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CooperaN

COOPERATIVE

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Wisconsin

ENERGY Cooperative

contents August 2021

News

Letter from

CEO MESSAGE

THE EDITOR

Co-ops’ champions honored.

11 15 28 30

News

BRIEFS

Co-ops remember Gisenas.

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

RUBBER DUCKY RULE

Renewed WOTUS fight could impact rural Wisconsin.

On the

COVER

Pierce Pepin intern wins $10,000 scholarship.

Recipes

Loaf around with these delicious breads.

Blooms of Hope and

HAPPINESS

These sunflower fields have special meaning.

Symbol

Find this happy sunflower somewhere in this month’s magazine. (The below image is not the hidden location.)

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.

August 2021

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7/19/21 11:10 AM

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR Co-op Champions

Each year, the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association recognizes legislative leaders with the Champion Dana Kelroy, Editor of Electric Cooperatives award. The award is presented to state and federal lawmakers who support electric cooperatives’ efforts so they may continue to provide safe, affordable, and reliable energy to members. Senator Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) was recognized for her work being the number two sponsor on legislation—Wisconsin Act 5—that now legally allows cooperatives to hold virtual annual meetings during times of emergency. Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) helped secure $2 million in funding for Washington Island Electric Cooperative to help the cooperative recover from a natural disaster and he helped restore electric cooperatives’ application eligibility for the Wisconsin Disaster Relief Program. Representative Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua) also supported the Washington Island funds, the Wisconsin Disaster Relief Program, and Wisconsin Act 5. Representative Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) also supported the Washington Island funds, disaster relief legislation, Wisconsin Act 5, and has been a strong advocate for rural broadband expansion. Thank you, all!

August 2021 Vol. 82 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 $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 Sun Prairie, 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 Julie Lund Ann Bailey Geri Miller Jennifer Taylor

1. Shane Larson from Rock Energy Cooperative recognizes Senator Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville). 2. Oakdale Electric Cooperative’s Chris Tackmann presented Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) his award during the co-op’s annual meeting. 3. Representative Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua) is flanked by the Vernon Electric Cooperative board and management with his award. 4. Representative Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) received his award at Dunn Energy Cooperative, with representatives from Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative also in attendance.

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 IN MEMORY: VERNON GISENAS

Oconto Electric Cooperative Director Vernon Gisenas, 69, died June 25, at his home in Beaver. Gisenas represented the members of District 1 on the Oconto Electric board since 2009 and had been a co-op member for more than 40 years.

Gisenas owned a logging business and deer farm since 1993, and also served on the Beaver Town Board and the Marinette County Board of Supervisors. Gisenas is survived by his son, Christopher (Ashley), granddaughters Aspen and Willow, and his significant other, Karen Jarman.

AARON TORUD NAMED BARRON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE GENERAL MANAGER

Barron Electric Cooperative’s board of directors announced they have selected Aaron Torud as the new general manager, effective July 27. He replaced Dallas Sloan who retired in April of this year. Torud comes to Barron Electric from Riverland Energy Cooperative where he was the manager of member services, billing, and key accounts. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation management and a minor in business administration from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Viterbo University. “We are pleased Aaron Torud will be joining our team and look forward to his building on the strong foundation already in place at Barron Electric,” said Board President Randy Cook. The board also extended their gratitude to Dallas Sloan for his dedication and leadership over his 36-year career at Barron Electric Cooperative.

MICHAEL SCHAEFER NAMED JUMP RIVER INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER

Former long-time President and CEO of Taylor Electric Cooperative Michael Schaefer has come out of retirement to serve as interim general manager at Jump River Electric Cooperative as the board conducts a search for the next permanent general manager. Schaefer served as the president and CEO of Taylor Electric Cooperative in Medford before retiring in January 2020 after 37 years of service.

Jump River Electric General Manager Jim Anderson resigned to move back west with his family after four years on the job. In a statement, Schaefer said, “The best part about working for a cooperative has always been the people. JREC is a good organization and I’m excited to be able to help serve the members in this capacity.”

BIDEN TALKS TRANSMISSION, BROADBAND, EVS IN LA CROSSE President Joe Biden made a stop in La Crosse recently to pitch his “American Jobs Plan” including investments in high-voltage transmission lines, broadband expansion, and a transition to electric vehicles. Biden said investments in transmission lines are necessary to fight climate change, and investing in broadband is critical to the rural economy. “High-speed internet… isn’t a luxury; it’s now a necessity, like water and electricity,” the president said. “And this deal would provide for it for everyone, while bringing down the cost of internet service across the board.” He also pitched his plan to install 500,000 charging stations nationwide to promote electric vehicle use.

PSC TO CONSIDER NEW CERTIFICATION FOR CARDINAL HICKORY LINE

In the wake of legal battles challenging the future of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line, ATC and ITC Midwest have filed a request with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) asking to rescind and reopen the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the project. Dairyland Power Cooperative has also filed its support for the request, and the PSC has agreed. At issue are allegations of potential bias by a former PSC commissioner. According to the utilities, there is no evidence of wrongdoing, but they asked to rescind and reopen the document in the interest of preserving transparency, fairness, and integrity of all regulatory and judicial proceedings. The three-member PSC commission had voted unanimously to grant the certification for the project, which supports a transition to more renewable energy. The PSC has now issued a notice of intent to rescind the permit and reopen the docket “to consider next steps.” Opponents of the Cardinal Hickory line want the issue decided in court.

WYNN JOINS BOARD OF NATIONAL COOPERATIVE BANK

National Cooperative Bank (NCB) has announced four new members have joined its board of directors, including Curtis Wynn, president & CEO of the Roanoke Electric Cooperative in North Carolina. Wynn just completed a two-year term as NRECA president. The NCB board also welcomed Josh Ablett, chief information security officer with Adelia Risk; Thomas Fink, senior vice president and managing director with Trepp; and Gigi Hyland, executive director of the National Credit Union Foundation.

IN MEMORY: DEAN BALDWIN

Dean Baldwin, 93, longtime manager of Buffalo Electric Cooperative (before it merged with Trempealeau to become Riverland Energy Cooperative), passed away on May 17, 2021, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Baldwin spent almost five decades working for rural electric cooperatives in Kansas, Illinois, and Wisconsin, retiring from Buffalo Electric Cooperative as general manager in 1994. He received numerous awards and recognition for his many years of service including the prestigious ACE award in 1988.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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ontinuing our discussions from the last three months, we now look more closely at what it will take to achieve carbon pollution-free and fossil fuelfree electricity production for Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives. We know we need to replace approximately 900 megawatts of coal and 75 megawatts of natural gasproduced electricity with non-carbon producing sources by 2050 to meet the goals set by the Biden Administration. For this assessment, we have reviewed and analyzed multiple reports and studies and are basing much of the context on Princeton University’s Net-Zero America report. Wind and solar must be a large part of the transition to meet the administration’s goals. Still, these are intermittent resources, which means, unlike coal, nuclear, or natural gas, they cannot produce electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Wind Wind turbines obviously rely on the wind blowing to be productive. According to the University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS), their average capacity factor is 35%. A system with a capacity factor of 100% means it is producing energy at its maximum capacity the entire time. Compared to traditional sources of power generation, the capacity factor for wind is considerably lower because they are intermittent sources of power and in real-time, power output can vary considerably. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Vision Report also shows that on average, large (more than 20 megawatts) wind projects require 82.4 acres of land area per megawatt of installed capacity. This means that here in Wisconsin, to have the potential to generate the 975 megawatts of wind energy, we would need 80,340 acres of land for wind turbines, and remember, they are only 35% productive, on average. Wind is a key part of the transition to a carbon-free energy future, and as technology improves and the size of newer turbines increases, the output is improving, but wind energy currently presents real challenges in terms of reliability.

Solar Next, let’s consider solar, another key part of the transition. Like wind, solar is an intermittent resource, as it requires the sun to be shining, which happens roughly 12 hours a day. Other factors that affect the efficiency of the solar panel are snow, clouds, and the panel itself. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average capacity factor for utility-scale solar generation was 24.9% in 2020

across all states. In Wisconsin, the capacity factor for utility-scale solar is considerably lower, and for a newer system is at best 20%. According to the report Land-Use Requirements for Solar Power Plants in the United States from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, at a conservative 13-14% efficiency, it would require roughly 14 million acres of solar panel-filled land to generate enough electricity to power the United States. Adjusted to a 20% capacity factor, this would be nearly 9.5 million acres of land. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin is home to 64,793 farms totaling 14.3 million acres, so it would take about two-thirds of our agricultural land, filled with solar panels, to power the entire country. Unlike wind turbines, a farmer can’t plant a crop under a solar panel array. Again, as technology improves, solar panels are becoming more efficient. However, they still depend on the sun, and reliability must be considered. According to Badger State Solar’s figures, if we take a look closer to home in the Wisconsin electric cooperative footprint only, a bit more than 8 acres of land will be used per megawatt of potential output. For the co-ops, converting 975 megawatts of fossil fuel generation would require 7,800 acres of land for solar panels with a capacity factor of about 20%. Excess renewable generation, battery storage, and more transmission lines would be required to offset the significant difference between the fossil fuel and solar capacity factors.

Transmission

Another challenge to overcome as we transition to more renewable energy is how to move it from where it is generated to where it is needed. According to the Princeton Study, we would need to increase high-voltage transmission lines by 60% by 2035. Finding sites suitable to develop projects presents potential roadblocks to wind, solar, and transmission line deployment. Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives already have more than 260 megawatts of wind and solar energy, which accounts for more than 20% of the fuel mix used by a majority of our cooperatives today. Our cooperatives are making progress using a thoughtful, planned, deliberate approach that ensures reliability when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. Next month, we will continue our deep dive into what it would take to achieve a carbon-free energy future by looking at baseload options: nuclear power, and combined-cycle natural gas plants with carbon capture sequestration. August 2021

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MOVING FORWARD

Vaccinations and the variants Once someone is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

What is the delta variant, and why is it concerning? The delta variant is a naturally occurring mutation of the SARS CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. Data show that the delta variant is more contagious and spreads more easily than the original COVID-19 virus. The delta variant accounts for a growing proportion of new coronavirus cases across the United States, and people infected with the delta variant are more likely to need hospitalization than those infected with earlier strains of the virus.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective against the delta variant? Yes. Data show that the COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective in protecting fully vaccinated people from catching and spreading the virus, including the delta variant. But it is critical that you are fully vaccinated to be protected.

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

Should people still get a seasonal flu shot? Will the seasonal flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine interact in harmful ways? It is more important than ever to protect against influenza, which, like COVID-19, is a respiratory illness. Vaccination for the flu is critical to help reduce the overall impact of respiratory illnesses on the general population and lower the resulting burden on the healthcare system during the pandemic.

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Why have some local governments reinstated mask policies? Local and state officials establish policies based on local scenarios, including vaccination and transmission rates. Where there are lower vaccination rates and higher infection rates, or where disparities persist across population groups, officials may reinstate masking policies — such as indoor masking — with the goal of protecting their communities and people who are not or cannot be vaccinated.

Why do WHO and CDC have different recommendations about mask-wearing? The World Health Organization (WHO) makes recommendations for the entire world, while the (CDC) issues guidance and recommendations to inform U.S. policy decisions at the local and state levels. WHO continues to recommend that everyone, including fully vaccinated people, wear masks. This is not a change, but rather a longstanding recommendation that WHO reiterated in light of the fast-spreading delta variant. A large portion of the world remains unvaccinated, and there are infection hot spots where the delta variant is already, or quickly becoming, the dominant strain. In countries where a large proportion of the population is not vaccinated, masking policies are critical. In the United States, the CDC continues to urge localized policies based on local vaccination and infection rates. Communities with low vaccination rates are at higher risk for continued infections from COVID-19, including the delta variant. These higher risk levels may require safety measures like masking and social distancing. 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/2019ncov/vaccines/safety.html

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

COVID stuff-August 2021.indd 2

7/14/21 2:27 PM

FIGHTING THE RUBBER DUCKY

RULE, AGAIN

HOW THE RENEWED FIGHT FOR THE WOTUS RULE COULD IMPACT RURAL WISCONSIN

obert Nigh was only 8 years old when his father passed away, leaving him and his 15-year-old brother Randy to keep the Vernon County family farm running. Fifty-five years later, LIRR Family Farms in Viroqua has survived all of the challenges of Wisconsin farming, plus a destructive barn fire just a few years ago. But the latest threat comes all the way from Washington, D.C., where the Biden administration is seeking to again rewrite the definition of “Waters of the United States,” or WOTUS.

The LIRR Family Farm, which is on the Vernon Electric Cooperative lines, produces dairy, beef, and crops and spans 1,900 acres, including cropland, pasture, and woodland that runs to the south fork of the Bad Axe River. There is a dry bed that runs right through the farmstead. “It’s usually dry, but it will ﬂoat a

rubber ducky if we get a really heavy rain,” Nigh said. That dry creek bed would have been subject to federal regulations when the Obama administration in 2015 expanded the deﬁnition of WOTUS to include small streams, ponds, drainage ditches, and even dry creek beds, but the “Clean Water Act” (CWA) never went into effect due to legal challenges. “It really amounts to a taking,” Nigh said. “With this rule, we would not have been able to continue the operation.” The Trump administration replaced CWA with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), clarifying that regulated waters are indeed, navigable waters, their core tributaries, and adjacent waters. That rule took effect last summer. Now Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to rewrite the deﬁnition yet again, and is again looking to expand which waterways, and potential waterways, are protected. As the process starts up yet again, Nigh and his fellow farmers will be

watching closely. Like most farmers who depend on the land for their livelihood, Nigh and his brother are big proponents of clean air and water. Randy served on the Sterling town board and was active in passing a conservation ordinance that became a model for other communities. Nigh himself has worked in support of environmental protections while serving on many boards and panels, including Governor Tony Evers’ Climate Change Task Force. “Farmers want to be at the table,” he said. “We want to protect surface water and groundwater. We want improvements based on science.” WOTUS could have far-reaching negative environmental consequences beyond farming, as the protections of even the most minor “waterways” could create a challenge in gaining permits for transmission line projects, which are critical to meeting carbon-free energy goals. Calling the Obama-Biden rule an “egregious overreach,” Republican Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Mike Braun of Indiana last August 2021

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month introduced a bill to legislatively define WOTUS, and end the ping-pong effect on farmers who are already facing so much adversity. Regardless of whether that legislation gets any traction, Dorothy Kellogg, regulatory director, environmental policy at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, says it is unlikely the Biden administration will be able to make any changes for at least two to four years, due to the process. In the meantime she says the “We just want NWPR will remain in effect, or if it .” is rescinded, –Robert Nigh would revert to the pre-2015 rule during the rule change process. “There is really no path for the Obama-era 2015 Clean Water Rule to become operative,” Kellogg said, noting it was vacated by two federal district courts on substantive and procedural grounds. Meanwhile, Nigh says he and his brother will continue to do what they can to protect the land and water they farm, something they learned from their father so many decades ago. “My brother and I are just trying to live up to our father’s legacy,” he said. “We just want common sense.”—Julie Lund

common sense

Robert Nigh, above, and his brother have been operating LIRR Family Farms in Vernon County for 55 years, ever since their father died and left the farm to his sons. Nigh said the buildings behind him would likely have to be removed under the terms of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule set by the Obama administration and now being revisited by the Biden administration. At right is the offending “waterway” on the farm’s property, which under the Obama administration’s definition of waters of the United States would fall under federal regulation. Photos courtesy of Dave Maxwell, Vernon Electric Cooperative

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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WILL POWER

PIERCE PEPIN INTERN WINS $10,000 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

he National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) announced Will Tuchtenhagen, River Falls, has been selected as the winner of the top scholarship awarded by the Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Foundation, earning the River Falls native $10,000. “Will is a great representative for the youth and future leaders from Wisconsin,” said Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services President and CEO Nate Boettcher, who said the announcement felt like “a proud dad moment.” Tuchtenhagen, 20, is on his second summer working as an intern at Pierce Pepin, where Boettcher says he takes full advantage of the opportunity to learn, engage, and contribute. “Last year, Will helped with doing research for broadband. He also helped craft several presentations on policy from research he conducted. We had him involved in our key accounts program and even got him to record a podcast with another intern. In the last couple of months, he’s been helping with easements, helping to launch our broadband, and has been reviewing economic development opportunities. He’s helped work on our EV strategy and promotion as well. He also became the ofﬁce ﬂy swatter. Will steps up and helps out wherever he can,” Boettcher said, adding that Will is “modest to the core.” Will’s hands-on experience in furthering broadband expansion in rural Wisconsin started when he was active in youth programs with the statewide association. He served as a state representative with the 2017–2018 Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) Youth Board. He went on to be the NRECA Wisconsin State Representative in 2019, where he served as a junior chaperone in Washington, D.C. He participated on the youth education panel at the 2019 NRECA Annual Meeting, where he spoke about the importance of rural broadband. Tuchtenhagen said he was “shocked” to learn he won the top prize, and in true modest fashion, thanked his support system for making it happen. “I would not be where I am today without all the wonderful people in my life,” he said. “I have to thank my parents for giving me a strong support system and always encouraging me to do my best and try new things. I would also like to especially thank Beth Knudson from NRECA, Tina Walden from WECA, as well as Charity Lubich and Nate Boettcher from Pierce Pepin for not just taking a chance on me, but also continuing to believe in me

Left and on the cover: Will Tuchtenhagen represented Wisconsin electric cooperative youth at the 2019 NRECA annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. He was sponsored by Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services. Tuchtenhagen (seated at right and on screen) addressed the 2019 annual meeting attendees. He recommended stronger rural Internet connectivity to slow the migration of young graduates from rural communities to urban areas. Tuchtenhagen appeared on the cover of Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News in September 2018 as a leader at WECA’s Youth Leadership Conference (YLC). Tuchtenhagen reacts to NRECA’s Beth Knudson (left) informing him that he’s just won a Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Foundation for $10,000.

and be my cheerleaders in the background. And I have to thank my friend Ian Danielson at Luther College for doing all the ﬁlming for my application video and letting me borrow his computer for an entire day, so I could put it together. A huge thank you to everyone else who has supported me up to this point. There are too many names to list, but you know who you are.” The Glenn English National Cooperative Leadership Foundation encourages educational advancement by awarding higher education scholarships to eligible students. The organization has awarded almost $100,000 in scholarships to NRECA’s Youth Tour alumni since the program’s inception in 2014. In addition to Tuchtenhagen’s $10,000 scholarship, NRECA announced three winners of the $2,000 “Engineers of the Future” scholarship and four winners of the $1,000 “Youth Tour Alumni” scholarship. Tuchtenhagen is the only winner from Wisconsin. Boettcher says the win is a great example of the value of youth programs and internships for both the student and the cooperative. “My hope is that other kids from our state recognize the opportunity to participate in YLC and to learn about our electric cooperatives,” he said. “There is a wonderful opportunity for our youth to help lead our cooperatives in the future. Young men and women like Will coming out of college are smart, determined, innovative, and have a desire to make a difference. My hope is that we can keep these talented leaders like Will in our industry.” Tuchtenhagen attends Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, working on a double major in political science and international studies and a minor in business. He expects to graduate in 2023 and says this scholarship will open up more opportunities for him in college and beyond, potentially in the cooperative world, where Boettcher says he would be an asset: “He is such a great young man and very deserving—we are very excited and proud of him.”—Julie Lund

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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LOAFING AROUND

Foolproof Whole Wheat Artisan Bread Recipe and photo courtesy of The Home Baking Association and Panhandle Milling. Slow-raised bread has a depth of flavor that cannot be duplicated in a quick bread. This recipe is no-knead, simple, wholesome, and just about anyone can make it! 4 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup milk or almond milk 3/4 cup water 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp active dry yeast Combine all ingredients in a large 1-gallon bowl and mix by hand until combined, approx. 2 minutes. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and allow to sit at room temperature overnight, approx. 8 hours. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured countertop. Form gently into a ball. Place the loaf in a greased 1-gallon 9-inch covered cast iron Dutch oven and let rise 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Remove lid. Sprinkle lightly with flour and score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. When oven is hot, place pan with lid in the oven. After 15 minutes, remove the lid. Reduce heat to 350 degrees for 30–35 minutes, until the loaf’s internal temperature is over 180 degrees. Cool on cooling rack. Makes 1 loaf.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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Pumpkin Bread

Recipe and photo courtesy of The American Egg Board at www.incredibleegg.org. This easy pumpkin bread is a crowd-pleaser during the fall or over the holidays. Bake in mini loaf pans for great gifts! 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted 1/3 cup raisins OR currants 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature 1 cup sugar 3 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup orange juice 1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat bottom and sides of a 9-x5-x3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Mix flour, baking soda, spice, salt, and baking powder in medium bowl. In a separate bowl, combine pecans, raisins, and 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture; toss. Beat butter and sugar in a mixer bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, pumpkin, orange juice, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; beat until blended. Stir in pecans and raisins. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees until bread begins to pull away from sides of pan and wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 60–70 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Loosen bread from sides of pan with thin knife. Gently shake bread out of pan onto rack.

Speedy Pesto-Garlic Skillet Bread

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Home Baking Association and the National Festival of Breads. PESTO-GARLIC BUTTER TOPPING:

2 Tbsp unsalted butter 2 tsp basil pesto 3/4 tsp garlic powder

Melt butter; stir in pesto and garlic powder. Set aside.

BREAD:

3/4 cup warm water (110–115 degrees) 1-1/2 tsp granulated sugar 1 (1/4 oz) pkg quick-rise yeast 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp salt 1 tsp Italian seasoning

2-1/2 tsp finely minced fresh garlic 1-1/4 cups white whole wheat flour 1/4 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese 3/4–1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, divided

In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook, stir together water, sugar, and yeast. Wait 5–10 minutes for it to foam (proof). Stir in oil, salt, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Mix in white whole wheat flour and Parmesan cheese. Gradually add enough all-purpose flour until dough starts to pull away from sides of bowl. Knead 5 minutes. Press dough into a greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet or 9-inch round baking pan. Cover; let rise 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 20–23 minutes until golden brown. Remove bread from oven and immediately brush with pesto garlic butter topping. Cut in wedges and serve warm with remaining pesto-garlic butter topping.

Nacho Jalapeño Cheese Bread Recipe and photo courtesy of The Home Baking Association and Panhandle Milling. www.homebaking.org / www.panhandlemilling.com. The cheese and peppers are rolled into the dough jelly-roll-style and then the loaf is topped with additional cheese and peppers after it rises. The finished loaf has a crunchy cheese topping and a gooey cheese ripple in the loaf. It’s delicious! 6 cups bread flour 2-1/2 cups water, lukewarm 2 tsp salt 2 Tbsp onion powder

2-1/4 tsp active dry yeast (one pouch) 4 cups low-fat sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup mild pickled jalapenos, sliced Vegetable oil

In a large 6-quart bowl, combine the flour, water, salt, onion powder, and yeast. Knead 5–7 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Form into a ball and cover the dough in the mixing bowl. Let the dough rise two hours at room temperature until doubled in size. Punch down dough. Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least two hours or for up to 5 days. When you are ready to make bread, take the dough out of the fridge. Divide dough in half. To form one loaf, first roll the dough out into a 12-x4-inch rectangle. Add filling by spreading 1 cup of cheddar cheese out in the middle along with 1/4 cup of the jalapeños scattered across the cheese evenly. Roll up the dough into a loaf, jelly-roll style, and pinch tightly closed. Place the loaf in a greased loaf pan with the sealed side of the loaf facing down. Mist the loaf lightly with oil. Repeat the loaf-making process with the second half of the dough. Allow the loaves to rise about 1 hour, until doubled in size. Top each loaf with the remaining cheese and jalapeños. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake 35–40 minutes until the internal temperature is over 195 degrees. Makes 2 loaves. August 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/.

Colorado Peach Pie

Lavaughn Buehl, Janesville CRUST

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

Cut butter (or mix by hands) into ﬂour; add salt and mix well. Press into a 9-inch pie plate. FILLING

4 cups fresh sliced peaches 1 cup sugar, divided into 1/4 cup and 3/4 cup 1/4 cup ﬂour 1 egg 1 cup sour cream 1 tsp vanilla

Put peaches in bowl and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar. Let stand. Combine 3/4 cup sugar, ﬂour, egg, and vanilla. Fold in sour cream; stir in peaches. Pour mixture into crust and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. TOPPING

1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter 2/3 cup ﬂour 1 tsp cinnamon

Combine sugar, butter, ﬂour, and cinnamon until crumbly. Sprinkle over top of pie. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 more minutes.

REQUESTS FROM

OUR READERS

An online reader doesn’t want to turn on the oven, and is asking for readers’ favorite no-bake dessert recipes. 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!

Carrot Cupcakes Norma Suttan, Iola

Here is a very good cupcake recipe. It was in a very old either McNess or Watkins recipe book. I have used it for over 60 years. Each time I make them I get so many compliments!

FROSTING

4 oz cream cheese, softened 4 Tbsp soft butter 1 tsp vanilla 2 Tbsp milk 3 cups powdered sugar

Beat all ingredients together in a bowl until well blended; set aside. CARROT CUPCAKES

1-1/2 cups ﬂour 1-1/2 cups sugar 1-1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 4 eggs 2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 3/4 cup vegetable oil 2 cups carrots, ﬁnely shredded 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fill prepared mufﬁn tins half full. Bake at 375 degrees for 20–25 minutes. Frost with prepared frosting when mufﬁns have cooled.

Peach Cobbler

Diane Rinnman, Hayward FILLING

6–8 large ripe peaches, peeled and sliced 2-1/2 Tbsp cornstarch 3/4 to 1 cup sugar Combine peaches, cornstarch, and sugar. Place in greased 9-x13-inch baking dish. CRUST

1 cup ﬂour 2 large egg yolks 1/4 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 tsp baking powder 2 large egg whites, stifﬂy beaten

Combine ﬂour, egg yolks, butter, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl. Gently fold in egg whites. Spread over peaches. Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes or until fruit is bubbling around edges and top is golden. Makes 12 servings.

Campfire Venison and Vegetable Stew George Stone, Colfax

1-1/2 lbs venison round, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 3 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 large onion, diced 1–2 celery stalks, sliced 1 pkg Knorr oxtail soup mix (or substitute onion or vegetable soup mix) 1 cup dry red wine Water Spice mix (below) 3–4 potatoes, cubed 2–3 carrots, sliced 2 cans sliced mushrooms, drained, reserve liquid SPICE MIX

1 tsp parsley ﬂakes 1 tsp basil leaves 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt 1 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp thyme 1/4 tsp white pepper 1/4 tsp red pepper 1/4 tsp sage

Heat oil in heavy kettle or pot over high heat. Add venison and cook, stirring constantly until meat is no longer pink (only cook about 1 minute at most). Remove from heat and set meat aside. Reduce heat, add onion and celery; cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add soup mix; then gradually stir in wine. Add enough water to reserved mushroom liquid to make 1 cup and stir into kettle. Add spice mix, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until vegetables are tender—about 1 hour. Add venison and heat until meat is warmed through. Serve. Optional—add sweet peppers or any other fresh or canned vegetables along with the onion and celery. If using canned veggies, use drained liquid in place of water called for in recipe for added ﬂavor.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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BLOOMS OF HOPE

and Happiness THESE SUNFLOWER FIELDS HAVE SPECIAL MEANING

ew things brighten up life like a sunflower in full bloom. This tall, sturdy plant with the cheerful golden flower that keeps its face toward the sun just seems to exude happiness and optimism. It’s fitting, then, that the National Garden Bureau designated 2021 as the Year of the Sunflower. With its vibrant colors and constant focus on the sun, the sunflower is an ideal

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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symbol for a year in which life is slowly returning to normal after a long, dark pandemic. This beautiful flower is a great reminder that brighter days do indeed come; we just need to keep looking for the sunshine. You can experience the splendor of sunflowers by strolling through a sunflower field this summer. A couple of farms located on electric co-op lines have acres of golden blooms that reflect the brightness of the people in whose memory they’re planted. Both farms welcome the public to stop and walk through the sunflowers. Don’t forget your camera…

Babbette’s Seeds of Hope Near the Town of Rock Falls, on Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s lines, is Babbette’s Seeds of Hope (SOH), comprising 600 acres of sunflowers planted over two fields in the memory of Babbette, a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend who lost her nine-year battle with multiple myeloma in 2014. Since then, Babbette’s family has planted sunflowers in her memory with the mission of raising money for organizations that engage in cancer research and that support patients going through treatments for cancer and other illnesses. Each summer when the sunflowers are in full bloom— usually by about mid-August—the family has welcomed the public at any time during daylight hours to wander the paths through the bright golden flowers. Walking through the sunflowers is free, but donations

WISCONSIN FAVORITES

to the Seeds of Hope Fund are appreciated. This year, donating has been made considerably easier with SOH’s new partnership with the Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF). Through this non-proﬁt organization, an endowment has been created into which people can donate to the SOH fund directly via a link on the ECCF website, https://eccfwi. org/fund/babbettes-seeds-of-hope-fund/. Visitors can also ﬁnd a link to the fund on the Seeds of Hope Facebook page.

Babbette (front row, left) next to granddaughter Anna Schoen, with daughters Erin Renz, Jennifer Harschlip-White, and Jill Schoen (back row, left to right). Photo here and on opposite page courtesy of Babbette’s Seeds of Hope

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You can also bask in the warmth of sunflowers this summer at Rotary Gardens in Janesville, where Rock Energy Cooperative is headquartered. To mark the Year of the Sunflower, Rotary Gardens planted 13 different kinds of sunflowers, from mammoth to dwarf. The beds contain sunflowers in different shades of color as well as varieties from around the world, ranging from the large cream Italian White sunflowers to the rich red and yellow of the Ring of Fires. Visit rotarybotanicalgardens.org to learn more, or call 608-752-3885.

Photo courtesy of Babbette’s Seeds of Hope

“This helps preserve the integrity of the donations,” said Jennifer HarschlipWhite, one of Babbette’s daughters. “People can be assured of where their money is going, they will get a receipt, and there’s a website they can turn to.” Another bonus of this partnership is that it opens up avenues for other types of cancer research/support projects. People can host their own fund-raising projects and donate the money to the Seeds of Hope Fund. And of course, by turning over the time-consuming task of administering the fund to an established, trusted entity, Harschlip-White and other family members can focus on what they do so well—grow beautiful sunflowers in Babbette’s memory. The sunflower field is located at S5875 Fuller Road, Eau Claire, in the town of Rock Falls. The Chippewa River State Bike Trail borders the field, and nearby Rock Falls offers several quaint stops including a vintage ice cream shop.

Three Little Birds Another sunflower field in rural Wisconsin that is planted in memory of a beloved family member is Three Little Birds Farm in Westby, on Vernon Electric Cooperative’s lines. Named for the three Fauske sisters—Brittany, Katelyn, and Haley—Three Little Birds Farm is operated by Matt Fauske and daughter Katelyn. The youngest Fauske daughter, Haley, tragically died in a car accident in 2015. Hayley loved sunflowers and even had a tattoo of a sunflower on her shoulder. She also had a sunny spirit, just like the bright flowers she favored: Katelyn told myfarmlife.com that her sister “always told people to turn toward the sun.” So to honor Hayley’s memory, the family turned to sunflowers. In 2016 the Fauskes planted six rows of sunflowers surrounding an 8-acre field by their house. The following year they filled in the entire field with sunflowers, complete with a maze featuring Hayley’s signature. The family welcomed visitors to stop and wander through the sunflower maze. Word spread, and the maze attracted more and more attention; it was even featured on Good Morning America. The Fauskes never charged people to walk through the sunflowers, but generous visitors contributed anyway, so the family eventually set out a donation box. Money goes to help with the purchase of sunflower seeds and also to pay for local good deeds done in Hayley’s name. The Fauskes have continued to plant sunflowers each summer, and to invite people to stop and stroll through the flowers during daylight hours. Peak bloom time varies with the weather year to year; check in to the farm’s Facebook page for updates. Three Little Birds Farm is located at E8667 Reo Ave., Westby. Turn a visit there into a day trip by exploring Westby, with its Scandinavian heritage reflected throughout the city, and the natural beauty of the surrounding Driftless Region. Whichever sunflower field you visit, you’re sure to discover some happiness among the big, bright blooms. It’s not difficult to find—just keep following the sun.—Mary Erickson 26

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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CLASSIFIEDS MISCELLANEOUS

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. 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. EBIKES: Sales, service, test rides, repair. ReCycle Bike Shop / Mobile, Menomonie, WI 54751, nationwide shipping. Phone or message Bicycle Larry 715-702-1452. WANTED: Old banjos, any shape or condition. 715-370-3326. 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.

DR LEAF LAWN VACUUM tow behind $1,100; Hydraulic run wood splitter $400; Antique wooden farm wagon 100 plus years $4,900. Call 715-896-5268. Zip code 54754. FOR SALE: Hoop building by Clear Span. 20 x 36 ft. $500. Dakota, MN. 507-643-6696.

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.” ALL NATURAL SOIL ADDITIVE Improves water retention, Rich in mineral and nutrient release, increase soil aeration, odor free 100% worm castings. Visit www.CaptainJacksWorm Castings.com for locations near you. Retail/ Wholesale contact us at CaptainJacksWorm Castings@outlook.com or 608-632-1747.

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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. CHIPPEWA COUNTY 25 ACRES w/frontage on Otter Lake. On a dead end black top road near boat launch. New windows, vinyl sided cabin w/ electricity & wood stove. Sleeps 15, pole barn, outhouse, includes furnishings and pontoon. Multiple building sites and trails. $800,000. Call Pete at 715-427-3004. Peter Schmidt, W2036 Wood Lake Ave, Rib Lake, WI 54451. 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

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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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August 2021

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WISCONSIN EVENTS 1 ‘Bloomin’ Greenhouse Tour—Clark County Area. All-day event. Self-guided tour directs visitors to Clark County’s many exceptional and gorgeous greenhouses and garden centers. 715-255-9100. 1 Flea & Craft Market—Coloma. Community Park, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Shop for crafts, antiques, collectibles, rummage, flea market items, produce, baked goods, and more. Food and beverage available after 11 a.m. Bathrooms and parking at the park. Follow Covid guidelines. 1 Blue Ribbon Concert on the Green—Tigerton. School House, N2904 Split Rock Road. 4–6 p.m. Concert at 6 p.m., featuring “The Drovers.” School House open from 4–6 p.m. Bring your own seating. $10 donation. Food available. In case of rain, it will be moved to a barn next door. 715-535-2853. 5 Music in the Park—Shullsburg. Badger Park, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Concert series offers music from a variety of area artists. Food and beverage will be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Held weather-permitting only. Prize drawings. 7 Tonnage Tournament—Cassville. Riverside Park Lion’s Shelter, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Questions? Call Steve at 608-725-5394. 7 Quilt and Artisan Show—Rio. High school, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Quilts and work by a wide variety of artisans on display, ranging from vintage family heirlooms to modern pieces of art. Quilt raffle. Silent auction. Admission $5. Masks required for vendors and visitors. 920-992-3206. 7 Grill-Out Event—Viroqua. Nelson Agri-Center, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Hot dogs and bratwurst. Fundraiser for the Vernon County Historical Society. 7 Beatles Tribute Dinner/Show—Marshfield. Belvedere Supper Club, 5–9:30 p.m. Dinner 5–7p.m., show at 7 p.m. Tickets $50 single or $80 for two. Call 715-387-4161 for reservations. 11 Drive-Through Roast Beef Dinner—Alma Center. Immaculate Conception Parish, 4–6 p.m. Adults $12; children 6–12 $6. 12, 13 The Swampers “From the Heart”—Chippewa Falls. Heyde Center for the Arts, 7:30–9:30 p.m. Original songs/stories performed live with projected visuals. 715-726-9000.

August 2021

14 Real Freedom Races—Necedah. Lions Park, 7 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Run/walk on a fun, flat, road course to raise awareness regarding human trafficking. Includes a 5k run/walk, 10k run, and half marathon; virtual options available for all races. Give-a-ways and more. 14 Pig & Corn Roast—Butternut. Midway Bar, 3–7p.m. On the menu will be pork with all the fixings and sweet corn; raffle. 715-769-3680.

14, 15 Church Picnic—Polonia. Sacred Heart Church, (7375 Church St), Custer, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mass at 10 a.m., followed by a chicken and beef meatball dinner 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. CW Model A Club will be giving “A Ride Back in Time” themed rides from 12–3 p.m. Music starts at noon. Other activities include food, ice cream parlor, cherry tree, country store, bingo, basket and mini raffles, children’s games. Cash raffle. 715-592-4221. 17–22 El Paso Days—Ellsworth. El Paso Bar & Grill, all-day events. Food, live music, horse and pony pulls, horseshoe and bean bag tournaments, car show, ATV and horseback trail rides, pedal tractor pull, petting zoo, and more. Grand parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. 18 Community Hobo Supper—Shennington. St. Peter’s (located on Hwy 21 between Tomah and Necedah; look for two white churches), 4–7 p.m. A delicious meal of variety of vegetables and meats steamed together. Adults $10, children 6–12 $5, 5 & under free. Open to the public. Questions, contact Carlene at 608-4273864. 19–21 City-Wide Garage Sales—Camp Douglas. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Maps available throughout the area. Food being served at local churches. 20 Jolly Mixers Dance Club—Clintonville. Memories, 7–11 p.m. Dances are held on the third Friday of each month. Polka and old time music. Singles welcome. 920-882-7805. 21 Family Fun Fest & Car Show—Dexterville. Dexter Park, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Amazing car/ truck/motorcycle/tractor show! Featuring DJ Franco, The Dyno Shoot Out (with trophies), food, vendor/craft fair, and fun for the kids. Raffle and silent auction.

21 Carve In at The Bekkum—Westby. Bekkum Memorial Library, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Carve, learn, buy, sell—enjoy the art, craft, and hobby of woodcarving. Free admission, donations accepted. 608-634-4419. 22 Family Fun Fest Open House—Babcock. Jeremiah’s Crossing, 1–5 p.m. Student ride-a-thon, games for the kids, food, raffles, and a silent auction. 26–29 Rummage Sale—Milton. St. Mary Parish, 5–7 p.m. Indoor rummage sale. Early sales runs Thurs. from 5–7 p.m. $5 admission. Sale continues Fri. and Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun.; 8–11 a.m. No entrance fee Fri.–Sun. 27 Pork Chop Dinner—Viroqua. Sherry-Butt House Museum lawn, 4–7 p.m. Hosted by the Vernon County Historical Society Carry-outs available. 28–29 Church Event in Bevent—Hatley. St. Ladislaus Church, 4–6 p.m. Sat.: outside polka mass 4 p.m., grounds open after mass until 12 a.m. Sun.: outside polka mass 10:10 a.m., grounds open after mass until 6 p.m. Hamburger stand, snack shack, country craft store, Kountry Kafe (selling homemade noodles), bingo Sun. 1 p.m., cherry tree, kids games, beer bar, pull tabs, cash and ATV raffles, mini and super mini raffle, Sat. polka and country bands, Sun. polka bands. For more info, call 715-446-3060. There will be NO chicken dinner this year.

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

Upload your September events by August 11. 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

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Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

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Kids and Critters August 2021 1. Avril is helping Ruby (new puppy) feel comfortable at Grandma’s house. It was Ruby’s first day with her new family. Photo submitted by Marilyn Tiggelaar, a member of Riverland Energy.

2. Theodore reacts after touching a cow’s nose. Photo submitted by Papa Russell Wilkinson, a member of Oakdale Electric. 3. Breleigh and her “fri(hen)” have a chicken chat. Photo submitted by Peter Deminsky, a member of Adams-Columbia Electric. 4. Brennan fell in love with his great-grandma’s kitten. Photo submitted by Grandma Donna Long, a member of Taylor 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.

WELCOME BACK TO OUR HIDDEN OBJECT GAME,

“SYMBOL SEARCH”

Our kitchen kit winner this month is Eau Claire Energy Cooperative member Susan Schwiebert. Her husband, Jim, is the Symbol Search pro in their house. But not last month. “Normally, I never find the symbol. I mean never. I just make my husband, Jim, show me where it is. Today, I opened the magazine to page 14, and saw a blueberry right on the back of the truck in the left photo at the bottom. I don’t think my husband believes me yet. I hope it takes him a long time to find it. Haha!” This month, we challenge Susan, Jim, and the rest of our readers to find this sunflower, inspired by the sunflowers on page 24. Remember that the symbol can be anywhere and any size (HINT: The sunflower is NOT on page 3, or pages 24, 25 or 26).One randomly selected winner will receive a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. One entry per household, please. Send entries by August 16.

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

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