Colorado Country Life May 2021 Grand Valley

GRAND VALLEY POWER

MAY 2021

Family Fun

EXPLORE OUR STATE’S FOUR NATIONAL PARKS

Empowering Lives with Hometown Service

PLUS TAKE TACO TUESDAY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

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GARDENING FOR YOUR MENTAL WELL BEING

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GIFTS FOR THE PARK LOVER IN YOUR LIFE

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Volume 52

May 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.

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

MAY 2021

Family Fun

EXPLORE OUR STATE’S FOUR NATIONAL PARKS

“Afternoon Break” by Donna Kruzycki-Wren, a member of Southeast Colorado Power Association.

4 VIEWPOINT

5 LETTERS

6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS

12 RECIPES

14 NEWS CLIPS

16 COVER STORY

COLORADO’S NATIONAL PARKS: FAMILY FUN CLOSE TO HOME

20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS

22 GARDENING

24 OUTDOORS

26 MARKETPLACE

27 CREATIVE CORNER

On the

28 COMMUNITY EVENTS

Cover

29 YOUR STORIES

Tourists climb the 32-foot ladder to access Mesa Verde National Park’s Balcony House ruin.

Photo credit: wanderluster/istock

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Colorado’s electric cooperatives recently presented several checks to those affected by last year’s record-setting wildfires. More than $124,000 was raised through the Colorado Electric Educational Institute, CREA’s nonprofit organization.

30 DISCOVERIES

Monthly Contest Enter for your chance to win one America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass or Annual Senior Pass (if eligible). For official rules and how to enter, visit Contests at coloradocountrylife.coop.

coloradocountrylife.coop

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK COCountryLife pinned: Heat up the grill and try Steven Raichlen’s Black Pepper Baby Backs with Whiskey Vanilla Glaze recipe.

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month Colorado Country Life posted: No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, electric co-op lineworkers are ready to respond. #ThankALineworker #LineworkerAppreciationDay COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

3

VIEWPOINT

WILDLAND FIRE MITIGATION

Legislation supporting more fire prevention measures fails

BY KENT SINGER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

W

ildfires pose one of the most significant threats to the health and safety of folks living in many parts of rural Colorado. In 2020, three of the largest wildfires in Colorado history burned hundreds of thousands of acres and caused many millions of dollars of property damage. Tragically, two lives were lost during the East Troublesome Fire that ravaged portions of Mountain Parks Electric’s territory in Grand County.

One of the commonalities of these fires is that they often occur in the service territory of one or more of Colorado’s electric co-ops.

That was certainly the case in 2020 as the Pine Gulch, Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires consumed over a half-million acres of both public and private lands in co-op service territory.

To be clear, none of these fires were caused by any equipment or facilities owned and operated by Colorado’s electric co-ops. However, we continue to be concerned that, despite our best efforts to clear our utility line rights-of-way (the land under our lines), trees outside the rights-of-way can fall into those lines and spark a fire. Electric co-ops spend millions of dollars each year clearing these rights-of-way, but they have limited authority to clear the trees outside the easements.

This is why CREA, representing Colorado’s electric cooperatives, worked with members of the Colorado General Assembly to sponsor a bill in the legislature this year to address our concerns.

S.B. 21-170 was the result of over a year of work with many stakeholders to develop legislation that would encourage electric co-ops to develop more comprehensive wildfire protection plans to help prevent wildfires. In exchange for developing and implementing the plans, the bill provided that electric co-ops would be granted liability protection from lawsuits brought alleging that the co-ops were at fault for starting a fire.

4

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

Despite having KENT SINGER bipartisan support in both the Colorado House of Representatives and Senate, the bill was killed in the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. The sponsors of the legislation asked the committee to postpone consideration of the bill indefinitely, a legislative action referred to as a bill being “PI’d” or killed.

Why was S.B. 21-170 so unceremoniously rejected by the legislature? The trial lawyers lobby complained that the bill’s grant of liability protection would mean that plaintiff ’s lawyers would be unable to sue electric co-ops in the event of a wildfire caused by co-op facilities. Of course, that was the exact point of the bill.

By agreeing to develop specific plans to remove vegetation and following through on those plans, electric co-ops would be adding additional reasonable measures to prevent fires. In exchange for developing the plans, filing them with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and then implementing the plans, co-ops would be entitled to immunity from lawsuits alleging that co-op infrastructure caused a fire.

Despite the objections of the trial lawyers, many legislators supported CREA in this effort because they understand that electric co-ops have limited options with respect to liability insurance (thanks to the PG&E fires on the West Coast). Insurance is either unavailable or prohibitively expensive since costs would have to be borne by the end-use co-op consumer-members.

We’re not about to give up on this legislative effort. It is critically important to rural communities that all reasonable steps be taken to prevent wildfires. Electric co-ops plan to do their part. We hope to work on a new bill over the legislative interim period and come back in 2022 with a bill that everyone can support.

In the meantime, we want to thank the four members of the Colorado General Assembly who were willing to stand up and be counted in support of Colorado’s electric co-ops. To our prime bill sponsors, Sens. Dennis Hisey (R) and Joann Ginal (D) and Reps.

Jeni Arndt (D) and Michael Lynch (R), we say thank you and we look forward to working with you again during the 2022 session of the Colorado legislature.

Kent Singer is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association 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 its power supply co-op.

LETTERS

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

What national parks have you visited?

BY MONA NEELEY

Grammar Lament

EDITOR

W

henever anyone asks if I’ve visited Black Canyon MONA NEELEY of the Gunnison National Park, I can honestly say yes. But what do I remember?

It was a while ago. Our family was new to Colorado and we were having fun exploring the state each weekend.

The weekend we went to the Black Canyon, I remember a beautiful drive along the north side of the canyon in our Ford Bronco. There was little traffic and few visitors to share the viewpoints with. We took our time and drove all the way into the park, as far as we could go before we had to turn around and work our way back out of the park to head home.

But at that last, way-at-the-end-of-the-road viewpoint, when we got out of the Bronco to look at the canyon and the Gunnison River rushing through way below us, we heard a horrible sound — the hiss of a rear tire losing air quickly.

And we suddenly realized we didn’t know where our jack was. The spare tire was on the back of the Bronco, but where was the jack? We looked everywhere in the back end of that vehicle but couldn’t find anything. The tire was almost flat.

This was before everyone had cellphones and there probably wouldn’t have been a signal anyway. With visions of myself, my husband and our 3-year-old stuck indefinitely in a littletraveled area at the end of the road, I was relieved when a pickup pulled into the parking area. A friendly guy pointed out that pickups often have their jack and tire iron mounted inside the engine compartment. We didn’t know. We do now.

And that’s what I remember about the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

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.

As a fellow member of the grammar police and watchdog of apostrophes, I enjoyed your lament (Creative Corner, January ’21).

For years I drove past Dales Paint Store, which, sadly, went out of business, but still wanting an apostrophe.

Betty Whitney, Calhan Mountain View Electric consumer-member

On-Peak vs. Off-Peak Power

I enjoyed and learned a lot from Andy Carter’s articles in the Empire Electric version of Colorado Country Life addressing our demand on the power grid and on-peak and off-peak hours, also the ways we will be able to save on our power bills when the new Empire pricing is a reality. Outstanding and helpful information.

Nancy Hoffheins, Cortez Empire Electric consumer-member

True Wind Power Costs

The article on the wind power tax credit (News Clips, March ’21) stated that the tax credit brings down the cost of building large scale wind farms. The truth is that the tax credit does not reduce the cost of building; it takes money from taxpayers and gives it to whomever builds the wind farm. Since the builder’s tax credit is based on costs, there is no incentive to keep costs low. As a taxpayer, I don’t want to pay for wind farms.

Rick Van Matre, Rye San Isabel Electric consumer-member

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SEND US YOUR LETTERS Editor Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@ coloradocountrylife.org. Include name and address. Letters may be edited for length.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

5

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

A MODERN MARVEL

BY TOM WALCH

T

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

he United States power grid is a manmade marvel. Named the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century by the National Academy of Engineering, the electric grid is the largest and most complex machine ever built. It’s made up of thousands of miles of transmission lines, millions of miles of low-voltage power lines and distribution transformers and more than 10,000 utility-scale electric power plants.

But even a sophisticated and advanced marvel like the grid, is subject to Murphy’s law: if anything can go wrong, it will.

This past February, Finagle’s corollary to Murphy’s law also came into play, as that adage suggests that “anything that can go wrong, will—at the worst possible moment.”

Texas certainly saw that the worst possible moment for the grid to fail was in the middle of the coldest cold snap in that state’s history. Issues with the grid caused extended blackouts, rolling outages and exorbitant electricity prices.

As Grand Valley Power consumers are painfully aware, the exorbitant pricing reached further than the frigid temperatures, all the way to Colorado’s Western Slope. If we don’t want this to happen again, grid operators and policy makers should try to understand all of the factors that contributed to this “perfect storm.”

It is easy to blame this calamity on the extreme cold. After all, the same cold weather that caused demand for electricity to spike hobbled wind and solar generation and critical natural gas supply lines.

But other factors contributed as well. For most of its existence, the U.S. electric grid has been primarily powered by coal and hydroelectric generation. Coal has always been abundant and affordable. Its pricing and supply lines were stable. It could be

transported safely and economically. And coal could be easily stockpiled so that adequate reserves were always on hand. In many respects, coal would be the best fuel to keep the grid up and running during the kind of extreme weather events the central United States experienced in February. But, when it comes to coal, another Murphy’s law-type axiom comes into play—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Of course, we all know coal’s fatal flaw; it is a big producer of greenhouse gases that scientists and policy makers link to climate change. So coal has been sidelined, and most of its playing time given to other electric generation sources that do not perform as well during crunch time. We saw their performance in February, and we don’t want a repeat. Grey, overcast skies limited solar production. The wind stopped blowing and freezing temperatures crippled production.

Natural gas storage and transportation were inadequate. In Colorado, the grid remained intact, but the cost for consumers was steep.

Coal has been replaced by natural gas, and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar generation. The rise in wind and solar coincided with advances in hydraulic fracturing that lowered and stabilized the cost of natural gas. The timing was fortuitous, as gas-fired generation is the ideal complement for the intermittency of wind and solar. We would be wise to pay attention to market forces that impact the cost of natural gas. As more renewable resources are integrated into our grid, the demand for natural gas will increase. More gas-fired generation will be necessary to support the grid when the wind doesn’t blow, and the sun doesn’t shine. If you are paying attention, you know that policy makers in Washington and Denver are starting to put the squeeze on natural gas, first by limiting

TOM WALCH

hydraulic fracturing, and then by imposing mandates limiting greenhouse gases. These measures could limit the supply of natural gas and would be expected to increase its cost and volatility.

There have been tremendous advances in the cost and capacity of renewable energy and battery storage over the past five years.

While these are successes, it is easy to overstate the impact of these advances when we do not pay attention to the scale of our nation’s energy demands, and the capacity of renewable production and storage facilities. A recent study completed by industry analyst Robert Bryce compared 2019 wind and solar generation with coal and natural gas generation for the same year. It reported that with the rapid growth of renewables, solar and wind contributed a record-high 411 terawatt-hours of electricity to the U.S. grid. The problem is that U.S. coal and natural gas contributed 2,754 terawatthours over the same period. Even without addressing intermittency issues, that is a tremendous gap that needs to be filled.

Battery storage, by itself, cannot fill that gap.

The Colorado energy market has changed a lot in the last few years, and more changes are on the way. We will be diversifying our energy mix in the near term because mandates imposed by Colorado legislators and policy makers require it.

Grand Valley Power is already required to meet a 10% renewable energy standard. We met this mark a decade earlier than required and today 33.4% of the energy in our portfolio is clean energy. We are facing mandates that will require us to reduce greenhouse gas COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

7

YOUR CO-OP NEWS emissions by 80% compared to 2005 levels by 2030. We have a long way to go to hit that mark. Our objective is to invest in a clean energy future without exposing our consumers to reliability issues and overwhelming costs.

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 970-2420040 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.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

Considering a New Home or Apartment?

Be alert for potential electrical hazards.

BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

W

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

hether you are renting or buying, the process of looking for a house, condo or apartment can be overwhelming. Along with looking for a good value, the right neighborhood or curb appeal, it’s also a good idea to look for signs of potential electrical trouble before making a home buying or renting decision.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, electrical failures or malfunctions are present in an estimated average of 47,000 home structure fires per year in the United States, which result in 430 deaths, 1,280 injuries, and $1.5 billion in property damage. Based on figures from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, electrical injuries in general cause approximately 1,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Aside from having a professional electrical inspection completed, look for the following warning signs of larger electrical safety hazards before signing on the dotted line: • Outlets and light switches that are warm to the touch.

• Outlets that are loose, scorched or discolored.

• Wall or light switches that cause shocks upon contact.

• Strange smells (such as something burning or overheating).

• Smoke or sparks.

• Exposed wires.

• Lack of GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) on certain outlets (those near a water source or that could get wet).

• Lack of AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters); these help to prevent fires and are required in new builds.

• Faulty appliances.

• Evidence of frequently blown fuses or circuit breakers.

• Missing or broken wall plates.

• Delayed responses after switching lights on or off.

• Flickering lights.

Another good house-hunting practice is to take note if there are too few outlets to accommodate your needs—for electronics, appliances, and other items that will increase the electrical load. If you will need to use extension cords and large outlet strips on a regular basis, you risk overloading your electrical system and creating an electrical hazard.

If you are buying a home, a reputable home inspector should note electrical wiring or other electrical deficiencies and code violations. Make sure electrical items are addressed by a qualified electrician before you call your new place home. If you already own your home and detect electrical issues, call a reputable electrician so that problems can be addressed immediately.

If you are or will be a renter and notice any of these issues, advise the landlord right away. Remember that a certified electrician is the only person who should be hired to assess and repair electrical hazards or address issues, so be sure to verify credentials before hiring one. For more electrical safety tips and resources, visit gvp.org/safe-homes.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS GRAND VALLEY POWER

A W A R D

W I N N E R S

Jack Broughton - Colorado

Grand Valley Power

Grand Valley Power

Mesa University Scholarship

Scholarship

Scholarship

Chloe Schrader

Amanda Moran

Fiona Richards

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction High School

Palisade High School

Grand Valley Power

Grand Valley Power

Grand Valley Power

Scholarship

Scholarship

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Ryenn Nolan

Elizabeth Ballard

Jacob Weaver

Fruita Monument High School

Grand Junction High School

Grand Valley Power

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Scholarship

Youth Tour Recipient

Youth Tour Recipient

Jonas Saunders Caprock Academy

Jeweli Wiltse Plateau Valley High School

Fruita Monument High School

Alexis Grundy Plateau Valley High School

Grand Valley Power is proud to provide students the opportunity to power their educational goals.

Since 1996, the cooperative has given back over $236,000 to students continuing their education.

Visit gvp.org/scholarships-program to learn more about our hometown students and their future plans.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

9

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

Director Petitions Available in May

T

he election for the Grand Valley Power Board of Directors is approaching. While the election is held in August, the nominating procedure starts in May. There are three director positions up for election every year. This year the directors whose terms expire are: Dennis Haberkorn, Bill Rooks and Jesse Mease.

To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must receive electric service from Grand Valley Power at the member’s primary residence. A director cannot be engaged in a competing enterprise or in other businesses involving a conflict of interest.

GVP’s bylaws provide in-depth information on director qualifications, terms, elections, meetings and officers.

Election procedures for the board of directors are governed

by Colorado statute. The cooperative’s bylaws and election policy comply with statutory requirements. These bylaws and policies can be found on GVP’s website at gvp.org/director-elec tions. On request, these written documents may be picked up at GVP’s headquarters or mailed to you.

Nominating petitions will be available to be picked up beginning May 3, 2021, at the GVP office. Petitions must be signed by at least 15 GVP members and returned to GVP no later than by the close of business on June 21, 2021.

If no more than three petitions are returned to fill the three positions that are open for this year’s election, there will be no mail ballot and the election of directors will take place at GVP’s annual meeting to be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at Colorado Mesa University’s Meyer Ballroom.

CO-OP HOLIDAY OFFICE SCHEDULE

10

CLOSED

April 30 - RMPBS KIDS CLUB Drive-In Tour (Mesa Mall)

Memorial Day (Monday, May 31)

May 8 - Kite Day (Sherwood Park)

Remembering and Honoring

May 9 - Mother's Day

All Who Served

May 19 - GVP Board Meeting

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

BY PAT KEEGAN AND BR AD THIESSEN

T

he most common way to save energy during summer months is lowering your cooling costs indoors, but there are ways to save energy outdoors, too. Here are three:

1. Pumps and maintenance Pumps can supply water for your lawn and garden, a swimming pool or your septic system or well. It’s easy to let maintenance slip, which cuts the pump’s efficiency and shortens its life.

Maintaining pumps involves cleaning the filters or checking oil and belts. If you have multiple pumps and need to hire a professional for assistance, try to do all the maintenance at once to reduce the overall cost. Also, consider replacing older pumps with energy-efficient Energy Star-rated ones before they break down. While you’re at it, check for leaks in the water lines, which make your pumps work harder and longer.

2. Outdoor lighting Some security lights can be 500 to 1,000 watts, which is the equivalent of 40 to 80 indoor LED bulbs — that’s quite a lot of energy. Adding timers, motion sensors and light sensors can reduce your bulb energy use. Plus, when you use your lights less often, your neighbors may appreciate a little less light pollution.

Switching to LEDs is great strategy. Solar lights are also a good way to light walkways,

a water feature or your deck without having to buy any electricity at all.

3. Grilling Using your oven can raise your kitchen’s temperature up to 10 degrees, increasing the need for running your air conditioner, so grilling outdoors is a great way to save energy. If you like to barbecue or grill most of your meals, consider the fuel you use. If natural gas is available, it’s usually much less expensive than propane. Natural gas is also convenient because you don’t have to refill any tanks like you would with propane. On the downside, if you don’t already have gas lines running to your patio or deck, the cost of installing them can be prohibitive.

Other fuel types like charcoal briquettes or wood take more preparation and can be fussy to work with, and charcoal grills emit three times as much carbon as gas grills.

Hopefully these ideas will help you enjoy your outdoor living space this summer — and help you save energy.

Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency write on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to learn more about other ways you can save on home energy costs this summer. Look under the Energy tab.

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RECIPES

IT’S ALWAYS TIME FOR TACOS Take your Taco Tuesday to the next level this month

BY AMY HIGGINS

Saucy Chicken Tacos are a flavorful and exciting soft taco recipe to try. Get the recipe at coloradocountrylife.coop.

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Time to get creative in the kitchen.

H

ighlands Ranch denizen Lea Ann Brown wants readers of her blog, “Cooking on the Ranch,” to be inspired to get creative in the kitchen. The classically trained chef has several Colorado-inspired culinary dishes we’re dying to try, but with the Cinco de Mayo recipes we review every year, it was her “23 Taco Tuesday Recipes” that got us salivating. So, switch up your current go-to taco recipe with one of these gems to see for yourself and then visit her blog, highlandsranchfoodie.com, for more cooking inspiration.

Crispy Fish Tacos with Hoisin Tartar Sauce 1 /2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper 1 pound tilapia fillets cut into 4- by 1-inch strips 2 large eggs, beaten 3 cups panko breadcrumbs 3 cups vegetable oil for frying 12 corn tortillas, warmed Suggested Toppings Shredded green cabbage, lettuce leaves, cilantro, sliced scallions, avocado and cilantro.

Tantalizing Fish Tacos “Panko-breaded fried-fish tacos with hoisin tartar sauce make this crispy fish taco recipe a unique treat,” Lea Ann Brown says. “Incredible with flavor, [this is a] recipe from Hankook Taqueria in Atlanta.”

— Lea Ann Brown, author of Cooking on the Ranch blog

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In a bowl, whisk the mayonnaise with the hoisin sauce, pickle relish and lemon juice. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and white pepper.

Seal the bag and shake. Add the fish and shake to coat. Put the eggs and panko in separate shallow bowls. Dip the fish in the egg and then in the panko.

Transfer the fish to a wax paper-lined platter. In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil to 350 degrees.

Add half of the fish and fry over moderate heat, turning once, until golden, about 3 minutes. Drain the fish on a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat with the remaining fish. Serve the fish in the tortillas; top with the hoisin mayonnaise and desired toppings.

Recipe and photo provided by the “Cooking on the Ranch“ blog, highlandsranchfoodie.com.

RECIPES Sriracha Street-Style Steak Tacos 1 medium jalapeño, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/4 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 pound flap steak 1/2 cup sriracha sauce 1/2 teaspoon salt 8 8-inch white corn tortillas Suggested Toppings 1/2 medium avocado, sliced; crumbled Cotija cheese; chopped cilantro; thinly sliced sweet onion.

Combine jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, oil, salt, pepper and cumin in a large resealable bag or bowl. Add steak and toss to coat; if using bowl, wrap with plastic. Marinate overnight in refrigerator, tossing occasionally.

“My mission is to inspire you to cook as often as you can, so that you and those around you can begin to appreciate the art of cooking and the joy of gathering around the table to share food and conversation.”

— Lea Ann Brown, author of Cooking on the Ranch blog

Bring meat to room temperature by removing from refrigerator for about an hour. Heat grill to 500 degrees and then lower to 400. Remove steak from marinade and grill about 4 minutes per side (depending on thickness) for medium rare. Generously brush the meat with sriracha sauce and turn the steak, sauce side down so the sauce will glaze. Only let this cook for about a minute. While the underside is glazing, generously brush the up-side of the steak with the sauce. Turn and repeat. Remove the steak and let it rest 10 minutes under foil.

While the meat is resting, dampen a clean dish towel and wrap the tortillas inside. Place the dish towel and tortillas in a gallon-sized plastic storage bag and place in microwave, without sealing the bag. Cook for 4 minutes on 50% power.

Tortillas will stay steamy in the microwave until you’re ready to use them. Thinly slice steak against the grain. Divide steak among tortillas, then build with toppings. Serve immediately.

Recipe and photo provided by the “Cooking on the Ranch” blog, highlandsranchfoodie.com.

Homemade Taco Seasoning 2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika

1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds, freshly toasted and ground, or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon Mexican oregano

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Put all the ingredients in a small jar and shake to combine. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

See the recipe at highlandsranchfoodie.com/homemade-taco-seasoning-3/ COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

13

NEWS CLIPS

Co-op Bank Supports Vets with Disabilities

Co-ops Add Record Renewable Capacity

I

n 2020, electric cooperatives in the United States added nearly 1.6 gigawatts of new renewable capacity, more than in any previous year, despite some slowdowns caused by the pandemic.

By the end of 2020, co-ops had more than 11.4 gigawatts of renewables in their resource portfolios, in addition to 10 gigawatts of federal hydropower.

The resources include nonfederal hydroelectric resources, wind, solar, biomass and heat capture technologies.

In the past, wind has dominated renewable growth, but solar growth has now accelerated. Overall, capacity

from renewable resources is expected to expand quickly in the next three years, driven in part by large solar projects.

The recent extension of federal renewable tax credits will also likely spur the development of more projects, and the power will be sold to electric co-ops through power purchase agreements.

Electric co-ops utilized renewable energy resources since their beginnings because the rural electrification movement was intertwined with the growth of the federal hydropower system.

Today, co-ops still purchase electricity from 10 gigawatts of federal hydroelectric plants.

Hope, optimism and resiliency are what CoBank hopes to bring out in disabled military veterans who participate in a Colorado program called No Barriers Warriors.

After a year’s hiatus, CoBank is once again sponsoring the participation of 50 vets in the outdoor expedition program, which will take place in July and August in Red Feather Lakes. Nominations of vets for the program must come from local electric co-ops that are active members with CoBank, so those interested in participating should contact their local co-op for information.

The Fort Collins-based program offers vets opportunities to tackle personal challenges, stretch physical and emotional boundaries and overcome barriers to positive change. It offers a step-by-step way to break through challenges and reconnect with purpose.

Deadline for applications is May 7.

CoBank provides loans and financial services to electric and other cooperatives, agribusinesses, rural public utilities and other farm credit associations, who collectively own CoBank.

Energy Use Down, but Increase Expected With the COVID-19 pandemic quarantining the population, canceling events and eliminating activities, U.S. energy consumption dropped by 7% last year, compared to 2019, according to the Energy Information Administration.

That is the largest annual drop since EIA started collecting this type of data in 1949 and an 11-year low in the kilowatt-hour demand for power.

The largest drops in energy use were in the commercial and industrial sectors where closed businesses and lower demand for some products saw energy use decline by up to 11%. The residential side, which saw people spending more time in their homes, only saw a 1% drop in use. Warmer weather did mean less fuel consumption for winter heating in 2020.

However, now that coronavirus lockdowns are being eased, events are being planned and the population is moving around more, energy consumption is expected to increase. EIA has projected a 2.1% increase in 2021. Part of that increase is projected to come from residential customers who continue to work from home.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

NEWS CLIPS

CoBank Supports International Electrification

R Co-ops Expand Their Cyber Defense The country’s electric co-ops have been instrumental in providing a market-ready early warning system that detects cyberattacks on utilities. Essence 2.0 was developed through work by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the co-ops’ national trade association, as part of its efforts to defend the nation’s energy supply from unknown, emerging threats.

The system provides “black box” sensing technology that measures the ongoing behavior of operations as well as a monitoring tool that provides immediate notice of any anomalies on the system that could indicate a breach.

Developed by NRECA in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, BlackByte Cyber Security, LLC and Referentia Systems, the program was initiated in 2014. Essence 2.0 was introduced in 2020 and third-party evaluation has confirmed that the program does continuously assess the electric power grid for anything out of the ordinary, using a set of algorithms. When something unusual is detected, the technology provides immediate, real-time indicators.

“Being able to identify emerging threats in real time is the most important element of this approach so that electric cooperatives and other users can adapt quickly — not weeks later — to protect their systems,” said Emma Stewart, chief scientist at NRECA.

ural electrification projects in developing countries received a boost recently when CoBank, a cooperative bank headquartered in Denver, donated $250,000 to NRECA International.

An affiliate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, NRECA International oversees rural electrification projects in 48 developing countries. That includes Guatemala, where lineworkers from Colorado electric co-ops wired small villages in cooperation with NRECA International in 2018 and 2019.

CoBank has participated with NRECA International since 2011. Donations through this 10th consecutive year total over $2 million.

“CoBank is thankful that NRECA International has the determination and grit to move these programs forward in 2021 despite the challenges created by the global pandemic,” said Thomas Halverson, president and chief executive officer of CoBank. “The need to provide rural communities with access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity is greater than ever and we are proud to help fund these initiatives.”

KNOW YOUR CO-OP PRINCIPLES Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of seven core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance. These seven principles are a key reason that Colorado’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, putting the needs of their consumer-members first.

The first principle is: Open and Voluntary Membership.

Membership in your local electric co-op is open to everyone who can use its services and is willing to accept the responsibilities of membership regardless of race, religion, gender, or political or social affiliations.

Find all seven principles at electric.coop/seven-cooperative-principles.

Colorado lineworkers install poles and wires to bring electricity in a remote Guatemalan village.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

15

COVER STORY

Family Fun Close to Home

NATIONAL PARKS

#1 Black Canyon of the Gunnison

“Black Canyon Sunset” by Angela Moyer, a Delta-Montrose Electric Association consumer-member.

BY KYLEE COLEMAN

| KCOLEMAN@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

W

ith the country and the world still recovering from the pandemic, national parks closer to home can be the perfect destination for a family vacation.

Colorado is home to four national parks: Rocky Mountain near Estes Park; Mesa Verde near Cortez; Great Sand Dunes near Alamosa; and Black Canyon of the Gunnison near Montrose. Those parks are among 419 national parks nationwide that cover over 84 million acres offering plenty of options for whatever any family might want to explore.

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My family’s first experience going to Rocky Mountain National Park was a huge success with our, then, young sons. We packed a picnic and made the hour drive from north Denver through Estes Park.

We drove along the harrowing Trail Ridge Road and enjoyed the scenery. We hiked the Alluvial Fan, where giant boulders and broken tree trunks carried down in the 1982 floodwaters from the Lawn Lake Dam failure created a fan-like area great for climbing and hiking near the tumbling water still rushing between the rocks.

The day trip was relaxing and our kids still remember experiencing the outdoors, the mountains and doing things outside their typical day-to-day suburban life.

Got more time?

Consider planning an extended vacation for a deep dive into a national park. Among other benefits, family vacations like this can open up a new world of possibilities — not only in choosing which destinations to explore, but also for giving extended families and multiple generations a shared experience and new ways to relate with each other.

“In today’s reality, traditional and multigenerational families can really benefit from family vacations,” says Christine Tibbetts, travel journalist and member of the TravelingMom.com network. “By involving everyone in the planning and ensuring that each family member is invested in at least one activity on vacation, the travel truly becomes a family vacation, not just a trip that people who are related take together.”

Tibbetts suggests beginning plans for a vacation by asking each family member to suggest a destination and explain the appeal before making a decision. “Once the destination is decided, each person can suggest activities within the vacation that hold a particular appeal to them.”

When our son, Shane, was in fourth grade, his social studies lessons, like those of all Colorado students, were all about Colorado: the development of Colorado, geographic features, chronological historical events, and the roles of individuals and diverse cultural groups who were crucial in shaping what Colorado is today.

Part of those lessons also included learning about Colorado’s rich and abundant national parks. At the beginning of the second semester of that school year, we decided that after the school year ended would be the perfect time to explore Colorado and bring textbook history off the page into a hands-on experience. So, the planning for a family

COVER STORY Mesa Verde Cliff Palace is like a small city with over 150 rooms and 21 underground kivas.

The Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center should be the first stop for anyone visiting the park. Pictured are the Coleman boys with their grandpa, Larry McCaskill.

vacation began. We reserved camping spots, bought tour tickets and planned the driving route. We made packing lists and playlists for the trip. The anticipation of adventure was almost as exciting as the actual trip.

With Shane’s grandparents leading the way and his two brothers in tow, we set off for a classic Colorado road trip. Leaving from Denver in late May, we loaded the pop-up camper and the SUVs and headed for southwestern Colorado.

“Family vacations are about much more than spending time together away from home. They can set the tone for your children as they journey through life,” Tibbets says.

“They grow up being comfortable meeting new people and understanding the world in new ways.”

Our first destination was Mesa Verde National Park, east of Cortez. The first stop for anyone at Mesa Verde should be at the Visitor and Research Center where there are Ben, Casey and Shane Coleman take a break from exploring the Alluvial Fan at Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012.

RMNP offers amazing scenery and opportunities to see various wildlife.

#2 Rocky Mountain National Park

exhibits and artifact collections. After a look inside the Visitor and Research Center the afternoon we arrived, we set up camp at Morefield Campground located 4 miles inside Mesa Verde.

Established as a national park in 1906, Mesa Verde protects 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. The cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde are some of the best-preserved ruins in North America.

The park offers ranger-led tours of Balcony House, Cliff Palace and Long House. Tickets for these tours are required and can be purchased in advance for a nominal fee. There are also several selfguided tours and hikes available at the park.

After a night of camping, the six of us took a guided tour of Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America. When we got to Cliff Palace, we started at an overlook where we could see the entire site, which is truly like a small city with 150 rooms and 21 kivas. We all climbed ladders, explored the underground kivas, practiced grain grinding with stones and marveled at the

“Family vacations are about much more than spending time together away from home. They can set the tone for your children as they journey through life.”

— Christine Tibbetts, travel journalist and member of TravelingMom.com

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

17

COVER STORY Ben climbs the ladder out of an underground kiva while on the Cliff Palace tour.

Casey and Ben practice grain grinding at Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde.

#3 Mesa Verde National Park

intricate and nearly unbelievable architecture that was constructed 800 years ago. Shane’s eyes lit up as he witnessed in person what he learned about in school and had only ever seen in books.

“It was so much bigger than I even could have imagined,” he remembers. And both his brothers were mesmerized learning new things about Colorado history and a way of life that was so different from their current-day, modern lives.

The Cliff Palace tour was accessible for everyone in our group, both for the kids and my parents. People with mobility issues may want to research appropriate activities before making the trip, as only some of the park is wheelchair accessible. Our oldest son, who has Down syndrome and some mobility issues, did great on the guided tour of Cliff Palace, where there are ladders to climb and uneven surfaces to walk on.

(If someone in your group experiences mobility issues, there is still a lot to do and see at Mesa Verde: Scenic overlooks, bus tours, the Visitor and Research Center, and drives you can take to view much of the park

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

Shane and Casey Coleman explore the ruins at Mesa Verde with their grammy, Cindy McCaskill.

are great options to explore and learn about the area.)

After two days of exploring Mesa Verde, our crew made the three-hour drive northeast to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

First protected as a national monument in 1932, the Dunes were redesignated as a national park and preserve by an act of Congress in 2004. The park encompasses 107,342 acres and the preserve protects an additional 41,686 acres, for a total of 149,028 beautiful acres.

We camped overnight at Piñon Flats Campground inside the park, with great views of Blanca Peak and the Dunes. During our day at the Dunes, we set out early in the morning to explore in hopes that we’d beat the heat. The boys were unprepared for the

glory and expanse of the sand dunes, and I think they were a bit overwhelmed by the size.

“I remember losing my flip-flop in the sand and thinking I’d never find it,” Shane recalls.

Beach play at the wide and shallow Medano Creek was a refreshing change from the heat of the sand and a highlight of the day. And although they were too timid to try, the boys also enjoyed watching people sand board and sled down the dunes. Equipment rentals are available at the park or in Alamosa. There are also sand-accessible wheelchairs available. If you don’t want to camp, there are hotels in nearby Alamosa, about a 30-minute drive from the park.

The Dunes are even open at night, and in 2019 the park was designated as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. Light pollution is low at the Dunes, assuring prime conditions for stargazing and catching a great view of astronomical events, such as comets and meteor showers, weather and conditions permitting.

My family still has more national park exploring to do here in Colorado and beyond. Next on our list is a weekend trip to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

If you are looking for inspiration and information on exploring national parks in your own backyard or across the nation, go online to nps.gov and utilize the tools on the website to plan an amazing adventure. Dedicated travelers could spend the rest of their lives just vacationing in national parks across the country. In Colorado alone, there are the four national parks previously mentioned, plus nine other national monuments, grasslands and historic sites.

COVER STORY Medano Creek is a refreshing way to beat the heat at the Dunes.

Whether exploring the northern, southern, eastern or western parts of Colorado, you can find wonderful and exciting national park destinations. Some may be next door and some may be just a day’s drive away, so you can make a weekend trip out of a visit or start planning now and take an extended vacation to hit several sites.

Whatever you do, round up the family and take the opportunity to explore the national treasures here in Colorado.

#4 Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

Even your four-legged family members can have fun at the Great Sand Dunes.

As a Colorado native, Kylee Coleman has fond childhood memories of adventuring to the state’s national parks with her parents and brother.

Go Explore Beyond Colorado’s National Parks Colorado has a wealth of national parks, but it is also home to national monuments, recreation areas and historic sites.

Here’s a list: Bent’s Old Fort, La Junta

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site features a reconstructed 1840s adobe fur-trading post on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail.

Today, living historians re-create the sights, sounds and smells of the past with guided tours, demonstrations and special events.

Colorado National Monument, Fruita

One of the grand landscapes of the American West is preserved in the Colorado National Monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama.

Curecanti National Recreation Area, Gunnison

A series of three reservoirs along the once wild Gunnison River make up the Curecanti National Recreation Area. They are a destination for waterbased recreation and offer opportunities for hiking, boating, camping and bird watching.

Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal, Utah & Dinosaur, Colorado

The fantastic remains of dinosaurs are still visible, embedded in the rocks. Petroglyphs hint at earlier cultures. For those who enjoy science, adventure, history or scenery, there is plenty to explore at Dinosaur.

Florissant Fossil Beds, Florissant

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lie petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide. These petrified stumps and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of prehistoric Colorado.

Hovenweep National Monument, Blanding, Utah & Cortez, Colorado

Once home to over 2,500 people, Hovenweep National Monument includes six prehistoric villages built between A.D. 1200 and 1300. Explore a variety of structures, including multistory towers perched on canyon rims and balanced on boulders.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Eads

In the Sand Creek Massacre, 675 cavalrymen attacked the camps of Chiefs Black Kettle, White Antelope and Left Hand. This site looks back at the chaotic, horrific, tumultuous and bloody events of November 29, 1864.

Yucca House National Monument, Cortez

Through a continuing tradition of public and private cooperation, Yucca House National Monument preserves one of the largest archaeological sites in southwestern Colorado.

The unexcavated nature of the site preserves its integrity and has remained largely untouched for the past 800 years.

1 Bent’s Old Fort

5 Florissant Fossil Beds

2 Colorado National Monument

6 Hovenweep National Monument

La Junta | 719-383-5010 nps.gov/beol

Fruita | 970-858-2800 nps.gov/colm

Cortez | 970-562-4282 x5 nps.gov/hove

3 Curecanti National Recreation Area

7 Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

4 Dinosaur National Monument

8 Yucca House National Monument

Gunnison | 970-641-2337 x205 nps.gov/cure

Dinosaur | 435-781-7700 nps.gov/dino

4

Florissant | 719-748-3253 nps.gov/flfo

Eads | 719-438-5916 nps.gov/sand

2 7

8

6

3

5

1

Time to Go Explore & Discover

Cortez | 970-529-4465 nps.gov/yuho

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

19

ENERGY CONNECTIONS

Supporting Tomorrow’s Leaders Electric co-ops fund college scholarships, youth programs

BY SAR AH SMITH

C

olorado’s electric cooperatives have awarded more than $2,209,250 in scholarships to 1,637 students over the past five years*. That means hundreds of students have been able to attend college and/or trade school, thanks to the support of their local electric cooperative.

Each of the state’s 22 distribution co-ops provide this support to students in its own way. Some offer a unique set of scholarships, including scholarships provided by power suppliers Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Tri-State Generation and Transmission, as well as scholarships in honor of previous managers and board members. Vocational and technical school scholarships are offered, including opportunities for electric lineworkers. The overall goal is to give students in their co-op territory, regardless of background or finances, a chance at continuing their education after high school.

Each co-op funds its scholarships a little differently, although none of the funding comes from electric rates paid by

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consumer-members. Most of the funds come from unclaimed capital credits, which must be turned over to the state if they are not used by the co-op for specific purposes.

In some cases, co-op board members contribute their own money to fund the co-op’s scholarships. The Basin Electric and Tri-State scholarships are provided by those power suppliers.

Each scholarship recipient through the years have been deserving of the recognition and support. A few students have a lasting impression on their local electric co-op with their stories. These individuals were not only qualified but also led as examples for their peers and future applicants.

Dean VanWinkle of Fruita eats, sleeps and breathes cattle ranching. It’s in his blood, passed down from five generations before him. The treatment of the livestock his family raises, while also sustaining the land to provide a nutritional product, is top-of-mind. With that responsibility also comes the importance of higher education

Dean VanWinkle of Fruita was the winner of the 2017 Grand Valley Power scholarship.

to gain more knowledge and understanding about every facet of running and operating his family’s business — which is also their livelihood.

Grand Valley Power Association awarded VanWinkle the GVP scholarship in 2017. He stood out to the scholarship selection committee, which is made up of a group of educators appointed by the board of directors, for his deep passion for cattle ranching and agriculture business and his vast leadership roles.

ENERGY CONNECTIONS Notably, he was the 4-H district president and on the state officer team, where he mentored 4-H members to become the next generation of leaders. From a young age, VanWinkle learned the importance of raising and caring for animals and gained a great sense of leadership and responsibility.

As a multigenerational rancher in the Grand Valley area, his drive and his dedication to the Western Slope hit home with GVP’s committee.

After graduating from high school, VanWinkle attended Fort Scott Community College and then transferred to Kansas

Elizabeth “Beth” Williams was awarded the 2018 San Miguel Power Association Ouray High School scholarship.

During her six-week program, Williams

State University. After college, he plans to return to the family ranch to work alongside his parents, Howard and Janie. He is also committed to staying involved with local organizations and associations.

“It is very important to support the communities that have helped me along the way,” VanWinkle said. “The scholarship from GVP allowed me to attend college and focus on gaining new knowledge while seeing different operations and strategies of operation. These scholarship programs are vital and sometimes underappreciated.

I was extremely fortunate to receive several scholarships from the community and I am extremely thankful for the organizations that make them available.”

San Miguel Power Association is another cooperative to have remarkable scholarship

also gained a unique perspective about the health care system. This opportunity broadened her horizons and opened the possibility to study in other parts of the country.

recipients who encompass the overall goal of the program while expressing individuality and leadership in new ways.

Former recipient Elizabeth “Beth” Williams was awarded the 2018 SMPA Ouray High School scholarship. Following the recognition, Williams attended a summer internship at the Rodham Institute and George Washington School of Medicine, where she worked with underprivileged patients and assisted the doctors as a Spanish translator. Her internship was designed to focus on health care and social change.

executive, also reflected on a scholarship recipient from last year: Kyra Maxfield.

Maxfield received the 2020 Silverton High School vocational scholarship for her strong drive to work in the veterinary field. SMPA’s scholarship helped place her in a college that could advance her goals and provide the support she needed on an individual basis.

“Our youth engagement programs are very important to us,” Shelley said. “These young people are future members, and their goals and attitudes give us a glimpse at what

Kyra Maxfield received the 2020 Silverton High School vocational scholarship for her education toward veterinary school.

Alex Shelley, SMPA’s communications

the future of our business and industry will hold. Plus, their enthusiasm is catchy!”

Scholarships are an important way that Colorado’s electric cooperatives support the community.

Another significant way co-ops strengthen and build up young people is through educational programs.

Support for the Washington D.C. Youth Tour, Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp, the Colorado State Fair Junior Livestock Sale, local county fairs and safety programs are other ways that co-ops educate and provide opportunities for students.

Unfortunately, gathering and travel restrictions due to COVID-19 postponed some of these beneficial programs, but CREA and its electric cooperatives are hopeful to resume all of them by 2022.

The future of Colorado’s communities shines through in its youth and it is crucial that tools and resources for higher education are provided to students. By working together as one unified voice, CREA’s member co-ops are committed to enhancing and advancing the interests of their consumer-members, including the youngest members the co-ops serve.

One day these young people will become the co-ops’ greatest assets and their strongest leaders. *Statistics based on a survey sent out to all 22 Colorado electric cooperatives; 19 out of 22 participated in the survey and are represented in the data listed.

Sarah Smith is a freelance writer with a fondness for Colorado’s electric co-ops and the rural areas they serve.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Visit the Local Co-op Youth Program page on crea.coop for more information on youth tour, camp and other youth programs. Look under the Co-ops in the Community tab.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

21

GARDENING

Happiness and Horticultural Therapy Could gardening be a helpful tool for your mental well-being?

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

T

his year might be remembered as the year of healing. At least that’s my hope as more and more people turn to gardening.

For many years, I only thought about my gardens as serving specific, tangible functions. They provided my family with fresh fruits and vegetables to eat and graced my home with abundantly beautiful flowers.

But last year, after the coronavirus outbreak led to increased isolation, I began to reflect upon my mental state while gardening.

Although it took a pandemic for me to become consciously aware of gardening’s therapeutic value, medical professionals have known this for a long time. In the 19th century, psychiatrists began documenting the positive impact of gardening on individuals with mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, health care workers began observing additional therapeutic benefits while working to rehabilitate World War II veterans. Today, the American Society of Landscape Architects recognizes a specialized field of study that embraces the concept of designing plant-dominated environments with the purpose of facilitating interaction with nature’s healing properties.

There are endless ways to design therapeutic gardens, but the primary focus is

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

on providing convenience and enjoyment to people with a diverse range of abilities.

When considering accessibility, garden paths may be wide and gently graded with raised beds that are attainable while standing or sitting in a chair. Plant selections may be sensory-oriented with a focus on color, texture and fragrance to stimulate memory or senses, such as hearing, smell and touch, as an alternative to sight.

Horticultural therapy may include planning, planting and caring for the garden.

These activities help with socialization, decision making and cognition. Therapy may also include weeding, watering and harvesting to help strengthen muscles, improve balance and increase endurance.

These are just a few reasons why therapeutic gardens have gained popularity in health care settings.

When volunteering for the Denver Botanic Gardens, I met visitors from across the state who enjoyed programs for seniors and those with special needs. Although many programs were canceled last year, the Denver Botanic Gardens is providing limited programs this year while complying with state guidelines. For instance, the Chatfield Farms Veterans Program began accepting applications in mid-February to

connect veterans to farming careers through a 21-week training session. In addition to building job skills, veterans have an opportunity to reconnect with nature and develop relationships with other service members.

SPARK!, a cultural program for people with memory loss, is offered in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide participants with mild memory loss an opportunity to explore the world of plants in an interactive, virtual environment. Register online or call 720-865-3500 to participate in monthly sessions.

All of us can benefit from the therapeutic value of gardens. If you never gardened before or don’t have space, perhaps try a container garden. If gardening is not for you, simply walking through the park or enjoying plants at your local garden center could uplift your spirits.

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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muscle pain. The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort.

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Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of Genuine Italian leather, stain and water repellent custom-manufactured DuraLux™ with the classic leather look or plush MicroLux™ microfiber in a variety of colors to fit any decor. New Chestnut color only available in Genuine Italian Leather.

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Because each Perfect Sleep Chair is a made-to-order bedding product it cannot be returned, but if it arrives damaged or defective, at our option we will repair it or replace it. © 2021 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

23

OUTDOORS

Casting Doubt on the Perils of Fly Fishing Are the risks of injury worth the rewards?

MISS AN ISSUE? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Click on Outdoors.

BY DENNIS SMITH

| OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

I

’ve been fly fishing for more than 60 years now, and in all that time the only related injuries I’ve ever received have been from sticking myself with a hook or falling down the bank in a hurry to get on the water.

Unless, of course, you want to include the near-fatal bout of hysteria I suffered once while reading an Associated Press story about a doctor in Montana whose clinic — The Fly Caster’s Institute — charges anglers $3,000 a pop to analyze their casting style and prescribe corrective action to prevent future injuries associated with casting a fly. As Dave Barry says, “I’m not making this up.”

According to the story, patients are hooked up to a miniature gyroscopic device connected to a hand-held computer that measures the angular speed of their fly rods and tells the doctor which muscles are firing so he can isolate specific physical maladies in their casting stroke. A team of top-notch fly casters is then called in to help the angler

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

correct his perilous casting stroke. When they’re satisfied the guy won’t hurt himself, they all go off fishing together. Hoo boy! And you thought Bernie Madoff was slick.

This all started, apparently, when the benevolent doctor developed an annoying case of tendonitis while fly casting for steelhead a few years back, and quickly reasoned he could probably make a fortune convincing other fly fisherman they risked serious injury if they weren’t careful how they waved their 3-ounce graphite sticks around in the air.

There’s the additional weight of the fly line to consider, too — another ponderous 4 or 5 ounces at least. And the fly itself, which, as you might imagine, can weigh as much as a handful of high-quality cigar smoke.

I had no idea fly casting was so physically demanding. But the doctor, who also happens to be the head athletic team physician at a well-known university, insists that “casting technique and mechanics are as important to a fly caster as endurance and

weight training are to a professional athlete.”

Wow! Who knew? It’s a wonder more of us haven’t ended up in clinics.

To further prove his point, the doctor told of a Wyoming fly fisherman he met in Belize who blew out the rotator cuff in both of his shoulders in less than two days while fly casting for permit. Remarkably, the guy’s wife managed to spend the rest of their vacation happily catching fish on her fly rod without so much as breaking a nail while hubby sat in the boat nursing his fly-casting boo-boos.

You can draw your own conclusions about the dangers of fly fishing, but I came to this: If a fisherman who blows out both of his shoulders trying to cast a fly pays another fly fisherman $3,000 to analyze his casting stroke, he’s having the wrong part of his anatomy examined.

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

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CREATIVE CORNER

READER POETRY Irresistible

She took my breath away and kept it gave me goosebumps as she spoke her beauty raised haunting charms she was irresistible Flirting close by her sweet smile lingered for daze the siren in her eyes was mesmerizing a seductive summons she was irresistible I tried to resist stayed away even moved away her creative allure captured my thoughts wherever I traveled she was irresistible Years have past yet I wonder would she still take my breath away and keep it give me goosebumps while she speaks would her beauty still raise haunting charms would she still be irresistible Lawrence Woody Sangre De Cristo Electric Association consumer-member

The Path

On a clear blue sky day in May I walked a path you’d walked the day before.

I felt then and do today An invisible thread connecting you to me.

And so it has been Throughout the years.

We’ve walked Our separate lives Together Kathleen Delzell, Bayfield La Plata Electric Association consumer-member

Slough Haiku

Blue tailed damsel flies Racked elk graze reeds and rushes SUPs storm Lost Lake Slough Annette Ferriole, Grand Junction Grand Valley Power consumer-member

Bird Dog’s Lament

There is a small reason why bird dogs don’t sing; Their voices are too low for the sweet notes of spring

DO YOU WRITE POETRY? Send us your best work; we’d love to read it.

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

Robert Heath, Kansas Poudre Valley REA consumer-member COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

27

COMMUNITY EVENTS Attention Colorado Country Life readers: With changing circumstances and the ongoing uncertainty of scheduled events, our Community Events page will only be available online starting in June 2021. Please continue to submit your community events as we will continue to add these to our Community Events tab on the CCL website, coloradocountrylife.coop, where we can make more immediate changes when events are canceled or become virtual events.

As of press time, all the following are live events. Please contact the event host for any COVID-related restrictions or cancellations.

May 2021 Through September 5 Steamboat Springs

May 13 Golden

Free Admission Day Colorado Railroad Museum coloradorailroadmuseum.org

Museum Open to Public Limon Heritage Museum 719-775-8894 • limonmuseum.com

May 14-15 Fort Collins

June 2021

Jackie Kashian Stand-Up Comedy Show • The Comedy Fort 970-232-9288 comedyfortcollins.com

“Oberg, Smith, Whitcomb, Young: Four Directions, Common Paths” Exhibit • Steamboat Art Museum 970-870-1755 steamboatartmuseum.org

May 14-16 Pikes Peak Region

Pikes Peak Birding & Nature Festival Various Pikes Peak Locations pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org

May 1 and 22 Colorado Springs

Forest Bathing Walk Bear Creek Nature Center 1:30-4 pm • listeningpines.com

May 15 Cortez

Four States Ag Expo Consignment Tack and Equipment Sale Montezuma County Fairgrounds 9 am-3 pm • 970-529-3486

May 8 Florence

Chili and Beer Fundraiser Historic Front Street 11 am • florencepioneermuseum.org

May 15 Loveland

May 9 and 23 Colorado Springs

Garden and House Plant Swap Grace Yoga & Wellness 10 am-2 pm • 970-646-2022

Colorado Farm and Art Market Hillside Community Center 11 am-2 pm farmandartmarket.com

May 31-September 6 Limon

May 29 Red Feather Lakes

Memorial Craft Fair Red Feather Lakes Community Association • redfeatherlakes.net

“Mission: Wolf Overnight Camp” for 6th-9th Graders Wolf Sanctuary 719-485-4444 • hikeandlearn.org

Poker Run Washington County Event Center 970-554-0117 (text) john2nree@gmail.com

“The Moving Vietnam Wall” Traveling Exhibit Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center 719-738-2801 • themovingwall.org

June 19 Lakewood

Flower Farmer Experience Blossom & Branch Farm 6-8 pm • 720-319-0243

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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.

June 26 Monument

Front Range Maker’s Market Lewis Palmer High School 9 am-4 pm • creativecrafters.org

June 28 Lake City

Chamber Music Concert Lake City Arts Center lakecityarts.org

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YOUR STORIES

FUNNY STORIES READERS’ PHOTOS My great, great granddaughter,

Kate Walker reads CCL while working out at the gym. Kate is a consumer-member of Mountain Parks Electric.

Mountain View Electric consumer-member Cheryl Milan enjoys a few weeks in Florida with Colorado Country Life.

5-year-old Logan, asked her momma, “Are we beans? “Of course not,” her momma said.

Logan piped up, “Then, why do they always say human beans?”

Pat Berridge, Grand Junction Grand Valley Power consumer-member

My granddaughter entered the

kitchen at the same time my daughter was adding kidney beans to a stew she was making for supper. “What are those funny shaped things you are putting in the pot?” she asked.

“They’re kidney beans,” her mother replied.

With a curious look on her face she asked, “Why are they called kidney beans?” Her mom answered, “Because they look like kidneys.”

Puzzled my granddaughter looked toward the floor and replied, “They sure don’t look like this kid’s knees.”

Margaret and Jack Butler, Cotopaxi Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-members

My birthday falls in May and, one

Kurt Morgenstern reads CCL inside a Crua tent while camping in the cold at Eleven Mile State Park with his wife, Carolyn. The Morgensterns are consumer-members of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.

San Isabel Electric consumer-member Doris Morgan takes the magazine to the top of the Key West lighthouse in Key West, Florida.

Miaja, Kalay and Harmony bring CCL along while they enjoy the sights at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. They are all granddaughters of Southeast Colorado Power Association consumer-members Craig and Marilyn Hendricks.

year for my 30th birthday, I was headed out to dinner with a group of friends. On our way we began noticing groups of teenagers driving around, dressed to the nines. Prom! It just so happened to be prom night. I joked, “I wonder if my old prom dress still fits?” My husband spun the car around and drove back home, laughing all the way. He got down on a knee and asked if I would go with him to prom that night.

Of course, I said yes. My whole group of friends got dressed in formal gowns and went out to eat, pretending we were teenagers again. It was so funny that it became an annual tradition!

Aimee Markwardt, Berthoud Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association consumer-member

WINNER: Mindi Segelke (middle), a consumermember and retired employee of Y-W Electric Association, brings CCL to South Padre Island, Texas, as she visits with her sisters, Susan Watson and Mitzi Taft.

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, address and your local co-op to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month. The next deadline is Friday, May 14. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. 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 MAY 2021

29

DISCOVERIES

A Passion for Our Parks Declare your delight for our treasured sites “Windy Day in Sand Dunes” by Errin Walker, an Empire Electric consumer-member

Rocky Mountains on the Rocks When you sip from one of Black Lantern’s Rocky Mountain National Park Topographic Map Glasses, you’ll sip more joyfully knowing the Estes Park-based business donated a portion of your purchase to the National Park Foundation. These beautiful vessels are screen printed with a detailed outline of the park, giving you a unique view of this popular park. Cost is $28 for two. For more information, visit blacklantern.com. While you’re there, be sure to check out the great apparel selection.

Practice Protecting Nature Teach children to cherish the outdoors through hands-on activities with botanist George Oxford Miller’s Backyard Science & Discovery Workbook: Rocky Mountains.

Intended for children ages 6-13 yet a great tool for all ages, this workbook features more than a dozen activities that encourage selflearning through discovery and experiments.

Available for purchase on June 8 for $14.95.

Learn more about this workbook and others at adventurewithkeen.com/product-tag/ nature-science-workbooks-for-kids.

“Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park” by Mary Stasilli for Creative Action Network.

Parks on Print Proudly display your favorite national parks with posters designed creatively by talented artists in the Creative Action Network’s “See America” collection. From the Rocky Mountains to Mesa Verde National Park and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, CAN is sure to have a print you’ll cherish for years to come. Posters are available for purchase at creativeaction. network/collections/see-america/ products.

The Perfect Pattern Display your trips to our national parks with quilt patterns designed by Fiona Sandwich, a Colorado company based in the Front Range. Whether you can sew and are just getting started as a quilter or you’re a skilled quilter who can stitch a masterpiece in the blink of an eye, you can paper piece together Fiona’s National Park Patterns and reveal the splendor of some of the most magnificent areas of our country. For more information, visit fionasandwich.com.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE MAY 2021

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