2026-06-BEMC

June 2026

The magazine of

Maintaining Maintaining Momentum Momentum

for Rural NC

Published by

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June 2026

12

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Maintaining Momentum for Rural NC

FAVORITES

Gov. Josh Stein is building on a career of serving the underserved

4 Up Front

Windows To Another World The Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail offers a new Appalachian perspective

22 Making Waves

The Ebony Anglers are winning, from fishing tournaments to youth education

2 From Our Readers

6 Your Power 10 Carolina People 19 Energy Sense 24 I Remember 26 Carolina Adventures 27 Carolina Calendar 30 Carolina Kitchen 32 Snapshots 32 Where is This?

ON THE COVER

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein visited several communities in Western North Carolina in 2025, including this stop at the River Arts District in Asheville, to promote Helene recovery efforts as well as rural tourism. Read more about what the governor wants to achieve for rural North Carolina on page 8.

If you spot this icon, there's more to see online. Visit our website or scan this QR code to access extra recipes, an event map and more!

SCAN TO READ

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READER | LETTERS THIS MONTH

On the Water North Carolina’s rivers, lakes, sounds and beaches get a lot of attention this time of year, and for good reason. As the weather warms up, there’s no better spot to relax and cool off. The subjects we talked to for this issue have found even more of a reason to be on (or under) the water, which we’re happy to share. We’re also pleased to feature Gov. Josh Stein on our cover this month, who took time to discuss rural issues with us—you can find that interview on page 8 (as well as a nod to a favorite recipe of the first family's on page 30).

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 58, No. 6

Published monthly by

®

NC Electric Cooperatives

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950 Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer

—Scott Gates, editor

Tara Verna Creative Services Associate

FROM OUR READERS

Cover Model Mystery

Our April issue featured a photo of an unnamed equestrian courtesy of the Great Trails State Coalition. Try as they may to identify her, her name remained a mystery — until we heard from her mom, that is. Thank you to Leisha Smith for putting us in touch with her daughter, McKenna, who provided more insight into that popular photo:

This photo was taken during an especially meaningful time in my life, while I was working part time as a horseback trail guide at Dutch Creek Trails in Vilas [since relocated to Sugar Grove; dutchcreektrails.com], riding a spirited little mare named Firewater. At the time, I was also a full-time student at Appalachian State University while working part time as a veterinary assistant at Animal Emergency Clinic of the High Country.

Balancing school, work and time in the saddle was busy, but incredibly rewarding.

Being at Dutch Creek Trails gave me the opportunity to spend my “free” time doing what I love, surrounded by the beauty of the Appalachian region. Although I have since graduated from Appalachian State University and moved on to pursue a career as a veterinarian at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, I will always have fond memories of my time working at Dutch Creek Trails.

Donna Natosi Digital Strategist

Elated Equestrian

You have no idea how happy this makes me (as part of the equestrian community) that you’ve included equestrian trails (“Elevated Paths,” page 8)! In 2023 for the Year of the Trail we were barely even mentioned! North Carolina equestrians spend $2 billion dollars ANNUALLY on horse-related activities. Please continue to promote horse-related activities — because of all the logging, we are losing so many areas to ride each year! Keep up the great work!

Jonnie Blount, Person County A member of Piedmont Electric

Busy, Beneficial Worms

I was happy to read both composting articles in the March issue (“Compost Like a Pro,” page 10; “Give Your Food Scraps a Second Life,” page 20). I believe in the benefits of composting, and I personally do so through vermiculture (that is using composting worms to create the black gold from my kitchen scraps, leaves and shredded waste paper). Just one pound of worms can change 65 pounds of food waste into rich compost in 100 days. This is an excellent way to keep food waste from filling up landfills, to enrich your garden soil, and is a fun way to teach young people to care for our earth.

Beverly Kerkam, Wallace A member of Four County EMC

Dan Tomkiewicz Advertising Dan@carolinacountry.com Amadou Fall Executive Vice President & CEO Kristie Aldridge, CCC Senior Vice President & COO Warren Kessler Director of Brand Strategy North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses.

The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.

Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine?

Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year.

Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year.

Schools, libraries, $6.

Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460.

Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

Contact us Phone:

919-875-3091

Mail:

3400 Sumner Blvd.

Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Web:

carolinacountry.com

Social: Email:

editor@carolinacountry.com

Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address Experiencing a power outage?

Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service.

Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

2 | June 2026

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UP | FRONT

The Strength of Our Cooperative Network

By Amadou Fall

Some of you may recognize my name from past This structure lends itself to what we call columns in Carolina Country magazine where I the “cooperative difference.” The secret to our spoke about the innovative steps cooperatives success on these big picture issues is the prinare collectively taking to create a more resilciple of Cooperation Among Cooperatives. It ient electric grid. I’m now pleased to be able fosters open collaboration that gives us strength to address you in a new role, as CEO of North as a statewide network while also preserving Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, the Raleighanother unique aspect of cooperatives: local based wholesale power and transmission decision making. services provider, materials supplier and trade The fundamental concept of supporting the association for the state’s communities we serve was born out of necessity 26 electric distribution cooperatives. and has become all the more critical in a time This is an interesting when costs are rising. time to step into this When it comes down The state’s electric role. Many people across to it, we’re all focused co-ops harness North Carolina — and on one thing: providing a collective strength, across the country — are affordable, reliable power facing challenges related to the communities we coordinating through to the increased cost of call home. This shared the family of support living, which has impacted focus is what gives our organizations that is everything from gas to network strength.

North Carolina’s Electric groceries to yes, the elecI’m grateful for the tricity powering our lives. opportunity to work with Cooperatives.

Running an electric your electric cooperative utility takes significant and others across the investment, and co-ops are not immune to cost state to protect electric affordability and reliincreases across wholesale, transmission and ability through careful planning and thoughtful distribution operations. However, there’s a key decision making. difference between co-ops and other types of I encourage you to be a part of the cooperative electric providers. Electric co-ops are not-fordifference. Find ways to engage with your profit, which means the electricity delivered to local electric co-op. Attend an annual meeting, you is provided at the cost of doing business, whether it’s in-person or virtual. Keep reading never to make a profit for shareholders. about your co-op and our communities in To control costs, the state’s electric co-ops Carolina Country magazine, follow your co-op harness a collective strength, working together on social media, and connect with home energy through the family of support organizations solutions provided by your co-op. And never that is North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. hesitate to pick up the phone and reach out, Together, we chart a path for future generation knowing that the person on the other end of the needs, advocate for smart energy policies line is there to serve you. and leverage collective buying power on Amadou Fall is executive vice president and chief executive the materials needed to build and maintain officer of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. distribution systems.

4 | June 2026

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NCEC_20

POWERING A

Brighter Future

Many people in our community are facing challenging times, and no one wants to see rising bills. As a member of a not-for-profit electric cooperative, you are part of a collective effort to keep energy affordable and reliable. North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives serve their 2.8 million members, not shareholders. We harness the strength of our network to innovate, control costs, and build a brighter future, together.

Learn more at NCElectricCooperatives.com NCEC_2026-06_BrighterFuture.indd CC_JA.indd 5 1

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YOUR | POWER

NC Electric Cooperative’s CEO Joe Brannan Retires After a 20-year career serving the state’s electric cooperatives and their members, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives' Executive Vice President and CEO Joe Brannan retired in April.

Under his leadership as CEO since 2012, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives entered an era of innovation, rising to meet the demands of a changing industry by deploying advanced concepts including microgrids, solar + storage, and substation-based battery energy storage systems to enhance reliability and resiliency for their members.

Brannan has an engineering background and describes himself as a problem solver, having taken a curiosity in how things work from an early age.

“When I was 8 years old my dad was fixing a TV, and I got to see inside. He let me take out the vacuum tubes and reassemble them until I got it right,” Brannan said, remembering an early and formative accomplishment. “I also took a clock apart, although it had too many little parts. It did not work again.”

Brannan became a proven energy industry leader over the course of his career, offering insights and opinions on the future of the industry through countless speaking engagements, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and interviews with national publications. He also supported the electric co-op network through national leadership roles, including serving on the boards of directors for ACES Power Marketing, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the National Renewables Cooperative Organization.

He has long been an advocate of the cooperative business model and the co-op mission to empower members and communities. What’s Brannan’s secret to success?

“Be innovative and be determined. If we do

Key Drivers of Success In reflecting on his career, Brannan outlines three tenets that have guided him: 1. Embrace being a lifelong learner.

The more you learn, the more you realize how much you can learn.

2. Look at the future with optimism and engage the present with determination.

3. People are the foundation of all that can be achieved. Be respectful and create mutual benefits to every encounter you have.

that and stay focused on our co-op mission of service, that’s our guiding light. I think if we can put those together, we truly will build a brighter future.”

Upon Brannan’s retirement, Amadou Fall stepped into the role (see page 4), selected by the board of directors after a comprehensive national search.

A New Look at 80 Back in June 1946, members of electric cooperatives in North Carolina were treated to their first issue of Carolina Farmer, what would later be renamed Carolina Country magazine. This month we’re refreshing our look while continuing our mission of creating connections between electric co-ops and the communities they call home. Send us thoughts on the stories you’d like to see in the magazine by emailing editor@carolinacountry.com.

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YOUR | POWER

Electric Co-ops Highlight Energy Innovation at State Energy Conference

HITS

Josh Conner

At the 2026 State Energy Conference held in Raleigh last month, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives showcased how they are building a brighter future for their communities by implementing new and emerging technologies, and taking innovative approaches to meet evolving energy needs.

With hundreds of attendees from across North Carolina and the nation, the conference provided an opportunity to share the work electric cooperatives are doing with a broad audience, while also giving insight into real challenges utilities and member-consumers face.

“The questions and discussions that come out of events like this are often more important than the presentations,” said attendee and conference presenter Corey Thurlow, chief operating officer at Supply-based Brunswick Electric. “Those conversations matter.

They help us think a little deeper, learn from others, and build relationships with people who may be part of the solution. Collaboration is one of the ways we will find practical, affordable

QUICK

answers to the challenges facing utilities and our members.”

The two-day conference also gave cooperatives a chance to bring their unique perspective to a larger stage, joining industry leaders and partners from across the state and nation.

Nikki Lynberg, manager of Innovation & Business Development for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, presented on an electric vehicle telematics solution that accesses realtime vehicle data to help integrate EVs into the grid.

“Innovation is always top of mind for electric cooperatives as they explore new technologies and solutions to better serve their members,” she said. “As energy needs continue to evolve, co-ops remain focused on adapting and finding new ways to meet those demands.”

® NATIONAL TRAILS DAY Remember those NC state trails from the April issue? Find one on June 6 to celebrate National Trails Day! ® ALLIED INVASION | June 6 also marks the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy.

Visit carolinacountry.com/D-Day for a list of NC WWII museums. ® HONORING DAD | Is it a coincidence that National Donut Day and National Jerky Day happen in the same month as Father’s Day? We think not.

Honor the dads in your life on June 21. ® FOOD SAFETY | Picnic plans?

Bring a cooler—food should never sit out for more than one hour if temps are above 90 degrees.

—Josh Conner, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

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Maintaining Momentum for Rural NC

p w w h i $ i w r

Gov. Josh Stein is building on a career of serving the underserved

Q: Josh Stein will mark his second anniversary as North Carolina governor in January. As has become a Carolina Country magazine tradition (see sidebar), he sat down with us in the North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh to reflect on his time in office and address topics important to the state’s electric cooperatives and the rural communities they serve.

Gov. Stein grew up in Charlotte and Chapel Hill, going on to earn public policy and law degrees from Dartmouth College, Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Law School. He returned to North Carolina to practice law before serving in the state Senate, as well as eight years as NC attorney general. He credits his parents for raising him grounded in shared values of freedom and opportunity for all.

The state's first Jewish governor, Gov. Stein and First Lady Anna Stein are members of Temple Beth Or. They are proud parents of Sam, Adam and Leah, as well as two dogs, Harper and Lila. Lila joined him for his interview with Carolina Country.

—Scott Gates, editor

What do you see as the biggest challenges ahead for your first term as governor?

A: North Carolina is a special place

to call home — and more people and businesses are drawn to our state each year. We have earned the rankings of the best state for business, for economic development and for workforce development. We created more jobs than any other state [in the last three months of 2025]. And last year, we achieved our best year ever for announcements of new jobs and capital investment — 35,000 good-paying jobs and $24 billion of investment.

But we risk letting all of our progress slip through our fingertips. Last year, North Carolina was the only state in the country that did not pass a budget.

It’s been two-and-a-half years since the state last passed a comprehensive budget. In that time, many things have changed. The state has added more than 325,000 people; the cost of living has increased by more than 6%; we suffered the most damaging storm in state history; and the federal government is abandoning long-held financial commitments. Throughout these changes, North Carolina has not passed a full budget [at time of publication].

North Carolina’s success has been built on our people. Past leaders have

To send an email to Gov. Stein or follow him on social media, visit governor.nc.gov/contact.

invested in strong public schools and universities, safe communities, a strong health care system, reliable infrastructure and a skilled workforce.

These investments have been, and remain, worth making. This summer, I am calling on the General Assembly to pass a budget that puts people first, and I invite our legislative leaders back to the table to solve the problems North Carolinians are facing.

Q:

What do you think are the top contributors to North Carolina’s economic growth, and how can rural areas play a part in ensuring continued success?

A: North Carolina’s success comes from our people — hardworking, talented, resilient people in every corner of the state. And the people in rural communities working in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and small businesses are driving our state’s economy. In 2025, we brought $12.5 billion in investment and nearly 5,000 jobs to rural North Carolina. These developments are driving the greatest rural population growth we’ve seen here in more than a decade.

This spring, my team and I traveled the state on a Rural Listening Tour to hear directly from people about what their communities need to succeed.

What I heard over and over is that people want to be connected — to opportunity, to healthcare, and to each other. That’s why we’re

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s c 2 w b W o t t t t

Q

s W i s r

A

Q:

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are strong supporters of youth development.

What are your priorities for improving education across the state, and how are you helping rural areas stay competitive?

A: If you work hard, where you

come from should never limit how far you can go. That’s the promise of North Carolina, and if we want to deliver on that promise, we have to invest in our schools. But we don’t.

North Carolina is ranked 49th in the country on per pupil investment and 43rd in teacher pay. As a state, we pay starting teachers less than any of our neighboring states pay, causing a real challenge for our rural areas when it comes to recruiting

and retaining teachers. That’s why my proposal raises starting teacher pay to the highest in the Southeast and restores master’s degree pay for veteran teachers.

We also need to create job opportunities in every corner of our state so you don’t have to go to college to have a meaningful career and support your family. That’s why we are investing in career and technical education and apprenticeship programs that bring public schools, community colleges and employers together around our shared goal of connecting more students to good jobs with good wages.

When someone can build a career and stay closer to the place where they grew up, that’s a win for everyone. We have to keep building on these programs that give students a purpose and a future without having to leave home to find it.

I also launched an Energy Policy Task Force and tasked it with identifying solutions to protect households from costs resulting from data centers’ energy needs. The Task Force has already identified a few important policy changes here in North Carolina that could help protect residents from the costs of data centers.

The key is to keep the costs of data centers from being passed on to residential consumers. At the same time, if North Carolina is going to continue to create good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy, we’ve also got to build a diverse energy portfolio.

Electric cooperatives help us do that.

Q:

Stepping into the role of governor, what have you found to be most unexpected?

A: I wouldn’t say so much unexpected as it is affirming — it’s given me an opportunity to go everywhere in the state and meet many different types of folks. It’s just really wonderful to be inspired by so many North Carolinians.

[This spring we] rolled out our third Hurricane Helene recovery bill and I did it in Bakersville in Mitchell County, at a man’s home that had not been washed away but was ruined. He needs a completely new home, but his first priority had been working on relief efforts for the entire county. He’s only now getting around to rebuilding his own home. And that kind of selflessness is a story that played out dozens, hundreds, thousands of times, that just makes me feel really good about North Carolinians.

Q:

How do you see the state partnering with electric cooperatives to ensure energy remains both dependable and cost effective as demand and technology continue to evolve?

A: North Carolinians are struggling

with higher energy costs that make it harder to pay their light bills and put gas in their cars. With our state growing quickly, my office is taking action to ensure our residents can count on affordable power that’s built to last.

Our Energy Saver NC program [energysavernc.org] is saving people nearly $1,000 a year on their energy bills by making homes more efficient.

Governors

The pride of North Carolina’s

Volume 42, No. 2, The pride of North

Carolina’s electric

electric cooperatives

February 2010

Volume 47, No. 1 January

2015

cooperatives

Engaging with North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have long worked with public officials, regardless of party lines, to champion policies important to the communities they serve. Carolina Country magazine has joined this dialogue through the years by interviewing newly elected governors during their second year in office. Visit carolinacountry.com to read some of these past interviews.

August 2018

Gov. A Conversation with

Look Ahead

: Q&A Gov. Bev Perdue

INSIDE:

ALSO INSID E:

colleges Historically black wide world Electric co-ops se Amoco Remembering Valde PERIODICAL

ge 30 a country if…pa you’re from Carolin

Jan covers.indd

You know

1

The Four C’s for a healthy

Roy Cooper page 8

Published by

The governor’s vision The Golden Rule Learn and teach home — page 9

Our Piedmont Issue Starting on page 10

2018 Youth Tour Scrapbook page 7

PERIODICAL

pushing hard on rural broadband, with 320 projects underway that will connect more than 250,000 homes and businesses. It’s why we’ve invested more than $1.4 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure since last January. It’s why we’re strengthening access to rural health care.

North Carolina is home to the second-largest rural population in the country — more rural residents than 20 states have people. No matter where you live in North Carolina, you belong in our state’s success story.

We have more work to do to expand opportunity, but I’m grateful I got to hear directly from people across the state about how we can work together to create conditions for them to thrive.

Big changes for NC

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5/11/2026 3:19:43 PM

CAROLINA | PEOPLE

Nancy Dupuis, Seashore Oyster Company

A Shared Journey on Land and Water Oyster farmer Nancy Dupuis is building a family legacy

By Pamela A. Keene Former military officer and sales professional Nancy Dupuis runs Seashore Oyster Company of Beaufort with her son Maxime, making these briny delicacies available year-round.

Seeding oyster bags with thousands of tiny 6.4-millimeter oysters can be tedious, but it has become routine and rewarding for oyster farmer Nancy Dupuis of Beaufort. As co-owner of Seashore Oyster Company with her son Maxime, she’s accustomed to working hard and being patient until the tiny seeds grow into market-sized, 3-inch oysters.

“From the time we seed until harvest it can take 8 to 12 months, but there are so many steps in between that we stay very busy,” she says in her gently French-accented English. “But we don’t sit back and wait. Oysters require much care and monitoring to ensure that they are developing correctly.”

Nancy is accustomed to hard work. Growing up on a family farm raising pigs and producing maple syrup alongside her father and mother, she also served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces after graduating from the College Militaire Royal. After five years at the military college and six years of active duty, she retired in 2000 and began a new career in the wood veneer industry.

Her experience, skills and industry knowledge led her to Beaufort in 2008. About 10 years later, she began her own firm and continues to work in the wood veneer industry.

“Seven years ago, I started looking around our area and realized that we were perfectly located on the waterfront to start a marine-related business,” she says. Research led her a couple of years later to the NC Shellfish Farming Academy at Carteret Community College.

“My goal was to create a family business with Maxime and be able to leave a legacy for both my children, Maxime and Emy,” Nancy says. “I

had fallen in love with this area and wanted to have a life the way I’d grown up on the farm.”

In 2022, she applied for a shellfish lease on the North River in front of their property. She and Maxime opened Seashore Oyster Company LLC in 2023. They seeded their first oyster bags in August 2023 and harvested their first oysters in June 2024.

Word spread quickly about their oysters and clams, and in the first 19 months they had more than 35 customers — from seafood markets and private chefs to restaurants, distributors and individual buyers.

“I am so proud that we’ve accomplished more than we ever imagined,” she says.

As if her fulltime sales career and managing Seashore Oyster Company weren’t keeping her busy enough, she and Maxime now conduct guided oyster tours during the summer.

“We take guests to our oyster farm, passing wild horses on Carrot island and dolphins in Taylor Creek or North River,” Nancy says.

“They learn about our farming practices, what we do daily and about the North Carolina shellfish industry. Our guests learn how to shuck their oysters and then get to eat them. It can’t get any better than that.”

Through it all Nancy prioritizes conservation, preservation and environmental sustainability.

She calls it her dream.

“I feel truly fortunate to share this journey with my family — working side by side on the land and water, overcoming challenges, celebrating successes, and building memories and a legacy that will last for generations.”

Pamela A. Keene is a freelance journalist who writes for magazines and newspapers across the Southeast and nationally.

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Your electric Co-op powers your home.

Nancy Dupuis, Seashore Oyster Company

We power your financial life. $1 funds your membership to join this member-owned financial cooperative.

Built for you. Designed to do more with your money every day.

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ElecTel.org • 800.849.5600 3400 Sumner Blvd, Raleigh NC 27616 See credit union for details. Federally insured by NCUA.

Savor Life’s Sweet Moments.

Relish the sights and sounds of summertime in Alamance County. While visiting, explore our area and downtowns to linger over coffee, shop in unique gift shops & boutiques and enjoy a new dining experience.

Save The Date:

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You’ll find small surprises lead to big memories in Alamance County.

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Learn more at VISITALAMANCE.COM

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5/6/2026 10:37:13 AM

Windows

World to another

The Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail offers a new Appalachian perspective

By Renee C. Gannon

When you think of snorkeling, your mind conjures images of turquoise blue waters, coral reefs and tropical fish. In the mountains of North Carolina, a different underwater adventure awaits where you discover native fish, reptiles (including the famous hellbender), invertebrates, and even an otter or mink.

Snorkeling in Appalachian waters isn’t about thrillseeking or finding Nemo, it’s an immersive experience where you learn about your surroundings in slow-moving water less than two feet deep. With a little patience, the snorkeler becomes the focus of the wildlife’s curiosity, leading to encounters with what lives beneath the rippling water.

Kevin Merrill, a freshwater biologist and owner of Oxbow Outfitters in Rosman, says many of the species in these waters are small, cryptic or active only inches from the streambed.

“Without a mask, they are easy to miss. With one, the river becomes something closer to an underwater savannah.”

Kevin opened Oxbow in 2016 as a way to share his enjoyment of snorkeling that blends science, recreation and conservation. He challenges long-held assumptions about North Carolina’s mountain rivers.

“When I first started talking about snorkeling here, people would say ‘Snorkeling? In a river?’” he says with a laugh. “They had never made the connection.”

Kevin’s guided excursions focus on education, teaching snorkelers how fish depend on each other, how land use upstream affects life downstream, how a healthy river is less about one “superstar” species and more about balance.

Education is the point. “If you want people to care about our rivers,” he says, “you have to show them what’s actually there. We then protect what we understand.”

A growing trail Kevin shared his snorkeling enthusiasm with friend Luke Etchison, a conservation biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The idea of a

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For more information: ncfishes.com/blue-ridge-snorkel-trail

Oxbow River Snorkeling

Kevin Merrill (inset), a freshwater biologist and owner of Oxbow Outfitters

trail was born. With support from a myriad of stakeholders — the commission, NC Wildlife Federation, Mountain True, Mainstream Conservation Trust, Western Carolina University, Tennessee Valley Authority, NC American Fisheries Society, Watauga and Catawba Riverkeepers, and local government and economic development entities — the first Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail access site opened in 2023 at Mills River Park in Mills River. This summer, approximately 21 sites will be open from the state’s southern border up to the Virginia line, including 8 new sites in Watauga County (2 more planned) and one in Virginia.

Each access site features an information kiosk with photos of various species a snorkeler may encounter. Kevin helped fund the Transylvania County’s French Broad River at Champion Park site in Rosman, where the headwaters of the French Broad begin.

Andy Hill, a biologist and the Watauga Riverkeeper, traces his passion to protecting and educating about the mountain’s waterways to his years spent flyfishing.

“I thought I knew what was in the water,” Andy says, “but until I got in there with a mask and snorkel, I had no idea how much life I was missing.”

He now rarely travels without a wetsuit, snorkel or viewing bucket in his truck. He’s excited for the Watauga sites to open this summer.

“Our rivers are incredibly diverse. They are also resilient and timeless, teeming with life, rebirth and discovery,” Andy says. “The Southern Blue Ridge portion of the Appalachians are home to an incredible treasure trove of wonder. Vibrant native fish and water clarity that rivals a tropical reef, filled with ancient and magnificent creatures that are not found anywhere else on the planet.”

All involved in the trail echo the same sentiment about sharing the waters’ importance. Andy adds: “It’s educating the public about the beauty and fragility of our shared rivers—the vital natural, cultural and economic resources that make Appalachia special.”

The trail checks a lot of boxes for tourism in the region.

It offers a unique experience not available everywhere, spotlighting a natural resource and includes an educational component tied to outdoor recreation. Kevin believes it could become a species checklist for enthusiasts, similar to birdwatching.

“Together, these elements make it an attractive, meaningful offering for visitors,” adds Clark Lovelace, executive director of Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) in Brevard. The TDA recognized the value of the French Broad, the third-oldest river in the world, and sought ways to support the river and its environs, helping fund access in the county.

What to expect Snorkeling is remarkably accessible and a low- to no-cost activity, whether you go on a guided excursion or seek out an access point on your own. And it’s available for most ages and abilities.

A mask and snorkel provide the entry into this world.

Both Kevin and Andy believe wetsuits are helpful, especially in colder months and rocky areas, as well as heavily fished areas that may have lost lures hidden underwater.

Local outfitters stock gear, and some access points in Watauga County, such as at the Valle Crucis Community Park access on the Watauga River, will offer gear through the educational programs.

Those with a wetsuit could enjoy a longer snorkeling season, from March through November, but the typical carolinacountry.com | 13

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••

Blue Ridge Snorkel Sites for 2026 Visit ncfishes.com/blue-ridge-snorkel-trail for information about the trail and each of these snorkel sites, including access information and what you can expect to spot underwater.

Swannanoa darter

Tennessee shiner

Stoneroller

Hellbender

season runs May to October, depending on the weather. May and into June is the best time to snorkel, despite the cooler water temperatures, because the spring spawning fish are colorful.

When asked what he marvels at, Kevin mentions the small darter fish that flash in jewel-bright colors, the river chubs that stack stones in elaborate nests that other species rely on for spawning, and the freshwater mussels, the “livers of the river,” that filter the water, cleaning gallons an hour. In the mountains, there are about 90 species of fish alone, hundreds of millions of invertebrates, snakes, turtles, salamanders and crayfish. And the hellbender? Yes, Kevin's excursions experience encounters with these unique creatures.

Future of the trail More snorkel sites are in the planning stages, with expansion plans into Clay, Cleveland, Avery and Burke

counties. Hurricane Helene slowed the planning progress. Right now, the team is prioritizing adding sites in the Catawba River watershed.

Luke states that the main criteria for a possible site include six points: public access; safe river access; quality parking; an often clear waterway; a unique snorkeling experience; and most important, within 20 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which covers quite a bit of the foothills and parts of the Piedmont.

“The Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail was created to give folks the opportunity to experience the beauty and wonders of our rivers in the Blue Ridge … in order for people to appreciate and take care of our rivers and streams,” Luke adds. “What better way to connect with our rivers than diving in headfirst with a snorkel and mask?”

Renee C. Gannon is senior associate editor for Carolina Country.

• Mills River Park Mills River, Henderson County • Veterans Park Swannanoa River, Buncombe County (temporarily closed due to Helene damage, reopening soon) • Pigeon River Pigeon River, Haywood County • East LaPorte Park Tuckasegee River, Jackson County • Queens Branch Little Tennessee River, Macon County • Cheoah River Access at Joyce Kilmer Rd Bridge, Cheoah River, Graham County • Marion Greenway Catawba River, McDowell County • Stone Mountain State Park East Prong Roaring River, Wilkes County • Bryson City Island Park Tuckasegee River, Swain County • Valley River Heritage Park Valley River, Cherokee County • Champion Park French Broad River, Transylvania County • Laurel Community Center Shelton Laurel Creek, Madison County • Damascus Town Park Laurel Creek, Washington County, VA • Valle Crucis Community Park Watauga River, Watauga County* • Clawson Burnley Park South Fork New, Watauga County* • Watauga Gorge River Access Watauga River, Watauga County* • Guy Ford Road Park Watauga River, Watauga County* • 194 Watauga Access Watauga River, Watauga County* • Brookshire Park New River, Watauga County* • Sterling Park on the Middle Fork Greenway Middle Fork New River, Watauga County* • Boone Gorge Park on the Middle Fork Greenway 321 Access Middle Fork New River, Watauga County* *Watauga openings planned for 2026

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🁆

June 2026

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

Columbus County Community Farmers Market

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troll among the vendors at the Columbus County Community Farmers Market and you can fill your bag with your choice of highquality locally grown produce, sweet and savory treats, local honey, fresh eggs, fresh juices, FDA-approved meats and a wide variety of handmade artisan crafts.

In a separate area, you’ll also find live chickens, goats, geese and other small farm animals for sale. We asked Selena King, market president, to tell us more.

“We’re a non-profit, on a mission to connect farmers and talented crafters and chefs with the community. We have room for 20 vendors inside our building.

The booths have power outlets, lights and fans, and we have a huge yard that can accommodate 80 more. It’s $10 a day

to rent a booth, we keep it intentionally affordable, and it’s a great way to start a business. My mother-in-law started selling her brand of cow patty cookies here, and now she’s in 38 Fresh Food locations. We even have a commercial grade kitchen that we rent to up-andcoming chefs for $30 an hour, as long as they have the required permits.

One of the first things you’ll probably notice when you visit is that everyone is welcoming, and there’s a strong sense of community. We’re one big happy family, all ages, races and religions, and the vendors and customers alike are very supportive of each other. You can snack on a homemade sourdough cinnamon roll while you talk with a farmer about how they grow their food and drink some fresh juice while you chat with a chef about how they flavor their jams.

I’m always trying to find new ways to use the market to better serve the community. We have a seniors’ program through the department of aging where anyone 62 or older can apply for $5 vouchers for produce, eggs and honey.

We have a children’s learning center with raised beds where we grow all

kinds of vegetables and have educational signage. And I have bingo and dances planned for Saturday nights; family friendly, to give the kids and everyone something fun to do. But the main focus will always be connecting vendors with community.

We’re open February through December, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

We have special events one Saturday per month, including old-fashioned farm day in June, watermelon day in July, back to school day in August, honey day in September, and chicken bog and barbeque day in October. You can find details on our Facebook page. Please come see us, you’ll be most welcome!”

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Columbus Co. Farmers Market 132 Government Complex Road Whiteville, NC

b In F

Phone 910-234-3224 Facebook: columbuscountycommunityfarmersmarket

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Capital Credits: How a Member Benefit Puts Money Back in Your Pocket

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Have you ever wondered how being a member of BEMC benefits you beyond reliable power? We actually put money back in your pocket. That benefit is called capital credits, and here’s how it works.

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Electric co-ops are owned by the members they serve That means we operate without a profit motive, focusing instead on delivering safe, reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost.

So what happens when there’s money left over at the end of the year?

Allocating your share back to you Each year, after covering operating expenses and planning for future improvements, the remaining funds are called margins. If we were an investor-owned utility instead of a co-op, those funds might go to outside investors. Instead, the margins are allocated back to you. è You earn them automatically based on how much electricity you use each year è The more electricity you purchase, the larger your share of the margins è We keep track of the margins you earn each year

Why doesn’t the co-op pay them out right away?

The co-op uses these margins to: è Maintain steady cash flow è Reduce the need for borrowing è Invest in infrastructure and reliability improvements

This approach helps keep rates stable over time, which benefits us all.

When do you get paid?

Periodically – typically every couple of years – the co-op’s board of directors determines if it’s financially responsible to approve returning margins from certain years to the membership – and then we do so in the form of capital credit payments. If you were a member during those years, you receive a check in the mail for your share.

What if you move?

Even if you move out of the service area, your capital credits don’t disappear. As long as the co-op has your current mailing address, you’ll still receive any future payments you’re owed.

A benefit that comes full circle Capital credits are more than just a check, they’re a reflection of the cooperative difference. You’re not just a customer, you’re an owner. And everything your co-op does is with you in mind.

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Not signed up for Capital Credits? Call xxx-xxx-xxxx today to get started!

5/8/26 5:18 PM

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Planning an Infrastructure for Maximum Efficiency

By Robert Maxwell, Vice President of Engineering and Operations

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eeping reliability high while keeping costs as low as possible is something we’re all acutely focused on every day. Your cooperative is in the top 10% in the nation for the shortest length of power outages per household per year. We take pride in forecasting, planning and building so that we can meet increasing demand, without overbuilding. We only spend on things that directly benefit our membership.

In February, we experienced a peak load that was 15% higher than our previous highest demand, and our system performed well.

We’re currently wrapping up a four-year construction work plan, which included upgrading transmission lines by replacing wooden poles with concrete and increasing conductor size and capacity, for increased efficiency and an enhanced ability to withstand storms. A new distribution substation is nearing completion, and three more are in the planning and design stages, so that we can better serve existing and new members. Distribution line improvement projects are ongoing.

We invest in reliability by continuing to convert overhead distribution lines to underground; more than two-thirds of our lines are now underground. We do a complete visual

patrol of our entire system each year, using drones for inspection of our transmission facilities and distribution lines in hard-to-access areas; this allows us to identify issues before they become problems, and helps us identify new ways to be proactive in increasing reliability. Our ongoing Right-of-Way maintenance program is another way we work to prevent outages.

We informally share what we’ve learned about keeping reliability high and costs down, amidst growing demand, at co-op engineering conferences – and co-ops share best practices with us as well. We learn from each other because we’re not in competition, and because we believe that members of all cooperatives deserve the best service possible.

But just because we’re not in competition doesn’t mean that we don’t think we’re exceptional, and that we don’t continue to strive to be. We lead the industry in several important ways, including reliability, and we’re proud of the strength and resilience of our system. Our entire team is focused on continually improving reliability, while being as efficient as possible. This member-centered orientation gives us a sense of purpose, drives our actions, and hopefully delivers results that make you glad to be a member.

Updating your Contact Information is Quick, Easy and Important!

Do we have your most recent mobile phone number and email address? If not, please consider emailing info@bemc.org or calling 800-842-5871 and updating our records. Why is it important? Two reasons:

1

If the mobile phone you use to report an outage is the one we have associated with your account, it can speed up the restoration process. Our system can automatically locate you.

2

If we have your email address we can send you periodic emails containing important information and updates.

Thanks for helping us serve you better!

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:

Lisa Danford Lisa Danford has been with BEMC for 13 years, first as a Cashier, then as a Member Services Representative and now as a Work Order Specialist. Everything being routed to GIS or Accounting goes through her first. Fun Fact: On a recent whirlwind trip to New York City, she and five extended family members found themselves in Times Square at 8 a.m. “We had the place to ourselves, it was deserted and so cool. I’m not a big fan of crowds so it was perfect.” è Family and faith are central to your life? Ricky and I have been married for 38 years. We have two daughters; Taylor who is married to Kyle, and Niki who has a daughter, Annalee. Ever since Annalee was born, I would go to her house every day at lunch to see her, until she started school. She’s in third grade now, and I still see her pretty much every day. She’s smart and funny, and just fun to be around, and well, obviously I adore her. I love spending time with my daughters too, they’re like my best friends, and we hang out, go thrifting, go to the beach, do anything together, and with Annalee of course.

Besides his full-time job, Ricky is Pastor of the small church we founded, Place of Grace Ministries. I have Women’s Bible Study on Tuesday and Thursday nights at our home. Family and friends come to it too, and I’ll cook for everyone, or others will share the cooking. On Sundays I get up early to cook, and then after church everyone in the family comes back to the house for lunch. It’s wonderful. è What other things do you enjoy doing? We have a camper, and have been to the mountains with it, which I absolutely love, and we’ll use it a lot more when we retire. But I could never leave the beach. The beach is my happy place, and once I get there, I don’t want to leave. I love to do all kinds of crafting.

I’m doing bible tassels now, and bible study baskets. I did one for a United Way fundraiser and someone bought it and liked it so much I’m making more for them for other occasions. I do flower arrangements for weddings too. It’s like therapy, it clears my mind. Bowling is also a passion, and I really enjoy going to Panthers' home games.

Front L-R: Lisa, Annalee, Ricky; back L-R: Kyle, Taylor, Niki

BRUNSWICK ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION | CUSTOMER SERVICE ( 800) 842-5871 | bemc.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Larry Fowler David Gore PRESIDENT

S E C R E TA R Y T R E A S U R E R

Glenn Humbert

Calvin Duncan

VICE PRESIDENT

A S S T. S E C R E TA R Y T R E A S U R E R

This institution is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Kim S. Anderson Moses Herring Perry Sellers

Dan Strickland Frederick Tedder John Ward

Joshua L. Winslow

Dennis Worley

CEO/G ENER AL MANAGER

AT T O R N E Y

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ENERGY | SENSE

Easy Efficiency Low- to no-cost ways to save energy

By Miranda Boutelle

Saving energy doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars or get the newest technology to use less energy. There are several steps to lower energy use, even on a tight budget.

Here are some low- and no-cost ways to save energy around your home.

Adjusting the thermostat is an easy way to save. Nudge the thermostat a few degrees closer to the outside temperature, especially on extreme weather days (and if you have a heat pump system, leave it set to a consistent temperature). I often hear people say, “I didn’t change anything, and my bill is higher.” On the hottest and coldest days, your heating and cooling equipment must work much harder, and use more energy, to maintain the same temperature. Add an extra layer of clothes or some cozy slippers in the winter and lighter layers in summer.

Fix any hot water leaks or dripping faucets.

Those tiny drips can add up to big energy waste, not to mention water waste, and for well users, even a faucet drip or running toilet tank can make your pump work overtime. If you need to hire a pro to fix it, turn the shutoff valve near the source to stop the leak until you can get it fixed.

Wash clothes in cold water to avoid using the energy required to heat it. Washing on hot or warm settings can really add up, especially if you have a top-load or older washing machine that uses more water.

Adjusting the temperature on your water heater can save energy and money, too.

Depending on the water heater, this is either an easy adjustment or something a little more complicated that requires removing access panels. If you don’t know how, consult a professional.

Air sealing is a do-it-yourself, beginner-friendly project that improves comfort and reduces energy waste. For around $20 and couple hours of time, you can fill gaps, cracks and holes to prevent air from leaking in and out of the home.

From the inside of the home, seal trim on windows and exterior doors with caulk for about $4 a tube.

Buy paintable caulk so you can touch it up when it dries, if needed.

A can of spray foam is about $5 and seals gaps around plumbing lines. It’s great for sealing gaps around pipes under sinks and in the crawlspace or basement. Cold air can travel up through those spaces, causing drafts and wasting energy.

Air sealing these areas gets bonus points for stopping insects and rodents from using these gaps to enter your home.

Spray foam is messy and nearly impossible to get off whatever it touches, so wear disposable gloves and clothes you don’t mind dirtying, and use drop cloths to protect finished floors. Be careful if you’re working with spray foam overhead.

If you get it in your hair, it’s not coming out with anything less than a haircut. Move any items and clean surfaces of dust and debris in areas you intend to seal before cracking open a can. Put the can in a cardboard box to carry throughout the house so you don’t leave a trail of spray foam.

For $10 to $15, you can buy weatherstripping to improve the seal on exterior doors. If you can see light around doors or feel a draft between the door and the door jamb when the door is closed, weatherstripping will help.

Try these easy, low- and no-cost improvements to reduce energy waste and improve comfort in your home.

This column was written by Miranda Boutelle of the Efficiency Services Group. Visit CarolinaCountry.com/your-energy for more ideas on energy efficiency.

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waves MAKING

The Ebony Anglers are winning, from fishing tournaments to youth education

By Vanessa Infanzon

In July 2020, a week before competing in a fishing tournament, members of Ebony Anglers, a deepsea fishing team based in the Triangle region, gathered on a sandbar near Emerald Isle. With feet in the water, Tiana Ives Davis, Lesleigh Mausi, Gia Peebles and Glenda Turner got acquainted.

“It was a moment where we saw what we could be,” Gia says. “As we talked and learned more about each other and bonded, ideas flowed. We all knew we were about to embark on something new and exciting, [and there was] a little bit of uncertainty associated with it.”

That next weekend, the all-women team competed for the first time. Ebony Anglers won first prize in the species category for a 48-pound king mackerel in the Carteret Community College Spanish & King Mackerel Tournament.

This accomplishment captured the attention of BBC Sports, The New York Times and the “Today” show.

“Even at that time, we all kind of felt there was something on the horizon, something bigger than we had imagined,” Tiana says. “We didn’t realize the impact we would have on that local area and on the fishing industry.”

On tournament day, members of Ebony Anglers meet at the dock by 5 a.m. and start with a prayer. Each member’s entrepreneurial spirit strengthens their role on the team. Glenda operates a nail salon and Airbnb; she scouts out tournaments and suggests options for boat captains. Tiana runs catering and hospitality companies; she makes sure the team is nourished with food and drink. Gia co-owns a salon and insurance agency; she’s the team’s captain and coordinates logistics and tournament selection. Lesleigh, a former educator, founded several companies including concert promotions and a luxury car service; she leads the team’s prayers and handles public relations.

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V n o A w

The Ebony Anglers (L-R), Glenda, Lesleigh, Tiana and Gia, took hom e a prize with a 40-pound Wahoo at a 2025 international fishing tournament in Barbados.

“Once we get out there, we fall into rhythm,” Tiana says.

“Most often, there are at least four lines in the water. Once a line hits (a fish is on the line), whoever is up at bat will go and grab that rod. I think we work really well as a team, supporting each other in the fight for the fish.”

Casting a wide net

With a spotlight on the team’s achievements, Ebony Anglers saw an opportunity to form Ebony Anglers Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to “cultivate confidence, character and competence in youth through the outdoor sporting lifestyle of fishing and boating.”

Since 2021, the foundation has been hosting camps and educational programs for boys and girls ages 8 through 12.

Through mentorship and hands on learning, children learn the fundamentals of fishing including the parts of a fishing rod, how to cast, tie a knot and use bait and lures.

When the 25 to 30 campers arrive for Flagship Camp: Fishing Fundamentals at Falls Lake State Recreation Area in Durham, they receive breakfast, a nametag and a T-shirt. The campers learn about conservation and stewardship and move through educational stations staffed by members of Ebony Anglers and volunteers. After lunch, campers fish from the piers and the shore. They end the day discussing what they learned, and each child leaves with a fishing rod and a tackle box.

Visit ebonyanglers.com to learn more about Ebony Anglers and the nonprofit Ebony Anglers Foundation.

This year’s flagship youth camp is on Aug. 1. Registration opens online in late June, and spots are limited. Adults with outdoor and fishing experience are welcome to sign up on the website to volunteer.

Since 2023, Ebony Anglers Foundation has been partnering with the National Park Foundation to replicate the Fishing Fundamentals camp outside North Carolina. In 2025, the Barbados Fisheries Division requested the foundation build an ongoing program for its Barbadian children.

“We hear from so many parents that the kids are still fishing because they have the equipment,” Lesleigh says. “They have the skills. They have the fundamentals. All they have to do is get to a body of water.”

Reeling in future anglers

Isaiah Sanders, a 16-year-old high school student from Wendell, heard about Fishing Fundamentals through his mom. Though skeptical at 12, Isaiah decided to attend the camp in 2022. He’d fished in the past but didn’t understand the basics until spending the day at Falls Lake with Ebony Anglers. Isaiah left with stronger fishing skills and the desire to volunteer in the future.

“I introduced myself to new people,” he says. “The environment was very welcoming.”

In 2024, Isaiah joined Legacy Camp, Ebony Angler’s day program for young anglers who completed Fishing Fundamentals and want to learn salt water fishing.

Campers fish from a boat and gain knowledge about the role the Outer Banks plays in wildlife.

Isaiah participated in a second Legacy Camp in 2025.

When he’s not fishing or in school, he’s a counselor in training at the Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham. He’s considering studying biology in college. “[The camps] can expose you to a different environment,” Isaiah says. “You might like it, or you might not. In the end, you usually appreciate the experience.”

Vanessa Infanzon moved to Charlotte for college and never left.

When she’s not writing about business or travel, she’s paddle boarding on the Catawba River.

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I Remember …

My ‘Other Half’ My brother Brett and I were born in the late 1960s and grew up in the Dixie Land Acres neighborhood in east Asheboro. In those days, he was truly my other half.

When I wasn't ruining his birthday fun by sitting on his toy car, we got along very well and made up our own games, such as playing spies in the back seat of the family Oldsmobile and pretending the seatbelt buckles were walkie talkies. We also loved creating our own space capsules from discarded refrigerator boxes given to us by our grandfather, who was a builder.

But our favorite game was me sitting on his shoulders with a blanket wrapped around us. He would walk my much taller self around the house, and I would introduce us to everyone as “Big Person.”

Ashley Harris, Asheboro, a member of Randolph EMC

Yes to the Red Corvette In 1968 I was a sophomore at Wingate University. My friend, Pat, and I were riding around one Saturday night when we met two boys at a local grill in Oakboro.

We started talking and arranged for dates on the following weekend.

The next week, Pat called me on one of the only two phones located in my dorm, both down in the building’s basement (no cell phones then, of course). “Your date can’t go,” she said.

I replied, “Good, I didn’t want to go anyway.”

Pat said, “They have a replacement.”

“I am not going!” I insisted.

“Well, he has a red ’65 Corvette Convertible…” said Pat. “I’ll go!”

Thus began my 54-year spin with Johnny Carpenter.

Many memories were made during this time that I will always cherish. And Corvettes were always in the picture.

Later in life, he would call and ask: “You want to go for a ride?” I would go out and there he would be in another Corvette! He once said, “According to Barbara, Corvettes come only in two colors: Red and Ugly.”

We were married for 51 years before he passed in 2021.

It was a good ride, and I am so glad I said, “I’ll go.”

Barbara M. Carpenter, Oakboro, a member of Blue Ridge Energy

Send Us Your Memories We love sharing photos and memories dear to our readers. Submit your photo, plus roughly 200 words that describe it, online or by mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want it returned (only one entry per household, per month). Include your name, mailing address, phone number or email address, and the name of your electric co-op. We retain reprint rights, and we’ll pay $50 for those we publish. Online: carolinacountry.com/contact U.S. Mail: I Remember, Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616

24 | June 2026

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5/6/2026 10:39:30 AM

CAROLINA | ADVENTURES

Full Steam Ahead The Southeast Old Threshers Reunion celebrates 56 years

By Vanessa Infanzon | Photos courtesy of Threshers Reunion

In 1988, Jeff and Kathryn Taylor traveled three hours from Castle Hayne in New Hanover County, with their one-year-old daughter, to the Southeast Old Threshers Reunion at Denton FarmPark in Davidson County. It was their first time attending the annual event.

“We have not missed a year since and neither has our daughter,” Kathryn says. “Our son came along four years later, and I don’t think he’s missed a year either. It is a family affair. We have four campsites.”

Since 1970, Denton FarmPark has been hosting the Southeast Old Threshers Reunion over the Fourth of July weekend. This year, the show is June 30 to July 4. Over five days, more than 50,000 visitors will listen to live music, browse through various museums, view 1,500 tractors, ride on the train and watch demonstrations and tractor pulls on the property’s 170 acres. Many set up RVs and tents to stay for the entire show.

Most years, the Taylor family, including children, in-laws and grandchildren, bring six pedal tractors and a ride-on toy for children, to show.

“Most of [the pedal tractors] have historical significance to our family,” Kathryn says. “One

of ours belonged to Jeff when he was a child. He found it in the back of his parents’ shed and he restored it. They mean something.”

From Fly-In to Reunion In the 1960s, Brown Loflin bought land in Denton to build a private airstrip for a Cessna he co-owned with a friend. Brown, a jack-ofall-trades, owned a boxspring manufacturing plant, worked as a mechanic and raced cars at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem.

When a local rescue squad needed new equipment, Brown coordinated a Fly-In, a community event with local pilots, on July 4, 1970, to raise funds to buy a generator.

“Local people would pay to ride an airplane,” says Karen Miller, Brown’s daughter. “It became quite popular, and they did that for several years.”

As the event grew, Brown incorporated thresher machinery demonstrations. Threshers, a type of farm equipment that separates seeds from stalks and husks by beating the plant, provided entertainment for those waiting for a ride in a plane.

“My dad would keep adding things,” says Karen, an EnergyUnited member. “He had a

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Power Up The Southeast Old Threshers Reunion celebrates agriculture, history and music in a family-friendly environment.

Follow these tips for a successful show: ® Start the weekend on a high note and support the Tractor Ride and Tractor Ride Benefit Auction on June 29 and 30, respectively. This year, the funds benefit Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry in Davidson and Randolph Counties. Visit dentonfarmpark.com/ tractor-ride for more details.

CAROLINA | CALENDAR

Events: June Blue Ridge Fiber Fest 05 June 5–6 Alleghany County Fairgrounds, Sparta | 336-372-5473

Nature Photography Weekend

June 5–7

Grandfather Mountain, Linville 828-733-2013

Ocrafolk Festival June 5–7

® Book a campsite or RV site early; spaces sell out each year.

Ocracoke Island Village 252-921-0260

® Watch the Southeast Threshers Queen Pageant on June 30. The winner receives a scholarship for postsecondary education.

Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament

® Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and be prepared to travel along gravel and paved paths. Most buildings are equipped with a ramp. The train offers a lift for guests using a wheelchair. ® Visit dentonfarmpark.com/events for information to plan your trip.

June 5–14

Downtown Morehead City 252-247-3575

Great Trent 06 The River Raft Race

June Bloom Lavender Festival June 13–14

Sunshine Lavender Farm, Hurdle Mills | 919-414-4982

Endless Yard Sale 19 301 June 19–20 100 miles along US Highway 301, Selma | 919-989-8687

Frag Fest LAN Party June 19–21

Bring Your Own Console or Computer gaming event VFW Post 10630, Hope Mills 910-302-6966

Plant Sale 20 Native and Fundraiser Daniel Boone Native Gardens, Boone | 919-744-1993

Cars and Carnivores

Juneteenth Celebration

Downtown Wake Forest 919-523-5991

Epps Recreation Center, Greenville | 252-329-4246

Lavender Days at Running Creek Lavender

U-Pick lavender garden Running Creek Lavender, Locust 704-467-4638

Vanessa Infanzon moved to Charlotte for college and never left.

When she’s not writing about business or travel, she’s paddle boarding on the Catawba River.

Downtown Dillsboro

Union Point Park, New Bern 252-637-3111

June 6–13

passion for saving local buildings. The Jackson Hill community had a store and a church. He brought them in and restored them.”

By the 1980s, airplanes were no longer participating, and the event was renamed Southeast Old Threshers Reunion. Over the years, Brown introduced a blacksmith, cotton gin, service station and shoe shop, as well as Coke, doll and radio museums. He invited exhibitors and food vendors and set up more than 500 RV and camp sites.

In 1982, with the help of investors, a 1.5 mile train track was installed on the property. Currently, a 1948 70-ton Diesel Electric built by the General Electric Locomotive Division powers the Handy Dandy Railroad. The fully accessible train treats passengers to a general park trip or a bandit and cowboy show.

“We have so many families that come here generationally,” Karen says. “They talk about how much they love the place. They want us to keep it going because they make memories here.”

Street 13 Front Arts & Crafts Festival

Birthday Party 10 Animal Grandfather Mountain, Linville 828-733-2013

Beaufort Historic Road Race 13 The Vault, Beaufort 252-728-2141

Beach Brew & Que Duplin Events Center, Kenansville 919-275-0009

Jubilee 27 Bee Show and tasting, live auction, vendors, demonstrations Granville County Expo & Convention Center, Oxford 907-738-9047

The Punch Brothers Virtuosic quintet Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, Boone 704-288-7438

Celebrating America’s 250th Music, bouncy houses, drone show Noel Williams Park, Monroe 704-226-1989

SCAN TO SUBMIT

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.

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CAROLINA VOICES

September

Who was one of your most inspiring teachers?

Futures are often formed in the classroom, and teachers can make a lasting impact beyond what they may imagine. Who inspired, motivated or enlightened you in the classroom? Let us know!

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Submit your answer (up to 300 words) for a chance to be in our September issue. We retain reprint rights, and we’ll pay $50 for those we publish in the print version of the magazine.

DEADLINE: JULY 15

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U.S. Mail: Carolina Voices / Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616

carolinacountry.com/voices

Advertising published in Carolina Country is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to customers at the advertised price.

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5/7/2026 11:48:52 AM

CAROLINA | KITCHEN

All recipes are by culinary Adventurist Wendy Perry (WendyPerry.com), is a home economist, blogger and NC food artisan, unless otherwise noted.

Chilled Blueberry Coconut Soup

Summer Fresh Garden Pitas With pickled red onions This no-cook, cool, veggie‑packed sammy tastes like a stroll through your garden or the farmers’ market — perfect for hot days when you want something crisp and refreshing.

Pickled Onions ½ cup vinegar ½ cup hot tap water 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon mustard seed 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 large red onion, thinly sliced

½ cup finely diced celery ¼ cup candied jalapeño, chopped (optional) 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 1 package (4-ounce) sliced almonds, toasted

Shake in a quart jar to dissolve sugar.

Chill at least one hour.

Vegetables Sprouts Arugula 2 bell peppers, cut into matchsticks large radishes, roughly chopped 6–8 2 long pickling cucumbers, thinly sliced in ribbons and drained with paper towels

Spread 1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese with vegetables, softened 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1 can (20-ounce) crushed pineapple, drained 2 ripe avocadoes, mashed 3 green onions, diced 4 large cloves garlic, minced ½ cup loosely packed, chopped fresh dill, parsley, or cilantro (we used all 3) ¼ cup diced sun‑dried tomatoes ½ cup grated carrot

Mix together, gently folding in almonds. Refrigerate. Let soften before spreading into pitas.

4 pita breads Microwave for 15–20 seconds in damp paper towels to soften. Slice in half.

Gently spread the cream cheese mixture on both sides inside pita pockets. Layer in vegetables. Serve with pickled onions.

Yield: 8 pockets

Submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25.

Cool, creamy and bursting with fresh blueberry flavor, this no-cook soup blends up in minutes with a bright citrus twist.

2 containers (5-ounce) dairy-free coconut yogurt, divided 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (we used Creekside Farm Berries) 1¾ cups unsweetened coconut milk ¼ cup honey or maple syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon almond extract 1 orange Toasted coconut Remove 4 tablespoons of yogurt and set aside. Put remaining yogurt in blender with blueberries, milk, honey and extracts.

Zest orange into blender along with juice of the orange. Blend until smooth, then taste and adjust sweetness and thickness, adding more honey or milk as needed.

Chill if desired or enjoy immediately if using frozen berries. Garnish with a swirl of yogurt and toasted coconut.

Yield: 3–4 servings Note: Freeze to enjoy as sherbet or popsicles.

FROM YOUR KITCHEN

Sweet Potato Rolls Gov. and First Lady Stein tried these Sweet Potato Rolls on Thanksgiving and found them “soft and delicious—already a Stein Family favorite!” Enjoy them anytime with NC sweet potatoes.

30 | June 2026

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CAROLINA | SNAPSHOTS

1

2

3

4

INSECTS 1 Patricia Casey-Tosiello, Shelby A member of Rutherford EMC

2 Beverly Hoots, Clemmons A member of EnergyUnited

3 Eric Kozen, Burgaw A member of Four County EMC

4 Kimberly Starkes, Bolivia A member of Brunswick Electric Send us your best shots based on an upcoming theme—we’ll pay $25 for those published. Submit high resolution digital photos and find full terms and conditions at carolinacountry.com/snapshots (no emails, please). We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

Upcoming Themes: August: Beach Bound | September: Harvest | October: Candy Crazy

where

in Carolina Country is this?

Send your answer by June 15, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative.

Online: carolinacountry.com/where By mail: Where in Carolina Country? 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616 Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our August issue, will receive $25.

Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where.

APRIL’S WINNER The April “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon features the Christian Reinhardt farmhouse at Ramsour’s Mill Battleground, located off Jeb Seagle Road outside of Lincolnton. In June 1780, Patriot militia defeated a larger Loyalist force, dampening local support for the King. Many believe this battle led to the Patriots’ win over the British at Kings Mountain in October 1780. The remains of the original mill can be found in the woods nearby, while two schools occupy the former battleground. The 1700s cabin is not original to the site—it was donated by the Reinhardt family. A Living History Weekend will be held June 20–21 at the site to commemorate the battle; visit lincolncountyhistory.com for more information. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Linda Block of Ocean Isle Beach, a Brunswick Electric member.

32 | June 2026

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