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CooperaN

COOPERATIVE

News

Wisconsin

ENERGY Cooperative

contents July 2021

News

Letter from

THE EDITOR

Thanks for the smile.

6 11 15 28 30

Four

KEYS

To understanding the new electric grid.

NEWS BRIEFS

Secretary of Labor visits Dairyland Power Cooperative.

CYBERSECURITY THREATS

We’re fighting the enemy hiding in plain sight.

On the

COVER

Blueberry farms offer family fun. Photo courtesy

of Rush River Produce.

Recipes Bring on the beef.

Kids &

CRITTERS

Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.

CEO

Message

Co-ops work to keep energy reliable, affordable, and accessible.

MY CO-OP

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

CLASSIFIEDS

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

EVENTS

Find your summer fun.

July 2021

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LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Thanks for the smile

For the past year and a half we’ve devoted a lot of space in this magazine to efforts to close the digital Dana Kelroy, Editor divide between rural and urban areas. However, every once in a while, we get something in the mail that makes us grateful for the old-fashioned ink-to-paper, stick-a-stamp-on-it option of communicating. Our Symbol Search generates a lot of responses, most of which come to us electronically via the portal on our website. But we still get a lot of responses in the mail. This month, one reader from Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s service area took her Symbol Search response to a whole new level by turning her answer into a full-fledged comic (see page 3) and letter (below), which is just too delightful to not share. Kimberly Miller wasn’t the name we ended up drawing as the winner, but we’re sending her a kitchen kit anyway for sheer creativity. Thanks Kimberly, for making us all smile!

July 2021 Vol. 82 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 $13 per year or $35 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 Pontiac, Ill. 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 Julie Lund Ann Bailey Geri Miller Jennifer Taylor

WECA president & CEO editor associate editor contributing writer graphic designer advertising consultant editorial assistant

For advertising opportunities please email ads@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising or events 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 U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR VISITS DAIRYLAND POWER COOPERATIVE

U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visited Dairyland Power Cooperative recently, promoting the president’s “American Jobs Plan” proposal. “This bill creates good union jobs, and good green jobs, and jobs for a lot of other people,” Walsh told the group, which included Congressman Ron Kind, State Representative Jill Billings, La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds, WECA President

and CEO Stephen Freese, Dairyland President and CEO Brent Ridge, and Dairyland leadership, electrical maintenance, and transmission construction/maintenance field crew members. Walsh commended Dairyland for its innovative approach to training, including programs offered to assist workers displaced by the shuttering of the Genoa Station #3 coal plant.

NERC REPORT: MIDWEST AT “ELEVATED RISK” OF ENERGY SHORTFALL THIS SUMMER

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) 2021 Summer Reliability Assessment identifies regions of the country that could be at risk of energy shortfalls if we experience extreme heat this summer, including parts of the Midwest. In addition, California, Texas, and New England could also face shortages. The report says the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region, which includes Wisconsin, has adequate resources to meet peak demand but is likely to exceed capacity resources under the 90/10 forecast, which means extreme heat experienced “once in ten years.” This scenario would require energy transfers from surrounding areas to meet demand. According to the report, California is the only area identified at “high risk” of energy shortage.

FTC, WISCONSIN SUE FRONTIER FOR FAILED BROADBAND PROMISES

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and six states, including Wisconsin, are suing Frontier Communications for not delivering the internet speeds it promised customers and overcharging for subpar service. According to the complaint, Frontier is providing DSL service (phone line) to 1.3 million people in 25 states, mostly in rural areas, which does not provide the speeds necessary for today’s internet uses.

Joining Wisconsin in the lawsuit are Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and California. Frontier has already settled similar cases in other states, including West Virginia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, and Minnesota. Frontier filed for bankruptcy in April 2020 and emerged with $11 billion less in debt. The company says the lawsuit is without merit.

LINE 5 DISPUTE STRAINS RELATIONS WITH CANADA

Canada has filed an amicus brief in the dispute over the future of Enbridge’s Line 5, warning of damage to the relationship with the United States and the risk of undermining the future credibility of American foreign-policy decisions. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered the line shut down as of May 12, citing environmental concerns. Enbridge has declined to comply with the order. Canada argues the future of the line should be negotiated by both countries under the terms of a 1977 treaty that specifically governs pipelines that cross the border. The line serves Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania as well as Canada and has been in service since 1953. Enbridge is in the process of building a new $500-million tunnel beneath the straits that would house the line’s twin pipes and protect them from anchor strikes, but that project will not be in operation until 2024. 6

$3.2 BILLION IN ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP PAY INTERNET BILLS

The new Emergency Broadband Benefit, administered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is now available for people who are struggling to pay for internet service. Those who qualify are eligible to save $50 per month ($75 for those in tribal areas), as well as a one-time $100 payment toward a tablet, or laptop, or desktop computer, to connect to the internet. Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission (PSC) says a half-million Wisconsinites fit the criteria to receive the assistance. To see if you are eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, go to www.getemergencybroadband.org.

UW-MADISON RESEARCH CENTER COULD BOLSTER EV INDUSTRY

UW-Madison is working with the California startup company Canoo to create an electric propulsion research center on campus. The goal is to boost the nation’s EV industry and make U.S. manufacturers more competitive. Canoo chairman and CEO Tony Aquila said, “We are committed to our first research center with UW-Madison to drive groundbreaking advances in electric vehicles—advances that enable us to execute on our mission to bring EVs to everyone.” The College of Engineering will lead the effort, which is also intended to create internships and other opportunities for students.

NRECA AWARDED $3.9 MILLION IN CYBERSECURITY FUNDS

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has been awarded $3.9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to expand a pilot cybersecurity partnership dedicated to information sharing. With the new funding, NRECA will work to advance the information and operational technology sensor platform in the “Essence” program over the next two years to make it capable of detecting industrial control system anomalies and threats precisely and quickly. Essence will be the first system to connect to the federal government’s Cybersecurity Risk Information Sharing Program (CRISP), which uses DOE resources to assess and distribute actionable threat information to the energy sector.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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RELIABLE. A

s I shared with you last month, to achieve the Biden administration’s goal of 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, we will have to replace 975 megawatts of coal and natural gasproduced electricity for most of the Wisconsin electric cooperative footprint. I will continue to use that footprint as a basis for this discussion. Two of the most prominent studies that seek to demonstrate how to accomplish Biden’s goal were done by Wood Mackenzie and Princeton University. The 2019 Wood Mackenzie report “estimates the cost of full decarbonization of the U.S. power grid at $4.5 trillion, given the current state of technology—nearly as much Steve Freese as what the country has spent, since 2001, President and CEO on the war on terror. From a budgetary perspective, the cost is staggering at $35,000 per household—that equates to nearly $2,000 per year if assuming a 20-year plan.” The Wood Mackenzie report looks at transitioning only the electric sector to 100 percent renewable energy. The Princeton University study estimates the cost for completely converting the entire energy sector, as well as transportation and more, to net-zero carbon emissions but still comes in with a much lower price tag. For the purpose of this discussion, I will be using the Princeton University’s report. Ten Princeton researchers, along with eight external collaborators, put together the Princeton University’s Net-Zero America report on potential pathways, infrastructure, and impacts and considers all of the aspects to achieve net-zero including homes, vehicles, industry, electricity production, and more. I will focus only on the electric sector since that is what we do on your behalf. This report is designed to outline a way for our country to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, using state-of-the-art modeling tools relying on five different technologically and economically plausible energy system pathways. According to this report, “Building a net-zero America will require immediate, large-scale mobilization of capital, policy and societal commitment.” I will provide a brief overview of that plan. We’ll look at the four major tenants they lay out for a clean electricity sector in future columns.

AFFORDABLE.

ACCESSIBLE. III

For the Clean Electricity Sector of the Princeton Net-Zero America report, four tenants would need to be accomplished: wind and solar, nuclear, natural gas combined cycle with carbon capture and storage, and flexible resources. Here is what the report specifically calls for:

Wind and Solar

• Rapidly site 10s-100s of gigawatts per year and sustain them for years. From 2021-2030 the investment in wind would be $430 billion, and the investment in solar would be $380 billion • 3x to 5x today’s transmission line equaling a 60% increase in transmission lines across the country costing $350 billion

Nuclear

• Site up to 250 new 1-gigawatt reactors or 3,800 Small Modular Reactors, cost not calculated • Spent fuel disposal

Natural Gas Combined Cycle with Carbon Capture Storage

• 300-plus 750-megawatt plant conversions costing an estimated $10 billion for storage alone, not including modifications of the plants

Flexible Resources

• Hydrogen combustion turbines • Large flexible loads: electrolysis, electric boilers, direct air capture • 50-180 gigawatts of 6-hour batteries

We will take a deeper dive into each of the four basic tenants of the Net-Zero America report in the coming months, focusing on what this comprehensive plan envisions. We’ll compare what the nation and electric cooperatives will have to do to transition to an electric sector that is carbon pollution-free by 2035. Next month we will look at wind and solar and see the opportunities and challenges they pose.

July 2021

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NEXT STEPS:

What fully vaccinated people need to know Once someone is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

When is someone fully vaccinated? • Two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or • Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, like Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

Fully vaccinated people can: • Gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask. • Gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. • If they have been around someone who has COVID-19, they do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless they have symptoms. Note: Quarantine and testing exemptions do not apply to patients receiving inpatient care in a health care setting, or to residents of long-term care facilities. Patients and residents in these settings should continue to quarantine for 14 days after the date of last exposure and be tested for COVID-19. Fully vaccinated residents and employees of correctional and detention facilities and homeless shelters should still get tested (but do not have to quarantine) following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

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Fully vaccinated people should continue to: • Take steps to protect themselves and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Precautions should be taken whenever they are: °

In indoor public settings

Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household

Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk

• Avoid medium or large-sized gatherings. • Delay domestic and international travel. If they do travel, they still need to follow CDC requirements and recommendations. • Watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if they’ve been around someone who is sick. If they have symptoms of COVID-19, they should get tested and stay home and away from others. • Follow guidance at their workplace. Public health officials continue to update recommendations for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. For the latest guidance, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

LEARN MORE • Visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine.htm • Questions about COVID-19 vaccines? Call 844-684-1064 (toll-free). • Visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html

Information about where you can find a vaccine in your area can be found on page 19. Source:

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FIGHTING THE ENEMY

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

t read like a psychological thriller. In the early morning hours of May 7, hackers dropped a ransom note onto a computer in the control room of the Colonial Pipeline. The security system for the line responsible for bringing fuel to almost half of the East Coast had been breached.

In the note, the hackers claimed to have “exfiltrated” data from the company’s shared drive. They wanted a big payday in exchange for the return of the files. In an effort to contain the attack, Colonial voluntarily shut down the entire 5,500 miles of pipeline. And then they paid the ransom—$4.4 million in the form of bitcoin. It’s the latest attack in the growing trend of cybercrime targeting the energy industry. Last year, the industry had the third-highest number of cyberattacks, behind only finance and manufacturing, and up from ninth highest in 2019, according to IBM Security X-Force.

“It is a business requirement for all utilities to continually defend against new types of cybersecurity threats,” Tim Anderson, manager of IT security at Dairyland Power Cooperative, told Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News. “Dairyland has a cybersecurity program in place to do this and reduce risks across all areas of its business. Many attackers are hunting for an easy opportunity which means if we make it difﬁcult, they will move on to an easier target. Against more sophisticated threats, we partner with our government and industry peers.” Just days after the Colonial Pipeline incident—which shut the line down for six days leading to fuel shortages in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia—President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling for federal agencies to work more closely with the private sector to share information, strengthen cybersecurity practices, and deploy technologies that increase reliance against cyberattacks. This builds on his previously announced plans to ramp up

cybersecurity in the utility sector. “It begins with a 100-day sprint to improve cybersecurity in the electric sector, and we’ll follow that with similar initiatives for natural gas pipelines and water facilities,” Biden said. “This latest cybersecurity directive from the White House has no immediate impact on electric cooperatives, but its requirements could beneﬁt co-op and private-sector cyber defenses in the long run,” said Bridgette Bourge, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) legislative director on cybersecurity issues. NRECA has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to improve cybersecurity with a program dedicated to information sharing. With grants totaling almost $10 million, NRECA is working to expand the “Essence” program, a sophisticated anomaly-detection tool that can identify and warn of possible network breaches in real time. It will be the ﬁrst system to connect to the federal

July 2021

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government’s Cybersecurity Risk Information Sharing Program (CRISP), which uses DOE resources to assess and distribute actionable threat information to the energy sector. “Partnerships like this are vital as we work to keep the electric grid secure and reliable,” Jim Matheson, NRECA CEO, said when the grant was announced in May. “As threats and threat actors evolve, electric cooperatives consistently work to improve their defense capabilities. Collaboration and cooperation are two strengths that co-ops draw on as they work together to implement cybersecurity solutions.” Immediate alerts to a potential breach are critical because, according to cyber-crime experts, hackers are increasingly organized and able to infiltrate a company’s internal system to gain access to a wealth of information. Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions, says hackers have three common “tricks” to gain access to systems. They hack into remote platforms, use email phishing schemes, and use ploys to compromise employee credentials. Nate Melby, Dairyland’s chief information officer, says that along with NRECA’s groundbreaking program, the energy industry and the cooperative world are building a force of their own against criminals working to threaten our power supply. “The good news is that cybersecurity as a discipline has matured, allowing us to share intelligence and information across multiple organizations, constantly monitoring and updating our protocols,” Melby said. “As a critical service provider, we are continually updating practices and searching for vulnerabilities that could become an opening for criminals. Our comprehensive cybersecurity program includes continual security testing and vulnerability assessments. We are focused on testing our technologies, educating employees on cyber safety, and strengthening the processes we all use every day.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to identify a group known as “DarkSide,” and, with a warrant, seized much of the bitcoin back. Due to fluctuations in the value of the currency, they recouped $2.3 million, money that will not fund the operations that seek to hold hostage the companies we depend on the most. This means, in this real-life psychological thriller, the good guys won in the end. But you can bet there will almost certainly be a sequel. —Julie Lund

POWERING LIVES

Not everyone starts their day at the same time, or in the same way. But no matter when or how, your local Touchstone Energy cooperative is there to help you power every moment of it. To learn more, visit TouchstoneEnergy.com

YOUR SOURCE FOR POWER. AND INFORMATION.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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FOUR KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING THE

NEW ELECTRIC GRID

merica’s electric grid is often called the most complex machine in the world. That’s not a stretch when you think about what it does: it runs your refrigerator and charges your phone, all from a ray of sunshine, a lump of coal, falling water, or a prairie breeze. In between those starting and ending points are 160,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, millions of miles of low-voltage power lines, 7,300 power plants, nearly 200,000 electric utility employees, thousands of electrical substations and transformers that adjust voltage for the cross-country trip along transmission lines, then back down before it enters your house––and all these parts must work together to keep power ﬂowing safely. In addition, this complex network is adapting to weather patterns, increasing cybersecurity threats, consumer expectations, and additional decentralized power sources like rooftop solar panels. Those are big changes for such a vast and intricate system, “But the silver lining is that technology is available to help address that,” says Venkat Banunarayanan, vice president of Integrated Grid Business & Technology Strategies with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). For all its complexity, the electric grid can be described in three major parts: a power source (like a

With thousands of miles of power lines, nearly 200,000 utility employees and 7,300 power plants, America’s electric grid and all its parts must work together to keep power flowing smoothly. Photo courtesy of Dennis Gainer, NRECA

natural gas plant or wind turbine), the wires and equipment that deliver power, and a home or business that receives the power. To understand the grid more deeply, here are four ways it’s adapting to the world’s new realities.

1. Resilience in the face of more severe weather Most Wisconsin co-ops have reported a continued decline in the number of outage hours reported for their members. However, from summer storms to winter ice events, we still see weather causing occasional power outages. These changes call for new ways to make sure the OUR 60th YEAR lights stay on.

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Electric utilities are increasing grid resilience by integrating weather forecasting with other smart technologies that monitor electric current and analyze how to respond. NRECA’s Banunarayanan calls this “predictive technology.” By knowing how weather will affect power equipment, he says, “An electric co-op can pre-position work crews so they can quickly respond to the outage, and they can redirect the flow of electricity to take an alternate route to minimize the duration of a power outage.”

2. Strengthening cyber safety

Cybersecurity measures have become standard operating procedure for utilities to protect against cyber attacks. (See page 11 for more about how cyber attacks can affect reliability). Electric co-ops and other utilities work closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to monitor and strengthen defenses. “Utilities are constantly improving to make sure they are more cyber-resilient,” says Banunarayanan. Electric co-ops also urge consumer-members at home to protect themselves from hackers. When devices like printers and smart TVs connect to the internet, that actually makes them part of the electric grid.

3. More power to consumers

Many utilities have voluntary programs that manage electric loads by turning off water heaters or air conditioners for short periods of time. Those programs add another layer of coordination. Members help to keep rates affordable by con-

serving electricity when it is most expensive during peak alerts. Additionally, many Wisconsin electric cooperatives operate community solar gardens, some with members purchasing individual panels.

4. Utilities keeping up with the change

Large fields of wind turbine farms and solar power arrays require building transmission lines to new locations, and planning for a kind of power that might only operate when the sun shines or the wind blows. These changes are necessary and helpful, but they are also expensive. Annual spending on the U.S. transmission system has increased from $9 billion a year in 2002, to $40 billion in 2019. But that spending is paying off. In 2017, Americans experienced about eight hours of power interruptions, according to the Energy Information Administration. By 2019, that was down to five hours. “Power outages have been going down because there’s investment being made to increase the robustness of the grid,” says Banunarayanan. “I expect the reliability of the grid to increase.” 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. Electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

Summer storms and winter ice events can wreak havoc on the grid. Crews from Riverland Energy Cooperative restored power near Arcadia after an early storm this summer. Photo courtesy of Royce Kosik, Riverland Energy

January’s ice and frigid temperatures created challenges, including galloping lines, at Taylor Electric Cooperative. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Ceaglske, Taylor Electric Cooperative

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BRING ON THE BEEF Sizzling Steak and Potato Salad Recipe and photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Beef Council and Beefitswhatsfordinner.com. This steak and potato salad is as light and flavorful as it is quick and easy to make. 2 (8 oz) beef sirloin tip center steaks, cut 1-inch thick 1 cup reduced-fat salad dressing or vinaigrette (such as non-creamy Caesar dressing, balsamic, or red wine vinaigrette), divided 2 large russet or baking potatoes, cut lengthwise into eighths 2 medium zucchini and/or yellow summer squash, cut in half lengthwise 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce Place beef steaks and 1/4 cup dressing in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes to 2 hours. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Place steaks on grill over medium heat; arrange potatoes and squash around steaks. Grill beef, covered, 11–15 minutes until desired doneness, turning occasionally. (Do not overcook steak.) Grill potatoes 13–15 minutes and squash 7–10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and lightly browned, turning occasionally and brushing with 2 tablespoons dressing. Let steak rest for a few minutes; carve steak into thin slices and season with salt, as desired. Cut potatoes and squash into 1-inch pieces. Combine lettuce and vegetables in a large bowl. Combine lettuce mixture with remaining dressing; toss evenly to coat. Divide lettuce mixture evenly among four plates. Top with steak slices. Makes 4 servings.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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6/9/21 11:29 AM

Roast Beef & Veggie Wraps

Recipe and photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Beef Council and www.Beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Want to change up the traditional roast beef sandwich? Try it as a wrap with some broccoli slaw that parents and kids will both love. 2 cups shredded broccoli slaw 1/4 cup PLUS 2 Tbsp reduced-fat or fat-free ranch dressing, divided 1/2 cup reduced-fat or fat-free cream cheese, softened 4 flour medium tortillas (8- to10-inch diameter) 12 oz cooked beef roast or deli roast beef, thinly sliced Mix broccoli slaw and 1/4 cup ranch dressing in medium bowl; mix with 2 forks to coat evenly. Combine cream cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons ranch dressing in small bowl; mix well with rubber spatula. Place tortilla on cutting board or other flat surface. Spread about 2-1/2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture on the tortilla using a rubber spatula. Top the cream cheese with 1/4 of the roast beef slices in an even layer. Place approximately 1/3 cup of the broccoli mixture on roast beef. Using rubber spatula or back of a spoon, spread broccoli mixture in an even layer. Starting at the bottom edge, roll the tortilla up tightly to enclose filling. Repeat with 3 remaining wraps. Using a knife, cut wraps crosswise into 1-1/2-inch wide pieces or cut diagonally in half.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Recipe and photo courtesy of the National Onion Association, www.onions-usa.org An American Classic, slow cooker style! 1 (2-1/2 lb) boneless beef sirloin tip or chuck roast 1 Tbsp prepared horseradish 1-1/2 lbs yellow onions, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch slices 1 lb red potatoes, trimmed and halved 2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, stripped from stems 1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (stems removed)

2 cups tomato juice 1 cup low-sodium beef broth 1/2 cup red wine or beef broth 2 Tbsp flour Salt and pepper, to taste (optional)

Trim fat from beef roast, if necessary and place roast in bottom of 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Spread horseradish over surface of meat. Top and surround roast with onions and potatoes. Sprinkle with thyme and rosemary and pour in tomato juice and beef broth. Place lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 6–8 hours or until beef is fall apart tender. Fifteen minutes before serving, mix wine (or beef broth) with flour. Pour slurry mixture around the meat in the slow cooker. With a spoon, gently stir the mixture into existing sauce without disturbing the meat. Replace cover and cook for an additional15 minutes on HIGH or until thickened. Before serving, season with pepper and salt, to taste. Makes 4–6 servings.

Beef Breakfast Burritos Recipe and photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Beef Council and www.Beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Ground Beef, peppers, and onions are quickly sautéed and wrapped up with scrambled eggs. Serve with lime-cilantro cream and salsa. LIME-CILANTRO CREAM:

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro BURRITOS:

12 oz ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tsp ground ancho chili powder 1/2 tsp ground cumin 4 eggs, beaten 2 Tbsp water

Combine Lime-Cilantro Cream ingredients in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional) 1/3 cup reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese blend or shredded cheddar cheese 4 medium spinach or plain flour tortillas (10-inch diameter), warmed Salsa (optional)

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef with bell pepper, onion, chili powder, and cumin; cook 8–10 minutes, breaking into small crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings as necessary. Remove beef mixture from skillet; keep warm. Combine eggs, water, and 1 tablespoon cilantro in a medium bowl. Spray the same skillet with cooking spray. Pour egg mixture into skillet; cook over medium heat 2–3 minutes or until scrambled, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, if desired. Stir in beef mixture and cheese; cook 1 minute or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Spoon beef/egg mixture evenly in a row across center of each tortilla, leaving 1-inch border on right and left sides. Fold right and left sides of tortilla over filling. Fold bottom edge up over filling and roll up; cut diagonally in half. Serve with Lime-Cilantro Cream and salsa, as desired. COOK’S TIP: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness. You may substitute 1 cup egg substitute for beaten eggs. (omit the water). Continue with the cooking process. Makes 4 servings. July 2021

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RECIPE EXCHANGE Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to jennifer@weca.coop. For bonus recipes, go to http://wecnmagazine.com/recipes/.

Pickled Zucchini

Diane Rinnman, Hayward

8 onions, thinly sliced 1 gallon zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices 3 green peppers, seeds removed, ﬁnely chopped 1/2 cup salt 5 cups cider vinegar 5 cups sugar 1-1/2 tsp turmeric 2 Tbsp mustard seed 2 tsp celery seeds 1 cinnamon stick, broken into 4 pieces

In a large crock or kettle, layer the vegetables and salt. Weigh it down and let stand in refrigerator for 6 hours. Drain vegetables, rinse, and drain again. Put remaining ingredients in a large kettle and bring to a boil. Simmer for 12 minutes, then add the vegetables and simmer 5 more minutes; remove from heat. Place into hot, sterilized jars and seal. Makes 8 pints.

Peach Cream Pie

Sandy Drescher, Neillsville CRUST

1-1/2 cups ﬂour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup butter

Combine and press into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. FILLING

4 cups peaches, sliced 1 egg, beaten 2 Tbsp ﬂour 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 cup sour cream

Combine and pour onto baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. TOPPING

1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup ﬂour 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 cup butter

Combine ingredients, place on top of ﬁlling, and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes longer.

Lemonade Cake Mary-Jo Eid, Osseo

This is a very light and delicious dessert! I’m hoping you think of a summer day when you eat this. CAKE

1 (16.5 or 15.25 oz) pkg lemon cake mix 4 eggs 1 (3.4 oz) pkg instant lemon pudding mix 1 cup water

REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS

An online reader is looking for recipes to use up the cucumbers in her garden. Send 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!

Combine all ingredients into mixer and blend well. Pour into a greased 9-x13inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45–50 minutes. Prick cake surface all over with fork. GLAZE

1/2 cup prepared instant lemonade mix (such as Country Time, etc.) 1/2 cup water 2 Tbsp butter, melted 2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all glaze ingredients in a small bowl with whisk. Pour over warm cake. Refrigerate after all the glaze has been absorbed.

Lime Triangles

Sally Boldig, Tigerton CRUST

3/4 cup butter, cut up and softened (no substitutions) 2 cups all-purpose ﬂour 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-x13-inch metal baking pan. Line pan with foil, extending foil over the short ends; lightly grease bottom and sides of foil. In food processor with knife blade attached, pulse butter, 2 cups flour, and 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar until mixture is moist but crumbly. Dough should hold together when pressed with 2 fingers. Transfer mixture to prepared pan; spread evenly. With fingertips, press dough onto bottom of pan. Bake 20–25 minutes or until lightly browned. While crust bakes, prepare the filling. FILLING

5–6 large limes 6 large eggs 1-3/4 cups granulated sugar 1 tsp baking powder 3/4 tsp salt 1/4 cup all-purpose ﬂour 1 Tbsp confectioners’ sugar

From limes, grate 1 tablespoon of peel/zest and squeeze 2/3 cup juice. In a large bowl, beat eggs with a wire whisk. Add lime zest, juice, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1/4 cup flour; whisk until well blended. Whisk once more before pouring into hot crust. Bake 18–22 minutes or until filling is just set and golden (filling will jiggle slightly in center). Transfer pan to wire rack. Sift 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar over hot filling. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Carefully pull foil from sides of lime bars. Trim edges, if preferred. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 6 pieces. Cut each piece diagonally in half to form 48 triangles. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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6/9/21 11:34 AM

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SUMMERTIME

Blues of the Berry Best Kind

It’s impossible to feel blue during blueberry season. For starters, blueberries literally make you feel good. Packed with antioxidants and loaded with nutrients, blueberries bring a bounty of health benefits.

They’re also tasty and versatile. Blueberries can be baked in pies and mufﬁns, sprinkled on cereal, tossed in salads, stirred in smoothies, cooked into jams and sauces, and, of course, plucked right from the bush and eaten on the spot. Fresh off the bush might actually be the best way to enjoy them, and not just because biting into a fresh blueberry gives you juicy burst of sweet ﬂavor. Since blueberry season comes round usually in July and August, a berrypicking excursion puts you right in the middle of all that is wonderful about Wisconsin’s countryside in the summer: warm sunshine, fresh air, bright colors, sweet aromas, a slower pace. That does, however, lead to about the only strike against blueberries that we can think of— they’re not quite as ubiquitous in this state as some other forms of berries, exacting as these plants are about their soil. If you’re looking to pick some blueberries, you might have to travel a bit. However, a little travel to a pick-your-own place is well worth it, especially if it’s one of the following blueberry farms, both located on electric cooperative lines. Blueberry Ridge Orchard in Eleva and Rush River Produce in Maiden Rock are places where memories are 24

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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WISCONSIN FAVORITES made. Located in peaceful rural settings, each farm offers a full, family-friendly experience. People of all ages might come for the blueberries, but they leave with so much more.

Blueberry Ridge Orchard

children of regular customers grow from babies into teenagers. Their beautiful farm has served as the backdrop for countless family pictures and other major milestones; one couple even got engaged out in their blueberry ﬁeld. “How much better does it get than that?” Andrea said. “We’re very blessed.” These special connections with family—biological or otherwise—are part of what makes farming more than just an occupation for the Nyseths. “People talk about farming and all the hard work, and it is,” she said. “It’s a lot of long hours. But there is just something about it that is hard to put into words. Getting to work with the land and work with your family, and doing something where it’s providing food for others and enjoyment for others when they come to pick—it’s really hard to put into words what it’s like.”

Located on Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s lines, Blueberry Ridge Orchard is all about family. Owned and operated by Andrea and Mark Nyseth, the orchard is located on 80 acres of farmland that’s been in Andrea’s family for three generations. Her grandparents were dairy farmers; her father raised beef cattle. Mark also grew up with a love of working the land. His childhood memories include days spent picking berries with his grandfather. When he and Andrea purchased the farm from her father in 2003, it was Mark’s idea to turn it into a blueberry operation. After a lot of research and work with the soil to accommodate the needs of the finicky plants, the Nyseths planted their first blueberry bushes in 2004. Two years later, Rush River Produce Just three miles off Wisconsin’s Great they were picking blueberries. River Road in Maiden Rock, along Pierce Pepin Cooperative Today, the Nyseths’ blueServices lines, is Rush River berry plantings have grown Produce, owned and operated to cover 20 acres for picking. by John and Terry Cuddy with They also have 12 acres of a big helping hand(s) from apple and plum trees, bee their grown sons. hives by the apple trees, and The Cuddys’ 9 acres of they rent some hay ground to U-pick blueberries are the a neighbor who raises bison. result of 35 years of hard work, “We utilize every inch of our the first five of which were land agriculturally that we spent preparing the soil and can,” Andrea said. nurturing the young plants. They tend to the crops “Thirty-five years ago when with the help of family memwe started it seemed like a bers, including two adult good idea, is the best way to children and two grandchilexplain it,” John said of their venture into blueberries. “Very dren, who are carrying on the Nyseths’ love of sustainable few other people had tried agriculture. Other family it. There were some other With its pastoral surroundings, Blueberry Ridge Orchard offers a members help out as needed, peaceful experience as well as more than seven varieties of bluecommercial growers out west berries. Photo courtesy of Blueberry Ridge of the Twin Cities but nothespecially during the busy ing here. We were lucky and picking season. smart, and we worked hard.” Blueberries are available The first step, John said, was to duplicate the acidic soil pre-picked either right on the farm, at the Eau Claire Downblueberries need to thrive by adding sulfur, as much as a ton town Farmers Market, or at a local grocery store in Strum. But and a quarter per acre at first. Then came pruning, fertilizing, the real attraction is the farm itself; during blueberry season, mulching, irrigating, and basically a lot of trial and error, guests may come out to the farm on Fridays, Saturdays, and followed by some years of work to promote the business and Sundays and wander along the ridge to pick their own berries grow sales. As recognition of blueberries’ many health benefits and immerse themselves in the soothing surroundings. grew, so did business. “It really is about the experience,” Andrea said. “What we Today, Rush River Produce is a must-stop destination focus on is quality produce, a wonderful people experience, for thousands of people who come every year for the juicy, and a low price. You’re going to be on the hillside; you can sweet berries (Rush River also grows and sells red and black bring your children. We welcome families to come. Whatever currants, and a limited supply of gooseberries), but also to age demographic, it’s just such a fun and enjoyable, peaceful spend some quality time together. On Rush River’s website, experience.” the Cuddys ask visitors to “please bring your family to meet Many customers have become like family over Blueberry ours,” and that sentiment carries through the entire farm. Ridge’s 17 years of operation. The Nyseths have watched the July 2021

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Berry

A Good Time

IN IRON RIVER

While blueberries are difficult to grow in many parts of the state, they thrive in far northern Wisconsin, where the soil is naturally acidic and the more moderate temperatures of the Lake Superior region create a micro-climate suitable for orchards and berry farms. Wild blueberries are also abundant in the woods and alongside some of the rural roads near Iron River, where Bayfield Electric Cooperative is headquartered. Iron River celebrates its bounty of blueberries every year at the Iron River Lions Blueberry Festival, held this year July 24 and 25 at Moon Lake Park on Cty Hwy. H in Iron River. This event is filled with festival activities including a blueberry pie-eating contest (of course), fireworks, and a parade through Iron River on the 25th. Bayfield Electric supports this annual event with a donation each year, and frequently has a float in the annual parade. If you want get in on this special kind of blueberry fun, call 715-372-5253 or visit irlions.com for more information.

“We’re real relaxed,” John said. “We are kid friendly. We’ve got kids running all over the place. No point in doing it if the kids can’t have fun. We’ve got a tire swing, slide, big places to run around. Kids can run around and yell and scream, and they don’t have to act civilized if they don’t want to.” The property is dotted with picnic tables, filled with acres of colorful perennial gardens, and surrounded by the hills of Coulee Valley, overlooking nearby Lake Pepin. It’s the perfect place to simply spend a peaceful day in the country. “We have people driving in from hundreds of miles away for family reunions, parties, and we have one outfit that usually brings foreign students out for a picnic, which is great,” John said. Rush River Produce is open for picking on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during blueberry season. As with all crops, blueberries are dependent on the weather, so availability varies from year to year, and sometimes even day to day. John encourages all guests to call before driving to the farm to make sure blueberries are ripe and ready to pick. “I’d rather disappoint you on the phone than in the driveway,” he pointed out. Also, Rush River Produce accepts cash and checks only—no credit cards. Other than that, “all you need is a good appetite, nimble fingers, and lots of family to help,” John said.—Mary Erickson Blueberry Ridge Orchard is located at E2795 Hageness Road, Eleva, WI 54738. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays, July through October, and also on Fridays during blueberry picking season. To learn more, call 715-287-3366 or visit bluberryridgeorchard.com, or follow them on Facebook. Rush River Produce is located at W4098 200th Ave., Maiden Rock, WI 54750. Blueberry picking hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, berry supply permitting. Call first at 715-594-3648. To learn more, visit rushriverproduce.com.

In addition to 14 varieties of blueberries, Rush River Produce has colorful gardens, beautiful views, and room to roam. Photos above and right courtesy of Rush River Produce.

Bayfield Electric Cooperative’s float stands ready for the Iron River Lions Blueberry Fest parade.

Unlike raspberries, which are ready for picking as soon as they turn red, blueberries will become sweeter and plumper if they’re left to hang on the plants for a few days after they turn blue. Photo above right courtesy of Blueberry Ridge Orchard

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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WANTED: Paying cash for WWII German, Japanese flags, daggers, swords, guns, etc. Also, lever-action rifles. 715-340-1974. WANTED: DEER TAGS, back tags. Trapping, bear, hunting licenses. Otter, bobcat, fisher tags. Old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284. USED BILLBOARD VINYLS/TARPS: Possible sizes available: 14x48=$70, 10x36=$37, 10x30=$30. Expired billboard faces, hemmed. Shipping and tax not included in listed price. MUST CALL FOR AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO PICK UP 800-536-7446. Vinyls can also be picked up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. CHAINSAWS WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Buying 1 or 100 McCulloch, Pioneer, Jonsereds, Echo, STIHL, Homelite, Remington, Mall. Buying all brands and sizes. Non-running, running, seized, parts. Let me know what you have—will travel. Call Chainsaw Mike at 715-828-9414. FOR SALE: FULL-SIZED WOODEN RAILROAD CABOOSE. Perfect playhouse or Bed & Breakfast, or keep original. Many extras, including the track. $10,000. Jay (608) 526-5878. 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 855-797-6072 or email mmtagm@yahoo.com.

WANTED: Old banjos, any shape or condition. 715-370-3326. FOR SALE: Tools, rakes, shovels, wooden clothes racks, antique hay racks, horse-drawn disc (small), WWI army trunk, WWI uniform, homemade skis, much more. Sheldon, WI. 715-668-5452. WANTED: VINTAGE ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREES. Any size any color- buying for collection. Cash paid, will pick up. Please call 715-254-4651 or email upnboonies@yahoo.com.

PLANTS & SHRUBS MCKAY NURSERY COMPANY—WISCONSIN GROWN SINCE 1897 Provider of quality shade & ornamental trees, fruit & ﬂowering trees, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, and vines. Design services & delivery available. Contact Eric at ezlandscapewi@gmail.com or call 608909-1962. “Your McKay Independent Sales & Service Provider.”

REAL ESTATE VACATION RENTALS—Chippewa Flowage in Hayward, WI. A private 4-bedroom / 2-bath is available, and also a 3-bedroom / 1-1/2 bath is available. Docks at both locations. Year-round rentals. On snowmobile and ATV trails. Contact Jen at 715-558-2759. RECREATIONAL LAND 40 ACRES. North of Wausau. Pine River one side; blacktop other. Great hunting, walk to golf course. Two campers, electric and well $125k. (715) 409-0185.

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPPIES. AKC registered. Vet checked, ﬁrst shots, tails docked and dew claws removed. Call or text 715-579-2547. WANTED: BB AND PELLET GUNS. Pre-1950. Eau Claire, WI. (715) 379-2567. Call or text. ALL NATURAL SOIL ADDITIVE Improves water retention, Rich in mineral and nutrient release, increase soil aeration, odor free 100% worm castings. Visit www.CaptainJacksWormCastings.com for locations near you. Retail/ Wholesale contact us at CaptainJacksWormCastings@outlook.com or 608-632-1747. EBIKES: Sales, service, test rides, repair. ReCycle Bike Shop / Mobile, Menomonie, WI 54751, nationwide shipping. Phone or message Bicycle Larry 715-702-1452.

ADVERTISE WITH US MORE THAN 152,000 MAILBOXES EACH MONTH Reach rural readers ads@weca.coop

Classified ads reach more than 152,000 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. Jennifer, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4638. Email jennifer@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.

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July 2021

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July 2021

WISCONSIN EVENTS 1-4 July 4th Celebration—Phillips Area. Sidewalk sales, quilt show, and tours at Wisconsin Concrete Park. Music in the park, skits by Northwoods Players, Price Co. Rodeo, 5K, farmer’s market. Arts & crafts fair, magic show, escape room. K-9 Breakfast at South Fork Bar & Grill; parade in downtown Phillips; DJ, Phillips Children’s Museum. Fireworks at dusk. 3 25th Anniversary Celebration—Iron River. White Winter Winery, 10 a.m–5 p.m. Special activities include new release meads, tastings, hand-crafted artisan vendors, the Superior Cubans food truck. Live music begins at 12:30 p.m. with guest bands The Spruce Tones and The Jane Gang. 3 “Wildlife in Your Backyard”—Fountain City. Merrick State Park, 7–8 p.m. Friends of Merrick State Park event. David Stokes will present “Wildlife in Your Backyard.” Through use of songs, stories, and live animals, you will be entertained and educated. All ages. Program is free, but Wisconsin state park sticker is required. 4 Tractor Pull—Jump River. Jump River Park, all day. Tractor pull, kids’ pedal pull, food, drinks, music, and ﬁreworks. 7 Brat Fry—Iola. Sentry grocery store, 9 a.m–6 p.m. Hatch Lake Association will be hosting a brat fry during the car show. 414-550-7171 for more info.

8, 15, 22, 29 Music in the Park—Shullsburg. Badger Park, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free, family-friendly entertainment. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Held on Thursday evenings, weather-permitting. Free nightly prize drawings. 9 Jolly Mixers Dance Club—Clintonville. Memories, 7–11 p.m. The Jolly Mixers Dance Club dances are held on the third Friday of each month. Good music, dancing, fun, food, and fellowship. Polka and old time music. Singles welcome. $10 per person. 920-324-3006. 17, 18 Antique Tractor Pull & Car Expo—Phillips. Price County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat., antique tractor pull. Sun., car show. Both days, tractor parade, displays, demos, vendors, rafﬂes, food, beverages, children’s activities. Admission is a donation for a button. More info: 715-339-3652. 23–25 OneFest 2021—Chippewa Falls. Northern WI State Fairgrounds, all-day. OneFest is a inspirational music festival featuring Danny Gokey, Rend Collective, Micah Tyler, and many more artists. Family friendly with activities for all. 24 Art Fair on the Green—La Crosse. Myrick Park, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. A juried ﬁne arts fair featuring talented returning and new artists. Free admission but donations accepted. All proceeds from this events go to local scholarships and grants.

24, 25 Blueberry Fest—Iron River. Moon Lake Park, all-day events. Rides, concessions, arts, crafts, games, raffle tickets, blueberry pies, music, and entertainment. Pie eating contest, coronation of the blueberry queen and princess, and pyromusical fireworks. Sun. polka mass, followed by the Singing Slovenes. Parade begins at 12:15 p.m. in downtown. After the parade, community talent fest, cardboard boat races, and ‘Swuggling’ by Bob Evans with his 2021 Guinness World Record attempt. Raffle ticket drawing at 7 p.m. 715-372-5253. 24 Putts Fore Paws Golf Scramble—Holmen. Drugan’s Castle Mound Golf Course, 12:30–7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Trempealeau County Humane Society. $70 per golfer; includes 18 holes, cart, hole prizes, and dinner. Limited to first 36 teams. Tiered and 50/50 raffles, 2-person scramble. $15 dinner-only. Call to reserve your spot. 608-526-4144 or 608-526-3225. 25 Car Show & Swap Meet—Ellsworth. Pierce Co. Fair Grounds, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Founded in 1977, the Beldenville Old Car Club puts on the area’s largest car show the fourth Sunday in July. Over 750 vehicles have been on display in past events. Admission $5; 12 and younger are free. Swap spots $10 for the first 20 feet, each additional 10 feet is $10. Car corral, $10. Music by Rock-Man, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Breakfast and lunch available on the grounds.

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

Upload your August events by July 11.

Upload your event

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Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. 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. Events can also be mailed to: WECN, Events, 222 W. Washington Ave. Ste. 680, Madison WI 53703-2719

Upload events to wecnmagazine.com

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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YOUNG MEMBERS

Kids and Critters July 2021 1. McKenzie, Izzy, Sydney, and Taylor are official members of Alaskan Malamute Saucy’s fan club. Photo submitted by Pat McGovern, a member of Rock Energy.

2. Jake and Kayla visit grandma weekly to ride donkeys at the ranch. Photo submitted by Jodi Elliott, a member of Adams-Columbia Electric. 3. Jace and Maya love riding horses at grandma and grandpa’s house. Photo submitted by June and Frank Randle, members of Vernon Electric.

4. Weslee is a goat magnet. Photo submitted by Jodi Elliott, a member of AdamsColumbia Electric.

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.

IT’S TIME AGAIN FOR OUR HIDDEN OBJECT GAME,

“SYMBOL SEARCH”

Month after month readers make us chuckle with their submissions. In June a reader who found the wedge of cheese commented: “I always look forward to finding the symbol in this magazine! Along with checking out the recipes and learning new ways to conserve energy. Hope this isn’t too cheesy but you have a very gouda magazine!” Our kitchen kit winner this month is Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative member Meredith Pirazzini. She found the cheese on “Page 27, top right, in the heading: the cheese wedge is within the capital O in the word FAVORITES. We appreciate the excellent coverage of broadband expansion and access in the region’s rural areas of the region, and of the state. We also appreciate the seasonal safety reminders!” This month, inspired by our cover story about blueberry farms, we challenge you to find this tasty little blueberry. Remember that the symbol can be anywhere and any size. One randomly selected winner will receive a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. One entry per household, please. Send entries by July 15.

Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage of wecnmagazine.com.

Good luck!

You can also enter by mail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative): Symbol Search Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703

July 2021

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