POWERING THE FUTURE
BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL ENERGY SCAMS
OCTOBER IS COOP MONTH
JOIN US FOR A MEMBER APPRECIATION CELEBRATION OCTOBER 11!
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Arcadia/Mondovi Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001
Ashland/Iron River Brown Plmbg & HVAC (715) 682-0444
Beaver Dam/Green Lake Air Care, Inc. (920) 356-8860
Black River Falls/ Stevens Point Northern Indoor Comfort (715) 937-2676
Cashton/Sparta Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 269-1500
Chaseburg/Viroqua Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 269-1500
Clintonville/Oshkosh Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051
Cornell/New Auburn Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001
Dodgeville/Baraboo Modern Htg & Clg (608) 767-2689
Eau Claire/Osseo Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001
Escanaba/Iron Mountain GPS Htg & Clg (715) 732-2111
Green Bay/Oneida Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051
Hudson/Stillwater Geothermal Concept (612) 481-4020
Hurley/Park Falls QS Plmbing & Mechanical (715) 685-4330
Madison/Black Earth Modern Htg & Clg (608) 767-2689
Marinette/Peshtigo GPS Htg & Clg (715) 732-2111
Marengo/Ashland QS Plmbing & Mechanical (715) 685-4330
Menomonie/Bloomer Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001
Neillsville/Medford Northern Indoor Comfort (715) 937-2676
New Lisbon/Shamrock
Deans Refrig. & Heating (608) 372-6928
Oconto/Rhinelander Van’s Refridgeration (920) 833-2051
Osceola/New Richmond Sustainable Htg & Clg (651) 462-1300
Princeton/Waupun All Phase Geothermal (920) 763-2301
Redwing/Wabasha Earth Energy Htg & Clg (507) 421-3156
Richland Center/Viroqua Strang’s Htg Electric Plmb (608) 647-2855
Sturgeon Bay/Denmark Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051
Tomah/Oakdale Dean’s Refrig. & Heating (608) 372-6928
Wausau/Rhinelander Van’s Refrigeration (920) 833-2051
Westby/La Crosse Flock’s Htg & A/C (608) 654-5522
Winona/Pepin Earth Energy Htg & Clg (507) 421-3156
Wisconsin Rapids/ Marshfield Northern Indoor Comfort (715) 937-2676
The Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News (Formerly Wisconsin R.E.C. News) has been published monthly and distributed since July 1940 to members of Wisconsin’s non-pro t, consumer-owned rural electric cooperatives. It is available to non-members for $13 per year or $35 for three years. Members pay $6.93 per year.
Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 Rob Richard, president & CEO.
USPS number: 688-480.
Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200.
Periodicals postage paid at Sun Prairie, Wis.
Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. Phone (608) 467-4650.
Website: www.wecnmagazine.com.
Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18.
Rob Richard WECA president & CEO
Dana Kelroy editor
Beth Alesch associate editor
Julie Lund contributing writer
Ann Bailey graphic designer
Geri Miller advertising consultant
Jennifer Taylor editorial assistant
For advertising opportunities please email geri@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising or events does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. We reserve the right to refuse advertisers.
See our favorite summer fair
Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.
SYMBOL SEARCH
HIDDEN OBJECT GAME
Winning our September search was Robert Gawinski, a member of Riverland Energy Cooperative: “The butter y is on page 13, in the picture on the top left, on the dark pillar above the lineman’s head. That was really hard to nd! Keep doing this contest. It is fun and it gets us to read all the articles.”
Now, we challenge you to nd this leaf which was our very rst symbol from 2020. Remember that the symbol can be anywhere and any size. One randomly selected winner will receive a $50 Kwik Trip gift card, and two winners will each receive a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. One entry per household, please, and provide your permanent home or mailing address with your entry. Entries are due October 15.
Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage of wecnmagazine.com.
You can also enter by mail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative):
SYMBOL SEARCH WECA
6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200
This October marks ve years since we started the Symbol Search contest in this magazine. I’ll admit, I didn’t think it would become nearly as popular as it has. We receive hundreds of entries every month and really enjoy the comments that often accompany the submissions.
To celebrate our fth anniversary of this contest, we are not only awarding TWO kitchen kits this month, but also a $50 Kwik Trip gift card. This month’s symbol, a leaf, is the same symbol we used in our very rst contest.
Also receiving a kitchen kit is the winner of our Fun at the Fair Photo Contest (see entries on page 25). County and community fairs build community, teach youth important life lessons, and are just plain fun! Readers de nitely captured what makes Wisconsin fairs so special in this photo contest.
Speaking of building community, on page 8, Rob Richard talks about how cooperatives show concern for community, which is one of the Seven Cooperative Principles. October is Co-op Month, and the perfect time to look at what sets cooperatives apart from other businesses. Happy Co-op Month!
Dana Kelroy Editor
WIN A $50 KWIK TRIP GIFT CARD
Electric Bill Sales Tax
Exemption Begins Oct. 1
Wisconsinites will no longer pay sales tax on residential electricity and natural gas, effective October 1. Under previous state law the utility tax was exempt during the winter months, but the latest budget signed into law by Governor Tony Evers extends the exemption to the whole year. The change is expected to save Wisconsin residents nearly $180 million over two years.
The exemption does not include transient accommodations, motor homes, travel trailers, or other recreational vehicles.
PPCS, ECE Awarded BEAD Grants
Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) and East Central Energy (ECE) have been awarded grant funds from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to extend high-speed internet service to unserved rural areas. The federal funds are distributed through state programs.
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) awarded $690 million total, including $21.5 million for PPCS to extend service in Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, and St. Croix counties. ECE was awarded almost $8 million to bring broadband to homes and businesses in Burnett, Douglas, and Washburn counties.
NuScale and TVA Forge Partnership
NuScale Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the deployment of NuScale’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The initiative calls for 6 GW of energy and would be the largest deployment of SMRs in the nation to date.
Dairyland Power Cooperative entered into a memorandum of understanding with NuScale in 2022 to consider the potential of NuScale’s carbon-free energy solutions.
NEWS BRIEFS
Nuclear Plant Nears Unprecedented Restart
The Nuclear Regulatory Agency has reclassified the Palisades Nuclear Plant located in southwestern Michigan, from “decommissioned” to “operating,” paving the way for the plant to bring in fuel as it gets ready to restart the reactor, which is expected to happen by the end of the year.
The 800-megawatt Palisades plant, which has been closed for three years, will be the first-ever nuclear power plant in the United States to be recommissioned. Once operational, the plant is expected to be able to power 800,000 households.
Wisconsin Joins Affordable Clean Cars Coalition
Governor Tony Evers announced Wisconsin is joining the U.S. Climate Alliance’s Affordable Clean Cars Coalition, a multi-state initiative aimed at promoting access to electric vehicles.
Evers, who co-chairs the Alliance, said, “We need to make it easier, not harder, for consumers to upgrade to electric vehicles.”
Wisconsin joins Hawaii, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington in the alliance, which seeks to “make cleaner vehicles more affordable and accessible to all Americans who want them by reducing cost barriers, increasing availability of options, and expanding accessible charging and fueling infrastructure at home and in our communities.”
Under the Trump Administration, federal tax credits for electric vehicles ended on September 30.
DOT Revises EV Charging Station Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has revived the $7.5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) EV charging program, at least for states that were
already implementing the program, including Wisconsin. According to the DOT, the new guidance offers greater flexibility in determining how to best use the funds to grow the EV charging network and reduce range anxiety.
Wisconsin was awarded $78 million in NEVI funds and is one of the states that began to roll out the program before the Trump Administration suspended it. The NEVI funding was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was passed in 2021.
U.S. Leads World in Nuclear Generation
The United States has the most nuclear energy generation capacity in the world, followed by France, China, Russia, and South Korea, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data. The agency reports there are 416 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries with a total installed net generating capacity of 376 gigawatts (GW), as of June 2025.
Electric utilities in the United States currently operate 94 nuclear reactors which account for 19% of the nation’s electricity generation. Most operating U.S. nuclear plants were built between 1967 and 1990.
Riverland Energy Breaks Ground on New Facility
Riverland Energy Cooperative hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of the co-op’s new Buffalo County building. It is located on a 5-acre lot just off of Highway 35 on Twilight Road which the co-op bought from Dairyland Power Cooperative. The building will serve as a distribution center and a home base for a six-man line crew.
Riverland Energy sold its aging Alma location when the building no longer fit its needs. The co-op is headquartered in Arcadia and also has a location in Holmen to ensure crews can respond to calls as quickly as possible.
The Buffalo County building is expected to be completed in March.
MESSAGE from the CEO
COOPERATIVES ARE JUST DIFFERENT, AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE CELEBRATING THEM!
October is National Cooperative Month! It’s not designated just for electric cooperatives, but other cooperatives as well that cover all different kinds of industries and services throughout the country, like agriculture, housing, grocery, finance, workers, purchasing, and so on. The cooperative business model has thrived in the post-industrial age because it is member-centric, and that is what makes it so unique and special.
Richard WECA President and CEO
A cooperative, or co-op, is a business that is owned and democratically controlled by the members who use its services. As a member of your local electric distribution cooperative, you are an owner. You can participate in the governance of the co-op. You can financially benefit from the co-op when its profits, or margins, are distributed back to the members as patronage.
CooperativePrinci
Cooperatives around the world operate according to the same set of core principles and values, the roots of which trace back to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England, in 1844. These principles are the reason why your electric cooperative operates differently from other electric utilities, prioritizing the needs of its members.
All seven cooperative principles are key to the purpose and mission of your electric cooperative as it strives to provide you with safe, affordable, and reliable electricity. If you were to remove any one of these, a big part of the ‘who, what, when, where, and how’ that makes up the functionality and purpose of your cooperative would not be the same.
I would love to devote space to this column to talk about each principle at length, but I’m going to focus on the last two—Cooperative Among Cooperatives and Concern for Community—because that is where I personally see the most impact in my dual role as president and CEO of WECA and executive director of the Federated Youth Foundation.
Cooperation Among Cooperatives can mean many things, but at its core, it’s about working together through local, national, regional, and international structures; cooperatives improving services; bolstering local economies; and dealing more effectively with social and community needs. This was never more apparent to me than last year when Hurricane Helene ripped through large swaths of the southern states, causing more than 250 deaths and tens of billions of dollars in damage. The damage caused to electric cooperative infrastructure in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Tennessee was like nothing seen before, but in the aftermath, 45 crew members from 15 Wisconsin electric cooperatives arrived in South Carolina to assist with storm recovery for nearly two weeks, joining nearly 10,000 co-op personnel from 24 states to assist in the region’s mutual aid restoration effort. Cooperation Among Cooperatives does not have territorial or state borders when members of the co-op family are in need. Hurricane Helene is just one exemplary example of this incredible cooperation, but it also happens here at home when snow, ice, tornadoes, high winds, floods, and fire cause devastation, and the call for help goes out. Amazingly, our fellow electric cooperatives always stand ready to answer.
As the executive director of the Federated Youth Foundation (FYF), I also get to be a day-to-day witness to the generosity of the cooperatives following the principle of Concern for Community. FYF serves as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity where cooperatives of all types, including your local electric cooperative, place unclaimed capital credits to be later distributed as scholarships and charitable gifts. Since 2020, they have generously donated more than $7.3 million in scholarships to children of cooperative members and provided charitable gifts in a variety of ways to support organizations and events in the communities they serve.
Your local electric cooperative and its employees are doing wonderful things to deliver safe, affordable, and reliable power to your community, but they are also doing so much more. They believe in, and are delivering on, the seven principles to make the cooperative work better for you and your family. With their belief in Cooperation Among Cooperatives and Concern for Community, they’re also looking out for your neighbors as well, and for that, I say, ‘Thank you!’
Rob
POWERING THE FUTURE:
RHOW DATA CENTERS STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES
AND COOPERATIVES
emember when finding photos taken at a birthday party or vacation required pulling out photo albums or storage boxes? Or when looking up a credit card transaction meant sifting through physical papers, hoping the one you needed didn’t get tossed out? Or when listening to music meant pulling out a record album, cassette tape, or DVD? Since the turn of the century, and especially over the past few years, technology has reshaped how we live in almost every way.
All of the data that used to take up space on shelves or in filing cabinets, that was living in your office, closet, basement, or attic, still requires storage —but now it all occupies a tiny footprint in the internet-o-sphere, powered by data centers. Also, artificial intelligence (AI) is now woven into general online activities at work and at home. As a result, data center demand and growth are exploding in Wisconsin and across the nation.
Data centers can be huge, sometimes requiring more electricity than all the co-op’s members combined. This increased demand for electricity brings new opportunities and challenges for electric cooperatives.
In Wisconsin, Microsoft is planning a $3.3 billion data center campus in Mount Pleasant, which is expected to employ 2,300 construction workers, with thousands of long-term tech jobs to follow. In Port Washington, a planned 1,900-acre data center campus is expected to cost $8 billion and demand up to 1 gigawatt (1,000 megawatts) of electricity alone once operational. Additional projects are planned in Beaver Dam and Wisconsin Rapids, and not everyone is happy about it. Some worry it’s too much, too fast, and the potential impact is too uncertain.
A High-Energy Partnership that Works
Data centers are infusing new business into the energy industry, and utilities are seeing sales increase for the first time in years. U.S. electricity demand was flat for two decades but is now rising across the country, growing about 2% each year, which is expected to increase even more, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
When a data center developer approached Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) with a proposal to build in Hager City last year, President and CEO Nate Boettcher and the PPCS board weighed all of the factors. Would the center impact electric rates for other members? How would it affect the grid? Would the builder invest in any needed infrastructure to support such a major addition to co-op lines? They ultimately decided to welcome the center, and Metered Mining broke ground in June of 2024.
The data center founders initially anticipated drawing about two megawatts of power within two years. Instead, they doubled that projection—hitting 4.5 megawatts in just over a year. While this much growth
could be a concern at a time when the regional grid operator is raising the alarm over potential power shortages, Boettcher says the data center is a good partner in grid security.
Here’s why: When the cooperative calls for conservation during peak periods—those sweltering, extreme heat summer days or bitterly cold winter mornings when the grid is stressed and reliability is at risk—the data center participates, voluntarily cutting back to relieve demand on the system. “They’ve been good stewards of the grid,”
Boettcher said, adding that, when the power supply is abundant, having a major member like Metered Mining is a significant benefit for business.
“The benefit is that their load is steady and consistent,” he says. Unlike residential homes that fluctuate throughout the day or factories that shut down at night, data centers run 24/7. This predictability enables the co-op to maintain a consistent load factor, ultimately reducing costs for all members.
Nate Boettcher, president and CEO of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, speaks at a ribbon-cutting event for a data center, Metered Mining, located on the co-op’s lines. Metered Mining Co-founder Sidney Laurvick looks on. Metered Mining’s facility is partly served by a 2 MW solar facility that feeds into the neighboring substation.
FEATURE
Driven by Arti cial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has accelerated the demand for processing power, making data centers even more critical. At Pierce Pepin, AI is already a behind-the-scenes tool— helping staff edit communications, analyze financials, write code, and manage training resources. In many cases, Boettcher points out, people are already using AI daily without even realizing it, through search engines, voice assistants, or business applications.
Those data centers aren’t just abstract tech fortresses— they’re the infrastructure quietly making modern life more efficient and less cluttered.
“At the end of the day, we’re all using data centers whether we realize it or not,” he says. “Whether it’s storing family photos, running engineering models, or powering new business tools, the need for data centers keeps growing.”
Energizing the Co-op and Community
While data centers typically aren’t filled with full-time workers, they employ more people than you might think. According to Census.gov, the data center industry employed half a million people in 2023, up 60% from 2016, and related tech jobs are growing rapidly.
Boettcher points out that they still require skilled technicians to keep equipment running smoothly. Servers need maintenance, cooling systems require oversight, and customer satisfaction depends on constant reliability. “It’s just like any other business,” he says. “If the servers aren’t working, customers aren’t happy.”
A Smart Path for Growth
Boettcher says Metered Mining’s explosive growth is not untethered. While the industry offers the opportunity for exponential growth, the data center owners are sensitive to the challenges that can come from growing too much, too fast. Also, further upgrades to substations and transmission infrastructure take time and investment. For now, the focus is on serving existing customers reliably and efficiently before scaling further.
That balance, Boettcher says, is part of why data centers can be such a great asset. Their development depends on “location, location, location”—access to substations, transmission, and sometimes even water for advanced cooling systems. Metered Mining is partly served by a 2 MW solar facility located just up the road that feeds into the neighboring substation. Communities that are well-prepared for centers that are well-managed can reap the benefits.
Keeping Costs Low for Members
Most importantly, Boettcher emphasizes that data centers help keep electricity affordable. By adding large, predictable loads, cooperatives can spread costs across
JARVIS is a cooperative-developed AI tool to assist electric cooperative employees. Image courtesy of Dairyland Power Cooperative
Just Call Jarvis
Dairyland Power Cooperative is expanding its use of AI internally and across the nation
Dairyland Power Cooperative, which provides wholesale power to most of Wisconsin’s electric co-ops, continues to be on the forefront of arti cial intelligence and leading the nation in launching AI tools in the energy industry. The latest is a new development in Agentic Arti cial Intelligence, named JARVIS. Created with Dairyland’s eld crews in mind, JARVIS was built with a VoltWrite-based “brain” and can operate autonomously, assisting with reasoning, complex problem-solving, and task completion.
Sta can access JARVIS, who has the ability to answer operational questions, draft emails, summarize data, and more, over the phone. Enterprise Solutions Architect Vladimir Tsoy explained, “Jarvis isn’t about replacing jobs, it’s about enhancing how we work, so we can focus more on serving our members and communities.” JARVIS is still in development and is expected to be deployed in 2026.
In addition to JARVIS, Dairyland is working on other groundbreaking Agentic AI advancements including a regulatory compliance solution, and an advanced data analysis agent called “The Thinking Machine”, for complex modeling, research, and software development.
Dairyland’s IT team rst developed VoltWrite, an internal AI system that allows for streamlined e ciencies without the external risk of publicfacing AI tools, in 2023 and rolled it out to its sta in 2024. This year Dairyland is o ering the tool to electric co-ops across the country. There are currently 40 co-ops using VoltWrite, with more inquiring every week.
more users, reducing rates for everyday members. “This helps maintain affordable power,” he says. “It’s not just about the data center—it’s about everyone connected to the grid.”
Looking
Ahead As the national conversation around data centers continues—spanning environmental concerns, local land use, and even nuclear power generation—the reality on the ground looks different. For communities like those served by PPCS, data centers are not an abstract controversy but a practical partner in economic development and reliable energy.
The technology may evolve, the politics may shift, but the demand is here to stay. “This isn’t going away,” Boettcher says. “At the end of the day, data centers are powering the world we live in.”
—Julie Lund
Hixwood Steel Panels are manufactured in Stanley, WI
BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL ENERGY SCAMS
If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a scammer, don’t hesitate to hang up. Call your cooperative directly using the number listed on your monthly bill or on the o cial website.
Electric cooperatives across the country are urging members to stay alert as utility-related scams continue to evolve. Fraudsters are becoming more aggressive and more convincing—using impersonation, false urgency and digital deception to extract payments or personal information from unsuspecting individuals.
Reports of scam calls, fake energy rebate offers, and phony disconnection threats have increased in recent months. These schemes often begin with a phone call, text, or visit from someone claiming to represent the local electric provider. The tactics vary, but the goal is always the same: to pressure the member into acting quickly before they have time to verify the request.
Some scammers demand immediate payment, threatening that your service will be shut off within minutes. Others offer too-good-to-be-true incentives like rebates, energy audits, or free equipment installations—if the member provides banking information or pays an upfront fee. In many cases, scammers can even manipulate caller ID to appear as though the call is coming from a trusted utility number.
Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives want members to know they will never call and demand immediate payment. They will never ask for banking or account information over the phone, nor will they pressure a member to act without the opportunity to verify the situation. If someone claiming to be from your cooperative insists on urgency or payment through nontraditional means, that’s a red flag.
These scams can arrive in the form of emails, text messages, or QR codes designed to look like real payment portals. Typically, the links redirect to fraudulent websites that steal sensitive data. The scammers may also encourage members to pay through untraceable methods like prepaid debit cards, mobile apps, or cryptocurrency—methods legitimate utilities never use.
One concerning trend involves scammers visiting homes unannounced, posing as utility workers conducting inspections or installations. Without proper identification or appointment confirmation, these visits should always be treated with caution.
Education and awareness remain two of the most powerful tools in this fight. Members are encouraged to talk with family, friends, and neighbors about the warning signs of scams. Sharing information helps others stay safe and contributes to a stronger, more connected community.
If something doesn’t feel right, don’t hesitate to hang up, close the message or refuse entry. Call your cooperative directly using the number listed on your monthly bill or on the official website. Member service professionals are available to assist.
Electric cooperatives were built on trust, service, and community. By working together and looking out for one another, members and cooperatives alike can help expose fraud for what it is—and ensure that scammers are left in the dark.
Jennah Denney writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
MEMBER SERVICE ON THE LINES AND ONLINE
By Monica Obrycki, President and CEO
October is a special month for your cooperative because two important themes come together: Co-op Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month. At first glance, they might not seem to have much in common. But when you look closer, both are rooted in the same idea: looking out for the people who count on us.
As a cooperative, serving our members has always been at the heart of what we do. That means making sure your lights turn on when you flip the switch, that we’re here to answer your call when you need us, and that we invest in the communities we serve. Those visible actions are easy to connect to member services but in today’s world, serving our members also means protecting something less visible—your cybersecurity.
When people think of reliability, they often think about our poles, wires, and lineworkers braving storms to restore power. And that’s true, those things matter. But there’s another side of reliability that often goes unseen. Behind the meters and wires are computer systems and networks that help us run the cooperative. Those systems carry important data like account information, billing records, and communications that we work hard to keep safe.
In the same way we build and maintain the electric system to stand strong against storms, we also invest in cybersecurity to stand strong against digital threats. Just as we’re committed to keeping your power reliable, we’re equally committed to keeping your information secure.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good reminder that protection doesn’t just happen at the cooperative. Each of us can play a role in keeping our information safe. The reality is that many cyberattacks don’t succeed because of highly skilled hackers; they succeed because of simple mistakes, like weak passwords or clicking on a suspicious link.
Here are a few simple steps that make a big difference at home:
• Use strong passwords – longer is stronger. Consider using a phrase instead of a single word and avoid using the same one everywhere.
• Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible – it adds an extra lock to your digital door.
• Update software and apps –those updates often patch security issues.
• Think before you click – if an email or message feels off, it probably is.
We share these tips not because we think you can prevent every threat, but because small steps build stronger
habits. Just like keeping up on your smoke alarm testing or changing your furnace filter, these digital habits add up to real protection.
Cybersecurity may be a newer challenge compared to building power lines or restoring outages, but our response is guided by the same cooperative principles. We utilize partnerships with other cooperatives, share best practices, and invest in the systems that keep your data safe. We do it not because it’s easy, but because it’s the right thing to do for ECEC members.
The future of energy will bring even more technology into our daily lives, from smart thermostats and electric vehicles to advanced metering and distributed energy resources. With new opportunities in the energy world come new responsibilities to keep your information secure. We’re ready for that future, and we want you to be prepared too. That’s why we’ll continue to share resources and guidance, not only about how to use energy wisely, but also how to stay safe in a digital world.
As we celebrate Co-op Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I want you to know your cooperative is here for you. We work hard to keep your power on, keep your information safe, and keep our members at the center of what we do.
That’s the cooperative difference. And that’s why, whether it’s on the lines in the field or online in the office, we’ll always be looking out for you.
EAU CLAIRE ENERGY COOPERATIVE RETURNS OVER $920,000 TO MEMBERS DURING CO-OP MONTH !
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative is more than your power provider. We are a cooperative, which means our focus is always on you, our members. One of the clearest ways we show this is through the retirement of capital credits each year.
This October, in celebration of National Co-op Month, ECEC will return more than $920,000 to over 17,000 members. Since our inception in 1938, we have given more than $21 million back to our members. It is one of the many ways being a member of a cooperative is unique. Watch your October bill closely and you will see your share of this year’s retirement as a credit.
Capital Credits:
What They Are
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I earn capital credits?
Capital credits are based on how much electricity you use and the cooperative’s financial performance. The more energy you use, the larger your share of margins allocated to your account.
When will I see them?
Co-op member uses electricity provided by Eau Claire Energy Cooperative.
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When you pay your monthly electric bill, your dollars are put to work powering, maintaining, and improving the cooperative’s system. Once those costs are covered, any remaining funds, called margins, are allocated back to members as capital credits. These credits represent your ownership in the cooperative. Unlike investor-owned utilities, where profits go to outside shareholders, ECEC’s margins stay with our members and our community.
Why They Matter
Capital credits applied to bill.
4 5
Board approves the portion of the margins to be distributed to members as credits.
ECEC tracks member electricity use and payments.
ECEC applies capital credit retirements each October as a credit on your bill. Look at the upper right corner of your October bill or log in to your SmartHub account at www. ecec.com to view your bill and see the amount you received.
Can I get my capital credits paid out?
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Member Ownership: Cooperatives are owned by the members they serve. Capital credits are one benefit of that ownership.
Stability and Affordability: By retaining and reinvesting capital credits, cooperatives can maintain and upgrade their infrastructure, which, in turn, helps keep electricity rates stable and affordable for members. This also allows for more maintenance, meaning less outage time as well as more technology and communication for members.
Year-end accounting and audit are completed.
Financial obligations of the cooperative are met.
Capital credits use a revolving system where the money is returned to you over time. This helps the cooperative maintain financial stability, which allows for reliability and affordability for all members. Members will receive an annual capital credit retirement applied as a bill credit in October of each year.
What if I move away?
Your capital credits remain tied to your membership. If you leave ECEC’s service area, you will continue to receive your retirements by check until your credits have been fully paid out. Keeping your contact information up to date with us ensures you do not miss them.
Are
capital
credits taxable?
It’s advisable to consult a tax professional for guidance on reporting capital credit refunds on your income tax returns.
CO-OP MONTH SCAVENGER HUNT
Searching for some fun during National Coop Month? Sign up for member bene t services for your chance to win one of SIX $50 bill credits! Each program entered will have one additional chance for the grand prize. For example, if you have a SmartHub account and signed up for autopay, you will receive two entries. You must have at least one of the member bene t services below AND ll out the scavenger hunt form (online or attached) to be entered to win.
Chance 1: Register for SmartHub
Sign up at ecec.com/my_account/ smarthub or download the app and register your account there. You will need your account number and access to your email to successfully register. SmartHub allows you to report outages, view electricity usage, and so much more.
Chance 2: Update your contact methods in SmartHub
Verify your contact methods on SmartHub by logging in and selecting Settings, then Contact Methods. This will also allow you to enroll in text and email noti cations about outages, billing, and more.
Chance 3: Sign up for Auto Pay
Have your bill automatically paid by credit card, debit card, or bank account each month. Set it up online through SmartHub by logging in and selecting Bill & Pay then Auto Pay Program.
Chance 4: Choose paperless billing
Opt out of receiving a paper bill each month and have your bill emailed to you instead. Change your account settings in SmartHub by logging in and selecting Settings, then Paperless Billing.
Winners will be drawn on Monday, November 3 at 3 p.m. All entries submitted prior to that time will be entered. Each member can receive credit for any of the above services that they are enrolled in at that time. Enrollment prior to the contest does not disqualify a member from an entry, as long as you are enrolled at the time of the drawing and have lled out the entry form.
Co-op Month Scavenger Hunt Sign-up Form
Member Name:
Member Account Number:
Please check the boxes of any member bene ts that you are currently receiving: SmartHub Registration Completed Enrolled in Auto Pay
Contact Methods Updated Enrolled in Paperless Billing
Once completed please ll out the form online by scanning the QR code or by mailing it to:
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
Attn: Marketing and Communications PO Box 368 Fall Creek, WI 54742
If you are a member of district 1, 5, or 8, and would like to be considered by the Nominating Committee for the 2026 Director Election, there is still time to ll out the director election interest form. Fill out on www.ecec.com by no later than October 16 to be considered by the Nominating Committee.
ECEC’s Board of Directors?
Once we receive your request, we will send you a director information packet for you to review. All inquiries will remain con dential. A member of the Nominating Committee may contact you to discuss your interest in becoming a candidate. This committee will meet to review and select the nal slate of candidates. Interested in Joining
8214 Hwy 12, P.O. Box 368, Fall Creek, WI 54742-0368
www.ecec.com
Lobby Hours: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday; 7:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Friday
Non-emergencies: 715-832-1603
Monica Obrycki, President and CEO
Taylor Skibba, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Emergencies & outages: Toll FREE 800-927-5090
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Diggers Hotline: 811 or 1-800-242-8511
Call 3 working days before you dig.
CELEBRATE OCTOBER PORK MONTH
All recipes and photos courtesy of the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
Pulled Pork Taquitos
SHREDDED PORK
1 cup salsa
5–6 lbs pork shoulder
1 (1 oz) pkg taco seasoning
Pour the salsa into the bottom of a slow cooker. Place the pork shoulder on top and sprinkle the seasoning over the meat. Cook on HIGH for approx. 6–8 hours or on LOW for approx. 9–10 hours or until it shreds easily.
TAQUITOS
2 cups shredded pork
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup salsa
1 tsp smoked paprika
12 corn tortillas (white or yellow)
Oil for frying
Toppings such as guacamole, salsa, sour cream, etc., if desired
Combine the shredded pork, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, salsa, and smoked paprika in a large bowl and mix. Pour frying oil into a large skillet or frying pan (about 1 inch of oil is ideal). Heat the oil to 350 degrees. Roll approx. 1/4 cup of the pork mixture up inside each of the tortillas*. Place a few taquitos into the hot oil, seam side down. Fry for approx. 3–5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and serve warm with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole, if desired. Serves 12.
NOTES: *If your tortillas begin to break, microwave them approx.15–20 seconds to warm them up. This will make them more pliable. You may also use small our tortillas; it’s not as traditional, but still delicious! The recipe for pulled pork will yield more than enough for this recipe. The extra meat may be used for tacos, quesadillas, and pulled pork nachos—or freeze and save for later.
Grilled Fajita Stu ed Peppers
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2/3 cup diced onions
1 lb ground pork
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted tomatoes, do not drain
1 pkg fajita seasoning
1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided
3 large red bell peppers
1/4 cup water
Toppings such as plain Greek yogurt, cilantro, diced avocado, sliced jalapenos, etc. (optional)
Pour vegetable oil into a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook for approx. 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add ground pork and cook until no pink remains. Stir in the brown rice, tomatoes with liquid, fajita seasoning, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese; set aside.
Preheat grill to 400 degrees. Cut the bell peppers in half (from the stem to the bottom of the core) and remove the seeds. Grill the peppers for approx. 1–2 minutes on each side then remove from the grill. Place the peppers in a foil pan and divide the filling between the six pepper halves. Sprinkle the remaining cheese onto the stuffed peppers. Pour 1/4 cup of water into the bottom of the foil pan then cover tightly with aluminum foil. Place the foil pan onto the grill and let cook for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and cook an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm with toppings, if using. Makes 6 servings.
Italian Meatloaf
1 lb Italian sausage
1 lb ground pork
1/3 cup plain or Italian breadcrumbs
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1 (8 oz) can pizza sauce, divided 1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 (8 oz) block mozzarella cheese (3/4 cubed and 1/4 shredded)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-x5-inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, add the Italian sausage, ground pork, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, seasonings, 1/2 cup pizza sauce, milk, egg, and the cubed mozzarella cheese. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top; bake for 60 minutes. Spread the remaining pizza sauce over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese on top. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melty and the meatloaf is at least 160 degrees. Serves 8.
Sausage and Potato Foil Packets
1 (14 oz) pkg smoked sausage, sliced
1 lb baby red potatoes, quartered
1 lb green beans, trimmed
2 cobs of corn, cut into coins
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
Parsley, optional garnish
Cut four large sheets of foil. Divide the sausage, potatoes, green beans, and corn evenly among the pieces of foil. In a small bowl, combine the butter, pepper, and salt; pour over each foil packet, dividing evenly. Fold the foil packets and seal tight; give each packet a little shake to evenly disperse the butter. To grill, place on a hot grill and cook until potatoes are soft (approx. 12–15 minutes); open and garnish with parsley, if desired. To bake, place the foil packets in a 425-degree oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft; open and garnish with parsley, if desired.
READER RECIPES
MA’S PORK CHOP CASSEROLE
RECIPE COURTESY OF LARRY STREMIKIS, CHARLOTTESVILLE
REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS
A reader is looking for your favorite recipes using Brussels sprouts.
SEND TO: WECN, Reader Recipes, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 or jennifer@weca.coop
Old Bay seasoning, to taste Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste
1 cup our 6–8 pork chops
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
5 red or Yukon Gold potatoes
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of celery soup
1 cup beef bullion
1 cup milk
Mix Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper into the our, and coat each pork chop with the our mixture on both sides. Heat canola oil in a large frying pan and add the pork chops and chopped onion; cook chops until browned. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes and evenly distribute them over the bottom of a medium-sized roaster pan. Season with additional salt and pepper. Add the cream of celery soup; stir and mix lightly. Lay browned pork chops over potatoes and add bullion and milk. Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.
QUICK AS A WINK CASSEROLE
RECIPE COURTESY OF KATHY GROSHEK, STEVENS POINT
4–5 potatoes, peeled and sliced thin 2 lbs lean ground beef
2 (19 oz) cans vegetable beef soup
Place potatoes in the bottom of a greased 9-x13-inch baking dish and crumble raw ground beef over potatoes. Pour vegetable beef soup over beef and potatoes. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Yield 6–8 servings.
RICE-A-RONI HOTDISH
RECIPE COURTESY OF LYDIA SCHUMACHER, NEILLSVILLE
1 box Cheddar Broccoli or Chicken & Broccoli Rice-A-Roni
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (12.5 oz) can cooked, chunk chicken 1/2 lb broccoli, cut into small orets and pieces
Mozzarella cheese, to taste
Make Rice-A-Roni according to directions on box. Add soup, chicken, and broccoli and heat until broccoli is cooked to desired doneness; top with mozzarella cheese. Serve warm.
Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to jennifer@weca.coop or submit directly at http://wecnmagazine.com/submit-a-recipe/.
PLEASE NOTE: Recipes submitted must include quantities for all ingredients. If no measurements are used, your recipe will not be printed. Due to food safety issues, we cannot accept canning recipes.
CHICKEN DIVAN CASSEROLE
RECIPE COURTESY OF JEANNE REBER, EAU CLAIRE
2 medium heads fresh broccoli or 2 (20 oz) pkgs frozen
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup our 2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 Tbsp sherry
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 chicken breasts, cooked and thinly sliced 1-1/2 cups cooked rice
Cook broccoli until tender; drain and set aside. Melt butter, then blend in our. Cook approx. 1–2 minutes. Add chicken broth slowly, stirring until thickened. Stir in whipping cream, sherry, salt, and pepper. Place broccoli in 9-x13-inch buttered baking dish. Pour half the sauce over the broccoli; top with chicken slices. To the remaining sauce, add Parmesan cheese; pour over chicken and sprinkle with extra cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Broil just until golden on top. Serve with rice. Sauce ingredients may be doubled, if desired.
SAUERKRAUT HAMBURGER CASSEROLE
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF TAMMY TYZNIK, COLBY
2-1/2 lbs raw ground beef
Shake of salt and pepper
5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed into bite-sized pieces
16 oz sauerkraut, drained
2 (10.5 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup
Sour cream (optional)
In a casserole dish, layer all ingredients (except sour cream) in order with ground beef on the bottom, then salt, pepper, cubed potatoes, sauerkraut, and soup. Bake at 375 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Serve with a dollop of sour cream (optional).
LEAVE A LEGACY
The Enduring Gift of Gold
American Gold Reserve is releasing Government issued $5 Gold American Eagles completely free of dealer mark-up for only $349 each. These beautiful $5 Gold American Eagles are a perfect way to enter the gold market. They are set for immediate public release and will sell out fast
Leave a legacy for future generations, nothing embodies this sentiment quite like the enduring gift of gold from American Gold Reserve. With its intrinsic value and historical significance, gold represents stability and prosperity across generations, making it a cherished asset to pass down. Secure your family’s future with a gift that stands the test of time, ensuring a legacy of financial security and enduring value.
• Teach the importance of wealth preservation.
• Great way to pass on wealth to children and grand children.
• A symbolic act of the commitment to your family.
• Gold provides your children and grandchildren with a built-in safeguard during times of financial instability.
NRUSTIC ROADS
FIFTY YEARS OF FALL BRILLIANCE ON THE BACKROADS
ew England, specifically Vermont, has long held the crown as a leaf-peeper’s paradise. “Leaf peeping” is the act of intentionally traveling rural roads to view and photograph brilliant fall colors. Some folks even plan entire vacations around catching the peak colors in mountainous locales.
Here in Wisconsin, we have the opportunity to experience thrilling colors that rival those found out East. Specifically, on the roads designated Rustic Roads. In 1973, the state Legislature initiated the Rustic Roads Program in response to pressure to modernize and develop rural roads while protecting their natural features and rural charm. The first route was designated in Taylor County in 1975.
Fifty years later, and still known today as Rustic Road 1, this route includes a historical marker to memorialize the designation. The road is five miles in length, is unpaved, and runs between Hwy 102 and County D near Rib Lake. It includes a public beach at South Harper Lake.
In total, 126 scenic routes span more than 700 miles across 61 counties. To be considered a Rustic Road, each must meet specific criteria. First, it must have outstanding natural features such as rugged terrain, native vegetation
or wildlife, or have open areas with agricultural outlooks. They must be lightly traveled and cannot be drastically changed or improved to make them less rustic. Finally, they must be at least two miles in length and either complete a loop or connect with a major highway at both ends of the route.
Through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT), the program receives oversight from the Rustic Roads Board. They even consider applications for new road designations. True fans of these rural roads can travel ten routes and contact the DOT to receive a commemorative key chain. Travelers of all 126 can receive a certificate and a choice of a lapel pin or keychain.
From the Driftless Region to the forested Northwoods, October in Wisconsin is a riot of red, orange, and gold. Plan a route through pastoral farmland, roll along glacial hills, and wind through dense forests. Save yourself a trip out East and enjoy fall on Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads.
More information, including a complete guide, on Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads Program is available on the Wisconsin DOT’s webpage at wisconsindot.gov/rusticroads or by calling 608-267-3614.
Tips for Your October Rustic Road Adventure
• Plan loosely. Part of the charm is exploring at your own pace. Pick a few roads near each other and leave room for detours.
• Check foliage reports. Wisconsin’s Department of Tourism provides weekly fall color updates to help you time your trip.
• Pack layers. October temperatures can vary widely—mornings may be frosty while afternoons are surprisingly warm.
• Bring a paper map. Cell service can be spotty on some of the more remote routes.
• Don’t forget your camera. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an Instagram enthusiast, the photo ops are endless.
Use the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s 2025 Fall Color Report to best time your trip.
A copy of the Wisconsin Rustic Roads travel guide is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s website, or by scanning the QR code with your smartphone’s camera. Image courtesy of WisDot
FUN AT THE FAIR Photo Contest
Abigail George Riverland Energy
Anita Garski Price Electric
Cindy Jensen Central Wisconsin Electric
Alicia Wirth Dunn Energy
Lynne Quilling Dunn Energy WINNER
Becky Colwell Oakdale Electric
Connie Riemenschneider Chippewa Valley Electric
Becky Mueller Rock Energy
Corri Tschanz Riverland Energy
Brett Harding Oconto Electric
Jay Olson-Goude Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services
Abigail George Riverland Energy
Pierce
Pierce
Pierce
Kim Harding Oconto Electric
Linda Clark Riverland Energy
Lucy Schmidt Jump River Electric
Debra Galston Oakdale Electric
Karen Traynor
Pepin Cooperative Services
Jonathan Peterson
Pepin Cooperative Services
Kathy Groshek Central Wisconsin Electric
Jay Olson-Goude
Pepin Cooperative Services
Lucy Schmidt Jump River Electric
Lynne Quilling Dunn Energy
Melissa Boehlke Clark Electric
Paul Krohn Oakdale Electric
CLASSIFIEDS
WANTED: PAYING CASH FOR WWII FLAGS, DAGGERS, SWORDS, GUNS, ETC. Also buying guns and collections. 715-340-1974.
WANTED: DEER TAGS, BACK TAGS. Trapping, bear, hunting licenses. Otter, fisher, bobcat tags, party permits, old traps. 715-2559284 David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446.
GOT TRAPS - NEED TRAPS? Wanted: bear or large, odd traps, lever-action ri es. For sale: beaver, coyote, Newhouse traps. 715-563-6658.
MAILBOX DOOR NOT STAYING CLOSED? Strong add-on magnet. No tools required. Rural style mailboxes. www.MAILNUT.com. 715-967-2448.
GEOTHERMAL We service & install all models and brands. Niesen@charter.net. Contact us today.
CHAINSAWS WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Buying 1 or 100 McCulloch, Pioneer, Jonsereds, Echo, STIHL, Homelite, Remington, Mall. Buying all brands and sizes. Non-running, running, siezed, parts. Let me know what you have - will travel. Call Chainsaw Mike at 715-828-9414.
THROW YOUR HOME MOVIES IN THE TRASH! Or pro transfer 8mm, VHS, slides, audio, and all formats to DVD or ash drive. Gene DVD Productions 715-827-2302.
WANTED: COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR VINTAGE SPORTS CARDS 1986 or older. 608-343-3503.
SHEDS DELIVERED - LOYAL, WI: Custom Design & Price Online! Sheds, barns, garages, cabins, & chicken coops. 2-4 week lead times. Free delivery & setup using our shed mule. Prebuilt inventory listings. ShedsDelivered.com.
E-BIKES FOR SALE Let me get you on the right E-bike/E-trike. E-Cycle Bike Shop Mobile, Boyceville, WI. Call or text Bicycle Larry 715-702-1452.
NEW PACKER CHEESEHEADS ITEMS! Check out www.cheeseknits.com for some great knit accessories. Perfect gifts for any Packer or Cheesehead fan!
1969 SCORPION SNOWMOBILE 368CC MOTOR FOR SALE. Bob Giede, 715-556-1190. 2 Blue Prototype Hoods from 3M, 1 Brake unit, 1 Tachometer, 1 Speedometer, 1 Aluminum Gas Tank, 3 Round Hoods, 1 Wedge Hood, 2 Pair of wear runners, 1 Mid 70’s handle bar setup, 1 Rear bumper, 1 Drive Set + Driven clutch + Exhaust Parts, 2 Spare Belts, 1 Spare SACHS Engine, 1 1969 Operator Instructions + Parts Manual, 1 Scorpion Internal Drive Track, 1 New 137” Polaris Track $576, Clothes & Accessories: 1 Pair of Scorpion Mittens, 4 Light Jackets, 1 Scorpion Bolo Tie, 1 Red Stocking hat, 2 Scorpion Hangers, 1 Hand Knit Scorpion Sweater, 2 Hand knit scarves.
FOR SALE: ZIMMERMAN HOOP HOUSE - brand new. Unassembled. Steel, 30’ x 60’, W-arch, 6’ sidewall height, two metal end walls. $8000 OBO. Vernon County. 262-617-6043.
WANTED TO BUY: Model 1895 Winchester ri e, 60-06 caliber. Please call 715-765-4670.
Classi ed ads reach more than 152,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric coops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classi ed ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classi eds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN—Classi eds, Attn. Jennifer, 6405 Century Ave., Ste. 102, Middleton, WI 53562. Ph: 608-467-4638. Email jennifer@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.
If you’re aiming for scary Halloween decor, make sure safety concerns aren’t adding an additional fright. Here are some things to watch for:
l Inspect each electrical decoration for cracking, fraying, or bare wires, as well as damaged plugs. Replace any damaged decorations.
l Don’t overload extension cords or allow them to run through water on the ground. When decorating outside, make sure to use extension cords rated for outdoor use.
l Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into ground fault circuit interrupterprotected outlets.
l Consider battery-operated candles in jack-o’-lanterns or other decor instead of real candles.
l Keep combustible decorations like dried owers, cornstalks, and crepe paper away from heat sources.
Source: safeelectricity.org
WISCONSIN EVENTS October 2025
2–5 Burger Nights—Mondovi. Together Farms. Thurs. & Fri. 4–9 p.m.; Sat. 12–9 p.m.; and Sun. 12–7 p.m. Come for great tasting food and drink, stay for the great music and atmosphere! Voted the 2025 Chippewa Valley #1 Best Food Event. Live music, kids’ activities, plus a bar on-site. 715-200-8333.
3 Lima’s Fish Fry—Durand. Holy Rosary Church, 4:30–7 p.m. Crisp fish with Lima’s tartar sauce, potato salad, coleslaw, fries, and a cupcake. Coffee, milk, and water are provided. Large $14, small $12. Dine-in or drive-thru. Handicap accessible parking/restroom.
3 Next Steps Night Out—La Crosse. Capella Weddings and Events, 4:30–10 p.m. Dress as your favorite movie character or to walk the red carpet! Movie/costume theme is ‘The Greatest Showman’. Games, dinner, live entertainment, and the chance to win prizes—including $3K in cash. Costumes encouraged but not required. 608-466-6677.
3–5 Wheels Of Time—Richland Center. Richland Co. Fairgrounds, all day. Antique truck and tractor show, free admission. Tractor and truck drive, threshing, parade, food, kids’ activities, and cowboy church. Camping available. 608-647-8064.
4 Community, Crafts, & Causes Craft Fair— Neillsville. Clark County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Many crafters and artisans. Concession food sales and a large raffle. Bring a non-perishable food item for the food drive.
4 Fall Harvest Festival—Phillips. Downtown (Avon, Cherry, and Hwy 13 Streets), 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Arts & crafts fair, vendor booths, and many food vendors in the downtown area.
4, 5 Cranberry Harvest Days—Warrens. Wetherby Cranberry Company. Sat., 9 a.m.–12 p.m., Live harvest demo (Sat. only), hip boot experience available, on-farm store open both days. Sun., 10 a.m.–2 p.m., hip boot experience. Cost is $20 for adults for tour and hip boot experience (or $10 per activity), $10 for kids 6–18 for tour and hip boot experience (or $5 per activity), and free for 5 and under. Cash or checks are preferred. No reservations. Rain or shine. Dress for the weather and bring a camera! 608-378-4813.
5 Octoberfest Dinner—Jim Falls. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Pork steak dinner, bake sale, cake walk, and raffle. Meal is $13 for adults, $6 for 12 and under, and preschool is free. Carry-outs available.
5 Fall Festival—Gays Mills. St. Phillips Church (42678 Church Rd); mass at 10:30 a.m., and dinner from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Baked goods, basket raffle, and raffle tickets for sale. 608-391-1642.
10, 11 Village-Wide Rummage Sales—Melrose. Area homes, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Pick up maps at local businesses.
10, 11 Falling Leaves Art Studio Tour— near Osseo, Fairchild, Augusta, and Fall Creek. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Self-guided tour of art studios and stops (including 15 locations and 26 artists) Meet the artists and shop for original art and gifts. Call 715-5972229 for the tour map and artist info.
11 Arts and Crafts Sale—Bloomer. Elementary School, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Lunch available. Vendors may contact Lori at 612-720-8970.
11 Oktoberfest “Sip & Shop” Craft/Vendor Event— Boyceville. High School Gym, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 60 crafters and vendors, plus other area boutiques, face painting, and food.
11 Family Fall Fest—Phillips. Elk Lake Park, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Rides, games, food, and fun. Free event.
11 Octoberfest—New Auburn. Paraiso Acres, 12–6 p.m. Full cash bar and live polka music from 1–4 p.m. by Royal Flush. 715-214-5649.
11 Polka Dance—Gilman. Jump River Community Center, 1:30–5:30 p.m. Come out and have some fun! Food available.
12 Fall Breakfast—Wittenberg. St. Joseph Catholic Church Galloway, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Buffet-style breakfast, including scrambled eggs, Nueske’s ham & sausage, blueberry French toast bake, and more. Cash raffle too! Adults $12, ages 6–12 are $6, and under 5 are free. 715-454-6431.
12 Fall Polka Jam—Stratford. Country Aire Bar & Banquet Hall, 12–5 p.m. Come to play, dance, and tap your feet. Public welcome. 715-389-1232.
12 Poetry Reading—Drummond. Public library and historical museum, 2–4 p.m. Audience will be invited to share short poems on any theme and regional poets will read their works. Refreshments afterwards. 715-798-3619.
18 Holiday Craft Fair—Janesville. First Lutheran Church, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Crafters, quilters, writers, bake sale, wine pull, lunch, rock painting, cookie decorating, and children’s activities. 608-752-7434.
18 Craft Masters Craft Sale—Appleton. Capitol Centre Sports Bar and Grill, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Handmade items only (no direct sales). Fall, winter, Christmas, and everyday items, baked goods, and candy.
18 Lute sk Supper—Iola. Northland Lutheran Church, 12:30–6:30 p.m. Traditional Norwegian supper, including dessert. All-you-can-eat, family-style, plus a bake and craft sale. Tickets at the door are $22 for ages 13+ and $10 for ages 6–12. 715-445-2956.
19 Swedish Meatball Dinner—Greenwood. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Drive-thru only (lower level). Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, and more. 715-503-0183.
25 Jason Crabb Concert—Reedsburg. CAL Center, 7–9 p.m. Winner of multiple Grammy and Dove awards, his music is a blend of southern gospel, country, and contemporary Christian. Tickets are $25–$35. 608-768-8928 ext.1190.
Upload events directly to the wecnmagazine.com through the “Events” tab.
Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Due to space limits, we may need to eliminate details, so be sure to include a phone number (with area code) where callers may obtain more info. If we receive more listings than space allows us to print, we reserve the right to select those we believe will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. Please no virtual events. Events can also be mailed to: WECN, Events, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200.
DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the event is to appear.
Upload events to wecnmagazine.com
2. When a stray cat had kittens at their place, Autumn convinced her dad to keep one. Photo submitted by Michele Sobeck, a member of Oconto Electric.
3. Sawyer takes his rooster, Snow, for a bike ride. Photo submitted by Sami Goss, a member of Riverland Energy.
Upload photos directly to wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab.
Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be uploaded via wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. By submitting, sender implies that he/she has rights to and owns the image, and grants WECN permission to use the image. By submitting, the parent or legal guardian also authorizes us the right to publish the image.
READ THE FOLLOWING FACTS TO LEARN HOW CO-OPS ARE UNIQUE, THEN FIND AND CIRCLE THE BOLDED WORDS IN THE PUZZLE.
• Co-ops and their members work together toward a common goal.
• Co-ops are local organizations, so they understand the communities they serve.
• All co-ops operate according to the same set of seven cooperative principles.
• Concern for community is the seventh cooperative principle.
• Co-ops don’t serve customers; instead, they serve members.
• Co-ops are led by the local members they serve.
1. Wyatt helps feed the cows. Photo submitted by Joyce Hill, a member of Rock Energy.
Every Henry Now Proudly Built
Henry Repeating Arms has always stood for American-made excellence. Now, we’re proud to announce that 100% of our manufacturing operations will take place in the great state of Wisconsin. Between our newly expanded, state-of-the-art headquarters in Rice Lake and additional facilities in nearby Ladysmith, our commitment to quality, innovation, American values, and supporting the hardworking communities of the great Badger State is stronger than ever.
We believe that where it’s made matters, and when you choose to buy a Henry rifle, shotgun, or revolver for hunting, plinking, teaching the next generation, or displaying in a place of pride, you are keeping our American traditions alive.
