PVREA_August 2025 CCL Magazine

DIGITAL LEGACY PLANNING • STAYING SAFE ON THE FARM • COOL SAVINGS

HISTORIC ADVENTURES YOUR KIDS IN D.C.

Oh, SHELL NO Colorado’s peach crop could be impacted by Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) TAKE ACTION Be a Pain in the ANS

cpw.info/PainIntheANS Botón de traducción disponible en el sitio web.

CPW (IE/BC_EK/IND) 07/15/2025

Volume 56 • Number 8 • August 2025

In This Issue

12

4

Viewpoint

5

Your Co-op News

9

From the Editor

10

At Home

12

Get Outside

14

Industry

18

Safety

It’s time to prep for hunting season

Keep your family safe on the farm during harvest season

20 Feature Story 24 Wellness 26 Energy Expert

Is your refrigerator efficient?

Learn best practices to keep it cool

28 Recipes 30 Getaway

18

32

Poetry

33 Crossword Puzzle 34 Marketplace 36 Discoveries 38 Reader Photos

26 Colorado Country Life

August 2025

3

VIEWPOINT

Power You Can Count On: Today & Tomorrow

BY JEFF WADSWORTH PRESIDENT & CEO

When you flip a switch, you expect the lights to come on.

That simple expectation guides everything we do, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Poudre Valley REA is dedicated to managing and maintaining a strong, resilient electric grid so your power is there when and how you need it.

To do so is a team effort led by us, your local electric provider, as well as our power supplier, Tri-State, and other regional partners.

Each has a role to play in the complex network of power lines and equipment that delivers electricity from its source to your home or business.

Our wholesale power provider first generates power for the bulk electric grid and then transmits it over long distances across highvoltage transmission lines, which regional utility partners maintain.

From there, the electricity reaches our local distribution system, enabling us to deliver it directly to you.

A failure in the larger bulk electric grid can trigger a widespread outage that impacts many more members than a typical distribution problem, as seen last month when downed transmission poles led to an outage for many of our members. In comparison, issues on our local system are usually weather-related and affect smaller pockets of homes and businesses.

But we’re not here to pass the buck.

We know that if the power goes out, the cause doesn’t matter to you. It’s an inconvenience, plain and simple.

That’s why we’re committed to working closely with our power supplier and

4 August 2025

regional partners to strengthen the entire system, so you can continually count on reliable, resilient service.

Our overall reliability metrics remain among the best in the nation. We rank in the top quartile for electric service reliability, thanks to our ongoing investments in upgraded infrastructure, advanced monitoring, and smart grid technology.

Combined with the strong relationships we’ve built with our power supplier and regional partners, these efforts mean fewer outages, faster response times, and a more resilient system for you.

National Outage Durations in Minutes 1000

ABOUT YOUR CO-OP PVREA serves energy solutions to more than 57,000 homes and businesses in Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties. We are a memberowned co-op, led by those we serve.

OUR MISSION We are committed to providing safe, reliable, efficient energy solutions with exceptional service to our members.

CONTACT US 1.800.432.1012 pvrea@pvrea.coop www.pvrea.coop

MAILING ADDRESS Poudre Valley REA 7649 REA Parkway Fort Collins, CO 80528

SOCIAL facebook.com/PoudreValleyREA instagram.com/poudre_valley_rea youtube.com/PoudreValleyREA

800 600 400

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

200 0

Quartile 1

Quartile 2

Quartile 3

Quartile 4

Source: IEEE Benchmark Year 2024 Study

Reliability is at the heart of everything we do. As a cooperative member, you have Poudre Valley REA and our cooperative power provider working for you.

That’s the cooperative difference.

We face challenges together. We find solutions together. And we power the future — together!

Chair Peter Hyland Weld County

Director Rick Johnson Larimer County

Vice Chair Bryan Ehrlich Larimer County

Director Jan Peterson Larimer County

Secretary Thaine Michie Larimer County

Director Jack Schneider Weld County

Director Steven Anderson Larimer County

Director Ron Sutherland Boulder County

Director Sheryl Dryer Henderson Larimer County Colorado Country Life

BACK TO SCHOOL ISSUE

HISTORIC ADVENTURES Your Kids In D.C.

Exploring the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress; meeting with legislative leaders from Colorado; visiting museums and memorials; and making memories that will last a lifetime while learning about the cooperative difference — meet this year’s Washington, D.C. Youth Tour Representatives!

AUDRA DIDIER

REECE YAHN

What experience stands out in your mind the most?

What was your favorite landmark you visited?

“The entire experience as a whole was amazing. What stands out the most to me was the opportunity to make so many new connections with people from all over. I made friends with kids from so many different states and made connections with many important adults in legislation.”

“My favorite landmark was the Library of Congress! I loved the architecture and all the stories that the paintings and sculptures told! We looked at Thomas Jefferson’s book collection and the history behind how his collection became a part of the Library of Congress was really interesting.”

MAKENNA KROELLS

TRAYSON GOOD GUN How did you feel about the trip overall?

“The motto of a trip of a lifetime wasn’t a lie at all, and getting to come on the trip allowed me to experience a trip in a way that I would have never gotten to. For that, I am sincerely thankful.”

What was it like meeting legislative staff?

“Meeting legislative staff was so much fun! We had conversations about what they do for their work and how they got interested in their position. I also learned more about the legal aspects that go into running electrical cooperatives.”

Experience Washington, D.C. Electric Cooperative Youth Tour \\ APPLICATIONS OPEN AUG 18 Students travel to Washington, D.C., visiting state and national monuments while engaging with elected officials along their way! They’ll learn about our great nation and meet students from across the country.

Who’s it for? High school juniors and seniors Colorado Country Life

When is it? Mid-June, 2026 Where is it? Denver and Washington, D.C. What’s the cost? This trip is free to attend!

Scan the code to apply August 2025

5

YOUR CO-OP NEWS A P P LY F O R O

UR

Access Funding for Your Classroom Teachers can apply for up to $2,000 in grants to support their K-12 classrooms’ STEAM projects.

• Who Can Apply? Teachers and administrators in Larimer, Weld, and Boulder County • Projects Supported: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math

• Total Program Budget Available: Up to $25,000 • Application Schedule: Applications are accepted between June to November each year, with winners notified in December.

• Individual Grant Amounts: Up to $2,000

Scan the code to apply

Kids Corner Here’s your one-stop-shop for camps, trips, scholarships, educational grant opportunities, safety demonstrations, and more!

Find all the resources for our youngest members.

Scan the code or go to www.pvrea.coop/my-community/for-our-kids/

Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp

APPLICATIONS OPEN AUG 18

This weeklong summer camp brings young people together from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to build leadership skills, learn about electric cooperatives, and make lasting friendships.

• Who’s it for? High school juniors and seniors

Scan the code to apply

6 August 2025

• When is it? Mid-July, 2026 • Where is it? Glen Eden Resort near Steamboat Springs, CO • What’s the cost? This trip is free to attend!

Colorado Country Life

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

SAFETY CORNER

What Are Those Green Boxes?

A green padmount transformer is a metal box that sits on the ground and helps deliver electricity safely to homes and businesses.

You’ll often see them in neighborhoods, near sidewalks, or in yards, especially where power lines are buried underground.

PADMOUNT TRANSFORMER SAFETY TIPS • Keep plants, fences, pets, and children away from green transformer boxes.

• Utility crews need at least 10 feet on all sides to work safely and access electrical components during outages and scheduled maintenance.

• Keep a clear path to the transformer — even if it’s in your yard. It’s technically on an easement, and we require access to these electrical devices.

Find additional electrical safety resources online at www.pvrea.coop Scan to learn more

SAFETY Community Education Services \\ ELECTRICAL DEMONSTRATIONS We provide FREE electrical safety demonstrations as a service to our communities. Two options are available depending on age and size of the event – the Power Town tabletop demonstration and the High Voltage demonstration built on a full-sized trailer.

If interested in a safety demonstration for your classroom, school, or group, submit your request online.

Scan to Reserve Your Demo

Our Youth are Our Future Continuing Education Scholarships \\ APPLICATIONS OPEN AUG 18 Your cooperative helps our students pay for their education, so they can go on and create a brighter tomorrow. Each year, we award over $50,000, funded by unclaimed member credits.

• Who Can Apply? High school seniors • Scholarship Amounts: $500 to $2,000 Colorado Country Life

• Number of Scholarships Available: 29 • Application Scoring: Based on academics, well-roundedness, and financial need Scan the code to apply August 2025

7

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

TIPS TO BEAT THE SUMMER PEAK

August brings some of the most extreme summer temps, which means people spend more time indoors avoiding the heat, and air conditioners work overtime.

• Use ceiling fans to feel up to 4 degrees cooler. Operate ceiling or oscillating fans in occupied rooms to supplement your AC.

This increased use of electricity causes spikes in demand, also known as “energy peaks”. During peak times, we work closely with our cooperative wholesale power provider to ensure a balanced, reliable, and safe supply of electricity is always available to meet our community’s energy needs.

• Plan energy-intensive activities like laundry and running the dishwasher for off-peak hours. Use automatic timers to run hot tubs, pool pumps, tank heaters and other appliances in the same way.

You can help ease electricity demand by conserving energy. It’s easy — just check the clock and avoid energyintensive activities during peak energy-use hours.

• Unplug appliances when they’re not in use or use power strips to manage devices.

When we all work together, everyone in our membership saves. Conserving energy during peak times eases pressure on the grid and helps balance the supply and demand of electricity.

• Close drapes and blinds during the afternoon to block unnecessary heat from sunlight.

Learn more about Power Peak Rewards at www.pvrea.coop/power-peak-rewards

SAVE ENERGY (AND MONEY) DURING THE SUMMER PEAK • Set your thermostat a few degrees higher. Enroll in Power Peak Rewards for annual bill credits for your participation in demand management.

AUGUST 2025

Replace your cooling system’s filter regularly to maintain strong airflow and boost energy efficiency. Check the filter every month and replace it as needed.

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So

A clean filter means your system doesn’t have to work as hard, saving energy and lowering your utility bills.

Changing filters regularly also reduces wear and tear on your cooling system, helping extend the life of the unit.

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ne

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

Read more energy efficiency tips and tricks online at www.pvrea.coop

8 August 2025

Colorado Country Life

FROM THE EDITOR

New Beginnings

T

he waxy smell of a new box of crayons evokes memories of going back-to-school and the fresh start that August brings with it each year.

Back-to-school season isn’t just for students. It’s a reminder that life always presents opportunities for growth. Maybe this summer

By Kylee Coleman Editor you’ve picked up bird watching, started a new craft, or downloaded a language learning app to your smartphone. Whatever it is, you are likely different from you were last year and have learned a few things along the way.

Some families are facing new routines and schedules this month. Others are approaching big transitions. Whether your little kid starts kindergarten, your big kid moves into the college dorm, or you sign up for a class or presentation at the local community center, I hope this month brings you opportunities to learn something new.

EDITORIAL ADVERTISING STAFF

advertising@coloradocountrylife.org 720-407-0712

Kylee Coleman, Editor kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org

National advertising representative: American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress St., Suite 504 Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181

Cassi Gloe, Publisher cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org

Melinda Taylor, Editorial Assistant mtaylor@coloradocountrylife.org

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 $15 per year in state/$20 out of state.

Colorado Country Life

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. Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©2025, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights. View advertising and editorial policy terms and conditions online at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Denver Corporate Office

5400 Washington St.

Denver, CO 80216 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.

August 2025

9

AT HOME

Planning Your Digital Afterlife

By Patricia Logan

J

ill Concannon’s father was intelligent, funny, and quite clever, she later found out. She thought he had planned well for the inevitable — he had a will and a binder with passwords.

When he died unexpectedly of a heart attack, she learned through tears and frustration that he wasn’t as organized as she thought.

“We had a lot of financial detective work to do. Plus email, his Facebook page, the online subscriptions — you have to figure out how to get into all of those,” Concannon said.

Her father didn’t want his binder of passwords to fall into the wrong hands so he randomly put asterisks in the usernames and passwords. It made sense to him, but not his family. When her mom didn’t know how to get into his computer or access their money, fear and stress were layered over tremendous sadness.

“There was so much to do. It took away from my ability to grieve. It was probably nine months before I really could breathe and do what I needed to do to take care of myself,” Concannon said.

She would have rather spent time supporting her mother, her family, and herself, rather than trying to crack the code of her father’s digital life. “We didn’t get to go through the process the way we needed to.”

A digital legacy includes everything online or in your computer, phone, and other devices. It is photos, bills, subscriptions, financial accounts, social media,

10 August 2025

and more. The average person has more than 100 open accounts, according to Dylan Doyle-Burke, research director of the Digital Legacy Clinic at the University of Colorado.

To plan your digital legacy, Doyle-Burke suggests starting with a conversation with loved ones about what’s important to you and them. Ask if someone is willing to manage your digital legacy when you pass. It may be uncomfortable, but it eases pain later. “There is an emotional and logistical burden when those wishes aren’t known,” he said. “Even if the decision is, ‘I don’t care,’ just make the best decision.”

Take inventory of your digital life and put passwords in one place; you may want to consider using password management software. Keywords like memorialization, legacy contact, and digital legacy can help you research the subject yourself. If you want expert help, there are paid services online. Or contact CU’s Digital Legacy Clinic, which helps people for free with everything except financial accounts.

Concannon knows how valuable it is to plan ahead.

“It’s a gift to give to your family.”

Patricia Logan is a Colorado writer and filmmaker who loves to learn and share stories about this precious Earth and its fascinating people and places.

Colorado Country Life

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GET OUTSIDE

Just Around the Corner Preparing for the hunting season

By Dennis Smith

I

t may be August to you, but it’s “getting ready month” for thousands of hunters in Colorado.

Early upland game and waterfowl seasons are scheduled to open in a few weeks, and some big game seasons open in a matter of days.

My neighbor has been whizzing arrows at a lifesize bull elk replica in his backyard all summer long, but his practice sessions have intensified considerably these last few weeks. The archery big game season opens this month and he wants to be ready. Apart from the stalking skills required to sneak within a few yards of a deer, elk, or pronghorn, bow hunters must be deadly accurate with their weapons if they hope to fill the freezer with venison steaks. Consequently, they practice shooting year-round, but in August, they get downright fanatical about it.

And bow hunters aren’t the only ones who start getting ready this month. Dove hunters anticipating the opener on September 1 start heading for trap or skeet ranges to sharpen their wing-shooting skills; many duck, grouse, and goose hunters do the same.

Black powder enthusiasts and riflemen begin showing up at the shooting ranges to perfect loads, sight in rifles, or tweak scope settings.

12 August 2025

Duck hunters usually start rummaging through their gear about now too. After all, the early teal season opens the first week in September with the other duck and goose seasons not far behind. There are decoys to spruce up, waders to patch, and duck calls to clean and tune. The old duck boat probably needs another coat of marsh-brown camo paint, too.

Hunters who own retrievers can be seen tossing decoy dummies for their dogs at nearby ponds in the evening hours. Some take their pooches for long walks to tune up their dogs’ retrieving skills and condition them for the upcoming game bird and waterfowl seasons.

Some of us are shopping for new scopes, binoculars, or hunting boots right now for seasons that open in October or later. Others are patching up tents, checking camping gear, making sure the heater is working in the RV, or clearing out space in the freezer for a new batch of venison.

It may be a while before your favorite hunting season actually opens, but time passes quickly, so the time to prepare begins now.

Dennis Smith is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland.

Colorado Country Life

Keep Colorado Wild

You venture, they volunteer Explore every corner of Colorado’s state parks while giving back to search and rescue volunteers when you get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with your vehicle registration.

cpw.info/KeepColoradoWildPass

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INDUSTRY

Where Are They Now? Catching up with electric co-op Youth Tour and NRECA Youth Council alumni Ethan McGuinness (far right) visits memorials

By Mary Peck

O

f the countless opportunities, lessons, and experiences that form life’s journey, some stand out as especially impactful. The Washington D.C. Youth Tour is one of those events. It’s an unforgettable week often described by participants as life changing.

Now in college, two outstanding young leaders from Colorado continue to feel the influence of the experiences and skills they gained through their high school involvement in Youth Tour and national electric co-op youth programs.

Elizabeth Clement participated in Youth Tour in 2022 through Brighton-based United Power and was Colorado’s youth representative at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 2023 PowerXchange conference in Nashville. She graduated from Stargate Charter School in 2024 and is now in her sophomore year at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

“Youth Tour definitely helped me build my confidence as a leader,” Elizabeth said. “Knowing how a co-op works has been really powerful because it shows that a group of people together can make something that’s successful and give back, and it’s what I want to do with my entire life,” she said.

14 August 2025

and sites while on the Electric Cooperative Washington D.C. Youth Tour in 2024.

As a French horn player majoring in music business and recording arts, Elizabeth says her path continues to be affected by her co-op’s youth program experiences. She hopes to be an inspiration for others to follow a path of what they truly want to do in life, as she is doing with music. As a freshman at UNC, it didn’t take long for Elizabeth’s leadership skills to get noticed; she was often asked to join groups related to her major and beyond. She is a member of the university’s orchestra, wind ensemble, concert band, and wind quintet, and was also encouraged to get involved with UNC’s growing student government association. She’s considering running for an officer position in the future.

“I feel like there’s a pretty obvious connection between co-ops and the music world,” she said.

“I’m just one small portion of what makes the ensemble sound, but it takes all the musicians coming together to make the greater picture. It is literally what a co-op is — bringing everyone together to make something.”

Ethan McGuinness, a 2024 Durango High School graduate and already a junior at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, took part in Youth Tour in 2023 through La Plata Electric Association. He was also Colorado’s Youth Leadership Council representative at the 2024 Colorado Country Life

INDUSTRY

Elizabeth Clement (front) is now a sophomore at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, majoring in music business and recording arts.

Youth Tour definitely helped me build my confidence as a leader.

Knowing how a co-op works has been really powerful because it shows that a group of people together can make something that’s successful and give back.”

— Elizabeth Clement 2022 Youth Tour participant NRECA PowerXchange in San Antonio. He says the experiences changed his life and set him on a path to study political science — something he hadn’t considered previously.

“Youth Tour really opened my eyes to the world of politics and the change that is needed throughout the world,” Ethan said. “I wanted to do what I could to try to make the world a little bit better of a place.”

During his first year at CSU, Ethan served as a Democracy Fellow through the Straayer Center for Public Service. In that role, Ethan organized and led a session titled “Code vs. Consequence, the Tech and Policy Debate on Social Media and Misinformation,” as part of the annual university-wide democracy summit last spring.

“A big lesson that I drew from my experience in Youth Tour is that democracy and politics is not a spectator sport. You need to be the change.”

This past June, Ethan again headed back to Washington, D.C., for Youth Tour, this time Colorado Country Life

Ethan McGuinness (left) is now a junior at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, studying political science. He served as a 2025 Youth Tour staff assistant.

A big lesson that I drew from my experience in Youth Tour is that democracy and politics is not a spectator sport. You need to be the change.”

— Ethan McGuinness 2023 Youth Tour participant working as a “blue shirt” staff assistant. Elizabeth worked as the summer camp administrator at the Mile High Youth Theatre in Denver where she again found herself leveraging all she learned during her co-op youth program experiences.

Wherever their very bright futures take them, both Ethan and Elizabeth hope to stay connected to Colorado and involved with a local electric cooperative.

“It’s going to depend a lot on where work finds me, but I'm hoping to find a good place to settle and hopefully a co-op because I love my good electric co-op,” Elizabeth said.

“I love Colorado. I grew up in a rural community, and I think increasingly now in politics rural communities are underrepresented, and I’m going to do what I can to try and bring that voice back up for rural communities,” Ethan said.

Mary Peck is a freelance writer based in Northern Colorado and enjoys sharing stories of rural communities.

August 2025

15

Monthly Giveaway August 9 is National Book Lovers Day. Plop down in your favorite cozy nook, prop your book on a treadmill, or hike to some trees and hang your perfect reading hammock.

This month, we are giving away a few books.

Find New Reads from the Rockies on page 36.

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

Need a different way to enter our contests? Send a letter with your name, phone number, mailing address, and the name of your electric co-op to 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216.

Contest closes August 20.

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SAFETY

Stay Safe on the Farm

G

rowing up on a farm helps children develop problem-solving skills, build close family bonds, gain respect for the food cycle, and cultivate a deep passion for the land.

And working on a farm teaches responsibility and independence.

However, agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries for kids in the United States. More young people die working in agriculture than in all other industries combined, with a child lost to an agriculture-related incident approximately every three days.

Many of these tragedies occur when kids take on tasks that aren’t suited to their age or abilities.

The impact of a farm injury or fatality extends beyond the individual, affecting families and entire communities. The emotional and mental toll can last a lifetime, underscoring the importance of making safety a priority for everyone.

By implementing safety strategies, farmers, ranchers, and families can reap the benefits of farm and ranch life while minimizing risks.

Injuries often occur when children are doing something beyond their mental, physical, or emotional abilities. Here are five essential tips to keep kids safe while working on the farm: 1. Keep kids off tractors. Tractors are involved in more than 40% of fatal farm accidents involving children under 15. Most kids are not tall or strong enough to operate tractors safely. Before they climb behind the tractor wheel, ensure a child meets safety guidelines for age, size, and maturity.

2. Supervise and restrict access. Young children should never be in work areas unsupervised. Fence off or lock hazardous areas including grain bins, animal pens, and equipment storage.

18 August 2025

3. Assign age-appropriate tasks. Match chores to the child’s abilities and maturity. Teens are more likely to take risks, so clear guidelines and supervision are essential.

4. Create a safe environment. Remove hazards such as slippery or uneven surfaces, keep equipment keys out of reach, and avoid repetitive motion. Provide protective gear like gloves, nonslip shoes, and hearing protection.

5. Train and model safe behavior. Teach kids how to do tasks safely, practice together until they are proficient, and always demonstrate safe habits yourself.

Kids learn by watching adults.

Safety starts with communication. Talk regularly with your kids about farm safety. Clearly explain which areas are off-limits, how to spot hazards, and why following rules is important. Frequent, open conversations help build safe habits and encourage kids to think before they act.

It is also important to conduct safety audits of your farm, ranch, and home together. Identifying and fixing hazards not only protects your children but also helps them learn how to prevent injuries.

Always keep an eye on children, especially around potential dangers. Remember, learning safe habits takes time and patience — be prepared to repeat instructions to encourage smart and safe work habits.

For more tips on assigning safe farm tasks to kids, check out the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines at CultivateSafety.org/AYWG. Farming is more than a job; it’s a way of life.

Make safety a family priority and help ensure that future generations enjoy the rewards of farm life with fewer risks.

Colorado Country Life

2026 PHOTO CONTEST It’s time to share your best photos for the annual Colorado Country Life photo contest.

Categories • Scenic Landscapes • Animals • Plants & Flowers • People

13 Winners | 13 Prizes • $150 cover • $150 first place • $75 second place • $50 third place

Winning Tips 1. Use the highest resolution setting on your digital camera.

2. Capture scenes full of vivid color.

3. Make us feel something with your photo (awe, happiness).

Rules • Enter up to two photos per category.

• Digital JPEG photos only.

• Photos must be at least 300 dpi at 8" x 10".

• All vertical photos entered will be considered for the cover photo. If you have a photo you think will make a perfect cover of CCL, it must be at least 300 dpi at 9" wide x 13" tall.

• Winners will be announced and published in a spring 2026 issue.

• The contest is open for entries through Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Read full rules and enter online at coloradocountrylife.coop/photo-contest-2026

Photos from previous photo contests. Photographers (top to bottom): David Dahms, Connie Chamberlain, Glenn Rivera, and Lynnae King

FEATURE STORY

Keeping Colorado Corn

By Suzie Romig

A

t the annual Olathe Sweet Corn Festival each August in western Colorado, the fast-moving line for free ears of tender, roasted sweet corn continues for hours.

“I cannot wait right now,” said an enthusiastic Ruth Goodhart, looking forward to a warm ear of sweet corn handed out by a crew of volunteers.

“We’ve lived all over,” said attendee Mary Goodhart, “and Olathe sweet corn is still the best.”

The Goodharts were part of a group of four women dressed in green and gold attire in honor of the sweet corn festival that they have attended since they were young. The group looks forward to the hometown tradition that celebrates the agricultural heritage of Montrose County as a chance to spend time together.

The women squeezed liquid butter on their corn and joined hundreds of people eating ears of corn at Cerise Park in Montrose at the harvest celebration, which was started in 1990 by area corn growers. Eaters of all ages obviously enjoyed the white-and-yellow bicolor sweet corn

20 August 2025

Sweet

on the cob because ears were consumed fully to the folded-down husks.

Keeping the tradition going is a huge motivator for the volunteer committee that puts on the free summer festival with a lineup of events such as a morning 5K run, corn-eating contests, sweet corn princess pageant, car show, vendors, and outdoor music. After years of hosting the event in the small town of Olathe, population 2,000, the festival moved 11 miles to Montrose to the large park to spread out on the grassy lawns. Some 20 community sponsors, including Delta-Montrose Electric Association, help support the festival.

Festival volunteers in 2024 roasted about 8,400 ears of corn that rolled through huge, fiery roasters all day. The corn is donated by family-run Tuxedo Corn company that has more than 40 years of experience growing and shipping sweet corn under the trademark Olathe Sweet.

In August 2024, Tuxedo Corn company founder John Harold was keeping a watchful eye on the fields of corn grown by a dozen authorized landowners in and around Olathe.

Wearing his signature denim overalls and driving

Colorado Country Life

FEATURE STORY At left, four women dressed in green and gold attire celebrate the sweet corn festival that they have attended since they were young.

Photos by Suzie Romig

an all-electric Ford Lightning pickup, Harold said, “jump in,” and took a visitor around for a corn field tour.

John’s son David Harold joined the family business in the early 2000s and has helped the farm expand, improve soil health, and adopt sustainable practices. Son John William Harold grows corn, onions, and other crops at the family’s farming venture in Sonora, Mexico.

A key difference of the sweet corn that helps put Olathe on the map is the high sugar content that makes the corn softer, so it must be handpicked. Workers on agricultural visas are key to the annual harvest, John Harold explained.

Many Olathe sweet corn lovers follow the tradition of stopping by the Tuxedo Corn office along U.S. Highway 50 each August or September to buy a box of fresh corn. “If you want the best, you come to where it’s at; we’re kind of spoiled,” said Gordon Isley from Fruita, as he purchased two boxes of corn, a 28-year tradition for his family.

Other corn lovers hailing from New Mexico and Utah — and everywhere in between — pulled into the Tuxedo Corn lot to buy iced-down cases directly from the farming enterprise.

Although Tuxedo with its trademarked Olathe Sweet is not the only farming operation that grows sweet corn in the Uncompahgre Valley, Harold reigns as the community’s longtime sweet corn expert.

“John has a better handle on when to harvest,” said Eric Westesen, operations manager at Tuxedo, who said the secret is to harvest just a little early. “Forget about the color; it’s all about the sweetness, flavor, and texture.”

The marketing buzz for sweet corn grown in the microclimate touts the warm days and cool nights. An older “exclusively at Kroger” poster hanging in Harold’s office features a giant close-up of an ear of corn and reads “Mountain grown and hand-picked, irrigated by melted snow, full kernels to the end.”

Harold said a key to the prized taste is to keep the corn on the cob near 34 degrees and to try to

Colorado Country Life

John Harold takes the corn’s temperature.

He says a key to the prized taste is to keep the corn on the cob near 34 degrees and to try to get the ears in the hands of consumers within 48 hours from picking in the field.

August 2025 21

FEATURE STORY

Earworms affect vegetable production worldwide. Getty image

get the ears in the hands of consumers within 48 hours from picking in the field.

Sweet corn farmers in Montrose and Delta counties have faced a significant struggle during the past two growing seasons fighting an increase in corn earworms. The worms are also known as cotton bollworms and tomato fruitworms.

“We battle this pest every year,” said Colorado State University Extension Entomologist Melissa Schreiner. “Worldwide it’s one of the top pests for vegetable production.”

Female corn earworm moths prefer to lay eggs on fresh corn silks. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the silks continuing into the top of the corn ear.

Western Slope saleable sweet corn yields have been reduced by approximately one-third for two seasons because the earworms sully the look of the product. Growers say today’s grocery consumers choose the most perfect-looking food options and are not fans of any brown kernels caused by the bugs. Experts say the corn is still safe to eat, but the cosmetic damage does not meet grocery store buyer and consumer expectations.

CSU Extension experts say the corn earworm population flare-up in 2023 was unprecedented.

Schreiner said farmers were caught off guard because the pests arrived sooner than usual.

Traditionally, farmers have sprayed for the bugs when the corn silks, but the bugs have been arriving even before the tassels push out of the corn ears. Plus, Schreiner believes the hungry pests have developed a level of insensitivity to the insecticide chemicals traditionally used.

22 August 2025

“This is a really bad bug,” Schreiner said. “In order to protect corn against this pest, it requires very intensive management.” Schreiner complimented the cooperative efforts of three big corn growing companies — Tuxedo, Mountain Quality Farms, and Mountain Fresh — that are working with CSU Extension, researchers, and scientists in a collaborative project to fight the worms. The group has researched, networked, called in national and international experts, and experimented with options.

The farmers are trying to adapt to maintain quality and sales by spending more man hours in the fields, scouting for signs of earworm eggs early in the growing season, pushing insecticide spraying earlier, and boosting beneficial insects such as ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and lacewings that prey on the earworms.

Some farmers are experimenting with more targeted chemical spraying using drones during the cooler nights when beneficial bugs are not active, instead of spraying from crop dusting planes during sunny days.

Tuxedo Corn ices the handpicked corn immediately to keep it fresh for transport.

Photo courtesy of Tuxedo Corn

Wayne Brew, who has 20 years of experience growing Olathe sweet corn, noted farmers have “a very short window to deter that worm from getting into the husk.”

“We put a lot of time and money and expense into trying to figure this out,” Brew said.

Scientists and growers are hopeful that continued research and newer techniques will keep the tender sweet corn prospering in western Colorado.

Colorado Country Life

FEATURE STORY

Although many more acres of the taller field corn are grown across the state, the financial return per acre when the sweet corn is not plagued by pests is higher and produces a faithful consumer following.

“Olathe sweet corn is very important to our local economy, just as Palisade peaches are important,” noted Jenny Beiermann, CSU Extension agriculture and business management specialist. “Branded, quality products are associated with a high perceived value that consumers are more willing to pay for at the farm stand or the grocery store. There are many social benefits realized by consumers who know they are supporting local growers.”

According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, Colorado farmers in 2022 planted 1,027,578 acres of field corn for grain and 3,285 acres of sweet corn. CSU Extension reports that Colorado growers can produce some 133 million pounds of sweet corn during healthy years, although Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are the top three sweet corn producing states.

Colorado sweet corn consumers and Olathe Sweet Corn Festival attendees are counting on the Western Slope farmers’ success in the evolving battle against corn earworms. “This is an important crop to Colorado, and there is a real strong fight here,” Schreiner said. “Folks are resilient and putting their nose to the grindstone. It’s looking like we have some new tools, but we have a lot to learn. Figuring out the balance is a delicate art.”

Olathe sweet corn is very important to our local economy, just as Palisade peaches are important.” ­­— Jenny Beiermann, CSU Extension agriculture and business management specialist

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

2025 OLATHE SWEET CORN FESTIVAL This year’s Olathe Sweet Corn Festival is scheduled for August 23.

Find more information at olathesweetcornfest.com.

Photo by Suzie Romig

Colorado Country Life

A family enjoys just a few of the 8,400 ears of corn that festival volunteers roasted last year. The corn is donated by family-run Tuxedo Corn company.

August 2025 23

WELLNESS

Eat Heart-Smart for Less

R

ising food costs can make healthy eating a challenge for many people. A recent poll conducted by Research!America found about 60% of people in the United States cite the cost of healthy food as their single biggest barrier to achieving better nutrition.

“As grocery prices rise, finding creative ways to stretch your budget while maintaining a nutritious diet is key,” registered dietitian Arlen Vanessa Marin said.

“Simple swaps can make a big difference.”

Consider these simple tips from the experts at the American Heart Association to help you enjoy your favorite meals while keeping both your heart and wallet happy.

PROTEIN WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG If you’re looking to add more protein without overspending, incorporate these affordable, nutrientpacked options: • Beans and other legumes. Canned, no-salt-added varieties can be a quick and healthy option.

• Tofu and tempeh. Search online for recipes that use these plant-based proteins.

• Ground turkey or chicken. These lean meats typically cost less than ground beef.

CANNED, DRIED, AND FROZEN ALTERNATIVES Healthy eating doesn’t mean you have to buy everything fresh, especially when fresh food isn’t readily available. Canned, dried, and frozen foods can be just as nutritious. Check nutrition labels for lowsodium, no-salt-added, and no-sugar-added options.

• Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and frozen to lock in nutrients. Use them in stir-fries, soups, smoothies, or as quick side dishes.

• Canned tuna is wallet friendly, packed with healthy fats, and is easy to mix with salads, sandwiches, or in brown rice bowls.

Source: American Heart Association. Visit recipes.heart.org. to find more tips and budget-friendly recipes.

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TO RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE, CONTACT CASSI GLOE: 720-407-0712 advertising@coloradocountrylife.org

24 August 2025

Colorado Country Life

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ENERGY EXPERT

Cool Savings Refrigerator and freezer efficiency tips

By Miranda Boutelle

Q: How can I improve the efficiency of my refrigerator and freezer?

A: When exploring ways to be more efficient with refrigerators and freezers, we often find ourselves stuck between two choices: convenience and conserving energy. While you can upgrade to newer equipment, maintenance and habits can also add up to energy savings.

This month, I offer guidance about appliance energy use, including tips to keep your current equipment running efficiently and ways to limit overuse of refrigeration in our homes.

The U.S. Department of Energy helps us understand what to look for in our existing equipment and new appliances. In general, the larger the refrigerator, the more energy it uses. The most efficient models are typically 16 to 20 cubic feet. Models with the freezer on top tend to use less energy than bottom freezers or side-by-side units. A refrigerator 15 years or older uses about 35% more energy than an ENERGY STAR®certified model.

The way you use your refrigerator matters, too.

Here are some things to consider.

Keep it organized. One of the biggest issues with refrigerator energy use is opening the door or keeping it open. An organized fridge makes food items easier The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your refrigerator temperature between 35 and 38 degrees, and the freezer at 0 degrees.

26 August 2025

to find, minimizing open-door time. Place items in the same spots so they are easier and faster to find. I tell my kids to take a quick look inside at the options and close the door while they are deciding what to eat.

Keep it clean. Regularly cleaning the gasket — the flexible strip around the perimeter of the fridge door — ensures a tight seal between the door and the unit to keep cold air inside. If the gasket is not sealing tightly, it should be replaced. Removing and cleaning the vent at the bottom of the unit can help airflow. For the coils at the back, use an extended cleaning brush instead of moving the fridge and risking injury.

If you have a second refrigerator or freezer, there are ways to optimize its efficiency.

Do you need it plugged in year-round? Perhaps you can keep it empty and unplugged for part of the year. Maybe you only really need it during the holiday season. Unplugging it for the months you aren’t using it will save energy, and you’ll still have it as a backup when you need it.

If possible, consider the location. Keeping the second fridge or freezer in a cool basement versus a hot garage requires less energy.

Incorporating these simple cleaning tips and food storage habits are easy ways to be more efficient with your in-home refrigeration.

Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.

She has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home.

Colorado Country Life

ADVERTISEMENT

Will This Strange Antarctic Squid Solve America’s Memory Crisis?

New Deep Sea Discovery Proven to Be The #1 Natural Enhancer of Memory and Focus alf a mile beneath the icy So, if you’re struggling with H waters off the coast of focus, mental clarity, or memory Argentina lives one of the most as you get older… remarkable creatures in the world.

Fully grown, they’re less than 2 feet long and weigh under 10 pounds…

But despite their small size, this strange little squid can have a bigger positive impact on your brain health than any other species on the planet.

They are the single richest source of a vital “brain food” that 250 million Americans are starving for, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

It’s a safe, natural compound called DHA – one of the building blocks of your brain. It helps children grow their brains significantly bigger during development. And in adults, it protects brain cells from dying as they get older.

Because DHA is so important, lacking enough of it is not only dangerous to your overall health but could be directly related to your brain shrinking with age.

With more than 16 million Americans suffering from ageassociated cognitive impairment, it’s clear to a top US doctor that’s where the problem lies.

Regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Al Sears, says thankfully, “there’s still hope for seniors.

Getting more of this vital brain food can make a life changing difference for your mental clarity, focus, and memory.”

Dr. Sears, a highly-acclaimed, board-certified doctor— who has published more than 500 studies and written 4 bestselling books — says we should be able to get enough DHA in our diets… but we don’t anymore.

“For thousands of years, fish were a great natural source of DHA. But due to industrial fish farming practices, the fish we eat and the fish oils you see at the store are no longer as nutrientdense as they once were,” he explains.

DHA is backed by hundreds of studies for supporting razor sharp focus, extraordinary mental clarity, and a lightning quick memory… especially in seniors.

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THE SECRET TO A LASTING MEMORY Research has shown that our paleo ancestors were able to grow bigger and smarter brains by eating foods rich in one ingredient — DHA. “Our hippocampus thrives off DHA and grows because of it,” explains Dr. Sears. “Without DHA, our brains would shrink, and our memories would quickly fade.”

A groundbreaking study from the University of Alberta confirmed this. Animals given a diet rich in DHA saw a 29% boost in their hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. As a result, these animals became smarter.

Another study on more than 1,500 seniors found that those whose brains were deficient in DHA had significantly smaller brains — a characteristic of accelerated aging and weakened memory.

MEMORY-RESTORING SENSATION: The memory-saving oil in this Antarctic squid restores decades of lost brain power starting in just 24 hours.

“My mood and focus are at an all-time high. I’ve always had trouble concentrating, and now I think I know why,” raves Bernice J. “The difference that Omega Rejuvenol makes couldn’t be more noticeable.”

And 70-year-old Mark K. says, “My focus and memory are back to age-30 levels.”

These are just a handful of the thousands of reviews Dr. Sears regularly receives thanks to his breakthrough memory formula, Omega Rejuvenol.

Dr. Sears says, “Find a quality DHA supplement that doesn’t come from a farmed source. That will protect your brain cells and the functions they serve well into old age.”

Dr. Sears and his team worked tirelessly for over 2 years developing a unique brainboosting formula called Omega Rejuvenol.

It’s made from the most powerful source of DHA in the ocean, squid and krill — two species that cannot be farmed.

PEOPLE’S BRAINS ARE According to Dr. Sears, these are SHRINKING AND THEY the purest and most potent sources DON’T EVEN KNOW IT of DHA in the world, because Dr. Sears uncovered that they haven’t been tampered with. sometime during the 1990s, fish “Omega Rejuvenol is sourced farmers stopped giving their from the most sustainable fishery animals a natural, DHA-rich diet in Antarctica. You won’t find this and began feeding them a diet oil in any stores.” that was 70% vegetarian.

MORE IMPRESSIVE “It became expensive for RESULTS farmers to feed fish what they’d Already, the formula has sold eat in the wild,” explains Dr. Sears. “But in order to produce more than 850,000 bottles. And DHA, fish need to eat a natural, for a good reason, too. Satisfied marine diet, like the one they’d customers can’t stop raving about eat in the wild.” the memory-boosting benefits of “Since fish farmers are depriving quality-sourced DHA oil. these animals of their natural diet, “The first time I took it, I was DHA is almost nonexistent in the amazed. The brain fog I struggled oils they produce.” with for years was gone within 24 “And since more than 80% hours. The next day, I woke up of fish oil comes from farms, with the energy and mental clarity it’s no wonder the country is of a new man,” says Owen R. experiencing a memory crisis.

“I remember what it was like Most people’s brains are shrinking before I started taking Omega and they don’t even know it.”

Rejuvenol… the lack of focus…

So, what can people do to the dull moods… the slippery improve their memory and brain memory… but now my mind is function in the most effective way as clear as it’s ever been,” says possible?

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WHERE TO FIND OMEGA REJUVENOL To secure bottles of this brainbooster, buyers should contact the Sears Health Hotline at 1-888-358-8065. “It takes time to manufacture these bottles,” says Dr. Sears. “The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to customers who need it most.”

Dr. Sears feels so strongly about this product, he is offering a 100%, money-back guarantee on every order. “Send back any used or unused bottles within 90 days and I’ll rush you a refund,” says Dr. Sears.

The Hotline is taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number may be shut down to allow for inventory restocking.

Call 1-888-358-8065 to secure your limited supply of Omega Rejuvenol. Readers of this publication immediately qualify for a steep discount, but supplies are limited. To take advantage of this great offer use Promo Code CCLOM825 when you call.

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23

RECIPES

Summer’s Ripest Reward Make a tasty treat with Palisade peaches Recipe and photos courtesy of Lee Clayton Roper

This recipe from Colorado blogger Lee Clayton Roper is the very best when made with Palisade peaches from Colorado’s Western Slope. Each muffin is bursting with peaches in a brown sugar-sour cream base topped with cinnamon sugar.

Visit Lee’s blog, A Well-Seasoned Kitchen, at seasonedkitchen.com/peach-muffins for variation ideas.

28 August 2025

Colorado Country Life

RECIPES PALISADE PEACHES

PEACH MUFFINS Makes 18 INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp granulated sugar ¾ tsp ground cinnamon 1 ½ cups light brown sugar, firmly packed ⅔ cup vegetable or other neutral oil 1 large egg, beaten 1 cup sour cream 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp table salt 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ cups peeled, pitted, and chopped fresh peaches (around 2 large) ½ cup chopped toasted pecans or almonds (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a muffin tin with paper baking cups.

In a small bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, oil, and egg.

Make sure the sugar doesn’t stay in clumps.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. Stir the sour cream mixture into the sugar mixture until well blended. Using a large spoon, mash any sugar lumps against the side of the bowl to aid in mixing. Stir in the flour just until incorporated — do not overmix. Fold in peaches and nuts.

With a large spring-loaded ice cream scoop, place one scoop of batter into each muffin cup. They will be very full. Sprinkle tops lightly with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Fill any empty muffin cups halfway with water so the pan doesn’t burn.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let sit for a few minutes in the pan and then remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Best served warm or at room temperature.

Make ahead: Muffins can be baked, cooled, covered, and refrigerated for up to four days. Rewarm before eating. They can also be placed in an airtight container and frozen for up to two months.

Colorado Country Life

It’s Palisade peach season!

Why are these Western Slope favorites so delicious? They grow in a unique microclimate that has a combination of hot days and cool nights. Find them at roadside farm stands around Colorado or in your local grocery store. Peaches are ready to eat when they emit a sweet aroma and have a little give to the flesh when you press gently with your fingers. If you bring some home before they are ripe, simply place them out of direct sunlight on your kitchen counter for a day or two.

LEE’S TIPS TO MAKE MOIST MUFFINS • Fill empty muffin cups halfway with water. This step adds moisture to the oven and also keeps the empty cups from burning.

• Don’t overmix the batter.

Overmixing can make the muffins dry.

• Don’t overcook. This will also make the muffins dry. Given that oven temperatures can vary, start checking them 5 to 7 minutes before the recipe indicates they will be done.

• Use paper muffin liners.

While you can grease the muffin tin, using paper liners helps keep the moisture in the muffins while they bake.

• Don’t leave cooked muffins in tins for too long. Once you remove cooked muffins from the oven, let them sit for just a few minutes and then remove them to a wire rack to cool.

August 2025

29

GETAWAY

Small-Town Visit Colorado’s quiet gem

By Melinda Taylor Editorial Assistant

Bliss

Meeker, situated in White River Electric Association’s service territory, is a peaceful and secluded ranching community on the north side of the White River.

The Ute people inhabited the area before Meeker became the first incorporated town in northwestern Colorado in 1885. It remained the only town in the area until 1900.

30 August 2025

Colorado Country Life

GETAWAY

SPECIAL EVENT 38th Annual Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials. Don’t miss this five-day sheep herding event September 3-7. This event tests sheepdogs’ abilities to manage sheep in a calm way. Leave your own dogs at home for this event. For more information, visit meekersheepdog.com.

STAY THE NIGHT The Meeker Hotel built in 1896 is a well-preserved, no-frills historic building with 14 rooms and a cafe that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rumor has it the hotel is haunted by several friendly ghosts. An early guest of the hotel was avid hunter, Teddy Roosevelt, who later became president. The walls of the lobby are covered in big game mounts and biographies and photos of local historic figures. Book your stay at meekerhotel.com.

Colorado Country Life

STEP BACK IN TIME The White River Museum is housed inside original living quarters built in 1880 for U.S. Army officers. It holds pioneer artifacts from the 1880s and other donated collections from local residents. The museum is free and open to the public every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Visit historymeeker.com for more information.

August 2025

31

POETRY

COLORADO CAMPING

By Daniel Swanson, Calhan Mountain View Electric Association member

THE BEAR SCAT BOOGIE

By William Lee, Clifton Grand Valley Power member

I went out hiking with a friend one day in the Rocky Mountains in early May I noticed as we walked along some bear scat and it sure smelled strong as we rounded a bend and looked ahead there was a sight that everyone dreads a mother bear and her young just lying there enjoying the sun I grabbed the bundle from off my back put on my running shoes shiny and black my friend watched then said to me you can’t outrun the bear let’s go climb a tree I looked at him and said these words so true I don’t have to outrun the bears I only have to outrun you

The fire rages, throwing spark, dancing figures toe their mark; eyes that watch us from the trees, footsteps, footsteps in the dark.

Where has sleep gone I lay awake, while buzzing sounds the creatures make, echo eternal thru the night, summoning forth the dawn to break.

And now the creatures of the light, their morning melody recite, healing and fresh, the morning breeze, arise to greet nature’s delight!

The tent so thin, night presses close, the rocky ground, sharp things impose; shuffles, scraping, drawing near, the air turns cold, my digits froze.

Then silence from the restless beasts, the heavens kindle in the east, the canopy of stars now fades, the cosmic rays of dawn released.

’Tis perfect, crisp, and clean this air, the mountain view beyond compare; this Colorado camping, see, such beauty, beauty everywhere.

Photo by Shane Morrison, a Mountain View Electric Association member

NATURE'S BEAUTY

By Mychaela Bowin, Elbert Mountain View Electric Association member

In the hush of dawn’s embrace, Nature’s beauty unfurls with grace.

A symphony of colors, a tapestry so grand, Whispers of wind, caressing the land.

The sun-kissed meadows, towering trees, Each leaf and petal dancing in the breeze.

Mountains reaching for the sky so high, Reflecting the beauty of nature’s sigh.

Rivers flowing, a melody so sweet, Nature’s rhythm, a heartbeat complete.

In every corner, a marvel to behold, A story of wonder, forever to be told.

In nature’s beauty a timeless art, A masterpiece that stirs a heart.

A reminder of the magic that’s all around, In every sight and every sound.

Photo by Michael Paulick, a Grand Valley Power member

Photo by Brandy Leggett, a Mountain View Electric Association member

32 August 2025

Colorado Country Life

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Discover your future this fall at

Register today! Classes start August 18, 2025

morgancc.edu/fall

ACROSS 1. Little jerks 5. Head downtown?

10. Help in a holdup 14. Balming target 15. Beyond partner 16. Screenplay direction 17. T-bone region 18. Medical research goals 19. Every family has one 20. Illuminated 23. Holiday follower?

24. Skier’s challenge 25. Unlike a litterbug 27. Palindromic windmill part 30. End of two state names 33. Scratch, say 36. Better copy?

38. Bahrain bread 39. Passed with ease 41. Genetic info carrier 42. Arboreal abode 43. Things to rattle 45. Fishtail, e.g.

47. Daydreamer’s limit?

48. Fit to be fare 50. Killed, as a dragon 53. Tux accessory 54. Prepare for hanging Colorado Country Life

57.

59.

64.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

Wrestling area Serving as a diplomat Beer selections Hindu grouping Tat-tat intro Folk facts Pagoda roofing Black cat, some think It may come before “we forget” 72. Failed as a sentry 73. Bird’s perch, perhaps DOWN 1. Chaucer bit 2. They may be clicked on 3. Flu symptom 4. Grad-to-be 5. Bushwhacker’s tool 6. Go to the edge of 7. The good olde days 8. Cooking place 9. Transmit anew 10. Back on a battleship 11. Crooners, often 12. Creation location 13. “High School Musical” extra 21. Main mail drop (abbr.)

22. Disconnected, as a phone line 26. Like siblings 28. Chances in Vegas 29. Roller Derby milieus 31. Checklist item 32. Pretentiously stylish 33. Attack deterrent 34. Military sch.

35. Enrolls 37. Barbary ape’s lack 40. The red 44. Inner city concern 46. Most absurd 49. Official orders 51. Emotion of the miffed 52. Long and thin 55. Sight from Biscayne Bay 56. Gourmand 57. Shoppers’ site 58. Ubiquitous lily relative 60. Place for some polish 61. “Cast Away” setting 62. Manual component 63. A driver may change one 65. Firm or fixed

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© Lovatts Puzzles Answers on page 34.

August 2025

33

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Colorado Country Life

A Light in the Dark

SHARE YOUR STORY

Who makes your world brighter?

As we think ahead to the season of shorter days and twinkling lights, we’d like to make space to appreciate the people who bring light into our lives.

Has someone helped you through a hard time by saying a kind word, sharing a warm meal, or just by being there? Maybe it was a friend who made you laugh when you needed it most, a neighbor who stepped in when you were struggling, or a stranger whose simple act of kindness stuck with you.

We’d love to hear your story for our December 2025 issue. Keep it short and heartfelt — we’re looking for the everyday stories that remind us how powerful a little light can be.

Content may be edited for space and clarity.

• Deadline: September 20 • Word count: 200–300 words • Share your story by • Email: editor@coloradocountrylife.org • Online: coloradocountrylife.coop/light-in-the-dark • USPS: Colorado Country Life, Attn: Editor, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216

Let’s shine a little light together.

DISCOVERIES

New Reads from the Rockies

By Kylee Coleman Editor

These Colorado authors are writing books that thrill, inspire, present new perspectives, and spark curiosity.

Find your next new read here and celebrate National Book Lovers Day on August 9. Turn to page 16 to find out how you can win one of these books in our monthly giveaway.

Are you an author? Send a short synopsis of your book to me at kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org.

Happy reading!

Summaries presented here are not reviews or endorsements by CCL.

A TIME OF YOUR CHOOSING

By Gordon MacKinney

A few decades from now, California allows anyone 81 or older to legally end their life, a.k.a. “cross the bridge” — using the words of the religious movement, the Bridgers. Business is brisk for Ketch Immer and his father, purveyors of state-of-the-art crossing services.

When a renowned academic “proves” life after death, the Bridgers sue for change. The movement’s figurehead, the veiled Jane Go, argues that adults of any age deserve the right to choose. The world watches on broadcast TV as introverted Ketch gets dragged into a cultural crucible.

A Time of Your Choosing by Northern Colorado author Gordon MacKinney explores how a “scientific” breakthrough upends society’s current understanding of the end of life.

36 August 2025

NIGHT RULES

By Keith J. Weber

Colorado author Keith J. Weber’s debut novel Night Rules follows former Marine Sean Wynn as he travels to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and witnesses two men stalking a young woman at a remote Wyoming rest area. Although he’d prefer to mind his own business, the last time Wynn ignored something that didn’t look right, his wife wound up dead.

Refusing to let it happen again, Wynn infiltrates the shadowy fringes of bike culture. Ambushed, assaulted, and unsure of who to trust, Wynn battles bikers, traffickers, and even the cops, as he tries to do for a stranger what he failed to do for his wife: save her.

HEARTFELT

By Dulce Bell-Bulley

Haunted by guilt and crushed by grief, Daphne has lost everything — her husband and her future. In her grief and despair, Daphne finds unexpected friendships that guide her to an animal sanctuary on the wind-swept Colorado plains.

There, among creatures as broken as herself, Daphne begins the delicate journey of healing. Heartfelt by Montrose-based author Dulce Bell-Bulley is both a heartbreaker and a heart healer.

WES AND ADDIE HAD THEIR CHANCE

By Bethany Turner

When her life crashes and burns in a flurry of secrets, CIA analyst Addie hightails it home to Adelaide Springs, Colorado — back to living with her dad and working a low-paying job.

She’s trying to pick up the pieces of her life with help from old friends. But there’s one old friend her life is better without — Wesley, her childhood sweetheart who left her at the altar when they were 18 years old.

When Wes appears back in their hometown, Addie’s curiosity gets the best of her.

Cortez-based Bethany Turner’s latest romantic comedy answers the question: Wes and Addie already had their chance … right?

Colorado Country Life

DISCOVERIES Ma r c h

2 023

“An epic adventure that will leave you breathless and asking for more.”

—James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author of the City Spies series

SKYRIDERS

By Polly Holyoke

The Land of Now

Thirteen-year-old Kiesandra’s best friend isn’t human, but that doesn’t stop her from sharing jokes and secrets with her winged horse, N’Rah. Kie’s bond with her skysteed is critical when one day, monsters from long ago return. No one knows how to fight the fearsome chimerae except Kie’s uncle … and Kie herself.

P o l ly H o lyo k e Injured fighting the terrible beasts, Uncle Dugs makes her promise to bring his vital attack plans and weapons to the capital. But how can a young girl from the fringes of the Empire convince people in power to listen?

Buzzing with action, heart, and friendship, this first book in Western Slope author Polly Holyoke’s Skyriders series shows that kids can achieve the impossible — especially with flying horses on their side.

Cover photograph courtesy of Matthew Montrone on pexels.com.

from from the the Award-winning Award-winning author author of of The The Neptune Neptune Project Project

$15.00 US

RUNNING FREE

By Ami Cullen

Emme is a horse lover who never fit in with the wealth and privilege of the equestrian world. For a time, she tried to blend in — graduating from law school, passing the bar exam, traveling in the “right” social circles, and getting engaged to the son of a wealthy CEO. Emme’s facade worked until she could pretend no longer. It was time to make a change. Not in her wildest imagination did Emme think she would become head wrangler at a dude ranch, responsible for the care and safety of 200 horses — or that she’d be the one to save those horses from a terrible wildfire. But she did, and she learned important lessons about trust, love, leadership, and life itself.

Running Free is Granby-based author Amy Cullen’s first book.

THE BLUE TRUNK

By Ann E. Lowry

Rachel Jackson’s idyllic life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a woman’s scarf in her politician husband’s computer bag. But in an election year, seeking answers to questions of infidelity is not an option. When her mother gives her a family heirloom, a travel trunk owned by an ancestor, she finds a distraction.

In the interwoven narratives of two women who are bound by blood and a shared struggle, The Blue Trunk by Fort Collins-based author Ann E. Lowry is part historical, part modern fiction, and is a poignant exploration of identity, love, and unwavering strength.

Colorado Country Life

But Dark Cloud hasn’t disappeared, hasn’t stopped searching for Victor and Kate, and hasn’t stopped yearning for his own time.

Returning to Colorado from his home in Wyoming with his son Jackson, he tracks fifteen-year-old Little Eagle to the time-travel cave, kidnaps her, and spirits her away to 1863. Before she vanishes into the past, she calls her parents and begs for help. Will Victor and Kate be able to find her? Will Little Eagle escape her captors?

The Land of Now The Land of Now — DIANE SAWATZKI

In this sequel to Manyhorses Traveling, Kate MacKenzie, Victor Manyhorses, and Bear return to their own time with their friend Doozie and 7-month-old Little Eagle. They assume they’ve escaped the dangers of 1863, but they’ve been followed through the death cave by the murderous Arapaho war chief Dark Cloud. The intrepid travelers settle in and hide with Kate’s grandparents Lily and Ivan, take over their antique business, and lay low while Dark Cloud loses their trail and apparently disappears. Fifteen years pass as Kate and Victor raise Little Eagle, and Doozie forges a new life for herself.

THE LAND OF NOW

By Diane Sawatzki

Teacher Kate MacKenzie, Ute Native Victor Manyhorses, and Diane Sawatzki shape-shifter Bear flee 1863 to their own time through a time-travel passage with teenager Doozie and seven-month-old Little Eagle, Victor’s granddaughter. Hoping to escape the dangers of 1863, they discover the murderous Arapaho war chief, Dark Cloud, has followed them through the passage. The intrepid time-travelers settle in to hide in the foothills north of Colorado Springs, take over running an antique business, and lie low while Dark Cloud loses their trail and apparently disappears. Or has he?

The Land of Now is the third book in Diane Sawatzki’s time-travel trilogy.

HORSES I HAVE KNOWN AND THEIR PEOPLE

By Jack Mauck

Eastern Colorado’s Jack Mauck has spent more than 60 years training, caring for, and living alongside horses. Horses I Have Known and Their People is a collection of 24 true stories about some of the most unforgettable horses he’s met along the way.

From spirited colts to wise mares, mules that challenged, and a Shetland that helped one little girl walk, each horse has a story. Jack tells their stories with the kind of humor and insight that a lifetime of experience has brought to care for both the horses and their people.

August 2025

37

READER PHOTOS

Atop the summit of Mount Bierstadt, Will and Graham McFadden, Y-W Electric members, bring CCL to celebrate Graham’s first fourteener hike.

San Isabel Electric Association member Penni Moltrer visits the monkey sanctuary in the Dominican Republic with her daughter, Michelle Kendall.

Kevin and Teresa Martens, members of Morgan County REA, bring CCL on their trip to Kauai, Hawaii, to celebrate one full year of retirement.

Grand Valley Power member Tim Slusher shares CCL with friends at Fossil Ridge Pack Llamas in Ohio City, Colorado.

K.C. Electric Association member Jaclyn Griebel drives to Lubbock, Texas, with her mom Darla and stays entertained with her July issue of Colorado Country Life.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association member and board director Enno Heuscher enjoys CCL at the Delta Hot Air Balloon Festival on July Fourth.

DON’T FORGET TO PACK CCL FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!

Show us where you enjoy CCL for a chance to win! Take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and share it with us on our website at coloradocountrylife.coop. Each month we’ll draw one photo to win $25. See all the submitted photos on our Facebook page, @COCountryLife.

38 August 2025

Vanessa Wormack, a Mountain View Electric Association member, snaps a photo of her sisters Bethany and Calleigh with her copy of CCL in Atibaia, Brazil.

Poudre Valley REA members Linda and Jim Detling travel with their granddaughter Lauren on an Alaskan cruise. Here they pause the awesome sightseeing for a quick photo with their copy of the magazine.

Colorado Country Life

CLEARING THE WAY FOR A SAFER TOMORROW At Tri-State G&T, we believe in the strength of rural communities — and we’re working hard to protect them. Our vegetation management crews are out in the field year-round assessing vegetation risk, clearing brush, trimming trees, and creating defensible space around power lines. It’s all part of our wildfire mitigation strategy to keep your family, homes, and businesses safe. Because when it comes to wildfires, prevention is power.

WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS, WE’LL POWER IT.®

Scan to learn more about our year-round wildfire mitigation program.

Tri-State is a not-for-profit power supplier to cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

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Subject to availability, on a total purchase of 3 or more. Buy 2 windows or doors and get the third window or door, of equal or lesser value, 60% off – applied to lowest priced window and/or door products in purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. To qualify for discount offer, initial contact for an appointment must be made and documented on or before 8/31/25 with the purchase then occurring on or before 9/10/25. 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. ©2025 Andersen Corporation. ©2025 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved.

2 Plan 4521. Subject to credit approval. 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. 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. 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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