Currents MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
SEPTEMBER 2023
River Rock Promotions & Printing in Fort Mohave offers a 15% Co-op Connections discount. Read more on page 4. PHOTOS BY MEC
Passport to Savings Co-op Connections offers MEC members amazing discounts Page 4
ALSO INSIDE >>
Operation Cool Shade Page 8 Leadership in D.C. Page 32
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FROM THE PIONEER TEAM
Ruralite Currents September 2023 • Volume 58, No. 5 ANZA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Sherri Stafford
ARIZONA GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION COOPERATIVES DUNCAN VALLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Kassi Mortensen
ELECTRICAL DISTRICT NO. 2
Roselyn Bever
GRAND CANYON STATE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
Hannah Capozzi
MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Heather Foreman
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Mike Teegarden EDITOR
Victoria Hampton Currents (USPS 030-520) is published bimonthly for members for $1.23 a year, plus postage by Pioneer Utility Resources, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-forprofit Oregon cooperative corporation— to serve the communication needs of four consumer-owned electric utilities in Arizona and California. Preferred periodical postage paid at Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 and additional mailing offices. © 2023 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Postmaster: Send address changes to Currents, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. TO CONTACT CURRENTS
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133-1306 Email: info@pioneer.coop Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $8 (U.S.) per year. Prepayment required. Identify local edition desired.
School Lunch Memories
I rarely ate schoolprepared lunches when I was in school, or as we called it, hot lunch. Selecting a new lunchbox with my mom in August before school started was a beloved ritual. My favorite is still the Peanuts-themed square metal box I had in grade school. I remember putting a safety pin through the metal latch to keep the lid from opening and dumping my food on the playground. Yes, this happened more than once. Like most kids, dessert was my favorite part of lunch. I either had a homemade cookie, usually chocolate chip, or a Ding Dong wrapped in foil. My thermos was always filled with milk. Perhaps if my school had access to one of the cool farm to school programs we are featuring this month on page 12, I would have been more
interested in the school lunches. Some students are able to plant, water, grow, harvest and eat fresh food raised by their own hands. What a wonderful way to teach agriculture science and instill a love and appreciation for the work involved in growing fresh food. In more lofty pursuits, our story about hot air ballooning on page 10 reminds me of the time I was lucky enough to fly with the Touchstone Energy balloon team in Walla Walla, Washington. I’ll never forget the feeling as the gondola gently ascended. I’ve flown in a lot of small planes, but this experience was completely different. It was the closest I’ve come to feeling like I was truly flying. Almost as satisfying was watching the tethered balloons do what they call a night glow, when operators light up the balloons at dusk with propane burners. The bright balloons against the fading blue light were a sight to see. Even if you aren’t interested in flying, don’t pass up a chance to see a night glow. Mike Teegarden Editorial Director
Magic in the Air
Delivery Issues: Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover. Nonmembers should contact Pioneer Utility Resources at mailingdept@pioneer.coop.
Popularity of hot air balloons takes flight Up Close, Page 10
Extra copies: $3 each, prepayment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year.
From Seeds to Success
Reprint permission: Direct all requests to info@pioneer.coop. Manuscripts and photographs: Query first. Do not send unsolicited materials.
Farm to school programs connect students with local food Spotlight, Page 12
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Plugged In In the Kitchen
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Photo Hunt Before You Go
22 30
Utility Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 32 SEPTEMBER 2023
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MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Co-op
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Membership certainly has its privileges! By Tara Haywood For more than a decade, Mohave Electric Cooperative members have had the opportunity to participate in Co-op Connections, a comprehensive discount program. The Co-op Connections membership card is absolutely free and just an added benefit of being an MEC member! From deep discounts on essentials such as prescriptions, vision care, dental care and life insurance to fun stuff like hotels, rental cars and concert tickets, the Co-op Connections Card truly is your passport to savings! Since 2011, MEC members and their families have saved over $2 million on prescriptions alone! Keeping your card handy can also provide you with an added sense of security when facing some of life’s unexpected moments. Whether a flat tire on a late-summer getaway or a broken air-conditioner at home, Co-op Connections has discounts available for the help that you need. (While the thought of having to replace Jeff Gift, owner of River a cooling unit Rock Promotions & Printing isn’t particularly in Fort Mohave, offers a 15% pleasant, discounts Co-op Connections discount. PHOTO BY TARA HAYWOOD/MEC on qualifying 4
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units are also combinable with any applicable MEC rebates, for added savings.) With notoriously hot weather here in the desert Southwest, you’ll definitely want to make Co-op Connections—and MEC—part of your seasonal preparedness plan. Co-op Connections, a Touchstone Energy program, has grown consistently over the years, and their recently updated website reflects the many different categories in which members can find amazing discounts. Whether you’re thinking about taking the kids to Disneyland or taking in a show on the Las Vegas strip, Co-op Connections can help you to do it for less money! If a night at the movies is more your style, you’ll want to check out the special ticket offers. (There’s even a discount on concessions!) If you develop a tired and achy back from running around to all of these places, don’t worry! Co-op Connections even has you covered with discounted chiropractic care. In addition to an expansive array of national offers, many local businesses have also partnered with Co-op Connections to bring members extraordinary savings and offers. With free advertising available for any local business who joins the program, the partnership is beneficial for both the businessand their customers. Jeff Gift, owner of River Rock Promotions & Printing in Fort Mohave, AZ, had this to say when asked about the program, “It’s a wonderful business tool. We love to have customers come in and show their Co-op Connections card. We appreciate the business, and they certainly appreciate the discount.” Jeff, along with his wife of 38 years, Tracy, have deep ties in the community. They both know the meaning of hard work—and love to help their clients in every way that they can. “A customer recently placed a $3,000 order, which, naturally, is a sizeable amount. When they realized that the Co-op Connections discount we offer (15%) was $450, they were very happy, to say the least—and to see them happy is especially rewarding.” With over 100 local partners, that sentiment is certainly shared by many establishments throughout the community. For more information about Co-op Connections, visit: www.connections.coop or email us at coopconnections@mohaveelectric.com n
ADOBE STOCK PHOTOS BY ANDY DEAN AND ASTA CONCEPT
S G N I V A T TO S
SEPTEMBER 2023
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PLUGGED IN
Prioritize Emergen Create peace of mind with an actionable plan By Victoria Hampton Be prepared. These two words of advice can make all the difference when facing severe weather and natural disasters. While some severe weather events are seasonal, unpredictable conditions can cause natural disasters to strike any time of year. There is no better time than today to start planning for the next emergency in your community. During National Preparedness Month, take steps to prepare for what Mother Nature has in store by creating an emergency plan. Emergency plans should account for multiple emergency scenarios. The plan should be developed, discussed and shared with all members of your household. Take these steps to prepare your emergency plan: Communicate. Because your family or roommates may not be together when a disaster strikes, make sure everyone knows how to contact one another and where to reconnect. Discuss the types of disasters that are possible in your area and the different precautions for each. For example, wildfires have different evacuation levels, from 1 to 3. Hurricanes are defined by severity categories. Make sure everyone knows recommendations for sheltering in place and evacuation based on the severity of the natural disaster or storm. Talk about how your family would respond to different types of emergencies. Document the plan and share it with each person in the household. Ready.gov offers an easy family emergency communication plan that can be filled out and exported into a shareable PDF. Expand your emergency plan to include neighbors. Talk about emergency resources or tasks you may be able to share, how to help neighbors who have disabilities or are elderly and how you will communicate with them during a disaster. Build an emergency kit. A crucial part of creating an emergency plan is building an emergency kit. Emergency kits consist of basic
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items your household may need in the event of a shelter-in-place or evacuation emergency. See a list of kit items on page 7. While building your kit, consider the unique needs of each member of your household, such as medication, dietary restrictions, pet supplies and necessities for specific ages. Depending on the size of the household, an emergency kit may be one waterproof container or multiple bins. If buying extra supplies for an emergency is not in the budget, start with what you already have at home. Collect items in one area to create a new storage spot. Use this nonperishable storage as an extension of your food pantry. Take and replace items after grocery shopping to avoid food waste, and keep the emergency kit stocked at all times. Consider adding additional, non-food items to your kit on a weekly or monthly basis, as finances allow. For emergency kit tasks listed in manageable weekly or monthly steps, search online for a disaster supplies and preparedness calendar. Ensure the emergency kit is stored in a dry place that is easily accessible for shelter-in-place and evacuation emergencies, such as a garage or closet near the front door. If you leave home for work, make an emergency kit to keep in your vehicle or at your office. Keep in mind, sheltering in place may mean staying at work or a public place if you cannot safely return home. Sign up for alerts. Finding up-to-date information during an emergency can be stressful. Set up access to emergency alerts beforehand to receive up-to-date information. Check in with city or county offices of emergency management to sign up for emergency alerts. Signing up for these notifications allows emergency response agencies to text, call or email when a local emergency may require you to shelter in place or evacuate. Local emergency management may also have recommendations for additional alerts and online resources for the most common natural disasters in your area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency mobile app offers alerts and resources before, during and after a disaster. Get severe
ency Preparedness weather alerts for your area, find local evacuation shelters and disaster recovery centers, save custom emergency information, and receive safety and preparedness reminders. The app is available in English and Spanish. Download for free in the Google and Apple App stores on your smartphone. Prepare for evacuation. While it may seem unthinkable to have to leave home during severe weather, many kinds of disasters can lead to evacuation. Sometimes there is a day or two to prepare. Other times, a life-threatening situation leads to immediate departure from home. Prepare evacuation plans by identifying several places to go in an emergency, such as a friend’s house, nearby town or motel. Ask local emergency management about available shelter spaces, and include those options in your plans. Choose a variety of locations in different directions. Some of your top choices may be affected by a storm or disaster. For pets and livestock, identify places where they can be
temporarily housed. For small pets, check hotel and shelter policies or ask friends about options at their homes. For large animals, check with local fairgrounds for shelter policies during emergencies, and research additional livestock evacuation locations. In case of immediate evacuation or shelter-in-place orders when away from home, make sure pets and livestock are microchipped or tagged to expedite reunification efforts post-disaster. During storm season, keep your vehicle’s gas tank as full as possible. Along with aiding in evacuation to a safer area, vehicles can be used as temporary shelters. No one wants to deal with the stress and fear of a natural disaster. Yet having a plan for you and your family is the difference between a life-threatening situation and safely weathering the storm. n
Information for this article was sourced from the United States Department of Homeland Security. Visit ready.gov for free emergencyplanning resources.
Emergency Kit Checklist
An emergency kit is a collection of food, water and supplies that can sustain you and your family for multiple days. When building a kit, choose a waterproof container with a secure lid, such as a storage bin. An emergency kit could be one bin or several, depending on the number of people in your household. This list is broken into basic items to start a kit and additional recommendations provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security. At a minimum, your emergency kit should include the following items: • Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day for several days). • Nonperishable food. • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association weather radio with tone alert. • Flashlight. • First-aid kit. • Extra batteries • Whistle to signal for help.
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air. • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place. • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation. • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. • Manual can opener. • Local maps. • Cellphone with chargers and a backup battery.
PET CARE ITEMS • Pet food and water. • Proper identification. • A carrier or portable kennel. • Collar and leash. • Food and water bowls.
For additional recommended items to add to an emergency kit, visit ready.gov/kit.
SEPTEMBER 2023
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MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
OPERATION COOL SHADE
Mohave Electric Cooperative, Inc. continues to support members in saving money with programs such as Operation Cool Shade. Trees help beautify your home and yard as well as help you save money on energy costs. Trees shading the wall of a home or building, can lower the outside wall temperature and therefore lower your energy costs up to 20%. The energy you don’t use doesn’t need to be generated, which is good for the environment and your wallet. Operation Cool Shade gives all members the opportunity to purchase up to eight trees at $9.00 each and includes a free LED bulb with each tree purchase. Trees and their root structure also help prevent soil erosion by holding the soil in place and improving the drainage of the soil. Roots create tunnels, networks, and grids that bind the soil particles together and make them harder to move by wind or water. Before planting, consider how your family or business uses the outdoor space where you are thinking about placing trees. Plant at least three trees where they can provide enough shade to shield your structure and outdoor living areas. Shade the roof as well as east, west, and south facing walls as much as possible. At maturity, the trunk and branches of the tree should have at least 15 feet clearance from driveways, patios, sidewalks, and block walls. Most importantly, NEVER plant trees where their growth will interfere with overhead and underground power lines. An instructional video on planting trees is available on our website. Scan the QR code to view! As with any digging, be sure to contact Arizona 811 at 800-782-5348, or online at arizona811.com, to create a ticket to ensure you’re not digging into any utility lines when planting your trees. Even if you’re hiring someone to dig for you, it is your responsibility to contact Arizona 811. This year, Operation Cool Shade offers four tree varieties: Joan Lionetti Texas Live Oak, Desert Willow ‘Sweet Bubba Seedless’, Bonita Ash, and Chaste Tree. Tree sales are first come, first served. Don’t wait, order your trees today to ensure you’ll stay cool in the shade. Tree sales begin Sept. 1 - Oct. 6 by calling Member 8
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ABOVE: Bullhead City Mayor Steve D’Amico (center) joins Mohave Electric Board of Directors (L to R) Deborah Johnson, Joe Solar, Mike Bartelt and Joe Anderson at the annual Operation Cool Shade event. PHOTOS BY MEC
Service at 928-763-1100 or in-person at 928 Hancock Road between 8 am and 4:30 pm. When ordering trees, please note your desired pick-up location - either Bullhead City or Kingman. For Bullhead City, tree pick up will be on Nov. 18, 7 am - 12 pm at the Anderson Auto Group Fieldhouse, 3663 Bullhead Parkway. For Kingman, tree pick up will be on Nov. 20, 9 am - 4 pm at the MEC Kingman Operations Facility, 3160 Shangrila Drive. n
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FEELING REJUVENATED WITH CBD
Everyone feels the hurt as you age, but CBD can help you deal with it By: Beth Giles
Life really does fly by. Before I knew it, my 60s had arrived, and with them came some new gifts from dear ol’ Mother Nature—frequent knee pain, stress, low energy and sleeplessness. Now, I’m a realist about these things, I knew I wasn’t going to be young and springy forever. But still, with “golden years” nearly on my doorstep, I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated. That is until I found my own secret weapon. Another gift from Mother Nature. It began a few months back when I was complaining about my aches and pains to my marathon-running granddaughter, Jen. She casually mentioned how she uses CBD rub to help with her joint pain. She said that CBD gave her more focus and clarity throughout the day and that her lingering muscle and joint discomfort no longer bothered her. She even felt comfortable signing up for back-toback marathons two weekends in a row this year. That made even this self-proclaimed skeptic take notice. But I still had some concerns. According to one study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 70% of CBD products didn’t contain the amount of CBD stated on their labels. And, as a consumer, that’s terrifying! If I was going to try CBD, I needed to trust the source through and through. My two-fold research process naturally led me to Zebra CBD. First, I started calling my family and friends. Call me old fashioned but I wanted to know if
there were people whom I trusted (more than anonymous testimonials) who’ve had success using CBD besides my granddaughter. Secondly, I wanted cold hard facts. Diving deep into the world of CBD research and clinical studies, I came across Emily Gray M.D., a physician at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Medical School and medical advisor to Zebra CBD who is researching the effects of CBD. Dr. Gray wrote “early results with CBD have been promising and we have a lot of research underway now. I’ve had several patients using CBD with good success. It’s important that you know your source of CBD and how to use it properly.” After hearing it from the doctor’s mouth, I returned to my research, asking more people and was amazed by the number of close friends and family who were already on the CBD train. Apparently, I was the only one without a clue! And funny enough, a couple of friends who commented were using the same brand as my granddaughter—Zebra CBD. There was no consensus as to why they were using CBD, but the top reasons given were for muscle & joint discomfort, mood support, sleep support, stress and headaches, as well as supporting overall health & wellness. Eventually, even the most skeptical of the bunch can be won over. With a trusted CBD source in mind, I decided to give it a go. When I viewed Zebra CBD’s selection online, I
was impressed by its array of products, including CBD oils called tinctures, topicals, chewable tablets, mints and gummies. After reading on their website that all their products are made with organically-grown hemp, I ordered... and it arrived within 2 days! The first product I tried was the Rub. Now this stuff was strong. Immediately after rubbing it on my knee, the soothing effects kicked in. It had that familiar menthol cooling effect, which I personally find very relieving. And the best part is, after two weeks of using it, my knee pain no longer affected my daily mobility. The Zebra Sleep Gummies, on the other hand, had a different but equally positive effect on my body. To take it, the instructions suggest chewing thoroughly. This was simple enough, and the taste was, well, lemony. After about 15 minutes, a sense of calm came over my body. It's hard to describe exactly; it's definitely not a "high" feeling. It's more like an overall sense of relaxation—and then I was out. Needless to say, I slept great and woke up refreshed. I haven’t slept like that in a long time. While it hasn’t been a catch-all fix to every one of my health issues, it has eased the level and frequency of my aches. And it sure doesn’t seem like a coincidence how rejuvenated I feel. All-in-all, CBD is one of those things that you have to try for yourself. Although I was skeptical at first, I can safely say that I’m now a Zebra CBD fan and that I highly recommend their products. Also, I managed to speak with a Zebra CBD spokesperson willing to provide an exclusive. If you order this month, you’ll receive $10 off your first order by using promo code “RL10” at checkout. Plus, the company offers a 100% No-Hassle, Money-Back Guarantee. You can try it yourself and order Zebra CBD at ZebraCBD.com/CM or at 1-888-762-2699.
Magic in the Air Popularity of hot air balloons takes flight By Melissa Gaines
ABOVE: Hot air balloon pilot Vic Johnson flew over Mount Rainier in 2002. PHOTO COURTESY OF VIC JOHNSON
TOP RIGHT: The crew gathers around the balloon to help stabilize the landing as Vic and his copilot, Larry Simburger, end their flight over Mount Rainier. PHOTO COURTESY OF VIC JOHNSON
BOTTOM RIGHT: Laurie Spencer takes a photo with Mickey Mouse at a Disney event in Toronto. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURIE SPENCER
Balloons soar over a landscape of water and rolling hills during the Autumn Aloft Balloon Festival in Utah.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURIE SPENCER
UP CLOSE
There’s a chill in the air as the sun begins to rise. Laurie Spencer climbs into her hot air balloon basket after checking off an extensive safety checklist. It’s time. The colorful fabric illuminates as Laurie pulls the lever to release the propanefueled flames into the envelope. Soon, the basket leaves the ground, and she is airborne. That’s when the magic happens. Laurie’s fascination with vividly colored airships began when she was given a hot air balloon ride in 1980 as a Christmas gift. She wasn’t nervous, even though she had never flown in a balloon before.
“I love adventures, so I was really looking forward to it,” she says. That first ride sparked the Boise, Idaho, resident’s love for ballooning and sharing the sport with others. Laurie got her pilot’s certification in 1991 after spending a year working on a ground crew for other pilots. She says there is a certain glimmer in people when they are around balloons. “I like to think of it this way: When a baby is sitting in a high chair and they drop something, it just falls to the floor,” Laurie
says. “But give them a helium balloon, and you see the wonder in their eyes as it goes up. I get to see the wonder in people’s eyes each time they see a balloon in the air.” While Laurie loves piloting her own balloons, her favorite part is meeting people and making connections. “Our sport is happy,” she says. “We’re able to bring smiles to people’s faces, but they also make a memory to last a lifetime.” Laurie operates Lighter Than Air America, a company founded by her late husband and fellow balloon pilot, Scott. The business specializes in balloon promotion for clients, as well as commercial flight uniquely shaped balloons for well-known brands, including Disney and Coca-Cola. Two of Lighter Than Air America’s balloons were also featured as the backdrop during a Christian Dior fashion show in May 2017. Setting Records Hot air balloon pilot Vic Johnson lived in the Seattle area for most of his life, but now lives in Prosser, Washington. When he decided to skip class one day as an Auburn High School junior, the last thing he expected was to discover a new passion. “It was a beautiful morning in March, and I just didn’t feel like going to my shop class,” Vic says. Rather than getting Vic and his friends in trouble, their teacher offered them the chance to crew for a local balloon pilot. That experience is all it took for Vic to want more. “Once you’re bit by the ballooning bug, it’s in your blood,” he says. Vic began crewing for pilots and learning all he could about hot air balloons, eventually earning his pilot certification. But he had his sights set on a higher goal. “I used to look at Mount Rainier, which was basically in my backyard, dreaming of what it would be like to fly over it,” he says. Vic’s dream became a reality in 2002 when he and his copilot, Larry Simburger, became the first team to fly over the mountain. The flight took about three
hours, and Vic says the preparation and teamwork are what made everything possible. He researched, prepared equipment and consulted with other pilots for nearly a decade before deciding to attempt the feat. “The flight technicalities were similar to flying over Mount Everest,” Vic says. “The climbing altitude was very comparable, and Mount Rainier is famous for having its own weather conditions.” Their crew consisted of a group of more than 40 people who helped with takeoff, tracking and landing. In honor of his accomplishment, Vic was awarded the Montgolfier Diploma—an award for outstanding performance by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world air sports federation. Vic and his wife, Mandy, operate a balloon repair station called Columbia Balloon Port. Wonders in the Sky Witnessing vibrant hot air balloons dot the sky is a special experience, and the sport of ballooning has lifted off across the Pacific Northwest. Annual festivals and events are marked on calendars for pilots and spectators alike. Planning for these events begins long before pilots step into their gondolas. Laurie’s company produces events such as the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede, sponsored by Columbia Rural Electric Association, along with the Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic. “It’s a unique way to make my living,” she says. “I love it, and it’s my passion. I have amazing adventures and friends all over the world.” Cheri White, general manager at Cooperative Balloon Associates, says balloons are a wonderful way to help electric cooperatives connect with their members. “We’re goodwill ambassadors for the co-ops,” she says. “Touchstone Energy balloons are seven stories high, so people are really excited when they see them in person. I think balloons just make everyone feel young and happy.” Laurie relishes in the peace and tranquility of being in the air. “You’re moving with the wind, and you become the wind,” she says. “It’s so quiet and serene that it’s sometimes hard to put that feeling into words.” n SEPTEMBER 2023
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From Seeds to Success
Farm to school programs connect students with local food By Lisa Jacoby Students across the United States are learning how food gets from the farm to their tables thanks to the national Patrick Leahy Farm to School program that brings agriculture into the classroom. And, sometimes, it takes the classroom—and students—to agriculture. For instance, students at Garibaldi Elementary School in Garibaldi, Oregon, visited Oregon Seaweed, a seaweed farm at the Port of Garibaldi, a 10-minute walk from their school. They even tried a sample of a salty 12
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reddish-brown sea vegetable called dulse. Brooke Hieserich laughs when asked what the children thought of the tasting. “The grade school students were more receptive, but they were all definitely intrigued,” says Brooke, the Farm to School education coordinator for Food Roots, which serves three school districts in Oregon’s Tillamook County. According to the National Farm to School Network, more than 67,000 schools—67% nationwide— participate in programs connecting nearly 43 million children to local food systems. Farm to School is a
three-part approach, says Ariel Agenbroad, an extension educator who focuses on community food systems and small farms for the University of Idaho Extension. The approach includes procurement of local products, education to learn where food comes from and learning about growing food. The national program was renamed in March 2023 to honor Patrick Leahy, a retired senator from Vermont who was a champion of the Farm to School initiative, which started in his state. CoBank—one of the largest private providers of credit to the rural economy— is one of the program’s sponsors.
SPOTLIGHT Children burn off some energy during farm camp in the Plumas Unified School District in California. PHOTO BY LISA KELLY/PLUMAS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA
Expanding Young Palates In Tillamook County, Brooke and the Farm to School education team reach out to local producers through Food Roots Marketplace to support the tasting program in schools. “We work with our local farmers to provide a sample,” Brooke says. “Our tasting program is really special. It creates a classroom out of the cafeteria.” A local beekeeper visited Tillamook Junior High School, and Nestucca Valley K-8 School students sampled cheddar from nearby Nestucca Bay Creamery. Brooke encourages everyone to respect each other during these tastings with a simple phrase: “Don’t yuck my yum.” “We talk about how people have different tastes,” she says. Food Roots helps establish school gardens, and Brooke provides gardenbased instruction for the various grade levels. “I believe kids are more likely to try— and like—new foods that they help grow,” she says.
The Tillamook program has completed work on a school garden hoop house, with help from grants, to create a year-round growing season that coincides better with the school year. “[They are] following the seed all the way to their plate,” Brooke says. Raising Livestock Four years ago, Casey Hallgarth learned about the Farm to School program at a conference. He brought back the idea to the agriculture teacher at Prairie City Schools, where he is the superintendent. The idea, Casey thought, would fit perfectly with the rural school in Eastern Oregon. “We’re a big ag-based school,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for the kids.” Each year, the school applies for a Farm to School grant through the Oregon Department of Education, which pays for a program coordinator and special projects. The first year, the school raised one steer and one pig.
Now students help raise two steers and two pigs, collect eggs from about 40 chickens, and plant produce in the school garden. The curriculum includes two 45-minute sessions a week for children to learn more about food production. The youngsters, Casey says, are more likely to join the 4-H program when they enter fourth grade. “Our 4-H numbers have doubled, and we’ve seen a big increase in our FFA as well,” he says. Prairie City, with a population of 848 in the 2021 census, has 275 students from preschool to grade 12. The animals are bought from local ranchers, then raised at the school until processed in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified facility. Then, the meat is used for meals in the cafeteria. “The cooks do a great job,” Casey says. This coming year, students will help raise turkeys for the school’s Thanksgiving feast. “They understand that we’re raising the animals for food,” Casey says. Goats are kept around for fun, and the babies often visit the classroom—kids greeting kids. Sustainable Living Center Crosses State Lines Staff members at Sustainable Living Center in Walla Walla, Washington, span state lines for multiple Farm to School programs impacting thousands of students. Walla Walla is in southeastern Washington, just north of the Oregon border. In 2019, the Walla Walla Valley Farm to School program merged with Sustainable Living Center to bring gardenbased education to local schools, as well as the Children’s Home Society of Washington, the Juvenile Justice Center and an Americans With Disabilities Actaccessible garden at Walla Walla Senior Center. The Farm to School program staff includes five garden educators, an education coordinator and two Whitman College interns. In addition to four schools SEPTEMBER 2023
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ABOVE: The Sustainable Living Center in Walla Walla, Washington, coordinates eight Farm to School programs in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTER TOP LEFT: Students show off their
harvest in a Farm to School program coordinated by Food Roots in Tillamook County, Oregon. PHOTO COURTESY OF FOOD ROOTS
Brooke Hieserich reads a story to students in the Spring Garden Club Program in Tillamook, Oregon, where Food Roots coordinates Farm to School programs. PHOTO BY LAUREN SORG
in Walla Walla, SLC runs Farm to School programs across the Oregon border: three gardens in MiltonFreewater and one in Athena. Executive Director Erendira Cruz says one challenge for Farm to School programs is the common misconception that because school is not in session in the summer, students miss the main growing season. “In fact, the garden 14
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is an ideal learning space year-round,” she says. Some crops—potatoes and tomatoes, for example—are perfect for planting in the spring, when school is in session and students can help, and harvesting in the fall, when students return and can assist in the garden. Garlic is planted in the fall and harvested in the spring, allowing the students to be involved during regular school hours. Some seeds grow so quickly that it’s easy to go from seed to plate. “We make salads three weeks from
germination to harvest,” Erendira says. The Farm to School programs feature taste tests from local growers’ crops, such as asparagus, and children have had the chance to grind wheat to use in recipes. Other activities include a farm visit to a local producer who runs a farm stand called Welcome Table Farm. The students also have grown popcorn. “You put the whole cob in the microwave, and it pops on the cob,” Erendira says. Building Farm to School Programs In 2022, the Plumas Unified School District in northeastern California received two grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to build a Farm to School program. The Producer Grant is designed to engage students in farmbased programming and increase fruit and vegetable production for cafeterias. The School Partnership Grant supports collaboration with regional food producers to increase year-round access to locally sourced food.
ABOVE: The Farm to School program at Prairie City Schools includes classroom visits from baby goats. RIGHT: Otis Bellinger grins as he plants in the school garden in Prairie City, Oregon. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PRAIRIE CITY SCHOOLS
Although the program will ramp up for the 2023-24 school year, this summer brought local fruit and vegetables into the school kitchen for summer meals. “We served strawberries and raw snap peas in June,” says Tracy Darue, nutrition services director. “They were a huge hit.” In mid-July, the school served raw zucchini and yellow squash. “These weren’t quite as popular,” Tracy says. Although not every offering is a hit with students, Tracy says providing local produce is a big positive for the district. “Personally, it feels great,” she says. “I like the sustainability aspect—less gas to deliver it, keeping the dollars local. And the quality is far superior to what I get from big vendors.” Looking ahead, Plumas students will take field trips to see where food is grown and learn how to cook with locally sourced ingredients. “This project will give students a sense of ownership and pride in their school lunches,” says Cait McCloskey, Farm to School coordinator for the district. In the past, Farm to School programs in Idaho were successful, but participation declined when coordinators moved on to other jobs. “Farm to School needs champions
to succeed,” says Ariel. “Over the years, we’ve lost some of the early leaders, and that has left us without a lot of statewide support in Idaho.” But this status is changing. The Idaho Department of Education funded a Farm to School coordinator position in late 2022 and hired Pamela Murray. In her first year on the job, Pamela is creating an advisory council, with members across Idaho who will encourage and support Farm to School programs across the state. “My focus is how to make it sustainable and boost relationships between schools and the community,” Pamela says. She is working with Idaho Preferred, an Idaho State Department of Agriculture program that identifies and promotes agricultural products grown in Idaho. “When you buy local food, you’re supporting the local economy,” Pamela says. Despite a lack of statewide coordination in recent years, Ariel says Farm to School programs have continued around Idaho. The extension has focused on Farm to Early Care and Education in south central Idaho, which brings local produce into preschools and child care centers, and encourages growing a garden so young children can learn about growing—and eating—food. “You’re getting them when they’re
establishing food habits,” she says. At one preschool, she was surprised to learn the youngsters really liked microgreens, which are harvested at the seedling stage of a plant, such as broccoli, radish and sunflowers. “Microgreens were a huge hit,” Ariel says. “They looked like tiny plants and were spicy.” n The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program helps child nutrition program operators incorporate local foods in the National School Lunch Program, the Summer Food Service Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program. For more information, including grant opportunities, visit fns.usda.gov/f2s/ farm-to-school.
SEPTEMBER 2023
15
IN THE KITCHEN
Pinwheels
FOR LUNCH BOXES Turkey Cucumber Pinwheels 8 ounces garden cream cheese Several Persian or English cucumbers Fresh chopped dill
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway PHOTO BY KATIE WILCOX
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JU S EP LYT E2M 0 2B3E R 2 0 2 3
½-pound thinly sliced deli turkey 4 12-inch spinach tortillas
Peel and thinly slice cucumbers. Spread 2 ounces of cream cheese onto each tortilla. Sprinkle with fresh dill. Layer cucumber slices and turkey on top. Roll each tortilla gently yet tightly. Wrap with plastic wrap to make sure the roll keeps its shape. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cut off ends of tortilla roll and cut into 1-inch slices.
Chicken and Avocado Pinwheels 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 2 avocados, pitted and diced ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese ¼ cup diced tomato 2 tablespoons onion, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro, minced 4 tablespoons sour cream 2 tablespoons lime juice Salt and pepper, to taste 4 12-inch flour tortillas
Add the chicken, avocado, cheese, tomato, onion, cilantro, sour cream and lime juice to a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until the avocado is mashed, and everything is fully combined. Spread one-fourth of mixture onto each tortilla. Roll each tortilla gently yet tightly. Wrap with plastic wrap to make sure the roll keeps its shape. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cut off ends of tortilla roll and cut into 1-inch slices.
Italian Pinwheels
8 ounces cream cheese, softened ¼ cup Parmesan cheese 2⁄3 cup jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
2⁄3 cup jarred banana peppers, chopped 4 12-inch flour tortillas 12 slices Provolone cheese 8 ounces Genoa salami 30 small pepperoni slices
In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, red peppers and banana peppers. Spread one-fourth of mixture onto each tortilla. In the center of each tortilla, place three slices of cheese next to one another. Layer enough salami to cover tortilla. Layer the pepperoni, covering the salami. Roll each tortilla gently yet tightly. Wrap with plastic wrap to make sure the roll keeps its shape. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cut off ends of tortilla roll and cut into 1-inch slices.
Turkey Ranch Pinwheels 8 ounces package cream cheese, softened 1 tablespoon ranch mix 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
¾ cup cooked bacon, chopped ½-pound thinly sliced deli turkey 4 12-inch flour tortillas
Mix softened cream cheese with the ranch mix, shredded cheese, 1 tablespoon milk and bacon until well-combined. Add more milk if desired. Spread one-fourth of mixture evenly on each tortilla. Lay four slices of turkey on top of the cheese mixture to cover in a single layer. Roll each tortilla gently yet tightly. Wrap with plastic wrap to make sure the roll keeps its shape. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cut off ends of tortilla roll and cut into 1-inch slices.
Ham and Pimento Cheese Pinwheels 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
4-ounce jar diced pimentos, drained 2 tablespoons mayonnaise ½-pound thinly sliced deli ham 4 12-inch flour tortillas
Mix the cream cheese with the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, pimentos and mayonnaise. Spread about 4 tablespoons of this mixture evenly on each tortilla. Lay four slices of ham flat on top of the cheese mixture to cover in a single layer. Roll each tortilla gently yet tightly. Wrap with plastic wrap to make sure the roll keeps its shape. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cut off ends of tortilla roll and cut into 1-inch slices.
Mexican Pinwheels
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1½ teaspoons dried oregano ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon ground cumin 1 cup Mexican blend cheese, shredded 1½ cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
½ cup salsa 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped ½ green bell pepper, seeded and diced ½ red bell pepper, seeded and diced 4 12-inch flour tortillas
Add the cream cheese, oregano, garlic powder and cumin to a large bowl. Use a spoon or spatula to mix everything until evenly combined. Add the Mexican cheese, chicken and salsa to the cream cheese mixture. Stir until evenly combined. Add the cilantro and bell peppers to the filling. Stir until incorporated. Spread one-fourth of mixture onto each tortilla. Roll each tortilla gently yet tightly. Wrap with plastic wrap to make sure the roll keeps its shape. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. Cut off ends of tortilla roll and cut into 1-inch slices. S E P T E M B E R 2023
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READER EXCHANGE Books/Magazines Looking for “Foxfire” books. I live in Alaska and could sure use them. Thanks. Noel Harshman 4200 Chena Hot Springs Road Fairbanks, AK 99712
Crafts/Hobbies I am a new collector of unique and unusual buttons. I would appreciate any contributions to my new hobby. Thank you. Beth McCarthy 5120 Ranch Vista St. Pahrump, NV 89060
Does anyone have a root start of a purple or white hydrangea plant to trade? Preferably a lace-cap variety. I have pink hydrangea root starts to exchange. Thank you. Jean Ann Borders 900 Crowfoot Road Lebanon, OR 97355
I would appreciate any beads, chains or unwanted jewelry. The older the better. Thank you. Susan Bybee 16637 William Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739
I’m making crochet lap throws and would appreciate any yarn, even if it’s partially used. I am 80, and this hobby helps keep me active in the evening. I can reimburse reasonable postage. Thank you very much. DeDe Tucker 697 261/2 Road Grand Junction, CO 81506
Milestones I would love to have readers send birthday wishes to my mom. She turns 88 this September, and birthdays have become important to her. She is a retired school teacher from the Asotin School District. She spends most of her time creating the most beautiful garden. It would be great for her to receive cards wishing her a happy birthday and how great her garden looks. If you have seeds from a plant in your garden you would like to share, that would be nice. Please send to: Beverly Erickson, 2014 Gateway Drive, Lewiston, ID 83501. Shane Erickson Lewiston, Idaho
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S E P T E M B E R 2023
My mother, Helen, will turn 100 the first part of September. Born and raised in Wisconsin, we moved to California in the ’60s. Mom loves her Angels baseball team, dancing, big band music, the trumpet and being there for others. She has dealt with major health issues the past few years but continues to be our “warrior princess,” always having a smile and good word for everyone. I know she would love to get cards from others sharing their stories. Thank you for making my mom’s birthday incredibly special. Mail to: Helen Werner, 695 N. Fern St., Orange, CA 92867. Barbara Nail La Pine, Oregon
My mom’s 90th birthday is in September, and it would be so great if readers could send her a card to celebrate. She is the last living family member of her generation, having outlived her husband of 65-plus years and her siblings. She loves church, a good margarita, reading, playing poker and Hand and Foot, and most of all, spending time with her family. Greetings should be sent to: Marian Kuchle, Colonial Heights #136, 6900 Hopeful Road, Florence, KY 41042. Thanks in advance to your readers for helping celebrate our amazing mom.
Odds Would anyone like to have Christian bookmarks? My mom gives them to me and I don’t know where to distribute them. You can have one, or you can have the whole bunch. Pearl Price P.O. Box 7047 Hermiston, OR 97838
Thanks I would like to thank all of the wonderful ladies who sent me the Missouri Bean recipe. It was greatly appreciated. Glenda Spence Baker City, Oregon
I want to thank everyone who responded to my request for a 1995 Reader’s Digest. And a special thanks to Diane from Sisters, Oregon. We now have five copies and my friend is very happy to have a copy again. Thank you all for your generosity. Lori Brunes Crescent, Oregon
Jo Kuchle Fairbanks, Alaska
Have a safe Labor Day!
Submitting Requests Is Free Send your request—with no attachments—to readerexchange@ruralite.org or mail to Reader Exchange, 5625 NE Elam Young Parkway, Suite 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Fill in the subject line with Reader Exchange. Acceptance, scheduling and editing are at the editor’s discretion. Single requests only, please. No duplicates. Submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows. We cannot honor every request. Please affirm you have authorization from all appropriate parties before submitting. By submitting, you indemnify Reader Exchange, Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., its officers, directors, employees, utility clients and insurers from all legal liability incurred by the publication of information. We no longer accept pen pal requests. You may submit a pen pal request as a Marketplace ad. Marketplace pricing applies. When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone. Phone numbers will not be published. Email addresses will be published if part of the ad, but the request must include a postal address. Request must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
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ADVENTURE AWAITS
See the upcoming annular eclipse in Nevada at
Great Basin National Park
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
What Is It? Home to some of Earth’s oldest nonclonal—meaning not a genetic duplicant of a parent—organisms and some of the country’s darkest skies, Great Basin National Park is a great spot to catch the annular solar eclipse Saturday, October 14. 20
S E P T E M B E R 2023
What is an Annular Eclipse? Ancient History Lives On One inhabitant of Great Basin National Park is the ancient bristlecone pine. Bristlecone pines can live up to 4,000 years, in part because they are extremely dense, which helps protect them from insects, fungi and rot.
The October eclipse will be an annular eclipse, when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. Annular eclipses differ from total eclipses in that the moon does not wholly block the sun, and there is still a visible ring of fire around the moon.
Eclipse Path At Great Basin National Park, the eclipse will occur between 8:07 and 10:53 a.m. Great Basin isn’t the only place to see the eclipse—the path includes Crater Lake in Oregon, Lava Beds National Monument in California and Canyonlands National Park in Utah, among other spots.
More Information The U.S. won’t see another annular eclipse until 2041. To start planning your trip, call 775-2347331 or visit www.nps.gov/grba.
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THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT
NIKON D700, 31mm lens ISO 1250, f/2.8 at 1/200
NIKON D800, 180mm lens, ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/400
To reinforce the game’s theme of “white,” the student section tosses baby powder in the air, raining over students and players on the field in Manchester, Iowa. RIGHT: Scenes off the playing field during a high school football game in Epworth, Iowa, top two; and Cascade, Iowa, bottom. PHOTOS BY DAVE LABELLE
NIKON D800, 180mm lens, ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/400
Beyond the Field of Play I am a feature photographer more than a sports shooter. Like the kid who sits by the school window daydreaming about what’s outside the classroom, I am usually more interested in what’s happening in the stands and on the sidelines of a game more than any predictable action on the playing field. We used to call these “human interest” photos, which makes it sound like action photos are of little interest. I do suspect far
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
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S E P T E M B E R 2023
more readers are interested in seeing storytelling moments off playing fields than somebody running with or catching a ball. Unfortunately, too many publications focus on the action to the exclusion of what happens off the playing field or court. It is as if the hundreds of supporting cast members are invisible or not as important as those wearing jerseys. Publications should make room for both. After more than 30 years of not covering high school football, I find myself back on the field photographing local teams for a weekly newspaper. Except for being blindsided by a receiver and breaking a lens in half before a game, I have enjoyed this nostalgic trip down memory lane.
My eyes and heart have always been drawn to the sidelines and shadows of life. Lately, I have taken a special interest in watching and photographing members of the band and cheer squads. They work hard, suffer difficult climate conditions, and practice long and hard. The chain of small papers I work with in Iowa has published three pages of pictures highlighting and celebrating what happens around the game. Each of us finds beauty and challenge in different subject matters and different types of photography. Sometimes, it is healthy to leave our photographic comfort zones and explore areas we often pass by, such as what happens on the sidelines of a game or event. n
NIKON D800, 180mm lens, ISO 1100, f/2.8 at 1/200
Reader Challenge
As always, go early and stay late to whatever event you choose to photograph. Mingle with folks and players before and after games. Watch the armies of volunteers and support people who do most of their work out of the spotlight. Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Actual size is 38.1 mm
New for 2023–the Morgan Silver Dollar Is BACK! 99.9% Silver, Legal Tender, Extremely Limited Availability!
The Morgan Silver Dollar—originally minted from 1878 to 1904, then again in 1921—is the most popular vintage Silver Dollar in the world. Coin experts estimate that as few as 15% of all vintage Morgans still exist, due to the ravages of time, along with mass-meltings by the U.S. Government.
The entire market was thrilled when the U.S. Mint brought the Morgan Silver Dollar back in 2021, in honor of the popular, vintage coin’s 100th anniversary.
Legal Tender, Struck in 99.9% Fine Silver
The program was a huge success, and the relatively small mintage instantly sold out at the mint. Buyers loved the fact that these new coins were the first legal-tender Morgans in 100 years, and that they were struck in 99.9% fine silver— instead of the 90% silver/10% copper alloy of the originals. But with only 175,000 coins struck, many buyers were left empty-handed, and frustrated by the instant sell-out. If you were able to acquire a 2021 for the 100th anniversary— congratulations!
Then—An Unplanned One-Year Hiatus
Then last year, the entire market was left empty-handed because—although these modern Morgans were intended to be an annual release—the U.S. Mint was caught off-guard by the global shortage of the silver blanks required to strike the coins, and cancelled the 2022 release! No silver? No Morgans!
NOW for 2023—Legal-Tender Morgan Silver Dollars Are Back. But Mintages Are Low!
Now this year, 99.9% silver, legal-tender Morgan Silver Dollars are once again available to silver buyers, Morgan enthusiasts and collectors—while they last! Though somewhat larger than last year, this year’s 275,000 authorized mintage is still a crazy low number—especially when you consider all the pent-up anticipation and demand caused by the quick sell-out of the 2021 Morgans, and the fact the program was cancelled last year.
Very Limited. Don’t Miss Out!
Add these bright, shiny, new legal-tender 2023 Morgan Silver Dollars, struck in 99.9% Silver, to your collection now! To secure yours, call 1-888-395-3219 right now, or scan the QR code below to order online, because these—WILL NOT LAST!
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2 EASY WAYS TO ORDER: CALL TOLL FREE OR GO ONLINE
1-888-395-3219 Offer Code NSD427-04
Please mention this code when you call.
Representatives are able to take your calls from 8am-8pm M-F, 9am-7pm Sat and Sun Central Time
To order online, place phone camera over QR code to scan or use link below: www.govmint.com/nsd
GovMint.com • 1300 Corporate Center Curve, Dept. NSD427-04, Eagan, MN 55121 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2023 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.
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MOHAVE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
Attention High School Juniors: Washington Youth Tour Returns With the start of the 2023-2024 school year, Mohave Electric Cooperative is proud to announce the continuing sponsorship of the Washington, D.C. Youth Tour. Up to six students, whose parents or guardians are MEC members, will be selected to represent Mohave Electric Cooperative in the annual Washington D.C. Youth Tour. The week-long excursion allows the students to interact with others from all over the country, visit our Capitol’s landmarks, and learn about our country’s rich history. The annual Washington D.C. Youth Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and takes place in Summer 2024. This trip is funded by assigned capital credits at no cost to members. “The Washington Youth Tour is a
unique opportunity to inspire students for success, and here at Mohave Electric Cooperative, we believe in providing the tools and resources, when we can,” stated MEC’s CEO, Tyler Carlson. Education, Training, and Information is one of the 7 Cooperative Principles upheld by MEC. One way MEC shows commitment to this principle, and our community, is by supporting the future of even the youngest of members. Washington D.C. Youth Tour is an exceptional chance for students to learn about what it means to be a part of something larger, whether that be a cooperative or our country. MEC’s COO, Jon Martell was able to chaperone students during this year’s tour.
“I was very proud of the students selected for this year’s trip because they valued their time they had with Congressman Gosar, as well as engaging in some very thought-provoking discussion with the congressman. These bright young individuals will take the experience from this tour and can apply these useful tools to any project in their life.” MEC selects participants from applicants through a competitive process that includes an essay and presentation before a panel of judges. All applicants must be high school juniors and receive parental or guardian permission to apply. n ABOVE: MEC’s COO Jon Martell, with this year’s Washington Youth Tour winners in front of the White House.
SEPTEMBER 2023
25
MARKETPLACE Agriculture
Reinforced custom-sized pond liners (39 cents/sqft). Hay covers, greenhouse covers, any width and length. Truck tarps and more. High puncture and tear strength. Best price guaranteed. Celebrating 42 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0424 4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. nas@cpcinternet.com; 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002. 1223 20-acre hay field available for lease in Goldendale, WA. Good well, level land, fees negotiable. idle90683@mypacks.net. 1223 Antiques and Collectibles Buying antiques and collectibles: advertising signs, porcelain signs, gas pumps, beer signs, antique toys, cast-iron coin banks, neon signs and more. Jason, 503-310-3321 or tjabaughman@yahoo.com. 0923 WC Collectibles. We buy comic books! Local to the Inland Northwest, willing to travel. WCCollectiblesCheney@gmail.com; 509-496-1835. 1023 Automotive Ran 10 years ago. 1981 Dodge CLT 2D. 1973 Cadillac Eldorado. 1977 3/4 and 1976 1/2 Ford p/u. 1975 Iton Intl. kmcclure@gmail.com. 0923 Boats ‘97 Zodiac Futura boat, 14’, bend, soft floor & V hull, 25hp Yamaha, 2-cycle, EZ loader trailer, bimini top, travel cover, very low hours, patch kit, always garaged, excellent condition. $6.6K. 503-475-2211. 1023 Books, Magazine, Videos Book restoration. Bibles, cookbooks, cherished family heirlooms. Beautiful work. We give renewed life, more durable than original, to last for generations. 775-537-7066; salacanstudio@gmail.com. Community Events Art exhibits “Wildlife Moments” by Debra Otterstein and “Selected Thoughts & Moments” by Steven Feldman. Opening September 8. Art Center East, La Grande, OR. artcentereast.org. 0923 Friends of the Wild (horses and burros) is a small organization with the mission to preserve our wild horses so our children and grandchildren can enjoy their beauty and learn how they have been forever part of the evolution of the American West. We meet monthly. Our next meetings are 11 a.m. September 16 and October 28. We meet at Desert Greens Clubhouse, 130 Monticeto, inside the Desert Greens Community. Pahrump, NV. We invite all to attend. 0923
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S E P T E M B E R 2023
Quick, Affordable: How to Place an Ad
Ads 25 words or fewer are $35 a month. An extended ad of up to 35 words is $50 a month. Contact information is included in the word count. Phone numbers and emails count as one word. Longer ads may be placed. Contact 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop for pricing information. Ads are for customers of member co-ops, PUDs and municipals only. Subscribers and nonmembers may inquire about pricing at 503-357-2105 or info@pioneer.coop. Ads must be direct and in first person, and are subject to approval and editing. Closing deadlines (in our office): November issue—September 29, 2023. If submitting ad by mail, send appropriate payment with your name, address, email, phone number and the name of the electric utility that provides your magazine to: Marketplace, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133. Make check or money order payable to Ruralite. We accept credit card payments for ads submitted by email. Send ad to info@pioneer.coop.
Call 503-357-2105 to pay by credit card. Advertisements are accepted in good faith. Pioneer Utility Resources is not liable for interactions between buyers and sellers.
Free Items Free materials—church, government uniting, suppressing “religious liberty,” enforcing National Sunday Law. Be informed. Need mailing address only. TBS, P.O. Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. tbsmads@yahoo.com or 888-211-1715. 1223AR Miscellaneous Alaskan Yellow Cedar great for planter boxes, herb and flower beds, fencing or decks. Various sizes available. Pete, 541-206-0727. Lisa, 541-747-5025 ext. 21. 1223 Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, 541-815-8906. www.highdesertmemorials.com and hdmemorials@bendbroadband.com. 1123 Pets, Supplies Stud service for mini Australian shepherd. Photos available. Crescent Lake, OR. Liz Sanders, 360-901-1291. 1023 Real Estate $600K interior Alaskan turnkey roadhouse and 2 dry cabins. Well-maintained on 5 acres with pond. 50 scenic miles south to Denali Park entrance. 907-460-9292. 0524
74-acre ranch on beautiful Texas Ridge in Deary, ID. 5,500 sqft. 6-bd, 2-ba shome built in 2012. 80x40 shop, 30x60 hay barn, 50x60 animal barn, 8-ft. garden fence (1/4 acre), with chicken coop, 1,400-ft. grass runway, 11 acres of trees, 50gpm well, 3,900-gallon water storage. The most beautiful sunsets you have seen. Asking $1.2M. For more information: Doug, 509-727-4557 or 509-727-0013. Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourth-generation Oregonian, ranch owner. For sale: Central OR acreage 73.72 w/Irr. $1,349,000. John Gill, 541-480-9161 or johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0923 Peaceful setting on 160 acres bordering BLM. Home, shop, barn, 2 creeks. $750K Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 0923 4 well-maintained 1,200-sqft. cedar homes with huge decks on year-round creek. 2.12 acres. Close to small town of Selma, OR. $875K. 541-597-2185. 0923 Affordable residential and recreational property in the western U.S. Mention this ad for 10% off on all cash purchases. Visit us at www.governmentlandsales.us/sum. 1023
Your ad could be here in November. See instructions above for details.
ADOBE STOCK IMAGE BY YULIA FURMAN
Call me today, James Wardrope PBLN OregonRiverRealty.com at 541-480-0212. Buying or selling, we will put more $$$money$$$ on your side of the table, guaranteed. Find out how and why.
11.27 acres with 3,484 sqft., 3-bd, 2-ba. house on Umpqua River just west of Elkton on Highway 38. 32361 State Highway 38, Elkton, OR 97436. Oakridge, OR. Beautiful remodel w/extra commercial lot on Highway 58 scan for video tour. OregonRiverRealty.com. 541-480-0212. Old Mill Farm Store Cottage Grove, OR. Business est. 1854. Extra lots. OregonRiverRealty.com. 541-480-0212. Recreational Rentals Bend country cabin. Very clean and fully furnished cabin on private ranch. Close to recreation areas. Very nice. $95/night. bendcountrycabins@gmail.com; 541-382-3050. Want to Buy Buying old American Indian artifacts, Navajo blankets and rugs, old baskets, beadwork, etc. Also, old paintings. Please send photos or call, amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com or 760-409-3117. 1123 Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 43 yrs in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133; garrymclin@aol.com. Will travel. 1023 Wanted: vintage wristwatches, pocket watches, watch collections, watchmakers’ estates, etc. 541-760-1050. Leave a message if I don’t answer. Will travel. Thank you. Old carpenter tools, planes (wood/metal), levels, chisels, slicks, adzes, axes, hatchets, handsaws, old rulers, spoke shaves, wrenches, shipwright tools, old tool chests. 503-659-0009 or 971-666-0659. 0923 Wanted: early Corvette ’58-’62, or any old finished or unfinished hot rod. Call/text Randy, 503-544-3807. 1023
Warm Up With Chili Whether you prefer your chili hot beyond belief or mild, with beans and/or meat, this booklet from our 2002 contest is for you. Recipes include stories from entrants. As a bonus, get slow-cooker recipes from our 2000 contest. The 8½-by-11-inch spiral-bound, indexed book is $8 (includes postage).
TO ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to: Ruralite Cookbooks P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133
TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
SEPTEMBER 2023
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ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY VECTORMINE
Plotting a Path to a Reliable, C For the first time in 20 years, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) is embarking on a journey to modernize its generating fleet as part of a comprehensive reliable energy future plan. The plan, which includes new efficient, fast-ramping natural gas units and large utility-scale solar arrays and battery storage, will help to ensure its distribution cooperative members have the safe, affordable, reliable power their communities need to thrive. Changing Energy Landscape A rapidly changing Western power market and an uncertain and untested regulatory landscape—at both the state and federal levels—have combined to threaten electric utilities’ ability to keep power flowing when demand rises to new peaks. These challenges compelled AEPCO and its members to collaborate on a multiyear effort resulting in a comprehensive plan to incorporate more efficient natural gas generators combined with solar and battery energy storage to ensure future reliability at the lowest possible costs. “Because AEPCO is a community-based, democratic, not-forprofit cooperative, we’re not interested in obtaining higher returns for shareholders by making unnecessary investments or retiring assets that continue to provide value to our member cooperatives,” says Patrick Ledger, executive vice president and CEO of AEPCO 28
S E P T E M B E R 2023
and Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, which operate together as Arizona G&T Cooperatives. “Our mission is providing reliable power and value-added services to our members at the lowest possible cost, so we maximize the use of existing resources and investments, and new resources are based not on ideal but on practical considerations.” In 2022, AEPCO and its members convened a strategic planning session to review extensive planning and analysis, resulting in a resource expansion approach that phases in solar, battery energy storage systems, and natural gas peaking units over several years to minimize the cost impact while continuing to maximize existing power generation assets. New policy initiatives were also adopted that leverage smaller scale solar and battery resources located on member cooperative distribution systems to support system reliability as well as potential economic development opportunities. Apache Station Expansion Underway Although the aging generation fleet at our Apache Station in Cochise, Arizona, continues to provide a highly reliable source of power and energy, new resources are needed to meet future demand, provide value in the power markets AEPCO participates in, and comply with new regulations limiting
ARIZONA G&T COOPERATIVES
Show Your Support
Tell the Arizona Corporation Commission you support AEPCO’s plan to provide a reliable energy future for rural Arizona at ReliableEnergyArizona.com or scan the QR code below.
e, Clean Energy Future greenhouse gas emissions. While solar and battery facilities will play a central role in modernizing AEPCO’s power generation portfolio, our resource planning analysis demonstrated that the addition of small, fast-ramping, quick-start natural gas units were also an important addition to support more renewable power, particularly as hydropower facilities on the Colorado River face an uncertain future. AEPCO received approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates most utilities in the state, in October 2022 to finance the purchase and installation of two additional gas units at Apache Station. This July, AEPCO applied again with the ACC to finance two gas units at Apache and two at a new site in Mohave County. Big Plans for Solar Support for new renewable power sources will be crucial as AEPCO nears finalization of plans for a large new 200 MW solar and battery project, the Apache II Solar plant. The new facility will provide renewable power to all of AEPCO’s Class A cooperatives members, and to a number of AEPCO’s public power utility members, which include city utilities, power districts, and tribes. By pooling the needs of many smaller utilities, AEPCO can develop these projects at a larger scale, which reduces costs
for everyone. AEPCO also provides a “safe harbor” by supporting all its members through a fully transparent, not-for-profit, democratically controlled generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative business model. AEPCO is applying to offset the cost of this large solar project, and other projects, from the federal government’s new grant and tax-credit programs, including those specifically reserved for electric cooperatives like AEPCO. The cost of these new projects is considerable, but grant assistance may help level the playing field for cooperatives and public power, which previously were not eligible for such incentives. “Because we’re not-for-profit, we have to be very prudent about the investments we make,” Ledger says. “Federal energy policy is moving utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emission, which can be very expensive, especially for smaller utilities that serve lower-income communities. So, we’re planning to participate in all of these new programs to ensure a clean and reliable energy future is available to everyone in Arizona.” n AEPCO serves cooperative and public power utilities primarily in Arizona and stretching into Nevada, Southern California and New Mexico. AEPCO operates together with its sister organization, Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services, as Arizona G&T Cooperatives. SEPTEMBER 2023
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BEFORE YOU GO
Back-To-School Tips From a Pro
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Parents, talk with your child’s teacher. Let them know if your child is struggling or if you think they need extra support. You are the best advocate for your child. When children know you are checking in with their teachers, they often are more motivated to pay attention in class and turn in assignments. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY DRAZEN
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Best Breads Cookbook
This 8½-by-11-inch spiralbound, indexed cookbook features yeast breads, quick breads, scones and specialty breads for $10 (includes postage). TO ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to: Ruralite Cookbooks P.O. Box 1306 North Plains, OR 97133 TO PAY BY PHONE: Call 503-357-2105 for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. TO ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.
Teachers are experts at setting up your children for success at school, so we asked veteran teacher Beth Teegarden for her six favorite back-to-school tips to ensure your child has the best possible experience this year. 1. Bedtimes matter. Have a consistent, appropriate bedtime that allows for ample sleep. 2. Limit technology. Know what your children are doing with the technology. Talk to them, and verify for yourself. 3. Read to children every night. Family reading time before bed helps instil enjoyment and comprehension. It opens discussion and improves fluency for student readers. 4. Practice patience and taking turns. Life and school are not about instant gratification. Children need to take turns and practice being able to wait at school. This can be practiced while running errands, preparing a meal or cleaning up toys. 5. Designate a homework space. Set up a distraction-free space with school supplies, a table or desk. To avoid a battle, talk ahead of time and agree upon a time when school work should be completed. 6. Be an involved parent. Children whose parents attend parent-teacher conferences and check in with teachers tend to have fewer issues at school. n
14060 AZ - Roofing Storm Ad.indd 1
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AZ-146 Postmaster: Send address changes to Currents, 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124 P.O. Box 22530 Bullhead City, AZ 86439 Member Services: 928-763-1100 Outage Reporting: Toll free 844-632-2667 or text “outage” to 55050 from the phone number linked to your MEC account. mohaveelectric.com
Mohave Electric Cooperative Board of Directors President Joe Anderson Vice President Deborah Johnson Secretary Toni Barbaro Treasurer Rich Tempelman Michael Bartelt
MEC Board President Message
Leadership in D.C.
There are many players in the electrical industry. For example, there are fewer than 200, very large investor-owned utilities across the country. They represent millions of people, have major profits, and extra money to spend on lobbying efforts. In contrast, there are about 900 small consumerowned, not-for-profit electric co-ops, public power districts, and public utility districts in the USA. And only five other electric distribution co-ops in the state of Arizona like Mohave Electric Cooperative. All the co-ops are represented by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). NRECA collectively represents our best interests and advocates for public policy and legislative items in Washington D.C. NRECA also provides multiple forums for all of us to discuss key issues and come to a majority
Cindy Christy
MEC CEO Message
John Nelssen
Grid Stability versus Market Instability
Kevin Nestrick Jose “Joe” Solar
CEO
Tyler Carlson
What’s Happening h MEC District and Annual Meetings District 1 | September 18 District 2 | September 19 District 3 | September 20 h Annual Meeting | September 21 h Operation Cool Shade Sales | September 1 – October 6 h Join MEC at National Night Out | October 4 h Join MEC at Safety Fair | October 14 h Budget Billing Applications due | October 31 MEC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER & EMPLOYER
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Summers are always hot here in Bullhead City and the surrounding areas, but members might remember June was pretty mild in comparing to previous years’ heat waves. However, MEC, like the majority of electric utilities – co-op and investor-owned across the state of Arizona - all surpassed their historic peak loads in July which mirrored the hottest temperatures of that month. So with the increase in growth, temperatures, and load, the state experienced nominal outages, if any related to heat. This shows the electric grid system can work properly under extreme temperatures and load levels – essentially being scalable up or down, barring any major equipment failures. But more importantly, this shows that weather, extreme heat, and major outages are more likely to affect reliability when the market is unstable. Meaning when supply
position on messages to share with elected officials and regulatory agencies. This advocacy is critical to our efforts as we look out for our members and keeping our members’ power costs low. Joe Anderson For each state, the co-ops elect one person to represent them and serve on the NRECA board. MEC is pleased to announce that our very own CEO was elected among all the AZ co-ops to represent us in D.C. We are very fortunate to have Tyler Carlson represent us at the national level and for our area to have a direct voice to D.C. Carlson’s post begins officially on March 3, 2024, and is a 2-year term. We look forward to hearing Carlson’s updates from D.C. and for him to take charge on our key legislative issues. and pricing go awry, the electric grid is less likely to deliver the power needed at the exact time to meet demand. Essentially, the power supply and demand needs aren’t matching in real time. We are pleased Tyler Carlson that July went well and will continue to keep members informed about grid reliability and market issues. Having diversity of power resources helps avoid some of these market issues. For example, at night when solar is not available, MEC could switch to a natural gas generation source of power to meet demand needs. And even better to have the diversification of power generation locally to avoid unstable price points in the market and avoid any transmission issues and delays. MEC is actively working to build more local, diverse power generation sources to increase reliability.