Competition—Onalaska. Great River Landing, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Professionals on Saturday; amateurs Sunday.

24–28 Dunn County Fair—Menomonie. County Fairgrounds, all day. Truck and tractor pull, red cedar races, rural route 5, carnival, food, youth & open exhibits. 26 Arts Crawl—Reedsburg. Intersection of East Main St. & South Walnut St.

19–21 Lions REC Days—Arkdale. Lions Park, all day. Music, parade, car show, rafﬂe, craft fair, and food. 608-472-3330.

26 Pedal Tractor Pull—Eau Claire. County Expo Center, 5–7 p.m. Ages 4–12, $3 to pull. Registration at 4 p.m.

20 Broiler Festival—Endeavor. Lions Park, 9:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Softball, tractor/truck pulls, vendors, ﬁreworks, and live band.

26 Collector Car Show—Eau Claire. County Expo Center, 5:30–8:30 p.m. Free, bring your collector car for display.

20 Garden Tour—Cornell. Area-wide, 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. $10/person. 3 gardens, vintage vehicles, signs, and crafts. 715-595-3881.

27 Tractor Equipment Ride—Fennimore. Collins Shed, all day. Antique tractor wagons to carry passengers. 608-778-7910.

20 Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show—Endeavor. Trinity Endeavor United Church of Christ, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $10 entry.

27 Pancake Breakfast & Raffle—Bloomer. Community Fairgrounds, 7 a.m.–12 p.m.

20 Restoration Fundraiser for Wrightsville Chapel/ School—Merrillan. Gile Memorial Park, 12–5 p.m. Rafﬂes, door prizes, bake sale, lunch counter, and music. 20 Car Show—Black River Falls. Fillmore Street, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Beer tent, music, kids’ games, crafts, more. 715-797-1370. 20, 21 Southwest Music Festival—Platteville. 2nd Street, 5–12 p.m. Live music, food, games, and cold beverages. 20, 21 Antique & Tractor Expo—Phillips. Price County Fairgrounds, all day. Displays, demos, vendors, music. 715-399-3652. 20–29 Hometown Festival Week—Platteville. Downtown, all week. Ice cream social, car show, ﬂy-in breakfast, arts & crafts fair.

8 Music in the Park—Neillsville. Schuster Park, 5–8 p.m. Music, food, and rafﬂes.

21 Crazy Daze—Sparta. Downtown, 12 a.m.– 3 p.m. Farmers’ market, family activities, food trucks, and more. 608-269-4123.

11, 18, 25 Music in the Park—Shullsburg. Badger Park, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free entry.

21 Charcoal Chicken Dinner—Otter Lake. Stanley, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Dancing, rafﬂes.

12 Catfish Days—Trempealeau. Duck Pond Park, 2 p.m. Music, games, food, rides, ﬂea market, kids’ tent, parade, more.

21 Ice-Cream Social & Artists in the Park—Beloit. Beckman Mill Park, 12–4 p.m. Mill open for tours with grinding. 608-751-1551.

13 Fireworks Show—Rock Dam. Lake Beach, all day. Brats, parade, paddle boat and kayak races, pontoon parade, ﬁreworks.

22–25 Baseball Camp—Fennimore. Oakwood Park, all day. Former Brewer players hold youth camp. Call to register 608-988-6519.

13 Kiwanis Pea & Cut Bean Sale—Cambria. Tarrant Park, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. $1 per pound.

24 Katie’s Garden Party—Platteville. Katie’s Garden, 5–8 p.m. Kids games, food, music.

27 Quilt Show—Hayward. Wesleyan Church, 9–4 p.m. Free will admission. Vendors, rafﬂes, gift boutique, presentations, lunch. 27 Mutts Yappy Hour—Town of Rome. Arrowhead South Lake Center, 1–4 p.m. Food, rafﬂes, dog contest, balloon creations. 27, 28 Cowboy Mounted Shooting Sports—Eau Claire. County Expo Center, Sat. 12–5 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.– 2p.m. Free event. 28 Old Car Club Show & Swap Meet—Ellsworth. Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. $5 admissions; 12-and-under are free. Music and food on grounds. 715-273-5552.

Upload events directly to the wecnmagazine.com through the “Events” tab.

Upload your August events by July 10. 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.

Upload events to wecnmagazine.com

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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6/12/19 2:06 PM

o ct N tra e n Fe o N hly t

on M

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