The Crop that Pops Yadkin Valley Popcorn is a local leader in growing a beloved snack

The Crop that

PopsYadkin Valley Popcorn is a local leader in growing

a beloved snack By Debbie Moose Photos by Wendy Wood / The Yadkin Ripple

The largest of 10 storage silos at Shallowford Farms, home of Yadkin Valley Popcorn, can hold 1 million pounds of popcorn kernels.

If all silos were full, it would come to 7 million pounds. But there’s no need to worry about an explosion on a hot summer day.

“Popcorn has to reach about 400 degrees inside the kernel to pop, so that’s not going to happen,” says Sam Vestal, company manager.

As one of the state’s few popcorn growers, capable of growing as much as 2,000 acres, the Yadkinville-based company’s farm-to-snack offerings include flavored popcorn as well as the raw kernels. The products are sold in several North Carolina and East Coast supermarkets.

“It’s popped and packaged right on the farm where it’s grown, Sam says. “Eating this, you’re eating your heritage.”

In the field, popcorn looks and grows just like conventional corn, but it’s an entirely different variety.

First of all, ears of popcorn are smaller, although they’re harvested with the same kinds of combines. Then popcorn requires special processing. Conventional corn intended for animal feed can be put in large dryers after harvesting and is dried to a moisture content of 25% to 30%, Sam explains. However, popcorn will pop in the hot dryers, so the ears are left on the stalks to dry in the field.

The moisture content is also different — 12% to 13% for popcorn. Workers use a special machine to check the moisture level, because if the corn dries out too much, you’ll get nothing but duds when you start popping. (The moisture level is important because popcorn pops when, under heat, the moisture inside the kernel expands and puts pressure on the starchy surface until it explodes and turns the kernel inside out, creating the fluffy treat that fuels movie watching.)

Popcorn became associated with movies during the Great Depression, according to food historians. It was an affordable treat, and popcorn carts proliferated in cities, many setting up in front of theaters to catch patrons. Theater owners saw the snack’s popularity and began selling popcorn themselves.

In recent years, popcorn has gained a reputation as a healthy snack, which has led to several national brands of bagged popcorn, plus theater-style flavors. Yadkin Valley Popcorn’s sales went up during the pandemic, possibly because people were watching movies at home but still wanted theater-style snacks.

There are many varieties of popcorn that pop into different sizes and shapes. Jonathan Mounce, operations manager, said that Yadkin Valley Farms uses a variety of the shape described as “butterfly” or “snowflake,” which pops up fluffy and takes seasonings well.

To make flavored popcorn, the company uses a large air popper which can pop 350 to 400 pounds of popcorn an hour. After popping, it’s tossed in soybean oil to add flavor and color, Jonathan says. Then flavor coatings are added. Yadkin Valley Farms’ most popular

flavor is butter, but there’s also white cheddar and others.

For caramel corn, the popped corn is mixed with caramel and dried. The process is similar for a line of candy flavors that include blue raspberry, birthday cake and pina colada.

Kettle corn is popped in gas-fired kettles along with with oil, sugar and salt to provide the characteristic sweet-salty flavor.

Shallowford Farms has been operating for more than 30 years, although in the beginning it grew popcorn for other companies. When NC State University graduate Caswell Booe bought the business in 1998, he upgraded the equipment, began selling the popcorn under its own name and planning for the company’s future. After Booe’s death about two years ago, the company continued the plans, looking at more efficient equipment and working with a food scientist on different flavors.

New ideas just keep popping up. In collaboration with Garner Foods, based in Winston-Salem, starting in January the company will offer popcorn in Texas Pete and Texas Pete Hot Cheddar flavors.

“You either get all in or get out quick in the popcorn business,” Sam says. “We’re planning on staying.”

Debbie Moose (debbiemoose.com) has authored seven cookbooks and is a former food editor for The News & Observer in Raleigh.

carolinacountry.com/extras See a quick video tour of Yadkin Valley Popcorn (or visit shallowfordfarmspopcorn.com to schedule an in-person tour).

Field Corn (left) vs. Popcorn

Here Comes Clarence Claus

Jackie and Shaun Rodgers want all children to feel represented, especially during the holidays

By Scott Gates

Jackie Rodgers had a problem. It was 2015, and she had a new baby boy. Christmas is important to her (she’s the type that starts planning the family Christmas card in October), and she wanted everything to be perfect — right down to the wrapping paper.

“Once I had our son, I knew I wanted wrapping paper that had a brown Santa. But I started looking for it, and I couldn’t find it,” Jackie says. At the time she lived in Raleigh, and she reached out to friends in bigger cities who may have been able to track down more varied wrapping paper. But there were no brown Santas to be found. “Once I realized there was a void in the market and no one was making it, I said I would make it myself.”

“She definitely said that,” her husband, Shaun, remembers. “And I definitely dismissed it, and said there’s no way you’re going to create your own wrapping paper.”

Jackie proved him wrong, and now the couple has Greentop Gifts to show for it. Their company makes wrapping paper and apparel featuring the jolly “Clarence Claus,” named for her late father. Family is important to the Rodgers, which also shows through in the company name itself: Jackie’s grandfather ran the Greentop restaurant in Hillsborough in the 1940s and ’50s, remembered as a place of fellowship and happy family gatherings.

Jackie had a very particular image in mind for Clarence Claus, and she interviewed several illustrators before finding a promising one based in Ghana. “I really liked his style,” she says. “He sent me back his drawing, and I had no edits for the very first version — he brought to life exactly what I had in my head.”

Clarence Claus quickly resonated with families like the Rodgers who felt underrepresented during the Christmas season. The couple started shipping wrapping paper in 2016, spending long hours in their garage fulfilling orders after their son’s bedtime. And word got around. NBC News featured their product, and in 2017, Gayle King, editor-atlarge for “O, The Oprah Magazine,” praised the idea in her December column.

This is the fifth season for the company, now shipping wrapping paper and apparel through a fulfillment company (leaving their garage for the cars). Clarence Claus wrapping paper has been shipped to every state in the U.S., and as far as the United Kingdom and Japan. The Rodgers have also added to their assortment with the “Celebration Crew,” which features multicultural kids. And support for their ideas keep pouring in: This past year they were selected as a FedEx Small Business Grant winner, Google for Startups Black Founders Fund recipient, and Beyonce BeyGOOD Small Business Grant winner, to name a few.

There have been a lot of big changes for the Rodgers since they launched their company. They’ve moved to Atlanta, although they maintain NC ties with a home in Jones-Onslow EMC territory. Jackie left her corporate career in February 2020 and now works on the business full time. And with their family having grown by one (a little girl), their dedication to family and inclusiveness is only stronger.

“It’s important for children to see themselves in all things,” Jackie says. “Representation is important, especially for children. Children should know they can aspire to do and be all things. The images they see should reflect them from a doctor, fire fighter, a character in a children’s book — even Santa.”

Greentop Gifts Greentop Gifts

Scott Gates is editor of Carolina Country.

Bring Clarence Home

Visit greentopgifts.com to shop an array of gift wraps, accessories and apparel featuring jolly ol’ Clarence Claus.

Actual size is 30.6 x 50.4 mm

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Celebrating the Grands

Five ways kids can bond with their elders

Ask anyone to recall their most treasured childhood memories, and you’re likely to hear tales about time spent with loved ones, grandparents in particular. As an adult, you may wonder how to help your kids create those magical moments with their grandparents. The holidays offer golden opportunities for your children to strengthen those bonds. Here are five ideas:

1Take a trip back in time Asking your grandparents about the good ol’ days may seem cliché, but it’s a wonderful way to discover new reasons to appreciate your elders as unique individuals with intriguing perspectives. Encourage your kids to ask their grandparents what life was like when they were children or teenagers, or how they imagined life in the 2020s would be. They can also ask specific questions such as what was the grandparent’s first car or favorite toy growing up. They can compare notes on their bucket lists; they might even find something to cross off the list together.

2Share a meal or dessert Making a point to share dinner or a dessert with a grandparent, especially one who lives alone, can have a marked impact. Choose a comfortable, family restaurant the grandparent likes. Take the noise level into consideration as well. Seniors often prefer a quieter, low-key restaurant, where it’s easier to talk, over a louder restaurant with modern music. 3 Hit the road together It’s often said that there’s no better way to get to know a person than to travel together. Pick a new place and make it an adventure to remember for your kids and their grandparents. Map out the route together as a family, choosing the landmarks, activities and pitstops you want to make along the way. Be sure to document the journey as a precious keepsake for yourself and your kids, and package those memories in a photobook or scrapbook as a gift for the next birthday or holiday.

4Create a care package Assemble a package with some of their favorite treats, mementos, activities or games. Ideas include classic treats such as a jar of apple butter and old-fashioned candy such as licorice whips, which you can find at Cracker Barrel stores (crackerbarrel.com) and other places that sell nostalgia-themed sweets. Plan to open the package together over the holidays, whether in person, on a phone call or during a virtual video chat.

5Engage in a friendly contest Tap into your children’s playful side and competitive spirit with good-natured game time. Help them choose an easy but engaging game, like checkers. Board games are enjoying a comeback of sorts. If the grandparent is up for it, he or she could teach your child a more advanced game such as Backgammon, Scrabble or Monopoly. Card games that have proved popular for many decades include Go Fish, Rummy, Gin Rummy and Crazy Eights. Play best of five or create a tournament and play rounds against other family members, too.

— FamilyFeatures.com

Full STEAM Ahead

Playtime nourishes future career success

What if your family’s playtime was not just fun, but a pathway to future success? In a recent survey of parents conducted by OnePoll, 87% of respondents said the skills they learned while playing as a child helped them achieve success in their adult careers.

The study was commissioned by The Genius of Play, an online hub of expert-based resources for families. Skills the respondents named included creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, empathy and communication, all of which are highly valued across many different industries and careers.

For example, when it comes to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM), the ability to solve complex problems and think outside the box are key to driving innovation. That’s where enriching playtime comes in.

“Play driven by curiosity and wonder presents endless possibilities for STEAM learning,” says Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association, which spearheads The Genius of Play. “While many STEAM concepts may seem intimidating and lack real-world relevance when taught in a formal classroom environment, play gives kids an opportunity to engage in free, hands-on, child-led exploration, igniting their natural curiosity and fueling the innovative thinking they’ll need in future careers.”

To combine fun with learning and practical skill-building, consider these playtime ideas.

Build a car Find and use materials at home to create a car. For example, an empty juice carton can be turned into the car’s body, and a spool of thread can serve as wheels and an axle. Work together as a team to make the car move. Slide it down an incline, push it by hand or attach a balloon and use air as a propellant. Design additional cars to see which goes fastest or farthest.

Make colorful bubbles In a container, combine 1½ cups of hot water, ¼ cup of light corn syrup, ¼ cup of dish soap and washable paint and fill a glass jar half full. Make a wand out of a pipe cleaner. Explore how different shape wands change the shape of the bubbles. Or blow bubbles through a plastic drinking cup. Punch a small hole in the bottom to blow through and dip the wide, open end into the solution. Then make the hole larger and blow, to see the difference.

Experiment with cabbage colors Cabbage has tubes called xylem that allow water to be pulled up into their leaves, and you can watch this phenomenon in action. Slice each cabbage at the stalk and place in a jar of dyed water (made with food coloring). Watch the cabbage change color from the bottom up. Take notes. What do you observe after one hour, one day and one week?

For more ideas that encourage children to build lifelong skills, visit thegeniusofplay.org. Through play, you can develop your child’s drive to explore, inquire and investigate, setting them on a journey to career success in the future.

— Statepoint.net

R eal People. Real Power.

Yuletide

Refund

At their October meeting, Tideland EMC’s board of directors approved an $800,000 general retirement of member capital credits. Combined with refunds to the estates of deceased members which are likely to reach $580,490 by year-end 2021, the total amount refunded will reach $1.38 million. Refunds are made through a combination of checks and electric bill credits issued during the month of December. See Page E for a detailed explanation about capital credits and this year’s retirement.

Back to

School

After a year-long hiatus, Tideland EMC employees have headed back to local schools. We’re sharing important safety lessons and introducing the next generation of leaders to careers in the electric utility industry. If you’d like to schedule an event contact Heidi Smith at 252.944.2410 or heidismith@tidelandemc. com. We also offer adult safety training that is ideal for first responders.

4 reasons

not to use the on setting

Here are 4 reasons to avoid operating your HVAC system in the ON mode: 1. Higher energy costs: Since the fan is always running, you’re using more energy than when the fan only runs when your system is heating or cooling. 2. More frequent repairs: When set to ON, the fan runs more.

This can increase wear and tear on your blower and lead to costly blower repairs. 3. Increases humidity: Your AC won’t dehumidify your home as well as it should, when the fan is set to ON.

4. Worsens air duct leakage:

Most homes leak about 10% of the supply air and 12% of the return air through their duct system. So if the fan is blowing all the time, you’re always losing your conditioned air, running up your energy bills.

Warm up to energy savings

Act now to prevent high winter bills

Do a little. Save a lot. Everything you do, from flipping a switch to selecting a thermostat setting, can add up to big savings for your home or business.

Water heating

• Set water heater temperature at 120°F • Install water heater wrap per manufacturer’s instructions • Limit showers to 5-7 minutes • Install low-flow shower heads • Fix leaks

Air Sealing

• Caulk around plumbing pentrations that come through walls beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks. • Caulk wiring penetrations that lead from the crawlspace or into the attic. • Remember to shut fireplace dampers when the fireplace is not in use. • Weatherstrip and insulate your attic access door. • Seal rim joist cavities in your crawlspace. Pay special attention to bay windows which can be particularly leaky. • Make sure all windows are properly shut and locked.

Remove window air- conditioning units so those windows can be closed as well. If you don’t have storm windows or air insulated windows, inexpensive storm window kits are an ideal way to keep cold air out. Look for kits that include heat shrink plastic. • Weatherstrip exterior doors and install door sweeps.

HVAC

• Have your unit regularly tuned up for maximum efficiency. • Change or clean HVAC filters monthly and don’t use

heavily pleated filters unless your HVAC system’s return was specifically sized for higher rates of filtration. • Don’t close interior doors and air registers when using your central heat and air. Doing so restricts indoor airflow back to the return and will result in increased outdoor air infiltration from cracks around windows and doors and worsen existing duct leaks. • Have a heat pump? Then “set it and forget it” when setting your thermostat in the winter.

We recommend a 68°F setting.

If you have an electric furnace or baseboard heat, then practicing thermostat setback at night or when the home is unoccupied is recommended. • Check ducts for air leakage especially where the boot joins the subfloor. If you live in a multisection manufactured home pay close attention to the crossover duct and make sure it is sealed with a mastic paste or tape (not traditional duct tape).

Laundry

• Opt for cold water wash.

Today’s detergents are formulated for cold water wash. • Clean your dryer’s lint filter before the start of every load and be sure to clean your dryer vent on a regular basis. A clogged vent will not only significantly increase drying time, it also creates a fire hazard.

Knowledge is power

• Make this the year you routinely log into the Tideland member portal to view both your daily and hourly kilowatt hour consumption. • Enroll in high energy use alerts to prevent runaway energy use.

Apply now for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. Rights-of-way

maintenance schedule

Youth Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime, all-expenses-paid leadership travel opportunity. From the halls of Congress to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, youth tourists will explore the leadership lessons of our nation’s history and be immersed in the cooperative principles that define Tideland EMC.

While on Youth Tour, all transportation, meals, admissions to events and lodging will be arranged and paid for by Tideland.

What are we looking for in a Youth Tour candidate? We’re looking for someone who is outgoing and has a demonstrated ability to work well with others. With nearly 1,600 young people from across the country participating in the event, we’re looking for candidates eager to form new friendships, exchange ideas and find their own voice about the things they care about.

The Youth Tour dates for 2022 are June 18 through June 24. Applications must be received by Tideland EMC no later than January 21 and a winner(s) will be selected by January 31.

To apply, students must reside in a home served by Tideland EMC and must currently be a high school sophomore or junior.

Applications have been mailed to Tideland area high schools or you can download the application at tidelandemc.com.

Application Deadline January 21

Tideland has hired Lucas Tree Experts to trim trees in our rightsof-way. During December they will continue work on the Rose Bay circuit out of our Ponzer substation.

Gunnison Tree Service will continue to work on the Hyde County circuit out of our Pantego substation.

Lee Electrical construction contractors will be in the following areas: • Allen Road on the Dowry

Creek circuit • Orchard Creek Road on the

Merritt circuit • Hwy. 264 in Scranton on the

Rose Bay circuit

River City construction crews will continue work to install ductile poles on Hwy. 32 and Broad Creek Road in Washington.

Osmose crews will be conducting pole inspections in Manns Harbor and Ocracoke.

Remember to support these importance system maintenance operations. Proper tree care and pole inspections lead to greater system reliability.

Seasonal

Reminder

Close crawlspace vents

High School Seniors

Time to apply

Tideland EMC is now accepting college scholarship applications from high school seniors in Beaufort, Hyde, Washington, Pamlico, Dare and Craven counties. Applicants must be the dependent of a Tideland EMC member.

The co-op will award eight $1,000 scholarships. Two of the scholarships will be designated for students who plan to attend community college. Students have until Friday, March 4, 2022, to apply. An application may be downloaded at Tidelandemc.com.

For more information contact program coordinator Heidi Smith at 252.944.2410 or heidismith@ tidelandemc.com.

Message to members

Member meeting and margins

PAUL SPRUILL

GENERAL MANAGER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

On October 21, Tideland convened its first in-person annual meeting since 2019. While the meeting necessarily lacked the fanfare of pre-pandemic events, we appreciate those who made the effort to join us for the abbreviated business session. There was one item of business covered during the annual meeting that was not part of our May 2021 Annual Report to Members that I wanted to mention here.

After 30 years of service as Tideland’s general counsel, attorney Robert Page is retiring. If you’ve attended a co-op annual meeting in the last three decades then you’ve likely seen Bob in action, but his most important work was always behind the scenes. We appreciate his stewardship on our behalf and wish him well in retirement. Finally, as we close out the year, I am pleased that the board of directors was able to approve a general retirement of capital credits in the amount of $800,000. The refund is derived from member margins allocated during the year 1993. If you had service with Tideland that year you are among those who will receive a December refund. Because unclaimed capital credits must be escheated to the NC State Treasurer, it’s a good idea to make sure Tideland has your up-to-date address if you should move off-system so future refunds make their way to you. Thank you as always for the opportunity to serve you and your family. We wish all of you a happy and safe holiday season and look forward to serving you in the new year.

Board Elections

Four elected to another term of service

CHARLES SLADE District 4 PAUL SASNETT District 5 WAYNE SAWYER District 6 CLIFTON PAUL District 8

At the October annual meeting of members, incumbent directors Charles Slade, Paul Sasnett, Wayne Sawyer and Clifton Paul were each elected to serve an additional three-year term of service on Tideland’s board of directors.

Tideland Electric Membership Corporation is a not-for-profit member-owned cooperative. Tideland members share in the ownership, construction, maintenance and prosperity of the co-op.

When a person establishes service with us, they become a member and are eligible for capital credits. Capital credits represent a member’s share of the cooperative’s margins during the time they have membership.

At the end of each year, any funds (margins) remaining after expenses have been paid are allocated, based on percentage of electricity used, to the member’s account.

The allocated funds are used as operating capital for system improvements and maintenance.

ALLOCATION

An allocation is made annually for each member, based on the amount of electricity purchased. An allocation is the member’s share of the net margins. The co-op sets this money aside to be used as operating capital for improvements & maintenance over a period of years thus reducing co-op borrowing costs.

Annually, the board of directors evaluates Tideland’s financial condition to determine if we can retire capital credits and if so, what dollar amount. Part of that equation is the amount of capital credits already refunded year-to-date to the estates of deceased members. When the board elects to retire capital credits, we calculate the amount to pay each member based on a percentage of the member’s allocation for the year of service being retired.

Checks are mailed to members due a retirement of $50 or more. For amounts less than $50 or in the case of a delinquent account, the credit is applied to the member’s December electric bill. Qualifying FlexPay members receive their credit on December 2. Capital Credit Check

Capital credits represent an important cooperative principle: MEMBER ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION along with the return of local dollars to our hometown communities.

RETIREMENT

A retirement is the amount a member receives back as a refund. It is a portion of the total allocation. When capital is no longer needed for operating expenses, it is retired. The amount paid is decided annually by Tideland’s board of directors based on the financial needs of the cooperative.