EEA August 2026

AN EVOLVING POWER MARKET • BACK TO SCHOOL • WHAT IS NERC?

GIVING SPACE

Historic buildings serve new purpose

Volume 57 • Number 8 • August 2026

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In This Issue 3

From the Editor

4

Viewpoint

5

Your Co-op News

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18

At Home

Raising the Bar: Do you know the benefits of bar soap?

Energy Expert

Learn how air sealing and duct sealing are great for improving your home’s efficiency.

12

Feature Story

16

Industry

18

Recipe

Meet Cooper the Cooperative Bear and find one of his favorite recipes to help you stay cool.

20 Marketplace 21

21 MAGAZINE STAFF Director of Communications Cassi Gloe cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Editor Kylee Coleman kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org Editorial Assistant Melinda Taylor mtaylor@coloradocountrylife.org EDITORIAL CORPORATE OFFICE 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226 info@coloradocountrylife.org, 303-455-4111 Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities, and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.

COPYRIGHT All content © 2026 Colorado Rural Electric Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited.

2 August 2026

The Find

Discover back-to-school musthaves for the kids in your life.

22 Reader Photos

COLORADO COUNTRY LIFE (USPS 469400/ISSN 1090-2503), Copyright © 2026 is published monthly by the Colorado Rural Electric Association, 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226. Business and Editorial Offices: 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226. Accounting and Circulation Offices: 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226.

Call 303-455-4111 to subscribe. Periodicals postage is paid at Denver, Colorado.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life at 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226.

SUBSCRIBERS Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. Cost of subscription for members of participating electric cooperatives is 30 cents per month, paid from equity accruing to the member.

For nonmembers, a subscription is $16 per year in state/$21 out of state.

ADVERTISING 720-407-0712 advertising@coloradocountrylife.org National advertising representative: American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress St., Suite 504 Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 ADVERTISING STANDARDS Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights. View advertising and editorial policy terms and conditions online at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Colorado Country Life

FROM THE EDITOR

Cultivating Hope

By Kylee Coleman Editor

L

ike much of the Front Range, my house is on water restrictions. In addition to following the city’s defined lawn watering schedule, we are conserving water wherever we can, like taking shorter showers and not running the faucet when brushing teeth.

The June issue of Colorado Country Life featured a piece about Resource Central’s Garden in a Box program. I saw promotions for the program last year and ordered my Butterfly Haven garden kit in March. I picked it up at the Adams County Fairgrounds in May and planted it over a weekend.

All plants in the Garden in a Box kits are low-water, and many of them are native to Colorado. The information sheets Resource Central provides with each kit lay out pretty much everything you need to help your kit thrive. The materials set the expectation that “year one the plants sleep, year two they creep, and year three they leap.” Knowing that, we were certainly surprised to see yellow coneflower blooms in early July. And here’s the best part: We have been sporadically watering the flower garden only very lightly since May. We are excited to see what the garden does over the next few years. In the meantime, I will take these blooms as a sign of good luck and good things to come.

May your last weeks of summer bring the same.

Monthly Giveaway

This month, CCL is giving away three bars of Salus soap. Handcrafted in small batches in Fort Collins, each soap has a delightful scent and will last a long time. Turn to page 10 to read all about soap.

To enter the giveaway, navigate to the Monthly Contest page on our website at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Need a different way to enter our contests? Send a postcard with your name, mailing address, phone number, and the name of your electric co-op to CCL Contest, 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226. Contest ends August 20.

Colorado Country Life

August 2026

3

VIEWPOINT

Photo by Lisa Padgett

In Harm’s Way

By Tom Walch CREA Executive Director

C

olorado is experiencing another hot, windy summer with dry, dry weather stoking wildfires across the state. We have seen at least six major wildfires as of mid-July. As soon as the threat from one diminishes, it seems two more ignite.

Nobody feels the impact of wildfires the way rural electric co-ops and their members do. Co-op members with homes, ranches, and businesses in harm’s way are affected by wildfires in a deeply personal way. Dozens of rural communities have been subject to evacuation orders this summer. Personally, I have never been forced out of my home, so I can’t speak to the difficult, uncertain, and stressful effects these evacuations trigger. But even evacuations pale in comparison to the anguish that accompanies the loss of a home. Our hearts go out to all members of our Colorado cooperative family who have endured this loss.

We are grateful for the sacrifices made by firefighters. As I write this, four firefighters have perished this summer battling rural Colorado wildfires. We honor them and thank them for their service.

Colorado’s electric co-ops are charged with providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service across 70% of Colorado’s land mass — much of which includes fire-prone areas. Co-ops go to great lengths to build and maintain facilities and equipment across the state. They have more invested — and more at risk — than virtually any other entity. They collectively have invested millions of dollars to reduce and mitigate fire risks.

4 August 2026

With so much at stake, our electric cooperatives are focused intently on doing everything in their power to reduce the risk of wildfires for themselves and their members. It starts with developing plans that identify high-risk areas, and then putting in place policies, practices, and procedures to mitigate threats. Across the state, co-ops are stepping up tree trimming and line patrols in forested areas.

They have installed special fuses on their lines and use advanced system settings that minimize potential ignition sources. Some co-ops use new and emerging technologies such as advanced cameras perched high above the landscape that detect small fires. Early detection means early action, and these fires can be extinguished before causing catastrophic damage. Co-ops closely track wind and weather conditions and, when necessary, take additional steps to reduce risk, including deenergizing power lines.

Unfortunately, even with their diligence to reduce wildfire risk, conditions and factors outside anyone’s control are such that the risk will never be eliminated.

It is a grim reality. But the stakes are so high that our Colorado co-ops will continue to plan and innovate to protect their members from the potential devastation that wildfires would bring.

Tom Walch is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the statewide organization supporting 21 electric distribution cooperatives and one generation and transmission cooperative.

Colorado Country Life

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

An Evolving Power Market

By Andy Carter Member Engagement Manager

W

hile Empire Electric Association continues to see modest load growth in our area, some parts of the nation are experiencing a far more rapid pace, and the overall impact on the wholesale electricity market is an increase in the cost for the facilities required to generate and deliver safe and reliable power. This, coupled with a change in the type of generation used to make electricity and their associated costs to produce a kilowatt-hour, are having an impact on EEA’s purchased power prices. If you guess prices are going up, you would be partly correct. EEA is seeing an increase in the wholesale demand charges we pay for capacity but a decrease in the energy charge.

CAPACITY VERSUS DEMAND Capacity and demand are both measured in kilowatts, but they are on opposite sides of the market. The rated capacity of a generator tells us how much power it can produce. The rated capacity of an electric line tells us how much power it can move from one point to another. Combining the capacities describe the power supply that is available. Demand is the power requirement customers need to perform work like cooling a home or powering an internet server.

Demand by customers drives the power supply.

Not-for-profit utilities like EEA and EEA’s wholesale power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association design their rates to recover costs in a fair manner. Tri-State uses a rate design that charges member cooperatives for the demand

they place on Tri-State’s generation and transmission capacity as well as for the energy consumed. Tri-State demand charges are determined by dividing the dollars required to make capacity available by the forecast kilowatt demand.

Tri-State then charges each member cooperative the calculated generation and transmission rate for the highest demand each cooperative places on its system.

A cooperative that has a higher demand will have larger demand charges. As Tri-State’s cost to acquire and maintain generation and transmission capacity increases, a corresponding increase must take place in its demand rate if it is to recover enough revenue to operate.

DEMAND VERSUS ENERGY Demand describes a customer’s power requirement to accomplish their work. Energy describes the power being used as the customer performs work over time and is measured in kilowatt-hours. The Tri-State energy charge is determined by dividing the dollars required to use the generator by the forecast kilowatthour sales. The average cost to produce or purchase a kilowatt-hour has been decreasing because of the changing generation mix. Renewable power generation is less expensive to operate, and as Tri-State’s power supply moves toward more renewable sources, its energy charge has decreased accordingly.

IMPACT ON EEA RATES Board President David Sitton mentioned in his annual meeting report that EEA is likely to have a rate

EMPIRE ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC Empire Electric Association’s primary mission is to safely, responsibly, and reliably meet the electrical energy needs of our member-owners.

23999 Road L.4 Cortez, CO 81321 phone 970-565-4444 toll free 800-709-3726 pay by phone 833-923-1409 eea.coop

Office Hours Monday–Thursday — 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Friday — 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Colorado Country Life

Facebook.com/EEACortez @eeacortez

August 2026

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS increase in 2027 and it may include an increase for EEA base rates as well as an increase due to increased purchased power costs. Part of the rate change will be a realignment of EEA Time Of Use On and Off Peak energy charges to reflect the trend we are seeing in our wholesale power costs. This change will show a wider price difference in the On and Off Peak energy charges. The difference is due to lower energy charges we are seeing plus the increased demand charges. The revenue for demand charges EEA pays Tri-State is collected in the On Peak energy rate. If the Tri-State demand rate increases, EEA will need to increase the

On Peak energy charge to ensure we collect enough revenue to operate.

As you think through the impact of a potential increase in your 2027 electric bill, remember that you have opportunities to soften the impact. Using less energy through free conservation measures or energy efficiency upgrades will help you reduce your bill on any rate. If you are on a Time of Use Demand rate, shifting energy use to Off Peak hours and avoiding using high demand appliances at the same time will also reduce your bill. For tips on how to save or to compare rates, please visit eea.coop.

Tri-State’s rates remained relatively flat 2016 through 2024. As cheaper but intermittent renewable power generation became more prevalent, energy prices have dropped but capacity prices have increased.

MONTHLY CALENDAR AND CO-OP PHOTO CONTEST WINNER August 14 – EEA board meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. at 23999 Road L.4, Cortez, CO. The agenda is posted 10 days in advance of the meeting at eea.coop.

Members may attend in person or remotely. Instructions to attend remotely are included on the agenda.

Peek-a-Boo Photo by Cindie Miller

6 August 2026

Colorado Country Life

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

2026 Annual Meeting Recap

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mpire Electric Association held our 87th annual meeting on Thursday, June 8, at our Engineering and Operations center. The district three board seat was up for election this year. Incumbent Corey Robinson ran unopposed and was declared the winner by rule of law and will serve another four-year term. This is Robinson’s second term and we look forward to his continued thoughtful approach in navigating our cooperative through the many changes our industry is facing.

EEA’s board officers and senior staff provided updates on recent successes including the completion of the new members services building at the end of 2025. The cooperative continues to maintain a strong financial footing and is planning to build a new substation as well as continue with upgrades that will reduce the risk of starting a wildfire. The preliminary 2027 financial forecast indicates there will likely be a rate increase and the board favors moderate increases every few years instead of having an increase every year. More information will be provided as decisions are made.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association CEO Duane Highley was our guest speaker. Highley emphasized Tri-State works for its member-owners, and is focused on delivering reliable and affordable power. One example of meeting both needs is its recent move to the western expansion of the Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization, a non-profit, federally regulated entity that controls the flow of electricity across seven western states. Highley said, “Being part of the SPP expansion creates a more efficient, resilient,

and affordable energy future for our members — a future that delivers real value today and positions our communities well for decades to come. The cooperative business model also has positioned Tri-State to take advantage of what SPP has to offer.”

The final presentation was made by Matt Hasvold of Accelergen Energy, the company developing the Valley Range Energy Park solar generation and energy storage project east of Cortez. The project combines 125 megawatts of solar generation plus a 62.5-megawatt battery energy storage system and is sited on 1,279 acres south of the fairgrounds, none of which is classified as prime or unique agricultural land by the USDA. The system will interconnect directly to Tri-State’s transmission system.

EEA, in partnership with three other Colorado rural electric cooperatives, has submitted a bid to Tri-State’s Bring Your Own Resource program.

BYOR is a Tri-State contract provision that allows a distribution cooperative like EEA to purchase up to 40% of its energy from a third party. The process is a competitive bid to ensure Tri-State is receiving the best value for its overall power supply portfolio. BYOR benefits EEA and other cooperatives by providing an opportunity to lower their purchased power costs as well as having more influence on the type of generation serving their members. The bid awards will be announced this month. If our partnership is successful, the project plans to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2029. For more information on the project please visit valleyrangeep.com.

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

EEA Employee Updates

M

att Ruggles has been promoted to Line Superintendent for Construction. Matt joined EEA in February 2004 as an apprentice lineman. He completed his apprenticeship and worked as a journeyman lineman until he was promoted to working foreman in August 2017. Matt’s new responsibilities include supervising line crews in accomplishing the construction work plan, coordinating with other departments to ensure timely completion of member requested work and Matt Ruggles Shad Bellmire distribution system upgrades, and overseeing the apprenticeship program.

Shad Bellmire has been promoted to Working will be in ensuring the apprentice linemen under his Foreman. Shad has been a journeyman lineman since supervision are given the knowledge and skills neces1994 and was hired by EEA in March 2004. Shad’s sary to advance to the level of journeyman lineman. new responsibilities include planning daily execution Please join us in congratulating Matt and Shad and of assigned work orders and supervising his assigned wishing them success in their new roles. crew in performing all aspects of the line trade as he works alongside them. A large part of his new role

EEA WELCOMES NEW CONSUMER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES Tiffany Daves and Ruth Sanders accepted part-time Consumer Services Representative positions with Empire Electric Association and joined our team in April. Both are lifelong residents of Montezuma County and look forward to continuing to serve our community.

Tiffany studied accounting at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and has experience in bookkeeping, payroll, and billing. She enjoys spending time outdoors and going on adventures with her two sons. Tiffany also has a passion for creating custom stained-glass art.

Tiffany Daves

Ruth has 33 years of customer service experience in the banking industry. She is married to Sam and has two sons, Alex and Ayden. She enjoys crafting, fishing, and loves animals.

Tiffany and Ruth have completed their training and are excited to provide any assistance you may need with your electric service. When you are in the office, please say hello to Tiffany and Ruth and join us in welcoming them to our co-op family.

Ruth Sanders

8 August 2026

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AT HOME

Raising the Bar

By Mary Peck

And the old theory that bar soap transfers germs?

It’s been discredited through multiple scientific experiments. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic both recommend handwashing with bar and liquid soap equally as the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs.

With so many benefits, bar soap’s renaissance may be here to stay. Its uses are growing too: There are special bar soaps for babies, face, hair, laundry, and more. Plenty of online product reviews — or better yet, a visit to a local Colorado soap boutique — can help you find the best option for you.

BAR SOAP USES AND TIPS • Before hitting the dirt, rub dry bar soap under your fingernails to make cleaning after gardening a snap.

• Use a soap dish with drainage or place a silicone soap saver mat in the dish to help the bar stay dry and last longer.

• When a bar is down to a small sliver, stick it to your next full new bar when both are wet for zero waste.

• Slice a bar into smaller pieces for travel, sharing, or smaller needs.

• Pack it up. Bar soap travels well — no spilling or worry about meeting TSA volume limits.

• Place in the bottom of a shaving cup and add water to form a creamy lather.

• Try soap on a rope to free up space and secure the bar in the shower or bath.

Writer Mary Peck connects Coloradans with practical tips, ideas, and information to help them prosper.

10 August 2026

Colorado Country Life

Photo by vovashevchuk \ iStock / Getty Images Plus via getty images

I

f you feel like you’re seeing more and more varieties and brands of bar soap in the marketplace these days, you’re not wrong. Bar soap’s comeback has been underway for a few years now, and for good reason. It’s about more than nostalgia; bar soap has some very practical advantages, from overall value to environmental benefits.

Because bar soap is more concentrated than waterbased liquid soap, it’s easy to use less and it lasts longer. Triple-milled soap is exceptionally dense, with an even longer lifespan. Bar soaps typically come in minimal (if any) paper or cardboard packaging, and since bars are lighter than liquid soap, fewer resources are needed to transport them.

All-natural bar soaps, specifically, are in higher demand by consumers seeking products with simple, clean ingredients. According to the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, handmade bar soaps are created with minimal ingredients and rarely have added preservatives or parabens.

ENERGY EXPERT

Efficiency Matters for Comfort

By Miranda Boutelle

D

id you know energy efficiency upgrades not only help you save energy but can make your home more comfortable, too? If you find yourself continually returning to the thermostat on cold winter days or unable to find relief from heat on summer days, these are signs your home needs an efficiency upgrade.

No matter the home, energy efficiency upgrades often start with the same basic principle: Keep outside air from coming inside and keep conditioned inside air from leaking out. Insulation, air sealing, duct sealing, and upgrades for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning can dramatically improve the comfort of your home.

A fully insulated home, including attic, walls, and floors, is more comfortable. Air sealing is a lesserknown efficiency upgrade that keeps air from entering and exiting the home through cracks and gaps. Some air sealing can be done from inside the home, such as using expanding foam around plumbing pipes and drains under sinks, adding gaskets to outlets on exterior walls, caulking around windows, or weatherstripping around doors.

Attics and crawl spaces offer additional opportunities to reduce air leakage and increase comfort. In the attic, sealing gaps around top plates, open soffit areas, cove ceilings, and balloon framing can help keep conditioned air where it belongs. In the basement or crawl space, seal around plumbing pipes and drains, vents, and electrical wires. If you need help, contact a local contractor.

As a self-proclaimed energy geek, you probably aren’t surprised that my first efficiency effort when my husband and I bought our first home years ago was to air seal and insulate. We sealed and insulated the attic, walls, and rim joists in the basement. The difference in comfort was instant. Our house felt cozier and much Colorado Country Life

more comfortable. The temperature swings from the furnace cycling on and off were dramatically reduced.

The home felt warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Duct sealing can also improve the comfort of your home. Your ductwork delivers heated or cooled air in a forced-air HVAC system. If there are disconnections or leaks in the ducts, the air you paid to heat or cool may not end up where you want it. Disconnects and leaks can cause hot or cold spots in the home. An HVAC professional can inspect or test your ducts to make sure they are connected and sealed properly.

Air sealing and duct sealing can also improve the air quality in your home. Air leakage between the conditioned area of the home and the attic or crawl space can introduce dust, pollen, mold, or other allergens you don’t want to breathe. Reducing air leakage can reduce the chance of these things circulating throughout your home.

Upgrading to a heat pump can also boost comfort and efficiency. Heat pump technology is often about three times as efficient as electric resistance heat because it uses refrigerant to move heat instead of creating it. If you’re upgrading from electric or gas heat, a heat pump can efficiently heat and cool your home, making it comfortable year-round.

If you already have a heat pump or any forced-air HVAC system, annual maintenance and regularly changing your filter maximizes system operation and comfort.

Consider improving your home’s comfort by completing these energy efficiency upgrades. Your family — and energy bills — will thank you.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home.

August 2026

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FEATURE STORY

Giving Space

Saved historic churches still serve Colorado’s rural communities

By Suzie Romig

W

hen Salida resident Sheree Beddingfield walked into the historic church building in her small town on a Wednesday winter evening and saw a large audience listening to a talented Celtic band, she thought, “My cup is so full.”

That’s because Beddingfield experienced her hard-won passion project in vibrant action bringing together all types of people in the friendly mountain community to enjoy an affordable and quality performance.

Joyful, upbeat Irish music filled the listening room at A Church — a former Baptist church built in 1885 — as three fiddlers led the ensemble. Some 130 audience members enjoyed the enveloping sounds, while a 5-year-old girl danced in the aisle.

“People will tell me, ‘This is the only place I go to do something social.’ I just think that’s so valuable,” Beddingfield said. “I truly believe people are needing connection and ways to find meaning right now.”

In a town with a population of approximately 6,100, “there’s nowhere else they were going to go” on a weekday evening, Beddingfield said. She enthusiastically pointed to a Sunday night Salida Poetry Spring Equinox gathering in March that drew 120 people.

12 August 2026

Campfire folk band A Brother’s Fountain plays for a full house at A Church in Salida.

Photo by Mike Rosso

“There’s not really this [other] community space where a lot of different types of people get together,” Beddingfield noted. “We are providing all of this connection for seniors and young people.

They feel comfortable because it is accessible, safe, and friendly.”

A Church board member Rick White said the transformation from an empty church building to a lively community hub and performance space serves a trio of purposes — saving a beautiful historic building, providing a community benefit, and giving artists a place to play.

“It’s a lovely facility,” White said. “We are all very proud of it, and it takes a lot of individuals’ efforts to put this together.”

Work on the old church building started gradually after Beddingfield, a physician assistant specializing in dermatology, purchased the historic location in 2016. The church congregation had moved out and into a larger location in Salida. Beddingfield’s original thought was to section the building into group living spaces for older adults.

Colorado Country Life

FEATURE STORY Yet, after the first few successful events hosted in the space, a vision of a community-centered facility blossomed.

“I had always had this interest in aging well care, and I just see a lot of people become very isolated and lonely,” Beddingfield said. “But the space totally transformed because we had a communitywide New Year’s Eve gathering. We just had this super fun night, and everybody was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, we need a community space.’”

“About a week later, we lost a really good friend in an unfortunate ski accident, and we had his memorial service there,” Beddingfield remembered of January 2017. “And again, it was just this message of our community needs this space to get together.”

Beddingfield’s former husband who works in construction spent two years on repairs and remodeling the old church, including adding sufficient restrooms, redoing floors, and adding accessible ramps.

A Church has since bloomed and hosted hundreds of events such as eclectic concerts, theater rehearsals and shows, crafting circles, game nights for teenagers, sound meditations, healing circles, parties, weddings, meetings, speakers, comedians, author talks, poetry nights, and open mic nights. More information about the venue and offerings A Church in Salida. can be found online at AChurchSalida.org.

Photo by Kylee Coleman The mission of A Church is to work to promote connection and provide an open space for nonprofit organizations, civic groups, and individuals working for positive change. In November 2024, A Church became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to pursue more grants to help even more community nonprofit groups use the space, said Andrea Mossman, manager at A Church.

“Especially in rural towns, you really need support for the arts,” said Mossman, a 20-year Salida resident, musician, dancer, actress, and self-described “theater rat.”

Mossman said A Church, with its stained-glass windows and sense of history, “just feels very nurturing.”

“It’s a really nice place to perform. It has a great feel,” A plaque outside of A Church commemorates the former Mossman said. “We get a lot of people referred to us by Baptist church’s connection to the Women’s suffrage movement. Photo by Kylee Coleman other musicians who have come through.”

In fall 2025, the volunteer-led Salida Theater Project became the first resident theater company at A Church.

“It does feel like without A Church we would be withOften the churches were out a home,” said Devon Kasper, the theater project’s symbols of communities, and so artistic and executive director. “We are so lucky to have this space in our little town and the kind of music that there’s an opportunity for that comes through.” to continue to be the case. We According to History Colorado, A Church at 419 D want these buildings to continue St. was originally the First Baptist Church of Salida, and to live and be vibrant spaces, construction of the Late Gothic Revival church began in 1885. The First Baptist Church is significant in the that everyone in the community temperance and women’s suffrage movements, and the can gather and have these as church was approved for the National Register of Historic symbols of communities.”

Places in 2024.

— Damion Pechota, “The church is where the local chapter of the Women’s History Colorado Christian Temperance Union formed and held regular meetings in the 1880s and where local suffrage activities Colorado Country Life

August 2026

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FEATURE STORY

offers multiple programs such as the State Historical Fund to help groups preserve historic churches and buildings. That fund awarded approximately $12 million in competitive grants during 2025. The fundIn the Grand County town of Fraser, population 1,400, the Fraser ing aims to identify and complete essential Presbyterian Church, built in 1911, has been renovated by the statewide preservation projects that benefit Fraser town government and is used for community programs, Colorado’s communities, cultures, econoaccording to the Grand County Historical Society.

Photo courtesy Town of Fraser mies, and the environment.

Other helpful programs, with information available via HistoryColorado.org, include National were held as part of an ambitious statewide campaign and State Registers, preservation tax credits, and to enable women’s right to vote through a popular Colorado Heritage for All. referendum in 1893,” according to History Colorado.

“The buildings come with challenges, and the state Damion Pechota, senior national and state register is here to help support those challenges, whether historian at History Colorado, said dozens of historic through funding opportunities or just through support churches in small towns across Colorado have been or getting the word out,” Pechota noted. transformed from empty or storage spaces into valued Across Colorado, from Alamosa to Fraser to centers for community uses. The concept is a throwManitou Springs, shuttered former churches have back to a time when churches in small communities been converted to community centers to give the often served multiple purposes as a town gathering sacred spaces new life, preserve the beautiful old place, Pechota said. buildings, and provide needed spaces and services in “Often the churches were symbols of communities, small towns. and so there’s an opportunity for that to continue to The former Christian Science Society building be the case,” Pechota said. “We want these buildings in Alamosa, built in 1922, was saved by passionate to continue to live and be vibrant spaces, that everycitizens. A group of like-minded individuals in the one in the community can gather and have these as city of some 9,950 people banded together to acquire symbols of communities.” the building and create the nonprofit Society Hall Colorado is home to many wonderful churches Foundation in summer 2015. The auditorium has since in rural areas, the historian noted, yet multiple old hosted a wide variety of events including concerts, churches have been turned into family homes or are plays, workshops, weddings, memorial services, only sitting used as storage buildings. meetings, and film festivals.

Pechota said History Colorado helps to preserve “We have tremendous community support; it’s historic buildings but also focuses on peopleawesome,” said Ruthie Brown, a member of the centered programs. all-volunteer Society Hall board.

“Having them as community spaces is really the The renovated space in Alamosa, with a schedule goal that we’re working toward, and what we really online at SocietyHall.org, frequently hosts musical want to see is these buildings be used in new ways,” performances featuring folk, roots, country, acoustic, Pechota said. “I think the greatest benefit is that it Americana, and singer-songwriters. keeps the historic building and the historic stories “It never fails to amaze me the level of entertainalive. It’s important because of the people who came ment that comes through our beautiful little listening before us, and so it keeps those stories alive.” room here out on the wild frontier,” noted the SociAs a state government agency, History Colorado

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Colorado Country Life

FEATURE STORY

The former Christian Science Society building in Alamosa, built in 1922, was saved by passionate citizens. In January 2026, Society Hall hosted the “50 Years of Tumbleweed” Reunion Concert. Photos courtesy of Society Hall.

ety Hall newsletter from March, “And the performers love it. Virtually everyone says how much they love the room, and the people who come out to be there.”

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church that was founded in 1870 in Manitou Springs, a town of about 4,800 people, is now St. Andrew’s Community Center. The goal of the center is to become a “place of connection, compassion, and collaboration, where volunteers can engage deeply, hear new stories, take on meaningful challenges, and stay hopeful about our shared future,” according to the community center’s website at StaccManitou.com.

Back in Salida, out-of-town visitors who happen upon one of the varied, entertaining concerts at A Church — including Appalachian, Balkan, and Venezuelan music — will find a comfortable, welcoming, and uncrowded environment.

Guests may encounter a sociable local music promoter with his friendly dog on hand for the show, and listeners can give a donation for a bubbly cold drink in the refreshment cove in the back of the former chapel.

Although the board of A Church hopes to secure more grants, including for a much-needed new boiler, the nonprofit organization currently is supported through memberships, business sponsors, and rent from four affordable housing apartments in the basement. Admission to performances stays affordable, on average at $25.

As the chief benefactor for A Church, Beddingfield is proud of her contribution to creating a community space where people come together to find connection instead of staying at home and watching television.

“Without this being her passion project, I’m not sure it would work,” board member White noted.

Colorado Country Life

“She has a very strong commitment for the events that happen there and how healthful they are for us as a community.”

Beddingfield laughed when she talked about her life living in the small town while supporting A Church.

“I drive a crappy car. I live in a small house, but I have a great life,” Beddingfield said with a chuckle.

“I like to ride my bike. I get my clothes at a thrift store. I’m happy.”

“It feels good to have created something that I feel impacts people’s lives in a really positive way,” she said. “It’s inclusive for everybody. My vision was if you have something cool to share with the community, bring it here; we will give you space.”

Suzie Romig is a degreed, award-winning journalist who lives near Steamboat Springs and has lived, worked, and explored in Colorado since 1990.

August 2026

15

INDUSTRY

Understanding NERC, the

Watchdog For a Reliable Electric Grid

By Cathy Cash NRECA

T

he country’s electric grid with its hundreds of thousands of miles of high-voltage transmission power lines might seem impossible to maintain and watch over. Given its size, it is amazing that 99.9% of the time when you flip a switch, the lights come on.

Who has the task of overseeing this complex web?

Thankfully, we have the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the official watchdog of the North American bulk power system. The international nonprofit known as NERC sets mandatory reliability standards for all users, owners, and operators of the electric transmission system.

To maintain reliability, NERC oversees and evaluates grid conditions with support from six regional reliability organizations that serve as its on-the-ground partners in identifying potential problem areas. Each summer and winter, NERC releases seasonal grid assessments that evaluate whether electricity supply is sufficient to meet expected demand and highlight regions at risk of shortfalls.

16 August 2026

These periodic reports analyze conditions that can increase demand, such as heat waves and severe cold, as well as factors that can constrain generation, including fuel or equipment shortages. They also include recommendations to address current risks and help prevent future problems. When unforeseen threats emerge, NERC issues special assessments as needed.

Every year the organization also provides a long-term grid assessment looking ahead 10 years at what innovations or circumstances may impact the reliability of our interconnected electric energy transmission network.

Providing the electric power industry with timely insight into grid reliability, potential power shortfalls, and strategies to address them is essential to keeping the lights on.

NERC holds workshops and technical conferences and trains industry personnel on how to maintain a secure grid. It also audits owners and operators of the bulk power system to ensure they meet all reliability standards.

NERC operates the 24/7 Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) that provides the power industry with

Colorado Country Life

INDUSTRY

the latest information on cyber threats, trends, and possible solutions with alerts and advisories.

E-ISAC develops and executes GridEx, the largest cyber and physical grid security exercise in North America.

NERC has come a long way from its humble beginning as an industry-led grid watchdog in response to the big Northeast blackout of 1965 that impacted 30 million people. Originally set up as a voluntary entity to better coordinate grid dynamics, today, NERC is the nation’s Electric Reliability Organization that oversees the operation and planning of the grid throughout North America. Empowered by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, NERC develops mandatory, enforceable reliability standards backed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Utilities like Colorado’s electric cooperatives, for the most part, are not regulated by NERC. State agencies oversee the distribution power lines that deliver electricity to your home and surrounding communities. But NERC’s authority over the bulk power system that delivers energy across state lines is critical to maintaining reliability in every part of the country, including the most rural areas.

Colorado Country Life

Electric cooperatives that participate in NERC activities advocate for regulations that enable co-ops to plan, maintain, and operate a reliable grid.

So how does NERC impact you as a member of an electric cooperative?

NERC helps ensure the electric grid remains reliable, secure, and resilient for the millions of people who depend on it every day. By developing and enforcing reliability standards, monitoring the bulk power system, and identifying emerging risks, NERC plays a critical role in supporting the safe delivery of electricity across North America.

For electric co-op communities, the work that NERC conducts means greater confidence that homes, schools, farms, and businesses will have reliable power around the clock.

Cathy Cash writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives.

August 2026

17

RECIPE

Hi Kids! I’m Cooper the Cooperative Bear!

I’m here to help kids like you learn about electricity and how to stay safe. During a bad storm, my power went out and my whole house went dark. Later I saw lineworkers from my electric cooperative hike into the forest to repair the power line. They were so brave. Then the lights came back on!

Did you know you’re part of an electric co-op, too?

An electric cooperative makes sure power gets to all of our houses safely and whenever we need it.

It’s basically a group of people who work together to keep the lights on in our neighborhoods and our communities where we live and play.

My electric co-op taught me ways to stay safe in the kitchen when I’m cooking with my parents.

Here is one of my favorite recipes. If you promise to listen, they might even let you use the electric mixer, too!

Visit www.tristate.coop/education to learn more about Cooper and find more resources.

It’s important to stay cool in the summer heat – try out this frozen Bluebeary pudding pop recipe!

18 August 2026

Colorado Country Life

RECIPE

B l ue b e ary S w i r l Pu dd i ng P ops MAKES 8 Ingredients

Instructions

2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 box vanilla instant pudding mix (3.4 oz) 1 tbsp granulated sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 cup blueberry preserves 1 cup fresh blueberries (optional)

1. In a large bowl, whisk together whole milk, heavy cream, pudding mix, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract.

Mix with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes until it begins to thicken. Let sit for 5 minutes — it should be pourable but not fully set.

supplies large bowl whisk or electric mixer ice pop molds and sticks

2. Place pop molds on a baking sheet. Pour a layer of vanilla pudding into each pop mold, filling about halfway.

Add a generous spoonful of blueberry preserves on top.

Fill with remaining pudding to just below the rim, then add one more small spoonful of blueberry preserves on top. Use a thin skewer or toothpick to drag through each mold once or twice to create a swirl. (Optional: add a few fresh blueberries into each mold.)

3. Tap molds gently on the counter to release any air bubbles. Insert sticks. Freeze until completely solid, at least 4-5 hours or overnight.

4. Before enjoying, let the ice pops sit at room temperature for a few minutes until they are easy to release from the mold. Serve immediately or wrap individually in parchment paper and store in a freezer bag for up to 2 weeks.

ENTER TO WIN Win bear paw ice pop molds and a Cooper plush toy!

Send a postcard with your name, mailing address, phone number, and the name of your electric co-op to 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226.

Must be received or postmarked by August 31.

Colorado Country Life

August 2026

19

Stop feeding prairie dogs.

We’ll rent hunting rights from you.

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Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules.

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Buying Colored Pyrex — Griswold & Wagner cast iron — cowboy hats, boots & spurs.

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We’ve got regional and statewide print options plus digital options to fit your goals and budget.

Call 720-407-0712 or email advertising@ coloradocountrylife.org.

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No rust buckets.

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O KID S !

D A R O L O HEY C DO YOU LOVE TO DRAW OR PAINT? Your artwork could appear in an issue of Colorado Country Life magazine and you could WIN up to $200!

ELIGIBILITY • Colorado public, private, or homeschooled students in kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2026–2027 school year are eligible to participate.

PRIZES • A first and second place artist will be selected for four grade divisions: K-2nd, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th.

• A Best of Show will be selected from among the winners and will be awarded an additional $100.

DETAILS AND DEADLINE • A complete set of rules and required entry forms are available online at coloradocountrylife.coop.

• Artwork must be received by October 23, 2026.

20 August 2026

Colorado Country Life

Cowboy photo © April Powell Carlson | Dreamstime.com

MARKETPLACE

THE FIND

Colorado Kids Making core memories

By Jacey Blue Renner

Photo courtesy of Kodo Kids

With another academic year just around the corner and the laziest days of summer coming to an end, new beginnings are on the horizon. These Colorado makers will help you transition from summer to fall with ease and excitement and help build your best memories.

KODO KIDS In our endlessly fast-paced world, Colorado’s Kodo Kids curates grounding moments for children and families, with their Family Engagement Kits, educational resources, and play innovation. Work through STEM projects as a family team and discover the science behind ramps while bonding. Kodo’s products, made locally, range from dramatic play to math and manipulatives, outdoor play, and more. Kodo’s story began with a chalk spinner and has expanded with products for everyone. Consider the magnet walls and light labs for infinite shared moments or discovery and authentic play. Find your child or student’s new favorite enrichment; visit kodokids.com.

COLORADO GIRL Based in Monument, Colorado Girl offers a warm and pretty clothing collection that can be found throughout the state at local shops like Flourish Boutique in Colorado Springs, Giggleblossom Boutique in Littleton, and at the annual preholiday Vintage Market Days in Colorado Springs. With evolving colors and styles, Colorado Girl has something for girls of all ages.

Visit this Colorado company online at colorado-girl.myshopify.com to build your wish list.

CRESCENT MOON SNOWSHOES Whether you’re new to snowshoeing or already experienced, Englewoodbased Crescent Moon Snowshoes has the family in mind. Offering kids’ snowshoes in green, blue, and pink, these effortlessly adjustable and lightweight foam snowshoes are easy for little hands to put on and take off. One of the best features: They’re silent. These snowshoes are perfect for snow days or family expeditions to the mountains. Explore snowshoes for the whole family at crescentmoongear.com.

MEET PIKES PEAK BY LAUREN THORPE Inspired through conversations with her own children during the morning commute to school, Meet Pikes Peak, by first-time Colorado Springs author Lauren Thorpe, explores the history and imagination behind the region’s most iconic landmark. Giving Pikes Peak a voice connects children with Colorado’s verdant and inspiring landscape, while the rhymes bring nature inside. Find it locally at Woodland Park’s Hunt and Homestead Marketplace, Colorado Springs’ Hunt + Gather, or email the author at meetthepeaksbooks@gmail.com for your own personalized copy.

Colorado Country Life

August 2026

21

READER PHOTOS

Doug and Shirla Race, Poudre Valley REA members, are catching up with the magazine at Machu Picchu in Peru.

Ingrid and Velma Youngblood, members of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, share a laugh with CCL between waves at Waiʻānapanapa State Park in Hāna, Maui, Hawaii.

San Isabel Electric Association member Bernard Schwender snaps a photo with his copy of CCL at The Moon Gate at the Royal Navy Dockyard while on a cruise.

PACK. Show us your SNAP. adventures with the magazine SHARE. for a chance

WIN!

Mountain View Electric Association Board President Kevin Paddock at Dawes Glacier in Alaska with his copy of the June issue of Colorado Country Life.

Wendy Gordon and her husband Steve Kostelnik take CCL on safari in Botswana.

They are members of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.

Grand Valley Power member Stephanie Samora enjoys CCL with her faithful companion Lily during a Colorado staycation.

to win $25.

Upload your photo with CCL at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Find more reader photos on Facebook @COCountryLife and Instagram @cocountrylife.

Sangre de Cristo Electric Association member Marty Jewell enjoys CCL at the Festival Orchestra concert at Britt Gardens, Jacksonville, Oregon.

22 August 2026

Mountain View Electric Association member Virginia Peña brings CCL to the FIFA World Cup match of Czech Republic vs. South Africa in the Atlanta Stadium.

Colorado Country Life

Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction

26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise

C

enturies ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

B.

ONLY $99

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection. Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99.

C.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

A.

The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!

Jewelry Specifications: • Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings

Sedona Turquoise Collection A. Pendant (26 cts) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200 B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain $149 +s&p C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw) $299 * $99 +s&p Save $200 Complete Set** $747 * $249 +s&p Save $498 **Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings.

Call now and mention the offer code to receive your collection.

1-800-333-2045 Offer Code SDT206-01

You must use the offer code to get our special price.

Rating of A+

Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color

*Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.

14091 Southcross Drive W., Dept. SDT206-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

Stau e r … A f f or d the E x tr aor d i na r y .®

END OF SUMMER SALE

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Subject to availability, on a total purchase of 6 or more. Buy 3 windows or doors and get the second 3 windows or doors, of equal or lesser value, 40% off – applied to lowest priced window and/or door products in purchase. $45 off each window or door discount valid during first appointment only. Cannot be combined with other offers. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for an appointment must be made and documented on or before 8/31/26 with the purchase then occurring on or before 9/10/26. Products are marketed, sold and installed (but not manufactured) by Renewal by Andersen retailers, which are independently owned and operated under Window Warmth, LLC d/b/a Renewal by Andersen of Colorado. CO Lic. # 244783. NM Lic. # 399874. See complete information and entity identification at www.rbaguidelines.com. ©2026 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. Proudly delivered by the USPS® via Colorado Country Life.

2 Plan 4521. Subject to credit approval. Renewal by Andersen Retailer is neither a broker nor a lender. Loans for the GreenSky® consumer loan program are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, NMLS #408043, without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or familial status. Rates range from 14.26% - 21.19% APR (interest rates range from 15.99% - 24.99%). Loan amount and rate will vary based on your income and creditworthiness. Monthly payments are not required during the Promo Period. GreenSky Servicing, LLC services the loans on behalf of your lender, NMLS #1416362. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. GreenSky® is a registered trademark of GreenSky, LLC and is licensed to banks and other financial institutions for their use in connection with that consumer loan program. GreenSky Servicing, LLC is a financial technology company that manages the GreenSky® consumer loan program by providing origination and servicing support to banks and other financial institutions that make or hold program loans. GreenSky, LLC and GreenSky Servicing, LLC are not lenders. All credit decisions and loan terms are determined by program lenders.

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