Kansas Country Living June 2018

E D I TO R’S L E T T E R

Home is Where Your Heart, and Improvement Projects, Await

(ISSN 0091-9586) JUNE 2018 VOL. 68, NO. 6 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC., 2018 WWW.KEC.COOP

Bruce Graham

Chief Executive Officer

Vicki Estes Editor

Carrie Kimberlin

Manager of Creative Solutions

Jackie Kamphaus THE ILLUSTRATION ON THIS MONTH’S COVER could have

easily depicted my family during the month of May. However, instead of working on pre-planned energyefficiency projects we were tackling unexpected fixes. But even when the unexpected breakdowns occur, homeownership is truly a blessing, and one the biggest investments we make. This month’s issue includes a feature detailing ways you can make your home “smile” with energy-efficient upgrades while improving your living environment. From inexpensive tweaks, like swapping out lightbulbs, to appliance upgrades, you will find ideas to get started on improving your home’s efficiency and comfort. Energy efficiencies can be found on the farm too. In fact, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy estimates the agriculture industry could save more than $1 billion in energy costs each year by using energy efficient technologies. The article on Page 22 details technology you might consider incorporating into your farm facilities. Travel writer MeLinda Schnyder uncovered two general/hardware stores that have survived the advent of the

big-box stores with determination and dedication of family. That feature begins on Page 10. Whether that special dad in your life prefers a tasty beef dinner for Father’s Day or catfish harvested after a day of fishing, the recipes in this issue offer both. I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to the Kansas Beef Council for sharing recipes courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. Don’t forget: Father’s Day is June 17. Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there! KCL

VICKI ESTES , EDITOR

SHARE WITH US!

Have an event you would like to run in Around Kansas? A story idea or comments you want to share with the editor? A recipe and photo for us to consider publishing? Let us know: ff events@kansascountryliving.com ff letters@kansascountryliving.com ff photos@kansascountryliving.com ff editor@kansascountryliving.com ff recipes@kansascountryliving.com

Communications Specialist

Shana Read

Director of Education and Training Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Keith McNickle President

Terry Hobbs

Vice President

Craig Kostman

Secretary

Teresa Miller Treasurer

You receive Kansas ­Country Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DS&O, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Lyon-Coffey, Burlington Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Radiant, Fredonia Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington Tri-County, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.88 per year. Individual subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).

Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554.

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Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching more than 27 million readers monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives. KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

JUNE 2018

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F E AT U R E S

D E PA RT M E N T S

10 | General Stores

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At one time, these two stores were the most important businesses in their towns. They still play an important role though staying in business and retaining their place in the community has taken the dedication of generations.

14 | Make Your Home Smile

Imagine your house is not just the place you sleep, eat and store your stuff, but more like a part of your family, with its own unique needs. Ignore those needs, and both you and your home suffer the consequences. But, pay closer attention, and you can find ways to enjoy a more pleasant—and efficient—living environment.

22 | Ag Efficiencies

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says the agricultural sector has the potential to save more than $1 billion in energy per year. No matter the type of farm, energy efficient technologies can help you improve your output while obtaining savings.

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A RO U N D K A N S A S

Enjoy your June journeys CO M M E N TA RY

The 4 Ws of your power supply The unique role of groups that partner to deliver affordable, reliable power.

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E N E RGY W I S E

Awnings save energy, add comfort Studies show window awnings can reduce cooling energy needs by up to 25 percent.

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YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N

Succulent Gardening

Their textures, colors and low maintenance make them ideal for vertical gardens.

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CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Captured by Catfish

Catfish, still the star of the fish fry, has risen from its “bottom-feeding” depths.

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M A R K E T P L AC E

Find products, services you need SAFETY

ATV Safety: What you should know Before heading off-road, know and follow these tips to keep your family safe.

2 9 |

M O N T H LY R E C I P E S

Dinner for dad, courtesy of Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. ON THE COVER

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This family is hard at work adding efficiency upgrades. Illustration provided by South Carolina Living, a publication of The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y DAV I D C L A R K

JUNE 2018

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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THROUGH JUNE 29 Paintings and

Glassware, Ellsworth. C harles Rogers paintings on display and most will be for sale; plus Vernon Brejcha glassware. Ellsworth Area Art Center, 223 N. Douglas Ave. THROUGH SEPT. 3 Historic Trolley Tours, Dodge City. V isit places where history was made on this hour-long narrated tour. Four tours daily through Labor Day. 620-225-8186. THROUGH OCT. 11 Farmers Market,

Garnett. Held Thursdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Downtown Garnett, 100 E. 4th Ave., 785-4485496, www.simplygarnett.com/farmers-market. html. THROUGH AUG. 25 Farmers Market, Independence. Every Saturday (as produce lasts) from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Corner of Pennsylvania & Myrtle, 620-331-7831, www. facebook.com/pg/independencefarmersmkt. THROUGH SEPT. 29 Farmers Market, Hutchinson. Market hours are 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Farmers Market Pavilion, W. 2nd Ave., 620-960-1037, www. renocountyfarmersmarket.com. JUNE 2-OCT. 6 Farmers Market, Dodge City. Downtown Dodge City comes alive with fresh produce and homemade products. 500 N. Second Ave., 620-255-8186, www.visitdodgecity. org/Calendar.aspx?EID=4134&day=22&month=6 &year=2018&calType=0. JUNE 1-3 June Jaunt, Great Bend. I t starts

Friday night with Main Street Cruise Night and outdoor movie in the square. All day Saturday enjoy vendors, live music, jumbo yard games, kids zone, beer garden and more. Sunday the fun continues at Vets Park (17th & McKinnley

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GET T YIMAGES/MIZEDMOTIVE

Garden City. View photographs and artifacts showcasing 100 years of the Finney County Farm Bureau Association. Finney County Museum, 403 S. 4th, 620-272-3664.

JUNE 9 & 16 Spring

Wildflower ToursMaxwell Wildlife Refuge, Canton. Board our trams for viewing and short distance walks for identifying prairie spring wildflowers. Tram times 9:30 and 11 a.m. Limited seating, reservations required. Not suggested for children under 12. 620-628-4455.

K R I S S TA F F O R D

THROUGH JUNE Helping Feed the World,

St.) for sand volleyball, picnics and family fun. V isit Explore Great Bend on Facebook.

duty military invited to eat free. 9719 Clark's Creek Rd.

JUNE 2 Shine and Show, Great Bend. T his free monthly car show offers a glimpse into the past. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Orscheln's. 5318 10th St.

JUNE 13-17 The Wall that Heals, Wamego. This three-quarter scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is open 24 hours at City Park with June 13 arrival and escort from Junction City to Wamego between 8 and 10 a.m., opening ceremony at 10 a.m. on June 14 and closing ceremony at 1 p.m. on June 17. www. thewallthatheals.org.

JUNE 2 OK Kids Day at Prairie Dog State Park, Norton. 7 85-877-2953. JUNE 4-8 Vacation Bible School: Shipwrecked! Rescued by Jesus!, Manhattan. B ible-learning activities, singing, games and fun with science gizmos—a one-of-a-kind Bible adventure. Free; ages Pre-K through fifth grade. Register at www. firstpresmanhattan.com.

JUNE 14 “Sister Act,” Concordia. W atch the movie at 7 p.m. and enjoy concessions provided by First United Methodist Church. Broadway Plaza, 606 Washington St.

Manhattan. T he Flint Hills Discovery Center offers camp for students entering grades 1-3 and grades 4-6 with unique programming to engage them in educational and entertaining activities. Half-day or full-day sessions. Pre-registration is required. 315 S. Third St., 785-587-2726, www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/ adventurecamp.

JUNE 15 Summer Soiree: An Evening in the Garden, Hesston. S avor the beauty of the prairie landscape in the company of friends. Enjoy an evening of good food, art in the garden, a live auction, education about the prairie and relaxed musical entertainment. From 6 to 9 p.m. Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, 177 West Hickory, 620-327-8127. http:// dyckarboretum.org/arboretum-event/ summer-soiree-2018.

JUNE 8 Second Friday Art Walk,

JUNE 15-16 Lenora Jubilee, Lenora. F riday

JUNE 4-AUG. 10 Adventure Camp,

Lindsborg. F rom 5 to 8 p.m. Main St.

JUNE 9 Annual Hog Roast, Junction City. The little country church, St. Paul's Lutheran, sponsors this event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring homemade pie auction, craft sale and bake sale. Free-will donation; active

night concert and Saturday family friendly activities. Look for Lenora Jubilee on Facebook or contact chamber at 785-877-2501. JUNE 16 Midsummer's Festival,

Lindsborg. A ll day fun from 8:30 a.m. to

9 p.m., free admission. Downtown Main St., Heritage Square and public pool. JUNE 21-24 “West Side Story,” Dodge

City. Inspired by the timeless story of Romeo and Juliet, “West Side Story” takes Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers and places them in the vibrant battleground of New York City’s West Side in the 1950s. Also runs June 28 to July 1. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Depot Theater Company, 620-225-1001. JUNE 23 Moo-vie Night, Junction City. Bring the family for a free showing of “Ferdinand” by Big Sky Productions at 7 p.m. No outside food or drink permitted to ensure this remains a family event; full concession stand available. The seating area is on gravel so bring lawn chairs. 5210 Rucker Rd., www. hildebrandfarmsdairy.com.

Douglass Community Building. Registration deadline June 15. 206 S. Forrest, 316-747-2109, events2@cityofdouglass.com. JUNE 30 Community Movie, Douglass.

F ree event at 7 p.m. at the Douglass Community Building. 206 S. Forrest, 316-7472109, events2@cityofdouglass.com. JULY 24-28 Cherokee County Fair,

Columbus. Carnival each evening beginning at 6 p.m. Entertainment each evening around 8 p.m. 4-H and Open Class entries. Livestock shows. Columbus Chamber of Commerce, 116 E. Country Rd., 417-529-3144, www. facebook.com/pg/Cherokee-County-FairHighlights-236463203033750. JULY 11-15 Barton County Fair, Great Bend. ATV races, commercial booths, carnival, antique tractor pull, kids day at the fair, musical

entertainment, 4-H and open exhibits. www. bartoncountyfair.com. JULY 19-23 Ford County Fair, Dodge City. Join us for a few days of fun. Ford County Fair Grounds, 901 W. Park St., 620-227-4542, www. fordcountyfairassn.org. JULY 26-AUG. 5 Dodge City Days, Dodge City. Enjoy a week full of festivities. Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau, 400 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd., 620-255-8186, www. visitdodgecity.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=4178&day =22&month=7&year=2018&calType=0. JULY 22-28 Miami County Fair

and Rodeo, Paola. County fair with rodeo and carnival. Paola Chamber of Commerce, 6 W. Peoria, 913-294-4306, www. miamicountykansasfair.com. KCL

JUNE 23 Bow Wow Film Festival, Lansing. F rom 8 to 11 p.m. enjoy this 90-minute collection of curated short films for the love of dogs under the stars at the future home of Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc. plus activities for children, adults and dogs, and food and beverage concessions. 1151 Industrial St. 913-250-0506. www.lchsinc.org. JUNE 28 King Midas and the Muflers, Concordia. F ree concert at 7 p.m. and Chapman's Take Away food truck. Broadway Plaza, 606 Washington St. JUNE 29 Final Friday, Dodge City. T he final Friday of every month, Dodge City's performing and visual arts take over downtown for an evening of fun, art, spirits and fellowship from 5 to 11 p.m. Check their Facebook page for more information, 620-225-8186. JUNE 30 Shine and Show, Ellinwood. T his

monthly free car show offers a glimpse into the past. The show runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion in Ellinwood and offers food, cruise and a dance. 117 E. Santa Fe. JUNE 30 The Great Bike Quest, Douglass. Begins at 10 a.m. at JUNE 2018

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C O M M E N TA RY

The Who, What, Where and Why of Your Power Supply BY B R U C E G R A H A M

Bruce Graham

KEC has evolved to provide more than regulatory and legislative services. We empower member communication through Kansas Country Living, which is published by KEC in partnership with your electric co-op.

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MANY OF YOU have been part of an organization that has conducted strategic planning. Surveys, easel pads, business analysis, respect, deliberation, caffeine, a mission, a vision and many voices are the various ingredients of the strategic planning soup. Those ingredients were recently mixed together by the board and staff of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. to update our strategic plan. One of the things I learned is that not everyone involved in our statewide organization recognizes the breadth of services that benefit their co-op, staff and more than 200,000 consumers, like you, who are Kansas electric co-op members. KEC is one of several groups that partner to deliver affordable and reliable power to rural Kansas, and with a renewed look at our strategic plan, it’s time to explain our unique roles and how we all work together. A good place to start is with the organization I am privileged to be part of—KEC—an association that serves 31 electric cooperatives in Kansas. Our newly approved mission is: “Through unified action, KEC empowers and advocates for our member cooperatives, providing leadership and resources needed to improve the lives of their members and communities.” The heart of that mission, to empower and advocate, is the same as when KEC was chartered on Aug. 18, 1941. KEC is headquartered in Topeka because we advocate for the member co-ops before the Kansas Legislature and other state agencies that regulate our operations. During this past session, the Kansas Legislature drafted 637 bills and resolutions. KEC has registered lobbyists on our team who review every proposal for an impact on your electric co-op. Staff then responds by testifying at hearings and communicating support or concern with the members of the Legislature. This session was particularly noteworthy with the successful approval of our bill to enhance a co-op’s opportunity to retain certified territory during a municipal annexation. Without a doubt, by working together through KEC, the electric co-ops in Kansas speak with one voice to help shape and foster positive legislative outcomes. That unified voice is critical when we advocate on behalf of the co-ops at the Kansas Department

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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of Revenue on tax issues, the Kansas Corporation Commission, and several federal agencies. KEC has evolved to provide more than regulatory and legislative services. We empower member communication through Kansas Country Living, which is published by KEC in partnership with your electric co-op. Three KEC employees concentrate on the hundreds of details required to write, edit and publish this informative monthly magazine. Kansas Country Living is part of your electric co-op membership, and the center pages—beginning with 16A—provide news specific to your co-op. KEC also publishes resource materials and is active on social media with posts about utility safety, energy efficiency, advocacy and industry issues. Another part of our mission is youth outreach and public relations programs to help build future leaders. KEC concentrates efforts on FFA, 4-H and the Kansas State Fair. We also organize two leadership opportunities for rural electric co-op member youth. One is the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., for high school students that was created in 1961. In 1977, we augmented that opportunity with a Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp, also for high school students. By now, thousands of Kansans have experienced those trips, which, for many, have become life-changing. And speaking of life-changing services, KEC has a Loss Control, Safety and Compliance Department with three professional instructors who work with electric co-ops to keep safety as a workplace and personal priority. Their emphasis also extends to public service messaging on electric safety. In addition, during times of significant disasters such as an ice storm or tornado, our safety staff coordinates a mutual aid program that moves cooperative crews and equipment to affected areas to help restore power as quickly and safely as possible. These are just a few of the key KEC programs and services that benefit your electric co-op. In the next months, I will explain the charge of the two Kansas-based generation and transmission (G&T) co-ops, KEPCo and Sunflower, and the story behind the creation of the distribution co-ops. KCL BRUCE GRAHAM is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas

Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka.

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E N E R GY W I S E

Save Energy, Add Comfort and Privacy with Awnings

BY J A M E S D U L L E Y

AW N T E C H

D E AR J I M : I have always liked the appearance of window awnings. The salesman told me installing them can also save energy. Do they really save much energy and what awning choices are best? – Kathy F. D E AR K ATHY: The awning salesman was not just blowing smoke to get a sale. Installing window awnings can reduce summertime energy use. There are also other benefits, such as reduced fading of furniture, drapes and carpeting, and protection of your primary windows and doors from the sun and severe weather. The same ultraviolet rays that fade your furniture also slowly degrade window frame and door materials over time. By blocking direct radiant heat from the sun through windows and doors you can reduce air-conditioning electrical use. Studies by the University of Minnesota found installing window awnings can reduce cooling energy needs by 21 percent in Phoenix, 17 percent in St. Louis and 24 percent in Boston. Another advantage of awning energy savings is that it’s greatest during the hottest hours of the afternoon when the sun is most intense. This reduces the peak electricity load for the utility

This contemporary style awning uses durable acrylic fabric to block the sun’s heat.

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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

JUNE 2018

company’s electric generation, lessening the chance of brownouts and other problems associated with excessive electricity demand. There are many window awning options available. The first decision to make is whether you want fixed or adjustable awnings. They both are equally effective during the summer to reduce your peak electricity usage in midafternoon. The advantage of adjustable awnings is the level of shading can be changed throughout the day and seasons. Fixed and adjustable awnings are available in allaluminum or fabric over an aluminum frame. Adjustable fabric awnings offer better protection from severe weather because some can be lowered to be almost flat over the window opening. They can also be raised to expose most of the window glass for winter solar heat gain. Fabric awnings using Sunbrella® fabrics provide SPF-15 cancer risk protection. Also, ones using GORE™ Tenara® thread are durable and hold up well to UV degradation. An adjustable aluminum awning’s maximum projection from the house is fixed by the frame and the down arm length. To open them, the aluminum awning slats roll up above the frame and the hinged arms swing upward. The advantage of aluminum is its strength and its resistance to degradation from the sun’s UV rays. Sideless awning designs, called Venetian awnings, are effective for true south-facing windows because the most intense sunrays come from directly overhead. Actually, just a relatively short flat board above the window, such as a large roof overhang, is effective at blocking the windows from the sun. If you also need to block the late afternoon sun at those south-facing windows, install hood-style awnings with sides. For casement windows, hip roof awnings provide clearance for the window sash to swing open outward. If you are also concerned about security and privacy, select an adjustable awning that can be lowered completely flat against the window. This offers privacy and some protection from breakins and storm damage to the window glass from flying objects. Proper sizing (projection length from the Continued on page 16 

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THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. ALL DOCTORS MENTIONED ARE REMUNERATED FOR THEIR SERVICES. ALL CLINICAL STUDIES ON ALOECURE’S ACTIVE INGREDIENT WERE INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED AND WERE NOT SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN GLOBAL HEALTH GROUP.

Store

Minding the

Generations keep hometown hardware, grocery stores alive

ordering and superstores, there are a dwindling number of independent hardware stores and groceries across Kansas—the kind of places where you run into neighbors and friends, you can catch up on local chatter and you talk directly to the owners, who often know you on a personal level. We visited two stores that are surviving, despite not having the purchasing power of big-box stores or sharing overhead costs among hundreds or thousands of stores. At one time, both were the most important businesses in their towns. They still play an important role though staying in business and retaining their place in the community has taken the dedication of generations of family members.

IN AN ERA OF ONLINE

Isham Hardware Co. The Oldest Hardware Store in Kansas

It’s easy to tell a customer from a tourist at Isham Hardware Co. in Coffeyville: the regulars enter through the back door. All are welcome, even those who just want to browse the aisles of the historic building, which played a role in the Dalton

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BY M E L I N DA SCHNYDER

Raid of 1892. Legend has it that townsfolk rushed into Isham for guns to stop the infamous Dalton Gang from robbing two neighboring banks. Generations of the same family shop here, and out-of-towners drop in to reminisce about visiting the store when they were kids. Isham Hardware Co. opened in 1870 and has been owned by just two families during the past 148 years: the Ishams and the Walterscheids. The store is still in its original location in downtown Coffeyville—a town of about 10,000 in southeast Kansas—and is considered to be the oldest hardware store in the state as well as one of the only original hardware stores remaining in the country. “This year is the 100th year the store has been in the Walterscheid family,” says Jean Walterscheid, 82, who owns the store with her younger sister Jane “Dinger” Catone. Their father, Jim, and his two brothers bought the store in 1918. Along with their late sister Jerry, the sisters spent their childhoods at the store. “We grew up here,” Jean says. “You didn’t watch TV, you came to the store with dad. We learned the business through osmosis, we absorbed it.”

Both started their careers as teachers and now are keeping the family legacy alive, working in the store daily. Their father and uncles worked at the store until their deaths. In the 1960s, Isham became a member of True Value, a retailer-owned hardware cooperative that now has more than 4,000 independent retail locations worldwide. That improves their buying power, but it’s still tough to compete with the big-box stores now found around Coffeyville. The town and the store have changed significantly in the past century. For one, customers’ needs have changed. Isham doesn’t sell farm machinery or employ three mechanics to service farm machinery like it once did. “We used to sell horseshoes and saddles and a lot of farm equipment,” Jean says. Today the store’s aisles are filled with tools, pipe, pipe fittings, plumbing and electrical supplies, paint supplies, lawn and garden items, and there are also small appliances, kitchen utensils and other housewares. They still have commercial accounts with some of the area’s larger companies and loyal customers who have been coming in for years. “You do what you can and hope the locals will trade with locally owned stores,” Dinker says of the increased competition. Adds Jean: “One thing they can’t beat is our knowledge. We have a lot of answers and we’re not hesitant to speak up. We have years of experience and we know our customers.” Isham still offers customer charge accounts and the employees know their regulars by name. The sisters remember their father getting two to three calls every Sunday—the only day Isham is closed— and meeting panicked customers at the store. “We still do that,” Jean says. “We could be down here at midnight to help a customer with a broken pipe.” Isham True Value Hardware is at 811 Union

St. in downtown Coffeyville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Find more information on Facebook.

Old Riverton Store Serving Locals and Route 66 Tourists

“Are you cooking bacon in here today?” a customer asks Scott Nelson, who is standing behind the deli counter managing the lunch rush on a typical Monday at the Old Riverton Store. That’s not bacon, he tells the regular, it’s the aroma of beef roasting in the oven. “Cooking the roast and the ham in the store was my aunt’s idea,” Nelson explains after making the customer’s sandwich. “There’s always been a deli case in the store but when she took over the store in 1973, she expanded the meats offered. My aunt and uncle moved here from Chicago and they were used to the big delis up there with a lot of options.” While everything outside feels like it’s getting bigger and is moving faster, things have mostly stayed the same inside this tiny general store since it opened 93 years ago in the far southeastern

Jane “Dinger” Catone, left, and her sister Jean Walterscheid run what’s considered to be the oldest hardware store in Kansas. JUNE 2018

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corner of Kansas. And that’s taken a lot of effort, most of it accomplished by two families. Lora and Leo Williams built the store in 1925 to replace their first, which was destroyed by a tornado in 1923. Leo worked across the street at Empire District Electric Co. and his wife ran the store, which sold lunches and groceries to many of Leo’s coworkers and their families. Joe and Isabell Eisler purchased it in 1973 after they had moved back to Parsons, Isabell’s hometown. Nelson started working in the store with his aunt soon after, as a 14-year-old, and he’s been working there ever since, part-time as a high school and college student, then eventually running the store by the mid-1980s. He purchased it from the Eisler’s estate in 2010. Nelson says he’s thankful to the Williams’ and his aunt and uncle for years of hard work that built a loyal customer base. He’s also grateful that his aunt taught by example, allowing him to learn all there was to running the store. He’s proud to continue the tradition of the store, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. He added Nelson to the sign on the store, but most locals just call it the Old Riverton Store or say they’re running over to Scott’s. While the business name has changed a handful of times its purpose has remained the same since 1925: serve the folks who live and work in the area. “This town needs this little store,” Nelson says. Riverton is an unincorporated town of less than 1,000 residents. Having the store means residents or those working in the area don’t have to drive to a larger town nearby for a gallon of milk or a sandwich for lunch. Nelson, cooking the same cut of meat his aunt used for the roast beef, typically serves 70 to 80 deli

Scott Nelson, right, began working at the Old Riverton Store at the age of 14 and has worked there ever since. His dad Forrest, left, also helps.

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sandwiches a day in addition to selling the meat by the pound. Diners can get a sandwich made with roast beef or about a dozen other meats, chips and a drink for less than $5, and a cup of coffee is just 45 cents. Guests can sit at Nostalgic visitors like one of the tables seeing the merchandise and memorabilia on display at in the covered Nelson’s Old Riverton Store. breezeway in front of the store or at a picnic table next to the parking lot. Besides sandwich fixings, shoppers find a few shelves of grocery staples, produce and even screwdrivers, paintbrushes, sandpaper, duct tape and other miscellany for small do-it-yourself home projects. Nelson also is one of the biggest sellers in the state of Village PieMaker pies, frozen pies made in Nebraska using fresh fruit fillings and from-scratch crust. “It’s the best pie you will ever bake,” Nelson says. “I’ll even bake it here in the store if a customer calls their order in.” Outside, Nelson sells vegetable seeds, hanging flowers and bedding plants brought in from Sedan Floral, 90 miles to the west. Most of the customer base during Nelson’s tenure was local until 1990, when Michael Wallis published “Route 66: The Mother Road,” a book that sparked interest in visiting the nostalgia of the first completely paved transcontinental highway from Chicago to Los Angeles. Route 66 was approved in 1926—one year after Old Riverton Store opened—and was decommissioned in 1985, having been replaced by the interstate highway system. Just 13 miles of Route 66 are in Kansas, taking travelers from Joplin, Missouri, to Miami, Oklahoma. Traffic picked up so much after the book that Nelson transformed what originally had been the living quarters of the Williams family into a room full of Route 66 merchandise. Interest in the road is still strong, Nelson says, and each summer at least 15 group tour buses stop, many with international tourists. Today, Nelson says, six of every 10 customers are local while the others are touring Route 66 by

bicycle, motorcycle or vehicle. In the first five days of May this year, visitors signing the guest book in the Route 66 room hailed from Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Utah as well as Canada, Brazil, England, France, Mexico and the Netherlands. Along with the Route 66 merchandise and memorabilia on display throughout the store, nostalgic visitors appreciate seeing the original tin ceiling, a 1939 Coca-Cola box machine that’s only known the store as its home and a Works Progress Administration-built outhouse behind the store. Nelson’s job as caretaker of the store means 60 to 80 hours a week, along with help from about eight part-time employees. If you visit on a weekday, you’ll get a dose of nostalgia from Nelson’s 95-yearold father Forrest, who runs the cash register. The U.S. Army veteran served during World War II and was a prisoner of war for 44 days. On a recent visit, the lunch rush tapered out by about 1:30 p.m. but regular customers trickled in throughout the afternoon. Nearly all ordered sandwiches, which in Nelson’s own description are nothing fancy, but are fresh and priced so that some folks show up daily. Even though the space feels cramped, Nelson said he wouldn’t have it any other way because his store is likely the only pre-Route 66 business like it that is still operating this close to its original condition. A construction company approached his aunt in the 1970s with a plan to tear down the existing structure and build a more efficient building that would have twice the space. She didn’t even consider the plan and neither would he. “This building has character and it’s part of Riverton,” he says. Old Riverton Store is at 7109 SE Highway 66 in Riverton. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Find more information at www.eislerbros.com or on Facebook. KCL

Nelson said his store is likely the only pre-Route 66 business like it that is still operating this close to its original condition.

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E N E RGY U P G R A D E S F O R A

Happier

Home BY D I A N E V E T O PA R H A M

Boost your home’s comfort and cut energy use with smart home-improvement projects.

is not just the place you sleep, eat and store your stuff, but more like a part of your family, with its own unique needs. Ignore those needs, and both you and your home suffer the consequences. But, pay closer attention, and you can find ways to enjoy a more pleasant—and efficient—living environment. “It’s amazing how much comfort you can provide by spending a few dollars,” says Brian Sloboda, program manager for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. “You’re going to increase your quality of life.” Knowing what your house needs is job one. Your heating-and-air system, your appliances, your insulation and even your lightbulbs can affect not only how your home is behaving, but also how much you’re paying to keep it all running. Need some ideas to get started? Here are seven smart ways to invest in a comfortable and energy-efficient house.

IMAGINE YOUR HOUSE

Get a Professional Home-Energy Audit

About $250–$650 BENEFIT: Making recommended improvements can cut energy use 10 to 40 percent DIY POTENTIAL: None; use a certified professional COST:

The first step—and the best investment—in any home-improvement project is a professional energy audit. A whole-house energy audit will take a few hours, and evaluate household energy use, how the heating-and-air system is functioning and whether there’s adequate insulation. Using diagnostic tools like a blower door and a thermal imaging

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camera, an auditor tests for leaks in ductwork and around windows and doors, plus other problems with the home’s “envelope”—essentially, the parts of the house that separate its insulated, air-conditioned interior from unconditioned spaces like attics and crawlspaces. According to the Building Performance Institute, a nationwide nonprofit that certifies professional energy auditors, the report you get back—up to 20 pages of details—can include estimates of what return you might expect on any investments in efficiency upgrades. Need help finding a professional? Ask your electric cooperative for recommended energy auditors, or visit the Building Performance Institute website for homeowners (www.bpihomeowner.org).

Seal Your House

Ranges from a few dollars for weather stripping and caulk to thousands of dollars for whole-house weatherization BENEFIT: Annual energy savings of 10 to 20 percent DIY POTENTIAL: You can do simple tasks; professionals should handle large-scale insulation or ductwork improvements COST:

You can minimize your heating and cooling costs and maximize comfort by keeping that conditioned air indoors, where you want it. “Make sure your house is well insulated and well sealed,” says Alan Shedd, director of energy solutions for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. “Don’t go install a fancy heating system or pile on a bunch of insulation in a house that’s Swiss cheese.” Most houses leak 10 percent or more of their conditioned air into attics and crawlspaces, Shedd says. “Obviously, a turn-of-the-century farmhouse is going to need more weatherization than a new, better-insulated home. But you can do the air sealing incrementally, and that will help your system work more efficiently.” A handy do-it-yourselfer can tackle simple sealing tasks. Feel for drafts or look for cracks and gaps around windows and doors, around electrical outlets and light fixtures, where pipes and wires penetrate walls, floors or ceilings, around fireplaces, and where ceilings meet walls. Basic DIY materials like weather-stripping tape, tubes of caulk and spray foam are available at home-improvement stores. If you invested in a professional home-energy audit, you know exactly where air is leaking and what repairs are needed. For fixes outside your skill set—for example, adding insulation or repairing leaky ductwork—ask your co-op for a list of certified contractors or visit BPI’s website. “An air-sealing and insulation job ranges in cost from $3,000 to $5,000, depending on the materials used,” says John Jones, national technical director for BPI. “A complete, market-based home-performance project—full energy improvements—typically costs between $9,800 and $12,500, depending on the geographic region and the contractor.”

Replace Your HVAC System

Ranges from a few thousand dollars for a single-zone, mini-split system up to tens of thousands to install a geothermal system BENEFIT: Upgrading to ENERGY STAR-certified heating COST:

and cooling equipment can deliver annual energy-bill savings of 10 to 30 percent; geothermal systems can cut energy use for heating and cooling by 25 to 50 percent DIY POTENTIAL: You’ll need a trained professional to properly size and install a system for your needs Heating and cooling account for about half of typical household energy costs. Minimize those expenses by upgrading to a more efficient system when your current unit ages out. Expect an HVAC system to last about 10 to 12 years. Air-source heat pumps, which draw heat from the air and move it indoors or outdoors as needed, provide efficient heating and cooling from a single unit. Traditionally more popular in milder climates, the older models relied on inefficient backup heating, such as heat strips, when outside temperatures dropped below 40 degrees. But heat pumps have evolved, says Rick Nortz, manager of utility and efficiency programs for Mitsubishi Electric Cooling and Heating. “The old view of heat pumps was that they don’t work below freezing,” he says. Many modern heat pumps, he says, are designed to be efficient heat sources down to 5 degrees. Pair that with a shift toward households in cooler zones also installing air-conditioning units, Shedd says, and heat pumps become an attractive option. For the coldest regions, where a backup heating system is desired, a dual-fuel heat pump can offer auxiliary heat powered by natural gas or propane. Mini-split heat pumps—highly efficient ductless systems that can be placed where needed in a home—are growing in popularity. They work well for add-on rooms that aren’t connected to existing ductwork or for rooms that stay hotter or colder than the rest of the house. Multi-zone mini-split systems allow different rooms to be set at their own comfort levels, Nortz says. “That room becomes its own home, with its own thermostat,” he says. And because there are no ducts, there’s no energy lost through leaky ductwork. Ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps are the most efficient, albeit more expensive, heating-and-cooling option. Drawing heat from stable ground temperatures rather than fluctuating air temperatures, geothermal heat Continued on page 17  JUNE 2018

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E N E R GY W I S E Continued from page 8 

If you still remember your high school geometry, you can calculate the size of awning needed for various windows and doors.

A R I S T O C R AT ® A W N I N G S B Y C R A F T - B I LT

house wall) of window awnings is important both for blocking the summer sun and for allowing the winter sun to shine. This is particularly true if you install fixed awnings, instead of adjustable ones, because their shading angle cannot be changed. The orientation of the window to the sun also affects the proper awning sizing because the sun is lower in the sky during early morning and late afternoon. If you still remember your high school geometry, you can calculate the size of awning needed for various windows and doors. The latitude angle (varies from about 29 degrees for Houston to 45 degrees for Minneapolis) for your area determines These fabric window awnings can be retracted up against the wall to expose the window glass when more light is needed indoors. how high the sun is in the sky and its angle of incidence on your windows. You can find the sun location for various regions, shading. Vary the stick lengths and the angle until seasons and times of day in most basic solar its shadow provides the shading you desire. The energy books. shade’s width should extend at least 2 inches on If you are not a math whiz, just make a “test either side of the window. KCL stick” awning to determine the proper size. Hold Send inquiries to JAMES DULLEY, Kansas Country Living, 6906 the end of a stick against the top of the window Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. frame or wall at the time of day when you need

DEAR JIM: We use a heat pump year-round in our house. It seems like the room temperatures stay more constant if we run the blower continuously. By doing this are we saving or wasting more electricity overall? – Steve W. DEAR STEVE: There are several factors that determine whether you are saving electricity. If running the blower continuously has improved your comfort to the point you are setting the thermostat several degrees lower during winter and higher during summer, then you will save electricity. Also, if you have a variable-speed ECM-type of blower motor, it uses much less electricity than a standard blower motor in the slow-speed mode. Check with your HVAC contractor. KCL

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Continued from page 15 

pumps use about 25 to 50 percent less electricity than conventional HVAC systems. Geothermal is “the gold standard” for peak efficiency in heating and cooling, Shedd says, where the property can accommodate an extensive vertical or horizontal underground-loop system. For any heating-and-cooling system, proper installation is essential to reap full benefits of energy-efficient performance. A certified HVAC contractor will do a load calculation to determine what size HVAC unit is right for your house and whether any special adjustments are necessary for your location.

Modernize Major Appliances

Hundreds of dollars for major appliances; zero dollars for unplugging energy hogs that are not in use BENEFIT: Save anywhere from a few dollars up to hundreds of dollars a year DIY POTENTIAL: You’ll need a professional to install some appliances, but you can unplug small appliances around the house in minutes COST:

Among appliances, the two biggest energy users are water heaters and refrigerators, which are nearly always on duty. After that, you might be surprised by another energy hog: consumer electronics. “The fastest-growing user of electricity in your house is all the things you plug in,” Shedd says. Think about all the electronic devices plugged into your outlets drawing small-but-steady “vampire loads” of energy and adding to your power bill: coffee maker, toaster, phone and computer chargers, printer, TV, cable box, video-game console. A quick walk through the house, unplugging as you go, can save you a few bucks a year on items that only need power when

you’re using them. Water heaters, which keep hot water at the ready for kitchens and bathrooms, are the major household energy users after heating-and-air systems. Saving money here depends on finding the right unit for your home and climate. New efficiency standards instituted for residential water heaters in 2015 ended the use of large-capacity electric-resistance units (over 55 gallons) in homes. An exception was made for grid-enabled water heaters, Shedd says, so that homeowners could buy larger heaters to participate in utility load-control programs. To see if such a program is available in your area, check with your electric cooperative. If you’re not on a tight budget, consider a heat-pump water heater. “They can cut your water-heating energy costs in half, but they do cost a fair amount up front—probably double,” Shedd says. And there are installation challenges to consider. Heat-pump water heaters operate most efficiently in conditioned spaces, so garage locations are not ideal. And, they tend to be physically larger than traditional units, so they may not fit in your existing water heater’s space. Another option to replace a highcapacity water heater is to buy two smaller water heaters, perhaps even installing them closer to where they are needed, he says. The most important consideration is to plan ahead. “Most times, when a water heater fails, it’s an emergency,” Shedd says. “Nobody wants to be without hot water, so they put in whatever’s on the truck. If you want to upgrade to something more efficient, decide ahead of time.” Refrigerators are dramatically more efficient than they were two decades ago, Shedd says. “Compared to the 1990s, they probably use half the energy. My computer uses more electricity than my refrigerator does.”

More than a third of American refrigerators in use are more than 10 years old, according to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. Newer models—especially ENERGY STARcertified units—use less energy and add less to your household power bill. The program’s website (www.energystar.gov) has a savings calculator that will tell you just how much money you can save by upgrading. By the way, that old fridge is still costing you money if it’s plugged in the garage. Recycle it to reduce energy use. Televisions are bigger and fancier these days; even so, as with refrigerators, new technology makes them more efficient. The same holds for major appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. Age can be your gauge; for appliances more than 10 years old, a newer model—especially one with the ENERGY STAR logo—will use less energy, Sloboda says. “The Department of Energy’s new appliance standards for energy have impacted most of the stuff you buy,” he says. “It’s really tough to buy something that’s not energy efficient these days.”

Boost Your Attic Insulation

National averages range from $1,300 to $2,000, depending on home location, attic size and type of insulation BENEFIT: Reduce your energy bills by keeping treated air in your living space DIY POTENTIAL: With proper tools, safety gear and precautions, handy homeowners can tackle this but it’s a job best left to professionals COST:

Most homes have insulation. But maybe not enough. It’s all about the R-value. That’s the number assigned to insulating materials Continued on page 19  based on JUNE 2018

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YO U R P L A C E I N T H E G A R D E N

Low Maintenance Succulent Gardening Perfect for Vertical Garden  BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .

popularity and have even become a focal point for weddings in recent years. The variety of colors and textures and low maintenance contributes to their rise to stardom. Succulents are available at nursery and garden centers and even many grocery stores. They are a perfect option for a decorative vertical garden. Succulents are a large category of plants named for their fleshy leaves. Succulents store water in the leaves enabling them to endure periods of drought. In fact, overwatering is a common cause of succulent death since these plants only need to be watered when the soil is dry to about 1 inch below the surface. If grown indoors, place your succulent in a window that receives bright light. Outdoors, filtered sunlight is best. Direct summer sunlight can cause the leaves to burn. Succulents are typically shallow-rooted. Select a container that is not much bigger than the plant. A container that holds too much soil will retain more water than the succulent needs and could cause root rot. The container should have a drainage hole at the bottom. If you’re placing the container on a saucer, when you water your plant allow the water to drain into the sink completely before placing the container back onto the saucer. Don’t leave the container in the saucer with standing water. Potting mixes for succulents are available at garden centers or you can mix your own. A combination of two parts sand or perlite, one part organic material and one part potting soil provides adequate drainage.

SUCCULENTS HAVE GAINED

Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.

A benefit of this design is the containers can be removed from the pallet and brought indoors when there is a danger of frost.

ff1-inch wood screws, and ffdrill and succulent potting mix.

The number of clamps, containers and succulents is your decision, but you will need a clamp and container for each succulent. Position the pallet so the boards are horizontal. Determine where you want each of the succulents to be placed and mark the location on the pallet boards. Attach the pipe clamps to the pallet by drilling the screws through the hole in the clamp closest to the solid metal ring. Once all of the clamps are attached, you can adjust the size to allow the containers to rest in the ring without sliding through. Plant the succulents in the containers and place the containers in the metal rings on the pallet. A benefit of this design is the containers can be removed from the pallet and brought indoors when there is a danger of frost. This vertical garden design is ideal for hiding unattractive parts of your home, such as an air conditioner unit. This unique garden project is easy to complete in an afternoon and allows you to change the plant arrangement and quantity. It’s a versatile design that can complement any gardener’s preferences. KCL CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.

Quick Do-it-Yourself Vertical Succulent Garden

Some vertical garden designs fail because the plants dry out so quickly. This design is perfect for succulents because the small container size prevents the plants from becoming waterlogged and the containers, and the entire structure can be easily moved if the conditions aren’t favorable. For this project you will need: ffa wood pallet ffgalvanized metal pipe clamps ff4-inch containers ffvariety of succulents

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This vertical succulent garden covers an unattractive, bare wall of this home creating an interesting feature in the landscape.

Continued from page 17 

how well they resist the transfer of heat. Higher numbers mean more resistance to heat flow and more effective insulation. For attics, recommended R-values range from 30 in warmer climates to 60 in colder regions. To learn what’s recommended for your climate zone, consult the R-values map at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_sealing. hm_improvement_insulation_table. Older homes are more likely to lack enough attic insulation for peak efficiency, because “energy-efficiency standards keep going up and getting higher,” Shedd says. “Thirty years ago, R-19 was standard practice.” What you spend to upgrade your attic insulation will depend on multiple variables, including the type of insulation—for example, fiberglass or cellulose, batts or loose fill—as well as the size of the attic space and the contractor’s labor costs.

Switch to Efficient Lightbulbs COST:

A few dollars per bulb Save about $50 per year by replacing 15 traditional incandescent bulbs with energy-saving lightbulbs DIY POTENTIAL: You can handle this

BENEFIT:

You’re going to change your lightbulbs sooner or later. When you do, why not invest in bulbs that will save energy and create the lighting environment you want in your home? Since the adoption of new U.S. lighting standards in 2012, manufacturers have replaced traditional incandescent bulbs with technologies that use 25 to 80 percent less energy. Halogen bulbs look pretty much like the old-style incandescents; they’re usually the cheapest options, they’re available in different shapes and colors, and they work with dimmer switches. But they’re also the least energy efficient, and they won’t last as long as CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs) and LEDs (light-emitting diode bulbs). LEDs are the most efficient option. They can last 15 to 20 years, and their prices have been dropping. They also work well with newer dimmer switches. “There are so many cool things about LEDs— they don’t even have to look like the lightbulbs we’re used to seeing,” he says. Look for colors that appeal to you and shapes that work for specific applications, such as ring-shaped LEDs that direct

light on workshop surfaces or under-cabinet directional lighting in kitchens. When you’re shopping, pay attention to lumens—the brightness of the bulb—rather than watts, which indicate how much energy it uses. Packaging often refers to the wattage a new bulb can replace—for example, an energy-saving 800lumen bulb can replace a 60-watt bulb. Look at the lighting-facts label for details about the bulb’s lumens, estimated yearly energy cost and lifespan, and the lighting color. ENERGY STAR-certified bulbs can deliver the brightness you want while using 70 to 90 percent less energy.

Install Smart Thermostats

Products range from about $170 to $250 Manufacturers estimate annual savings of 9 to 23 percent on heating and cooling costs DIY POTENTIAL: Video and written instructions can guide you through installation and Wi-Fi set-up COST:

BENEFIT:

Early versions of programmable thermostats were hailed as tools that would help homeowners save energy and money and increase home comfort, all by tailoring thermostat settings to daytime, nighttime, weekend and vacation schedules. And they did—but only for those who bothered to manually program them. Enter the newer smart thermostats (sometimes called Wi-Fi thermostats). They connect to the internet, can be controlled from an app on a mobile device, and, best of all, are designed to learn your home’s habits, so they can handle the programming with little hands-on labor by you. Still evolving, some newer models include sensors to detect when people are in the house, so they can reduce energy use when no one is home. Some offer multiple sensors to place around the house, so the app can tailor temperatures to different rooms. Some even feature Amazon’s Alexa voice-activated virtual assistant, which can control an array of smart-home devices in addition to the thermostat. Thanks to the internet connection and remotecontrol options, smart thermostats are ideal for use in electric cooperative load-control programs. Across the country, cooperatives are testing new programs that use this technology to help members save energy and help co-ops reduce demand. KCL JUNE 2018

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ENERGY EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR

Agriculture BY J O N AT H A N S U S S E R

FARMING AND AGRICULTURE are energy intensive industries. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the agricultural sector has the potential to save more than $1 billion in energy per year. No matter the type of farm, energy efficient technologies can help you improve your output while obtaining savings. they need at a lower cost and your water source pumps last longer. Low elevation precision GENERAL EFFICIENCY OPTIONS application (LEPA) and low elevation sprinkler application (LESA) are two of the most efficient ffREPLACE INCANDESCENT BULBS WITH LEDS. irrigation methods. They use less water and LEDs use less energy and last longer than incanrequire less power. descent bulbs and CFLs without affecting productivity. In poultry houses, for example, LEDs ffSET UP AN ENGINE BLOCK HEATER TIMER ON can be used for both grow and brood lighting. FARMING VEHICLES. For those harsh cold snaps, engine block heaters make sure your vehicle ffUPGRADE VENTILATION FANS. Effective ventilais ready to go, but they do not need to run tion is essential for managing poultry, swine, all night. Installing a timer allows you to start dairy farms and more, but it can consume a heating the engine just a few hours in advance, lot of energy, particularly in warmer weather. saving you energy and money. Replacing older ventilation fans with highefficiency options can reduce energy consumpDAIRY OPERATIONS tion and produce both energy and cost savings. Keeping fan blades and screens clean is also ffINSTALL DAIRY PLATE COOLERS, VFDS AND important. Dust, feathers and other matter DAIRY SCROLL COMPRESSORS. Dairy plate adheres to surfaces and impedes airflow, which coolers can help precool milk before it is stored, reduces effectiveness. Furthermore, fan motors VFDs allow milk vacuum pumps to run more can run more efficiently and last longer when efficiently, and dairy scroll compressors can paired with a variable frequency drive (VFD). reduce electrical demand and milk cooling costs as compared with reciprocating compressors. ffINVEST IN LOW-ENERGY WATER MANAGEMENT. Keep your animals hydrated with low-energy ffUSE A DAIRY HEAT RECLAIMER TO REDUCE or energy-free livestock waterers, which use less WASTE. Milk collection and storage use a lot of energy, keep water fresh and prevent freezenergy and can also result in wastes and losses. ing. For crop irrigation, low pressure sprinkler A dairy heat reclaimer allows you to capture nozzles reduce pumping demands without waste heat from outdoor milk refrigeration limiting water flow, so your crops get the water units and use it to heat water.

1 2

4 5

3 22

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

6

JUNE 2018

7 8

HOG FARMS

ffSWAP OUT HEAT LAMPS WITH CREEP HEAT PADS.

Creep heat pads are similar to blankets and can be used for your swine nursery or fowl facilities.

POULTRY HOUSES

ffPURSUE RESIDENTIAL-LIKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

MEASURES . Building science principles used in residential construction can also be applied to agricultural facilities. Air sealing poultry houses can reduce air leaks as well as heating and cooling costs by limiting outside air from entering and heated and cooled air from leaving. Adding insulation to exterior walls can slow heat transfer to help maintain your desired temperature year-round.

Along with these energy efficiency options, it is also important to conduct routine maintenance on existing systems. Checking lights, coils and fans for dust, for example, can improve and strengthen equipment performance and reduce the need for additional labor and costs down the road. The agricultural sector is ripe for energy efficiency opportunities. Although these technologies can cost additional money upfront they help you reduce energy consumption and save money in the long run. Check with your local electric cooperative for any rebates or incentives they may be aware of and for expert advice with additional energy efficiency ideas. KCL is a technical writer and editor for Advanced Energy, a nonprofit energy consulting firm. For more information on Advanced Energy, visit www. advancedenergy.org.

JONATHAN SUSSER

THE AG SECTOR CAN SAVE $1 BILLION YEARLY IN ENERGY

The agricultural sector is ripe for energy efficiency opportunities. Although these technologies can cost additional money upfront they help you reduce energy consumption and save money in the long run. Check with your local co-op for additional expert advice.

JUNE 2018

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

23

C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E

Captured by Catfish — Hook, Line and Dinner

BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D

“a cornerstone of New American cuisine because of its very adaptability and colorful role in America’s culinary history.” Whether fried, stewed, grilled or blackened—it has an assured place on any table and in popular culture, from the song “Catfish Blues,” to the novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn,” and the novel and film, “Big Fish.” The Japanese have a legend that it is a giant, mud-dwelling catfish who causes earthquakes. Native American Rebecca Howard lore gives credit to a stomping moose, attempting to flee from the whisker “spears” of catfish, for giving them their flat heads. Their appearance, along with their elusive nature, size, longevity (some live to be 40 years old) and place deep in their watery depths—contributed to my own fascination with catfish. We spent muddy summer days in pursuit; my dad would often set lines overnight with my uncle and end up with fish weighing 30 pounds or more. He fed my intrigue with embellished tales of the fish’s own bottomless appetite (they are baited with everything from chicken livers to night crawlers to crawfish to super stinky “dip baits”), telling me of giant catfish ascending to the surface of a creek to swallow frogs or even baby Catch your fried catfish in a hand-held sandwich… beaver whole. Lemon-Pepper Mayo Catfish salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1 Kansas has plenty of reasons to celtsp. paprika, 1 tsp. garlic ff 1 to 1-1/2 pounds ff 1/2 cup mayo ebrate catfish. Record-setting channel, powder, 1 tsp. salt catfish fillets, cut into ff 1/2 tsp. lemon zest flathead, bullhead and blue cats (some as four large pieces ff Vegetable oil (peanut ff 1 Tbs. lemon juice big as 102 pounds) are annually pulled or canola) for frying ff 1 cup your preferred from rivers and lakes around the state. ff 1/2 tsp. freshly ground seasoned flour/fish ff 4 ciabatta or French black pepper Aquaculture, the practice of raising fry coating mix (I like rolls, split and toasted catfish in cultivated ponds and feeding ff pinch of salt Ensley’s Seasoned ff Butter lettuce or protein pellets to provide a milder-tastff pinch of cayenne pepper Coating Mix), or make baby greens ing flesh than their wild-caught brethyour own by combining ff 1 Tbs. finely chopped ren, has helped the culinary world and 1 cup flour, 1 tsp. celery chives (optional) non-fishermen embrace catfish. Recipes In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients for lemon-pepper mayo, cover and store in and dishes abound. Wolfgang Puck’s the refrigerator until ready to use (this can be made one day ahead). ginger-stuffed, wok-fried sizzling catfish In a large skillet on medium-high, heat canola or peanut oil (filling the pan to at least 1/4has been a long-time favorite on the inch depth). Rinse and pat dry the catfish fillets; season both sides with salt and pepper, menu at his elegant Chinois on Main then coat evenly and completely with seasoned flour mix. When the oil has reached 300 in Santa Monica, California. Authors degrees, place fillets in the skillet and fry for several minutes on each side, until golden brown. Fish can be placed on a paper towel-lined sheet and kept warm in the oven. AssemPaul and Angela Knipple devoted an ble sandwiches by spreading each half of the toasted roll with lemon-pepper mayo. Place entire book, “Catfish” (University of one piece of fish on each half; top with baby greens and the other half of the roll. Serves 4. North Carolina Press, Inc.; 2015) to a wide variety of recipes, including “THE CATFISH,” WROTE THE OFT-QUOTED Mark Twain, “is a plenty good enough fish for anybody.” Those of us raised near enough to rivers and creeks, like Twain, loved catfish before catfish was cool. It kept my grandparents alive; it brought my parents together (my mother preferred a stringer of catfish to a string of pearls any day). My grandfather’s praise for anyone was a bad little rhyme, “You’re the winner of the catfish dinner!” Throughout my Kansas childhood, I watched the smooth-skinned, whiskered fish make the route from the depths of a creek, river or lake to the table, riveted to the flour-coated fillets turning golden brown in the hot popping oil of my mother’s cast iron skillet. Catfish, still the star of the fish fry and the antagonist of angler tales, has over the years risen from its “bottom-feeding” depths to the fine dining establishments of such famed chefs as Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, who declared the catfish,

Fried Catfish Sandwiches with Lemon-Pepper Mayo

24

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

JUNE 2018

Smoky Catfish Mousse, Nigerian Catfish Stew, Maple Planked Catfish and Catfish Pudding, a gratin-type casserole. But many folks remain partial to simple pan-frying, with particular demands on the sides. “If you serve it with anything else but hush puppies, grits, cole slaw, and home fries, it’ll get up and walk off the plate,” wrote Ernest Matthew Mickler in “White Trash Cooking” (Ten Speed Press; 1986). When frying, there is more than one way to coat a cat. Some like the crunch of cornmeal; Leawood chefs Colby and Megan Garrelts, in their book, “Bluestem,” (Andrew McMeel Publishing; 2011), feature “catfish sticks” coated in crushed corn nuts. Other fish fryers prefer a batter—sometimes laced with beer. Harold Ensley, the late Kansas host of the long-running syndicated show “The Sportsman’s Friend,” developed a simple seasoned flour coating mix, which is still sold in some grocery stores and online. That’s how we always loved it. It needed not much more than flour and some seasoned salt and pepper (and a post-frying drizzle of pickle juice, if you were so inclined). If it was not filleted (my preference, the “belly flap”), that sweet meat was well-worth combing off the bones with a fork. My rhyming grandfather would fold bread around a length of catfish (or a chicken leg) and somehow chew his bony sandwich until there was nothing left but a skeleton. And even though my Midwestern roots run as deep as any Kansas creek where my favorite fish awaits, I’ll align myself with Southerner Fannie Flagg, who, in her novel, “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe” (Random House; 1987), voiced with affection, “Thank God for catfish!” KCL

Rebecca says catfish brought her parents together and that her mother “preferred a stringer of catfish to a string of pearls any day.” Here they pose with a stringer of catfish.

REBECCA HOWARD grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”

JUNE 2018

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

25

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Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives of the product or services advertised. 26

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JUNE 2018

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SHARE WITH US! Have an event you would like to run in Around Kansas? A story idea or comments you want to share with the editor? A recipe and photo for us to consider publishing? Let us know: ff events@kansascountryliving.com

MOOOVING?

Report your new address to your local electric cooperative.

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JUNE 2018

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

27

SAFETY

ATV Safety: What to Know Before Heading Off-Road and 100,000 injuries happen each year involving ATVs, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. With ATV Safety Week observed June 1-10 and ATV deaths at their peak between June and August each year, now is the time to share the following safety tips from the CPSC with your family before heading out on your offroad adventures.

MORE THAN 700 DEATHS

Stay Off Paved Roads ff ATVs are designed to be driven on

off-road terrain and are difficult to control on paved roads where they risk overturning or colliding with vehicles.

ffIt is illegal to use your ATV on

federal interstates, federal highways or state highways. It’s also illegal to use an ATV on the streets within the limits of a city of the first class. Kansas law classifies any city with a population of more than 15,000 as a city of the first class. This ban on city streets can be overridden if a city makes a ruling allowing the use of ATVs. Check with your local authorities to confirm regulations where you live.

Never Allow Children Younger Than 16 on Adult ATVs ffMore than 90 percent of ATV-related

injuries involving children can be attributed to a lack of developmental skills needed to maneuver the faster, more powerful adult ATVs.

ffChildren younger than 16 should be

on an age-appropriate youth model. These travel at lower speeds than adult ATVs and have an adjustable speed limiter. Check the manufacturer’s label for age appropriateness.

ffChildren younger than 6 years of age

should never be on any ATV—either as a driver or passenger.

Use an ATV as it was Designed ffA single-rider ATV should only have

one person on it—the driver.

ffATVs are designed for interactive

riding. The driver must be able to shift his or her weight freely in all directions. Passengers can inhibit the driver’s ability to safely control the ATV, causing it to roll over or crash.

ffMost ATVs on the market today are

single-rider, which are not equipped with handholds or footrests for passengers.

Wear Safety Gear ffAlways wear a helmet and protec-

tive gear.

ffCPSC and the ATV Safety Institute

recommend U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell) certified helmets.

ffRiders should wear goggles, gloves,

long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and over-the-ankle boots.

Get Hands-On Training

CPSC recommends that all ATV drivers—adults and children—take a hands-on ATV safety course from a qualified instructor. ffDeaths and injuries occur when an inexperienced driver loses control of an ATV, is thrown from an ATV, overturns the vehicle, or collides with a fixed object or a motor vehicle. Hands-on training can teach experienced and novice riders the skills to handle multiple riding situations encountered in off-road conditions. ffCourses are offered by the ATV

Safety Institute. Riders can also check with the National 4-H Council, local ATV rider groups, state agencies and some ATV manufacturers. KCL

G E T T Y I M A G E S / M O S AY M AY

Information provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the ATV Safety Institute.

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KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, JUNE 2018

flavor to your favorite comfort foods.

KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, JUNE 2018

A flavorful rub with simple ingredients brings out the flavor of this classic cut.

Apple Guacamole Break out of the ordinary by adding

Grilled T-Bone Steaks with BBQ Rub

Boston Creme Pie Crepes

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, JU N E 201 8

Turn breakfast crepes into dessert with creamy custard filling and chocolate sauce.

KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, JU N E 201 8

with carrot-apple slaw—dad will love it!

Slow-Cooked Whiskey Molasses Shredded Beef Bottom round roast slow-cooked and served

ff 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper ff 1 Tbs. Dijon-style mustard

ff 1/4 tsp. ground red pepper

ff 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

ff 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

ff 2 tsp. minced garlic

ff 1 Tbs. ground cumin

Grilled T-Bone Steaks with BBQ Rub ff 2 to 4 beef T-Bone or Porterhouse Steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 2 to 4 pounds) ff salt BBQ Rub ff 2 Tbs. chili powder

ff 1/4 cup molasses

ff 2 Tbs. packed brown sugar

ff 1 1/2 tsp. salt

ff 2 cups shredded carrots

P HOTO AND R EC IPE COURTESY OF BEEF. IT ’S WHAT ’S FOR D INNER

Cook’s Tip: To broil, place steaks on rack in broiler pan so surface of beef is 3 to 4 inches from heat. Broil 15 to 20 minutes for medium rare to medium doneness, turning once. Serves 4.

Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 16 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 15 to 19 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Remove bones and carve steaks into slices, if desired. Season with salt, as desired.

Combine BBQ rub ingredients; press evenly onto beef steaks.

ff 2 cups diced Granny Smith apple

Slow-Cooked Whiskey-Molasses Shredded Beef ff 1 beef bottom round roast (2 1/2 to 3 pounds), cut into 1-inch pieces ff 1/2 cup whiskey ff 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar, divided ff 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste ff 4 Tbs. packed brown sugar, divided

Place beef bottom round roast in 4 1/2- to 5 1/2-quart slow cooker. Combine whiskey, 1/4 cup vinegar, tomato paste, 2 Tbs. brown sugar, molasses, salt and pepper; pour over roast. Cover and cook on high 4 to 6 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours, or until beef is fork-tender. Remove roast from slow cooker; shred with two forks. Skim fat from sauce as needed. Return beef to slow cooker. To make the slaw: Combine remaining 2 Tbs. vinegar, remaining 2 Tbs. brown sugar and mustard in large bowl. Add carrots and apples; mix well. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve beef with slaw. Serves 8.

PH OTO AN D RE CIPE COU RT ESY OF BEEF. IT ’S WHAT ’S FOR DINNER

Cook’s Tip: Thinly sliced pears, celery, red cabbage, green cabbage or bell peppers, or a prepackaged slaw mix can be used in place of the carrots or apples.

Apple Guacamole

ff 1/4 cup cornstarch

ff 1/2 cup sugar

To make filling:

ff 1 cup flour

ff 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

ff 4 eggs

ff 1 1/2 cups milk

To make crepe batter:

ff bottled hot pepper sauce, to taste

Boston Creme Pie Crepes ff 1/2 tsp. salt

ff 1 1/2 tsp. sugar

Scoop avocado flesh into bowl; add onion, cilantro, lime juice and hot pepper sauce. Mash with fork until it reaches the desired consistency. Stir in apple and season with salt to taste. Serve with dippers.

ff 1/2 cup snipped fresh cilantro ff juice of 1 lime

CO URTESY CULINARY.NET

crisps, apple chips, tortilla chips)

ff assorted dippers (baked fruit

ff kosher salt or table salt, to taste

cored and finely chopped

ff 1 1/2 cups milk

ff 1/8 tsp. salt

ff 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled,

ff 4 egg whites

ff 8 tsp. butter

ff 3 ripe avocados, halved and pitted

ff 1 tsp. vanilla extract

ff 1/2 cup finely chopped Vidalia onion

ff 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

For filling, in saucepan mix milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt over medium heat. Stir until thickens. Pour 1/3 of sugar mixture into egg whites and stir, return to saucepan and heat for 1 minute. Remove saucepan from heat and pour in vanilla. Transfer filling to medium bowl, cover and press plastic wrap to the top of the mixture. Refrigerate 1-2 hours. Whip heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks are formed. Fold into the filling mixture. For crepes, whisk milk and eggs. Combine flour, sugar and salt then add to milk mixture. Refrigerate 1 hour. Coat pan with butter. Pour about 2 Tbs. of batter into pan. Lift and move pan around to coat with batter. Cook batter until top looks dry then flip and then transfer to plate. Spoon or pipe filling down center of crepe and fold over. Drizzle with your favorite chocolate sauce; serve immediately. COURTESY CULINARY.NET

JUNE 2018

KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING

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