July/Aug. 2022 Cherryland by Country Lines

July/August 2022

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Cherryland Electric Cooperative

IT’S A WILD RIDE At Traverse City Horse Shows

That 70’s Lodge: Northern Michigan’s Grooviest Vacation Spot

The Long Goodbye 2022 Cherryland Election Results

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Contents

July/August 2022 Vol. 42, No. 7

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countrylines.com

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Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd

PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional ofﬁces. It is the ofﬁcial publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933. Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors. Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. Association Officers: Robert Kran, Great Lakes Energy, chairman; Tony Anderson, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Eric Baker, Wolverine Power Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com

6 THE CALL OF THE WILD The owners of GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park have been sharing their “family members” with their community for almost 30 years. 10 MI CO-OP KITCHEN Potatoes: Side dishes so good, they’ll steal the show.

notify your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information.

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Summer cruising in downtown Marquette. @kaushik0805 (Kaushik Sur)

18 GUEST COLUMN For one GLE member, every bite of a Michigan strawberry evokes a favorite childhood memory.

Be featured!

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account.

MI CO-OP COMMUNITY To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

RECIPE CONTEST CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please

#micoopcommunity

14 IT’S A WILD RIDE Summertime events at Flintﬁelds Horse Park lure competitors from around the world.

Win a $50 bill credit!

Up Next: Baked Goods, due Aug. 1 Holiday Side Dishes, due Sept. 1 Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

GUEST COLUMN Win $150 for stories published!

Submit your fondest memories and stories at countrylines.com/community.

MYSTERY PHOTO Win a $50 bill credit!

Enter a drawing to identify the correct location of the photo. See page 18.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

CO-OP NEWS cherrylandelectric.coop /cherrylandelectriccoop @cherrylandec BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Schweitzer, President 231-883-5860 dschweitzer@cherrylandelectric.coop

Melinda Lautner, Senior Vice President 231-947-2509 mlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop Gabe Schneider, Secretary 517-449-6453 gschneider@cherrylandelectric.coop Tom Van Pelt, Treasurer 231-386-5234 tvanpelt@cherrylandelectric.coop Valarie Handy, Director 231-392-4705 vhandy@cherrylandelectric.coop

Terry Lautner, Director 231-946-4623 tlautner@cherrylandelectric.coop

Dean Adams, Director 231-642-0014 dadams@cherrylandelectric.coop General Manager: Tony Anderson Co-op Editors: Rachel Johnson Courtney Doyle: cdoyle@cherrylandelectric.coop

OFFICE HOURS Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. TELEPHONE NUMBERS 231-486-9200 or 1-800-442-8616 (Mich.)

2022 Cherryland Electric Cooperative Election Results The 2022 Cherryland Electric Cooperative election came to a close at the 84th Annual Meeting on June 9. Members elected two at-large directors, one Benzie/Manistee/ Wexford county director, and decided on proposed bylaw revisions. The membership re-elected Melinda Lautner as an at-large director, elected Dean Adams as a new at-large director, re-elected Valarie Handy as the Benzie/Manistee/Wexford county director, and approved proposed bylaw revisions. Complete election results can be found on our website.

Michigan Among Several States Facing 1,200-MW Shortage This Summer The regional grid operator, MISO, conducted its annual generation capacity auction and found that several states, including Michigan, are 1,200 MW short of the supply needed to keep up with peak demand. That means if we experience an especially hot summer, there is a possibility controlled outages may be necessary to protect the grid from becoming overloaded. Members can find information on how the energy supply shortage impacts Cherryland on our website at cherrylandelectric.coop/podcast.

Members Earn Rebates With Energy Efficient Upgrades Cherryland members are eligible to receive rebates for energy efficient upgrades

in their homes or businesses. Common upgrades include purchasing Energy Star qualified appliances or choosing to go electric with an EV! For a guide to our residential rebate program and a complete listing of rebates available on Energy Star qualified appliances, visit our website at cherrylandelectric.coop/rebates.

Co-op Offers Suite of Solar Programs for Members Interested in going solar? Cherryland offers a suite of solar programs designed for those who want to support renewable energy with their cooperative. The suite includes community solar, net metering, and buyall, sell-all programs. Whether you want to cover your annual energy costs or use the clean energy you generate, there is a solar program for everyone! To learn more, visit our website at cherrylandelectric.coop/renewableenergy-programs.

Cherryland Office Closed Labor Day The Cherryland office will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, in observance of Labor Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 6. Line crews are on call to respond to any outages or emergencies. You can report an outage by texting OUT to (800) 442-8616, logging into SmartHub, or by calling us at (231) 486-9200. Visit our website’s Outage Center for more details.

ADDRESS P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637 PAY STATION Cherryland Electric Cooperative office 5930 U.S. 31 South, Grawn MI, 49637 Cherryland Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Your Board In Action: May Board Meeting • The engineering and operations manager gave an update on system automation investments that paid off in April. An outage at our Secor substation affected about 383 members because it was isolated to just one phase on that substation, thanks to previous upgrades on the system. Without those upgrades, the outage would’ve impacted over 1,150 members. • In response to warnings from our regional grid operator, the board discussed the state of Michigan’s power grid and the possibility of controlled blackouts this summer due to insufficient power supply. The management team outlined the co-op’s communication and response plan in case controlled outages do become necessary. • A cost of service study is underway to evaluate the current status of the cooperative’s rate structure. A final report is expected sometime this fall.

For more details on our May board meeting, listen to our Co-op Energy Talk: Board Meeting Brief podcast at www.cherrylandelectric.coop/podcast 4 JULY/AUGUST 2022

“ I will always be fiercely proud of everyone who was part of the journey. Together, we believed. United, we got it done.” the journey. Together, we believed. United, we got it done. The work isn’t over. I made peace with the journey having no final destination long ago. As hard as it was to get to where we are, it will be twice as hard to remain. There are people in place who will once again lean into this work. The “kids” are prepared. The “kids” will handle it.

The Long Goodbye Tony Anderson, General Manager

t’s time. Time to move on to the next chapter. Time to step aside for the next generation. Time to let go. Time to look back while moving forward. Time to make peace with the aging process. Time to embrace my golden years. Time to begin the long goodbye.

The June 2023 Annual Meeting of Cherryland Electric Cooperative will be my last. At that time, I will hand the “reins” over to the next general manager of your cooperative (and mine). The months leading up to that day will be all about preparing the cooperative to move forward into the future that has been evolving over my years at Cherryland. In March of 2023, I will pass 20 years at YOUR cooperative. I have worked at four other electric cooperatives in a career that started in August of 1983. I never stayed in one place for more than six and a half years until I found Cherryland. I left a small piece of my heart at each stop. I am forever

grateful that I found Cherryland while there was still a huge piece of my heart left to give. I had rebuilt two other co-ops before arriving in Traverse City. Until I stepped in the door, I didn’t know how hard the Cherryland rebuild would be. I inherited a cooperative with rates higher than the area’s large investor-owned utility. I quickly found out our reliability was terrible. I was disheartened when an employee told me that they were embarrassed to wear the co-op logo in public. There was only one thing to do—get to work.

After I walk off the stage in June of 2023, I will take on a new role as “cooperative advisor.” For 10 months after this mic drop walk-off, I will be on call and available to mentor, guide, encourage, and brainstorm as the new team gets their legs under them. It’s as much for me as it will be for the new leadership. They will pretend to need my advice. I will pretend I don’t care if they listen or not. As the months go by, we will all slowly grow into our new lives. This is the goal of the long goodbye—a slow, gradual transition to make the separation work for everyone. What’s next for me? That is a logical question. I have a great answer too. It will just have to wait for another column on another day. You really didn’t think that a column titled “The Long Goodbye” would be written in less than 600 words, did you?

With the help of many great employees, an excellent board of directors, and supportive members, we leaned into the rebuilding of Cherryland year after year. Today, our rates are lower than the large IOU across the street. Today, our reliability is second to none. Today, every employee wears your cooperative logo with pride. I will always be fiercely proud of everyone who was part of

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

THE CALL

OF THE

WILD By Emily Haines Lloyd

JULY/AUGUST 2022

hen you are exploring the Upper Peninsula, whether in vacation mode or simply tooling around your hometown, there is a sense that the “wild” is a real and beautiful part of the lifestyle up there. When Gary and Lynn Moore, both natives of lower Michigan, decided to move to the U.P., this was certainly part of the draw. While the two had been visiting for years before they relocated, they weren’t entirely sure what they were going to do once they settled in. “We love the outdoors and love the pace up here,” said Gary Moore, owner of GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park. “And we’ve always loved and owned animals, even weirder ones like potbelly pigs, pygmy goats, and peacocks, and we just decided—let’s open a zoo.” In the spring of 1994, with that love of the outdoors and animals in mind, the Moores bought 33 acres of land along U.S. 2 for their then-imagined zoo. They opened in the summer, with just a handful of animals to attract visitors. While things started slowly, the Moores started mapping out fenced-in areas and building giant habitat structures for their bigger animals. The zoo seemed to melt into the surrounding federal and state forests with towering red and white pines, birch, maple forests on all sides, and beautifully cedar-mulched trails. Now, a wide variety of animal habitats cover about 10 acres of the Moores’ property. “We build with what we have, when we need it,” said Gary. “But most importantly, we try to keep the animals in comfortable and as natural of a setting as we can.” These natural settings house everything from pet-worthy goats, llamas, and potbelly pigs to exotic binturong and lemur to big majestic cats like the African lions, cougars, and snow leopards. Many of the animals have been rescues or were facing displacement.

And the Moores, including their daughter Mary, who currently oversees operations and is preparing to take over when her parents decide to retire, have always tried to take in animals in need of a home. The zoo’s ﬁrst bear, Millie, was brought to them as a cub and had really connected with Mary. So connected that Millie would wail when Mary left her sight. The solution was a buddy for Millie, who came in the unlikely package of King, a dog the Moores were introduced to at the local animal shelter, who wasn’t having any luck ﬁnding a home of his own. Once Millie and King met, they were best friends from there. They’ve let another bear, Hutch, into their circle, and visitors delight in watching them play together, often calling it the highlight of their visit.

Wishing you could be at GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park right now? While the zoo is only open from May 1 through the end of October (depending on that ﬁnicky U.P. weather), the zoo’s Facebook page is updated frequently with amazing videos (like bears taking baths and snow leopards playing hide ‘n seek) of the animals year-round. Prepare for an overdose of cuteness with their ”Tongues Out Tuesdays,” where the animals are sticking out their tongues and give you every reason to say “awwwww….”

GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park has so many great stories about their animals, and the staff speaks about the animals as if they’re members of their family. As the Moores head into their 29th year of the zoo’s opening, Gary is reminded that it has always been worth it, while it’s not always been easy. “We love these animals, and we love sharing them with the folks who visit us,” said Gary. “Plus, we’ve always been too stubborn to give up.” Sounds like a true Yooper, indeed.

garlynzoo.com /garlynzoo

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

THAT 70’S LODGE Northern Michigan’s Grooviest Vacation Spot By Courtney Doyle

Everyone vacations a little differently. Some want to do nothing more than relax, and others want a jam-packed schedule. Either way—when we go on vacation, we’re looking for an experience. One Cherryland member not only helps travelers escape their everyday lives for a little while—they take visitors back in time! That 70’s Lodge is a little time capsule vacation rental owned by Cherryland members Dan and Lisa Brady. If it weren’t for the roadside sign up on the hill off of Beitner near Chum’s Corner— you’d probably never know it was there. Even Dan found it by accident back in 2017. “I was actually looking at another piece of property to invest in. It was just down the road there, but I passed it. So I turned into the driveway here to turn around, and there was a for sale sign too,” he explained. A happy accident that evolved into a vacation destination over a matter of months. Dan recruited some help from friends and used his experience as a painter to transform an old house

8 JULY/AUGUST 2022

The Brady Bunch, AKA Dan and Lisa Brady, along with their trusty pup Mio own and operate That 70’s Lodge.

on the hill into the grooviest spot in Traverse City. So why the ‘70s? Dan says, “I got my designer friends to look at the house, and I said, ‘what do you think?’ They said, ‘well, it was built in the ‘70s, so let’s go with that.’ I didn’t have a ton of money to remodel the whole place, so we kept a lot of the original stuff and just painted and decorated.” The rental sleeps up to 26 people in nine over-the-top, individually themed rooms, including I Dream of Jeannie, James Bond, and The Partridge Family. It has two hot tubs, a pool, a dedicated game room, a fire pit, and even some special surprises that you’ll just have to visit to discover yourself. People rent the lodge for everything from bachelor and bachelorette parties to family reunions and holiday gatherings. Even the home’s original owners have stopped by for a couple of nights in this Grand Traverse time machine. Dan and Lisa agree that the lodge has a fun vibe. “The thing I like about it is, it’s fun. People are coming here to have a good time. They’re usually in a great mood because they’re on vacation, and as long as you give them a good product, you don’t have any problems,” said Dan. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind escape for your next vacation, maybe consider visiting a different decade, but you’ll want to book early because this funky crash pad is already booked up for most of the summer.

Left: The home’s original owners. When they found out Dan and Lisa were turning this spot into a ‘70s-themed rental, they jumped at the opportunity to experience it and now their photo is part of the home’s themed decor. Right: While most of the renovations focused on fresh paint and new decor, Dan did have some furniture custom made for the house, like the I Dream of Jeannie bed.

Ready to travel back in time? Visit www.adventurenorthvacationrentals.com to book your night at That 70’s Lodge. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

MI CO-OP Recipes

Photos by Robert Bruce Photography || Recipes Submitted by MCL Readers and Tested by Recipe Editor Christin McKamey

POTATOES

Side dishes so good, they’ll steal the show.

WINNING RECIPE! DELICIOUS CREAMY POTATOES Ralph Kridner, Great Lakes Energy

1.5 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes, cut into 1-inch round, thick slices 3 tablespoons butter, melted ½ teaspoon dried thyme ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary ¼ teaspoon ancho chili powder ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon granulated garlic ½ teaspoon + ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon salt, divided ¼ teaspoon black pepper ½ cup chicken broth 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tablespoon parsley Cheese Sauce (optional): 2 teaspoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons all-purpose ﬂour ½ cup whole milk ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon salt ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon black pepper ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon smoked paprika 1–2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

RECIPE CONTEST Win a

Baked Goods due Aug. 1 • Holiday Side Dishes due Sept. 1

energy bill credit!

Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $50 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

$50

10 JULY/AUGUST 2022

Adjust rack to upper middle and preheat oven to 475 F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil (baking dish should be just big enough for your potatoes to fit in). In a medium bowl, add the melted butter, thyme, rosemary, ancho chili powder, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Toss potatoes in butter mixture until coated, and arrange potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast potatoes for 14 minutes. Carefully remove the baking sheet and flip potatoes over, then roast for another 14 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven; flip them again. Add the broth and garlic to the pan and return to oven. Roast for 10–15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with remaining ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon salt and parsley. To make the optional cheese sauce, add butter to a pan and heat until it is foamy. Add flour and whisk it with the butter. Add milk and bring almost to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cheddar cheese, and stir until melted. Serve over potatoes. Serves 3. Total time to make: 1 hour 15 minutes. Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/videos

FABULOUS FRIED MASHED POTATO BALLS Deb Finedell, Great Lakes Energy

• oil, for frying 4 cups mashed potatoes (leftover or premade, or store-bought can be used) 3 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped 3 eggs, beaten, divided ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 cup ﬂour Fill a large, deep pot halfway with oil. Heat over medium heat until it reaches 350 F. While the oil is heating, mix together the

mashed potatoes, cream cheese, chives, one egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Roll potato mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball and set aside. In three bowls, set out the breadcrumbs, flour, and the remaining 2 eggs beaten with a tablespoon of water. Dip each ball into the flour first, shaking off the excess, then into the beaten egg, letting the excess drip off, and lastly into the breadcrumbs. When oil reaches about 350 F, fry the balls in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pot as you fry. Fry for 3–4 minutes until golden brown, and transfer to paper towels. While still warm, top with salt and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

DAVE’S MOM’S CHEESY HASH BROWN CASSEROLE Becky Elliott, Cherryland

2 pounds frozen hash brown potatoes (thaw for 45 minutes ﬁrst) 1 cup diced onions 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 pound carton sour cream 1 stick melted butter 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper • potato chips Preheat oven to 375 F. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Place in greased 9x13 glass dish and cover with crushed potato chips. Bake for 1 hour. Enjoy!

BACON AND GORGONZOLA POTATO SALAD Lauren Tougas, Cherryland

¾ pound cooked and crumbled bacon, reserve some to garnish on top 5 pounds Yukon or red skin potatoes 2½ cups mayonnaise, divided 2 cups crumbled Gorgonzola cheese 1 cup chopped green onion Cook bacon and let cool so you can crumble up into smaller pieces (or use pre-

cooked bacon crumbles). Cook potatoes in a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and then simmer, covered, 20–25 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool potatoes. Cut into bite-sized pieces and mix with 2 cups mayonnaise. Mix bacon, cheese, and chopped green onion with remaining ½ cup mayonnaise. Add to potato mixture by gently combining so potatoes don’t fall apart. May add salt and pepper to taste. Top with bacon crumbles and chill before serving. Makes about 14 servings.

PARMESAN POTATOES AU GRATIN Elizabeth Knapp, Great Lakes Energy 3 • • 1

pounds Yukon Gold potatoes salt and pepper minced garlic pound grated Parmesan cheese (from a wedge, not a shaker) 2 cups heavy cream Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice potatoes to make ¹⁄ 8” rounds and submerge in a bowl

of cold water while slicing. Butter a large casserole dish (or use 2 casserole dishes; it freezes well). Layer potatoes on bottom and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic, and cheese. Repeat layers until potatoes are gone. Pour heavy cream over all and cover with foil. Bake for an hour. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more or until top is browned.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

FIREWORKS SAFETY TIPS Fireworks and summer go hand in hand, and we want you to have a safe, fun-ﬁlled season! Keep these safety tips in mind:

Make sure fireworks are legal in your community before using them. Never buy professionalgrade fireworks. They are not designed for safe consumer use. Keep small children a safe distance from all fireworks, including sparklers, which can burn at temperatures in excess of 2,000 degrees. Never reignite or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby to thoroughly soak duds before throwing them away. Keep pets indoors and away from fireworks to avoid contact injuries or noise reactions.

High School Winners

Adult Winners

Meet Cherryland’s 2022 Scholarship Winners

OLIVIA BAILEY is a graduate of Benzie Central High School. She will be attending Northwestern University in the fall to study genetics. Olivia participated in the National Honor Society, Student Council, and varsity softball in high school. Olivia is thankful for all of the support she has received and is excited to further her education.

EMILY BARRON is a student currently attending The University of Akron in Ohio. She will be graduating in 2024 with a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance. She hopes to pursue a master’s in vocal performance with a focus in education after graduation. Emily has a passion for music and teaching and hopes to bring others the same joy and love for music that she has. Emily is a member of both The University of Akron’s Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, and president of The University of Akron’s Student National Association of Teachers of Singing. She volunteers for resident housing and admissions at Akron.

COURTNEY YAPLE will be attending the University of Michigan School of Social Work this fall in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Courtney graduated from Central Michigan University in 2013 with a BS in psychology and has worked in the human services field since then with diverse populations. These experiences have led her to pursue her MSW to become a counselor to do more to help her community. Courtney is a mom of two young children and wants to work with children and families as a mental health provider so that all families may thrive.

TRUE BEEMAN has always been very interested in sports and has been a three-sport athlete throughout his entire high school career. While sports have been a big part of his life, schoolwork has always been a priority, and he has a current 3.556 GPA. He loves being outdoors, as well as hunting. He believes in honesty, being loyal to friends and family, and always being respectful. After high school, True plans to attend Alpena Community College to get an associate’s degree in utility tech.

BRAYDEN OPIE is a graduate of Suttons Bay High School. He was a three-sport varsity athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball for the Norsemen. He was named First Team All-State as a wide receiver/tight end in football. Throughout high school, Brayden did volunteer work for his high school athletic department, as well as several community organizations. He hopes to continue to give back by becoming a coach when he is older. Brayden will be attending Michigan State University and is planning to major in marketing.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

IT’S A WILD RIDE W

At Traverse City Horse Shows By Emily Haines Lloyd

hen you think about horse competitions like hunting, jumping, and equitation, it conjures up images of primly dressed riders in their velvet riding caps, tailored jackets, and riding boots who exude an air of control and composure. It’s easy to forget that the other part of the team is a wild animal—one that has been trained and coached, but at the same time, has a will and disposition that is completely its own.

of equestrian sports)—with its jumper, hunter, and equitation competitions, really livens things up. This event brings world-class athletes to Traverse City to participate in everything from youth championships to Olympic-qualifying events. With six or seven rings running simultaneously, spectators can watch riders who are just beginning their careers and expert athletes returning from recent Olympic games.

“It’s a unique opportunity to see a sport with two athletes, and only one of them is human,” said Lindsay Brock, marketing representative of Morrissey Management. “There’s always this moment of uncertainty if the horse is going to comply. It’s wild. So, there is something exciting about watching this human and this horse working together to achieve a goal.”

“From June to September, we have athletes and their families coming to Northern Michigan from 48 states and 28 countries to participate in jumper, hunter, and equitation competitions,” said partner and event director, Matt Morrissey. “In just 13 weeks, we’re awarding over $7 million in prize money.”

You can see this sort of beautiful dance between control and chaos at the many year-round events held by the Traverse City Horse Shows, which take place on the 130 acres of Flintﬁelds Horse Park in Northern Michigan. The grounds host a variety of riders and enthusiasts, from 4- and 5-yearold youngsters learning to walk ponies around a ring to experienced seniors still enjoying a lifelong passion. However, the 13 weeks of FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale—the international governing body

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The Traverse City Horse Shows started on the east side of the state, but with a rebranding and relocation in 2015, it has grown into one of the top events and venues in North America. Based on an economic impact study, the events have approximately a $120 million impact on Northern Michigan each year, with spectators, business owners, and the community all reaping beneﬁts. Competitors agree that it’s the location, as well as the points and prize money, that brings them to Flintﬁelds year after year. “Without a doubt, one of the most common

“There’s always this moment of uncertainty if the horse is going to comply. It’s wild. So, there is something exciting about watching this human and this horse working together to achieve a goal.”

things we hear about the Traverse City Horse Shows is how much the competitors and their families love visiting the area,” said Brock. “With just one day off, the athletes love exploring the lake and dunes and enjoying the great restaurants, vineyards, and just the beauty of walking around Traverse City.” Flintﬁelds provides plenty of events to keep spectators busy as well. An active atmosphere is important to the site, which offers spectators ice cream socials, happy hours, and other special events, all while they spend the day watching and bumping up against premier athletes. “It’s all a part of what our community stands for,” said Morrissey. “Our spectators get to see this amazing example of athleticism and working together in unison. When you are watching it, it’s inspiring to see something special being created between the athletes and the animals. It’s really beautiful.” To see this wild collaboration, visit on TCHS’s website at traversecityhorseshows.com for tickets.

What’s the difference between jumper, hunter and equitation? In all three divisions, a rider guides a horse over a set course of obstacles in a ring. However, each is scored differently. The jumper discipline is scored based on the objective speed and accuracy the rider has over the course. Hunter and equitation are based on a subjective judge of form over the course, with hunter classes focusing on the form of the horse and equitation classes focusing on the form of the rider. traversecityhorseshows.com /traversecityhorseshows /traversecityhorseshows

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

CHERRYLAND’S 84 TH ANNUAL MEETING!

720 ATTENDEES 388 PIZZAS 731 SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM 122 BUCKET TRUCK RIDES 3 BOARD DIRECTORS ELECTED

1 COOPERATIVE FAMILY

To see more photos from Cherryland's 84th Annual Meeting visit www.cherrylandelectric.coop/am-photos/ 16 JULY/AUGUST 2022

PHOTO CONTEST

Ice Cream 1. I scream, you scream, we all love ice cream!—Terri McMaster 2. Sharing a milkshake—Kayla Morrison 3. Siblings at the Big Dipper—Nanette Merica 4. The first taste of sweetness—Andrea Kissel 5. Sprinkles!—Chad Johnston 6. Yippee!—Joan Kmotorka 7. Pure joy—Brooke Stevens

MOST VOTES ON FACEBOOK!

5 Enter to win a

$200

energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Feathers” Photos By July 20!

Submit your best photo and encourage your friends to vote! The photo receiving the most votes in our Facebook contest will be printed in an issue of Country Lines along with some of our other favorites. Our July/August theme is Feathers! Photos can be submitted through July 20 to be featured in our October issue.

Enter Your Photos And Win A Bill Credit!

To enter the contest, visit cherrylandelectric.coop/photo-contest or visit facebook.com/ cherrylandelectriccoop for a link to the current photo contest. Enter your picture, cast your vote, and encourage others to vote for you as well. If your photo is printed in Country Lines during 2022, you will be entered to win a credit of up to $200 on your December 2022 bill. MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 17

Guest Column

Sweet Breakfast

By Kris Rigling, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

rowing up in a small dairy farming community in the country, there were not a lot of options for jobs, but one of my favorites and one of my first jobs still conjures up happy memories. We had a small grocery store in our community that always tried to have fresh produce on hand. While most families grew their own gardens, some people worked all day and didn’t have time to pick fresh berries, but they still wanted to taste summer’s sweet berries. One Sunday at church, our neighbor (her older brother was the produce manager) told my sister about picking strawberries for the local grocery store—she and our neighbor would each pick 16 quarts. My sister didn’t really want to do it, but I did and begged to do so. My mom called the neighbor, and we were set to pick berries on Monday morning. We were also lucky enough to have a strawberry farm in our community. We showed up first thing in the morning, and the farmer told us where to start picking. And he told us to be sure to let him know if they tasted okay. We each picked 16 quarts. I think I picked my 16 quarts and ate another one or two! They were so good and juicy—right off the vine—it was like eating liquid sunshine. When we finished picking, we dropped off our berries at the store, and they paid us right out of the cash register! I was so excited! I think I made about $3, which was probably minimum wage. We did this every few days for about three weeks that summer, and then the season was over again for another year. I didn’t make a ton of money picking berries that summer, but every time I bite into a sweet Michigan strawberry, I am a kid again, picking and eating a very sweet breakfast!

Win a $50 energy bill credit!

Kris enjoys cooking, camping, kayaking, reading, and watching her kids play sports.

Win $150!

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $150 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

Where In Michigan Is This? Identify the correct location of the photo to the left by July 20 and be entered into a drawing to win a $50 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community. May 2022 Winner! Our Mystery Photo winner is Toni Blundy, a HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative member, who correctly identiﬁed the photo as the New Era Potato Chip Silo on Grand River Avenue, east of Portland. Photo courtesy of Eldon McGraw. Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/August, September, and November/ December.

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