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CooperaN

COOPERATIVE

News

Wisconsin

ENERGY Cooperative

contents August 2019

News

Summers SHAPE OUR FUTURE

Youth programs educate future co-op members.

4 6 15 28 30

On the

COVER

Habitat-restoration projects are blooming at co-ops. (Cover photo courtesy Deana Protz, Oakdale Electric)

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Don’t pay more than you need to on your energy bill.

NEWS BRIEFS

Stay up-to-date on industry happenings.

MY CO-OP

The Heart of MILLSTON

MDA fundraiser brings community together.

Recipes

Celebrate summertime with sweet corn.

Kids &

CRITTERS

Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.

Share the land,

SHARE TRADITIONS

DNR program helps landowners to share the land.

Eligible Counties Ineligible Counties

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

CLASSIFIEDS

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

EVENTS

Adventure abounds in August.

August 2019

WECN Aug19TOC.indd 1

7/18/19 12:13 PM

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Beware bill-pay websites

An intermediary between two parties can often be useful. Often but not always. It can be more of a Dana Kelroy, Editor hassle. A Google search of the name of your electric cooperative and the phrase “online bill pay” will most likely ﬁnd a link to your cooperative’s website payment options page. But the search will almost certainly pull up numerous other websites that appear to offer bill-pay services directly to your co-op. These third-party sites are in fact acting as a middleman and are in no way afﬁliated with your cooperative. Doxo.com is commonly found in these searches. They tout themselves as a simple, secure way to pay bills. However, pages of complaints on the Better Business Bureau’s website indicates that dealing with them is anything but simple. Typical consumer complaints include Doxo holding payments for days, sometimes never paying at all; undisclosed fees; and dubious customer service. We urge readers who use online searches to apply caution and make sure the website address actually goes to the co-op (see below). Even better, we advise you to call your cooperative directly and discuss your payment options. It is best to deal directly with your local, trusted energy provider—your co-op.

August 2019 Vol. 80 No. 2 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

Use caution when searching for your cooperative’s online bill-payment options. We advise against using third-party payment sites. (Image courtesy of East Central Energy)

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 ANALYSTS PUT PRICE ON CARBONLESS GRID

Converting the United States to a 100 percent renewable electric grid will require spending $4.5 trillion and approximately doubling the existing level of generation capacity to account for wind and solar energy’s intermittent availability, the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie reports. The consultants estimate it would be necessary to add about 1,600 gigawatts of new wind and solar generating capacity— the equivalent of duplicating Wisconsin’s Point Beach nuclear plant approximately 1,354 times—to supplant all U.S. fossilfueled generation. In addition to building about twice as much new generation capacity as currently exists on the U.S. grid, decarbonization would also call for about 900 gigawatts of new storage capacity (equaling another 761 Point Beach plants) “to ensure wind- and

solar-generated power is available exactly when consumers need it,” the Wood Mackenzie analysis said. “The scale of the challenge is unprecedented, requiring a complete redesign of the power sector,” the report added. The report is based on a six-month analysis of actual hourly wind and solar generation patterns from all major U.S. power markets, the consultants said. They indicated that achieving a 50 percent renewable power supply from intermittent renewables system-wide is “relatively straightforward in most of the U.S.” However, once renewables are providing half the power supply, the challenges of increasing their share “accelerate rapidly,” the report said, adding that the grid’s ability to provide energy would need to be roughly doubled.

MORE THIRD-PARTY QUESTIONS AS PSC OKAYS UTILITY SOLAR

Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved two regulated utilities expanding solar generation programs, in decisions criticized by groups arguing that regulated utilities are using monopoly status as retail energy providers to crowd out independent developers. Commissioners voted to permit expansion of Madison Gas and Electric’s “Shared Solar” program with a new five-megawatt solar garden, and an Alliant Energy program offering residential customers opportunities to buy subscriptions at about $1,200 per kilowatt for shares in community solar gardens. Another Alliant program, allowing the utility to install solar panels on customer properties, was approved 2–1 with PSC

Chair Rebeca Valcq dissenting. The PSC has declined to address third-party ownership of generation facilities, an alternative approach that would permit non-utility private solar developers to mount their equipment on residential or commercial properties and sell the output to the occupants at retail. Opponents contend such transactions would put the developers in the role of regulated utilities under existing Wisconsin law, and developers argue they should be exempt from PSC regulation. The PSC maintains authority to decide those questions rests with the legislature, not the commission. So far there’s been little indication of legislative interest in revising the definition of a state-regulated utility.

FAILED NUKE PROJECT A PAYDAY FOR LAWYERS

Plans to add two new units to an existing South Carolina nuclear plant never generated any electricity but have yielded a $146 million class action settlement two years after the project was abandoned by South Carolina Electric and Gas and parent company SCANA Corp. Neither new unit at the V.C. Summer

plant was completed when the project was dropped in 2017 after expenditures of $9 billion. The settlement was finalized in June. Almost $52 million of the settlement proceeds will be shared among 13 law firms involved in the lawsuit, a local TV station reported, with the rest to be divided among ratepayers.

RENEWABLE GENERATION PASSES COAL

U.S. electricity generation marked a milestone this spring when total monthly production from renewable energy sources exceeded that obtained from coal, according to an Energy Information Administration (EIA) report at the end of June. In graphics released by the EIA the lines, allowing for seasonal variations, can be seen converging since 2005 and crossing in April, when renewables provided 23 percent of generation compared with 20 percent from coal. The agency reported that conventional hydro generation is the biggest renewable source and tends to peak in the spring with snowmelt swelling water supplies at generating stations. The lines are expected to swing back over the near term. On an annualized average basis, the EIA forecasts coal providing more generation than renewables this year and next. Renewables are expected to surpass nuclear generation in 2020, the EIA said.

FEDS CITE GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL

Geothermal energy development faces “significant technical and non-technical barriers,” according to the Energy Department (DOE), but if they can be overcome, about 60 gigawatts of new generation—a 26-fold increase—could become available by 2050. A June report from the DOE subtitled “Harnessing the heat beneath our feet” suggests the practical use of geothermal heat in electricity production is at a stage similar to that of the oil and gas industries at a time when unconventional oil and gas reserves were known but couldn’t be produced economically with the existing technologies.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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SUMMERS

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OUR FUTURE

Steve Freese President and CEO

ith summer in full swing, the attention of your statewide electric cooperative organization turns to a pair of recurring and very important leadership training programs and experiences we coordinate. Fortunately, this state’s electric co-op board members recognized long ago that the future of their cooperatives would be forever entwined with the future of the young people who lived on co-op lines. They concluded that we needed specialized youth programming to help shape future leaders. Among the results are two programs that in their present forms date back to 1964 and since then, have attracted more than 8,000 Wisconsin high school students. One is the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., sponsored annually by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). This year, 17 Wisconsin students joined more than 1,800 others, along with more than 300 chaperones, representing 42 states. Their six-day experience in the nation’s capital was packed with leadership training; basic education in the cooperative business model; visits to museums, historic sites, and national monuments; and meetings with congressional representatives and staff. The leadership training was all about being involved with their co-op, and national and local co-op career opportunities. A lineman who worked on an international project to electrify a rural town in another country talked about the potential to affect a wider footprint than just their home town. The students picked one of their own, Adrian Rodriguez, who was sponsored by Oakdale Elec-

tric Cooperative, to represent Wisconsin at the NRECA and Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association annual meetings. It’s not uncommon for the Youth Tour to be the first airplane trip for participating students, and they did some memorable things this year: laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, visiting the World War II Memorial during the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of France, and visiting the Holocaust Museum. It was great to see how they were respected at Capitol Hill offices and to hear Senator Ron Johnson urge them to be a voice for their communities. The second program, held in July, is the Youth Leadership Congress. More than 100 students spent three days on campus at UW–River Falls learning all about cooperative governance and what it takes to assume a leadership role at the co-op. We share with the students what job possibilities there are in electric co-ops. By the time they leave River Falls they know what’s expected of board members and what cooperative decision-making requires. They leave with a new understanding of what it takes to keep the lights on back home. This all started at the 1964 WECA annual meeting with a resolution saying, “A new generation is moving into active ownership and control of electric cooperatives, and still another generation within a very few years will have the most numerous representation within our membership.” Times have changed, but the circumstances remain valid. Co-op directors saw the future of the electric program in our youth, and continue to help prepare them to be the future employees and leaders of their electric cooperatives and the communities they serve.

Seventeen Wisconsin youth delegates pose in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., before visiting with Wisconsin elected officials Cedric Kosnopfal, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services; Annaliese Haas, Vernon Electric; and Lillian Radzikinas, Adams-Columbia Electric join the sergeant of the guard in laying a wreath during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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7/17/19 10:08 AM

COOP POLLINATOR POWER HABITATRESTORATION PROJECTS ARE BLOOMING AT WISCONSIN’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

There’s a certain buzz in the air around many of Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives, and it’s hovering around the pollinator gardens that have been popping up on co-op properties throughout the state. At some co-op headquarters, traditional floral landscaping and stretches of sunny green lawn have been replaced with native pollinator plantings that are just coming into bloom. Often tended by co-op employees, these plants attract the pollinators—including bees, butterflies, and birds—that are needed for the reproduction of about one third of all human food crops, as well as 75 percent of flowering plants, according to pollinator.org. Establishing these small-scale pollinator conservation projects on site is just another way for electric cooperatives to practice good stewardship, according to Bruce Ardelt, CEO of Oakdale Electric Cooperative. Oakdale is one of several Wisconsin electric co-ops

A blooming coreopsis in Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s garden attracts a pollinator.

August 2019

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7/18/19 10:25 AM

1. Members of the Tomah High School Roots and Shoots Science Club help create the pollinator flower beds outside Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s headquarters. 2. Dale Ludeking, customer services representative at Oakdale Electric Cooperative, puts the plants in place in one of the co-op’s two newly created pollinator flower beds. (Photos here and on page 9 courtesy of Deana Protz, Oakdale Electric Cooperative)

serving as home to a brand-new pollinator garden. “We’re always trying to do the best we can to improve the environment,” he said. “We do it in our day-to-day operations, but here’s another small thing we can do that will help the monarch population.”

Plight of the Pollinators Pollinator numbers have been dropping for years due to habitat loss, land management practices, and weather occurrences. Beekeepers have reported declining bee numbers since the 1990s, and monarch counts have fallen dramatically—by more than 80 percent—over the past 20 years, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Attention to the dwindling numbers has intensified in recent years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was petitioned to add monarch butterflies to the endangered species list in 2014, with a species of bumblebee designated as endangered in 2017. Conservation efforts have since increased in many corners, with electric utilities among the industry groups that have stepped up. Because they manage millions of acres of habitat, including power line rights-of-way, solar and wind installations, and acreage around substations, electric utilities are uniquely suited to support the conservation of monarchs and other pollinator populations. Electric co-ops are among the utilities that have formed partnerships to promote restoration of pollinator habitat along the acreage they manage. Steve Freese, CEO of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, first reported in July 2016 on the statewide association’s partnership with the Sand County Foundation to encourage monarch habitat restoration efforts. Discussions at industry gatherings since held throughout the state have focused on the various ways electric co-ops can help, whether by planting milkweed, the only viable food source for monarch caterpillars, along utility rights-ofway; planting pollinator habitat gardens along community 10

solar installations; or partnering with other local groups such as FFA organizations to restore habitat.

Monarch Waystation It was at just such a gathering where Deana Protz, public relations & communications specialist at Oakdale Electric Cooperative, got to thinking about how her co-op could do its part to help monarchs and other pollinators. Oakdale Electric had an ideal spot on its property, with a south-facing slope near the front door of the building where a garden would be visible and, she hoped, inspire others. Protz worked with the Monarch Waystation Program in planning the co-op’s garden. The program provided expert help in selecting hardy native plants that would thrive in the area’s sandy soil. With help from fellow employees and volunteers from the Tomah High School Roots and Shoots Science Club, two pollinator flower beds with 96 plants were established on Oakdale’s property this past spring. Oakdale Electric is currently the only electric utility in Wisconsin to be registered as a Monarch Waystation in the program’s registry, and only the second electric co-op in the entire country to be registered. “We had to hit some criteria in order to be certified,” Protz explained. “There are requirements for size—the garden needs to be at least 100 square feet—with correct exposure and proper sunlight. You also need to have at least 10 milkweed plants, at least two different species, and you often need to provide a variety of nectar plants as well— milkweed for the caterpillars and nectars for the butterflies. We thought it was valuable to go through the registration process to make sure that our garden was effective.” She said the Roots and Shoots volunteers will continue to help with the garden’s maintenance, but thanks to the plants’ sturdy nature, maintenance should be minimal once the garden is established. “What I’ve learned through this whole process is to go with just native plants,” she said. “They’re hardy and

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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designed to thrive in our area. They don’t need fertilizer—just rainwater. They’re just really great plants for a business because they are low maintenance, so there’s a cost savings there as well.” With the young plants just beginning to bloom, the garden is already attracting pollinators. It’s also attracting questions from curious onlookers, which is exactly what Protz had hoped for. “We specifically put the garden next to the front door so it’s not out of mind,” she said. “It’s close and accessible for employees and members to view.” In fact, Oakdale’s garden has led to at least one more registered Monarch Waystation. Protz recalled a conversation she had with a member who asked about the garden. Protz supplied the woman with information about the Monarch Waystation Program, and the member

went on to create a registered garden herself. Protz said she hopes the co-op will eventually be able to help other businesses or schools start their own pollinator gardens. For now, she said she’s just enjoying watching Oakdale’s garden grow. “We’re really looking forward to seeing the garden bloom and get fuller as the summer continues, and seeing all the color and the butterflies,” she said.

employees added another larger bed of pollinator-friendly plants—this one just over 400 square feet—to the other side of the building. PPCS was fortunate to have had someone with experience right on staff to take the lead in designing and planning a pollinator garden. Member Relations Technician David Chavie keeps a pollinator garden at his own property and was happy to spearhead a similar project at the co-op. “It dovetails nicely with my own interests, so I jumped at the chance,” he said. “I think it’s a great idea.” He designed PPCS’ gardens with 230 individual plants of at least 16 different types, including two different species of milkweed. Some of these plants came from Chavie’s own garden at his house. Like those at Oakdale Electric, PPCS’

Homegrown A little farther north, a similar project has been blooming. The front doors of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services’ (PPCS) headquarters building in Ellsworth used to be flanked with colorful annuals. This past spring, those areas were filled with pollinator-attracting perennials instead. By mid-summer, a crew of PPCS

1. An acre of property surrounding Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative is being converted into a bufferfly field. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Mazemke, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative) 2. Greenwood FFA Chapter members plant pollinator-friendly flowers on a plot of land provided by Clark Electric Cooperative. (Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Thomas, Loyal Tribune Record Gleaner) 3 & 4.

Executive Assistant/HR Administrator Charity Lubich and Senior Accountant Barb Bee were among the employees who helped plant a pollinator garden outside Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services headquarters. (Photo courtesy of Liz Gunderson, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services)

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A bloom peeks over the newly planted pollinator garden outside Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services’ office in Ellsworth. (Photo courtesy of Liz Gunderson, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services)

plants are hardy and should require little maintenance once they’re established. “Hopefully, if all goes right, this will just be a springboard to doing even more in the coming seasons,” he said. In addition to establishing its own garden, PPCS encouraged its members to get involved in pollinator habitat conservation through a special Earth Day promotion this past April. The co-op gave away free “bee bombs”—bundles of pollinator-friendly wildlfower seeds from Plantables—to any interested members who stopped in the office.

Teaching Tool

At Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative in Iola, plans call for developing educational opportunities presented by the co-op’s newly planted butterfly meadow. CWEC tapped into the expertise of the Sand County Foundation to create a pollinator habitat on about an acre of land surrounding the office building, with assistance from Prairie Nursery Inc. in selecting the best plants for the soil type. The first step of this project was to restore the previously unmanaged grass and weeds that had grown along this acre. The site was then seeded with a diverse native seed mix designed for monarch butterflies. The project is now in its second growing season, with colorful wildflowers expected by next year. “We are very excited to be participating in the program and look forward to our field being a very successful habitat for monarch butterflies, bees, and other pollinators,” said Member Relations Coordinator Brenda Mazemke. “We eventually want to create walking trails and information kiosks about the benefits of pollinators and the plant species.”

Youthful Participation

At Clark Electric Cooperative in Greenwood, a pollinator habitat restoration project is doubling as an outdoor classroom for some area high school students. The co-op donates land for the Greenwood FFA Chapter to use as a crop test plot, and this past spring, Greenwood FFA members planted about 400 native pollinator-friendly flowers there. According to the Loyal Tribune Record Gleaner, the plants were purchased with a $1,000 Pollinator Habitat Grant the Greenwood School District received. The project is providing a wealth of hands-on teaching opportunities. FFA Advisor Loghan Hallett told the Tribune

Record Gleaner that the students first checked drainage and wind direction on the plot to determine the most effective placement of the plants, for both the crops’ and the pollinators’ benefit. The students have continued to nurture the plants throughout the summer, watering and weeding until the plants are well established, at which point they should thrive on their own.

Sunny Opportunities

Of course, supporting pollinator habitat has long been practiced in the electric cooperative world. Dairyland Power Cooperative, the generation and transmission co-op that supplies wholesale power to 24 electric distribution co-ops including 18 in Wisconsin, established its first pollinator plot back in 1994, long before diminishing pollinator populations were widely recognized. That initial project, completed with the help of Prairie Restorations, entailed sealing the cap of a coal-ash landfill at Dairyland’s Genoa site with a pollinator meadow, according to Brad Foss, manager, environmental impact at Dairyland. In recent years, Foss said, Dairyland has launched a number of other pollinator projects, some of which have been facilitated by the G&T’s growing solar initiatives. Dairyland acquires energy output from 18 utility-scale solar generation facilities that are sited in the service areas of 13 Wisconsin electric cooperatives and one in Iowa. The generation and transmission co-op has worked with Prairie Restoration in seeding the sites with a mix best suited for each area to create certified pollinator gardens. Among the 18 solar arrays, these sites are providing about 250 acres of pollinator habitat, he said. In addition, Foss said Dairyland is evaluating the substations in its system to determine which pieces of land buffering the substations would be suitable for developing one- to two-acre pollinator meadows. He said three have so far been identified and seeded, two of them in Wisconsin. The areas are chosen for their visibility as well as the land suitability. “We’re looking for substations closer to municipalities or a subdivision. One is actually closer to a park,” Foss said. “That way we can use a pollinator plot as an educational tool as well, and put up some signage that explains what a pollinator plot is, and why we’re doing it.” With projects big and small, electric co-ops are doing their part to keep the pollinator buzz going.—Mary Erickson

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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THE LAND,

Traditions I

f you live in Wisconsin, you know that Wisconsinites value their outdoor recreation. A recent survey in the Badger State found that more than 87 percent of respondents enjoyed activities like ﬁshing, hunting, biking, and walking in the great outdoors. Much of this activity happens on publicly accessible land. Not all publicly accessible land is publicly owned though. Many landowners help increase the public’s access to land by opening their property to the public for recreation. This provides outdoor enthusiasts with more choices closer to home, which is

ideal since most people search for outdoor spaces within an hour’s drive. A popular program, federally funded through the Farm Bill, is the Voluntary Public Access & Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Landowners who agree to share their land for specific activities—hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife watching—receive per acre lease payments. “[The VPA] program is trouble free. I’m glad it’s an option for landowners. It’s helpful to pay taxes and generate income on the land,” said Steven Thaler, a member of Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative. Landowners are also eligible for financial and technical assistance to improve their property’s wildlife habitat through the Habitat Incentive Program, which includes invasive species control, native grassland establishment, native shrub planting, and more. For many landowners, the primary reason they share their lands isn’t the money, but rather the ability to keep traditions like hunting and fishing alive for future generations. Farmers, individuals and families with forest land, absentee landowners, adult children managing land for their elderly parents, and utility companies are just some people and groups that share their land. More than 30,000 acres of property in eligible counties are currently open to the public under the VPA program. Research conducted by the DNR indicates the most popular activity on VPA lands is hunting, followed by bird and wildlife watching. When the property owner signs up and is approved for the program, a DNR representative will come out and post the boundaries with public access signs. No permission is needed to use these lands. All visitors have to do is follow a simple code of conduct and respect the land. This will help ensure landowners continue to share their properties.

How do I find a property? • To find new and existing properties, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “share the land.” Visitor Code of Conduct • Only access areas posted with VPA signs. • Know the field boundaries and avoid trespassing on surrounding private land. • Follow all hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations. • Leave gates as you found them. • Stay 300 feet from farmsteads or buildings, especially when hunting. • Limit your activity to foot traffic only. • If you pack it in, pack it out. Don’t litter. • Avoid damage to property and standing crops. • Be ethical, courteous, and safe. Abuse it—lose it.

Other Restrictions • Portable structures (tree stands/blinds) are permitted, but they cannot cause damage and must be removed when you leave. • Park on the shoulder of a public road or in a designated parking areas. Avoid blocking access to farm fields, pastures, or driveways. • Dogs may be used for hunting purposes (not training). • Horses are not allowed on VPA properties.

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Ready to Share Your Land? If you are interested in learning more or applying to become part of the VPA-HIP program and sharing your land with the public, please contact Cody Strong, VPA-HIP & THAP coordinator, at cody.strong@wisconsin.gov or (608) 800-1343. Current lease rates are $3/acre for agricultural land, $10/acre for grassland/wetlands, and $15/acre for forest land. Ideal properties are tracts of 40-plus acres that include some forests, grasslands, or wetlands. Land must be located in eligible counties. (See map to the right.) Optionally, private landowners with more than 40 acres that have adequate wild turkey habitat may earn money by opening their lands only during spring turkey season (March 1 â€“ May 29) as part of the Turkey Hunter Access Program (THAP). For landowners in this program, the only activity allowed on the property is spring turkey hunting (versus landowners enrolled in the Voluntary Public Access program). Lease rates are $5/ acre. Learn more by visiting https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ lands/thap/.

Eligible Counties Ineligible Counties

â€”Cody Strong is the VPA-HIP and THAP coordinator at the Wisconsin DNR. He can be reached at cody.strong@ wisconsin.gov or (608) 800-1343.

Share the Land

AND EARN MONEY, TOO! Keep Traditions alive (608) 800-1343 14

VPA

Voluntary Public Access

WISCONSIN Department of Natural Resources

LEARN MORE: dnr.wi.gov Keyword: vpa

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Sweet, Sweet

Summertime

WITH SWEET CORN Sweet Corn Vegetable Flatbread 4 par-baked flatbreads 1 cup alfredo sauce 2 cups sweet corn 2 zucchini, sliced thin in circles 2 small heirloom tomatoes, sliced thin 1 red onion, shaved thin 2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded 2 cups baby arugula 1/2 cup olive oil Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lay out the flatbreads and spread alfredo sauce on each one. Sprinkle corn, layer zucchini and tomatoes. Scatter red onion and mozzarella evenly on top, then place in the oven, bake until crispy and the cheese begins to bubble. Cut the flatbreads into 10 pieces; top with the arugula. Drizzle with olive oil before serving. Recipe Courtesy of Chef David Blonsky, Apeiro Kitchen & Bar

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Sweet Corn and Tomato Sauté with Grilled Salmon 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 Tbsp cider vinegar 1/8 tsp salt

5 ears sweet corn, husked 1 Tbsp olive oil 3/4 tsp garlic, minced

1/8 tsp ground black pepper 1/4 cup scallions, sliced 4 oz salmon, grilled

Cut kernels off three of the cobs (makes about 2–1/4 cups); reserve kernels. Cut remaining two ears crosswise in 1-inch wheels. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Stir in corn kernels, corn wheels and garlic; cook and stir until hot, about 4 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes, vinegar, salt, and pepper; cook until tomatoes are barely softened, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in scallions. Serve corn and tomato mixture over grilled salmon, if desired, or as a side dish with the wheels as a garnish. The mixture can also be served with grilled chicken, warm, or at room temperature, or uncooked as a salad by simply tossing all ingredients together in a bowl. Recipes and photos courtesy of Sunshine Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida www.sunshinesweetcorn.com

Sweet Corn & Thyme Ice Cream 4 ears sweet corn, shucked 2 cups milk

3 sprigs thyme 2 cups heavy cream

3/4 cups sugar 9 eggs, yolks only

Cut corn from cob and combine corn and corn cob in saucepan with milk, thyme, and cream. Heat over medium heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep 1–2 hours. Remove the cobs and thyme and discard into trash. Blend corn and milk in a blender well until smooth. Return the corn cream to saucepan and simmer again. In a large bowl, whisk vigorously together sugar and yolks, until ﬂuffy and light. While whisking, slowly add hot milk mixture to eggs. Once all milk has been beaten into the eggs, pour the mixture back into the saucepan and return to medium heat, cook until slightly thickened stirring constantly. The mixture should be thick enough to resemble sauce or very thick maple syrup consistency. Strain through a ﬁne mesh strainer and chill overnight. Freeze or churn in ice cream maker or follow your ice cream maker’s manufacturer’s directions. Fold in a few thyme leaves toward the end of churning cycle. Place in freezer until ready to use. Recipe Courtesy of Chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth

Sweet Corn, Mango, and Black Bean Salsa 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 green onion, thinly sliced 1 jalapeño pepper, ﬁnely chopped 1/4 tsp salt

2 ears sweet corn, husked 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 mango, pitted and cubed (about 1 cup) 3 Tbsp lime juice

Preheat outdoor grill or broiler. Grill or broil corn, turning occasionally, until some kernels turn golden brown, 10–12 minutes; cool. Using a sharp knife, cut corn off cobs (makes about 1-1/4 cups). In a medium-sized bowl, combine corn kernels with black beans, mango, lime juice, olive oil, green onion, jalapeño and salt. Serve with grilled or roasted meats, if desired. By Chef Michelle Bernstein—Azul Restaurant, Miami.

Sweet Corn, Feta, and Marinated Cucumber Salad 4 ears sweet corn, shucked 2 cucumbers, medium diced Salt, to taste Sugar, to taste

3/4 cup feta cheese, medium diced 2 radishes, sliced into thin rounds 2 scallions, thin sliced

FOR GARNISH: olive oil fresh dill aleppo pepper ﬂakes celery heart leaves

Over a hot grill, cook shucked corn, basting with unsalted butter. Remove when cooked to desired doneness. Remove corn from the cob, reserve in a bowl. Season cucumbers with salt and sugar to taste. Toss all ingredients together in a bowl and let sit for a minimum of 15 minutes; do not exceed 2 hours. When ready to assemble the salad, quickly rinse cucumbers, taste to ensure seasoning is correct and adjust with additional salt or sugar if necessary. Add half of the lime juice to the corn and a twist of fresh black pepper. In a separate bowl, combine the cucumbers, radish, scallions, dill, pepper ﬂakes and toss with a splash of olive oil. Add feta. Add the corn and its juices to the cucumber bowl. Toss gently just to blend ingredients and ﬂavors. Season to taste. Toss and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with celery heart leaves, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of olive oil. Recipe Courtesy of Chef Stephen Lyons, Matchbox Restaurant

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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/. Last month’s Cookie Dough Brownies called for 1-1/2 cups baking cocoa and no flour by mistake. The correct measurements were 1/2 cup baking cocoa and 1-1/2 cups flour. You can view the full corrected recipe at www.wecnmagazine. com. We regret the error.

Spring Bread Pudding for Two Lavaughn Buehl, Janesville

3 slices bread, toasted, cubed 3/4 cup milk 1/8 cup butter 2 cups rhubarb, cubed 3 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread cubes in casserole dish. Scald milk in saucepan and add butter to melt. Pour milk and butter over bread. Combine rhubarb, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon and stir into bread mixture. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 45–50 minutes.

Penuche Fudge (Or Frosting) Valarie K. Showers, Janesville

1/2 cup butter 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup cream (or milk) 2–3 cups powdered sugar (for frosting use 1-1/2 to 2 cups) Melt butter and add brown sugar. Stir well and bring to boiling over low heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add cream and bring to boiling, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Gradually add powdered sugar. Beat until thick like fudge. Pour into an 8x8- or 7x11-inch pan and allow to set in fridge. Cut fudge into squares. For frosting, beat until of spreading consistency. This recipe will frost a 2 layer cake—middle, top, and sides. 22

Cocoa Fudge

Chocolate Fudge

2/3 cup cocoa 3 cups sugar 1/8 tsp salt 1-1/2 cups milk 1/4 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla

2 cups sugar 6 Tbsp cocoa powder 3/4 cup milk 2 Tbsp butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup chopped nuts

In a large 3-quart saucepan, add cocoa, sugar, and salt. Add milk gradually and mix thoroughly. Bring to a bubbly boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil the mixture, without stirring, until it reaches a temperature of 232 degrees or until a small amount of mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. Make sure bulb of thermostat is not resting on bottom of pan. Remove pan from heat, add butter and vanilla to mixture, do not stir. Allow fudge to cool at room temperature until it reaches 110 degrees. Beat by hand or portable electric beater until the fudge thickens and loses some of its gloss. Quickly pour and spread fudge in lightly buttered 8x8x2-inch pan. Cool and cut into squares.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, and milk; stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Cook very slowly until mixture reaches the soft ball stage (238 degrees when tested with a candy thermometer), do not stir mixture unless it starts to burn. Remove from heat and add butter, do not stir in. Cool at room temperature, or place pan in cool water. When cool, add vanilla and beat until creamy. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square pan lightly with butter. When fudge has thickened, stir in nuts. Immediately pour in pan and cut into squares before fudge hardens. Makes 18–24 servings.

Cheryl Hetzer, Butternut

Barbara Dahlke, Wautoma

Chicken in Sour Cream Casserole Judy Stoney, Clinton

1 pkg (8 oz) wide noodles, cooked 3 cups diced, cooked chicken 1/2 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced, sautéed in butter 1/4 tsp sage 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 2 cans cream of celery soup 1 cup sour cream 8 oz mild shredded cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix noodles with chicken, mushrooms, sage, salt, pepper, soup, and sour cream. Place in a greased 2 quart casserole dish. Top with mild cheddar cheese, bake for 30 minutes. Makes 10–12 servings.

REQUESTS from our

READERS Norine Walters, Little Suamico, is looking for Indian Fry Bread recipes. If you can help, have a request of your own, or would like to submit a recipe for publication, please write to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative

News, What’s Cooking? 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or contact us via our website, www.wecnmagazine.com. Thanks!

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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August 2019

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THE

Heart OF MILLSTON

NATION’S LONGESTRUNNING SMALLCOMMUNITY FUNDRAISER FOR MDA STILL GOING STRONG If you’re an American of a certain age, you probably don’t think of Labor Day without also thinking of the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. For 44 years, millions of people would gather around the television for some of the 20-plushour event and watch Lewis convince viewers to pledge donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon ended in 2010, but its legacy lives on in Millston, where an annual Labor Day softball tournament that was inspired by the call to help “Jerry’s kids” is rivaling the iconic telethon in longevity. Now in its 38th year, the Millston MDA Labor Day Softball Tournament is the “oldest small-community fundraiser for MDA in the nation,” according to Sue Marcou, tournament organizer and a member of Jackson Electric Cooperative. “That’s what the MDA has told us,” she said. “It’s my favorite weekend of the year. I just love this tournament. I don’t even know if I can express my feelings about this tournament—just the feelings of gratitude for the generosity of everyone involved.” While softball is the weekend’s main draw, this is much more than just a softball tournament. Over the years, the event has been expanded to include other activities like a bean bag tournament, a volleyball tournament, a .1K walk (yes, you read that right—.1K), a pancake breakfast, and an auction. It’s also become a reunion of sorts, as some teams have been participating for many years and now have second- and even third-generation family members on the rosters. There 24

are new faces each year as well, as folks who are camping in Jackson County for the holiday weekend sometimes stop by just to see what’s going on and end up becoming Area resident Samuel Sedelbauer, 9, regulars too. drives home the meaning of the MillEveryone, it seems, ston Labor Day Softball Tournament. gets caught up in the spirit of the weekend and contributes to the cause, whether by participating in the auction, buying a T-shirt or raffle tickets, or simply throwing a few bucks (or more) in the big fishbowl. Money from concession sales helps support the park, but all donations go to MDA, specifically to MDA summer camp. “No one makes any money here,” Marcou pointed out. “The only people who are paid here are the umpires, but everyone else is a volunteer and most of the money—entrance fees, everything—goes to MDA.” Over the past five years the tournament has raised an average of just over $12,000 in donations, she said, with the highest year totaling more than $17,000.

Humble Roots The Millston MDA Labor Day Softball Tournament is now a major event on the community’s calendar, but it rose from humble beginnings. The ﬁrst event was just a

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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softball game between two local teams, played with the intention of raising some money for “Jerry’s kids.” That first game was arranged by Larry “Fuzz” Randals. Inspired by the Jerry Lewis telethon, Randals set up a softball game for Labor Day weekend to raise some money for MDA. While Randals was busy making arrangements, his high school classmate and occasional softball teammate/opponent Scott Peterson was itching to play and heard there’d be some kind of Labor Day tournament in Millston. Peterson, who retired a few years ago as work order clerk at Jackson Electric Cooperative after a 28-year career there, “went down on a whim to see if there was someplace to play and they [Randals’ team] ended up needing someone on their team.” That first game was played on a field that Randals mistakenly thought was public, but its private ownership turned out to be the least of its challenges. The field, he and Peterson said, hadn’t been

WISCONSIN FAVORITES

mowed, there was no fence, and outfielders had to sidestep the rabbits that kept popping out of holes and avoid the deep dip in left field where water would pool. However, the game was played in high spirits, and between the raffles and the hot dog sales the modest event managed to raise $500, all of which was donated to MDA, Randals said. “We thought, ‘Oh boy, this is good. We can really get something done here. What would happen if we brought more teams in?’ ” he said. “So the next year we got six teams and we raised $1,500, something like that. Then we thought, ‘Oh boy, we can even do better,’ so we jumped to 16 teams and we raised $5,000.” They were off; the tournament just kept building from there.

Millston’s Pride At the same time, the local softball team set to work raising money for the Town of Millston to purchase the ﬁeld and make improvements to it. With volunteer labor and money

Jackson Electric Cooperative is a sponsor for the weekend’s .1K walk. Children’s activities include a penny hunt. (All photos courtesy of Millston MDA Labor Day Softball Tournament)

raised from yearly tournaments and other fundraisers, backstops, bleachers, fencing, ticket booths, and a scoreboard were gradually added. Randals said at one point some area cranberry growers brought their bog equipment and leveled off the field, eliminating the left-field dip for good. The result is a quality field surrounded by colorful landscaping, paths, benches, a fountain, and other park-like features. It’s a source of pride for the Millston community, especially because it was built with donations and volunteer sweat equity. Dan Smrekar, a longtime member of Jackson Electric Cooperative’s board of directors, also serves as the Millston town chair. He pointed out that the town itself has limited funds due to its unique tax base that includes a big chunk of the Black River State Forest. “Yet we have this beautiful ballpark,” he said. “It’s the people who have given money for this. I am just surrounded by all kinds of good people.”

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As town chair, Smrekar has a number of duties on tournament weekend, but his primarily role is—as Marcou describes him—“master ticket seller.” For years Smrekar has been working the tournament crowd, selling scratch-off tickets for various donated prizes. Randals and Peterson are still mainstays of the tournament as well. Randals no longer plays softball but he’s usually on hand for at least some of it. Peterson too mostly coaches now, but he hasn’t missed a tournament since the very first one.

The Heart of the Weekend In the early years, proceeds from the weekend were given to MDA to be used at the organization’s discretion. Starting in 2011, tournament organizers began requesting that all donations from the weekend be channeled specifically to the MDA summer camps, a move that fits with the organizers’ approach to the fundraiser. “When you think of muscular dystrophy, you initially think of muscles like arms and legs, but every part of your body is a muscle, including the heart and the lungs,” Marcou explained. “So one of the things we emphasize is to use that heart that we get. We play for this weekend so the kids can play for a week at camp.” Participation by area children affected by MDA gives great meaning to the tournament. Currently serving as a mini spokesperson is Samuel Sedelbauer, age 9, who is diagnosed with a form of MDA. Marcou said Sedelbauer has participated in the tournament for the past four years, and his parents provide an update on MDA research progress each year. The “use the heart” theme extends to accompanying activities as well. The weekend’s .1K walk was designed as such because, as Marcou pointed out, “anyone can do it.” Participants get T-shirts provided by local sponsors including Jackson

Electric Cooperative, and Marcou said spectators cheer on the walkers with great enthusiasm. Big hearts are also on display at the auction. Marcou said part of the tournament entry fee is an item for the auction, and teams have given everything from homemade iron fire rings to tickets to sporting events. Spectators and teams alike bid generously, she said. There’s plenty of heart among the teams as well, despite the competition on the field. Many teams are from the local area, but some travel considerably to participate each year. One team has traveled from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for about 20 years. This team came close to missing the tournament a few years ago, due to devastating flooding in Cedar Rapids. Disappointed, the team captain called Peterson to say they couldn’t pull together enough players to participate. “I said, ‘Tell you what. You bring your six, and I’ll make sure you have a team,’ ” Peterson responded. The Cedar Rapids team ended up coming after all and playing with a mix of Iowa players and volunteers from the Millston area. Filling out a team—and the tournament—is never a problem, it seems. “Teams are coming from all over, and there’s no money to win,” Randals marveled. “All you get is a trophy, and sometimes they even donate the trophy back.” While the generosity of all involved no longer surprises him, Randals is still amazed at what the simple softball game he organized 38 years ago has grown into. “I never thought this tournament would end up being what it is now,” he said. “I never would have imagined it.”—Mary Erickson Visit the Millston MDA Labor Day Softball Tournament on Facebook for more information.

Weekend activities that drive donations for MDA include the auction, for which items are generously donated and enthusiastically bid for, and scratch-off tickets for more donated prizes. Dan Smrekar (right), Jackson Electric Cooperative board member and Millston’s town chair, sells the tickets and performs other duties, including distributing band-aids after the .1K walk.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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7/18/19 11:17 AM

YOUNG MEMBERS Kids and Critters August 2019 1

ROAD-TRIPPING? Electric vehicle growth is expected to continue to rise across the U.S. There are also plans to install thousands of additional charging stations across the country. With the infrastructure in place, people will soon be able to drive electric from coast to coast with plenty of options to plug in along the way. Let’s ride. Advanced Energy

4 3

1. Erika and Frosty enjoy a snuggle. Photo submitted by Erika’s grandmother, Karen Engstrand, a member of Riverland Energy. 2. There’s no confusion here, Finn and his cat (named Dog) know how to have a good time. Photo submitted by Lisa Lukes, a member of Price Electric. 3. Elizabeth enjoyed the cows so much that she wanted to take a selfie with them at the local dairy breakfast. Photo submitted by Nicole Bayert, a member of Adams-Columbia Electric. 4. Nova helps her Uncle Pat feed baby dairy goats. This one is Brownie. Photo submitted by Melinda Davis, member of Chippewa Valley Electric. Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CO-OP FOR MORE INFORMATION. Upload photos

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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.

August 2019

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7/17/19 9:41 AM

CLASSIFIEDS MISCELLANEOUS

COLLECTOR BUYING WAR SOUVENIRS: German, Japanese, U.S. weapons, medals, helmets, daggers, swords, military items. 715-213-4565. WANTED: DEER TAGS, BACK TAGS. Trapping, bear, hunting, and fishing licenses. Otter, bobcat, fisher tags. Any old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284. WANTED: PAYING CASH FOR WW-2 GERMAN, JAPANESE FLAGS, DAGGERS, SWORDS, GUNS. ETC. 715-340-1974. USED BILLBOARD VINYLS/TARPS: Sizes available: 14x48=$50, 10x36=$28.80, 10x30=$24. Expired billboard faces, hemmed. Shipping and tax not included in listed price. Vinyls can also be picked up at Jones Sign, 1711 Scheuring Road, De Pere, WI 54115. PLEASE CALL FOR AVAILABILITY PRIOR TO PICK UP 800-536-7446. GOT WOOD! NEW PORTABLE SAWMILLS. We sell Forestry Equipment for the hobbyist to the professional. Band Sawmills, Firewood Processors, Skidding Winches & more. A-F County Market an authorized Hudson Forest Equipment Dealer. Adams, WI 53910. Phone Joe or Rich 608-339-6703. SEPTIC PROBLEMS: Do you have standing water on your drain field? Have you been told you need a new expensive septic system? I have an alternative that works, also comes with a warranty (no digging). Call toll free 855-7976072 or email mmtagm@yahoo.com. GEC ELECTRIC LLC: Please call 608-792-8475 gecelectricllc1@gmail.com. RURAL LIFE HISTORY BOOK: Machine Shed Memories – a Chronicle of Rural Life in Wisconsin. Order at www.machineshedmemories.com. LARGE BIRD AVIARY, good condition, business closed. $400. Warrens, WI. 608-378-4629.

Need a gift idea? Consider a subscription to WECN! dylan@weca.coop

REAL ESTATE

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. 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. FOR SALE: Lake Camelot (Nekoosa) 329 Dover court. wide water lot, 1/2 acre 65 ft. frontage, 2 permanent docks, large sand beach gentle slope, rip-rap shore, electric, water, concrete septic, 12’ x 12’ shed. Camp now and build later $195,700. 815-519-8828 SEEKING ECO-CONSCIOUS, STEWARDING BUYERS: Forty Acres sanctuary of peace & privacy. Trout River running through it. Starry nights, northern lights. Highly restorable ancestral two-story cedar log cabin retreat, hand-hewn circa 1900. Huge, dry, secure pole barn for storage-workshop on property. Lake Superior south shore, Port Wing-Orienta, WI. mmcarey1414@msn. com or 763-221-9523

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.

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.

ADVERTISE WITH US

VACATION RENTAL: 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom newly updated condo Gulf Shores, AL. Large pool, hot tub, tennis court, fitness center. Walk to golf course/clubhouse. 4.5 miles to beach. Centrally located to everything Gulf Shores has to offer. Nancy 715-292-4409. UPPER MICHIGAN. 1800’ of Lakeshore, 35 acres, pristine lake. Near trout streams, golf, casino, ski, snowmobile trails. Surrounded by Ottawa Forest. Very private. $297, 000. 715-495-2081 or 715-495-3244. 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.

Contact ads@weca.coop

Classified ads reach more than 171,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classified ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classifieds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN, Attn. Dylan Pingitore, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4599. Email dylan@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.

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WISCONSIN EVENTS 1, 2, 4 ACT Performs “Willy Wonka”—Tomah. High School Auditorium, Thurs. & Fri. 7–9:30 p.m.; Sun. 1–2:30 p.m. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Downtown Thursday Nights— Tomah. 800 Block of Superior Ave., 6–9 p.m. Free event with live music, food & drink vendors, and a kids zone. 3 Car Show—Bowler. Area Historical Society Grounds, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Breakfast until 10 a.m., refreshments, and parade at 1 p.m. 715-793-4460. 3 Tonnage Tournament—Cassville. Riverside Park Lion’s Shelter, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 2 people/boat. Register before 9 a.m. 608-219-2642. 3 Summer Bash & Car Show—Richland Center. Krouskop Park, 10 a.m. Music, arts & crafts vendors, petting zoo, music, and car show. 608-647-3350. 3 VFW Fundraiser—Oxford. VFW, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Free event. Live music, rafﬂes, food & drinks, horseshoe tournament. 608-844-9781. 3, 4 Quilt Show—Curtiss. Community Center, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Quilt displays, craft items, vendors, and demonstrators. Lunch available. 3, 4 Lighted Boat Parade—Mauston. Castle Rock County Park, all day. Boat parade, festival, ﬁreworks. 608-427-2070. 7, 14, 21, 28 Flea Market—Park Falls. Triangle Park, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 7, 14, 21, 28 Concerts in the Park—Sparta. Evans-Bosshard Park, 7–9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions available. 608-269-4123. 8 Music in the Park–Shullsburg. Badger Park, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free entry. 8, 9 The Swampers: Today in the Valley— Chippewa Falls. Heyde Center for the Arts, all day. Original songs, stories, and slideshow celebrating the Chippewa Valley. 8–10 Book, CD, DVD, and Game Sale—Oconto Falls. Library, Thurs. 8 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.–noon.

August 2019 8–11 Adams County Fair—Friendship. Fairgrounds, all day. Free admission. Music, animals, youth activities, food, tractor pull, demo derby.

23–24 Death’s Door Barbeque—Washington Island. Airport, all day. KCBS sanctioned competition with $10,000 in prize money.

8–11 Rusk County Fair—Ladysmith. Fairgrounds, all day. Mud bog, rodeo, dirt ﬂingers, BBQ cook-off, pedal pull, animal show, and much more.

23–25 Living History Rendezvous—Reedsburg. Historical Society Pioneer Log Village, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

9–11 Children’s Theater Performance, “Newsies”—Drummond. High School, Fri. & Sat. 7 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. 715-798-3248. 10 Cornucopia Day—Cornucopia. Festival Grounds, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Flea market, fresh fish, brats, beer, raffles, parade. 10 Augustfest—Various locations around Wautoma. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Pony rides, face painting, bike giveaway, quilt show, food & craft vendors, bounce house, cupcake walk, live music. 10 Strawberry Shortcake Bonanza & Flea Market—Fifield. Old Town Hall Museum, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Museum tours, strawberry shortcakes, beverages, and flea market. 715-339-2415. 10 Volunteer Fire Department Corn Roast— Springstead. Town of Sherman Pavilion, 12–6 p.m. Live music, sweet corn, sandwiches, beverages, hourly raffles, and toy tractor pull. 10 Corn Roast—Butternut. Midway Bar, 4–7:30 p.m. Pork with sweet corn and all the fixings. Raffles. 715-769-3680. 14 Roast Beef Dinner—Alma Center. Immaculate Conception Parish, 4:30 p.m. Progressive 50/50 raffle. 17 Family Festival & Car Show—Pittsville. Dexter Park, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Vendor and craft fair, car show, food, live music, raffles, and children’s games. 21 Community Hobo Supper—Shennington. St. Peter’s Church, 4–7 p.m. Meats and vegetables steamed together. 22–25 Crawford County Fair—Gays Mills. Fairgrounds, all day. Eric Paslay, demo derby, food stands, tractor pulls, more.

24 Pancake Breakfast—Menomonie. Downsville Community Museum, 7–10 a.m. 715-619-1440. 24 Bake & Craft Sale—Hustler. Trinity Lutheran Church, 8–11 a.m. Pancake breakfast in the morning. 24 Archery 3-D Shoot—Ashland. 3501 McDonald Rd., 8 a.m.–4 p.m. 30 targets. 715-682-9216. 24 Summer Picnic & Car Show—Merrillan. Gile Memorial Park, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Bounce house, pedal tractor pull, bingo, softball, volleyball, and horseshoe tournaments. 715-333-5105. 24 Music on Milwaukee Street—Tomah. Milwaukee Street, 4–11 p.m. Live music, food & drink vendors. 21+ event. 25 Bowl with the Band—Rothschild. Coral Lanes, 3–9 p.m. Join the nationally touring band, Wayland, for bowling, dinner, and music. Rafﬂes and live acoustic show after bowling.

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

Upload your September events by August 6. 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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7/17/19 9:14 AM

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