Colorado Country Life July 2021 Yampa Valley

/ CREATE A FIRE RESISTANT OASIS PG 18 COOK WITH TEAM USA PG 10 /2020 CO-OPS ANNUAL DAUNTING REPORT:CHALLENGE SEE CENTERPGOF16MAGAZINE

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC.

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JULY 2021

READY FOR THE

OLYMPICS? AN ATHLETE’S PERSPECTIVE

Number 07

Volume 52

July 2021 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

“Dog Days of Summer” by Dennis Howard, a consumer-member of San Isabel Electric Association.

3 VIEWPOINT

4 LETTERS

5 YOUR CO-OP NEWS

10 RECIPES

11 NEWS CLIPS

12 COVER STORY AN INSIDER’S VIEW OF THE OLYMPICS

16 ENERGY CONNECTIONS

18 GARDENING

19 OUTDOORS

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.

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK

COCountryLife pinned: Celebrate the 2021 Olympics by cooking with Team USA. Try the Farmer’s Market Chopped Salad. A tasty and flavorful dish you will love.

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

21 CREATIVE CORNER

22 DISCOVERIES

Enter Our Contests Want to learn more about the Olympics? It’s time to read up before the Games begin. Enter for your chance to win a copy of Total Olympics by Jeremy Fuchs.

Visit coloradocountrylife.coop and click on the Contests tab to find out how to enter.

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month

READY FOR THE

OLYMPICS? AN ATHLETE’S PERSPECTIVE

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: United Power, Inc., in Brighton announced the latest addition to its expanding EV charging network: a new station in Keenesburg just off of the I-76 corridor. This ChargePoint Fast EV Charging Station fills a gap in chargers along I-76.

JULY 2021

Cover JULY 2021

Best of 2021 nominations are now open. We picked the categories, now you tell us your favorites in Colorado.

You could win one of three $100 gift cards. Visit coloradocountrylife.coop and TIME TO VOTE click on the Contests tab to find BEST OF out how to enter.

COLORADO 2021 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE

On the

cocountrylife posted: The sun sets on another amazing Colorado day. #colorado #colorfulcolorado

Vote for your 2021 favorites in the CCL Best of Colorado

2

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.

20 MARKETPLACE

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

1994 Olympic silver medalist and Mountain Parks Electric board member Liz McIntyre won the silver medal in moguls at the Lillehammer Winter Games. Photo by Jennifer Bauckman.

coloradocountrylife.coop

VIEWPOINT

EACH CO-OP IS UNIQUE All strive to meet members’ needs

BY KENT SINGER

T

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

wo things were clear when the CEOs of Colorado’s electric co-ops met recently after a long hiatus from in-person meetings: First, they were all eager to get together, catch up and share the latest on what’s happening at their co-ops. Second, each co-op in the state is thinking “outside the box” as it faces a variety of challenges in its service territory.

One of the functions of CREA as a trade association is facilitating peer group discussions among the various groups of employees at Colorado’s 22 electric distribution co-ops. We coordinate groups for accountants, attorneys, mechanics, lineworkers, member service representatives, operations managers and others, as well as the co-op general managers and CEOs. At this first CEO meeting in more than a year, the managers met at Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs. In addition to renewing previous connections and welcoming new CEOs to the group, the managers got down to brass tacks discussing the issues and challenges they, their boards and their staff face in providing reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity to over 70% of the landmass of Colorado.

To frame the discussion, we asked the co-op CEOs to consider where their co-ops would be in five years. The answers demonstrated not only the incredible diversity that exists among Colorado’s electric co-ops, but also the ingenuity and innovation that co-ops are deploying to respond to an evolving energy landscape.

Some CEOs indicated that their members want more options when it comes to the services provided by their electric

co-op. This might be in the form of rates or options for carbon-free power. Other CEOs talked about additional services that co-ops could provide to bring more value to the communities they serve, whether that means additional energy services or an even broader scope of offerings beyond electricity. Among this group are co-ops that have started subsidiaries or initiated other projects to provide broadband service to their consumer-members.

Still, other CEOs talked about new technology: how their co-ops are implementing microgrids in remote locations where a local power supply will add resilience; investing in battery storage capacity to provide more flexibility and other value streams; working with their consumermembers on distributed energy systems; and looking at additional renewable generation options to support local communities.

There was also a lot of discussion about the challenges that lie ahead.

Several eastern plains co-ops are concerned about water, or the lack thereof.

With limits proposed on the use of groundwater in the Republican River Basin, farmers and ranchers in eastern Colorado will be affected as will the co-ops depending on the revenue from the electricity operating irrigation wells. Many of those smaller co-ops also have no growth and are seeing their oil and gas customers leave. Yet other co-ops, in other parts of the state, are seeing tremendous growth with business and commercial accounts, adding to residential growth.

Every co-op has its specific challenges as it works to meet the needs of its consumermembers who rely on it for their electric energy needs.

KENT SINGER

All of Colorado’s electric co-ops, regardless of the challenges they face, are working to diversify the power resources that are used to provide electricity to their consumer-members. Colorado law requires all electric utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030, and the co-ops are working to meet those requirements while maintaining today’s levels of reliability and affordability for Colorado’s electric co-op consumer-members.

If you read this column regularly, you know I often say, “If you’ve seen one electric co-op, you’ve seen one electric co-op.” This is the opposite of the old saying, “If you’ve seen one (fill in the blank), you’ve seen them all.”

This highlights the point that each of Colorado’s electric co-ops is a unique company with its own goals, opportunities and challenges. CREA is excited for the opportunities ahead for Colorado’s electric cooperatives and is ready to assist its member co-ops in overcoming whatever challenges they face as they move into the new energy future.

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.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Focus on Climate Change

Three letters regarding renewables in the April issue indicate a lack of understanding of climate change, renewables and electricity systems, in my opinion.

1. How renewable energy can prevent wildfires, snowstorms, drought and windstorms: Climate change is causing and will cause more extreme weather and wildfires. Renewable energy is a key method of mitigating climate change.

2. Disposal of waste related to solar and wind energy: As with fossil fuel and nuclear energy, decommissioned generating assets should be disposed of properly. Problems associated with solar and wind waste are not on the same scale as coal and nuclear energy waste.

3. Intermittence of renewables: The solution is storage technology and increased interconnection of the grid. Battery storage has become dramatically cheaper in recent years.

Increased interconnection of the electricity grid will enable utilities to draw renewable power from places where the sun is shining and the wind is blowing.

4. Natural gas: There is uncertainty surrounding leakage of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. We do have abundant fossil fuels, but we need to leave them in the ground to halt climate change.

Frank Stern, Crested Butte Gunnison County Electric consumer-member I enjoyed “The Super Grid” in the April issue.

I learned many things including that transmission access is a big concern as we move to more renewable energy sources and that many intelligent professionals are working on solutions. I like the idea of a more interconnected grid delivering lower costs, job creation, lower carbon emissions and better reliability.

I appreciate that “thinking big” and thinking long term can overcome the initial monetary outlay and other obstacles.

Victoria Jordan, Bellvue Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

An Ode to Cottonwoods

Wow, Dennis Smith. “Gone Yet Not Forgotten Cottonwoods”isamasterpiece(Outdoors, April’21).

Your writing continues to be extraordinary.

Dr. David Sigafoos, Westminster Sangre de Cristo consumer-member

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.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

FROM THE EDITOR Surrounded by greatness

BY MONA NEELEY

EDITOR

T

he Olympics are coming later this month. Are you excited?

I am. I love the pageantry, the stories of athletes’ MONA NEELEY perseverance, the competition, all of it. That’s why I’ve already visited the new U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs.

And what I remember most are the stories of greatness that are shared throughout the museum. They start in the massive open air lobby with the Olympic Hall of Fame display.

Among the many listed is the late Rafer Johnson, a two-time Olympian in the decathlon.

He was the first Black American to carry the U.S. flag in the opening ceremony in 1960 and he won gold that year with a tight finish in his last event.

Then there is Erin Popovich, a three-time Paralympian who won 19 medals, 14 of them gold in swimming. Born with a genetic disorder, achondroplasia, she learned to swim and entered the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games at age 15.

And, of course, there is the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team that brought home the gold after defeating the Russians in what was dubbed the “miracle on ice.” Since I was living in Minnesota in 1980, that team’s story never gets old.

The list goes on. So many more inspirational stories … and more coming this 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.

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION JULY 2021

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

TREE TRIMMING IMPROVES SERVICE FOR ALL

BY STEVE JOHNSON PRESIDENT & GENER AL MANAGER

MAILING ADDRESS 2211 Elk River Road Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SERVICE CENTER 2211 Elk River Road Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

ph 970-879-1160 tf 888-873-9832 fax 970-879-7270 web www.yvea.com

CRAIG SERVICE CENTER 3715 East US Highway 40 Craig, CO 81625

ph 970-824-6593

tf 888-873-9832

fax 970-824-7134

facebook.com/ YampaValleyElectricAssociation

@YampaValleyElec

instagram.com/ yampavalleyelectriccoop

Yampa Valley Electric Association is a cooperative that provides value to its consumer-members by delivering safe and reliable electric service in an environmentally and financially responsible manner.

YAMPA VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNIT Y PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .COOP

T

here are so many reasons why we all choose this part of the country to call home: beautiful blue skies, breathtaking vistas and surroundings filled with towering pines. What makes this part of the country so beautiful is also what makes it so dangerous, and this dangerous beauty is at the forefront of our minds when it comes to creating our wildfire mitigation plan. The goal with our wildfire mitigation plan is to maintain the beauty of our surroundings while also creating an effective plan to keep power lines clear in rights-of-way, so we are able to bring you safe, reliable electricity.

Trees that are too close to power lines can interfere with electric service, especially when weather brings lightning or high winds. For reliability and compliance with the National Electrical Safety Code, we prune or remove trees that threaten electric service. Since trees are the leading cause of electric outages, one of the best ways to reduce interruptions for memberowners is to maintain adequate clearance (15 feet minimum) between trees and power lines by pruning on a regular basis.

We currently employ several contractors to help us keep our rights-of-way clear, with our heaviest operations taking place during the summer season. YVEA has also been able to take advantage of grants offered through the BLM to assist us with expanding our plans of wildfire mitigation, ensuring we are clearing as much as we can to keep our system clear of obstructions.

Another important aspect of the treetrimming process is the safety of our crews who are out there working the lines, day

STEVE JOHNSON

in and day out. Well-maintained rightsof-way allow easier access for personnel and vehicles during power outage restorations due to storms. We recently saw an outage in the Baggs area and our crews had to use ATVs to travel the lines to try and find the outage. Doing this during a storm and in the middle of the night is already dangerous, and without a properly maintained right-of-way, it adds an increased level of risk that we don’t want to put on our crews.

The final reason we view tree trimming as a vital part of our mitigation plans is the increased risk of wildfires. This summer we are in a severe drought and we have already seen a few small wildfires that sparked quite easily. By keeping these rights-of-way clear of any vegetation that could fall onto our lines or equipment, we are helping to reduce the chances of a wildfire. It is vital for us to reduce any potential increased risks in the case of wildfires.

As a consumer-member, if you are planning to remove or trim a tree near our power lines, or if you notice a tree or vegetation is too close to our lines, we ask that you contact us by submitting a tree-trimming request on our vegetation management page on our website at yvea.com/ vegetation-management or by calling dispatch at 970-879-1160.

Thank you for helping us keep our system and crews safe by supporting us in our wildfire mitigation plans.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

WHAT IS YVEA DOING TO HELP PREVENT WILDFIRES?

A New SMS Text Messaging If you are signed up for SMS text messaging through SmartHub, you will receive your messages from 855-939-3597 instead of the previous number 768482 (above).

If you want to sign up for SMS messages, which will alert you when your bill is available, confirm payment and notify you of power outages, visit SmartHub or contact Member Services at 970-879-1160.

What to Do If You Receive a Disconnection Notice from YVEA

side from tree trimming, another important part of the YVEA wildfire mitigation plan is to have our system ready to help reduce the opportunities for wildfires to spark. Here’s a quick rundown of how and why this is important to YVEA. HOW CAN ELECTRICITY START A FIRE? When a tree limb, animal or anything comes into contact with our lines and creates a disruption, our system contains protective devices that detect these short-circuit fault conditions and operate in a way to limit damage to the system. These devices (reclosers) are intended to clear faults quickly. Normally, our system is a threeshot system, when the recloser will try three times to clear the line and restore power to the short circuit. When this doesn’t happen, a line can blow a fuse, sending

molten material to the ground below. If the right-of-way hasn’t been cleared of trees or vegetation, this can lead to a dangerous fire situation.

WHAT STEPS DOES YVEA TAKE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING? During these low-moisture, high-drought summers, we go from a three-shot system, down to a one-shot system. This means the system will only get one shot to clear the line and restore power before de-energizing. The unfortunate side effect of this is that we may experience more outages than normal during the summer, but to us the prevention of wildfires is paramount and takes precedence.

YVEA is committed to keeping our communities safe and thanks you for your support in these measures.

To Avoid Disconnection You must respond to YVEA

• Visit either office in Steamboat Springs or Craig, or • Call Member Services at 970-879-1160 or toll free at 888-873-9832, or • Send an email to billing@yvea.com.

• You must contact YVEA by one of these three ways

Locate your account number

• Your account number can be found on the disconnection notice. You will need that account number when you contact YVEA.

SUMMER CONSTRUCTION UPDATE YVEA has two upcoming summer projects that are slated to begin or have been ongoing since May 1: • May 1 – July 30: Town of Yampa and Stagecoach • June 1 – July 30: North Steamboat Boulevard You can expect to see YVEA employees, locate contractors, city and utility employees, surveyors and YVEA contractors on or around these sites. For any questions, please visit https://www.yvea.com/current-construction.

For the public’s safety and the safety of its crews, YVEA asks that you use caution near worksites and whenever you see a YVEA or contracting crew working near the road. YVEA wants you, its crews and its contractors to get home safely.

Be prepared to discuss a payment plan

• A member service representative is available during normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST) to discuss payment options.

Additional assistance

If members need additional assistance with utility bills, there are many additional resources in our territory. Visit www.yvea. com/payment-options.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

2020 MEMBER SURVEY The results of our 2020 Member Survey are posted here: https://bit.ly/3e3hZTB. If you didn’t receive a survey and would like one for 2021, please reach out to Member Services at 970-879-1160 to update your email address.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

YVEA crews repair broken pole after car/pole incident on RCR 129.

YVEA Awards and Recognition

YVEA was recently recognized for its CCL content, where it received recognition for its original content. YVEA was awarded first place for Best Photo (above) and Best Safety Article “It’s Because We Care: Stay back and stay safe” which appeared in the September 2020 issue of Colorado Country Life. Go to bit.ly/3q7Hurb to read the article.

Kevin and Tammy Villard at Moffat Mercantile with their award for Best Country Store, presented by CCL.

Moffat Mercantile in Craig Wins CCL Award – Best Country Store Located in historic downtown Craig, Moffat Mercantile opened in 2019 with a focus on locally created offerings. There are adorable hand-knit baby sweaters, delicious caramel corn, locally produced honey and so much more. This should be a must-stop for anyone who lives in or visits Craig. Congratulations to Moffat Mercantile on their award!

SURGE PROTECTION PROGRAM Protect your home electronics, appliances, and other important property with YVEA's whole home meterbase surge protection, which is warranted to protect your household's major appliances and electronic devices. This affordable protection is available for only $5 a month and is added to your electric bill. It is a small price to pay to ensure you are protected.

For complete information on the surge protection program, visit our website at www.yvea.com/surge-protection, email info@yvea.com or call Member Services at 970-879-1160.

UPCOMING SPONSORED EVENTS Hayden Daze-July 16th and 17th Steamboat Pro Rodeo Series - July 1st-August 28th Moffat County Fair- August 2nd-7th Moffat Balloon Festival - August 7th 2021 Routt County Fair-August 19-22

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

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YOUR CO-OP NEWS

What’s Under the Hood Fiber, fiber, fiber and WiFi 6?

A

s a brief introduction unrelated to this month’s topic, it’s important that we make mention of the following. Luminate Broadband is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yampa Valley Electric Association. The YVEA leadership and board of directors recognized the desperate need for legitimate, affordable and equitable broadband service throughout the territory and made the decision to build out a broadband network for the membership.

Last month we talked about the cabling used by internet providers, which is extremely important. If you haven’t read that, we encourage you to do so – https://bit.ly/3zD8nrh. This month, we’ll explore what’s under the hood in regard to your in-home experience.

For starters, you will never receive more bandwidth than you pay for. This is important because other broadband service providers leverage the capability of the in-home equipment as their service offering. For instance, modems, routers and gateways (term for combined functionality) have specifications that allow certain speeds to traverse through the device. What this means is that your device can communicate with the gateway at a designated speed. Sadly, there are providers (yes, some in the valley) that leverage this data point and market it to you as if it’s the speed you home or business is receiving. Unfortunately, a common misunderstanding is that this has no bearing or relevance to your internet speed. It’s simply how your home network communicates back to the gateway in your home. This can be described as your in-home latency — nothing to do with overall network latency — or the speed at which a packet of information travels from source to destination and vice versa. Not to belabor this topic too much, but we want to ensure that you are educated to the extent that you are not misguided or “tricked” into something that is factually incorrect.

We addressed the pipe to the house

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

last month — whether wired or wireless — and we hope you have a solid understanding as to why $54.95 p er month for 100 Mbps symmetrical (upload and A sneak peek at the new download) and myLuminate app. $99.95 for 1 Gbps symmetrical is exceedingly greater and far more affordable than any other provider for residential service.

Next, we’ll shift gears to the in-home experience. The reality is that everyone is connected wirelessly. Therefore, your home gateway is the second most critical piece of network in your home next to your subscribed speed. Luminate Broadband’s gateways have more horsepower than anything you will find in any big box store.

These devices are carrier grade units that are designed to support the speeds we provide. Yes, WiFi 6. In other words, the same gateway on an inferior service is useless; the bottleneck is the service. So, coupling Luminate Broadband’s superior service (pipe) with carrier grade in-home electronics is essential for a great experience. We no longer talk in depth about the “number of devices” — it’s irrelevant to us.

That’s the competitor’s way to persuade you that 25 Mbps is adequate, which it isn’t. We say that your entire household, no matter the number of devices, will sustain peak performance regardless of activity or device count. Now, if you want things like games, movies or pictures to load or transfer data at impeccable speeds, then that’s where the speed differentiation comes in. The higher the speed, the quicker data is transferred.

Additionally, Luminate Broadband also has devices available to extend your WiFi

This is an example of the Gateway provided by Luminate Broadband.

This is an example of a mesh unit provided by Luminate Broadband.

reach. This is not a booster or a legacy extender — it is a device that carries the same credentials, functionality and capability as your gateway. No need to change networks or struggle with poor signal; mesh units do just that. They create a mesh environment so your signal stays as strong as possible wherever you are in your home.

WiFi 6 is here and Luminate Broadband is leading the charge.

We don’t want to breeze over this next item related to your in-home experience, but it’s pretty exciting news. We want you to have full control. Coming soon this month is the myLuminate app. myLuminate will give you total control of your network and the added security to keep the bad guys away from your loved ones and your devices. We are extremely excited about this and we hope you are, too.

Call 970-870-4320 or visit luminate broadband.com to switch to Luminate Broadband. We know switching can be a pain, but you’ll be glad you did. Experience the difference today!

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1

RECIPES

CHOW FOR CHAMPS Fix fantastic fare and become top chef in your kitchen

BY AMY HIGGINS

WIN A COPY

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

Time to start cooking with Team USA

A

fter a year of postponement, we can finally taste the excitement of the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

The level of talent these athletes demonstrate never ceases to amaze and you can’t help but wonder how they fuel their fire. Each sport requires specialized training and, to maintain momentum, a particular diet. Team USA gets culinary with Olympians and Paralympians with its “Cooking with Team USA” program and shares recipes for everyone to consume, and we gave it a shot.

So, pull out your kitchen equipment and exercise your cooking talents with this fortifying dish.

Brick Chicken with Red Chimichurri Sauce

into both the skin and the meat. Cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or as long as overnight.

Chicken:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat canola oil in a large cast iron or heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, skin side down. Place another skillet on top of the chicken and place a brick or teakettle filled with water on top to weigh down the chicken.

Cook for 5 minutes until skin is browned. Flip the chicken, weigh it down again with the other skillet and place in oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in thigh registers 165 degrees. Remove to platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with chimichurri sauce.

2 tablespoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/8 teaspoon powder cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar 1/2 split chicken 3 tablespoons canola oil Chimichurri Sauce: 1 roasted red bell pepper 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 shallot, chopped 1 cup fresh parsley Juice of 1 lemon 6 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

SCRAPING THE SURFACE When food sticks to the bottom of your cast iron skillet, don’t use soap or harsh abrasive sponges to clean it. Instead, fill the skillet with water and place in on your stovetop to boil for about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and take off the unwanted food by gently using a pan scraper. Finish up by rubbing the skillet with cooking oil.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

Enter our July contest for your chance to win a copy of Total Olympics.

Visit coloradocountrylife. coop and click on the Contests tab to find out how to enter.

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

For Chimichurri Sauce: Combine all chimichurri ingredients in a blender. Pulse until blended. (The mixture should be pureed but slightly chunky rather than entirely smooth.) Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Serve with chicken. teamusa.org/Cooking-With-Team-USA/Brian-Boitano/ Brick-Chicken-with-Red-Chimichurri-Sauce Recipe from the Cooking with Team USA series, used with permission from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

1/3 cup olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste

For Chicken: Combine all the spices and sugar in a small bowl and stir together with a fork until completely blended. Place the chicken on a plate and generously season both sides with the spice mixture. Rub the mixture

Summertime Salmon Pasta A must-try recipe, it is a great, healthy meal option for those hot summer days. Get this recipe and others at coloradocountrylife.coop.

NEWS CLIPS

OVER ‹‹‹‹ MOVE FOR CO-OP CREWS

Every year, workers along the sides of roads and highways are injured or killed when a car or truck crashes into the crew’s site, even when that site is marked with bright orange cones and the trucks’ lights are flashing. Drivers can change those statistics.

Slow down and move over — it’s the law in Colorado.

Co-ops Contribute to Defense of Country’s Energy Supply The electric cooperatives’ Essence 2.0 cybersecurity tool was chosen as part of President Joe Biden’s “100 Days” Initiative.

The U.S. Department of Energy is focusing on cybersecurity tools as cyberattacks on the utility infrastructure in the United States increase. After evaluating 18 different cybersecurity tools currently available in the market, the DOE chose Essence as one of two options to be offered to utilities in a new program working to improve security for the country’s electric industry in 100 days.

Essence 2.0 was developed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the trade association for the country’s 900 electric co-ops, to accelerate the detection of malicious cyberthreats on utility systems from months to seconds. This analytic tool instantly provides key indicators to utility experts so they can defend their systems against emerging threats and thus thwart the attacks.

Colorado’s statutes require a driver coming up on public utility vehicles parked by the side of the road to reduce and maintain a safe speed. A safe speed is defined as 25 miles per hour in an area with a posted speed limit of 45 mph or less and at least 20 mph less than the posted speed in areas where the speed limit is over 45 mph. These same rules apply for other emergency vehicles, tow trucks and police and highway patrol vehicles.

Other states have similar laws, as protecting electric co-op crews and other emergency and highway personnel is always a priority.

So, as you travel this summer, when you see the orange cones and flashing lights, slow down and move over when you can. That will help lower the statistics and make it a better summer for everyone.

Member Participation Makes Co-ops Work If you buy electricity from a local electric cooperative, you are not just a consumer, but a member of that co-op. Membership is one of the seven core co-op principles of a cooperative with the third principle being “members’ economic participation.”

What this means is that co-op consumers contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-op.

Some of the capital is the common property of the co-op’s physical plant, and surpluses can be used to improve that plant (infrastructure). Surpluses, when it is economically feasible, may also be returned to consumer-members in proportion to their transactions with the co-op.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

11

LIZ MCINTYRE THREE-TIME U.S. OLYMPIAN

AN INSIDER’S VIEW OF THE OLYMPICS RELIVING THE EXCITEMENT

BY EUGENE BUCHANAN

G

ranby, Colorado’s Liz McIntyre, 55, is a board member for Mountain Parks Electric, one of CREA’s member co-ops. But she’s better known for her mogul skiing than her role at Mountain Parks. A former coach for the U.S. Ski Team and inductee into the 2008 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, McIntyre is a three-time Olympian who won the silver medal in moguls at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Games.

Electrifying spectators on the slopes — just like she does homes through Mountain Parks — she gave us an insider’s view of the upcoming Tokyo Games. Here, she sheds her own light on what it means to be an Olympian, from attending the opening ceremonies and socializing in the athlete

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

cafeteria to the accommodations and being an athlete in the starting gate on the world’s biggest stage.

ON THE PANDEMIC POSTPONEMENT That’s a huge one. You’re so focused on trying to peak at the right time and so excited you made the team and are headed to the Olympics. Then all of a sudden, screech!

Stop! Time out for a pandemic! Training routines and practices are shut down; water douses that whole campfire of excitement.

And a lot of athletes likely just recovered from qualifying and then had to put it on pause. That, and the uncertainty of if the Olympics will even happen, would be difficult to manage. Then add the complications of team sports still trying to practice and

even something as simple as going to the gym.

Your whole training regimen is upended.

For some athletes, COVID-19 forced changes to their housing, jobs and school, which complicated things even further. The potential to get the virus and the effect it could have on your health and athletic career is also a concern. The impact the pandemic has had on friends and family adds another layer of complexity. I can’t imagine what the Tokyobound athletes have gone through. Still, as trite as it sounds, adaptability, perseverance and focus are the hallmarks of all great athletes.

There will be some spectacular performances in Tokyo.

ON THE COMMITMENT IT TAKES Most people know it’s super hard to train for the Olympics and what kind of dedication it takes. But you also end up not attending things like family reunions, graduations, weddings and other events — things people on a less stringent training schedule would never skip.

You’re away from home all the time. The more years you do it, the more of these life events you miss. And throughout it all, your family, friends and mentors are encouraging you and supporting you in multiple ways. It’s bigger than your dream. And then, in a year like this, you see the whole thing get canceled and think, “Oh, I have to wait another four years?” So it’s a huge commitment socially as well to be an Olympian.

COVER STORY ON ANTICIPATION For a first-time Olympian, the months leading up to the Games can’t go by fast enough. The excitement is palpable. You’ve worked so hard and sacrificed all sorts of normal activities to pursue a dream. And now it is finally happening. For a veteran, the hard years of the four-year cycle are nearly over, and now it’s time to put it all on the line again. This is what you do, what you live for.

But for both, you trained four years for this and you’re ready, so bring it. Above all, you’re looking forward to the Olympic competition day — as much or more than the whole Olympic experience.

ON THE OPENING CEREMONIES They really cement the Olympic moment.

Everyone is so excited, jumping up and down and giving each other high fives. You’re all sitting in the same bleachers and you realize that this is it, this is the Olympics. It’s a pretty momentous occasion.

Here’s what it was like at my first Olympics in France. That day we put on our opening ceremonies uniform as instructed, boarded a bus and drove the impossibly curvy road down the mountain to Albertville, where we exited into the warm valley air hinting of spring. We joined a growing mass of athletes staging for the ceremonies. Countries were delineated by their waving flags and colorful uniforms. It seemed like we waited forever to march into that stadium, but once we started there was no going back. The drab

scaffolding gave way to cheering rows of spectators stretching up to the sky, music playing and rows of dignitaries. The U.S. team waved wildly at Vice President Dan Quayle. We wound around the stadium, following our flag bearer. My parents were up there somewhere.

It was pre social media, so we shared the experience with each other, drinking in the euphoria, excitement and anticipation. We jumped up and down, smiled, yelled, waved our hands in the air and danced. Then we settled into our seats. As the day faded into soft magic light, we watched a spectacular array of French artists and acrobats dance and fly around the stadium. After a few long speeches, they lit the torch just as night fell.

Then we boarded the bus and slept our way back up the hill. When we arrived in Tignes, the torch was burning brightly on the side of the mountain. Let the games begin!

ON THE GAMES’ SOCIAL SIDE You’re taking in everything, but you’re pretty focused on the competition. It’s cool to see all the other athletes from the other disciplines, but you’re aware this isn’t social time; it’s the Olympics. But you do have a chance to go watch other events and cheer for Team USA. I liked going to women’s hockey games, figure skating, speed skating, ski jumping, bobsled and luge. Some athletes thrive in a more social setting like that, and others don’t.

Norway, August 21, 2014 - The ski jump slope Lysgårdsbakken opened in 1993 specifically for the XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994.

ON DINING Every venue is different. In France we were sort of off by ourselves, but Lillehammer had a big dining hall, which was a hub of activity.

It was buffet-style with a bunch of different stations, so the food was really good with a lot of choices. Athletes cycled through constantly and there was an undercurrent of excitement and a feeling of commonality and respect. Usually, you sit with your teammates or other athletes you know from other events. I knew lugers from Dartmouth, as well as some of the Nordic and biathlon competitors. But you let Dan Jansen and Bonnie Blair have their space; I wasn’t the type to sit down right next to them. But I did say hi to Herschel Walker, who was pushing the bobsled.

One afternoon the dining hall erupted in applause when a luge athlete arrived from Sarajevo, which hosted the Olympics 12 years before but had since descended into bloody sectarian violence. Somehow he made his way out of a civil war to compete in Lillehammer. But your focus and mood depended on if you or the people you were with had competed yet or not.

ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS In France, our accommodations were typical of what you’d get on a ski holiday; we weren’t at the village. But in Lillehammer we stayed in athlete housing in the main Olympic Village. And a village it was, with hundreds of two-story houses, painted in Norwegian shades of yellow or red, organized along narrow snowy paths leading to the main athlete center. The U.S. biathlon team shared the upstairs of the house where I stayed and a men’s hockey team was downstairs. They had practice at odd hours and a coach who yelled. We could hear everything.

I shared a room with Nikki Stone, an aerialist. There were all sorts of last-minute changes and we only found out who our roommates were a week earlier. The rooms were pretty small, but adequate. We created a little privacy by moving our wardrobes COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

13

COVER STORY

Liz McIntyre competes at the XVII Olympic Winter Games in 1994.

together in the middle. Eight of us shared the same bathroom, which worked ok, but involved some juggling on competition mornings.

In Nagano, the ski team rented a house closer to the venue and we slept on Japanese tatami mats. It will be interesting to see how organizers, teams and athletes address housing in the time of COVID-19.

I cherish as much as going across the finish line. Just knowing that I was ready. All that you’ve done to get here and then, bam!

You’re about to go. There’s a pause before it all begins, which can seem like it lasts a long time even though it’s just a second long. It’s the same for everyone, whether you’re standing atop the swimming block or waiting for the starting gun in track.

ON THE MORNING OF

ON ONCE IT’S ALL OVER

I’d been working with a sports psychologist for three years, so I had a good plan mapped out. My morning routine was to wake up, take a shower, eat breakfast (potatoes, and I always like grapefruit) and then hit the training course early. I was more nervous the day of my qualifying event than on the finals; if you don’t qualify, you don’t go to the dance. Everyone has their own timing and routine for preparing for their event.

Some athletes have elaborate rituals; me, not so much. I always tried to get the feel of some good turns as I came into the starting gate and I found a quiet place I could get myself ready to go. I listened to music that would put me in the right state of mind. For Lillehammer it was Blue Rodeo, the Gin Blossoms and Melissa Etheridge. Back then it came from a huge Walkman; I remember a colossal argument one time on the bus about what music should be playing to appease 20 athletes. But sometimes the team had an anthem; in Albertville it was George Michael. Nowadays, everyone has their own device and playlist. Many even listen to it during their training.

It depends on how you did. I was a little disappointed after my first Olympics, but I knew what I had to do and get better at.

In Lillehammer, I put those skills to work and skied a great run. When you have your best performance during an Olympics it’s an exhilarating feeling. But you don’t have much time to reflect; you’re whisked off for drug testing, media events and the medal ceremony. So, I was pumped, but exhausted; it had been a long day. It didn’t really sink in until I got home to Colorado.

And it was different because I knew I was still competing. Nagano was my last time as a competitor, so it was more nostalgic. I didn’t adapt to the changing course conditions between training and the finals. That’s when you wish you had a chance to do it all over again; you want to rewind the tape and start all over. Everything you had worked so hard for is all over in 30 seconds. It can be a bit crushing after all the work you put in, but you learn about the journey, getting ready and disappointment and moving on.

You win some and you lose some.

ON GETTING READY TO DO YOUR BEST The moment that stands out most for me is the one right before my run. At the starting gate in Lillehammer, I stared out at a lake in the distance. I could see fog coming off of it.

A crowd lined each side of the course, and a huge stadium was at the bottom. There was a ton of noise but I was just so at peace and ready. It was a great feeling and a moment

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

ON THE TOKYO GAMES AND STAYING SAFE Tokyo 2020 will be a different Olympics. It will see athletes arriving from a world weary of the pandemic, and athletes who have been affected disproportionately and have had to question what is really important to them.

Will the excitement, nervousness and anticipation be more muted or will a return to sport bring a joy not felt for the longest year ever?

And staying safe will be important. That whole aspect is unknown. How do you keep your team safe in a little bubble in a place like the Olympics? Even at past Olympics, by the second week people start catching colds that have come from around the world. Who knows what it will be like this year? Maybe because people are so careful no one will get anything. Still, you’re in pretty tight quarters.

It’s going to be a much different Olympics.

Eugene Buchanan, a freelance writer who makes his home in Yampa Valley Electric’s territory, has written about outdoor sports for more than 25 years.

LEARN MORE ONLINE

WANT TO GET A TASTE OF THE GAMES AHEAD OF TOKYO? The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a one-of-a-kind tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Visit coloradocountrylife.coop to read about our visit to this new Colorado Springs attraction.

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ENERGY CONNECTIONS

In Support of Clean Energy Electric co-ops seek same incentives as for-profit utilities

BY ERIN KELLY

E

lectric cooperatives are not-for-profit entities and therefore do not pay federal income taxes. Usually that is a good thing. It means co-op electric rates are set to only cover co-op costs. There is no incentive to charge more than is needed; any profit (known as a margin in the co-op business model) is returned to consumers as credits.

But when it comes to government incentives to transition to newer, cleaner fuel sources, not paying taxes is a problem.

Other utilities have long received federal tax breaks for providing power from solar, wind and other renewable energy sources.

Co-ops cannot tap into those programs because they are exempt from those taxes.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is working to change that. It is urging congressional leaders to provide electric co-ops with direct payments to develop clean energy projects. These would provide incentives comparable to the tax breaks granted to investor-owned utilities such as Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy.

In a letter to top congressional leaders, NRECA, the American Public Power Association and the Large Public Power Council asked for direct payments to member-owned and community-owned utilities to help employ technologies such as

16

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

battery storage, carbon capture and electric vehicle charging networks.

“Allowing public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives to receive these tax credits in the form of direct payments for building clean energy infrastructure would ensure that all utilities serving all Americans would have equal access to these federal resources,” said the May 14 letter, which was signed by NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, APPA President/CEO Joy Ditto and LPPC President John Di Stasio.

“The direct payments would be used to help offset project costs — increasing the incentive for further investments — and would enable public power utilities and electric cooperatives to own these facilities directly. It would also mean more local projects, with local jobs, under local control,” the letter stated.

The issue is one of NRECA’s top legislative priorities for this session of Congress.

The letter points out that co-ops and community-owned electric utilities together serve nearly 30% of all retail electric customers.

“The president and Congress have ambitious climate goals that cannot be met by leaving nearly 30% of the nation’s electric utility customers without access

“The direct payments would be used to help offset project costs — increasing the incentive for further investments — and would enable public power utilities and electric cooperatives to own these facilities directly. It would also mean more local projects, with local jobs, under local control.”

NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, APPA President/CEO Joy Ditto and LPPC President John Di Stasio to incentives and support,” the three association leaders wrote.

President Joe Biden has set a goal of eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector by 2030 to help slow climate change. Matheson and the other association leaders called that “a daunting challenge” with a hefty price tag that will be borne in part by co-op consumer-members and public power customers.

“As such, we cannot afford inefficient or ineffective policies,” they wrote.

Erin Kelly is a staff writer at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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GARDENING

Set Your Scene for Safety Create an alluring, fire-resistant landscape

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

L

ast year Colorado had an historic wildfire season with fires burning into October and beyond — a time when our thoughts typically turn to snow.

Not only has the fire season lengthened, but the average burned area has also tripled over the past few decades. Unfortunately, the threat of wildfires will continue to grow as more people are drawn to previously uninhabited areas. To protect your family and community, it’s important to know how to create defensible space.

This involves planning and designing areas around your home to serve as barriers that prevent fires from spreading and to allow access for firefighters. Defensible space doesn’t mean your yard must be completely devoid of vegetation. It simply means being strategic about your landscape.

One goal in creating defensible space is to add “hardscapes,” which break up the continuity of growth around your yard and establish buffers between buildings and vegetation. You can add hardscape by placing stone pathways close to your house and weaving them throughout your lawn and gardens. Meandering pathways don’t just create distance between flammable areas, they add interesting aesthetics.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

Another goal involves placement and selection of vegetation that avoid fueling fires. Examine areas bordering your buildings. Are flammable materials and vegetation at least 3 to 5 feet away? If your border garden is mulched with wood chips, replace this mulch with flame-resistant landscape materials, such as gravel and stone. If bushes are right next to the house, move them a foot or two farther away. Better yet, reduce fuel by replacing bushes altogether with less flammable ground cover. Many ground covers do well in Colorado. Sedum is an excellent border plant with its variety of colors and blooming seasons. Ice plant (Delosperma) is also a hardy perennial with daisy-like flowers that add splashes of color to drier garden areas.

You can prevent flame transfer by keeping plant clusters and trees horizontally and vertically spaced from one another. Plant trees a safe distance from buildings and keep branches trimmed a minimum of 3 feet away. Thinking vertically, don’t forget to trim bottom branches 6 to 10 feet above the ground. If you are on a slope, these distances may need to be increased since fire travels faster up slopes.

When selecting trees, choose ones with smooth bark and low resin and sap content that shed minimal amounts of leaves and waste. Avoid pines, which create highly flammable dry litter when needles drop and collect below.

When selecting fire-resistant plants, many recommend native species. This is because natives have adapted to survive the extreme heat of Colorado’s wildfires.

For example, buffalo grass is among the first plants to regenerate after a fire and its early emergence helps reduce erosion.

If you have a lawn, keep it mowed and irrigated, paying heed to the wise use of water.

These measures can lessen the threat of fire damage to your property. For more information about defensible space, visit nfpa.org and click on Firewise USA®.

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.

The Birds and the Trees

Get the Muck

OUTDOORS

New books guide readers in North America’s outdoors

BY DENNIS SMITH

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| OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

n April 6 of this year, Penguin Random House released the highly anticipated new National Audubon Society Birds of North America and National Audubon Society Trees of North America (published by Alfred A. Knopf). I was lucky enough to get early copies of both books from the kind folks in their promotional department in March and I was definitely impressed.

No doubt, most backyard nature lovers and professional naturalists alike are familiar with Audubon’s iconic line of field guides. After all, their famous “turtleback” series with its leather-like textured covers and conveniently packable size has been around since the 1970s and sold more than 18 million copies in 29 different titles covering everything from birds, mammals, trees and wildflowers to mushrooms, rocks, fish, insects and, well, just about anything that occurs in the natural world.

Both the new bird and tree guidebooks, though, reflect an almost radical departure from Audubon’s classic field guide format with a whole new look, size and design. And the new format is more than merely cosmetic: Where the prior guides had their photographic identification plates arranged in a separate section from the corresponding descriptive text, the newer guides incorporated photo presentation, taxonomic data, habitat info and scientific field notes, as well as the current science and, perhaps most importantly, the conservation status of birds in a single, user-friendly location.

Birds covers more than 800 species with over 3,500 razor-sharp, full-color photos of birds in their natural habitat — often with multiple images of each bird. According to the press release, it also includes essays by leading scholars in each field on holistic insights into the world of birds, range maps reflecting the impact of climate change, detailed physical descriptions and information on voice, nesting habits and similar species.

The new Birds of North America is bigger and nearly three times as heavy as its predecessor. It no longer qualifies as a field guide in the strictest sense of the word, but it is an outstanding scientific reference tool in its own right.

The change is carried over into Trees of North America as well: 540 species, 2,500 full color plates with images of bark, fruit, flowers, leaves, seasonal color changes and tons of new info on conservation status. As with Birds of North America, Trees also includes an expanded glossary, index, ribbon marker and new essays by leading scholars. Where the older series of guidebooks were printed on lightweight, tissue-thin, parchment-like paper, the new editions are printed on glossy, heavy-weight stock. To say they are cosmetically beautiful would be an understatement, but the real beauty lies in the improved ease of use and new informative essays by leading scientists, scholars and taxonomic and field experts. New Audubon guidebooks in this series on wildflowers and mushrooms will be forthcoming in 2023. I can’t wait.

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

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

303-460-0273

SPIRAL STAIRCASE CUSTOM BUILT TO YOUR ORDER (not a kit) • The most attractive and best priced • All-wood & Steel models available

Goddard Manufacturing (800) 536-4341

WWW.SPIRAL-STAIRCASES.COM

Want to work from home?

Tired of the scams?

We are a legitimate work from home company Call Carrie 303-579-4207

Live Healthy Retire Younger www.LiveHealthyRetireYounger.com

WE PAY CASH

Protective Sleeves: 100% Guaranteed

for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and non-producing.

800-733-8122 Buying anvils—blacksmith tools— cast iron (Griswold & Wagner). Old toys – colored pyrex – cowboy hats, boots, & spurs. Will come to you & we buy whole estates!

970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256

• Prevents Cuts & Scratches • Durable Soft Leather • Adjustable Air-Flow

armchaps.com • 651-492-4830

POLE BARNS BEST OF America’s Barn Builders

Proud supporter of our military.

Serving the Entire State of Colorado

HELP US FIND THE BEST OF COLORADO! WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE BEST: • • • •

Jewelry craftsman Spot for a day at the lake Candy maker Mountain biking trail

• • • •

Historic site Pizza Place for live music Arts & crafts fair

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS BY SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF THREE $100 GIFT CARDS Share your favorites at coloradocountrylife.coop/bestof2021

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

CREATIVE CORNER

READER POETRY This Kitchen Table

This wooden slab where, o’er the years, we spilt our milk, secrets and tears; we planned the future, spoke of yore, decided who would keep the score, of contests waged into the night, and mem’ries made til morning light; we’ve shared our fare with honored guests, from near and far whose presence blessed our fellowship, these moments dear; and now homework is finished here, and tales of school and work and play, and how we spent our time today; it’s all right here, the truth and fable, etched into this kitchen table.

FUNNY STORIES Soft Persuasion Birdsong at dawn.

Birdsong at dusk.

I watch the horizon dissolve to rust.

I lower my blinds, relax in my chair, listen to melodies ignite in the air.

David Feela, Cortez Empire Electric Association consumer-member

Daniel Dean Swanson, Calhan Mountain View Electric Association consumer-member

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

READERS’ PHOTOS

My balding husband was talking

to our 5-year-old granddaughter one day. He told her he was going to get a haircut, to which she responded, “Which one?”

Linda Allen, Kiowa Mountain View Electric Association consumer-member

When my daughter was 5 years old,

we were in a church service and the preacher said, “The devil will steal your joy.” My daughter replied, “So that’s what’s happening to my toys!”

Anonymous

Mountain View Electric consumer-member Rick Barto takes his copy of Colorado Country Life to Alaska for his nephew’s graduation.

Elizbeth Yoder’s daughters take CCL to the Badlands in South Dakota. The Yoders are consumer-members of Poudre Valley REA.

Michelle and Jon Shaffer enjoy their copy of CCL after hiking up to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. The Shaffers are consumermembers of San Isabel Electric.

WINNER: Poudre Valley REA consumer-members Kevin and Vickie Newlin visit Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in April 2021.

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, July 16. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at facebook.com/COCountryLife.

My granddaughter in day care laid

on a blanket for nap time. The 4-year-old boy on the blanket next to her asked, “Will you marry me?” She shushed him and closed her eyes. He leaned over, kissed her on the cheek and asked, “Will you marry me after nap time?”

She responded, “No! I don’t know how to play that game!”

Cindy Irvin, Cortez Empire Electric Association consumer-member

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 JULY 2021

21

DISCOVERIES

An Outdoors State of Mind Establish an agenda for adventure Above: Reader photo by Deb Adams, a Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member.

Perform at Your Peak

Wise Eyes

More than a decade ago, the people at Pagosa Springs-based VOORMI had a vision to create clothing that could withstand the elements experienced by its customers when enjoying the outdoors. VOORMI officially launched in 2013 and today methodically creates its own fabrics, weaving in functional elements to pinpoint the needs of its customers’ activities, from running to camping to fishing and more. For more information, visit voormi.com.

Prescription eyeglass wearers can transform their everyday spectacles into sunglasses with Steamboat Springs-based EyKuver UV films. The tinted “stickers” are easy to apply, won’t damage your glasses and help protect your peepers from the sun’s harmful rays.

And with a price of $9.99 per three pack, you’ll spend far less than you would to purchase a separate pair of prescription sunglasses. For more information, visit eykuver.com.

Drop a Line in Durango Whether you’re a fledgling fly fisherman or a longtime lover of the sport, Duranglers can take you through the wonderful waters of the Durango area to locate the perfect place to cast your line. Guests can wade or float with expert guides through the magnificent landscape practically any time of year.

With nearly 40 years in the business, be assured it will be an angler outing you won’t forget. For more information, visit duranglers.com.

Pretty Pickleball Bags Greeley-based Sassy Caddy adds pizazz to its pickleball bags to better suit its customers’ personalities. Doubling as a tennis bag, Sassy Caddy uses fresh, vibrant fabrics to manufacture its pickleball bags, which are not only attractive but functional with adjustable straps, storage pockets and waterproof material. Cost is $54. Using the same design concepts, Sassy Caddy also makes golf bags, backpacks, messenger bags and more. For more information, visit sassycaddy.com.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR AMAZING COLORADO-MADE PRODUCTS Do you know of a great Colorado-made product that others will love too?

Share it with us so we can share it with others on our Discoveries page.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JULY 2021

Send your product ideas to: Editor Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org.

Include your name, address, electric co-op you are a member of and brief description of why you love the product.

+ BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION

UPGRADE TO ELECTRICITY AND SAVE Make the switch to cleaner electricity with more efficient household appliances and systems. From heat pumps to electric vehicles, these proven technologies can run your home cleanly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

To learn more about rebates and incentives for electrification programs, contact your local co-op or public power district.

VISIT US AT www.tristate.coop/BE

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

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