Colorado Country Life March 2021 Grand Valley

GRAND VALLEY POWER

MARCH 2021

Empowering Lives with Hometown Service

Eye-Catching PHOTOS 2021 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

PLUS BATHROOM REMODELING TIPS

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FARM TO TABLE BEEF RECIPES

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WOMEN IN POWER

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We’re reducing our carbon emissions 80% by 2030 Our members have asked for cleaner, more affordable and more flexible electricity – and we’re delivering. As part of our commitment, we’re adding even more renewable energy, supporting our goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% for wholesale electricity sales in Colorado by 2030.

Built by and for our members, we power what matters to you. That’s the value of our cooperative family. To learn how we’re delivering on our mission, visit www.tristate.coop

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

Volume 52

Number 03

March 2021 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, CCC, Production Manager/Designer cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Kylee Coleman, Editorial/Admin. Assistant kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING Kris Wendtland, Ad Representative advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-902-7276 National Advertising Representative, American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504, Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©Copyright 2021, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights.

EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-455-4111 coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | Instagram.com/cocountrylife Twitter.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/COCountryLife1 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.

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 $4.44 per year (37 cents per month), paid from equity accruing to the member. For nonmembers, a subscription is $9 per year in-state/$15 out-of-state.

Eye-Catching PHOTOS

2021 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

4 VIEWPOINT

5 LETTERS

6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS

12 RECIPES

14 NEWS CLIPS

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK

16 COVER STORY EYE-CATCHING PHOTOS

22 GARDENING 24 OUTDOORS

25 CREATIVE CORNER

26 MARKETPLACE

On the

28 COMMUNITY EVENTS

Cover

29 YOUR STORIES

Cover image of the curious owl was photographed by David Dahms, a consumer-member of Poudre Valley REA.

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: CREA staff is spending the morning with newer electric co-op board directors and co-op senior staff sharing a review of its services to co-ops during an orientation session.

30 DISCOVERIES

Monthly Contest Enter for your chance to win a $25 gift card to Pueblo Seed & Food Company. For official rules and how to enter, visit our Contests page at coloradocountrylife.coop.

coloradocountrylife.coop

COCountryLife pinned: Warm your bones with this beefy boost: Easy Sheet Pan Meatloaf & Potatoes.

Get the recipe on our Pinterest page at COCountryLife.

20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

MARCH 2021

“Cranes Dance” by Chris Becea, a member of Yampa Valley Electric Association.

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month colorado_electric_cooperatives posted: Find #electric news in #ColoradoCountryLife, the #electriccoops magazine. Read it each month and stay up to date on what’s happening with #coloradoelectriccoops.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

3

VIEWPOINT

DESPITE COVID-19

CREA’s advocacy on behalf of the electric co-ops continues

BY KENT SINGER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

T

he first regular session of the 73rd Colorado General Assembly convened at the state Capitol at 10 a.m. on January 13 to conduct the people’s business. While the session started on time and in accordance with the requirements of the Colorado Constitution, it was unlike the beginning of any previous legislative session in Colorado history.

The start of a new Colorado General Assembly after a general election is usually accompanied by lots of pomp and circumstance. Newly elected members are often joined on the floor of each chamber with family members and the atmosphere — at least on the first day — is one of congeniality between the parties and the hope for bipartisanship and cooperation.

However, in the age of COVID-19, access to the Capitol on opening day was extremely limited this year and the plexiglass barriers between the desks of the legislators were a reminder of the unique circumstances facing the body. Given the ongoing risks of large groups of people meeting in close proximity, the general assembly almost immediately recessed for 30 days in hopes of keeping the members and staff safe and avoiding the worst of the pandemic.

CREA made good use of the recess to work on bills of importance to Colorado’s electric co-ops with individual members of the legislature. When the legislature reconvened on February 16, we had substantial

work done on bills relating to electric co-op governance practices and wildfire mitigation, among others.

We have long supported transparent and fair rules for the governance of electric co-op elections and board meetings. Although electric co-ops are private businesses and not government agencies, we nonetheless support open and fair board elections and transparent decision-making by electric co-ops. “Democratic member control” is one of the seven cooperative principles and we believe in the rights of co-op consumer-members to have input into the direction of their co-op.

To that end, we are working with State Rep. Judy Amabile (D-Boulder) on a bill that would change some of the requirements for electric co-op board elections and meetings. Among other revisions, the bill will authorize, but not require, electric co-ops to conduct elections by electronic means.

We continue to work with Rep. Amabile on other provisions of the bill.

We are also seeking legislation that recognizes the risks that wildfires pose to electric co-op systems as well as the risks to the financial viability of co-ops in the event a tree falls into our systems and causes a fire. We are supporting legislation similar to what other states have adopted where co-ops would be granted liability protection so long as they develop and implement robust fire mitigation plans. We are working with State Sen.

KENT SINGER

Dennis Hisey (R-Fountain) on this legislation and appreciate his sponsorship of the bill.

We expect to see many other bills during the 2021 legislative session that could impact how electric co-ops operate. Our objective is always to watch for any measures that diminish the right of your local co-op board and management to make decisions for your co-op, and to also be on the lookout for any proposals that could increase the cost of doing business.

When Abraham Lincoln gave his second “Annual Message to Congress” on December 1, 1862, as the Civil War raged on, he concluded with one of the many phrases that establish him as the most eloquent president in U.S. history. Lincoln informed Congress that slavery must be abolished in order to save the union and the republic as “the last best hope of earth.” Our republican form of government remains that “last best hope of earth” today through the work done by our elected state representatives and senators.

We appreciate their service and their willingness to work with us as we protect the interests of Colorado’s electric cooperatives.

Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for your electric co-op, the 21 other electric co-ops in Colorado and one power supply co-op.

PROPOSED BILL TOPICS IMPORTANT TO COLORADO’S ELECTRIC CO-OPS • Electric co-op governance practices • Wildfire mitigation

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

LETTERS

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Commitment to communicate continues

BY MONA NEELEY

Writing a Dystopian Novel

EDITOR

I

n early March, electric co-op directors, managers and staff members across the state will gather virtually for CREA’s 75th annual meeting. It will be a time to look back at 2020, the trade association’s 75th year of serving Colorado’s electric cooperatives.

What’s crazy is that I’ve been here, helping the co-ops communicate with you, their consumer-members, for a third of that time — almost 27 years.

Lots changed since I started. Back then, we still did some magazine design with paper artwork and we had physical copies of ads that were moved from one month to the next. Our phones were on our desks, except for one “car phone” that came in a small suitcase.

And email — it was a new and wondrous way to communicate. However, we only

had one internet MONA NEELEY connection in our department.

When I wanted to send an email, I had to ask whoever had the connection plugged into their computer to unplug and hand me the cord so I could plug it into my computer.

Then I hope it worked — it was hit or miss.

Much has changed. Yet the basic principles of your local electric co-op haven’t changed, especially when it comes to communication. Your co-op is still dedicated to connecting with you, its consumer-members, each month.

Mona Neeley is the statewide editor of Colorado Country Life, which is published in coordination with your local electric cooperative. Its goal is to provide information from your local electric co-op to you, its consumer-members.

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Make Your Driveway Like NEW! • Fill in potholes and smooth out washboard • Loosen & redistribute existing material

Back to the Movies

Thank you to Kent Singer for his 2021 Mulligan Action Plan (Viewpoint, December ’20).

He recommended “See a movie in a theater” as his Step 1 choice. My family and I appreciate that so much. We own the small local theater in Fort Morgan and our number of theatergoers has been severely reduced due to all the health concerns. We can use all of the support we can get!

Carol Johnson, Fort Morgan Morgan County REA consumer-member

Apostrophe Catastrophe

I enjoyed “Apostrophe Catastrophe” (Creative Corner, January ’20). Rachel Snyder’s poem was a brilliant, humorous way to describe the frequent, multiple misuses of this punctuation mark. As an English teacher (now retired), I share her sentiments.

Jean Wyrick, Red Feather Lakes Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

I loved Rachel Snyder’s poem. As a longtime editor, I share her consternation at the misuse of the much abused punctuation mark, and I got a kick out of her poem. Now, if only the apostrophe-challenged would heed her advice.

Shelly Mayer, Salida Sangre de Cristo consumer-member

• Tow with your ATV, UTV, or tractor

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To Kent Singer on his 2021 Mulligan Action Plan (Viewpoint, December ’20) and his proposed novel about a pandemic: You’re too late. It’s already been published. It’s called Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and was designated as the 2017 “All Pueblo Reads” selection. It is about a virus wiping out whole segments of the population quickly, which seemed impossible [then].

When the coronavirus hit, I kept thinking of the book.

Edith Edson, Pueblo San Isabel Electric consumer-member

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Editor Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org.

Include name and address. Letters may be edited for length.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

5

ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

COLORADO LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORY Download Our Mobile App for FREE! Stay in touch with legislators while on the go.

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Using the camera on your smartphone, scan this code to get the download link.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

Don’t Flush Away Energy Efficiency considerations when remodeling a bathroom

BY JAMES DULLEY

T

he use of several bathrooms can be responsible for a significant amount of your utility bills yearround. Bathrooms use both hot and cold water; heating and cooling; and electricity for lighting and appliances; and they vent out indoor conditioned air. With whirlpools and other comfort appliances, bathrooms are used for more hours today than ever before.

Flushing a toilet is the major cold-water consumer in most bathrooms and the toilet typically is replaced when remodeling. During winter, all the cold water that comes indoors when the toilet is flushed draws heat from the house as the water in the tank warms up. This can be a significant hidden energy loss.

The maximum water usage allowed for new toilets is 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf).

Most major plumbing fixture manufacturers also offer 1.28-gpf superefficient standard-flush and dual-flush models. Since fewer of these superefficient toilet styles are available, select the toilet first and then match the other fixtures to it.

Showerhead design impacts both cold and hot water consumption. The maximum water flow rate is 2.5 gallons per minute for showerheads, but some low-flow showerheads use half this much. If you have tried older low-flow showerheads and were dissatisfied, give it another shot — the new ones provide a more forceful shower. Select

a showerhead with a trickle valve to slow the water flow while you are lathering.

Much hot and cold water is wasted trying to get the shower water temperature where you want it. Select a manual and electronic shower valve, which allows the precise temperature to be set on a dial or digitally. The correct temperature is reached more quickly with less water wasted down the drain.

If it takes longer than 30 seconds to get hot water to the shower or sink, as much as two gallons of water can be wasted. Install a do-it-yourself rapid hot water demand kit underneath the sink. When hot water is needed, a high-volume pump draws hot water quickly to the faucet. Instead of cold water being wasted down the drain while waiting, it flows back into the cold-water line. When the hot water gets to the faucet, the pump shuts off. Also, because the hot water gets to the faucet quickly, less heat energy is lost from the plumbing.

James Dulley writes utility bill-cutting and general moneysaving magazine articles and writes nationally syndicated $ensible Home and Cut Your Utility Bills columns for 200 newspapers and magazines.

LEARN MORE ONLINE To find out about heating and lighting suggestions for your renovated bathroom, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Energy Tips under the Energy tab.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

THE VALUE OF ELECTRICITY

BY TOM WALCH

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I

would bet that most people don’t give much thought to the electricity they buy and use. Like most people, I expect the lights to turn on when I flip the switch. I don’t give it a second thought when my coffee maker comes on every morning to produce my daily dose of caffeine. Because electricity is instantaneously available whenever we need it, we don’t think much about it. Since many of us have been spending more time at home over the past few months, we have likely been using more energy. And yet, we still expect an endless supply of power with uninterrupted service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The only time we really give thought about electricity is when the power goes out or perhaps when the monthly bill arrives.

Given how electricity powers our modern lifestyle every day, it’s a great value, especially when compared to other common services and expenses. For example, think back to the cost of a gallon of gasoline 20 years ago. Consider the cost of groceries or a cup of your favorite specialty coffee from a few years back. In comparison, the cost of electricity has remained largely flat, unlike most other consumer goods.

Like many of you, I have a cellphone to stay connected, and I buy streaming services to watch television. When we agree to these services, we can visually see what we’re getting for our money, and we pay the price for those services. In contrast, when we use electricity, we don’t necessarily “see” all that we’re getting for our money.

But considering what electricity does for us, it’s a tremendous value for our quality of life as well as our budgets. For comparison, consider that the average rent increase was nearly 4% (from 20142019) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price

0.4%

2.6%

3.0%

3.7%

AVERAGE ANNUAL PRICE INCREASE (%) 2014-2019

RENT

MEDICAL CARE

EDUCATION ELECTRICITY

TOM WALCH

Index. The cost of medical care was increased 3% during this time, and education was not too far behind at 2.6%. So, where did electricity rank? According to the CPI, electricity increased by less than half a percentage point, 0.4%. At the same time, Grand Valley Power has not had a rate increase for nine years. The cost of powering your home rises slowly when compared to other common expenses and services.

Of course, the concept of value takes in more than just cost. It is cheaper to own and operate a compact sedan than a four-wheel drive pickup truck. But in communities that work — and play — as hard as a lot of folks do in Mesa County, many consumers get more value out a vehicle purchase that costs a little more.

The bottom line: Electricity brings everyday value. At Grand Valley Power we are dedicated to delivering value to all we serve. We do this with reliability rating that regularly ranks among the best in the state for rural electric cooperatives. We do it with friendly, hometown service. And we do it while constantly striving to control costs.

We recognize that the past few months have been challenging for many of our members and we’re here to help. If you have questions about your account or are looking for ways to save energy at home, please give us a call. Grand Valley Power is your electric co-op and our sole purpose is to serve you and the needs of our community. That’s everyday value and the cooperative difference.

COMMENTS TO THE CEO You are a member of a cooperative and your opinion does count. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please let me know by writing to Ask the CEO, P.O. Box 190, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or send an email to me at twalch@gvp.org. Check out our website at gvp.org.

BOARD MEETING NOTICE Grand Valley Power board meetings are open to the members, consumers and public, but due to current COVID-19 health concerns, please call us at 970-242-0040 if you are interested in attending our meeting remotely. Regularly scheduled board meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the headquarters building located at 845 22 Road, Grand Junction, CO. The monthly agenda is posted in the lobby of the headquarters building 10 days before each meeting and posted on the GVP website.

If anyone desires to address the Board of Directors, please let us know in advance and you will be placed on the agenda.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Consumer Price Index

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

DO WE OWE YOU MONEY? One of the many benefits of being a member of a cooperative, is the way that members participate in our business. Members contribute to the capital of their cooperative. They also contribute to the coop’s economic success and any excess margins are paid back over time to those members.

Grand Valley Power strives to ensure we have your updated address to mail you credit checks (even if you move off our lines).

Despite these efforts, we receive checks back and they are unclaimed.

We’ve updated our list and encourage you to check our website by visiting gvp.org/CashBackCredits or scan the QR code, to see if you know any of the individuals or businesses who have unclaimed cash. If your name is listed (or someone you know) please contact us at 970-242-0040.

SCAN ME

Thwart Copper Thievery Copper thieves have caused power outages at businesses and homes, shut down traffic lights and forced hospitals to run on backup generators. In the worst cases, copper thefts have caused fires and explosions that have taken innocent lives.

If you notice anything unusual with electric facilities, such as an open substation gate, open equipment or hanging wire, please contact Grand Valley Power immediately.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

The Best 31 Years A Person Could Ask For

BY DANA POGAR

W

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

e are at once delighted and disheartened to announce that Customer Ser vice Representative Debra Whiteside is set to retire from Grand Valley Power after 31 years of service. If you have contacted GVP within the past three decades, chances are that you have received support from Debra.

Debra joined the cooperative family on April 4, 1989, as a front desk receptionist.

“My mom heard about the opportunity from a close friend and former GVP retiree, Cathy, and encouraged me to apply for the position,” she stated. Part of her daily tasks as a CSR include welcoming new members to our lines, assisting members with their accounts and taking every phone call with one mission in mind — empowering lives with hometown service.

“The best part about my position is the relationships I’ve developed with coworkers and co-op members over the years,” Debra said, “I take each phone call with a positive

attitude and take the time to get to know our members personally. You’d be amazed to hear the friendships I’ve built over the years with our consumers just through a simple conversation.”

As both a GVP consumer and employee, Debra has experienced the cooperative difference firsthand. “Members of Grand Valley Power are the heart and focus of the cooperative business model. They are not just seen as an account number, they are seen as the light of the organization and what powers our co-op community each and every day,” she emphasized.

In her retirement, Deb looks forward to spending time traveling with her husband, Dave, in their new travel trailer to national parks across the United States and Canada.

We at Grand Valley Power thank Debra for her 31 years of service and dedication to the co-op. Please join us in wishing Debra farewell as she embarks on this new adventure.

Debra Whiteside celebrates her 50th birthday with her coworkers at Grand Valley Power.

Customer Service Representative Debra Whiteside retires from Grand Valley Power after 31 years and 10 months of service.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Member Spotlight: Grand Valley Greens

BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

E

ighteen miles from Grand Junction, Colorado, lies the rural agriculture and ranching community of Loma, Colorado. A hillside with the letter “L” signifies you have arrived, and Loma also is home to multiple mountain biking trails. While the peak is modest compared to Colorado heights, the views of the Western Slope’s high desert are incredible.

Nestled in Loma is also a unique farm and Grand Valley Power member, Grand Valley Greens, which is an aquaponic farm.

Aquaponics is a form of agriculture that combines raising fish in tanks (recirculating aquaculture) with soilless plant culture (hydroponics). In aquaponics, the nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides a natural fertilizer for the plants, and the plants help to purify the water for the fish.

It’s a cycle that mimics the natural process that already takes place in lakes, ponds, rivers and waterways. Aquaponics also does not use herbicides, pesticides or other harsh chemicals and growth is year-round in any climate.

Wendy Metzger, owner and aquaponic enthusiast of Grand Valley Greens, started her business back in late 2019 after retiring from 30 years in the health care industry. “For 30 years I worked with older people suffering from multiple chronic diseases and observed that the doctors could rarely offer any kind of relief for our patients other than more medications,” she said. “This is why I turned to aquaponics. I wanted to grow super healthy and delicious real food for people to help them avoid chronic illnesses. My sister and brother-in-law, who lived in Wyoming, came down to work here as well and we slowly started the business.” Along the way, she reached out to her mentors, both locally here and some in Denver as well. Grand Valley Greens was born and now grows fresh-fromthe-farm produce that is rich in nutrients and taste including multiple varieties of lettuce, cooking greens such as collards and Asian greens and micro greens.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

Wendy Metzger, owner of Grand Valley Greens, stands between the rows in her aquaponics facility. Moving lights and air ensure sunlight variance and conditions that lead to exceptional plant growth.

In a normal year, Wendy and her family can be found at Fruita’s Farmers Market.

Grand Valley Greens can also be found at Skip’s Farm to Market store in Fruita, and you can also buy direct, either online at grandvalleygreens.com or by phone. She delivers to certain locations of the valley each week where you can pick up your orders.

What’s equally important to Wendy is also the environmental aspect to her farm.

“Aquaponics can be environmentally friendly and sustainable with 90% less water used than in traditional agriculture. You can do this type of farming almost anywhere, reducing the transportation costs, and the produce is quicker to market making it nutritionally superior. Shopping locally also supports your local farmers and economy,” she said. “Also, I use a lot of energy, so it’s important to me to have an efficient system, which includes solar energy and efficient lighting to keep my utilities lower,” Wendy said.

What’s on deck for Grand Valley Greens?

Wendy’s sticking with greens for a while, but is going to try cucumbers, additional micro greens and varietal lettuce versus fruiting plants, which take longer. Also, she’s working on getting club subscriptions set up for people who want greens each week on a regular basis. “I’m always looking for new ideas and it’s a work in progress,” she said. “I

have just been open for just over a year, but to keep healthy greens year-round in the valley is a wonderful thing. You can just taste the difference!”

To find more out about Grand Valley Greens, visit grandvalleygreens.com or follow Wendy on Facebook at facebook. com/GrandValleyGreens. You’ll see her delicious greens and even a few tilapia selfies from the farm.

Aquaponics encompasses two agricultural products (fish and vegetables) being produced from one nitrogen source (fish food). The most common species grown in both home and commercial aquaponic systems is tilapia.

You cannot use herbicides, pesticides or other harsh chemicals in an aquaponics system, making the fish and plants healthful and safe to eat.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

11

RECIPES

FEAST ON FARE FROM FARM TO TABLE

DO YOU HAVE A GREAT RECIPE?

Fix food that fuels and comforts on cold days

BY AMY HIGGINS

If you have a recipe you want us to try, send it our way at recipes@coloradocountrylife.org.

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Beef recipes easy enough for weeknight meals

T

he versatility of beef makes it one of the most sought-after meats in the market.

From sirloin and brisket to shank and flank, recipe options are endless. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association offers an abundance of enticing recipes on its website, BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com, that fits many taste preferences in categories such as chilis, roasts, salads and heart-healthy options. This month, we’re highlighting dishes that are sure to provide warmth and comfort when Colorado’s springtime turns frigid.

One-Dish Beef Stroganoff 1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner) 1/2 pound sliced button or cremini mushrooms 3 teaspoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 2 cups uncooked whole grain, wide noodle-style pasta 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium beef broth 1 cup frozen peas 1/4 cup regular dairy sour cream plus additional for topping 1 tablespoon regular or coarse-grain Dijon-style mustard salt and pepper, to taste Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef, mushrooms, garlic and thyme; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking ground beef into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, as necessary.

Stir noodles and broth into beef mixture. Bring to a boil.

Cover and cook 9 to 10 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring twice. Stir in peas; continue cooking, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes or until peas are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat; stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and mustard.

Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Garnish with additional sour cream, if desired.

For directions on how to cook with top sirloin, visit tinyurl.com/57lutzfw.

Cook’s Tip Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

Recipe, photo and information courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Cold weather is no match for

Beef Enchilada Soup.

Get the recipe at coloradocountrylife.coop.

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NEWS CLIPS

Co-ops Support Move to Zero Emission Big Rigs The trucking industry is beginning to move to an electric future. To help demonstrate and promote this move, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, your electric co-op’s national trade association, has signed on as a sponsor of “Run On Less– Electric,” or “RoL-E,” a 2021 technology demonstration showcasing electric trucks in everyday operation.

RoL–E, planned to begin in September, will feature up to 10 trucks, drivers and charging infrastructure systems across the United States and Canada. They will be supported by their fleets and equipment manufacturing partners. The demonstration will include medium-duty box trucks and heavy-duty tractors moving freight in different geographic and climate areas.

Initiated by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado, RoL-E, NACFE and RMI will host a series of virtual educational events convening industry stakeholders to discuss the why and how of electric truck deployment. NRECA will be a title sponsor of one of these education events, which are open to electric co-ops and their fleet customers.

The events will provide an opportunity to learn from leaders in fleet electrification beyond the RoL-E participants. Fleet managers, charging providers, utilities, engineering firms, policymakers and others will participate in the discussions.

For more information, visit runonless.com.

CO-OP INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH CONTINUES While COVID-19 stopped Colorado’s electric cooperatives from sending a team of lineworkers to Bolivia in 2020, the pandemic has not stopped the electric co-ops in the United States from continuing to virtually support electric development around the world.

NRECA International, the organization CREA worked with when Colorado’s electric cooperatives sent teams of lineworkers to Guatemala to build power lines to electrify small villages, has continued its work in various parts of the world.

Just last month, NRECA International announced it signed a five-year contract to take over the operation of a struggling distribution utility in south-central Nigeria and transform it into a profitable company providing dependable service to its customers. When work begins this spring, NRECA International will assign three fulltime employees to the utility, supported by a technical team of 10 NRECA engineering, commercial and management specialists.

The NRECA team will evaluate the training needs of the existing distribution utility team and design a program to build

14

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

NRECA International signed a contract to take over operation of a distribution utility in the Nigerian city of Aba, where these bungalows are located. (Photo By: NRECA International)

capacity and improve technical, commercial and customer-service skills.

The Nigerian contract is the largest of about a half-dozen African contracts that NRECA International has been awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic. There have

been some challenges as all communications have been managed virtually, but the work to improve the quality of life of people around the globe has not slowed down.

NEWS CLIPS LESS THAN

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

2%

EV sales represented less than 2% of new car sales in America in 2019

People in All Income Brackets Want to Use Electricity Wisely Coloradans and others across the country in the lower income brackets have as much desire to use their electricity more efficiently in their homes as those in higher income brackets. But many assume that the smart technologies that would help are too expensive for them.

That was one of the key findings of a new report from the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.

The report was developed from a national survey of 1,000 consumers conducted last August and September. The survey included urban and rural dwellers, owners and renters, and households with and without children.

The report sheds light on behaviors, attitudes and values as they relate to energy efficiency, smart technology for home, renewable energy, electricity providers and climate change. It also looks at financial barriers, relationships with utilities, where these consumers obtain energy information and how these things have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“As stakeholders better understand who these consumers are and what they value,” the SECC says in the report, “electricity providers, policymakers and consumer advocates will be better able to reach them and create new opportunities for these under-resourced consumers to participate in the smart energy future.”

But total sales were up more than 80% over 2018.

According to a report this year by the Boston Consulting Group.

80%

INCREASE IN TOTAL SALES

EV sales are expected to increase to more than 20% of the new car market in 2030.

20% MORE THAN

Wind Power Tax Credit Extended The production tax credit for U.S. wind energy production has been extended to the end of 2021.

The credit, which brings down the cost of building large-scale wind farms, got a last minute reprieve from Congress at the end of 2020. The credit will be available to companies at the previous levels, if they begin construction by December 31, 2021.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects 12.2 gigawatts of wind capacity to come on line in 2021. The bulk of that new capacity is not expected until December.

A total of 21 GW of new capacity was expected to have been added to the grid at the end of 2020. That is a record for wind installations in the United States.

To read the report, visit smartenergycc.org.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

15

EYE-CATCHING PHOTOS 2021 Photo Contest Winners

C

olorado Country Life readers certainly have an eye for catching and capturing Colorado’s finest moments: Everything from an owl couple sneaking a kiss to a magnificent and colorful Colorado summer sunset. The five categories for the 2021 Photo Contest were: Colorado Birds, Family Fun, My Stomping Grounds, The Golden Hour and the competition for the winning cover image.

We received photos from consumermembers representing all electric co-ops from all across the state; but narrowing down more than 750 photo entries to the winning 13 was no easy task. The cover image of the curious owl was photographed

by David Dahms, a consumer-member of Poudre Valley REA. In the following pages you’ll see the first, second and third place winners in all four categories.

You can find other favorite photos at our website, coloradocountrylife.coop.

Be sure to check out a video featuring all the winners and honorable mentions on our YouTube channel at COCountryLife1.

And enjoy more photos that were entered into the contest all year on our Facebook (CO C ountr yLife) and Instagram (COCountryLife) pages.

16

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE 2019 MARCH 2021

First place, My Stomping Grounds: “Winter Moose” by Brian Allen, an Intermountain Rural Electric Association consumer-member.

First place, The Golden Hour: “Red Fox Couple at Dawn” by Alan Ziff, a Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member.

COVER STORY

First place, Family Fun: “The Drive Home” by Natalie Heller, a San Miguel Power Association consumer-member.

First place, Colorado Birds: “Burrowing Owl Couple” by Debbie McCulliss, a Yampa Valley Electric Association consumer-member.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

17

COVER STORY WATCH ONLINE Check out a video featuring all the 2021 winners as well as some honorable mentions.

Second place, My Stomping Grounds: “Black Canyon Sunset” by Angela Moyer, a Delta-Montrose Electric Association consumer-member.

Second place, Family Fun: “Mom and Son Feeding Their Horse” by Laura Moorhead, a Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member.

Third place, Colorado Birds: “Heron with Nesting Material”

by J.R. Schnelzer, a Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association consumer-member.

Second place, Colorado Birds: “Wood Duck Drake” by David Dahms, a Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association consumermember.

Second place, The Golden Hour: “Sunrise over the Dunes” by Pam Toepfer, a San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

COVER STORY

Third place, My Stomping Grounds: “Lake Husted Sunrise”

by Jennifer Coombes, a United Power consumer-member.

Third place, The Golden Hour: “Sunset on Sunflowers” by Laura Eichinger, an Intermountain Rural Electric Association consumer-member.

Third place, Family Fun: “Much Appreciated Snow” by Jennifer Summers, a Yampa Valley Electric Association consumer-member.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

19

ENERGY CONNECTIONS

Women in Power Providing leadership in Colorado’s electric co-op industry

BY SHARON SULLIVAN

Women have played an important role in the electric cooperative movement since those first rural wives and mothers used their egg money to pay the $5 membership fee required to sign up for the new electric cooperatives in the 1930s and ’40s. They made sure the electric poles, wires and much-needed electricity came to their farms and ranches, and the electric co-op movement grew.

Through the years, the influence of women expanded and changed as they moved into more direct leadership roles. In honor of Women’s History Month, here are a few of the women making a difference today in Colorado’s electric cooperatives.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

When a recruiter called Jessica Matlock in 2019 regarding the CEO position at La Plata Electric Association — a memberowned, not-for-profit electric distribution co-op based in Durango — Matlock jumped at the opportunity to return to her native Colorado.

With a bachelor’s degree in chemical oceanography and a master’s in public policy, Matlock is one of several female leaders working within Colorado’s electric cooperatives and the only woman currently serving as CEO of a CREA member association.

Matlock began her electrical career 20 years ago at Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Washington, D.C., where she continued working for Bonneville on public policy issues. Matlock also spent 13 years as government affairs director for Snohomish Public Utility District, one of the largest public power utilities in the United States.

Maintaining reliable service for LPEA members, while also ensuring the

company’s 110 employees feel supported and valued is important to Matlock. During the winter holidays she gave each employee a small gift and handwritten card to show her appreciation. “I want them to know I think about every single one of them,” she said.

She recently received an email from a lineman’s wife praising her leadership: “In almost 30 years I’ve never seen my husband happier with a company and his job. Thank you for being so good at morale-boosting,” the woman wrote.

Another female industry leader in Colorado, Ginny Buczek, was active in her community before joining the statewide CREA Board of Directors where she’s currently vice president. Prior to joining CREA’s board, Buczek served seven years as a Weld County councilwoman, was a Firestone town councilmember, and served on multiple committees. She also previously managed a hardware store and was “pie leader” for her kids’ 4-H Club.

Buczek represents United Power, an electric co-op based in Brighton, providing service

ENERGY CONNECTIONS to 93,000 homes and businesses along Colorado’s northern Front Range.

“I believe that people bring their life experience to the board,” Buczek said. “The co-op model and its interaction with the community made me interested in serving on the board as a way of giving back to all the things United Power had given to my community and family. It’s truly our job to take care of our membership. I’m a member. I’m taking care of my power.”

From an office at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association in Westminster, Barbara Walz works to provide wholesale electricity to 42 member co-ops and public power districts in multiple states as senior vice president of p ol i c y and compliance-chief compliance officer for t he c o - op power supplier.

Her duties include developing and supporting policies and initiatives relating to energy and the environment while working with state and federal elected officials, representatives from the member co-ops Tri-State supplies electricity to and other key policymakers.

After graduating from the University of North Dakota with a degree in chemical engineering (“I always loved math and science so it was an obvious path,” Walz said), she worked as an engineer for the North Dakota Department of Public Health and Environment. “I grew to love the environmental work and understand the value of it — both to the environment and to industry,” she said. She went on to earn a master’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Denver.

Walz joined Tri-State 24 years ago after working in Washington, D.C., for several years where she continues to serve on the Carbon Utilization Research Council, as well as various boards and committees in

Colorado and North Dakota.

As a woman, Walz has often found herself in the minority when working with individuals in similar positions across the nation, although she noted that has changed over time. “I was much more of a minority in college (majoring in science),” she said. “It was a bigger challenge. I just had to work hard, show my ability.”

Longtime electric co-op leader Sylvia Spangler serves on the Grand Valley Power Board of Directors in Grand Junction. She remembers when electricity came to her home as a child growing up on a ranch in Steamboat Springs. She recalls her family canning meat and vegetables and storing perishable foods outside in a box filled with ice. Her mother cooked on a wood stove before her family got electricity at their home.

Spangler’s family and neighbors were members of one of the first rural electric associations, she said. Her grandfather, George Cook, helped build the lines and served on the first board of Yampa Valley Electric Association in Steamboat Springs.

The original board included two women, which was unusual at the time, she noted.

Spangler was asked to complete her husband’s term on the GVP board after he passed away in 1991. And because the board was like family, and because rural electric boards have “always been in my blood,” she accepted. Spangler, who turns 80 in March, has served GVP ever since.

“We’re always looking at new technology, which has changed the business dramatically,” Spangler said. “Grand Valley Power has a solar farm — we’re one of the first co-ops in the state to implement that.

Our big mission is to maintain safety for the co-op — and quality of service.”

That focus on service and safety was there when previous leader Shirley Bauer led CREA as its first female board president from 1998 to 2000. Now retired, Bauer was well-known in her former Cortez community for organizing kids’ school activities and other community events. Because of those leadership skills, fellow electric co-op members encouraged Bauer to run for a seat on the board of directors of Empire Electric Association, a southwestern Colorado electric co-op.

Bauer served on the Empire board from 1990 to 2006, including serving as president from 2004 to 2006. She also spent 10 years on the CREA Board of Directors, including those two years as board president.

“By serving on CREA’s board I learned a lot about politics and how important grassroots movements are,” Bauer said.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize how much work it takes to keep the lights on” — whether you’re a woman or a man.

And it helps when there is support from others. Matlock has been instrumental in reaching out to other women in the electric co-op world, helping create a network to support women in the industry. In the fall of 2020, Matlock and friend Libby Calnon, general manager of Hood River Electric Co-op in Oregon, founded “Women in Power” within the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national electric co-op trade association, to connect women nationwide by providing them a platform to share stories, advice, encouragement and training.

With this kind of support and the willingness to get involved that women have always shown, women will continue to lead within Colorado’s electric cooperatives.

Sharon Sullivan, a freelance magazine writer based in Grand Junction, enjoyed getting to know some of the women in the electric co-op world.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

21

GARDENING

SPECTACULAR SEEDY SCENARIOS Gardening with seeds is challenging yet striking when successful

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

L

ast year, many gardeners were dismayed to find popular seeds had sold out early. This was especially the case with open-pollinated seeds. Openpollinated seeds are desirable because they have slowly adapted to local growing conditions. Two sources for open-pollinated seeds in Colorado are High Ground Gardens and Pueblo Seed & Food Company.

High Ground Gardens (highground gardens.com) is owned by the Pike family from Crestone where they have worked for the past 15 years to develop high-quality, noncertified organic vegetable and herb seeds that thrive in harsh climates, including Colorado’s high altitudes with its short growing seasons and wide temperature swings. The company’s website divides seeds into categories that include grains, greens, herbs, individual vegetables and flowers.

Some interesting open-pollinated grain seeds include amaranth burgundy, a richly colored plant whose leaves are edible when young. It produces white seeds that can be threshed and ground into flour or popped for a popcorn-like snack. Another grain, Black Aztec corn, is a hardy plant that makes great flour. With its deep red petals, Rubenza cosmos is a striking flower, and

22

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

Elka white poppy, with lavender petals and deep purple accents, is an interesting change from the more common orange and yellow poppies.

Food security and seed production are Bryon Pike’s passions. In response to last year’s unprecedented growth, he hopes to meet customer demand by expanding his product line, but you still need to order early.

Pueblo Seed & Food Company (farmdirectseed.com) emphasizes that it’s not a full line company; it specializes in certified organic open-pollinated seeds that grow well in arid and semiarid environments. It partners with various companies such as White Mountain Farm in Mosca, Ringa-Ding Gardens in Howard and Mer-Girl Gardens in La Villita, New Mexico. Most of its seeds come in standard size packets, but some are available in bulk.

Colorado’s electric cooperative members are fortunate to have this resource for obtaining unusual seed varieties, including: • Blanca quinoa, developed at White Mountain Farm in the San Luis Valley • Hopi turquoise corn, grown in southern Colorado with 4- to 5-foot stalks, two ears per stalk, and deep blue, purple and turquoise kernels

• Valencia onion, a globe-shaped, sweet crisp onion with bronze skin, introduced from Spain to Rocky Ford in the 1920s • Jade green beans, a high-quality, slender, long, high-yielding bean • Shirley poppy, an excellent pollinator with red, pink and lilac blossoms, grown

by Mer-Girl Gardens.

Although the past year brought a great deal of uncertainty, one thing is certain: More and more people have started gardening for the first time. Whether a novice or veteran, you may experience occasional failures, but don’t become discouraged. If seeds fail to germinate or if they die before becoming well-established, remind yourself that it’s all part of a learning process.

Review planting and care guidelines, think about what you could do differently and try again. All it takes is time, practice, patience and a dash of good luck to become a successful gardener.

Gardener Vicki Spencer has an eclectic background in conservation, water, natural resources and more.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening under Living in Colorado.

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Colorado

A SPECTACULAR ENSEMBLE OF SANDHILLS

BY DENNIS SMITH

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| OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

e were traveling east on state highway 30 headed for Kearney, Nebraska, to witness the annual spring sandhill crane migration when a wicked snowstorm blew in and it became clear we’d have to get off the road soon or risk a long, cold night marooned somewhere along the Platte River bottomlands. We were towing a 30-foot RV, and the thick, wet snow combined with high winds made driving increasingly dangerous by the minute.

Things were looking pretty grim when the driver’s side windshield wiper blew off near Paxton. A cellphone search showed there was a Walmart store in the next big town and we hoped we could take refuge in its parking lot for the night. But that was still about 35 miles distant, the snow was already several inches deep and piling up fast, and there wasn’t a snowplow anywhere in sight.

We pulled off the side of the road as far as we dared and got out of the truck to see if we could replace the missing wiper with the passenger-side blade. It worked. We got back in the cab and white-knuckled our way to the Walmart parking lot in North Platte where we made camp for the night along with a dozen or so over-the-road truckers and several more campers trapped by the storm. Our adventure was off to a good start.

The spring migration of sandhill cranes is an utterly fascinating, one-of-a-kind wildlife event that ranks right up there with the great migrations of African wildebeests and plains game. Every year from late February into

early April, massive flocks of sandhills from all over the world descend on the Platte River Valley in central Nebraska to rest, refuel and begin courting rituals before continuing the trip to their northern breeding grounds in the United States, Canada and as far away as Siberia. Scientists tell us it’s been going on for millions of years. Several species of ducks, geese, whooping cranes and shorebirds migrate with them, driving the combined bird count to over 650,000. The birds feed on spilled grain waste in the fields by day and roost on the river’s vast network of sandbars during the night to evade predation by foxes, bobcats and coyotes.

Triggered by some internal device, they rise en masse from the river as sunup nears, and the roar of wings and high-pitched squawking of hundreds of thousands of cranes taking to the air simultaneously is almost deafening. Guided tours are available, but there are plenty of roadside pullouts and viewing stations along the river corridor for do-it-yourselfers. If you haven’t already done this, you need to put it on your bucket list. If you have done it, there’s a good chance you’ll do it again.

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

LEARN MORE ONLINE To learn more about the great sandhill crane migration, go to the town of Kearney’s website at VisitKearney.org/sandhill-cranes.

CREATIVE CORNER

READER POETRY Pandemic

March..April..May.. when will this pandemic GO AWAY.. just like that, in what seemed like a day my calendar was erased away markings of self-imposed busyness designed in part to keep the world at bay keep thoughts away things to remember things I must do meetings with friends, family too a written reminder of places to be when to show up when to leave when...to just be slowly crossed out cancelled erased do I dare fill in another space will our dates actually take place Is this time... an opportunity to do things differently I don’t want to pass by humankind unable to show my face is that a smile in your eye or an evil snide you walk behind we are the human race weary of one another A fear implanted society reeking of impropriety imperfect governance rulers with a fist racist rage against supremacist needless death misplaced violence destruction against small mindedness seeking kindness somewhere over the rainbow seeking grace in this human race

by Kim Blosser, Arvada La Plata Electric consumer-member

A Place Gone By

I took a walk in the woods one day and came to rest, by the way, in a place of days gone by.

I had to stop and wonder why this had been left for the rain and snow.

And when it came the time to go, I found a tear had caught my eye.

I simply brushed it by and walked on.

by Rachael Godshall Bauer, Monument Mountain View Electric consumer-member

Life Pods

Nestled cozily within the ground debris, pinecones safeguarding their seeds until the time is right for sprouting new life.

Pinecones, like loving parents, do their job with wise intents.

Hard on the outside but soft and warm on the inside.

Pinecones keeping hope alive, for saplings to spread out wide and carpet the forest floor with vibrant green evermore.

by Teresa Dower, Peyton Mountain View Electric consumer-member

Winter Fog

The earth is snuggled in a comforter that feathers somber strips of woods in down.

No line divides the snow and air and sky; they blend in pearly pastel gray.

The hill is honeyed with the prairie grass; a ghostly cedar stands as sentinel.

All muffled sounds seem strangely far away; no raucous human noise intrudes.

My mind is numbed in this tranquility; sharp edges fade beneath a silent veil.

Disquietude dissolves in misty gauze that swathes me gently with its grace.

I’m tempted to remain and nestle down, tucked in the tufted grass in winter sleep.

My dog is wiser in the woodland ways.

She’ll lead me home before the path grows dim.

by Glenda VandenBosch, Lake City Gunnison County Electric consumer-member

Built

I was not built to look down For my eyes and my head are not governed by the gravity of humanity I was not built to stay silent against wrongdoing For my soul, my morals, and my values are not guided by fear I was not built to be a frigid thing For my family and friends showed me love for my heart to learn of many things I was not built I was created to be a strong woman!

by Snjezana, Grand Junction Grand Valley Power consumer-member

Insomnia

How can I sleep each wind-filled night when somber shafts of ghost moonlight stand reed like on the wall that’s nigh the drenched bed on which I lie?

Why the bedfellows in my head?

They stay in spite of all I’ve said to banish them so sleep might come.

Still on and on and on they drum.

Why such loud ticking from my clock?

Am I a prisoner in the dock waiting judgment that like the dawn will come but won’t be hurried on?

by William Brown, Fort Collins Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

DO YOU WRITE POETRY?

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Submit your best works via email to: info@coloradocountrylife.org or mail to: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

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Unplug and save up to $50 yearly on your energy bill.

Your home electronics – TVs, computers and video games consoles – are constantly consuming small amounts of power in standby mode, meaning, a device that is plugged in, switched off or in sleep mode. Unplugging your electronics when not in use can add up to $50 in yearly savings.

Contact your local co-op or public power district for more energy saving tips or visit tristate.coop.

COMMUNITY EVENTS Since some Community Events are being canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19, please be sure to check with the event host before traveling to on-site events. Included in our list of events are several virtual activities you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. We hope you enjoy these SANITY SAVERS! (We are doing our best to keep the online calendar up to date at coloradocountrylife.coop/community-events.)

Nature & Wildlife Discovery Center, Pueblo

Every Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 am, you can see the center’s various resident raptors and learn more about them from the ones who know them best: the NWDC staff.

For more information, visit hikeandlearn.org.

“Adventures in Landscaping: Playing to Your Garden’s Strengths” Livestream

Longmont Museum and Tree of Life Landscapes collaborated to bring you this discussion on water conservation, pollinators and sustainable landscape designs. March 25, 7:30 pm. More topics will be presented every Thursday through April 29.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/43eu488c.

An Evening with Dead Floyd, Fort Collins

If you’re a Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead fan, you won’t want to miss these local fellows as they jam out. Ages 21 and older. March 11-12 at the Aggie Theatre.

For more information, visit theaggietheatre.com.

BandWagon Magazine’s Battle of the Bands, Greeley

Enjoy an evening out watching four bands from northern Colorado vie for a cash prize and magazine cover opportunity.

March 12, 7:30 pm at the Moxi Theater.

For more information, visit moxitheater.com.

Bear Creek Nature Center, Colorado Springs

This nature center continues to offer fun events the whole family will love, including nature-inspired children’s activities, guided walks and a book club.

For more information, visit communityservices.elpasoco.com/nature-centers/ nature-center-programs.

“Dreams in Bloom” Photography Exhibition, Denver

Take in the beauty of Fares Micue’s photography at this vibrant exhibit. Now through May 16 at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

For more information, visit botanicgardens.org.

Monte Vista Crane Festival, Virtual

Due to COVID-19, the Monte Vista Crane Festival planning committee decided to take this year’s festival online. On March 12 at 7 pm and on demand through March 17, you can binge-watch a two-hour video with presentations from industry pros and more.

Visit mvcranefest.org or facebook.com/MVCraneFest for more information.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Fort Collins

FCMOD awaits with a slew of fascinating exhibits that you can visit in person or online. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am-5 pm.

For more information, call 970-221-6738 or visit fcmod.org.

Four States Ag Expo, Cortez

Agriculture enthusiasts are sure to have a great time at the Four States Ag Expo where live entertainment, clinics, demos, vendors and more will entice guests of all ages. March 25-27, 9 am-5 pm at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.

For more information, call 970-759-1035 or visit fourstatesagexpo.com.

Free Quilt Show, Pueblo

Find a one-of-a-kind quilt you can cozy up with for years to come at this quilt show. April 1-12, 10 am-4 pm at El Pueblo History Museum.

For more information, call 719-583-0453.

“History of Crested Butte” Online Lecture Series

Colorado State Historian Dr. Duane Vandenbusche shares the fascinating history of Crested Butte, the Elk Mountains and several key developments in the area. Every Thursday at 7 pm through April 15.

For more information, visit crestedbuttemuseum.com.

Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series, Virtual

The Cloud City Wheelers tweaked their 2021 bike series to keep participants active yet healthy during the pandemic. Practically anyone can sign up for the series. Just register and race in the location of your choosing, including the more than 20 miles of Lake City trails built by the organization, Through April 18.

For more information, visit cloudcitywheelers.com/race.

Meeker Sled Dog Races, Meeker

Watch as skilled sled dogs race for the gold. Afterward, meet the vivacious canines, take a cross-country trek and nosh on delicious fare. March 6-7 at the White River National Forest.

For more information, visit visitmeekercolorado.com/meeker-sled-dog-race.

St. Baldrick’s Head-Shaving Events

Shear off your hair to help raise funds for childhood cancer research and afterward spread awareness as you show off your clean-shaven noggin. Several events are offered throughout Colorado and also virtually.

For more information, visit stbaldricks.org/head-shaving.

“This is What Democracy Looks Like” Virtual Lecture Series

This History Colorado Center-hosted series addresses democracy with several topics being led by industry experts. On March 24 at 7 pm, the focus is on “Media & Democracy.” More topics through June 10.

For more information, visit historycolorado.org/democracy.

The Orphanage, Yuma

The Orphanage has amazing ongoing art exhibits, “orphan cars” (cars built by defunct manufacturers) and historic guest vehicles, like the 1961 Renault Dauphine, which is on display at the midcentury building through April 11.

For more information, visit orphanageyuma.com.

Timber Dan Spring Toy Show and Sale, Loveland

Peruse thousands of collectible, vintage and antique toys that are available for sale. April 10, 9 am-3 pm at the Larimer County Fairgrounds’ First National Bank Exhibition Building. Admission is $5.

For more information, call 970-663-9392 or visit lovelandlionsclubs.org.

SEND CALENDAR ITEMS 2 MONTHS IN ADVANCE

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303-455-2807; or email calendar@coloradocountrylife.org.

Please send name of event, date, time, venue, brief description, phone number, a photo, if you have one, and email and/or website for more information.

YOUR STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

FUNNY STORIES Several years after retiring from

CCL hits the slopes at Copper Mountain with Mary Gardner. Mary is a consumer-member of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.

Colorado Country Life is freezing in Kansas with Kellie! Kellie Bennett is a new member of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.

higher education in Colorado, I took a job to supplement our income as the front counterperson in the Goodyear shop in Evergreen.

One snowy day, a gentleman hurriedly came in and asked if we had windshield wipers. I got the information on his vehicle and checked in our computer system, which showed we did have what he needed. “We’ve got them,” I said. “Eight dollars each and we could get them installed for you in just a few minutes.”

“Eight dollars!” he exclaimed. “I was just at Walmart and theirs are just over $3.”

“Well,” I said, “you are certainly welcome to buy them at Walmart.”

“I can’t,” he said. “They are out of the size I need.”

Trying to make my smile as friendly as possible, I said, “Well, when we are out of them ours are free, but when we’ve got ’em, they’re $8.”

He bought them.

Aubrey Holderness, Salida

My wife, Laura, and I were

entertaining two of our grandchildren a few years back. My 3-year-old granddaughter was standing in my lap and running her hands through my hair. When she noticed my bald spot, she raised her voice and proclaimed, “Pappa, you have a hole in your head!”

Ken Schramer, Mesa

Sunny and warm Fort Myers Beach, Florida, gets a visit from Diane Daugherty and Colorado Country Life. Diane is a consumer-member of Mountain View Electric Association.

Not long ago, our 3-year-old

great-grandson was saying a prayer at dinnertime. He said, “Thank you, Lord, for our food and Grandpa and Grandma and Mama and ...”

At this point, he wrinkled up his face in deep thought and then, with his eyes still closed, said, “And thank you for people with brains!”

He was a little surprised when we all busted out laughing!

Steva Davis, Colorado Springs

San Isabel consumer-member Tony Bernal dines on the Rhine Viking River Cruise with CCL.

WINNER: Zoe and Zeb Mousel enjoy Colorado Country Life magazine in their front yard in Cheyenne Wells. They are consumer-members of K.C. Electric.

Take Your Photo with Your Magazine and Win! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@ coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month. The next deadline is Monday, March 15. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. This month’s winners are Zoe and Zeb Mousel. They enjoyed their copy of Colorado Country Life in their front yard in Cheyenne Wells. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at facebook.com/ COCountryLife.

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine.

At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2021 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

29

DISCOVERIES

CREATIVE JOY Discover community artists from across the state

Painting the Panorama Artist Karen Vance doesn’t look far for inspiration — her Winter Park Ranch studio is surrounded by an alluring landscape beckoning her to paint. Her career spans decades, has garnered awards and earned her permanent places to showcase her work, including at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and the University of Denver. Check her website, karenvanceart.com, for original paintings, limited-edition giclées and Winter Park Resort posters.

“Waiting on Command” by Bobbe Jones

Jones-ing for Art Bobbe Jones of Cortez uses high-quality materials to create her oil paintings, including linen canvas and a semigloss varnish that protects the artwork. This painting, “Waiting on Command,” is one of several artworks available in Bobbe’s Western Farm and Ranch Collection. Select paintings from the artist’s collections, create your own treasure on commission or check out the jewelry and stickers designed by her adult children, Bud and Julie, at jonesfamilyart. com or on their Facebook page @jonesartprojects.

“Autumn’s First Snow,” Fraser River Valley by Karen Vance

A Creative Collaboration: Paw Paintings Kathy Wernly and her dog, Karma, use teamwork in their Colorado Springs studio to fashion fun art pieces for their Etsy pages.

It was happenstance that put Wernly to work — Karma plus Cesar’s dog food equaled a creative concept: paw paintings.

Peruse and purchase from Karma’s collection at tinyurl.com/ PawcassoKarma, and also check out Wernly’s glass mosaic and miniature sculpture art at tinyurl.com/WernlyArt.

Critters on Canvas Drake resident Linda Renaud was always an artist, but when she was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, she used the long chemotherapy sessions to hone her painting skills. It paid off. Her intricate paintings tell a story of the interactions amongst wildlife. “I hope to show the dignity and the strength as well as the fragility of these wonderful animals,” she says. Purchase Renaud’s artwork on canvas or on T-shirts, phone cases, puzzles and more at lindarenaudart.com.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MARCH 2021

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