

Ruralite
UMATILLA ELECTRIC
AUGUST
From classrooms to continents, Art Derbyshire spent a lifetime investing in people, chasing adventure, and charging forward with heart and grit.










Ruralite
August 2025 • Volume 72, No. 8
CEO Michael Shepard
SENIOR VP OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Chasity Anderson, CCC
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Growing Forward
Some people see potential where others see problems, growth where others see limitations.
This month’s stories celebrate those who have learned to nurture. Emily Blessington didn’t grow up on a farm, but she discovered her calling in the controlled environment of Farmbox Greens, where seeds transform into harvest-ready greens in just seven days.
“If you have a passion for plants, and if you’re willing to learn, then you can learn anything,” she tells us.
Her journey proves that sometimes the most fulfilling paths are the ones we never expected to take.
Brian Rusk found his own unexpected path in aquaponics, where fish and plants work together in perfect balance. After decades as a geology professor, he discovered that tending to this living system—naming his koi, talking to them, watching them thrive alongside his greens—brought him more joy than any classroom ever could.
“As long as they’re in balance, they can continuously work together,” he explains, describing both his farm and his new life.
These modern cultivators understand something timeless—growth requires both patience and innovation. Each part of the story, beginning on Page 12, reveals how traditional farming wisdom adapts to new challenges.
Even our kitchen feature celebrates this spirit of cultivation. Fresh basil becomes the foundation for everything from classic pesto to inventive vinaigrettes. Each recipe honors
the herb’s journey from seed to plate, transforming simple ingredients into something memorable.

Dave LaBelle’s photography column reminds us that cultivation isn’t always about plants. Sometimes it’s about cultivating awareness— learning to see the stories that unfold when we pay attention to gestures and body language, the quiet moments that speak louder than words.
What draws my attention to these cultivators is their willingness to tend patiently to what they’ve planted. They understand the most rewarding growth often happens in controlled environments where every element—light, nutrients, timing—receives careful attention. They’ve learned innovation doesn’t mean abandoning tradition. It means finding new ways to honor what we’ve always known about nurturing life.
As summer abundance surrounds us, I find myself wondering what I’m cultivating in my life. Are there dreams that need more deliberate attention? Skills that deserve patient development? Relationships that could flourish with better balance? Sometimes the most meaningful harvests come from the gardens we tend with daily care.
Until next time, Chasity Anderson Editorial Director

The Wall That Heals Up Close, Page 10
A Growing Enterprise
Farmers embrace hydroponic and aquaponic systems
Spotlight, Page 12
From Garden to Table: A Bounty of Basil In the Kitchen, Page 16

Lives & Landscapes

Graham “Art” Derbyshire is not your typical retired teacher – at nearly eighty years old, he returned home in May from his fourth international hunting trip to South Africa. He’s adventured on nearly every continent in the world, only leaving South America behind, while also maintaining a full schedule of coaching, fundraising for community programs, and investing in the lives of those around him.
Hunting wasn’t something he grew up doing from early childhood. Art and his twin brother, Ramsay, were raised in a home without outdoor recreation until the age of 17, when they moved to live with their mother and stepfather. At that point, both boys were introduced to deer hunting and started what would be a lifetime full of adventures across the globe.
Art’s international hunting adventures began in 1988 with a trip to Mongolia for elk, the beginning of what would be a list of 10 countries and countless species that now fill his locally famous trophy room.
The walls of his trophy room behind his home are adorned with mounts, photos, paintings, and memorabilia from over six decades of his journeys. This edition of the trophy has been expanded, as he outgrew the original built in the early 1990s.
• Capra World Slam - at least 12 species of wild capra (goat) from around the world



His international hunting resume includes a long list of species, including the following awards recognized in the hunting industry:
•North American Super Ten - successful harvest of all of the following: deer, elk, bear, caribou, sheep, cougar, mountain goat, antelope, moose, bison in North America
Almost as impressive as the trophies themselves is his dedication and lifelong pursuit to accomplish his dreams. All of his international trips came later in life, after his professional career as a high school educator (a career not well-known for wealth building).
To fund his dreams, Derbyshire worked over 44 years for a local farming family, in addition to his decades of teaching. He first began driving truck during grain harvest in the summer months, then, after his full retirement from teaching, he added additional capacity –saving every dollar for his hunting aspirations.

“When I first started teaching in 1969, my gross income was $6,000 per year,” says Derbyshire.
“I’ve set goals in my lifetime. I’ve lived on a fixed income, and I’ve worked. From 1969 to 2023, there were only four summers I didn’t work. My extra work - all that goes into my hunting fund - and if I don’t save that money, I don’t go.”
Art began teaching science in Elkton, Ore., population 187, after graduating from Eastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) in 1969. During his eight years at Elkton, he also began his decades-long coaching career in track and field.



In 1977, Art moved to Stanfield and began what would be a 22 tenure as a science teacher at Stanfield High School. He began coaching for the tigers shortly after. Derbyshire’s love of hunting merged well with his teaching of science in the classroom, allowing him to create special bonds with students along the way. He was recognized by the Oregon High School Science Teacher Association as “Teacher of the Year” for the 1989-1990 school year.

“It was pretty nice to walk into a classroom every morning and have a couple six-point bull elk hanging on the wall,” says Ben Rodriguez, a former student and Hermiston local. “Not many classrooms like that, that’s for sure.”

Continued on Page 6
Derbyshire poses with a sable harvested on his second trip to South Africa in 2022.



UMATILLA ELECTRIC
Students and locals often recognize him from afar for his unwavering support of the University of Oregon Ducks. Whether at school, at a track meet, or out in the community, he is often seen proudly decked out in green, yellow, tie-dye -or a bold mix of all three. His passion for the ducks isn’t subtle, but it is genuine, and it became one of many ways he connected with students and brought energy to the classroom.
In addition to his passions of hunting and support of U of O, Derbyshire also connected students to their learning through athletics. He coached volleyball, basketball, cross country, and was the Head Coach of the varsity track and field team for 17 years at Stanfield. During his coaching tenure in track and field, the tigers brought home six district titles and a state championship in 1999. Derbyshire was recognized as Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2001 by “Who’s Who in Oregon Track and Field.” Since his retirement as Head Coach in 2006, he’s returned as an assistant coach for both the middle school and high school track programs.
“The 2025 Stanfield track and field season was totally different and made by having Coach Derbyshire on staff,” says Jason Sperr, current track and field and cross-country coach for Stanfield High School. He continues, “When my wife and I took over the program two years ago, we wanted the relationships and experiences of the athletes to be the takeaway of the season, even over the success, and be stewards of Coach Derbyshire’s program and honor his legacy.”


In addition to coaching track and field, Derbyshire also voluntarily coached trap shooting for the bulldogs of Hermiston, investing over 50 years of volunteerism, coaching and fundraising for the Hermiston Gun Club, and earning him a spot in the club’s Hall of Fame. Only the third inductee in the club’s history.
Derbyshire closed the chapter of teaching for Stanfield in 1999, opening his schedule for more international hunting trips.
What made him decide to set his sights on international hunting?
“It’s the adventure, you know. I loved the idea of seeing other countries and places, experiencing the cultures and food.”
He put in countless hours and miles of travel to see corners of the world many only dream of. He’s traveled from Mongolia to Kazakhstan, New Caledonia, Turkey, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Canada, Spain, and more.
His favorite amongst the animals to chase?
“They’re all different, but I’m partial to elk and ibex.”
“There’s been a lot of people that I’ve helped. I have no expectations; I didn’t do it for this [accolades]. It feels good to be able to do what I’ve been able to.”
Graham “Art” Derbyshire


Stanfield School District named their track and field facility after Derbyshire in 2008, a testament to his legacy in the community and enduring impact with students. Sperr and a few others are working with a local sign company to replace the original sign, hoping for its installation to be complete before the 2025-2026 school year.
Eight different species of ibex, a type of wild goat, are displayed amongst seven elk in his trophy room. The trophies aren’t the best part for him, though, it’s the memories made and people he’s met along the way.
In addition to his travels, Art chose to invest in the relationships he’s made across the globe and to the thrill of chasing wild game. For each hunt, he packs extra items with him to give as gifts to cooks, housekeepers, trackers, and others whose work directly impact his positive experiences. In addition to the typical gear needed on his packing list, Art included the likes of warm beanies, clothing, jewelry, perfume, and more.
“You need to look out for them and make them feel better while you’re on your journey,” he says of gifting while on his trips. “So what if it costs you a little more?”




Relationships are currency in Derbyshire’s world.








In countless other ways, Art has given to the community, including the establishment of the Clara Ramos Scholarship Fund with his wife – an annual $2,000-$4,000 scholarship awarded to graduate(s) of Stanfield High School in memory of a former student. So far, sixteen students have benefitted from the scholarship fund, honoring the memory of Clara Ramos, nearly all self-funded by the Derbyshires. He has also donated











countless auction items, volunteerism hours, and monetary funds to benefit the Stanfield Booster Club, Hermiston Gun Club, Agape House, Stanfield Track and Field program, and other organizations whose missions are close to his heart.
The City of Stanfield’s Fourth of July Committee named Art Derbyshire as the 2025 Grand Marshal of their Independence Day parade – Stanfield’s largest event of the year –for his time and dedication to the community of Stanfield and generations of students positively impacted.
Art has been awarded many accolades in his teaching, coaching and hunting careers, but none of which mean as much to him as the relationships he’s made along the way.
Unfortunately, earlier this year, Art received a cancer diagnosis that, when found, had already spread throughout his body. In conversations with his family, they’ve chosen to not treat it.

His living room today is full of cards and letters sent to him after the news was shared publicly. He named several people that have stopped by to see him and reminisce – truly what means the most to him –is time invested.


“What comes around, comes around,” he says. “There’s been a lot of people that I’ve helped. I have no expectations; I didn’t do it for this [accolades]. It feels good to be able to do what I’ve been able to.”
This new reality isn’t stopping him from living as-usual. He’s making plans for a final trip to South Africa next May with his twin brother, Ramsay, and others that plan to join him. He’s got his sights set on one last African species: a cape buffalo.
Derbyshire has never needed encouragement from the lyrics of Tim McGraw’s 2004 hit, “Live Like You Were Dying”– he has been filling every moment of his life with adventure, investing in others, and truly living in every moment.
When asked how many people he’s introduced to hunting and being

ABOVE: Graham “Art” Derbyshire was honored as Grand Marshal of the 2025 Stanfield Fourth of July Parade.
INSET: Awards from a lifetime of teaching, coaching, and an Eastern Oregon University alumni honor sit proudly among international hunting trophies in Derbyshire’s collection.
outdoors, he responded, “Countless. Adults, teenagers, kids… I have no idea. There were times that I took kids to trap shoot at the Hermiston Gun Club every day of the week.”
His encouragement to others? The bumper sticker on his pickup says it all – hunt with your kids, not for them.
“I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything. I think of all the memories; it’s really a phenomenal deal – the times I’ve had with Scotty and Rodriguez. It’s been a wild trip, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
Art Derbyshire – despite the diagnoses – is charging forward, one relationship, one adventure, one act of generosity at a time. Whether he’s planning one last hunt or sharing memories with former students and friends, Art continues to live with purpose and grit.
His legacy isn’t measured by trophies or titles, but by the lives he’s lifted, and the skills and values he’s passed on to others.
In a world that often slows with age or hardship, Art reminds us of what it means to press on – to live fully, give freely, and keep charging forward, no matter what lies ahead.
At the time of publication, Umatilla Electric Cooperative learned of the passing of Mr. Graham “Art” Derbyshire. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the many lives he touched. In honor of his remarkable legacy, we have chosen to share his story as originally written - a tribute to a life well-lived, full of purpose, generosity, and adventure.



POWER

The of Being Prepared

Road Ready: Wildfire Prevention While Traveling
Summer is the season of open highways, weekend getaways, and road trips that create lifelong memories. But amid the excitement of planning your route, packing the car, and setting off for adventure, it’s easy to overlook one critical responsibility—fire safety.
In many parts of the country, including our high-desert region, summer means heightened wildfire risk. Whether you’re driving across the state or just heading out to your favorite outdoor recreation spot, being prepared and staying aware of fire danger can make all the difference.
1. Avoid Parking on Dry Grass: The heat from exhaust systems, catalytic converters, or mufflers can ignite vegetation. Always park on paved surfaces, gravel, or cleared dirt.
2. Secure Trailer Safety Chains: Dragging chains can spark wildfires. Make sure all chains are properly attached and not dragging on the ground.
3. Tie Down Loose Items: Tools, firewood, and gear can fall out of truck beds and spark fires if they strike the road. Use straps or covers to secure all cargo.

4. Inspect Your Trailer or RV: Check tire pressure, brakes, and bearings before long trips to prevent overheating or mechanical failures that could start fires.
5. Carry Emergency Supplies: Include water, maps, a basic first-aid kit, and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle in case of emergencies.
6. Report fires immediately: If you see smoke or flames, pull over at a safe distance and call 911. Don’t assume someone else already has.
Traveling with care isn’t just about protecting yourself—it’s about protecting your community, the land we love, and the firefighters who risk their lives to stop wildfires. One spark is all it takes to destroy homes, close highways, and endanger lives. This summer, enjoy the road but respect the risks. A little preparation and awareness can go a long way in preventing disaster. Let’s all do our part to keep our landscapes green, our air clean, and our roadsides safe. Travel smart, and return home with only good memories.
Together, we can reduce the impact of wildfire on our community.
Use your phone camera to scan the code above for more information.
















The Wall That Heals
Mobile replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall comes to the Northwest
By Dianna Troyer
An Oregon Vietnam War veteran with enduring survivor’s guilt refused to visit The Wall That Heals when it came to his town several years ago.
The traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is in its 30th year of touring the nation.
While fighting in Vietnam, the veteran came down with appendicitis. When he was sent to a hospital for treatment, a friend took his place on patrol. He later learned their platoon had been attacked. He never heard from his friend again and assumed he had been killed.
In the confusion of the platoon being transferred, he ended up with his friend’s dog tags. He carried them for decades to honor his friend’s memory.

“His wife told us what happened when she came with the dog tags to find the name on the wall,” says Cathy Miller, program manager/site manager for The Wall That Heals.
“We couldn’t find the name on the wall,” Cathy says. “We did some research and found he never died during the war. He was an engineer with three kids and five grandchildren and died in 2015. After her husband learned about his friend’s fate, he came the next day. He was finally healed after five decades of survivor’s guilt.”
‘Wall Magic’
Cathy has seen countless examples of healing as the wall travels the nation from March to November honoring the 58,281 men and women who died during the war. Three million Americans served in the Vietnam War.

“We call those healing moments ‘wall magic,’” she says. “We see things happen that never would have happened if the wall hadn’t come. A weight is lifted, and people’s expressions change as they cry and release emotion and pain.”
The nonprofit Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund created the mobile replica for those who cannot travel to the memorial wall in Washington, D.C. Two staff members from the memorial fund are at each host site. The replica was dedicated and displayed for the first time on Veterans Day in 1996.
Since then, the 375-foot-long wall has traveled to 800 communities where millions of people have toured it. In each location, the wall can be viewed for free for three days. An accompanying mobile education center with videos and memorabilia personalizes the roles of Americans in the

LEFT: Millions of people in 800 communities have toured The Wall That Heals since 1996. The 375-foot-long wall is a mobile three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. RIGHT: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund staff travel with the wall and witness moments of healing they call “wall magic”—when viewers’ expressions change as they release emotion. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND

war starting in 1950 when the United States had an advisory role.
“I’m blessed to be part of this, to do what I love, to create a safe place for people to heal,” Cathy says. “I meet the most wonderful people, Gold Star families honoring their loved ones, the volunteers who set it up and take it down, and truckers who donate their time to drive around the 53-foot-long trailer carrying it.”
Hitting the Road
Every year, only about 30 sites are selected from roughly 140 applicants to host The Wall That Heals. To be chosen, a community must provide 35 to 40 physically fit volunteers to erect and dismantle the wall, and have an adequate location and a short program about the wall.
Among the towns selected in the Northwest are Ellensburg, Washington, and Independence, Oregon.
Ellensburg, Washington, Sept. 4-7 at Rotary Park
While on a weeklong family vacation in Washington, D.C., Ellensburg resident Henry Johnston recalls how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial affected his two teenage sons.
“It’s a somber experience with the volume of names listed,” says Henry, a mortician in the Central Washington town of 19,000. “With the way it’s laid out, you feel a personalized impact of the war.”
Upon learning about the traveling wall, Henry says he knew it needed to come to his town.
“I notice, too, with my business that we’re burying more Vietnam vets,” he says.
He and Russell Colmore, a veteran, are members of the Downtown Ellensburg Rotary Club and organized Kittitas County’s other three clubs to host the wall. Henry, 39, says he became aware of the war due to his high school computer science teacher, who served in Vietnam with his three brothers.
Russell served in the Air Force from 1974-78. During the war, he was assigned to a refueling station in the Azores near Portugal.
Independence, Oregon, Sept. 18-21 at Sports Park
For several years, Vietnam veteran Billy Whisenant envisioned the traveling wall coming to Independence, a town of 10,000 in Western Oregon.
“It’s a perfect place, considering Independence is the first town to have a

permanent Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” says Billy, cochairman of the host committee and commander of American Legion Post No. 33.
Dedicated in1982, the memorial at Main and Center streets was built by three Vietnam War veterans and is the oldest Vietnam War memorial west of the Mississippi River.
“Our local memorial has a dedication plaque set in stone,” Billy says.
A motorcycle escort is being planned to kick off the event Sept. 16.
“I’m grateful for all our dedicated community members coming together to make this successful for all who come,” Billy says.
Billy, a combat Marine Corps veteran who served from 1967-68, recalls being with a young man on the day he died in the war.
“It was emotional to find his name on the wall and have a good cry,” he says. “The wall is a place where people can feel free to talk to each other. It’s an opportunity to educate people of all ages about the war and its impact.”
The Wall That Heals’ schedule is at thewallthatheals.org. At each location, the wall opens at 9 a.m. on the first day, is open around the clock, and closes at 2 p.m. on the final day.

A Village of Volunteers
The Wall That Heals requires approximately 35 to 40 volunteers and takes six to 10 hours to set up.
More than 160 metal stakes are pounded into the ground to secure the metal framework that holds 140 panels bearing the names of American servicemembers who died in the war from 1959-75. The panels increase in height, with the tallest at 7.5 feet weighing about 80 pounds. Made of a synthetic granite, each panel is sanded and polished during the winter offseason.
Listed by date of casualty, names include 43 sets of brothers, three sets of fathers and sons, 16 chaplains and eight women who were nurses. Those listed range in age from 15 to 62.
LEFT: From March to November, the wall travels to about 30 communities nationwide to honor the 58,281 men and women who died during the war. RIGHT: Volunteers erect and dismantle the wall with its 140 panels listing names of Americans who died in service during the Vietnam War.

A Growing Enterprise
Farmers embrace hydroponic and aquaponic systems to cultivate fresh produce year-round
By Ginger Meurer

While the Pacific Northwest is home to many traditional farms scattered across the countryside, some entrepreneurs are finding new paths to planting, using hydroponic technology—which relies on nutrient-rich water solutions instead of soil—to grow food year-round in greenhouses and even warehouses.
A few are taking the process a step further with aquaponic systems that raise greens and fish in a shared system that mimics natural streams.
Growing With Farmbox Greens
Operations Manager Emily Blessington leads the team of eight at Farmbox Greens, Seattle’s first indoor vertical produce farm.
Dan Albert founded Farmbox in 2012 with his wife, Lindsay Sidlauskas, in their home garage.
“They just grew it from the ground up,” Emily says. “They went to farmers markets and cold-called chefs to get their product into the hands that they wanted. It was definitely a labor of love.”
In 2016, The New York Times wrote about Farmbox. Charlie Billow, of produce wholesaler Charlie’s Produce, saw the article, bought the company and helped it
ABOVE: Brian Rusk pulls a tray of lettuce from the aquaponic system at FarmWild’s greenhouse in Bellingham, Washington.
PHOTO BY KATHERYN MORAN
expand into a warehouse space in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle, where it still operates today.
Dan moved on to other pursuits in 2020, but not before he trained Emily as an entry-level employee seven years ago. When she graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in environmental policy, Emily wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. So, she and a college friend went to work as WWOOFers. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms matches volunteers interested in learning the trade with farmers all over the world willing to provide education, room and board in exchange for labor. Emily worked her way around traditional farms for about six months.
“I realized this is incredible,” she says. “This is what I want to do with my life.”
She returned home to Seattle, found Farmbox and got a job at the bottom rung. She knew nothing about hydroponic farming, but Dan was understanding and willing to show her the ropes. Emily swiftly worked her way up to lead and finally operations manager.
“If you have a passion for plants, and if you’re willing to learn, then you can learn anything," she says. "I’m a real testament to that. I did not come from any sort of farming background. It’s all possible.”
Much like Emily, the seeds at Farmbox reach their full potential swiftly. Time and density are tighter in hydroponics. Instead of spacing plants and giving them time to grow, seeds are planted densely and harvested quickly. After a few days of germinating in the dark, the plants get water, nutrients and a daily 17-hour dose of LED light that mimics sunlight. Fastest from seed to harvest are the radish mix and the pea shoots, which are ready to sell in only seven days. The longest to market are the basil and red sorrel, which can take anywhere from 21 to 23 days.
Emily loves the smells at Farmbox, especially when harvesting fragrant herbs like basil or cilantro. Unlike traditional farmers, her team members rarely gets their hands dirty.
“If you were to see us harvesting, we’d have hairnets on, and we’d be wearing gloves and smocks. It feels very much like lab meets farm. We wear gloves at all steps during production just to be sure we’re as food-safe as possible,” she says.
Every facet of the growth process—pH, nutrients, light—is controlled. But sometimes challenges must be weathered and whole cycles of crops must be discarded, like the time the power went out for a few days.
“It was a bit of a struggle, but we just bounced back, and we’re off to the races,” Emily says. “A real system issue can affect things for a month, but we try to bounce back as quick as we can.”
Emily is certain robots won’t be doing her job anytime soon.
“We can really put our eyes on each tray, and that’s pretty special,” she says. “Maybe a robot could do that, but I think that we care so deeply, and I just don’t think a robot could.”
Hydroponics Help Farmers Be Nimble
Mykl Nelson, who taught urban agriculture at Oregon State University from 2020-2025, says he sees a potential for growth in hydroponics as acreage becomes harder to come by, especially for young first-generation farmers who don’t own land and are looking to break into the industry.



FROM TOP: Purple radish grows in the vertical hydroponic tower at Farmbox Greens in downtown Seattle. Gloves, crisp white gowns and on-site packaging ensure Farmbox Greens’ microgreens are as fresh and clean as possible. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FARMBOX GREENS

“If you’re growing on 5 acres on the edge of town and the person you’ve been renting from decides to sell it, and you’ve got to get out, you’re not taking that soil with you,” Mykl says. “All the work that small, organic farmers do to their soil, it’s just gone. All the tending to microbial life and the soil tills and soil aggregation and trying to change texture and trying to improve organic matter, all of that is gone. And you just have to walk away.”
But hydroponic farmers growing in vertically stacked systems in a warehouse, Mykl says, can take advantage of their systems’ modularity and pack up the operation and set up shop elsewhere, if necessary.
“It would still be a pain,” he says. “You’d still have to shut down production. So, there’d be a length of time when you wouldn’t have fresh product. It would be annoying, something to be avoided, but it would be possible.”
Mykl says another benefit of hydroponics is the ability to be nimble. While conventional farmers must slowly improve soil to get it where they want it, adjusting conditions in a hydroponic system is instant.
“If you want the pH lower—boom, it’s lower,” he says.
Best of all, Mykl says, is it happens without pesticides, chemicals or even dirt. He adds that real research is going into designer produce.
He sees farmers focused on “growing not just a good lettuce, but the best head of lettuce and being able to manipulate how crisp it is and how many antioxidants are in there and how many nitrates are in there,” he says.
Fish Are Friends at FarmWild
Brian Rusk, known to most as Farmer Brian or the Basil Guy, raises fish and leafy greens in a symbiotic system in Bellingham, Washington. The fish excrete waste full of nutrients the plants need to grow. Then the plants clean the water, and the system sends it back to the fish.
“As long as they’re in balance, they can continuously work together,” Brian says.
While many aquaponic farmers prefer raising seafood like tilapia, Brian says he prefers raising koi, and he doesn’t have to kill them.
“Mostly I just name them and pet them and talk with them and keep them well,” he says.
Brian grew up in suburban Richmond, Virginia. After earning his doctorate in geology, he worked as a university professor. About 10 years ago, Brian started FarmWild as a side gig, raising chickens for eggs and turkeys for Thanksgiving. In 2017, he added aquaponics.
Out of all the things he did on the farm, Brian found aquaponics the most captivating. When he realized he was delegating the other work to employees, he decided last year to


FROM TOP LEFT: The Rusk Family takes a break in their Bellingham aquaponic greenhouse. PHOTOGRAPHER KATHERYN MORAN Michael and Olivia Hasey thin basil in their Oregon aquaponic farm. PHOTO BY MOTOYA NAKAMURA, ©THE OREGONIAN
give up the fowl and focus his full attention on fish and greens. He almost regretted it when his buddies were bringing in $12 a carton for eggs.
Brian eased away from university life, too, first working fewer hours, then half-time before stepping away altogether five years ago. Along with the switch to aquaponics came a change of venue. Instead of working out of greenhouses on the farm, Brian works in downtown Bellingham in a warehouse less than a mile from many of his biggest customers.
That proximity means FarmWild greens couldn’t be fresher. Brian pulls the basil from the water with the roots still intact, boxes it up and drives it to his nearby restaurant customers.
“It’s still growing in the box and can stay alive for weeks so they can harvest it in their own kitchen,” he says.
From Ponds to Aquaponics
As a kid in California, Michael Hasey had a clubhouse with walls lined with aquariums.
“Anything I could catch went into an aquarium where I would study it and then let it go,” he says.
Michael learned farming by helping at surrounding ranches near his childhood home in Livermore. He racked up skills as he went, learning about landscaping, construction and pond development. He’s particularly proud of work he did maintaining water features for places like Mission Bay Golf Course, Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo.
As he worked on ponds, Michael perfected methods of breeding fish using vegetative filtration. He wrote an article about it for POND Trade Magazine, and a university professor in the Virgin Islands reached out.
The professor said the university was studying similar things but using it for food crops—calling it aquaponics—and invited Michael to visit. It just so happened that Michael's brother was working as a chef near the university.
“So, I had a place to stay,” Michael says. “I hopped on a plane, and there I was studying under Dr. James Rakocy.”
His new mentor was one of the fathers of aquaponics.
From there, Michael made his dream a reality. He sold his pond business and bought land and water rights in Southern Oregon. For five years, he and his wife, Olivia, with the help of a partner, interns and WWOOFers, built and ran a successful farm in the Rogue Valley.
Rogue Aquaponics had six tanks, each larger than 1,000 gallons. The company was raising 1,400 to 1,600 pounds of fish a month. Meanwhile, Olivia was developing the plant side, working on recipes for pesto, which they processed in an on-site commercialgrade facility and sold through distributors and at farmers markets under the name Super Simple Foods. Michael was also sought after as a consultant by others hoping to start aquaponic systems of their own.
That’s when the area was hit by a huge storm. Add to that the COVID-19 pandemic and the birth of Michael and Olivia’s second child, and it was all just too much. The couple decided to pause
production for a while so Michael could focus on consulting. Five years later, they have no intention of giving up on aquaponics, but they are planning to pursue it in a new place. As soon as their Oregon farm sells, the couple plans to head to Kona, Hawaii, which Michael says is a big hub for aquaponics.
“They’re pioneers in this industry and have been for a long time,” he says.
Olivia is excited about the future, too.
“I’m over the moon,” she says. “We’re just really champing at the bit to get to all these new ways we can see ourselves applying all the things we’ve learned here.” n


Annual Farm Tour Returns
FarmWild, an aquaponic farm in downtown Bellingham, is among 15 stops on this year’s Whatcom County Farm Tour.
The tour, sponsored by the nonprofit Sustainable Connections, welcomes the public to visit “a good mix of farms,” says organizer Jessica Gillis. That includes “folks that grow vegetables, fruit, or flowers, those that raise animals, and some that use hydroponic or regenerative practices," she says.
Last year, the tour drew more than 1,750 participants to the free one-day event. This year, FarmWild has a change of venue. Last year, the business was still out in the country, and 300 to 400 people made the trek to see pigs and chickens. Founder Brian Rusk suspects being in downtown Bellingham, in a more accessible venue, will result in a bigger draw this time around.
“Most people have never seen this kind of thing, and there’s a lot of curiosity around it,” he says.
Other farms slated to participate include: Alluvial Farms, Bellingham Flower Farm, CTK Food Share and Farm, Fair Cow’s Path Farm, Five Elements Harvest, Grace Harbor with Steensma Creamery, Growing Veterans, Lagom Vineyards, Oak Meadows Farm, Primavera Farm, Small Acres, Sonder Farmstead, Widnor Farms and Wright Brothers Farms. Visit sustainableconnections.org/whatcom-county-farm-tour for more information about the tour.
A BOUNTY OF BASIL From Garden to Table:
Classic Caprese Pasta Salad
Pasta salad
1 pound of your favorite shaped pasta, cooked and cooled
3 cups grape tomatoes, halved
12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese balls, plain or marinated, halved
Dressing
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/3 cup basil, chiffonade
¼ cup parsley, chopped
1/8 cup freshly grated ParmigianoReggiano cheese
Balsamic glaze, for drizzling
1 garlic clove, minced Salt Pepper
In a bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cheeses and herbs. In a glass measuring cup, whisk dressing ingredients. Season to taste. Pour dressing over pasta salad, and toss to combine. It’s best if it’s chilled for an hour. Garnish with more basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze just before serving.
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY YULIA LISITSA
Green Goddess Salad Dressing
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup scallions, chopped
½ cup chopped fresh basil, packed
1/8 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
½ cup sour cream
Place all ingredients except for sour cream in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add sour cream and process until blended.
Keep refrigerated until serving on your favorite salad.
Basic Basil Pesto
½ cup toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups basil, leaves only
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for a smoother pesto
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Pulse until well chopped. Add the basil. Pulse until combined.
With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Pulse until combined. Add the Parmesan cheese, and pulse to briefly combine. Add more olive oil if desired.
Basil Vinaigrette Pasta
Vinaigrette
1 shallot, roughly chopped
2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves, stems removed (about 4 ounces)
1 clove garlic
Pasta
1 pound pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 shallots, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 zucchini, cut into coins
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 lemon, juiced
Fresh basil
Parmesan cheese
To make the vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a highpowered blender. Blend for 60 seconds until smooth. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, shallot and red pepper flakes. Saute until fragrant. Add the zucchini, and saute until just soft. Add the pasta and ½ cup of basil vinaigrette. Toss to combine. Add more basil vinaigrette as needed. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice before serving.
Basil Mayonnaise
2 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup vegetable oil, at room temperature
½ cup quality olive oil, at room temperature
Place the egg yolks, lemon juice, Parmesan, mustard, basil, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process for 30 seconds until smooth.
Combine the vegetable oil and olive oil in a liquid measuring cup. With the processor running, slowly pour the oil mixture through the feed tube to make a thick emulsion.
Store in the refrigerator until ready to use; it will keep for up to a week. Serve with beef tenderloin or steak.
Panzanella
Baguette bread, preferably stale, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon kosher sea salt, divided
2 pounds ripe tomatoes, any variety or color
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
½ cup thinly sliced red onion
2 garlic cloves, grated to a paste
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Large pinch red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Black pepper
1 cup sliced English cucumber
½ cup torn basil leaves
¼ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped
Heat oven to 425 F. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet, and toss with 2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt. Bake until dried out and golden brown at the edges, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
Cut tomatoes into bite-size pieces, and transfer to a large bowl. Add mozzarella, onions, garlic paste, 1 tablespoon vinegar, oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt and red pepper flakes. Toss to coat, then set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil until the mixture is thickened. Stir in cucumbers, basil and parsley.
Add bread cubes and cucumbers to the tomatoes. Toss well. Let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours before serving. Toss with a little more olive oil, vinegar and salt if needed just before serving.
READER EXCHANGE
Crafts/Hobbies
We are gathering items for this year’s Operation Christmas Child. If you sew, knit or crochet, we would love to have new or like new Barbie dolls, Barbie clothes, children’s knitted/crocheted hats or finger puppets. We are also collecting Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars, cloth pencil pouches and Beanie Babies. With your help, last year we sent 712 shoeboxes worldwide. Our goal is to send as many or more this year. Many thanks to those who have sent items in the past, you’ve shared joy with children, many of whom had never received a gift of this nature. If you have other ideas for children 3-14, let us know. Sometimes items are too large for the shoeboxes. We cannot send liquids or sweets. Thank you.
Peggy Hodge 10106 Edgewood Drive Anderson Island, WA 98303 Peggyocc2000@gmail.com
I am looking for all types of sewing materials to use and pass out around the villages. Reason being, we have a memorial potlatch in March 2026. People are already sewing for this event. They are sewing to contribute in many villages around Nulato, Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska. Even some down in the lower states. All sewing items are appreciated. Maaseé (thank you in our language, Lower Koyukon Athabascan, Nulato, Interior Alaska).
Eileen Stickman
P.O. Box 65082 Nulato, AK 99765
My sister and I are making jewelry. Please send any unwanted chains, beads or jewelry. Thank you.
Marsha Holeik and Susan Bybee 16637 W.M. Foss Road La Pine, OR 97739
Milestones
My mother turns 95 years old in late August and would be elated to receive birthday greetings from everywhere. She was married for 67 years, raised seven daughters and had a successful career in real estate. She currently volunteers in the library at her retirement home and is going strong. Please send cards to Shirley Smith, 1950 NE 102nd Ave., Room 265, Hillsboro, OR 97006. Thanks.
Cheryl K. Smith
Cheshire, Oregon
My mother turns 97 in early August. Originally from Mill City, Oregon, she moved to Longview, Washington, with her father and siblings after the death of her mother. She was married for 50 years until her husband’s death, and she is one of those people who has never met a stranger. She makes it a point to visit the mailbox at her apartment, so please help us fill it with birthday wishes. Freda Everdell, 1767 20th Ave., Apt. 613, Longview, WA 98632.
Paula Everdell Graham, Washington
Submitting Requests Is Free
My mother celebrates her 90th birthday in August. She is very active, playing bunco, musical bingo and card games with her friends. She and my dad have been married 73 years. She loves growing beautiful flowers. She would be surprised to receive cards on this milestone birthday. Please send to Ava Greenwood, 11006 E. Santan Blvd., Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. Thank you.
JoAnn Pruett Sagle, Idaho
Odds
I am looking for a Cadillac hubcap (just one) for a community art project. Year and condition doesn’t matter. Thank you.
L. M. Fenton 43712 37th Ave. E. Eatonville, WA 98328
lmfenton@outlook.com
Thanks
Readers are amazing. My mom, Jo, received more than 300 beautiful cards for her 93rd birthday, including puzzle books, funny anecdotes, lovely sentiments and, importantly, prayers. She was delighted. Thank you.
Karen Walton Richland, Washington
I want to thank the person who sent me the lovely book for beaded jewelry.
Betty Mercado
The Dalles, Oregon
Send your request (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. No duplicates. If replying to a reader submission, please only send what is requested. Submissions are handled first-come, first-served 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 (pricing applies). When submitting a milestone request, please send it at least two months before the milestone. Phone numbers are not published. Email addresses are if they are part of the ad, but you must include a postal address.
Requests must include the name and address of the electric utility that provides your magazine.
Head out for great fishing in Arizona at ADVENTURE
Alamo Lake State Park

What Is It?
Head to Western Arizona for clear water surrounded by low mountains at Alamo Lake State Park. Known for its bass fishing, exploring the park is a great way to experience the Sonoran desert and see wildlife, such as eagles, pelicans and Great Blue Herons.
History
Alamo Lake sits on the Bill Williams River behind Alamo Dam. While the dam was being built in the 1960s, the Army Corps of Engineers, Arizona State Parks and Arizona Game and Fish worked to determine the operation and management of Alamo Lake. It became a state park in November 1969—just months after the dam was completed—and the Army Corps of Engineers built a campground, picnic area and boat ramp.
Gone Fishing
Alamo Lake is 3,500 acres and known for three types of fish. The most notable is largemouth bass, which can be caught year-round, and the lake is home to frequent bass fishing tournaments. The lake is also a great spot to catch crappie and tilapia. Fishers older than 10 must have a valid Arizona fishing license.
More Nearby
There’s lots to do around Alamo Lake State Park. Head northeast, and within four hours you will pass Prescott National Forest, known for its mountains and waters, on your way to the red rock buttes of Sedona. Head west from Alamo Lake, and it is about three hours to Joshua Tree National Park.
More Information
Alamo Lake State Park has a $10 entrance fee for a person in their own vehicle, or $20 for a vehicle with up to four people. To start planning your trip, visit tinyurl.com/a82rz9zr.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY HANSWISMEIJER
Doctor urges seniors to carry medical alert device
Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills
People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren, says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.
“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home. That’s why seniors and their family members are snapping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.
Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert systems come with
monthly bills.
To solve these problems Universal Physicians, a U.S. company went to work to develop a new, modern, state-of-the-art medical alert device. It’s called “FastHelp™” and it instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“This slick new little device is designed to look like the pagers doctors wear every day. Seniors love them because it actually makes them look important, not old,” Dr. Howren said.
FastHelp is expected to hit store shelves later this year. But special newspaper promotional giveaways are slated for seniors in select areas. ■

■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.
Seniors born before 1961 get new medical alert device with no monthly bills ever
The phone lines are ringing off the hook.
That’s because for seniors born before 1961, it’s a deal too good to pass up.
Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning the Pre-Store Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.
“It’s not like old style monitored help buttons that make you talk to a call center and only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cel -
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(Continued from previous page)
lular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere, anytime cell service is available whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.
“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, the instant rebate that practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.
FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever.
Better still, it comes with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever – which makes FastHelp a great choice for seniors, students and professionals because it connects to one of the largest nationwide networks everywhere cell service is available for free.
And here’s the best part. All those who already have an old style monitored medical alert button can immediately eliminate those monthly bills, which is why Universal Physicians is widely advertising this announcement nationwide.
“So if you’ve ever felt a medical alert device was too complicated or expensive, you’ll want to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device with no monthly bills,” said Lawrence.
The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal
Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert device that cuts out the middleman by instantly connecting you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hook-up or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t
need a cell phone. Everything is done for you.
“FastHelp is a state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style monitored help buttons you wear around your neck, or require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy,” Lawrence says. “It’s just outdated.”
Millions of seniors fall every year and spend hours lying on the floor helpless
HOW TO GET IT:
IF BORN BEFORE 1961:

and all alone with no help.
But seniors who fall and get immediate help are much more likely to avoid getting sent to a nursing home and get to STAY living in their own home independently.
Yet millions of seniors are still risking their safety by not having a medical alert device. That’s because seniors just can’t afford to pay the monthly bills that come with old style medical alert devices.
That’s why seniors born
before 1961 are rush ing to cash in the whopping $150 instant rebate before the 21 day deadline ends.
So there’s no need to wait for FastHelp to hit store shelves later this year because seniors born before 1961 can get it now just by using the $150 instant rebate coupon printed in today’s newspaper before the 21 day deadline ends. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. ■
Use the rebate coupon below and call this Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-330-4294 DEPT.
IF BORN AFTER 1961: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8699
THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. FastHelp with the instant rebate is a real steal at just $149 and shipping and there are no monthly bills ever.
PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp OneTouch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal irresistible. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.
CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1961 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.









THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT
Speaking Without Words
By Dave LaBelle
I have written in past years about the merits of photographing people from the back, but the concept is worth repeating.
Body language—or gesture, as it is often called—can convey much in a still photograph. We can often tell a lot about a person’s disposition just by the way they carry themselves.
Whether overt gestures such as raising a fist in protest or outstretched hands imploring agreement speak loudly, the quieter, subtle gestures—such as the way one walks, or tilts their head when speaking or listening—can also communicate a lot when our eyes pay attention.
If you have never closely studied Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” I suggest you give this masterpiece a serious look. Beyond the mood-setting color, the postures of the son, father and brother—especially the positions of the hands—are powerful details employed to tell this compassionate story in one of the artist’s greatest works.
A few years ago, I was walking in the hills with a dear friend, Mark, after he had lost his oldest son. He often took long hikes alone to pray. He asked one day if I would walk with him. I did not carry a camera on this day, but I did have my cellphone.
Following behind on the narrow path,
Reader Challenge

the movements of his body—sometimes unsteady on the stony path—felt like a metaphor for his life then.
I know you are struggling day by day, I observed.
He softly answered, “It is more like hour to hour.” n

sharing
tips and life perspectives
Capture a storytelling photograph without showing a person’s face. Pay attention to body language. Watch how one sits or walks and where they do so. In European countries it’s not uncommon to see older men ambling alone with their hands folded behind them.
readers. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and his blog at bridgesandangels. wordpress.com. iPhone 6s, 4.2mm lens
Email your best image—just one—with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to gph@pioneer.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
ISO 25, f/2.2 at 1/2959
Photographer, author and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century,
photo
with
Generational Wealth A future for generations to come





























ea. Minimum order of 5 coins
American Gold Reserve is releasing Government issued $5 Gold American Eagles completely free of dealer mark-up for only $359 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 GENERATIONAL












National Peach


Luscious Peach Recipes ~ Desserts Cookbook: $8 Comfort Foods Cookbook: $13
Discover all 13 of our Recipe Contest cookbooks. Each is 8½-by-11” with index. Prices shown include postage and tax.
Please allow two - three weeks for delivery; include your email address if you would like a shipping confirmation.
Aug. 8: National Zucchini

Tempting Zucchini Recipes ~ Casseroles Cookbook: $10 Everybody’s Favorites: $10 Soups Stews & Chowders: $10

ORDER BY MAIL: Submit payment with cookbook title, your name, address and number of cookbooks wanted to:
BY PHONE: Call
for credit card payments with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or AMEX. ORDER ONLINE: Visit www.ruralite.com and find Store.
Did You Know?
Umatilla Electric Cooperative is operated on a not-for-profit basis. Electric cooperatives, unlike investor-owned utilities, are owned by the members they serve. When you pay your electric bill, you are accumulating equity in your cooperative.
UEC members have recently received a statement in the mail detailing the previous year’s (2024) Capital Credits allocations and their Total Unretired Capital Credits to date. As a cooperative, UEC is owned by the members we serve. The Capital Credits Allocation Statement is a statement of your ownership within the cooperative. This statement is not a bill.
The amount reported is determined by the revenue received from your account, less our costs to provide you with service. If this number appears lower than previous years, please recognize that this can happen for a variety of reasons - such as low usage, seasonal accounts, or higher delivery costs - and it’s not unusual. Capital Credits are tracked by account and accumulate over time. Even if you move or stop service, your allocation remains in our records, and you’re eligible to receive retirements when they are issued.
In March of 2025, UEC’s Board of Directors retired or paid back to the member, Capital Credits totaling $4 million. In the history of UEC, nearly $135 Million in Capital Credits have been returned to the membership. For more details about Capital Credits, visit our Capital Credits page at www.UmatillaElectric. com.
Umatilla Electric has returned nearly $135 million to members since the Capital Credits program began in 1960.




As a member of UEC, you are accumulating equity in your cooperative!
MARKETPLACE
Agriculture
4x5 round bales, Meadow Foxtail Orchard Grass. 4x4 Timothy, small square. 208-435-4637 or 208-435-4002; nas@cpcinternet.com. 1225
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 44 years in business. www.btlliners.com. 541-447-0712. 0426
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. 0925
Buying American Indian collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Call 760-409-3117 or send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com.
Automotive
1984 Harley Davidson FLTC. Very good condition. One owner, extras. Interested? Call 208-267-7145. 0825
Well-preserved, street-legal 1953 Morris Minor Sedan. Licensed, insured and carefully stored in Bandon since 2001. Black, left-hand drive, red leather interior. Offers of more than $10K welcomed. Call/text 541-808-1069. 0925
’69 Mustang coupe 302. Automatic. Runs as is. $5K. Bill, 541-782-2096. 0825
Books, Magazines, 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. 0825
Free Item
Free materials. When church/government unite, enforcing Sunday Law, the “Mark” of the “Beast” is here. Don’t be deceived, be informed. Leave mailing address only, TBSM, PO Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. 888-211-1715; tbsmads@yahoo.com. 1225AR
Help Wanted
Older woman in Brookings, OR, needs regular help with easy yard work. Sometimes need to be driven to town in winter. Good pay. Text 707-951-1882. 0825
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, public utility districts 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): October issue—Aug. 28, 2025.
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.
We want you. Apply now to teach classes at Art Center East in La Grande, OR, for fall and winter quarters. 541-624-2800; artcentereast.org. 0825
Miscellaneous
3 cemetery plots, Salt Creek Cemetery near Dallas, OR. $800 each. Open to offers on all. Message 503-457-8084. 0825
Granite cemetery markers at affordable prices. Will ship to most places. For more info: Joe, 541-815-8906 or highdesertmemorials.com; highdesertmemorials@gmail.com. 0825
Pets
Fort Sage Kennels, closing. AKC-registered Airedales. Females, 1 year old. Males 2-3 years old. 530-827-2271 or 530-249-7896. 0925 Plants, Garden Supplies
For sale: about 100 30-year-old black walnut trees in Eltopia, WA. 509-531-5899; janitorialex@yahoo.com. 0825
Real Estate
615 remote acres w/views. LOP tag eligible, fenced, 2 springs, year-round creek, cabin. $584K. Duke Warner Realty, 541-987-2363 or ddwr@ortelco.net. 0825
320 acres east of Adel, OR. Borders Hart Mountain views, Steens Mountain and Beaty Butte. Landowner tags, very rural. $179K. Due to injury quick sale. For maps: 541-659-1573 or thejugglingman3@gmail.com. 0825
Let me help you buy or sell ranch, farm and recreation property in OR. Fourthgeneration Oregonian, prior ranch owner. For sale: Klamath Marsh, OR. 173.65 acres. $2.5M. Guest Ranch Overlay. John Gill, 541-480-9161; johngill@landandwildlife.com. Land And Wildlife brokerage. 0825
Preppers paradise. Totally turnkey, off-grid, 5,200-watt solar, 3,900-sqft. custom home, 4 bd, 3 ba, daylight basement more than 2,000sqft. shop, very private 20 acres, 8-GPM well, 1,500-gallon propane tanks, 2 large backup generators. $1.549M. 760-382-8654.
40 acres, 30 minutes north of Ely, NV, in beautiful Steptoe Valley. Electricity nearby. $58.8K. 775-289-4906. 0825
10-acre mountaintop retreat, quiet solitude, timbered meditation trails. 3-bd, 2-ba mobile home, guest house, 20x20 shop, excellent well. 9 miles west of Creswell, OR. $495K. Bette, 541-953-4001. 0825
Recreational Rentals
Oceanfront cottage on the spectacular Central OR coast. Stunning views, sandy beach. Scoters, spindrift and seals. 2 bd and loft, all w/double beds. Rates and reservations: wavecatcherbeachrentals.com; relax@WaveCatcherbeachrentals.com, 541-740-9953. 0825
Enjoy your ideal Maui getaway. This updated 2-bd, 2-ba condo sleeps 4 and features a charming “surf shack” design. Just half a block from a beautiful beach, it’s perfect for morning strolls and sunsets. Plus, you’re steps away from shops and restaurants at Azeka Plaza. tinyurl.com/MauiGetaway.
Beautiful coastal mountain outdoor events venue on the Nehalem River. Off Highway 26 just 25 minutes from Seaside and 45 minutes from Portland, enclosed 30x60 white tent, 20x24 deck overlooking the Nehalem River and beautiful wilderness background. Book the weekend or by the hour with camping available. Schedule a tour today. 971-489-3960. 0925
$275/night VRBO vacation rental. Only 1/8 of a mile from Lake Coeur d’Alene, ID. t.vrbo.io/EgtTnZc7HSb. 0925
Recreational Vehicles
2007 17-ft. Nash trailer. Self-contained. Lots of extras. Sleeps 5 to 6 (3 bd). $11K. Visit “Dean Wheeling” on Facebook Marketplace. 541-444-1394. 0825
Resorts, Camps, Tours, Lodges
Cruises: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Panama Canal, Hawaii and more. River cruises, safaris, resorts. UdoU Travel LLC: www.udoutravelllc.com, 541-256-0100, cindygreenup@gmail.com. 1125
Services
Dawn Till Dusk Masonry. Brick, block, stone and pavers. Small jobs and repairs welcome. dawntillduskconstructionmasonry.com. 541-388-7605, 541-410-6945. License #245760 bonded and insured. La Pine, OR. 0825
Blue Mountain Defensible Space LLC Wildfire Fuel Reduction: clearing brush, thinning trees, animal habitat enhancement. Expert service. Grant money available OR, WA, ID. Bluemountainbrush@gmail.com, 509-399-3473; Bluemountainbrush.com. 0126
Situations Wanted
71-year-old country girl. Received many responses, unfortunately from too far away. Looking for Brookings, OR, area only. Snowbirds? Be a bit persistent; I’m overwhelmed with replies. Please text me at 707-951-1882.
Want to Buy
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, 971-666-0659. 0825
Gold, silver, coins/currency, buy, sell. Collections wanted. Fair prices paid. 44 years in retail store. Baker City, OR. 800-556-2133, garrymclin@aol.com. 1025
Buying American Indian Collectibles, Navajo jewelry, blankets, rugs. CA/AZ baskets and beadwork. Quality paintings of the early Southwest and Americas. Send photos to amer.ind.baskets@gmail.com or call 760-409-3117. 1025
Cash paid for old gas station and oil company signs, pumps, globes, metal oil cans. Good condition. Discreet cash settlement. Clifton Jones, collector, 512-413-4459. 1225
Salad Cookbook
Want a fresh take on salads? More than 250 readerrecommended recipes are listed in an 8½-by-11-inch indexed book for $8, postage included.


To order by mail, send payment and number of cookbooks wanted along with your name and address to Ruralite Cookbooks, P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133.
To pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover card or American Express, call 503-357-2105.
To order online, visit www.ruralite.org. Allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Avenue North P.O. Box 205 Eatonville, WA
Facebook: Eatonville United Methodist Church of Washington OPEN HEARTS OPEN MINDS OPEN DOORS OPEN TABLE WORSHIP SERVICE BEGINS AT 10:30 a.m.
Promotions Highlight UEC’s Commitment to Growing Talent from Within
Chad Campfield and Ryan Young promoted to management roles in the cooperative’s engineering department.

Chad Campfield was promoted to manager of engineering, transmission, where he will oversee large-scale capital projects and lead UEC’s transmission engineering team.

Ryan Young was promoted to manager of engineering, distribution, where he will lead teams focused on system reliability, smart metering, and distribution planning.

Fun at the Fair and Rodeo!
We are proud to support our local county fairs, rodeos, and youth livestock auctions.
Join in for the fun by attending the Umatilla and Morrow County fairs, Farm City Pro Rodeo and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo, all happening in August! Detailed information for each event can be found online.
Umatilla County Fair August 6-9
www.umatillacountyfair.net
Farm City Pro Rodeo August 6-9
www.farmcityprorodeo.com
Morrow County Fair August 13-16
www.co.morrow.or.us/fair
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo August 14-16
www.oregontrailprorodeo.org















Finishing Touches Underway:
UEC Building Nearing Completion
Progress continues on Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s building updates, with several

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month
Replace your cooling system’s filter regularly to maintain strong airflow and boost energy efficiency.
A clean filter means your system doesn’t have to work as hard, saving energy and lowering your utility bills.

National Hydropower Day is Aug. 24
National Hydropower Day is recognized on Aug. 24, 2025. Hydroelectric dams in the Northwest deliver carbon-free, low-cost power to communities across the region.
First constructed as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the dams brought fair access to electricity to the rural Northwest and paved the way for utilities, including cooperatives like Umatilla Electric to serve our communities.

Factors like allergies and pets in the home can impact how often filters should be replaced. Check the filter every month and replace it as needed. Changing filters regularly also reduces wear and tear on your cooling system, helping extend the life of the unit.
Source: energy.gov




BEFORE YOU GO
Dinner, My Deer?
Nature surprises us through sunsets, picturesque landscapes and even by friendly wildlife visits to your backyard.
“We were sitting at the table in the patio about to have dinner, and here came the deer,” Robbie Strand says.
To submit your photo, email a JPEG to photos@pioneer.coop. Include “Before You Go” in the subject line and share a bit about what inspired you to make your photo. n

A message from the
Be aware!
Be prepared!
When you go outdoors, wear an EPA registered insect repellant, and protective clothing. The best defense is… defense, it turns out.
Check everywhere!
Ticks are tiny and can be found almost anywhere outdoors, year round! The best prevention is to pay attention. Ticks suck, but being outdoors shouldn’t. Learn more at
When you come back inside, take a shower, and check everywhere! We mean everywhere: Up top! Bend over! Don’t be scared.
If you do get a tick, there’s no need to panic. Follow safe removal instructions, and call your doctor with any questions!
A herd of deer shows up as surprise guests. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBBIE STRAND
TICK TIP #1
TICK TIP #2
TICK TIP #3
TICK TIP #4









See the Forest Through the Trees








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Mighty Conifer Knife


Offices


750 W. Elm Ave.

Hermiston, OR 97838
400 N.E. Eldrige Drive
Boardman, OR 97818
Hours
7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday-Thursday (541) 567-6414 (800) 452-2273
Report An Outage (888) 465-5701 day or night
Directors
Bryan Wolfe, Chair
Jeff Wenholz, Vice Chair
Steve Platt, Secretary-Treasurer
Lee Docken
Phil Hamm
John Otis
Tom Pitzer
Management
Robert Echenrode, President / CEO
Josh Lankford, Assistant General Manager
Cole Bode, Vice President Engineering
Lisa McMeen, Vice President Administration
Blake Weathers, Vice President Power Supply
Our Mission
Umatilla Electric Cooperative is a member-owned business that sells energy and invests in and supports other services to improve the quality of life in our communities.
OR-8
Understanding Your Electric Bill: What Goes into Energy Charges

Umatilla Electric wants to help you better understand your investment in the co-op, make confident, informed choices, and recognize the value of the reliable service you count on every day. When you open your electric bill, you’re not just paying for the power you used, you’re also helping maintain the system that keeps electricity flowing safely and dependably to your home or business.
Your electric bill includes three key parts: a basic charge, an energy charge and for some accounts a demand charge. Understanding these can help you take control of your energy bill.
Let’s break it down.
The Basic Charge: Keeping the System Ready
The basic charge — sometimes called the “facilities charge” or “fixed charge” - is a flat monthly fee that helps cover the cost of delivering power, regardless of how much energy you use. This charge varies by rate class and supports the infrastructure needed to keep electricity flowing to your home or business.
These fixed costs include things like:
• 24/7 emergency response and outage restoration
• Customer service, billing systems, and regulatory compliance
• A share of power infrastructure, whether or not you’re using electricity
Think of the basic charge like a cost to keep a road to your house paved and plowed — whether you drive it daily or just once a week, it has to be maintained, upgraded, and ready at all times. Our team works hard to keep this charge as low as possible, limiting our operating budget and costs to provide these services.
The Energy Charge: What You Use
The energy charge reflects the amount of electricity you consume each month, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is the portion of your bill that varies month to month and is impacted by your appliances, heating or cooling needs, and how energy-efficient your home or business is.
The energy charge includes:
• The cost UEC pays for power – roughly 60 percent from Bonneville Power Administration and the other 40 percent from open wholesale energy markets.
• The fluctuating fuel, transmission, and market costs tied to energy production.
This part of your bill increases when you use more electricity-during summer air conditioning use, for example-or drops when your usage goes down.
The Demand Charge: Taking Control
A demand charge is based on the maximum kilowatts (kW) you draw at once – your peak demand - which better captures the size of the infrastructure needed to deliver that electricity to you. Think of it like a water system: your usage is how many gallons you consume, while your demand is how wide you open the tap.
Importantly, demand charges give you more control over your bill than you might expect. By spreading out the use of large equipment or simultaneously using things like programmable timers to stagger use, you can reduce your peak demand, potentially lowering your monthly costs.
Why It Matters
Together, these components help ensure fairness across the membership and financial stability for the cooperative.
Understanding these charges also empowers you to better manage your energy costs. While the base charge is fixed, the energy portion of your bill is one you can control by making energy-efficient choices and being mindful of high-usage equipment.
We know affordability matters to you. As we navigate rising costs and invest in a strong, reliable system, our goal is to keep you informed and help you understand what’s ahead.

Robert Echenrode President / CEO