Louisiana SE P TE M B E R /O C TO B E R 2026
Country
Safety Starts With Every Choice Page 7 Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative employees and trustees are joined by Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives representatives as they accept the Traveling Statewide Safety Award at the ALEC annual meeting. Top row, from left, are ALEC CEO Aarron Graham, Martin Zaunbrecher, John Berken, Anya Killmer, Joe Tupper, Eric Gautreaux and ALEC’s Danny Delatte. Bottom row, from left, are Byron Hardee, Michael Heinen and Ben Hetzel.
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In This Issue 4
2026 Annual Meeting Awards
8
Louisiana Planner
10
The Mother Road Turns 100
4
20 Got a Story Idea? We Want to Hear It.
Chicago
22 Dove Hunting Primer
Joliet Wilmington Pontiac Bloomington Springfield
Your Local Co-op Pages 6-7, 9, 16, 18-19
Lebanon
Madison St. Louis Stanton Eureka Cuba Fanning St. Robert
Ash Grove Marshfield Galena Baxter Springs Joplin Springfield
Barstow Newberry Springs Oro Grande Pasadena Santa Monica
Petrified Gallup Santa Fe Forest Clinton Seligman Flagstaff & Painted Adrian Amarillo McLean Desert Sayre Hackberry Williams Groom Shamrock Grants Tucumcari Vega Oatman Holbrook Moriarty Winslow Santa Rosa Albuquerque Joseph Needles City
Kingman
San Bernardino Los Angeles
Catoosa Bristow Tulsa Arcadia Stroud Oklahoma City
El Reno
10 Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Inc. Staff
ALEC Members
CEO/DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND LOSS CONTROL Aarron Graham
BEAUREGARD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. Mike Viator Tommy Cryar
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Beth Fraser SAFETY COORDINATOR Danny Delatte
Board of Directors President Michael Heinen Vice President Roger Dale DeHart Secretary/Treasurer Richard Sitman
CLAIBORNE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. Mike Marcotte Lane Davidson DEMCO Daniel Berthelot
Richard “Dickie” Sitman
JEFF DAVIS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. Michael Heinen Byron Hardee SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOP ASSOCIATION Trevor Benoit Roger Dale DeHart WASHINGTONST. TAMMANY ELECTRIC COOP INC. Joe Jarrell Dennis Glass
Associate Member PANOLAHARRISON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC.
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Edwardsville
STATEWIDE NEWS
2026 Annual Meeting Awards KEVIN REEVES COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AWARDS The Louisiana Member Services Association and the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives recently recognized cooperative employees and their families for volunteer service in their communities. LMSA members permanently renamed the Cooperative Spirit Awards in 2024 to honor Kevin Reeves, a longtime Beauregard Electric Cooperative Inc. employee who died unexpectedly in June 2023. Kevin spent 33 years at BECi and was known throughout Louisiana’s electric cooperative community for his service to others. His commitment to his family, church, community and cooperative reflected the values the awards were created to recognize. Cooperative Spirit Award Individual Nominees This year’s nominees for the Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Award were Jeff Lea, of DEMCO, and Tray West, of BECi. Jeff, DEMCO’s maintenance and facilities crew leader, celebrated 18 years with the cooperative in August. Outside of work, he volunteers with Rescue, Rehome, Repeat, a Livingston Parish organization that gives animals in need a second chance. Jeff helps walk dogs, clean kennels and comfort nervous animals. Through the organization, he also met Smokey, an energetic rescue dog he and his wife adopted. His volunteer work has inspired fellow employees to support animal shelters and adopt rescue animals. Tray has served as president of the Louisiana Riding Club since 2023. Under his leadership, the traditional rodeo club became a faith-based, community-focused organization centered on youth development, family involvement and Christian fellowship through Western sports. The club offers riding and speed events for participants of all ages and skill levels, including people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Through rodeo and Western tradition, the organization mentors young people, encourages positive 4
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Awards recipients are honored. ABOVE LEFT: DEMCO’s David Latona, left, and Louisiana Member Services Association President EmmaLee Tingle, right, present the individual award to Beauregard Electric Cooperative Inc.’s Tray West. ABOVE RIGHT: Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative CEO receives the cooperative award from David and EmmaLee for the co-op’s birthday boxes project.
lifestyles, and builds community around faith and family. Tray was named the 2026 recipient of the Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Award. WSTE Employees Build Birthday Boxes Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative employees joined cooperative members, Del Sol Consulting volunteers, Court Appointed Special Advocates representatives and staff from U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s office to assemble Brooke It Forward Birthday Boxes for children in need. Each box included supplies for an instant birthday celebration, including plates, napkins, cake mix, icing, an ice cream scoop and candles. The Brooke It Forward Foundation distributes the boxes to underserved children ages 13 and older through CASA, the Louisiana Department of Children and
Family Services, and Hope House. WSTE employees donated $1,500 out of their own pockets to support the project. Del Sol Consulting matched their contributions, providing a total $3,000 to buy supplies for 50 birthday boxes. The project reflected the cooperative principle of neighbors working together to serve their communities. Beyond party supplies, the boxes provide children with an opportunity to feel recognized and celebrated while demonstrating WSTE employees’ commitment to service and community involvement.
SAFETY AWARDS
Louisiana electric cooperatives and their employees were recognized for safety achievements during the 2026 ALEC Awards and Safety Banquet in July.
ABOVE LEFT: Claiborne Electric Cooperative CEO Michael Marcotte, center, accepts a certificate recognizing the completion of Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program inspections from Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives CEO Aarron Graham, left, and ALEC Safety Coordinator Danny Delatte. ABOVE RIGHT: ALEC’s Aarron Graham, Conley Bourgeois Wilson, Beth Fraser and Danny Delatte also completed the RESAP inspections.
ciation
Safety and training are among ALEC’s key services to member cooperatives. Because electric cooperative employees often work in hazardous environments, ALEC provides programs designed to help employees perform their jobs safely. RESAP Recognition ALEC member cooperatives may participate in the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, which includes rigorous safety inspections every three years. Certified loss-control professionals review facilities, equipment and employee procedures as part of the inspection process. This year, Claiborne Electric Cooperative and ALEC completed their RESAP inspections and received flags to display at their headquarters in recognition of the achievement.
WSTE CEO Dane Hocott, left, is pictured with Good Samaritan Award recipient Matt Smith.
Good Samaritan Award The Good Samaritan Award recognizes a Louisiana electric cooperative employee who helps someone in need, saves a life or demonstrates exceptional kindness during an emergency. On July 29, 2025, WSTE serviceman Matt Smith responded to a trouble call on Highway 41, a heavily traveled road with a 55-mph speed limit and frequent truck traffic. As Matt rounded a curve, he saw a young girl, estimated to be between 2 and 4 years old, standing barefoot and alone in the middle of the highway. An 18-wheeler was approaching from the opposite direction. Matt immediately positioned his bucket truck across the roadway, activated its
warning lights and stopped approaching traffic. He and another bystander then ran toward the child. Matt reached the girl, helped calm her and contacted law enforcement. A short time later, a parent arrived and took the child home. Matt has worked as a WSTE serviceman for 15 years. His quick response helped protect the child from a potentially lifethreatening situation and earned him the Good Samaritan Award. Loss-Time Safety Milestones ALEC also recognized member cooperatives that reached significant milestones without a loss-time accident. South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association surpassed 4.88 million work hours without a loss-time accident, a record dating to December 1996. BECi recorded more than 981,000 work hours without a loss-time accident since November 2022, while Claiborne Electric surpassed 974,000 hours since June 2024. WSTE recorded more than 527,000 work hours without a loss-time accident since April 2024. Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative surpassed 122,000 hours since April 2025, and DEMCO recorded more than 729,000 hours without a losstime accident. Statewide Safety Award The Traveling Statewide Safety Award traditionally concludes the banquet. The award is determined using a formula that considers employee incidents, the severity of those incidents, hours worked and vehicle accidents. JDEC received the 2026 Traveling Statewide Safety Award. ALEC commends its member cooperatives and employees for their achievements and continued commitment to workplace safety. FROM TOP: JDEC employees and trustees are joined by ALEC representatives as they accept the Traveling Statewide Safety Award. BECi receives a trophy for their many years of safety achievements. Safety awards for no loss-time milestones are presented to WSTE and SLECA. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6
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906 N. Lake Arthur Ave. P.O. Box 1229 Jennings, LA 70546 337-824-4330 • 337-824-8936 (fax) Branch office: 815 Highway 27, Bell City, LA 70630 337-598-5700 www.jdec.org STAFF Michael J. Heinen | CEO Anya Killmer | Executive Assistant/ Benefits/HR Eric Gautreaux | Chief Operating Officer Tara Guinn | Chief Financial Officer Cade Delcambre | Substations and Metering Skyler Hebert | Office Manager Ben Hetzel | Director of Safety/ Member Services Brennon LaBouve | Engineering Manager Heath Lemieux | Superintendent Kain Miller | Superintendent, Jennings Jonathan Nunez | Superintendent, Hackett Wendell Thibodeaux | Purchasing Manager/ Warehouse BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joseph L. Tupper | President Thomas Precht III | Vice President John Berken | Secretary/Treasurer James Doxey Byron Hardee Wilson Dean Landry Reggie Murphy Kevin Sonnier Martin Zaunbrecher
Volume 43, Issue 5 Louisiana Country (USPS 473-180) is published bimonthly by the Association of Louisiana Electric Co-ops Inc., 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, in partnership with Pioneer Utility Resources. Annual subscriptions: Members $2.79. Nonmembers $5. Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, and additional mailing offices.
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S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
By the Community, for the Community October is National Co-op Month When you think of October, pumpkins, Halloween and beautiful fall foliage naturally come to mind. But October is notable for another reason—it’s National Co-op Month. This is the time of year when cooperatives across the country, including Jeff Davis Electric Co-op, celebrate who we are and, more importantly, the members we serve. Cooperatives are different than other types of businesses. When the market declines to offer a product or service, or does so at a very high price, co-ops intervene to fill the need. Just as JDEC was built by members who came together to bring electricity to our community, cooperatives are vehicles for the common good. Your electric co-op exists to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to you, the members of the co-op. Equally important is our mission to enrich the lives of the members we serve. As a co-op, we are well-suited to meet the needs of the community because we are locally governed. JDEC’s leadership team and employees live right here in the community. Our board directors, who help set long-term priorities for the co-op, live locally on co-op lines. These board members have been elected to the position by neighbors like you. We know our members—that’s you— have a valuable perspective. That’s why we continually seek your input. Whether through community events, our social media channels or the annual meeting, we want to hear from you.
Our close connection to the community ensures we Michael Heinen get a firsthand perspective of local priorities, helping us make more informed decisions on longterm investments, such as equipment and technology upgrades, to ensure a more resilient system. Another feature that sets our co-op apart from a traditional utility is one of our core principles, Concern for Community. We partner with schools in our service territory for safety demonstrations, career fairs and other worthy programs. We participate in the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, where we take our community’s brightest young people to Washington, D.C., for a weeklong immersion to experience democracy in action. Ultimately, the larger community benefits from these programs because of you and your neighbors. You empower the co-op through your membership and through your participation in and support of these programs. We hope you think of Jeff Davis Electric Co-op as more than your energy provider, but also a local business that supports this community and powers economic development and prosperity for the people. We will continue to learn from our members about their priorities so we can better serve you—because your electric co-op was built by the community, for the community.
JEFF DAVIS ELECTRIC
Tips for a Safe Harvest By Abby Berry Agriculture is the backbone of our country, and our livelihood greatly depends on crops provided by American farmers. In addition to being one of the most labor-intensive professions, farming is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. Exhaustive labor is tough, but rushing the job to save time can be extremely dangerous—even deadly—when farming near electrical equipment. Every year, tractors and other farming equipment collide with utility poles and power lines, causing injuries and power outages. These dangerous accidents can be avoided by looking up and around at your surroundings when operating large farm machinery. If you’re preparing for harvest season, please keep the following safety tips in mind: • Maintain a 10-foot clearance around all utility equipment in all directions. • Use a spotter and deployed flags to maintain safe distances
from power lines and other electrical equipment when working in the field. • If your equipment makes contact with energized or downed power lines, call 911 immediately and remain inside the vehicle until the power line is de-energized. In case of smoke or fire, exit the cab by making a solid jump out of the cab without touching it, and hop away to safety. • Consider equipment and cargo extensions of your vehicle. Lumber, hay, tree limbs, irrigation pipes and even bulk materials can conduct electricity, so keep them away from contact with electrical equipment. Sept. 21-25 is National Farm Safety and Health Week, but practicing safety on the farm year-round yields positive results. We hope you never find yourself in a situation where farming equipment contacts power lines or poles, but if you do, we hope you’ll remember these safety tips.
Safety Starts With Every Choice Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative received the Traveling Statewide Safety Award during the 2026 Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting. The award recognizes JDEC for achieving the best safety record among Louisiana cooperatives for the 2025 calendar year. Pictured top row, from left, are ALEC CEO Aarron Graham, Martin Zaunbrecher, John Berken, Anya Killmer, Joe Tupper, Eric Gautreaux and ALEC’s Danny Delatte. Bottom row, from left, are Byron Hardee, Michael Heinen and Ben Hetzel.
The award is determined by a cooperative’s incident and severity rates, which consider a number of safety measures including hours worked, non-loss-time accidents, loss or restricted-time accidents, loss and restricted workdays, miles driven, vehicle accidents and occupational illnesses. For JDEC, the trophy reflects the small decisions employees make every day to work safely, look out for one another and do the right thing. The goal is always for every employee to go home the same way they arrived. Achieving it requires a strong safety culture and a cooperative-wide commitment from the board of directors, CEO, staff and employees. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6
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Louisiana
PLANNER MORGAN CITY
Sept. 3–7
91st Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival This event holds the distinction of being the oldest state-chartered harvest festival in Louisiana, honoring the two industries that built Morgan City. With more than five days of free, family-friendly celebration along the Atchafalaya River in downtown Morgan City, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Highlights include live music nightly in Lawrence Park, a five-day arts and crafts market with more than 100 vendors, a children’s parade Saturday morning, carnival rides, Sunday morning Mass in Lawrence Park, the traditional Blessing of the Fleet on Berwick Bay and a spectacular Sunday night fireworks display synchronized to local radio. shrimpandpetroleum.org
All ages can find something new and exciting around every corner of the state. Filled with rich history, abundant natural beauty and diverse events all year, Louisiana has fun options for everyone.
DERIDDER
Oct. 6–10
97th Annual Beauregard Parish Fair This event is a time-honored fall tradition celebrating farm living, family and fellowship at Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds. The multiday fair features agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, carnival rides, arts and crafts, live entertainment, local food and youth competitions—embodying the rural community spirit that has kept it going for nearly a century. Admission details and the full schedule of events are available online. beauregardparishfair.com
SHREVEPORT
Oct. 8–11 and 15–18
NATCHITOCHES
Sept. 18–19
Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Held along the historic downtown riverbank on the scenic Cane River, this two-day event celebrates the flaky, richly seasoned beef-and-pork meat pie that has made this city—the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory—famous. Friday runs from 5-11 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with live music, a meat pie-eating contest, children’s activities, art vendors, a brew fest and, of course, as many meat pies as you care to eat. Admission is free, and the setting along the Cane River is one of the most beautiful in the state. meatpiefestival.com
50th Annual Red River Revel Arts Festival An expanded two-weekend format at Festival Plaza on the Red River helps commemorate this event’s milestone anniversary. The largest outdoor arts festival in North Louisiana features more than 75 juried artists, four stages of live music and performing arts, nonprofit food booths and a children’s arts education area. Thursday and Friday admission is free until 5 p.m.; admission is $10 on Saturdays and Sundays, with children 12 and younger always free. redriverrevel.com
CROWLEY
Oct. 15–18
NEW IBERIA
Sept. 24–27
Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival Iberia Parish has been celebrating its most important crop since 1937, and this festival remains one of the most beloved agricultural traditions in the state. The four-day festival runs Friday, 5-10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bouligny Plaza in historic downtown New Iberia. Highlights include the coronation of Queen Sugar and King Sucrose, a fais do-do, multiple parades, a blessing of the crop, a carnival street fair, a flower show, a photography contest, sugar cookery, art exhibits and live entertainment. Admission varies. hisugar.org
89th International Rice Festival Louisiana’s oldest and largest agricultural festival, downtown Crowley will once again be transformed for a four-day celebration of the crop that put Acadia Parish on the map. The free event features two stages of live music, a children’s parade, a grand parade, a classic car show, a fiddle and accordion contest, a rice-eating contest, a frog derby, a 5K run, food booths and an arts and crafts area. The festival’s music lineup is the largest of any agricultural festival in the state. ricefestival.com
MANDEVILLE
Oct. 24–25
AMITE CITY
Sept. 30–Oct. 4
Tangipahoa Parish Fair Since 1888, the fair has brought the community together at the fairgrounds in Amite City for a weeklong celebration of local culture, agriculture and history. The fair features school exhibits built around an annual theme, a Pioneer Town with live demonstrations of sawmill, gristmill and syrupmaking operations, carnival rides, live entertainment, a spelling bee, a midway, food vendors, and arts and crafts displays. It is one of the oldest parish fairs in Louisiana and a proud showcase of Tangipahoa’s heritage from north to south.
47th Annual Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers & Collectors Guild Festival Decoys become works of art each October at Castine Center. This festival draws master carvers, painters and collectors from across the country to compete in more than 75 categories spanning ducks, songbirds, fish, caricatures, wildlife sculpture, interpretive art and more. Visitors can watch live decoy carving and painting demonstrations, bid in the auction, browse arts and crafts exhibits, and shop from vendors selling carving and painting supplies. Admission is $5; children younger than 12 are free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. lwccg.com
tangifair.org
HOW TO INCLUDE UPCOMING EVENTS
Want to share a family-friendly event with Louisiana readers? Enter details at tinyurl.com/LouisianaPlanner or scan the QR code with your smartphone camera for easy access. Make sure to submit November/December events by Oct. 1 (due to press deadline). Events are published as space allows. 8
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
JEFF DAVIS ELECTRIC
ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS FOR HUNTERS TIPS FOR HUNTERS This hunting season, we encourage all members to be aware of electrical equipment and take necessary precautions while hunting. Keep these safety tips in mind as you enjoy the great outdoors.
Take notice of posted warning signs and keep clear of electrical equipment.
Do not shoot at or near power lines or insulators.
Know where power lines and equipment are located on the land where you hunt.
Be especially careful in wooded areas where power lines may not be as visible.
Do not place deer stands on utility poles or climb poles. Energized lines and equipment can conduct electricity to anyone who comes i n contact with them, causing shock o r electrocution.
Do not place decoys on power lines or other utility equipment. Any nonelectrical equipment attached to a pole can pose an obstruction and serious hazards to our line crews. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6
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Celebrations rev up America’s iconic Route 66 By Jim McCarty It’s midday at Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que along Route 66 near Cuba, Missouri. The lunch rush is almost over when the staff springs into action, moving tables together, preparing for a big gathering. Soon, the restaurant walls vibrate with the two-cylinder thump of a dozen or so Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The door opens, and the happy sounds of a group that’s experiencing the time of their lives reverberate—in Swedish. Scenes like this play out every day along what remains of the most famous highway in the world. It’s called the Mother Road, Main Street of America and the Highway That’s the Best. It once traversed eight states
Barstow Newberry Springs Oro Grande Pasadena Santa Monica
Kingman
San Bernardino Los Angeles
along 2,448 miles, stretching from the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago to a pier at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. Its official name is Route 66, and it’s about to get busier than it’s been since it was decommissioned in 1985. This year, Route 66 fans from around the world will look for new kicks as the celebrated road turns 100. Springfield, Missouri, was in the spotlight in April as the site of the national kickoff of America’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration. The Queen City of the Ozarks earned that honor through a competitive process, but also due to its status as the birthplace of Route 66. On April 30, 1926, John Woodruff, a Springfield businessman, sent a telegram to Washington, D.C., requesting the new road be named U.S. Route 66. The
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Hackberry Williams Oatman Holbrook Winslow Joseph Needles City
idea for the road didn’t originate here, but its iconic name did. “This recognition is a testament to Missouri’s deep roots in the history of America’s most iconic highway and the vibrant spirits of the communities that keep that legacy alive today,” Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe says. The governor’s farm sits along Route 66 in Jerome. “We have some of the original roadway in Pulaski County that you can still drive on,” he says. “People come from all over the world to drive on that. This roadway is so historic, and it has made millions of memories for not just Americans but for people all over the world.” Kickoff festivities included five satellite cities: Joliet, Illinois;
Santa Fe
Adrian Amarillo McLean
Grants Tucumcari Moriarty Santa Rosa Albuquerque
Vega
I think Route 66 is on a lot of visitors’ bucket lists. And I think whenever there’s a big milestone to be celebrated, people want to be a part of that and come experience Route 66 as it’s turning 100. NIKKI TERLESKY, HISTORIC ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 10
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
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SPOTLIGHT St. Louis, Missouri; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Santa Monica, California. In preparation for the yearlong celebration, communities all along the historic route are sprucing up their landmarks, planning events, relighting neon signs and prepping for a major influx of visitors who plan to motor west. “I struggle to make a specific prediction, and part of that is because it’s really hard to track specific routes,” Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin says. “But I would be surprised if traffic didn’t double just because of the attention and the people planning their trips.” Nikki Terlesky, Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona director of operations, agrees travelers are coming in a big way. “I think Route 66 is on a lot of visitors’
bucket lists,” she says. “And I think whenever there’s a big milestone to be celebrated, people want to be a part of that and come experience Route 66 as it’s turning 100. I know a lot of Facebook groups I follow are just buzzing with people voicing their travel plans.” While Missouri can claim the creation of the name, an Oklahoma man is known as the Father of Route 66. Cyrus Avery, a Tulsa real estate developer and owner of a coal company, saw the need for a roadway from the Midwest to the West Coast, connecting small towns and cities along the way. Chicago Joliet Wilmington Pontiac Bloomington Springfield
Madison St. Louis Stanton Eureka Cuba Fanning St. Robert
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Don’t Miss This! Here’s the top attraction for each of the eight states. ILLINOISGEMINI GIANT (WILMINGTON) If you only stop once before leaving Illinois, make it here. The 30-foot-tall Muffler Man is one of Route 66’s most iconic photo ops and a perfect start to the journey. MISSOURIMERAMEC CAVERNS (STANTON) A road-trip classic since the 1930s, billboards and barn roof signs for this cavern once lined the entire Mother Road, and the attraction still feels like pure Americana. KANSASCARS ON THE ROUTE (GALENA) Kansas has only 13 miles of Route 66, but this restored Kan-O-Tex gas station—home to the truck that inspired Mater in “Cars”—is its standout. OKLAHOMABLUE WHALE (CATOOSA) An absolutely essential stop is the giant, smiling blue whale beside a pond. It is one of Route 66’s most beloved and quirky landmarks. TEXASCADILLAC RANCH (AMARILLO) Ten Cadillacs sit nose-down in the desert. They’re covered in spray paint, and you’re encouraged to add your own. It’s irreplaceable Route 66 kitsch. NEW MEXICOBLUE SWALLOW MOTEL (TUCUMCARI) See the best neon on the entire route. It is a family-run motel with beautifully preserved rooms, and a true 1940s motor court experience. Even if you don’t stay, stop for photos. ARIZONAPETRIFIED FOREST AND PAINTED DESERT (HOLBROOK) This is the only national park the Mother Road drives straight through where classic roadside nostalgia meets staggering natural beauty. CALIFORNIAROY’S MOTEL & CAFÉ (AMBOY) A surreal desert time capsule features a legendary retro-futurist neon sign. Nothing captures the lonely, romantic end stretch of Route 66 like Roy’s.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAN ZETTWOCH
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Appointed in 1925 to the Joint Board of Interstate Highways, Cyrus managed to steer the route south from Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California instead of a more northern route through Nevada. Along with Missouri’s John Woodruff, Cyrus helped launch the U.S. Highway 66 Association in 1927 to encourage its use. “One hundred and thirty-seven delegates from 32 cities of the Southwest, meeting here today, organized the National Highway No. 66 Association and elected
leaders also marketed Route 66 over other transcontinental routes. One of the first efforts to popularize the road was an epic foot race that followed Route 66 from its start in California to St. Louis, then on to New York City. The distance was 3,400 miles over just three months. It started with 275 runners, but 77 dropped out on the first day. Only 55 finished. The winner was 20-year-old Andy Payne of Claremore, Oklahoma. Through publicity like this, the nation learned of the new route, and traffic grew exponentially. Truckers favored its flat Lebanon terrain, with elevations measured in hundreds of feet compared to thousands crossing the Ash Grove Rocky Mountains. Galena Springfiel
John T. Woodruff of Springfield, Mo., its first president,” read a Springfield Daily News story. “From Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, the delegates gathered in Tulsa today determined that Highway 66, which runs from Chicago via St. Louis to Los Angeles, shall in fact become the ‘Main Street of America.’ ” At the beginning, the route joined various existing state roads, many of which were still gravel. Besides paving the highway, the association’s
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Learn how barbed wire tamed the West.
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Cadillac Ranch
Devil’s Ro This graffiti-friendly pe Mus line of buried Cadillacs Learn how barbed eum wire tamed th is legendary. e Wes t.
Cadillac
Ranch
This graffi ti-friendl y line of bu ried Cadi llacs is legend ary.
Phillips 66 Station
Don’t miss this beautiful art deco
Phillips 66
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Big Texan Steak Ranch
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Galena Baxter Springs Moriarty
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Blue Swallow Motel and Motel Safari are icons.
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Santa Rosa Blue Hole
m, Take in the Route 66 Auto Museu Age This Space Santa Fe -fed Loop (Origthen swim at a spring is neon sign Driv inal Alig eofthais orig and diving spot. ing nm inal stretswimm ent) throug ch of th sa scent h be oremini highway Central Av Caentoueclassic diner.Santaautiful historic SantaeFe Fe . Neon See class ic di
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This Spac e Age neon sign is reminisc ent of a classic di ner.
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A
In the 1930s, Route 66 became a pathway for migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, heading west in search of opportunity. When World War II gripped the nation, the route became strategic for moving troops and materials to support the war effort. This led to a major effort to rebuild the roadway for Fort Leonard Wood, an Army base in St. Robert, Missouri. The highway was no match for the heavy trucks supplying the base. So, in 1941, construction began on a four-lane divided highway between it and Rolla. A deep cut bypassed a steep grade near Devil’s Elbow. Hooker Cut became the deepest highway excavation in the nation to date, and the four-lane, divided highway was the first of its kind. The improved roadway was fully open to traffic by September 1945—ironically, the same month the war ended. Other improvements included rerouting to avoid Lebanon a series of dangerous hairpin curves in Arizona, dubbed the Ash Grove Marshfield Sidewinder. This 8-mile roadway Springfield oplin has 191 curves with no guardrails and 12% grades. Today, it is often visited by adventurous travelers.
ment)
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mcari Neo
n Signs Swallow Mot Safari are el and icons.
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Adrian Vega
The Ultimate
(Ordered for the Drive) DEPARTURE: CHICAGO (WINDOWS DOWN) • Route 66 – Chuck Berry • Sweet Home Chicago – The Blues Brothers • Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones • Good Times Roll – The Cars • Real Gone – Sheryl Crow • Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts • Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf • Runnin’ Down a Dream – Tom Petty • Drivin’ My Life Away – Eddie Rabbitt • On the Road Again – Willie Nelson HEARTLAND MILES: MISSOURI → OKLAHOMA → KANSAS • Missouri River Run – Chloe Hoecker • If You Wanna Get to Heaven – Ozark Mountain Daredevils • King of the Road – Roger Miller • Boys From Oklahoma – Cross Canadian Ragweed • Oklahoma Smokeshow – Zach Bryan • Carry On Wayward Son – Kansas • Dust in the Wind – Kansas • Ain’t Going Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up) – Garth Brooks • Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma – Luke Combs • Cadillac Ranch – Chris LeDoux OPEN COUNTRY AND FREEDOM • Wide Open Spaces – Dixie Chicks • Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves • Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show • Copperhead Road – Steve Earle • Midnight Rider – The Allman Brothers Band • Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band • Blue Sky – The Allman Brothers Band • Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen DESERT STRETCH: TEXAS → NEW MEXICO → ARIZONA • Amarillo by Morning – George Strait • I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash • A Horse With No Name – America • Ventura Highway – America
Playlist
• Take Me to the River – Talking Heads • Running on Empty – Jackson Browne • Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp • Drive – The Cars DUSK, MOTELS AND LONG THOUGHTS • Fast Car – Tracy Chapman • Angel From Montgomery – John Prine • Into the Mystic – Van Morrison • Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac • Landslide – Fleetwood Mac • The Mother Road – Alan Rhody • Here I Go Again – Whitesnake • Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles • Take It to the Limit – Eagles CALIFORNIA ARRIVAL • Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival • California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & the Papas • Hotel California – Eagles • Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac • California Girls – The Beach Boys • Everyday Is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow • Beverly Hills – Weezer SUNSHINE, CELEBRATION AND LETTING LOOSE • Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus • Hot to Go – Chappell Roan • Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses • Getaway Car – Taylor Swift • Good Time – Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen • Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen THE MEANING OF THE JOURNEY (CLOSING STRETCH) • This Land Is Your Land – Woody Guthrie • Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver • Kyrie – Mr. Mister • The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles • Travelin’ Thru – Dolly Parton • Running on Empty – Jackson Browne • What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong • End of the Line – Traveling Wilburys
S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6
13
By the 1950s, Route 66 was the byway of a nation in love with the automobile. Cabins, motels, roadhouses and all manner of highway kitsch sprang up to lure motorists off the pavement. Among them was the first fast-food restaurant, believed to be Red’s Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri. Route 66 came to represent everything Americans hold near and dear: freedom,
adventure, nostalgia and small-town values. Those themes were shared in the1960s TV series “Route 66,” which helped fuel today’s nostalgia for the road. Championed in songs such as Bobby Troup’s “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” and the Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” immortalized by John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” and introduced to a new
National Petrified Forest d Desert Park and Painte ional park
nat This is the only Route 66 actually through which
Gall
Oatman Ghost Town Wild burros roam the streets.
Oatman
Flagstaff Winslow
Seligman Hackberry General Store
Standin’ on thek Corner Par
a Stop here to see on massive collecti d Roa of Mother memorabilia.
Albu
que
rque
Santa Monica Pier
Take a photo at the symbolic end of the Mother Road.
Petrified Forest & Painted Desert
Joseph City
Williams
up
generation through Pixar’s “Cars” movie, the Mother Road continues to fascinate those who prefer life in the slow lane. The demise of Route 66 came with the rise of the new Interstate Highway System— including interstates 55, 44, 40, 15 and 10. Small towns where Route 66 was the main road were bypassed, and many businesses couldn’t survive as traffic moved away. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. But the road never truly disappeared. Mother Nature and the wrecking ball have taken their toll, but if you know an McLe where to look, you can still find remnants of the old route. New businesses haveAmarillo k m mroc n Groo Sha Adria Fe sprung from the ashesriof those longa t n a Sa umc Vega Tuc gone oases on the road. Bagdad Café tion hip to So, as the song says, “get This filming loca maintains fan cult this timely Rtip, when you make that TEXAS us. stat a s o Santa y iarit California trip,” and make this the year Mor to get your kicks—on Route 66.
Holbrook
Elmer’s Bottle
Wigwam Motel
Tree Ranch
st of Whimsical fore
pt in “Have You Sle ely?” a Wigwam Lat
Pasadena
Oatman Ghost Town
Tucumca
Petrifi ed g Post Tradin Rabbit For est Flagstaff Jack r own t you Painted Here it is! Ge& ival Win g the Route 66 Rev slow win sho De sign ser ow Birthplace of t yell barbershop illo r home here. Oatman lgad ckb Williams err’sy Angel DeHa distance to you sic Americana. s ofalclas tonner Store features Ge Holbrook Joseph Stop here to see a City massive collect Wigwam Mo Standin’ on the ion tel of Mother Roa “Have You Sle Corner Park d pt in memorab a
Albuquer
Seligman
The Eagles trib ute is made real.
ilia.
Wigwam Lat
que
Santa Monica Pier
Take a photo at the symbol ic end of the Mother Road.
Moriarity
Santa Rosa
Elmer’s Bottle
National Landm
Tree Ranch
est of metal and
vival Angel Delgadill o’s barbersho p features tons of classic Am ericana.
Jack Rabbit
Tradin
g Post Here it is! Ge t your own yellow sign sho wing the distance to you r home here.
Meteor Crater
Groom Shamrock
Vega
This filming loc ation maintains fan cult status.
TEXAS Wigwam Motel
glass.
Barstow
ark
d
Oro Grande Pasadena
Route 66 Re
Los Angeles Santa Monic a
Newberry Springs Ludlow
San Bernardi
at another Spend the night Roy’s Mo m village.” telic& “wi icon Cagwa fé Thi
s desert landm ark features a gor geous neon sign.
Amboy Needles
no
Natio
nal Landmark Visit the enormo us, well-prese rved impact site. Wigwam Mo
tel
Spend the nig ht at another iconic “wigwa m village.”
14
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
McLean
Amarillo
Adrian
ely?”
us, well-preserve Visit the enormo impact site.
Birthplace of
o
ri
Bagdad Café
Whimsical for
Meteor Crater
Needles
Ludlow San Bernardin
Gallup
Wild burros roam the streets.
Newberry Springs
Café
dmark This desert lan us features a gorgeo . sign n neo
Los Angeles Santa Monica
Santa Fe
Needles
Barstow Oro Grande
only national park through which Route 66 actu ally
les
s.
Amboy
ute The Eagles trib e real. mad isrifi Pet ed Forest Na tional Park and Pa inted Desert This is the
Need
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metal and glas
The Ultimate
Q: WHO ORIGINALLY SANG “ROUTE 66”? A: Nat King Cole, with the King Cole Trio, first
recorded the song in 1946 at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles. Capitol Records released it as a single, which reached No. 11 on Billboard’s pop chart.
Q: WHO IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER
OF ROUTE 66? A: In the early 1900s, Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a real estate developer and owner of a coal company, began acquiring oil leases. With the need to reach the barren lands around him and the need for a roadway from the Midwest to the western lands connecting cities along the way, the road became a reality. With John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri, Cyrus promoted the idea of a highway connecting the Midwest to the West Coast.
Q: WHAT TOWN IS CONSIDERED THE BIRTHPLACE OF ROUTE 66?
A: Springfield, Missouri, is widely recognized McLean
o
Groom Shamrock
XAS
es
as the birthplace of Route 66. A passionate advocate for the “Good Roads” movement, Springfield businessman John Woodruff promoted highway development across Missouri. While the road itself did not begin in Springfield, the idea of the route was born here, making Springfield the home for the Main Street of America. John was elected the first president of the Route 66 Association.
Q: WHAT WRITER MADE ROUTE 66
FAMOUS? A: John Steinbeck proclaimed Route 66 the Mother Road in his 1939 book, “The Grapes of Wrath.”
Q: WHERE DID THE ORIGINAL ROUTE BEGIN AND END?
A: Route 66 began in downtown Chicago,
Illinois, and ended in Santa Monica, California, near the Pacific Ocean. The official start is at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, with classic spots like Lou Mitchell’s diner nearby.
Q: HOW LONG WAS HISTORIC ROUTE 66? A: It is generally accepted that, from
beginning to end in 1926, Route 66 traversed 2,448 miles. However, as the route evolved over its 60 years of existence with new, improved alignments, the mileage varied over time.
Q: WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME
FOR ROUTE 66? A: John and Cyrus also played a key role in the naming the road. It had first been named Route 60, as all main east-to-west highways at the time ended in zero. However, the pair felt Route 66 would be easier to promote, especially with the flow of having two of the same number. Thus, on April 30, 1926, a telegram was sent to the Bureau of Public Roads asking for the name to be changed to Route 66.
Q: WHAT DISTINCTION DOES RED’S
GIANT HAMBURG, A SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ROUTE 66 RESTAURANT, HOLD? A: It is considered the first drive-in fast-food restaurant. Red’s opened in 1947 and operated until 1984. In early 2019, Red’s Giant Hamburg made a comeback, 35 years after the original restaurant’s closure. The new restaurant, on Route 413, was a re-creation of the original Route 66 location. It opened in August 2019 and operated for almost six years, closing its doors in May 2025. In 2013, a fundraising campaign was established to re-create the Red’s Giant Hamburg sign. The sign, shaped like a cross, was installed in 2015.
Q: WAS U.S. ROUTE 66 PAVED? A: When Route 66 officially opened in 1926, only 800 miles were paved, the rest being graded dirt, gravel, bricks or wood planks. It took 11 more years before the road would become the first national highway to be completely paved.
Quiz Q: WHAT STATES DOES ROUTE 66
TRAVEL THROUGH? A: Route 66 traverses eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Q: WHEN WAS ROUTE 66 DECOMMISSIONED?
A: With the advent of the Federal Interstate
Highway System, U.S. Route 66 was gradually decommissioned, with the last segment, in Arizona, removed from the federal system June 27, 1985.
Q: WHAT STATE HAS THE MOST MILES
OF ROUTE 66? A: New Mexico has the most miles, and Kansas has the fewest—Illinois, 301; Missouri, 317; Kansas, 13; Oklahoma, 432; Texas, 186; New Mexico, 487; Arizona, 401; and California, 314, for a total of 2,448 miles.
Q: WHAT ANIMATED MOVIE IS BASED
ON ROUTE 66? A: The 2006 animated movie “Cars” tells the story of Route 66 through characters Lightning McQueen and Sally and their escapades at Radiator Springs, a fictionalized representation of all Route 66 towns. Sally liked to say, “Those were the days we traveled to have a great time, not to make great time.” In the movie, Ramone’s House of Body Art looks similar to the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. Other real-life locations that inspired parts of the movie include Cadillac Ranch, Wigwam Motels and Wagon Wheel Motel. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE BY ACENTO CREATIVO
S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6
15
JEFF DAVIS ELECTRIC
SEVEN COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
CROSSWORD PUZZLE Did you know electric co-ops are guided by a set of Seven Cooperative Principles? These principles ensure co-ops remain focused on member needs, community impact and co-op values.
1 2
3
Complete the crossword below to learn more about the cooperative principles. Use the word bank to check your work. 4 5
5
6
7
ACROSS 2. Cooperation Among Cooperatives: Co-ops and learn from other co-ops. 5. Autonomy & Independence: Co-ops are and can operate on their own. 6. Member Economic Participation: Members money to ensure the co-op runs smoothly. 7. Open & Voluntary Membership: Co-op membership is open to .
DOWN 1. Concern for Community: Co-ops give back to their local thrive and grow. 3. Education, Training & Information: Co-ops focus on and members have the info they need. 4. Democratic Member Control: Members get to make
to help them to ensure employees about the co-op. ANSWER KEY
1 DOWN: COMMUNITIES 3 DOWN: EDUCATION
4 DOWN: DECISIONS S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
2 ACROSS: SHARE 6 ACROSS: CONTRIBUTE 5 ACROSS: INDEPENDENT 7 ACROSS: EVERYONE
16
10 - Ye Guaran ar te Level R ed ates
Introduces
AFFORDABLE LIFE INSURANCE The Best Idea For ... Personal Insurance - Business Insurance - Mortgage Protection
Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved
NON-TOBACCO RATES
MONTHLY RATES $100,000
$250,000
Issue Age
Male
30
8.77
7.56
9.71
36
8.77
37
$500,000
$1,000,000
$100,000
MONTHLY RATES $250,000
$500,000
Female
Male
Female
Issue Age
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
8.60 12.67
10.56
17.66
15.09
58
27.70
21.98
50.43
36.04
88.63
7.93 10.35
9.44 13.94
12.25
21.05
17.72
59
30.37
23.51
55.50
38.76
8.77
8.15 10.52
9.81 14.78
12.96
21.89
19.41
60
33.49
24.28
60.76
38
8.77
8.16
11.19 10.18 15.63
13.78
23.63
20.20
61
36.49
25.09
39
9.13
8.31
11.62 10.55 16.47
14.31
24.48
21.69
62
39.88
27.91
40
9.55
8.48 12.04 10.98 17.31
15.14
26.14
23.59
63
43.69
Female
Male
Female
Male
$1,000,000
Male
Female
61.58
168.05
115.60
97.92
66.66
185.80
125.20
41.71
108.50
72.14
205.58
135.21
66.43
47.10
121.89
82.68
235.39
153.85
73.90
51.32
135.58
91.51
261.93
165.16
34.01
81.54
57.25
152.14
101.63
286.93
186.31
41 10.05
8.72 13.10
11.58 19.36
16.75
29.55
25.97
64
47.91
38.28
90.20
62.32
169.25
111.96
322.16
199.83
42 10.48
9.01 14.21 12.30 21.07
18.16
32.93
28.31
65
52.81
40.88 100.33
68.23
190.05
124.63
360.57
222.65
43 10.98
9.36 14.72 13.18 22.96
19.75
37.90
30.94
66
58.71
44.61 114.29
75.40
210.49
134.77
391.94
241.24
67
64.59
49.08 125.27
83.64
233.74
145.34
435.97
260.67
44 11.58
9.73 15.67 14.10 24.92
21.38
40.72
33.67
45 12.17
10.15 16.86 15.16 27.03
23.23
44.52
37.06
68
72.24
59.65 143.07
105.55
253.50
172.80
484.22
321.07
46 12.84
10.64 17.85 15.83 29.43
24.89
48.77
39.98
69
79.34
64.22 158.23
129.28
287.72
187.50
546.75
351.10
47 13.43
11.16 19.03 16.68 31.68
26.58
53.20
43.40
70
86.85
68.11 177.24
147.66
317.88
202.37
594.72
374.91
48 13.48
11.88 20.27 17.37 34.21
28.38
57.52
47.00
71 102.45
82.60 203.10
159.34
373.07
234.59
701.44
442.89
72
113.68
93.16 232.46
172.23
426.44
271.99
806.74
511.27
49 13.69
12.33 21.73 18.32 36.87
30.28
62.61
51.34
50 14.36
12.98 23.00 19.82 39.63
32.49
68.64
56.25
73 127.55
106.68 267.15
188.15
492.36
318.18
936.81
595.73
51 15.37
13.75 25.30 20.65 44.27
34.96
77.37
61.14
74 142.08
119.36 303.50
204.84
561.42
366.57 1073.07
684.22
52 16.36
14.87 27.63 22.13 48.94
37.92
86.78
66.78
75 159.25
140.48 346.45
224.56
643.04
423.76 1234.11
788.80
53 17.46
15.88 30.95 24.81 53.81
41.34
97.56
72.99
76 200.03
168.51 418.29
276.67
784.08
529.52 1488.28
981.25
54 18.68
16.72 33.99 26.20 59.70
45.14 109.19
80.58
77 249.54
216.74 505.52
339.94
955.35
657.94 1796.92
1214.92
55 20.70
17.50 37.13 27.85 66.66
49.40 120.50
89.53
78 310.70
268.40 613.27
418.11 1166.92
816.58 2178.16
1503.59
56 22.69
19.48 42.01 31.07 73.22
52.91 137.43
95.90
79 374.78
322.52 726.16
500.00 1388.55
982.78 2577.57
1806.01
57 24.69
20.63 45.81 33.43 80.38
57.13 149.95 106.31
80 450.50
386.47 816.15
596.78 1624.70 1179.18 3049.60
2163.40
Call Wiley Maddox Today to Request an Application:
(203) 637-1544 or (800) 645-1544 Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm EST
Premiums illustrated represent 10 year level term insurance with guaranteed level premiums for 10 years. $100,000 - $1,000,000 rates are Select-A-Term [policy form no. 07007] Preferred Plus Nontobacco. This coverage features a level death benefit with fully guaranteed level premiums for the first 10 years with coverage to expire at age 95. The policy may be continued on Annual Renewable Term at the end of the level premium period without evidence of insurability until the anniversary nearest the insured’s 95th birthday. The underwriting risks, financial and contractual obligations and support functions associated with products issued by American General Life Insurance Company (AGL) Houston, TX are its responsibility. AGL does not solicit business in the state of New York. All terms, conditions and limitations of any policy issued shall govern. American General Life Companies is the marketing name for a group of domestic life insurers including American General Life Insurance Company and The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York. Policies and riders not available in all states. Premium rates current as of July 2026; rates may vary by state. Premiums available for other rate classes, ages and payment plans. Premium charges depend on evidence of insurability. Premiums increase at the end of the guaranteed term if policy is renewed. Death benefit remains level. The policy may be contested for two years from the date of issue for material misstatements or omissions on the application. Death benefit is limited to return of premium paid in the event of suicide within first two years. Rates subject to change. Standard Marketing Services represents AGL and other fine insurance companies. All companies identified above are wholly owned subsidiaries of Corebridge Financial, Inc. Corebridge Financial and Corebridge are marketing names used by subsidiaries of Corebridge Financial, Inc.
JEFF DAVIS ELECTRIC
At Grosse Savanne Lodge, the Land
Sets the Course Hunting, fishing, ecotours and habitat stewardship across 50,000 acres of Southwest Louisiana By Jen Gennaro Grosse Savanne Lodge in Cameron Parish is a destination for hunting, fishing and ecotours, but its identity is rooted as much in the surrounding land as in the activities it offers. 18
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
The lodge is surrounded by 50,000 acres of freshwater and brackish marshes, coastal prairie and agricultural land. Nearby Calcasieu Lake and the Gulf Coast broaden the range of habitats and outdoor opportunities available to guests. The property also lies along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, the federally designated scenic byway commonly known as Louisiana’s Outback. The Chalkley family began acquiring the land in the late 1800s, when wetlands were often dismissed as wasteland. Over time, a better understanding of the region’s ecology changed how the property was viewed and managed. In 1995, the Leach family, heirs to the property, began developing Grosse
Savanne Lodge as a way to share the land with visitors while continuing to care for it. Unlike lodges organized around a single pursuit, Grosse Savanne operates yearround. Hunting seasons, fishing conditions and wildlife migrations determine what visitors encounter at any given time. Freshwater and brackish marshes, coastal prairie and rice fields support bass, ducks, geese, alligators, shorebirds and other wildlife. Saltwater fishing trips take guests to Calcasieu Lake and nearby Gulf waters. As Lodge Manager and Resident Wildlife Biologist Bobby Jordan puts it, “You can’t see it all in one day.” That variety gives visitors a reason to return in different seasons rather than treat
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Grosse Savanne Lodge overlooks the surrounding marsh. The lodge’s common area includes a pool table and bar. Freshwater fishing is offered throughout the year. Resident and migratory birds find habitat in the marshes. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GROSSE SAVANNE LODGE
Grosse Savanne as a one-time destination. Guests come from Louisiana, elsewhere in the United States and abroad. Some arrive for fishing or family trips. Others attend corporate retreats and group outings. The lodge is set up to accommodate both. The 12,000-square-foot lodge is elevated above the ground, creating the feeling of being suspended in the middle of the wilderness. Each of the nine bedrooms is furnished with two queen beds and a private bathroom. Common areas include a spacious living room, entertainment and game room, fully stocked bar and pool table, encouraging guests to gather between excursions. Wide porches offer a frontrow seat to surrounding marsh. Chef Matt
Whitney keeps guests well-fed, turning out meals that are as much a part of the Grosse Savanne experience as the fishing, hunting and wildlife. “We always say we can’t control Mother Nature,” Bobby says, “but we can control the accommodations.” Mother Nature has tested Grosse Savanne repeatedly. Major hurricanes have crossed the Louisiana coast over the past two decades, accelerating erosion, contributing to wetland loss and altering habitat. Bobby considers those storms among the most consequential forces shaping the property in recent years. That experience has made habitat work an ongoing part of the operation.
According to Grosse Savanne, the property has converted more than 1,000 acres of former agricultural land into shallowwater wetlands. The restored areas provide bass habitat as well as feeding, resting and nesting areas for birds and other wildlife. The company says its own staff completed the work, funded by the owners. For Grosse Savanne, the future of the lodge is inseparable from the future of the land. Hosting visitors is part of the business; maintaining the habitats that bring them there is the longer-term undertaking. n
Visit grossesavanne.com for more information or to book a stay. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6
19
STATEWIDE NEWS
Got a Story Idea? We Want to Hear It.
This magazine is about the people, places and moments that make Louisiana home, and nobody knows those stories better than you. Whether it’s a hidden gem in your community, a local hero worth celebrating or an organization doing great work in your area—we’re listening. Scan the QR code or visit the link to submit your story idea. Our editors read every submission. Thanks for reading and for helping us tell Louisiana’s best stories.
20
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
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ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY TREVOR
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Dove hunting offers great opportunities for entire families to get outdoors. Here, a father fires his shotgun at incoming doves while his son fires an air rifle and another son watches birds through the binoculars.
Dove Hunting Primer Louisiana offers great action for these exciting birds Story and photos by John N. Felsher For many people, the September dove season opener kicks off another fall full of hunting adventures. Once the month is over, they might forget about doves and move on to other sporting activities. However, in the Bayou State, hunters can harvest birds into January. At least seven dove species inhabit Louisiana. Hunters can bag four species of doves: mourning, white-winged, Eurasian collared and ringed turtle. To hunt doves successfully, they first must be found. In the right spot, limits can come easy for those with skill. Extremely swift and agile fliers, mourning doves can exceed 55 mph. With such twisting, erratic flight patterns, doves can provide extremely challenging sport. For the best action, look for good feeding areas. The birds ordinarily feed at first light. A dove’s diet consists of about 22
S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026
99% seeds. The diminutive birds can eat their weight in seeds each day. They eat any cultivated grain such as corn, millet, sorghum—also called milo—and even peanuts and cotton seeds. They also eat native grass seeds, herbs and weed seeds. Look for doves in open fields or semiopen grasslands punctuated by occasional trees, brush or fencerows. Doves tend to avoid swamps and dense forests, but may stay near forest edges. Most people hunt doves by waiting in cover along a timberline or field edge to intercept birds flying from their roosting to feeding or watering areas. In a highly social atmosphere, a group of hunters can spread out along the edges of a field to wait for birds to fly over. Like in waterfowling, hunters can use decoys to bring birds into range. Popular with waterfowlers, spinning-wing decoys create a strobe effect that looks like wings flapping. Birds can see that flash for
miles. When doves spot that wing flash, they instinctively head to the place where they think their cousins found security or food. “All gregarious birds with white under their wings are attracted to that flash,” says Terry D. Denmon, president of Mojo Outdoors, in Monroe. “That’s how they find other birds.” Many people place spinning-wing decoys directly in front of them. Birds swoop down low over spinners and sometimes even land next to them. However, birds heading directly toward a spinner might also spot someone sitting behind it. Alerted birds could flare before entering shotgun range. Instead, force doves to focus their attention elsewhere. Always place spinning-wing decoys facing into the wind like landing birds, but off to one side where they present the best shots at the optimum range.
GET OUTSIDE points to watch for predators. Unless disturbed, mourning doves frequently perch there until late afternoon. Some landowners erect fake power lines to attract and hold birds in their area. Please remember to never shoot at birds on or near real power lines. By late afternoon, the birds want to feed again. The birds need to ingest small pieces of gravel or sand to help break up the hard seeds they swallowed whole. Mourning doves frequently go to grit piles or sandy patches to swallow grit or gravel, making them great places to hunt in late afternoon. After swallowing grit, doves need water to wash it down. Right before sundown, doves look for a place to drink. In late afternoon, doves commonly congregate around streams or ponds with sandy or gravel shorelines. A watering hole doesn’t mean something like Toledo Bend. A small pond or even just a tire rut filled with water on a gravel or dirt road could suffice. Ever mindful of predators, doves typically don’t go directly down to the ground to feed or drink. They normally first find a high vantage place to perch
and watch for predators before dropping to the ground. Attach a few static decoys to branches of trees or bushes overlooking the watering hole to mimic birds staging in that area. Next, add a couple decoys in an open, gritty area near water to simulate dusting or drinking birds. Perhaps place a spinner near the shoreline. Hunters can also try jumping doves. Walk through a field of low brush or along forest edges and fencerows flushing birds from cover. When flushed, a dove’s long, elegant elliptical wings make a distinctive whistling clatter. Occasionally, startled doves only fly short distances to alight in a nearby tree or bush. While most people only hunt doves for a few days in September, late season can often provide excellent action. As weather cools, more doves from states farther north migrate into Louisiana, bolstering the depleted resident population. Sometimes, the best late-season hunting occurs right before or after a strong cold front. Visit wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations for season dates, bag limits, zone boundaries and other information.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A father points out incoming birds on a family dove hunt. A hunter uses a hay bale for cover as she fires at incoming doves. Spinning-wing decoys create flash that simulates flapping wings. A hunter waits for more action while hunting doves with his retriever.
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“In most places, doves come in from multiple directions,” Terry says. “If we want to shoot doves at 25 yards, we put a spinning-wing decoy out 25 yards.” Doves typically feed on bare ground where they can easily find seeds. Ever mindful of predators, doves commonly arrange themselves in a circle to feed so they can watch for danger in all directions. Place a few static dove decoys on the ground around a spinner to simulate feeding doves. Many static decoys come with devices to clip them onto branches or fence wires. When hunting along a fence or tree line, attach a few decoys to the fence or place them on branches on either side of hunters. “I usually add about a dozen static decoys around the spinning-wing decoy in about a 10- to 15-yard circle as if they are feeding,” Terry says. “If I’m sitting on a fencerow or tree line, I’ll scatter a few static decoys up and down the line.” After filling their bellies, the birds look for “nooning” places where they can rest and digest at midday. While nooning, they perch in tall trees, on electrical wires or other places that give them good vantage
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