SKYLAR A. STEPHEN IN ROOKS COUNTY
THERE’S ALWAYS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE DARKNESS
JANUARY
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F E AT U R E S
D E PA RT M E N T S
12 | Rural Kansas Photos
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Once again, Kansas Country Living sponsored the grandprize winning photo in the Rural Kansas Photography Contest, which graces the front cover. Take a look at these fantastic runners-up (and the photo above that was a finalist too).
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19 | 80 Years Young
Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. celebrates its 80th anniversary this year and we kick off the festivities with a primer on who we are and our connection to you, the consumer-members of your Kansas electric cooperatives.
20 | Internet for Everyone
16 | 16A | 17 |
More than 20 million Americans do not have broadband in their homes or businesses. The United States has responded by quietly launching one of its biggest programs ever — with plans to connect everyone to the internet, even those of us in rural areas of Kansas.
22 | Help is On the Way
E D I TO R’S L E T T E R
Look for the good stuff A RO U N D K A N S A S
Winter family activities CO M M E N TA RY
80 years is just the beginning E N E RGY W I S E
Organize your energy T H E P R E S I D E N T ’S P E N
Remembering past events anew YO U R LO C A L CO - O P N E W S
Stay connected to your co-op C RO S S W O R D P U Z Z L E
Winter activities Fun in the cold.
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YO U R P L AC E I N T H E G A R D E N
Christmas cactus
How to care for this blooming beauty.
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CO O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E
Anytime French toast
The secret? Pretoasting the bread.
When a big storm knocks out power for you and your neighbors, there’s a good chance help is already on the way from electric cooperatives near and far.
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20
28 | 29 |
M A R K E T P L AC E
Barns, chicks, gift subscriptions SAFETY
No walking on thin ice M O N T H LY R E C I P E S
Soup de jour
Delicious and easy soups.
CHRIS WILLIAMS
ON THE COVER
12
Rural Kansas Photography Contest grand-prize winner “Milky Way over Fox Creek School House” photographed in Chase County by Chris Williams.
The Con
Photo cont tenders est
JANUA RY
P H OTO BY C H R I S W I L L I A M S
JANUARY 2021
2021 | BROUG HT
runners-up Broadenin g Broadb Pandemic and expo
TO YOU BY ROLLIN G
ses disparities
HILLS ELECTR IC CO-OP | WWW. KEC.CO
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
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OP
E D I TO R’S L E T T E R
Rediscovering the Good, Simple Stuff in Life
(ISSN 0091-9586) JANUARY 2021 VOL. 71, NO. 1 ©KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC. 2021 WWW.KEC.COOP
Lee Tafanelli
Chief Executive Officer
Vicki Estes
Director of Communications, Editor
Carrie Kimberlin
Manager of Creative Solutions
Shaylee Arpin WHEN REVIEWING THE ENTRIES from the 2020
Rural Kansas Photography Contest, I felt as though I had taken a minivacation. Photo after photo transported me somewhere beautiful, calm, inviting, almost surreal. From a golden wheat field to a weathered wooden dock adjacent an inviting pond, I wanted to be anywhere but sitting in my office with face mask and hand sanitizer at the ready in case I needed to talk with a coworker or get a glass of water. Some simple stuff is not so simple these days. But the simple pleasures in life can still be found around the corner as the contest photos reminded me. A windmill at sunset. A vibrant
LETTERS
monarch butterfly resting within a patch of red flowers. A majestic eagle soaring gracefully overhead. Golden hay bales dotting the landscape. The Milky Way. Foggy mornings fishing on a lake. Kansas sunsets. Abundant wildlife in their habitat. Reflections of the Earth’s beauty on a farm pond. Children immersed in their rural environment. Healthcare heroes. The good stuff is still there; it’s all around us. See for yourself beginning on Page 12 and at kumc.edu/ community-engagement/rural-health/ rural-kansas-photography-contest. Best wishes in the new year. KCL
VICKI ESTES, EDITOR
About 18 years ago we planned a family Christmas in WaKeeney. We live in Manhattan, our daughter had married a man from St. Francis, and they had a 2-year old son. Their home was in Michigan at the time. We also have another daughter who was seriously dating her husband-to-be. To strike a balance between St. Francis and Manhattan we learned about WaKeeney’s Christmas. We rented a rural B&B just south of WaKeeney only for a carry-in Christmas noon dinner, and then went to WaKeeney for whatever it had to offer. It was one of the most memorable Christmases we ever had. Thanks to WaKeeney. BETTY STEVENS, BLUESTEM ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MEMBER
Multimedia Communications Specialist
Brianna Magee
Communications Intern Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
Terry Hobbs
President
Teresa Miller Vice President
Kirk Thompson
Secretary/Treasurer
You receive Kansas C ountry Living as a service of the following electric co-ops as a cost-effective way to share important information about services, energy savings, electric safety, director elections, meetings and management decisions. It also contains legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost: 4 Rivers, Lebo Alfalfa, Cherokee, OK Bluestem, Wamego Brown-Atchison, Horton Butler, El Dorado CMS, Meade Caney Valley, Cedar Vale Doniphan, Troy DSO, Solomon Flint Hills, Council Grove FreeState, McLouth & Topeka Lane-Scott, Dighton Ninnescah, Pratt Pioneer, Ulysses Prairie Land, Norton Rolling Hills, Beloit Sedgwick County, Cheney Sumner-Cowley, Wellington TCEC, Hooker, OK Twin Valley, Altamont Victory, Dodge City Western, WaKeeney Wheatland, Scott City Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Kansas Country Living on behalf of the membership at a cost of $5.58 per year. Individual non-member subscriptions are $10 per year (tax included).
Co-op Members: Please report address changes to your local electric co-op. Postmaster: Send returns to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Kansas Country Living is published monthly by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS, and additional entry offices. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267; 785-478-4554. Advertising: Kansas Country Living is a member of American MainStreet Publications (www.amp.coop), collectively reaching an audited circulation of 9,378,177 monthly. Advertisers call 512-441-5200. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives.
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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
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Winter Activities Around Kansas Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork at Battle Canyon, Scott City
Scott created a virtual tour.
VISITSCOTTCITY.COM/ATTRACTIONS/
The Chaplin Nature Center is a nature preserve along the Arkansas River and consists of more than 4 miles of hiking trails and is great for viewing wildlife and bird watching. Winter is a great time to view bald eagles and they often migrate along the Arkansas River.
BATTLE-OF-PUNISHED-WOMANS-
WICHITAAUDUBON.ORG/CNC
FORK.HTML
Cimarron National Grassland, Elkhart
Candlelight Tour, Fort Scott
CANDLELIGHT TOUR Fort Scott
WWW.FS.USDA.GOV/RECAREA/PSICC/ RECAREA/?RECID=12404
T R AV E L K S .CO M
Dorothy’s House and The Land of Oz, Liberal Carefully restored to replicate the house shown in “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy’s House was built in 1907. After visiting the
JAN. 1-FEB. 3 Children’s Art Month, Fredonia and Altoona. K -6th graders, including homeschooled children, create art and prepare for Children’s Art month at the museum. Stone House Gallery, Gyla 620378-2052, stonehouse2052@gmail.com. JAN. 6-FEB. 11 Gabriel Shiverdecker Exhibit, Fredonia.
A dditionally, a reception will be held Jan. 9 from 6-8 p.m. Stone House Gallery, Gyla 620-378-2052, stonehouse2052@gmail.com.
JAN. 30- Celebrate Kansas Day, North Newton. “ Our Stories,
Our Foods” at Kauffman Museum will feature food trucks, local food KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
home, walk down the Yellow Brick Road into an animated Land of Oz. COVID-19 protocols have been put into place. DOROTHYSHOUSE.COM
The Cimarron National Grassland features 108,175 acres of public land available for bird watching, scenic driving, hunting, picnicking, camping, fishing and experiencing history. Eight Mile Corner is a good place to start your visit to the grassland. Eight Mile Corner is the tristate point at which Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma state boundaries intersect.
One thousand candle lanterns guide visits through six stops exploring 1840s health and safety, law and order and equal treatment among soldiers. Fort Scott was an active military post from 1842-1853. This year, Fort
T R AV E L K S .CO M
Chaplin Nature Center, Arkansas City
Travel to the place where the last Indian battle in Kansas was fought on Sept. 27, 1878. Punished Woman’s Fork features a monument overlooking the cave, canyon and the bluffs where Northern Cheyenne hid waiting to ambush the U.S. Cavalry. Rifle pits strategically positioned by the Cheyenne are still visible on the hilltops.
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FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER Manhattan
BIT.LY/3QPHSZO
Flint Hills Discovery Center, Manhattan The Flint Hills Discovery Center includes both indoor exhibits and an outdoor classroom. Exhibits change periodically and guests of all ages are invited to explore the interactive exhibits and a one-of-a-kind theater. WWW.FLINTHILLSDISCOVERY.ORG
Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Topeka From pirate adventures on the high seas to a bike race through trails, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center offers interactive exhibits and an outdoor
Check prior to the scheduled date of an event for changes due to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) concerns. booths, take home craft projects, outdoor activities, virtual programs and learning stations from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. along the trails in North Newton. Free admission. 2801 N. Main St., 316-283-1612, kauffman@bethelks.edu, kauffmanmuseum.org. KCL Kansas Country Living publishes events free as space allows. Send event information by the fifth of the month prior to publication to events@ kansascountryliving.com.
KANSASDISCOVERY.ORG
Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum, Chanute The Johnson’s made expeditions to the South Seas, Borneo and Africa. Their South Seas films gave them global fame and now you can step into their lives as explorers and conservationists. The museum features artifacts and photos from their travels. Due to special contributors, the museum is featuring one year of free general admission.
Plaza Cinema, Ottawa Visit the oldest operative cinema in the world! Operating since 1907, you can rent out the whole plaza for a private party or event. At this time due to COVID-19, the theater is not regularly showing movies. However, you may still see the Plaza Cinema movie memorabilia museum and props from your favorite movies.
lovers about how Strataca is expanding our knowledge of geology. Masks are required and online reservations are recommended. UNDERKANSAS.ORG KCL
STRATACA Hutchinson
PLAZA1907.COM
Strataca, Hutchinson Strataca features a mining gallery for visitors to learn about the day in the life of a miner. The Salt Mine Express and true geology teaches your favorite geology
T R AV E L K S .CO M
classroom for all children. The inside exhibits are currently closed, however the outdoor classroom is open and COVID-19 protocols are being followed.
SAFARIMUSEUM.COM
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
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C O M M E N TA RY
80 Years of Branching Out to Meet Modern-Day Challenges OAK IS ONE OF THE OLDEST TREES on the planet and
Lee Tafanelli
Like the mighty oak, KEC grows with each passing year, strengthening business relationships and branching out, diversifying to meet the modern-day challenges of the industry ...
among the strongest types of wood. Its beauty, density and amazing strength make it a top choice of carpenters for building furniture and other projects requiring a dependable hardwood. From a single acorn it develops into a formidable symbol of strength, resistant to damage from the elements, and admired and respected for the shelter it provides. Oak is also the suggested symbol for 80th anniversaries as it represents wisdom and longevity, able to withstand pressures faced over the years. Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., — or KEC for short — celebrates in 2021 80 years of a deep commitment to serving Kansas electric cooperatives and our rural Kansas communities. The Rural Electrification Act signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on May 20, 1936, jump-started the efforts to bring electricity to America’s countrysides, including the vast rural areas of Kansas. As Kansas electric cooperatives became operational, serving consumer-members in rural areas previously left in the dark, they soon realized they could accomplish more as a united force if they were to not only survive but thrive. Established on Aug. 18, 1941, KEC didn’t fully take root until the 1950s when it began representing the co-ops on regulatory and legislative issues and made headway in key issues such as rate stability and territorial protection. Like the mighty oak, KEC grows with each passing year, strengthening business relationships and branching out, diversifying to meet the modern-day challenges of the industry and offering additional services essential to the interests of Kansas electric cooperatives. Today, KEC provides extensive services to its member co-ops to meet the changing landscape of the electric utility industry: f Legislative action programs at the state and national levels, including organization of the statewide Co-ops Vote initiative. f Education and training for co-op
staff and trustees.
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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
BY L E E TA FA N E L L I
f Safety training for lineworkers and co-op staff,
and public safety awareness campaigns.
f Youth programs to engage the next generation
in their communities and gain a better understanding and advantages of the cooperative business model.
Much of what KEC accomplishes on behalf of Kansas electric co-ops and their consumermembers is reported in the pages of Kansas Country Living. Your local electric co-op brings you the magazine each month to communicate issues affecting your ownership in your co-op while delivering additional content that reflects the uniqueness of Kansas and the rural way of life. We will celebrate KEC’s 80th this year with historical photos in the magazine and throwback Thursdays on our social media channels. And I’m sure we’ll find a photo or two of an electric cooperative employee wearing a polyester leisure suit or Peter Pan collar blouse. While it’s important to reflect on our history and commemorate our 80th anniversary, planting seeds for the future is KEC’s main focus. No matter the decade, KEC will continue working for the mutual benefit of its members to promote rural electrification and foster the principles on which electric cooperatives were founded. KCL
80 is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka.
LEE TAFANELLI
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E N E R GY W I S E
This Year, Organize Your Energy BY PAT K E E G A N A N D B R A D T H I E S S E N
brought financial hardships, and with a new year ahead, I’m looking for new ways to save money. I know there are things I can do to save energy at home and lower my monthly bills. Can you share a few ideas on how to start the year off right by saving energy? – Amy D E AR A MY: You bet! Here are a few simple tips to help you get organized and start an achievable path to saving energy. First, we’ll take a look at three important steps when considering energy efficiency projects: information gathering, planning and taking action.
Gather Information
CONSUMERS ENERGY
D E AR PAT AN D B R AD : Last year
A programmable thermostat can help you reduce energy use when you don’t need to be heating or cooling your home.
MARCELA GARA, RESOURCE MEDIA
Begin by reviewing your 2019 energy bills. Knowing how and when you use energy can help you decide how ambitious your plan should be. If you have questions about your past bills or energy use, give your electric co-op a call — they’re available to help you understand your energy bills. Your co-op may also offer a free app that can show you exact data about your home energy use. Next, visit your electric co-op’s website to see if they offer additional assistance, like energy improvement rebates, free energy audits or other special rates and programs. Finally, the most important step is to schedule an energy audit, or conduct an online energy audit. (Remember: your electric
co-op may offer free audits.) If you plan to live in your home for many years to come, hiring an energy auditor may be the best investment you can make. An energy auditor can tell you which energy efficiency actions will save you the most money or provide the biggest improvement in comfort. If you’re looking for a faster, DIY (socially distanced) method, try an online energy audit like energystar.gov’s Home Energy Yardstick.
Develop a Plan
Now that you’ve gathered the information you need, you can develop a plan. It can be simple or more comprehensive. If your priority is cutting energy costs, you can select the measure that will deliver the most savings. Maybe you’re already planning to do work on your home, such as roofing or renovating, and you can incorporate energy efficiency strategies into that project. To complete your plan, you’ll likely need to check with local contractors or suppliers about costs.
Take Action
Now that your planning is done, it’s time to take action. If you’re tackling any major energy efficiency projects that require a contractor,
Heating and cooling account for the most energy use, so setting your thermostat to match your lifestyle can make a major difference in your energy costs.
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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
f REPLACE FILTERS
REGULARLY. A clean A dirty filter can drive up your energy costs. Compare the new filter (left) to the 90-dayold filter (right). filter can improve the performance of your We hope by taking a little time to complete heating and cooling system, and reduce the these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a more electricity needed to pump air through your energy efficient 2021! KCL ductwork. Replace the filter now if it’s been a while, then set a reminder on your phone, This column was co-written by PAT KEEGAN and online calendar or paper calendar for the next BRAD THIESSEN of Collaborative Efficiency. For more replacement. Filters should be replaced every information on surprise energy hogs, please visit: month if you’re using an inexpensive filter, or www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips. every three months if you’re using a higherquality filter. A better filter will do a better job and last longer.
A B B Y B E R R Y, N R E C A
remember to do your research and hire a licensed, reputable professional. In addition to energy efficiency projects and upgrades, there are other ways you can get organized to save energy:
f PROGRAM YOUR
THERMOSTAT. Heating and cooling your home account for the most energy use, so setting your thermostat to match your lifestyle can make a major difference. If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat, get in the habit of manually adjusting your thermostat throughout the day or setting it to the most energy efficient setting when you’re away.
f LABEL THE CIRCUITS IN
It may not reduce your energy use, but it’s an easy way to get organized and will save a lot of headaches down the line!
YOUR BREAKER BOX.
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
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Grand-Prize
Contenders 2 02 0 R U R A L K A N S A S P H OTO G R A P H Y C O N T E ST
ASHLEY WALKER IN HODGEMAN COUNTY
HARVEST GIRL CHRIS WILLIAMS IN GOVE COUNTY
MILKY WAY AT CASTLE ROCK 12
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
MICHAEL HOAG IN COFFEY COUNTY
A MOONLIT OLD BARN
JESSI JACOBS IN RUSSELL COUNTY
In a year of chaos and challenges, the 15th Annual Rural Kansas Photography Contest was a welcome detour and reminder of the beauty that surrounds us every day regardless of what is happening in the world. The Kansas Country Living magazine staff once again had the honor of choosing the grand-prize winning photograph in the contest sponsored by Rural Health Education and Services at The University of Kansas Medical Center. And, once again staff faced a difficult decision as the quality of the photographs submitted were exceptional and truly representative of the Sunflower State.
FOGGY MORNINGS ON WILSON LAKE
Continued on page 19 JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
13
80 Years
Coming together was the beginning. Continuing to work together is progress.
14
COMING TOGETHER to bring electricity to rural Kansas was just the beginning. In the 80 years since its official establishment on Aug. 18, 1941, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (KEC) continues its mission, focused on promoting rural electrification and fostering the principles on which electric co-ops were founded in addition to tackling the modern-day challenges facing our rural Kansas communities. The work KEC does on behalf of Kansas electric cooperatives benefits you, the consumer-members of the electric co-ops. As the statewide service organization for 27 electric distribution co-ops and three generation and transmission co-ops, KEC actively addresses issues important to rural Kansas and the consumer-members served by electric cooperatives. Whether it’s rural development, rural broadband, agriculture or other policies directly affecting rural areas of the state — KEC functions for the mutual benefit of its members to promote rural electrification and foster the principles on which electric cooperatives were founded.
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
Young
We regularly talk about these principles in the magazine as does your electric co-op within their local pages beginning on Page 16A, but how do they affect you and why should you care? These principles are the key reasons Kansas electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, such as investor-owned electric companies and municipal entities. Co-ops put the needs of their members first. Period. Your friends and neighbors who work for your electric co-op or serve on your co-op’s board of directors in essence work for you. Every decision they make for your co-op affects them as well, so you can be assured they are looking out for you and your community. Using the seven cooperative principles as its guide, KEC built a solid foundation of co-op advocacy in its 80-year history that will lead to future initiatives benefitting rural Kansans. A few highlights through the years: f KEC LED THE CHARGE ON KEY ISSUES such as
electric rate stability and co-op territorial protection to help co-ops offset the cost of serving
sparsely populated areas. Today, KEC, with the assistance of its member co-ops, has blazed new trails in the Kansas Statehouse, educating elected officials on all matters important to co-ops and the rural communities they serve. f K EC’S LEADERSHIP BEGAN OFFERING MORE SERVICES to
its member co-ops including a Job Training and Safety Department (now the Loss Control, Safety and Compliance Department) for electric cooperative lineworkers. Safety continues to be at the forefront of the electric co-ops’ work today as KEC develops and coordinates training and safety programs for electric cooperative employees and directors. The focus on electrical safety goes beyond co-op employees, with Kansas Country Living bringing safety tips and electric safety articles each month to co-op consumer-members and the co-ops providing safety demonstrations to various civic, school and other organizations.
f WITH RURAL VOTER ENGAGEMENT DECLINING and con-
cerns this could potentially diminish the voice of rural Kansans, KEC joined the Co-ops Vote initiative in 2015. This program of America’s electric cooperatives, connects co-op decision-makers and consumer-members with lawmakers to bring a powerful voice to local, state and national issues impacting co-ops and rural communities.
Our beginning may have started with a flicker of light and the goal of bringing electricity to every rural Kansas home and business, but we didn’t stop there. We will continue to support rural Kansas communities to ensure their viability well into the future. Stay tuned for an even brighter future. As KEC celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, look for reader contests and special editorial content in Kansas Country Living aimed at engaging you not only as a reader but also as a consumer and an owner of your electric co-op. KCL
f THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
within KEC assisted the electric co-ops in communicating regularly with you, the co-op consumermember. One of the most impactful communications tool developed was the precursor to Kansas Country Living, the Kansas Electric Farmer magazine, launched to inform cooperative members about legislative issues, electrical safety and wise energy usage. Today, the magazine reaches more than 132,000 Kansas electric cooperative members and has evolved into your cooperative’s most cost-effective way to share important co-op news, from board elections to storm restoration efforts.
f TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF
KEC established two youth programs: the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., in 1961, and an energy seminar (now Cooperative Youth Leadership camp) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1977. Kansas electric co-ops continue to support youth programs that promote leadership, sustainable development for our rural Kansas communities, and a better understanding of the cooperative business model.
MEMBER EDUCATION,
7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES
1
VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP
2
DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL
3
Co-ops are open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept membership responsibilities, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination. Co-ops are controlled by their members who participate in setting policies and making decisions by electing representatives accountable to the membership. One member = one vote.
MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of the co-op. The economic benefits of a cooperative operation are returned to the members, reinvested in the co-op, or used to provide member services. Members control the capital.
4
AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE
Co-ops are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. Any agreements with other organizations must ensure democratic control by the members and maintain the co-op’s autonomy.
5
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION
6 7
Co-ops provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-op.
COOPERATION AMONG CO-OPS Co-ops serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-op movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.
CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY While focusing on member needs, co-ops work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members. JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
15
THE PRESIDENT ’S PEN
Resolve Not to Mumble
noisemakers, tasseled head pieces. Reminiscent, somewhat stereotypical, and still today those are accessories to New Year’s Eve gatherings. Much as this is, when the clock strikes 12, signaling a new year, everyone breaks into chorus singing “Auld Lang Syne.” Everyone knows the first couple of lines of that song “should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind.” After that initial line, we all mumble through the rest of the song. Pretty much like we did in 2020. We started off on a good note and then kind of mumbled our way through the rest of the year. When Robert Burns, a Scottish poet, penned “Auld Lang Syne” in 1788, his inspiration came from remembering friends and events of the past and beginning anew. Much like we will do as we welcome 2021. If I could make reference to another more recent tune it would be a song Neil Sedaka wrote in 1960 titled “Calendar Girl.” The opening line in that song reads “January, you start the year off right.” Let’s hope we start the year off right, avoid mumbling, and make it a great year. I’m certain we have some unused New Year’s resolutions leftover from 2020 that we can re-implement. If you were able to complete last year’s list perhaps you PAPER HORNS,
Terry Hobbs
We started off on a good note and then kind of mumbled our way through the rest of the year.
BY T E R RY H O B B S
can make a new one with vision and direction as we move ahead. It took a tremendous amount of vision and perseverance years ago when the Rural Electrification Administration was formed leading the way to lighting up rural America. The very first electric high line pole was set in Kansas in 1937 near Holton on the Brown-Atchison cooperative system. Little did they know then how the industry would grow into what it is today. Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., representing distribution and generation cooperatives, employees and all consumer-members of electric cooperatives, is so proud to be a part of this industry for the past 80 years. KEC will continue to provide the best products and programs possible for its members for years to come. As KEC celebrates this milestone, I would like to thank all those past and present who have contributed in providing power and energy for rural America. Have a happy, safe and prosperous new year everyone! KCL TERRY HOBBS is the board president for Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. He is also a member of Western Cooperative Electric’s Board of Trustees in WaKeeney.
BEFORE GOING OUT ON THE ICE TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE SAFETY. f Clear ice with a bluish tint is the strongest. Adversely, ice
formed by melted and refrozen snow appears milky and is very porous and weak. f Snow-covered ice is unsafe. Snow acts as an insulator and
slows the freezing process causing the ice underneath to be thinner and weaker.
f Always tell someone where you are going and when you
expect to return. Relaying your plan can help save your life in an emergency. f If there is slush on ice, stay off. Slush indicates the ice is no
longer freezing from the bottom. f Ice conditions vary from lake to lake and pond to pond.
Never assume you know the ice thickness.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
Winter Activities Across 1
Gliding on ice
5
Forms a white coat
8
___: cold lodgings
9
Tools for clearing the driveway
12
Either’s partner
13
Snow sliders
16
Large Le Creuset vessel
19
Aching
20
Cold weather neck wear
22
Box for practice
24
Winter angler’s pastime, 2 words
28
What?
29
Way out
31
Santa makes one and checks it twice, in a song
32
Winter footwear
36
Waterproof coats
37
Turkish bath vapors
Down
6
Inseparable
1
7
A sibling
2
Go downhill fast Deer’s headgear
3
Archipelago parts
4
It can always provide a route, abbr.
5
Marshmallow treats
16
Abbr. on a sunscreen bottle
___ chocolate, winter drink
17
Snowman accessory
18
Castle light
11
Uncle on “Seinfeld”
21
Determined
14
___ and behold!
23
Novice
15
Winter month, for short
24
Ice house
10
25
Painting prop
26
Plea at sea
27
Goose sound
30
“Hold on there!”
33
Rainy
34
Coast Guard officer, abbr.
35
Medical expert’s title
ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 26 JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
17
YO U R P L A C E I N T H E G A R D E N
Caring for Your Christmas Cactus
Cynthia Domenghini, Ph.D.
Next year you will be prepared to gift Christmas cacti to your friends ...
BY C Y N T H I A D O M E N G H I N I , P H . D .
CHRISTMAS CACTUS (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is a lovely plant commonly given during the winter holiday season. Not to be confused with the other popular varieties of Schlumbergera, including Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncate) and Easter cactus (Schlumbergera gaertneri), the Christmas cactus blooms during the winter as the day length shortens and evening temperatures decrease. Without proper care, the Christmas cactus may not bloom regularly or at all. The Christmas cactus is native to the rainforest. This is unusual for cacti which are commonly found in desert environments. However, Christmas cacti prefer high humidity and bright, filtered light. During the summer months they can thrive under the canopy of a tree outdoors, which mimics the rainforest environment. While outdoor temperatures remain below 50 degrees, keep your Christmas cactus indoors by a window where it will receive indirect light. The window should be draft-free and prevent the leaves of the cactus from touching the glass or they could be damaged from the cold. In order to bloom, Christmas cacti require at least eight hours of bright, indirect light, 12 hours of complete darkness and evening temperatures between 60 to 68 degrees, although closer to 68 degrees is best. When your Christmas cactus starts to bloom avoid moving it. Sudden changes in temperature or light can cause the flowers to drop and abruptly end the bloom season. If you received a Christmas cactus during the recent holiday season it is unlikely it will
need to be repotted for two to three years. While they do require good soil drainage, Schlumbergera perform well when grown in a container that is somewhat restricting in size. As with other cacti and succulents alike, large containers can retain too much water and allow the roots to rot. Christmas cactus should only be watered when the soil is dry. Overwatering will cause the plant to wilt and potentially die. Allow the water to drain from the container rather than stored in a saucer or in the soil. Standing water will drown the roots and damage the plants. After blooming, Christmas cacti do not require much water until the active growth begins again in the spring. Growing plants indoors can invite pests. A common small flying insect found in homes with houseplants is the fungus gnat. These pests prefer wet soil, so a first step to remedy the situation is to allow the soil of your indoor plants to dry. You can also re-pot your houseplants with fresh, sterile potting mix to remove any soilborne pests. If you enjoy growing Schlumbergera you can propagate additional plants at the end of spring by pinching back the plant into sections with three to five stem segments intact. Lay the segments outside for a couple of days to form a callous over the cut ends before potting them in small containers with sterile potting mix. Cuttings should be planted 1 inch deep and then watered well. Enclose the plants and container with a clear plastic bag and seal with a rubber band. This creates a humid environment that will promote rooting. Roots should form within one to two months at which time the plastic bag can be removed. Next year you will be prepared to gift Christmas cacti to your friends and family along with the information they need to have beautiful blooms for years to come. Indoor gardening is a great way to bridge the gap from one growing season to the next. KCL is an instructor and coordinator for K-State’s horticultural therapy online certificate program.
CYNTHIA DOMENGHINI
Christmas cactus is one of three popular holiday plants in the Schlumbergera genus.
18
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
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CURT MIZELL IN RENO COUNTY
PUMPJACK IN STORM
MICHAEL IRWIN IN RILEY COUNTY
REFLECTING TREE
Continued from page 13
Chris William’s “Milky Way over Fox Creek School House” taken in Chase County captured the grand prize of $100 and the spot on this month’s magazine cover. Winners in each of the six categories can be viewed at www.kumc.edu/ community-engagement/rural-health/ rural-kansas-photography-contest/ winning-photos or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RuralHealthKansas/ photos. KCL
TOM SOETAERT IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
BABY RACCOONS
SPEAKING OF WINNERS – HERE ARE THE ANSWERS TO OUR QUIZ FROM LAST MONTH
In December’s issue, we launched our annual readership contest with a quiz about stories published in 2020. Ten winners received the Konza Gift Box of homemade Kansas goodies. The winners names will be published in February’s issue. Thank you, readers, for participating! 1. JANUARY – Electric co-op board members 5. MAY – EC’s Board President Terry Hobbs 9. SEPTEMBER – Root vegetables are great dedicate significant time to the electric discusses “firsts” including: options for starting a garden in the ______. cooperative in the form of: c. first time attending a KEC meeting b. fall d. all of the above 6. JUNE – During the pandemic, Kansas 10. OCTOBER – Electric cooperatives are farmer Dennis Ruhnke sent an N95 mask to deeply rooted in the local communities 2. FEBRUARY – When Allen County was New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The they serve. Nationally, how much do electric faced with becoming a food desert, they governor referred to the mask and Ruhnke’s cooperatives contribute to local economies used the assistance of the community to letter as a _____. each year? turn their grocery store into a _____? b. snapshot of humanity a. $12 billion b. grocery co-op 3. MARCH – State Research and Extension’s 7. JULY – An important aspect of managing a 11. NOVEMBER – U.S. Navy veteran, electric demonstration gardens exemplify ______ bee colony is? cooperative member and assistant professor that grow well in each area of the state. c. environmental awareness Ty Frederickson underscores the importance a. plants and flowers of _______. 8. AUGUST – Tabatha Rosproy, 2020 c. serving others over self National Teacher of the Year, teaches at 4. APRIL – The Mingo geocache was placed an intergenerational preschool inside of a on May 10, ___, making it the oldest active 12. DECEMBER – Some nuts fall into the _____. geocache. stone fruit family and are technically called a. retirement community a. 2000 (the online entry form listed 200, so what? all entrants got a freebie here.) b. drupes JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
19
Bringing the
Internet
Everyone to
BY PA U L W E S S L U N D
Why rural broadband is like landing on the moon — and why it’s taking off THE UNITED STATES has quietly launched one of its biggest programs ever — connecting everyone to the internet, even those of us in rural areas. The program’s scope and economic benefits will match the impossible dreams of huge hydroelectric dams built in the 1930s, the interstate highway system in the 1950s and putting people on the moon in the 1960s. It will be expensive. By one measure, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates a cost of $40 billion. A more ambitious plan would be an additional $40 billion. “We’re on the cusp of some big changes,” says Brian O’Hara, senior director of regulatory issues, broadband and telecommunications, for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. O’Hara’s optimism starts with the steadily growing national awareness that bringing high-
20
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
speed internet access, or broadband, to rural areas will benefit the whole country.
The Importance of Broadband for All
Currently, more than 20 million Americans do not have broadband in their homes or businesses. Many of those people live in rural areas and are left out because of simple accounting — the cost of wiring a fast internet connection miles outside a city is more than almost anyone could afford. That arithmetic is not changing. But decades of internet growth is convincing businesses, politicians and other policymakers that broadband is an essential part of modern life and today’s economy. A study by Purdue University found that every dollar invested in broadband would return nearly $4 to the U.S. economy. The benefits include more civic engagement and a higher gross domestic
product (GDP). The study also said broadband is more important than traditional infrastructure such as railroads and highways. Broadband access for rural America brings new challenges as intricate as the engineering of the interstate highways or the technology required when we landed on the moon. One of those challenges is knowing where the people are who don’t have internet access — and exactly how many of them there are. The official count of those without broadband is complicated by oddities such as voluntary reporting, reporting by census blocks (meaning if one person has broadband in an area, it counts as everyone having it) and uncertainty over how fast the internet has to be in order to be considered high-speed. Because of those uncertainties and unknowns, estimates of the number of Americans without broadband can actually range somewhere between 21 million and 160 million. Then there’s the cost. The FCC’s $40 billion cost estimate envisions bringing broadband to 98% of the country. And another $40 billion to reach the final 2%. Rural broadband advocates agree that the first step is to gain better information on who’s not served and where they live. A step in that direction came in March 2020 with enactment of the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act. That new law aims to fix the flaws in how access is counted.
the Rural Utilities Service or actions by individual states. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that in 2020, 42 states addressed broadband in some form. Many states offer their own financial aid, as well as offices to coordinate broadband expansion. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed an executive order in October 2020 to establish the Office of Broadband Development and announced the distribution of nearly $50 million in Connectivity Emergency Response Grant funds to underserved Kansas communities. “Broadband access has been an overlooked problem in Kansas and across the country for years, particularly in our rural and vulnerable communities,” Gov. Kelly said. O’Hara expects all that progress will be strengthened by this year’s COVID-19 outbreak and the stay-at-home measures taken to control the spread of the virus.
“The pandemic has really driven this home,” said O’Hara. “Overnight, we went from broadband being, ‘Oh yes, this really makes life a lot easier,’ to ‘Oh my gosh, schools are shut down and teachers are trying to do online learning, and those of us that could work from home are no longer going into the office.’” O’Hara sees the progress toward rural broadband as leading to successes like the moon landing and interstate highway system, as well as another important national initiative we undertook years ago — bringing electricity to rural America. “We found a way to electrify the whole country,” says O’Hara. “Now it’s time to bring broadband to the whole country.” KCL writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
PAUL WESSLUND
BROADBAND BY THE NUMBERS Electric cooperatives are helping to close the nation’s digital divide, but more work is needed to achieve the goal of broadband access for all. 2% No access
30% No access
70%
RURAL
PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS
URBAN
WITHOUT ACCESS TO
Access
BROADBAND
98% Access
The Pandemic Shows the Need for High-Speed Internet
Another reason for hope came last year as the FCC launched a 10-year program called the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Under that program, $16 billion has been allocated to internet providers, including some rural electric cooperative groups, to begin work next year expanding the reach of the internet. An additional $4.4 billion is planned for a Phase II. While that’s far from the FCC’s $40-80 billion cost estimate, it doesn’t count funding from other agencies like
PERCENTAGE OF 60%
Access
SCHOOLS
40% No meaningful access
FACILITIES WITHOUT ACCESS TO
40% Access
BROADBAND
HEALTH CARE
60%
No access outside of metro areas
Source: 2019 NRECA Broadband Study and FCC data
Electric cooperatives are committed to the communities they serve and are working with Washington policymakers to improve broadband data collection and target federal resources for unserved and underserved communities.
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
21
The Co-op
Community That Keeps Your Lights On BY PA U L W E S S L U N D
Tradition and pride create effective outage restoration teams for you A Simple, One-Page Contract and your neighbors, there’s a good chance help The origins of the Mutual Aid Agreement can be is already on the way from electric cooperatives traced back to 1844, even before there were electric near and far. utilities, when the first formally organized coopThat lightning-fast response comes from a erative created a set of operating principles that combination of a centuries-old co-op tradition, included “Cooperation Among Cooperatives.” the latest in weather-forecasting technology, an When electric co-ops were formed in the 1930s, ingenious contract between electric cooperatives they used that handshake-style working arrangeand municipal utilities, and lineworkers’ spirit of ment to help each other with repairs after severe dedication, pride and adventure. storm damage. But in the early 1990s, the Federal When a power outage is caused by an especially Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested severe natural disaster, the devastation A caravan of electric cooperatives respond to mutual aid requests from can be more than your local electric Oklahoma electric co-ops in late October 2020 when an ice storm co-op can quickly repair on its own. devastated 47 of the state’s counties. That’s when other co-ops swoop in, from next door and sometimes, from other states. Perhaps you’ve seen them. They arrive in caravans of utility vehicles with military-like precision as part of a plan called a “Mutual Aid Agreement.” Kansas electric cooperatives recently responded to requests for mutual aid from Oklahoma electric co-ops when a dangerous and disruptive early season ice storm devastated 47 Oklahoma counties in late October 2020. Nearly 100 Kansas co-op lineworkers answered the call for mutual aid to help restore power to approximately 353,000 consumers.
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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
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O K L A H O M A A S S O C I AT I O N O F E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E S
WHEN A BIG STORM KNOCKS OUT POWER
a more legalistic accounting for the aid it provided electric cooperatives after natural disasters. So electric co-ops, represented by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), got together with FEMA and the organization for city-owned utilities, the American Public Power Association, and produced a stunningly short contract — it’s exactly one page long. The contract says when one co-op goes to help another, it will charge reasonable rates for the crews and equipment. The simplicity of that arrangement fits the tradition of co-ops cooperating with each other, says Martha Duggan, senior director for regulatory affairs with NRECA. “It is a natural extension of who we are,” she says. “Helping each other is something we do naturally as part of our co-op family and our culture.” A contract is one thing, but success means carrying it out effectively. To that end, Duggan says electric co-ops rely on their decades of experience. They share that experience with each other, and they meet regularly to keep procedures updated. The response to your power outage can start days before it even happens, with co-ops tracking weather patterns that could knock down poles. They organize themselves under their own state associations, planning for how many line crews might be needed and where they will come from, and even making hotel reservations to house crews. One recent, crucial update of the mutual aid procedure was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Duggan explains that keeping lineworkers safe from the virus can mean more time and more expense. She asks co-op members for extra patience as social distancing requirements mean changes — for example, only one lineworker per truck rather than two, and no more bunking multiple lineworkers in a hotel room. In addition to the careful planning and procedures, there’s another secret ingredient to why co-ops come together in a crisis so effectively — the lineworkers. When they head out to a storm-ravaged area, it’s with a serious kind of excitement as they get ready to
use their skills for a cause they passionately believe in — restoring electricity. “It is a pride of workmanship,” says Duggan. “There is this sense of adventure to it, but there is also the sense of responsibility that this is what we do. We get the lights back on.” KCL writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
PAUL WESSLUND
Helping Hands are Standing By
Through a mutual aid agreement, electric cooperative line crews from any co-op can arrive on the scene, ready to lend helping hands after disaster strikes.
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
23
C O O K I N G M Y WAY H O M E
When You Don’t Know What You’re Hungry For, French Toast Works, Anytime BY R E B E C C A H O WA R D
For me, the nameless hunger rears up from time to time. It can be when I’m by myself, tired, stressed, knowing I need to eat, but not really having a grasp of what I am willing to throw together (or what’s available in my kitchen) for sustenance. But, like my dad, I can pretty much count on one thing to fill the bill, anytime of day or night: breakfast! No matter my level of fatigue or indecisiveness, I can stagger to the stove and make “toad-in-aRebecca Howard hole” and fill any hole in my appetite. Or feel I’m at least trying to be healthy with a mini spinach and mushroom omelet. Or throw bacon on a sheet pan in the oven (my favorite way to cook it) for a bacon-and-jelly sandwich (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). Or even cook a pot of oatmeal, the homey steam from the bubbling grains calming and quelling any incurable craving. But my ultimate don’t-know-what-I’m-hungryfor,-but-discover-I’m-hungry-for-it-when-I make-it breakfast item is French toast. It was always one of my favorite breakfasts growing up and still the item I might consider first when ordering breakfast out. I make it a lot for myself, too. In the dark evenings, I become as absorbed in the process as the bread absorbing eggs and milk. Even when I’m too tired to think, I know the cure to my hunger — and pretty much anything else — is Be it for breakfast or supper, French toast satisfies. If you haven’t made it in slices of bread soaked in fork-whisked, a while, try this classic recipe, adapted from “Joy of Cooking.” It serves 2 to 4 people, but could easily be cut in half for a solo serving. flavorful custard and fried to a golden brown in butter, then drenched in more f 2/3 cup whole milk, half-andf 1/2 tsp. salt butter and drizzled with syrup or jam. half or heavy cream f Pinch of cinnamon (optional) It is comfort in a pan. f 4 eggs f 1 tsp. fine orange zest (optional) Part of that comfort comes from f 2 Tbsp. sugar or maple syrup (or f 6 slices white or egg bread ease and simplicity. French toast can equivalent of sugar substitute) f 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter be conjured in a few minutes from a f 1 tsp. vanilla few simple ingredients, likely on-hand, Whisk milk, eggs, sugar or maple syrup, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and orange zest in a shallow dish and from many different types of or bowl. bread. When I was growing up, it was Toast bread lightly until it is slightly dry and not yet golden. almost always from the sliced wheat Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. bread we used for sandwiches, but sometimes homemade yeast bread, Turn the bread slices in the egg mixture until thoroughly saturated, but not falling apart. Place too. I have made French toast from two to three slices in the skillet (or how many that will fit) and cook until the undersides of each slice are golden brown, then turn the bread and cook until the second side is golden. Serve French bread, sourdough, brioche, immediately or keep warm in a low oven while the other slices are cooking. fruity panettone, raisin bread and even slices of banana bread. Top with butter and syrup, honey or jam or fresh fruit and a sprinkling of powdered sugar. my mom would come out to the kitchen — in the afternoon, in the evening, in the in-between meals — open the refrigerator and announce: “I’m hungry, but I don’t know what I’m hungry for.” The phrase and its yearning became more understandable as I grew older. Usually, you can put a name — or a food — to your cravings and, depending on whether you have this food or need to make it or need to go get it somewhere, you fulfill the craving. But, sometimes, you just don’t know what you want, you just know you are hungry. This could apply to many things in life, sometimes we don’t know what we want until it presents itself. As for eating, my mom would rummage around, take inventory in the fridge or freezer, and find something — make a sandwich out of some questionable tuna salad or ladle some canned fruit and frozen Cool Whip over a piece of cake. If it was my dad, his undefined hunger usually had a name: “fried egg sandwich.”
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
French Toast
24
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
I have made French toast from French bread, sourdough, brioche, fruity panettone, raisin bread and even slices of banana bread.
I’ve soaked these slices in a simple batter of beaten egg and milk and a dash of salt, sometimes adding a little vanilla and cinnamon and sweetener. I’ve also made richer batters of heavy cream or half-and-half and added extra flavoring elements, like orange zest. Recipes exist (like the one I share here), but French toast can be whipped up without a measuring cup or spoon. My only hard-and-fast rules (or preferences, really) are, to me, one should lightly toast the bread before dipping it in the custard, so the bread is drier and sturdier to take on the batter, and, to that point, one should also leave the bread in the custard long enough that it soaks up all that goodness (but not so long that the bread falls apart). The end result is something satisfying and somehow reassuring, a meal in itself, as well as dessert. French toast, in fact, is considered dessert in France and is called pain perdu, meaning “lost bread,” according to “Joy of Cooking,” by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker (Simon & Schuster; 1997). I’ve made my French toast fancier and dessert-y, too, topped with fresh fruit or berry syrup and even whipped cream. French toast can be baked, honey-glazed and stuffed with a cream cheese filling and sprinkled with powdered sugar, if one wants to take it a step or two further. But, mostly, I’m content with a couple of simple slices straight from the skillet, watching a little butter melt in pools on their golden surface with a syrup, honey or jam. I know, then, exactly what I’m hungry for, and while the bread may be “lost,” I am not. KCL grew up in Kansas and has written for the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and LA Parent Magazine, and currently writes the food blog, “A Woman Sconed.”
REBECCA HOWARD
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
25
S U B S C R I B E TO
Only $10 a year. Clip this form and mail with your check or money order payable to: Kansas Electric Cooperatives, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604
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Homes & Businesses? Call 785-478-4554 to discuss advertising options in Kansas Country Living magazine!
Moooving? Report your new address to your local electric cooperative.
for puzzle on Page 17
Find out more at https://www.kec.coop/kcl
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KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
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SHARE WITH US! Have an event you would like to run in Around Kansas? A story idea or comments you want to share with the editor? A recipe and photo for us to consider publishing? Let us know: f events@kansascountryliving.com f letters@kansascountryliving.com
Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives of the product or services advertised.
f photos@kansascountryliving.com f editor@kansascountryliving.com f recipes@kansascountryliving.com
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
27
SAFETY
No Walking on Thin Ice many Kansans enjoy fun outdoor activities such as ice skating and ice fishing. But as you venture out, remember ice safety is crucial to safely enjoying the cold kiss of winter. Falling through the ice can lead to serious injury or death if precautions are not taken. In general, most authorities recommend at least 4 inches of ice for standing, skating and ice fishing. Snowmobiles require at least 5 inches of ice, and anything above 12 inches will support a mediumsized truck. However, ice strength is determined by many factors: f COLOR — clear ice is twice as strong as “snow ice,” also called white ice. Double measurements above for white or snow ice.
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD,
f DISTANCE TO SHORE — ice closer to the
shoreline is weaker than the ice farther out.
f RIVER OUTLETS AND INLETS — the ice around
outlets and inlets is weaker.
f OBSTRUCTIONS — trees, rocks and plants
sticking up through the ice weaken the surrounding ice.
f WATER CURRENTS — can cause cracks, holes,
weak spots, or front pressure ridges created by the currents.
f COVER OF SNOW — snow hides what’s
underneath; always make sure what’s beneath is stable enough to hold your weight. Ice fishing can be an exciting winter activity if done safely. Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism recommends only fishing on clear, solid ice at least 4 inches thick. To determine the ice thickness, make test holes with an ice auger before going out and avoid areas with currents or big areas where waterfowl might’ve been roosting as they may have created holes in the ice. As a general rule for anyone planning an icerelated activity, if you are unsure of the ice thickness or
28
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
JANUARY 2021
BY B R I A N N A M A G E E , I N T E R N
As a general rule for anyone planning an ice-related activity, if you are unsure of the ice thickness or other factors listed ... , it is better to stay off completely. other factors listed above, it is better to stay off completely. If someone does fall through the ice into the freezing water below, WeatherNation offers these steps to get to safety: f STAY CALM. The shock of the cold will cause
your heart rate to increase and cause you to gasp for air. Try to focus on your breathing to get back to a normal breathing state.
f FOCUS ON GETTING OUT. Get rid of any excess
weight such as a backpack. If underwater, find the hole you fell through by looking for contrasting light and swim for the small spot that looks different from the rest.
f GET YOURSELF OUT. If you are on your own,
grab the edge of the ice and get as horizontal as possible in the water. The ice will be too slippery, so kicking like a seal should propel you onto the ice. If that doesn’t work, conserve your energy and heat while waiting for help.
f ROLL TO SAFETY. Once out, roll for as long as
possible until the ice is thick enough to support you. Retrace your steps to get off the water.
f SURVIVING THE COLD. Remove any wet clothing
and find shelter. Get warm as quickly as possible, even by exercising to get the blood flowing in the body. It is better to warm up slowly than quickly.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY ASPECTS TO REMEMBER: Never go out on the water alone and
make sure to know the conditions of the ice before venturing too far from shore. By practicing these safety tips, you can prevent ice accidents and possibly save yourself and others from bodily harm or death. KCL
JANUARY 2021
KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING
29
Smoky Pork, Bacon and White Bean Chili
Beefy Harvest Soup
KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, JANUARY 2021
A twist on the ultimate comfort food, combine pork loin and bacon for a stickto-your-bones chili.
KANS AS COUNTRY LIVING, JANUARY 2021
Follow the recipe or throw in your favorite veggies. This soup is easily adaptable to what you have on hand.
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Croutons
30-Minute Chicken Noodle Soup
KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, JAN U ARY 2021
Everybody loves a good grilled cheese, but pair it with tomato soup and you’ve got a winning combo for dinner.
KAN S AS COU N T RY L IVIN G, JAN U ARY 2021
Enjoy the comforting flavors of classic chicken noodle soup in just 30 minutes from start to finish.
f 1 tsp. salt f ½ tsp. black pepper f 1 Tbs. Italian seasoning f 1 Tbs. dried parsley
or cubed chicken
f 2 cups cooked, shredded f 4 ½ cups dry egg noodles
f 4 cups 99% fat free chicken broth f 1-2 cups water (depending on your choice of thickness)
30-Minute Chicken Noodle Soup f 1 medium onion, diced f 12 baby carrots, sliced f 2 celery stalks, sliced f 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter f 2 tsp. minced garlic
Prepare the onions, carrots, and celery, making about 2 cups of vegetables. In a medium soup pot, melt the butter. Add the garlic and vegetables. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Add the seasonings, chicken, broth and water. Simmer about 7-8 minutes. Add the egg noodles and continue simmering until the noodles are tender, about 7-8 minutes. Serve with your favorite sandwich or crackers.
COURTESY E AT WHE AT.ORG
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Croutons Grilled Cheese Croutons f Sliced whole wheat bread f Butter
Tomato Soup f 1 onion, yellow, diced f Salt and pepper f 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes with oregano, onion and garlic
f Garlic Powder
f Sliced cheese
f 1 glove minced garlic
f ½ cup half and half
f 1 red pepper, diced f 2 Tbs. olive oil
f ½ cup shredded
Parmesan cheese
f 1 Tbs. tomato paste f 14.5 oz. can chicken broth
Sauté onion and red pepper in olive oil over medium-high heat until softened. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add tomato paste. Stir until well combined. Cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low. Allow mixture to simmer for 15 minutes. Using immersion blender, blend soup until smooth. Add half and half and Parmesan cheese just before serving.
COURTESY E AT WHE AT.ORG
GRILLED CHEESE CROUTONS: Heat skillet over medium heat. While pan is heating, butter bread on one side and lightly sprinkle buttered side with garlic powder. Place buttered side down on heated skillet. Place one slice of cheese on unbuttered side and then place another slice of buttered garlic bread, butter side up over the cheese. Grill sandwich until slightly brown on both sides. Remove from skillet and cut the sandwich into bite size pieces to make “croutons.” Serve grilled cheese croutons over the top of tomato soup.
f 4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth
f 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
Beefy Harvest Soup f 1 pound ground beef (93% or leaner)
f 1 cup uncooked large elbow macaroni
f 4 oz. smoked beef sausage, sliced
f 2 cups water
stewed tomatoes, undrained
f 1, 14-1/2 oz. can Italian-style
Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet with slotted spoon. Remove drippings.
COOK’S TIP: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.
Meanwhile, combine water, tomatoes, vegetables and broth in large saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir in macaroni and beef; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in sausage; continue simmering 2 to 4 minutes or until macaroni is tender and beef sausage is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
COURTESY B EEF IT ’S WHAT ’S FO R DI NNER
f 2 scallions thinly sliced (optional)
f 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
f Salt
(white kidney) drained
f 2, 15 oz. cans cannellini beans
f 1 1/2 cups water
f 2 14 1/2 oz. cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes
Smoky Pork, Bacon and White Bean Chili f 1 1/2 lbs. pork loin roast cut into 3/4-inch dice f 8 oz. bacon thick-cut, (5 or 6 slices), cut strips
f 1 large onion cut into 1/2-inch dice f 2 Tbs. chili powder f 1 Tbs. smoked paprika
In a large saucepan or small stockpot over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
Add the onion to the bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high, add the pork, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are crisp-tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chili powder and paprika. Stir in the tomatoes (with their juices) and water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
Stir in the beans and about 2/3 of the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. Serve the chili garnished with the remaining bacon and the sour cream and scallions, if using. COURTESY E ATP OR K .ORG
JANUARY 2021
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