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June 2023 Vol. 83 No. 12
The Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News (Formerly Wisconsin R.E.C. News) has been published monthly and distributed since July 1940 to members of Wisconsin’s non-pro t, consumer-owned rural electric cooperatives. It is available to non-members for $13 per year or $35 for three years.
Members pay $6.93 per year.
Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Steve Freese, president & CEO.
USPS number: 688-480.
Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703.
Periodicals postage paid at Sun Prairie, Wis.
Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Phone (608) 467-4650.
Web site: www.wecnmagazine.com.
Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18.
Steve Freese WECA president & CEO
Dana Kelroy editor
Mary Erickson associate editor
Julie Lund contributing writer
Ann Bailey graphic designer
Geri Miller advertising consultant
Jennifer Taylor editorial assistant
For advertising opportunities please email geri@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising or events does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. We reserve the right to refuse advertisers.
Please recycle
10 14 24 31 4 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 6 NEWS BRIEFS 8 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO 15 MY CO-OP 20 RECIPES 22 READER RECIPES 28 CLASSIFIEDS 30 EVENTS 10 24 31
Little Gain
Wisconsin Favorites Kids & Critters A DOE proposal could hurt the economy and slow the clean energy transition. Get tips to ensure your pump is energy e cient. Knox Creek Heritage Center honors Price County’s past. Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters. CONTENTS
Transformer Rule Pain,
Residential Well Pumps
Join us on 3 wecnmagazine.com June 2023 On the cover: Kali Fischer helps Peterson’s Dairy LLC with their Brown Swiss at the Oconto County Youth Fair.
Photo courtesy of Katie Jagiello, Oconto Electric Cooperative
SYMBOL SEARCH
JUNE IS FOR THE COWS
Our May Symbol Search winner is Nathanael Swanson, member of Bay eld Electric Cooperative. “The purple bike is on page 12 in the lower picture of a meeting. It is sitting on the right shoulder of a lady who is also wearing purple. Each month my ten-year-old grabs the magazine rst to look for the newest symbol. Despite this, it was my 19-year-old daughter who found the bike rst! Appreciate the balanced perspectives in each month’s magazine.”
This month in honor of June Dairy Month, we challenge you to nd this glass of milk. Remember that the symbol can be anywhere and any size. One randomly selected winner will receive a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. One entry per household, please, and provide your permanent home or mailing address with your entry. Send entries by June 15.
You
We always make it a priority to highlight June Dairy Month in this publication. In fact, I did some digging through past issues, and Steve Freese usually acknowledges the month on his page. I also found that I wrote about some dairy issue or another on my page almost every June. It’s no surprise (since we were both farm kids growing up) that the month holds a special place for us.
Most often, though, mentions of June Dairy Month come in the form of stories on the local pages (pages 15-18), mainly about the breakfast on the farm events happening in your area, usually on electric cooperative member farms. For co-ops with multiple counties within their service territory, local editors will either mention each county’s event or rotate which county gets covered.
Last June, a member from Price Electric Cooperative sent me a note and asked that we list all of the state’s dairy breakfast events in the magazine. While this seemed like a great idea at rst, we quickly realized that with our press time and space restrictions, this wasn’t realistic.
So instead, we’ll direct readers to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin’s “Celebrate National Dairy Month” page at www. wisconsindairy.org/national-dairy-month. Here, you can nd a list of dairy events across the state, stories about Wisconsin farm families, and, best of all, a “Breakfast on the Farm 101” page.
So, (like always), we encourage you to nd a June Dairy Month breakfast near you and celebrate the month accordingly—with dairy products galore!
Dana Kelroy Editor
Good luck! Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News 4 Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage of wecnmagazine.com.
HIDDEN OBJECT GAME can also enter by mail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative): SYMBOL SEARCH WECA 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703
Open your smartphone’s camera app, point at this QR code, and tap the link that opens.
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Cardinal-Hickory Creek Line Clears Legal Hurdle
A Dane County judge has rejected a legal challenge to the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line project. In a 30-page written ruling, Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost upheld the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) 2019 decision to grant a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to the Dairyland Power Cooperative, American Transmission Company (ATC), and ITC Midwest, which are constructing the 102-mile, 345,000-volt line that will run from Middleton to Dubuque, Iowa.
Opponents of the project say they are reviewing the judge’s ruling and considering an appeal.
The project still faces a challenge in federal court.
Construction of the CardinalHickory Creek line is underway and expected to be complete by December 2023.
Riverland Announces New CEO
The Riverland Energy Cooperative board has promoted Tim Holtan to serve as the co-op’s next CEO, effective May 1, 2023. Holtan fills the vacancy left when former General Manager Jerry Sorenson retired in December 2022.
Holtan has been with Riverland since 1988, serving as lineman, line superintendent, and most recently as the manager of operations and interim CEO.
WECA’s Richard to Lead FYF
WECA Director of Government Relations
Rob Richard has been named the new executive director of the Federated Youth Foundation (FYF), which manages a trust that supports various community and youth organizations. Richard takes over the role previously held by Ethan Giebel.
Great River Energy to Test Iron-Air Battery
Minnesota-based Great River Energy (GRE) is partnering with Form Energy of Massachusetts to test a new type of long-duration battery storage that could be a “game-changer,” according to GRE.
The co-op is building the nation’s first iron-air beta-test battery at its peaking plant in Cambridge, Minnesota. If it works as expected, it would be able to discharge more than 100 hours of power, compared to lithium iron, which can only store four hours.
The option for long-duration battery power would improve reliability by allowing utilities to plan for severe weather, such as extreme cold, when intermittent resources are not available.
EPA Proposes Crackdown on Power Plant Emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rolled out an ambitious new rule that, if implemented, will have a major impact on the future of the nation’s coal and natural gas plants, which are the main source of baseload power in Wisconsin, the MISO region, and much of the nation.
The proposal requires that all coalfired power plants, most new gas plants, and all large existing gas units that run consistently capture carbon pollution before it enters the atmosphere. Carbon capture technology is not currently used at any power plant in the nation.
The rule is expected to expedite the transition to more clean energy by forcing or expediting the closure of coal and natural gas plants. As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to cut the economy’s carbon emissions in half by 2030, compared with 2005.
Opponents expect the rule will be challenged in court.
Temporary storage site licensed for spent nuclear fuel
U.S. nuclear regulators have licensed a private company in southeastern New Mexico to “temporarily” store tons of spent nuclear fuel from commercial
power plants around the nation. The company, Holtec International, has spent an estimated $80 million over eight years pursuing the 40-year license to build and operate the facility, but there is adamant opposition from residents and politicians in the state.
Earlier this year the Biden Administration offered up $26 million in grants for communities interested in studying the potential of hosting interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.
A Gallup survey in April found 55% of U.S. adults support the use of nuclear power, up 4% from last year.
Dairyland Explores Pumped Storage Hydropower
Dairyland Power Cooperative has announced it is collaborating with Mine Storage International and Michigan Tech University (MTU) to look into the potential for carbon-free pumped storage hydro in the region.
The generation and transmission cooperative will be evaluating the development of underground pumped hydro at closed mines, which it says is an opportunity that supports grid reliability and renewable energy generation, while repurposing retired industrial sites in an innovative way.
WECA Urges Support for Large-Scale Data Centers
WECA has joined a coalition of organizations representing Wisconsin businesses, workers, and energy providers in urging lawmakers to sign on to support a bill aimed at attracting large-scale data centers to Wisconsin.
Representative Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) and Senator Romaine Quinn (R-Rice Lake) have authored a bill that would align Wisconsin with the more than 30 other states that offer a tax exemption on data center equipment to attract the development of data centers, which are major power users.
According to a 2022 Mangum Economics Report, since the state of Illinois enacted its data center program in 2019, it has brought in more than $4.2 billion in new data center investment, plus thousands of construction jobs.
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RELIABILITY AT RISK
Over the last year, feature stories and several of my columns in this magazine have focused on the critical importance of electric service reliability to our members. As societal and political pressure pushes us towards a goal of carbon pollution-free electricity, reliability is a subject that we will continue to pay very close attention to because there is no practical reason why having one should negatively impact the other.
own a portion of an investor-owned facility that provides much of their power, and the remaining two cooperatives buy their power from other investorowned utilities. In most cases, we have had no problem with these generation facilities producing enough electricity to serve our members. However, there are warning signs that electric and grid reliability is under duress.
Steve Freese President and CEO
As we look at how we can achieve the goal of carbon pollution-free electricity, reliability should always be the backbone of any long-term plan we implement for our members. When you flip a light switch, you expect the lights to come on. It’s that simple, right? Well, maybe not.
The electrical grid is the most complex machine humanity has ever created. While those in the industry have a pretty good understanding of it, most of our consumer members do not. Producing and securing reliable electricity begins with basic knowledge and understanding of some key components and terminology. “Baseload” is an industry term that means no matter what happens tomorrow, this is the amount of electricity the cooperative must provide to power everything you use— furnaces, air conditioners, lights, water heaters, stoves, computers, phones, and coffee makers. That’s just what’s in your home. Consider what else it takes to power small businesses, industrial complexes, schools, hospitals, data centers, etc. Your cooperative must provide that baseload supply of electricity day in and day out. A significant portion of electric reliability comes from coal and natural gas plants to supplement the intermittent supply of renewable power like solar and wind. Unfortunately, at this moment, there are no technologically feasible means to produce 100% carbon pollution-free electricity to power our baseload needs without the serious threat of brownouts or blackouts unless we commit to drastically amping up our nuclear power capabilities.
Nineteen of Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association’s (WECA) cooperative members own the generation and transmission cooperative they get their wholesale electricity from, three cooperatives
Last summer, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which operates the grid in all or part of 14 states, including Wisconsin and the Canadian Province of Manitoba, issued warnings that if we had extended days of hot temperatures, we would likely have rolling blackouts. The warning was issued because of power lost from retiring coal plants that were not matched by the supply of power gained by new wind and solar farms. With these electricity supplies tightening, the risks of rolling blackouts remain high. A brutal storm in the Midwest could have severe effects on the grid, not unlike what happened to the Texas power grid in February 2021. That event catapulted natural gas shortages in Minnesota and electricity outages in North Dakota. Let’s also not forget when high temperatures in California led to widespread rolling blackouts in 2020.
More recently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Mark Christie echoed a similarly eerie warning last month before a U.S. Senate oversight hearing, stating, “I think the United States is heading for a very catastrophic situation in terms of reliability.” He continued, “The core of the problem is actually very simple. We are retiring dispatchable generating resources at a pace and in an amount that is far too fast and far too great and is threatening our ability to keep the lights on.”
I am sharing this information with you not to scare you but to help prepare you for events that could happen if we do not have a balanced plan and reasonable transition period to fully achieve carbon pollution-free electricity production. We can still do everything right in Wisconsin. However, if a regional grid emergency hits, MISO can still implement rolling blackouts to preserve the system’s integrity. This is something you need to be aware of and possibly be prepared for. Let’s pray and hope it never comes to be.
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News MESSAGE from the CEO
8
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TRANSFORMER RULE PAIN, LITTLE GAIN
How a DOE proposal to increase transformer e ciency could hurt the economy and slow the clean energy transition
It has now been more than three years since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, and the coronavirus slammed the breaks on the nation’s economy and shuttered lives and livelihoods alike. However, the resiliency of rural America has since fueled a resurgence. The masks are gone, for the most part. We can breathe (literally) a sigh of relief that industries from tourism to manufacturing are back up to speed, workers are working, kids are in school, and life is normal again. Except in some cases, it isn’t.
Supply-chain issues were ubiquitous in the months and years after the pandemic landed. While toilet paper is now widely available, electrical transformers, which are critical to delivering electricity to your homes and businesses, are not. The ongoing issue is evidence that what is driving this shortage goes beyond the pandemic.
upgrades,” Brandrup said.
Compounding the problem is the national labor shortage, as transformer manufacturers struggle to get enough skilled workers.
“We’ve heard of instances of newly finished and almost-finished residential homes in states that RESCO serves in which the owners are unable to move in, as the houses aren’t yet electrified,” Brandrup said. “And the reason for this is that the utilities serving that particular development are still waiting on transformers.” The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) concurred, saying orders for distribution transformers that used to be filled in two to four months now take between 22 to 33 months to receive.
Of course, increased demand brings increased costs, with transformer costs up 20-50% since 2020, an added expense that, at some point, all utilities, including cooperatives, have to pass on to customers or members. Utility rate increases driven by higher fuel costs, along with general inflation, are already busting budgets for people in Wisconsin and across the nation.
Matt Brandrup, president & CEO of RESCO
According to Matt Brandrup, president & CEO of Rural Electric Supply Cooperative (RESCO), a co-op that works closely with manufacturers to provide wholesale products— including transformers—to their electric co-op members, increased demand is amplifying the challenges of low inventory supply. “Among the factors contributing to this are electrification incentives and the push for more electric vehicles, which require a greater home load capacity than what was previously needed,” he said. “In many instances, utilities must upgrade transformers to ensure the capacity is there to account for electric load growth, like home vehicle chargers. And that’s by no means over; in fact, we’re just in the infancy stages in terms of utilities having to make these transformer
It seemed, though, that the White House was tuned in and ready to help. In June 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) established the “Tiger Team,” comprised of industry leaders and government officials tasked with examining the supply-chain crisis and offering solutions. The group concluded that current transformer production is not meeting demand, and the demand will increase for the foreseeable future. The Biden administration then issued a presidential determination through the Defense Production Act (DPA), aiming to prioritize the domestic production of transformers. Manufacturers offered solutions, including the option for “emergency-use” products, which would allow them to produce transformers
10 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
with greater output at slightly lower efficiency rates than the stringent requirements DOE put in place in 2016. (For example, as of 2016, the DOE requires a medium voltage, liquid-immersed distribution transformers, which are typically purchased by electric utilities, to be 98.70 to 99.55% efficient, the highest efficiency rate of any major electrical device.)
But here is where the Tiger Team lost its roar. In December of 2022, DOE issued a 448-page proposed rule, not seeking to ease efficiencies to help remedy the transformer shortage but to further INCREASE efficiency requirements and mandate manufacturers use amorphous steel cores instead of grainoriented steel. Utility leaders across the country immediately decried the move, saying it would make a bad situation worse.
“With the distribution class transformers already running at approximately a 99% efficiency rate, the push to enact these onerous and very costly DOE transformer regulations—to achieve a 99.3% to 99.4% efficiency rate—just does not make sense,” Brandrup said. “If these regulations go through, transformers will become much more costly and bigger in size. This would also occur at a time when there is a significant transformer supply/demand imbalance and when transformer costs have already increased around 40%, as some utilities— not RESCO’s members, by the way—continue to struggle to get the transformers they need to power homes and businesses.”
NRECA joined the American Public Power Association, Edison Electrical Institute, GridWise Alliance, and other national industry groups in sending a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer
Granholm in February. They write, “The proposed rule would require manufacturers to transition to a different type of steel, which is largely untested, less flexible, and more expensive. Further, the existing supply chain of this alternative steel is very limited and mostly foreign-sourced. This rule would impose unnecessary cost burdens and further delay the delivery of such critical products.”
“Currently, NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) calculates a threephase liquid-immersed distribution transformer with a kilovolt-ampere (kVA) output rating of 2500 is already 99.53% efficient; a similar single-phase type with a kVA of 833 is 99.55% efficient,” they said.
“Importantly, due to the intricate ways transformers are designed and assembled, increasing their efficiency even by a fraction of a percentage point could add months to an already lengthy order cycle.”
In issuing the rule, which is expected to be finalized in 2024 and take effect in 2027, Granholm said the new energy conservation standards would “enhance the resilience of our nation’s energy grid and make it possible to deliver affordable electrical power to consumers in every corner of America.” In its written proposal, DOE monetized perceived climate and health benefits from the new transformer standards and concluded there would be “significant” savings for
11 wecnmagazine.com June 2023
FEATURE
Wisconsin electric cooperative leaders met with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation in April to lobby legislators on the transformer rule. Pictured are meetings with Congressman Tom Ti any (R-WI 7th district) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI 2nd district).
Americans overall.
The rule was a hot topic during the April Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, in which Granholm appeared to talk about the agency’s budget request. Senators from both sides of the aisle took the opportunity to push back on the transformer rule.
Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) told Granholm that rural electric cooperative leaders were in his office that very week pleading with him to address the transformer rule. (The Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association [WECA] and Wisconsin electric co-ops also lobbied legislators on the issue during a recent trip to D.C.)
“This is a big issue,” Daines said, adding, “My rural electric co-ops are not partisan folks. They’re very pragmatic. I urge you to reverse the course. Work with manufacturers on this transformer issue. Work with our electric co-ops. Find a real solution. Stop this green delusion.”
Even Senator John Hickenlooper, a Democrat from the very green, clean-energy leading state of Colorado, suggested this rule may go too far.
“I understand the aspects of the proposed standards are still being negotiated with the transformers,” Hickenlooper said. “But even in Colorado, our rural electrical generators are very concerned about the supply chain, so I just want you to know this concern is universal.”
Granholm replied by asking for more money to help boost domestic transformer manufacturing. “With the Defense Production Act, through our manufacturing and energy supply chain office we have about $75 million to help that (shortage). It’s not enough,” Granholm said. “So, it’s something that I would ask Congress to consider. We need a $1 to $2 billion commitment to build these transformers in the United States. And I hope we can work together on taking that to the next level.”
Granholm doubled down on her commitment to the rule, even as Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) pushed hard on the issue. “I’ve heard from all of my local power companies in Mississippi. They are ringing me up, and I’ve read the key findings from the TIGER team about serious problems with the supply chain, shortages threatening the regions, electric infrastructure, including skyrocketing costs and the long lead times of up to two to four years and more, in order to meet your department’s most recent conservation standards for transformers. Now manufacturers will be forced to use an alternative, more expensive and limited type of steel which has, and will continue
to, worsen the supply chain. It seems to me the White House and your department have put the cart before the horse,” she said.
“So, do you think this maybe won’t go into effect when you thought it would? Do you think that this may go away?” Hyde-Smith asked.
“I don’t. No. I think it’s important to continue to move toward efficiency, but we are having conversations with industry, I’ll just say that,” Granholm replied.
Hyde-Smith pushed the DOE secretary to commit to holding off on implementing the rule at least until the current transformer shortage is resolved, but Granholm refused, saying she believes the higher efficiency standards can be successfully implemented as planned.
Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, DOE has the authority, and the responsibility, to periodically determine whether more-stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified and would result in “significant energy savings.” Granholm does not need legislative approval to move forward on the rule.
But that will not stop WECA, NRECA, and Wisconsin co-op leaders from making their voices heard. And in some cases, it’s working.
“The Department of Energy’s transformer standards rule is narrow-minded and will only exacerbate the current supply shortage,” Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-WI 7th district). “The DOE needs to focus on reliability and affordability, not unnecessary red tape and cost burdens.”
“The WECA folks were a very effective voice during our visits with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation in April. They were focused on getting across to the members the significance of the transformer shortage and the overarching larger issue of supply-chain challenges in the energy sector,” said WECA’s Director of Government Relations Rob Richard. “We went to Washington asking them not to make a bad situation worse. Our cooperative leaders deal with these challenges day in and day out. I’m hopeful that Wisconsin’s congressional delegation will listen to, and give greater credence to, the folks that are on the ground and responsible for making sure our cooperative members’ electricity remains reliable, affordable, and safe over bureaucrats in D.C. looking for terribly insignificant and costly efficiency upgrades in our transformers.”—Julie
Lund
12 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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EFFICIENCY TIPS FOR RESIDENTIAL WELL PUMPS
Q: I get my water supply from my own well. How can I use less electricity with my well?
A: The energy a residential well system uses depends on the equipment and water use. The homeowner is responsible for maintaining the well, ensuring drinking water is safe, and paying for the electricity needed to run the well pump. Here are steps to improve and maintain your residential well and use less electricity.
new energy standards of 1.6 gallons. The average family can save nearly 13,000 gallons per year by replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense-labeled models.
Another option is the tried-and-true plastic bottle method. Place sand or pebbles into a one- or two-liter bottle and place it in your toilet tank or buy toilet tank bags. This results in less water filling the tank and less water being flushed.
DISHWASHER. If you wash dishes by hand, start using your dishwasher instead. Did you know new ENERGY STAR®certified dishwashers use less than half the energy it takes to wash dishes by hand? According to the Department of Energy, this simple change in habit can save more than 8,000 gallons of water each year.
Get Your Well System Inspected
If you’re concerned about how much you pay to pump water from your well, start with an inspection.
Similar to heating and cooling systems, well pumps are put to work daily, and parts will wear over time. Regular maintenance can improve efficiency and increase the lifespan of the system.
The proper system design and sizing can save energy. Oversizing equipment can waste energy. Ask a professional if your well equipment is properly sized for your needs. In some cases, adding a variable-speed drive can save energy. Keep in mind, well systems don’t last forever. Consider design and sizing before the existing system fails. Things can go wrong with your well that are hard to spot. The water system may even act normally with good water pressure and flow while using more energy and causing higher bills.
One of the most common causes of increased energy use is underground water line leakage between the pump and the home. Water lines can freeze and break or be damaged by digging or a vehicle driving over underground lines. Other issues can include waterlogged pressure tanks and malfunctioning equipment. Even if your well is in good working order, there are practices you can implement to save on your electric bill.
Save Money by Lowering Your Water Use
The less water you use, the less energy you use. Here’s how you can conserve water and electricity with your home appliances:
TOILETS. Check your toilet for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color appears in the bowl without flushing, your toilet has a leak. This is likely caused by a worn flapper, which is an inexpensive and easy do-ityourself fix.
If your toilets were installed before 1994, they are likely using more than 4 gallons per flush, which is well above
WASHING MACHINE. Run your machine only with full loads to save water and energy. You may also consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR®-certified washing machine, which uses about 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular washers.
SHOWERHEADS AND FAU CETS. Get leaky showerheads and faucets fixed. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year.
Faucet and shower aerators are inexpensive devices that reduce the amount of water flow. For maximum water efficiency, look for faucet aerators with no more than 1 gallon per minute flow rates and low-flow showerhead flow rates of less than 2 GPM.
Understanding proper well system design, maintenance, and water conservation will help you save.
Only run your washing machine with full loads to save water and energy.
Switch to a low- ow showerhead with ow rates of less than 2 gallons per minute for maximum water e ciency.
Miranda Boutelle is the COO at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She writes on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the trade association representing more than 900 electric cooperatives.
14
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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DAIRY DELICIOUS
Jalapeno Honey Cheese Sliders
CREAMY HONEY CHEESE
2 Tbsp orange blossom honey
1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Colby Jack cheese, grated
1/4 cup scallions, sliced
Place the orange blossom honey, cream cheese, Colby Jack cheese, and scallions in a mixing bowl and stir with a spoon (or spatula) to evenly combine. Place in the refrigerator to keep chilled.
SLIDERS
12 mini sweet-style slider rolls
24 pickled jalapeno sliced rounds
Slice each roll in half horizontally. Evenly spread the bottom half of each slider roll with approximately 1 tablespoon of the chilled creamy honey cheese mixture. Top each with 2 pickled jalapeno sliced rounds. Place the slider roll tops on each.
To cook the sliders, heat a nonstick sauté pan over medium heat. Lightly spray the pan with vegetable spray. Place the sliders into the pan and cook for approx. 2 minutes per side or until the honey cheese lling is gooey and the sliders are evenly crispy on both sides. Gently press sliders to atten as they cook (like making a grilled cheese).
Serve 2 sliders per person and enjoy!
Serves 6.
20 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
Recipe and photo courtesy of The National Honey Board, via Chef Rob Corliss.
Baked Arancini with Spicy Tomato Sauce
Recipe and photo courtesy of USA Rice via @Lisathompson in partnership with USA Rice and TheFeedfeed.
This recipe is great as an appetizer or can be frozen for meal prepping.
ARANCINI
4-1/2 cups cooked arborio or sushi rice
3 tsp kosher salt, divided
Olive oil
3 oz fontina cheese, shredded
3 oz provolone cheese, shredded
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 pinch red chili flakes, optional
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
Let rice cool for 25 minutes after cooking, then stir in 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet liberally with olive oil. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir shredded fontina and provolone cheeses, grated Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, eggs, parsley, remaining salt, black pepper, and chili flakes (if using) until well combined. Add cooled rice and peas and stir until mixture is homogenous. Oil a 1/4-cup measuring cup, then scoop rice mixture and pack with your fingers. Unmold rice mixture and coat on all sides with panko breadcrumbs. Set on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mixture. Drizzle arancini with olive oil and bake for 25 minutes.
SPICY TOMATO SAUCE
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chopped Calabrian chiles or red chili flakes
Pinch of sugar
Fresh basil leaves
While the arancini are baking, bring crushed tomatoes, chopped garlic, olive oil, and Calabrian chiles (or flakes) to a boil in a medium pot, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, for approx. 35 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve. Serve arancini with a side of spicy tomato sauce and a dusting of extra parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired. Serves 6.
Bacon and Cheese
Breakfast Strata
Recipe and photo courtesy of The Wheat Foods Council.
6 eggs
1-1/4 cups milk
1/4 tsp salt
Black pepper, to taste
7 cups lightly packed baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes (preferably slightly stale)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
10 slices of bacon, cooked and cut into pieces
Parsley for garnish
Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Place the bread in a separate large bowl and pour in the egg mixture, cheese, and cooked bacon pieces. Gently fold together and set aside in the fridge for an hour or until all the egg is soaked into the bread. (If possible, leave in the fridge overnight for thorough absorption.) To bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch springform cake pan. Pour the bread mixture into the pan, pat down the bread cubes to compress, and scatter a little more bacon and cheese over it if you have any remaining. Cover loosely with foil. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for a further 10–15 minutes or until firm to touch in the middle. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before removing the springform and cutting into slices to serve. Garnish with parsley and enjoy! Serves 8.
Burnt Honey Gelato
Recipe and photo courtesy of The National Honey Board.
CARAMELIZED HONEY
2/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp water
Combine honey, lemon juice, and water in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 8–10 minutes or until a deep amber color develops. Remove from heat and set aside.
CUSTARD
1-1/2 cups whole milk
3 sprigs fresh basil
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup Mascarpone cheese
In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring milk and basil to a simmer. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Remove basil and whisk in warm honey-lemon mixture. In a medium stainless steel bowl, whisk egg yolks until smooth. Slowly temper hot honey-milk mixture into the egg yolks and add salt. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over a low flame for an additional 5 minutes, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and whisk in Mascarpone cheese until well combined. Strain mixture through a sieve and refrigerate covered until cold. Churn mixture in ice cream maker, following manufacturer’s instructions, until frozen. Makes 4–6 servings.
CHEF’S NOTE: Plastic wrap should be laid directly on the custard base to prevent “skin” from forming on the surface.
RECIPES
21 wecnmagazine.com June 2023
READER RECIPES
IMPOSSIBLE RHUBARB PIE
RECIPE COURTESY OF VICKY STULL, PLATTEVILLE
REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS
Sandy Hanson is looking for a Roman nougat recipe. It contains sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, water, and vanilla. She needs the directions and measurements.
SEND TO: WECN, Reader Recipes, 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or jennifer@weca.coop
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup our
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups rhubarb
In a bowl, mix sugar, salt, our, and baking powder; set aside. In a separate bowl, beat eggs and vanilla; add rhubarb and mix. Combine dry ingredients with rhubarb mixture and mix well. Spread into a buttered 9-inch pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until brown.
RHUBARB BREAD PUDDING
RECIPE COURTESY OF KAREN SIMONIS, BLACK RIVER FALLS
My husband and I look forward to Spring when the rhubarb starts growing so we can enjoy this pudding.
1-1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
8 slices bread*, toasted and cubed
5 eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
3 cups (approx.) rhubarb
1/2 cup brown sugar
Whipped topping
Place toasted and cubed bread in a large bowl. Heat milk and butter and pour over bread cubes; let stand for 15 minutes. Mix eggs, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and rhubarb together; and combine with bread cubes. Pour into a greased, 3-quart casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve warm or cool with whipped topping.
*Cinnamon-raisin bread is a tasty option for this recipe.
Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to jennifer@weca.coop or submit directly at http://wecnmagazine.com/submit-a-recipe/. Due to food safety issues, we cannot accept canning recipes.
RHUBARB NUT BREAD
RECIPE COURTESY OF KAREN SIMONIS, BLACK RIVER FALLS
BREAD
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
2/3 cup melted butter
1 egg
1 cup sour milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
2-1/2 cups our
1-1/2 cups diced fresh rhubarb
1/2 cup nuts (any kind)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Combine all bread ingredients well and pour into two prepared loaf pans (either greased or lined with parchment paper).
TOPPING
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp butter, softened
Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over top of breads before baking at 325 degrees for 60 minutes. Let cool before removing from pans.
RHUBARB SQUARES
RECIPE COURTESY OF AGNES ZWIJACZ, GILLETT
CRUST
1 cup our
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter
Combine the our and sugar. Cut the butter into the our/sugar mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the bottom of a greased 11-x7-x2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
FILLING
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup our
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups nely chopped fresh rhubarb
Combine sugar, our, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in rhubarb and pour over warm crust. Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 35-40 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm, if desired. Store in refrigerator. Serves 16.
22 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
LEAVING FOR VACATION?
Unplug “energy vampires.” These are the appliances that use a small amount of electricity even when they’re turned o . Energy vampires can include co ee makers, headset chargers, laptop computers, TV, cable boxes, and even rechargeable toothbrushes. Americans can waste up to one month’s electricity bill each year on vampire energy.
Set the thermostat at a higher temperature than usual. There’s no sense in keeping the whole house cool if it’s going to be empty for a while. Keep window shades drawn to help keep the house cool from the afternoon sun.
Turn down the water heater. Water heating can account for 14–25% of the energy consumed in the home, with a large percentage of that due to losses when the water heater is in “stand by” mode. Therefore, simply turning the heater to “vacation mode” is one of the easiest and most cost-e ective ways to cut back on a home’s energy use when it is vacant. Just remember to turn it back up when you return home.
Make sure all lights are turned o . If you choose to leave household lights on for security reasons, put them on programmable timers so they do not run constantly.
1 2 3 4 5
Adjust the refrigerator control to a warmer setting. With no one there to open and close the door, the fridge can be as high as 40 degrees without spoiling food; the freezer can reach 5 degrees. On these settings, refrigerators use up to 40 percent less electricity.
Source: energy.gov
23 wecnmagazine.com June 2023
Before you hit the road for your summer getaway, take these ve simple steps to help you save energy and money at home while you’re away.
HISTORICAL HUB
Knox Creek Heritage Center Honors Price County’s Past
They came for the logging, and later for the farming. Immigrants from all over Europe made their way to Price County in search of new opportunities, bringing traditions from their home countries that came to define the communities they created here.
At first it was the trees that attracted them. The vast stands of white pines that covered northern Wisconsin in the late 1800s turned the area into a hub of logging and lumbering operations that helped supply the fast-growing country with much-needed lumber. As over-aggressive logging took its toll on the landscape, logging gave way to agriculture, with the newly cleared land attracting a new wave of immigrants who sought to establish a farming lifestyle similar to what they had left in their rural homelands.
As a result, Price County today has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, which is preserved and honored at Knox Creek Heritage Center, a cluster of nine buildings paying tribute to the various ethnic groups that helped form Price County. Located in the countryside of the unincorporated Brantwood community, Knox Creek Heritage Center is an affiliate of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. The complex’s buildings contain historical artifacts and displays depicting life of days long gone by in southeast Price County.
“This was originally founded to commemorate the settlers that came to this area,” said Kevin Wollemann, president of the Knox Creek Heritage Center’s board of directors. “Around the Brantwood area there’s a lot of Finlanders of course, but we also have a lot of Swedes, a lot of Germans, and a little farther north there’s a lot of Czech people. [Knox Creek Heritage Center]
24 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
A cluster of historic buildings, each a museum in itself housing historical artifacts, comprises Knox Creek Heritage Center in Brantwood. Among them are the original farmhouse (far right), the Spirit Baptist Church (above), a second farmhouse known as the Keto House (above, center), and a Finnish sauna (right).
was kind of set up to help celebrate some of the folks that settled in this area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, so some of the buildings are from that era.”
The grounds are accessible for anyone to wander through at any time, with private tours of the buildings available by appointment. In addition, Knox Creek Heritage Center hosts four major events for the public each year, including a Midsummer Celebration held this year June 24. At this event, visitors can explore the exhibits in each building, enjoy a meal featuring some traditional ethnic foods, take in live music or other entertainment, and shop at the gift store.
It Takes a Village Wollemann, a member of Price Electric Cooperative, has been a member of the Knox Creek Heritage Center board since 1997, but as a descendant of one of the settlers to whom the center pays tribute, his connection to this place predates its very existence.
“When my grandfather came from Finland and settled here after the overcut back at the turn of the century, the logging companies offered the loggers a parcel of land and they began dairy farming. My grandfather was one of those loggers,” Wollemann said.
His mother, Sylvia, was among the local historians who began meeting in the 1990s with the goal of creating a
historical society. Their plans took hold in 1995 when Brantwood native Donald Hoffman donated a couple acres of land with its original 100-year-old farmhouse and summer kitchen, as well as a pole building that was erected on the site later, for the purpose of establishing a heritage center. Volunteers worked over the years to move other historical buildings from the local area to the Knox Creek property, transforming what was once just a farmsite into a little village all its own.
Each building was filled with donated historical items, equipment, and documents. The original farmhouse has a living room, kitchen, and bedroom set up with period furniture and other
WISC NSIN FAVORITES 25 wecnmagazine.com June 2023
details. The pole shed houses displays about blacksmithing, dairy farming, and mechanics, among others. In addition, a shed on the property houses a thresher, a 1920s-era tractor, and other old farming implements.
Among the relocated buildings is the Spirit Baptist Church, constructed in 1890, which houses a revolving veterans display as well as lots of old photographs and newspaper articles from the area.
A second farmhouse, built around 1900 and known as the Keto House, has a room set up as a one-room school with historic items from local schools, another room set up to represent a general store, and an exhibit focusing on the area’s logging past.
A restored two-room log cabin was also meticulously reconstructed on the site and is furnished with period items to depict the home of an early settler family.
There’s also a restored, fully operable Finnish sauna, which Wollemann donated from his own property. “It was actually the sauna I grew up with,” Wollemann said. “We moved it onto that site about 15 years ago. I had it all deconstructed and rebuilt here. There were a couple of timbers that needed to be re-hand-hewn, and it’s got the old Finnish dove-tail style logs. It’s a pretty neat little building.”
said. “We used to use the pole building as a serving area, but it got a little congested with a lot of people in there. So we built the pavilion so we could serve outdoors and under a covered area, and that way we could set up the pole building with some additional displays that we’ve got in the main house.”
He added, “With the new pavilion there we’ve also opened up the grounds to special events, so if someone’s getting married or has a graduation or something like that we would certainly arrange to have a board member or two there to have the buildings open.”
Knox Creek Heritage Center also holds two yearly events in the Brantwood Community Center: The St. Patrick/St. Urho Dinner on the third Saturday of March, and the Finnish Independence Day celebration on the first Saturday in December.
However, interested guests don’t have to time their visits around one of Knox Creek Heritage Center’s special events to experience this unique place. Visitors are welcome to stop any time to simply walk through the grounds. If they want to see the displays inside the buildings and learn more, they can contact a member of the board of directors, listed on Knox Creek Heritage Center’s website along with their email addresses and phone numbers.
Building On
Most recently, Knox Creek Heritage Center added a new, modern pavilion to the property, constructed with community support, including a donation of Federated Youth Foundation funds from Price Electric Cooperative. The pavilion has greatly enhanced the two special events held annually on the site: the Midsummer Celebration in June and the Country Afternoon at Knox Creek Heritage Center held the second Saturday in September.
“We now have a nice covered area outside,” Wollemann
Each building contains historic exhibits, including (clockwise, startlng right) the general store display and a collection of old logging tools inside the Keto House, a settler’s home inside the log cabin (photos courtesy of Knox Creek Heritage Center), and old farming implements inside the shed.
“We’d be happy to set up a private tour with anybody who’s interested,” Wollemann said. “We want to have more people come through and take a look.”
Like the settlers who came here at the turn of the century, Knox Creek Heritage Center guests may find themselves feeling very much at home.—Mary Erickson
Knox Creek Heritage Center is located at N4517 West Knox Rd., Brantwood, WI 54513. To learn more, visit https://sites.google. com/site/knoxheritagecenter/home or call 715-428-2261.
26 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
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WANTED: Paying cash for WWII ags, daggers, swords, guns, etc. Also, lever-action ri es. 715-340-1974.
WANTED: OLD BEER CANS AND BOTTLES. Let me know what you have. 715-8289414 Willing to travel. Paying cash.
WANTED: DEER TAGS, BACK TAGS. Trapping, bear, hunting licenses. Otter, sher, bobcat tags, party permits, old traps. 715255-9284 David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446.
FOR SALE: RACING HISTORY BOOKS. Hales Corners, Beaver Dam, Cedarburg, Slinger Super Speedway. $15 each plus mailing. Dave 414-430-2142.
CHAINSAWS WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Buying 1 or 100 McCulloch, Pioneer, Jonsereds, Echo, STIHL, Homelite, Remington, Mall. Buying all brands and sizes. Non-running, running, siezed, parts. Let me know what you have - will travel. Call Chainsaw Mike at 715-828-9414.
“FEEL-THE-HEAL” Go to Ebay & search Blacksmith Salve”. The most powerful healing salve on the planet.
WHOLESALE - OFFSET PRINTING. Circulars-Envelopes-Postcards. Price list. Send (address label) Iron Age Printing, W4411EC 2-Mile Rd, Neillsville, WI 54456.
OLD MOVIES TO DVD / FD - Pro transferring 8mm, VHS, slides, audio, and all formats. Saving memories! DVD Productions Gene 715-827-2302.
FOR RENT: 2 BR CABIN ON BIG ROUND LAKE , Hayward, WI. Next to water. Sleeps 5. Great beach. Call Janet 715-558-5803.
COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR ANTIQUE OR HAND-MADE LARGE TRAPS. 715563-6658 For sale: smaller trapping traps, lever-action ri es from 1800’s.
ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: Ertl tractor and construction equipment, several case wrenches, and other antiques. 715-359-8165.
AKC REGISTERED ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL PUPPIES. Please call or text for more information. 715-579-2547. Holcombe, Wisconsin.
E-BIKES FOR SALE: Let me get you on the right e-bike. Recycle Bike Shop Mobile, Boyceville, WI. Call or text Bicycle Larry 715-702-1452.
FOR SALE: 7’X12.5’ TESKE TRAILER. Front and rear ramps, spare tire, low mileage, garage kept. $1,500 Little Suamico, 54141. 920-609-1782.
WANTED: SMALL GRAIN DRILL; also, Minneapolis moline equipment. Paying cash. Leave message for Steve. 608-985-7479; LaValle, WI 53941.
STEP-IN SHOWER —Transforms your existing tub into a safe step-in shower in just one day. Call 608-726-0769.
Plants & Shrubs
MCKAY NURSERY COMPANY - Wisconsin
Grown Since 1897. Provider of quality shade & ornamental trees, fruit & owering trees, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, and vines. Design services & delivery available. Contact Eric at ezlandscapewi@ gmail.com or call 608-387-4287. “Your McKay Independent Sales & Service Provider.”
ADVERTISE WITH US
Classi ed ads reach more than 152,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classi ed ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classi eds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN—Classi eds, Attn. Jennifer, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680, Madison, WI 53703. Ph: 608-467-4638. Email jennifer@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.
28
CLASSIFIEDS 28 Miscellaneous
Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News
29 wecnmagazine.com June 2023 OUR 60th YEAR CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG GO ELECTRIC! From eco-friendly thermostats to energy efficient lighting systems for your business, technology is making everything smarter. Good thing your Touchstone Energy Cooperative® can help you make smarter work harder. Today there are more ways than ever to make your world more energy efficient, and we can show you how. Take the next step to go electric and put the power of your co-op to work for you. WWW.TOUCHSTONE ENERGY .COM Your source for power. And information.
WISCONSIN EVENTS
1–30 Bloomin’ Greenhouse Tour—Clark County. Various locations, all-day. Annual self-guided tour of Clark County’s many greenhouses & garden centers. Annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, grasses, trees, shrubs, hostas, daylilies, fairy garden supplies, garden art, home décor, and so much more! 715-255-9100.
2–4 Fresh Art Tour—Pepin, Pierce, and Buffalo counties. Various locations, all-day. Self-guided tour. Discover pottery, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography, textiles, and paintings. Find artist info and a printable map at www. freshart.org. 715-577-8894.
3 Pleasure Horse Show—West Salem. La Crosse County Fairgrounds, all-day. Lots of room for camping and horse trailers. Fun for the whole family! 608-487-1395.
3 FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast—Cadott. Junior/Senior High School Commons, 8–11 a.m. Pancakes, ham, ice cream, fruit, milk, and coffee.
3 Fire in the Shire—Alma. Various locations on Main Street, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Experience Castlerock Museum’s citywide celebration of all things medieval. Street and theater performances, museum exhibitions, prize drawings, and more!
4 Plant Sale—Eau Claire. Phoenix Park, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Northern Wisconsin Hosta Society hostas and perennials. 714-5632884.
4 Pie and Ice Cream Social—Eau Claire. Christ Church Cathedral, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
7 Blood Drive—Iola. Iola-Scandinavia Aquatic & Fitness Center, 12–5 p.m. Register at 1-800-Redcross.
8–10 Bonfire Music and Arts Festival—Hillsboro. Driftless Music Gardens, all-day. Michael Franti + Spearhead, The Dip, The People Brothers Band, and more!
10 Birds, Bees, and Butterflies!—Necedah. National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Celebrate pollinators with a 10:30 documentary showing of ‘Keep the Hives Alive’ with creator James Cook, all-day children’s projects, guided hikes, displays, vendors, door prizes, a food truck, and more.
10 Salute to Rhubarb Fest—Fountain City. South Main Street Park, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Featuring tasting contest, largest leaf, car show, bean bag and volleyball tournaments, arts and crafts, and rhubarb goodies bake sale. 608-687-8419.
10 Water Lantern Festival—Milwaukee. Veterans Park (1010 Lincoln Memorial Drive), 5:30–9:30 p.m. A magical floating lantern event that is all about connections. Food, games, activities, vendors, music, and more.
14 Culver’s “Share Night”—Richland Center. Culver’s, 4–8 p.m. Celebrate Flag Day, the US Army’s 248th birthday, and support our local VFW Post 2267. Dine-in or drive-up.
16 Country Store and Luncheon—Cable. United Church of Christ, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Women’s Fellowship country store bake sale 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and a salad bar luncheon 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for a $12 fee. 715-798-3066.
16–18 Polka Days—Birnamwood. City Park and Main Street, Fri. 5 p.m. through Sun. 6 p.m. Free admission. Dancing Fri. 6 p.m.–12 a.m.; Sat. 2–11 p.m.; Sun. 1–6 p.m. Rummage sales Fri. and Sat.; craft sales Sat; food trucks and refreshments all weekend; raffles; Sun. church under tent at 9:30 a.m., followed by noon parade on Main Street, and petting zoo and kids’ games. 715-253-3277.
17 Founders Day Celebration—Galesville. Four locations, all-day. Includes a ‘Garden of Eatin’ breakfast sandwich special, farmer and artisan booths, jazz band, live cannon firings, Civil War reproduction quilts, live camp music, woodworking, chicken-que, raffles, bake sale, bingo, polka music, and more! 608-582-2868.
17 Czech-Slovak Festival—Phillips. Elk Lake Park, all-day. Ethnic food, live entertainment including dancing, Bohemian bagpipes, the Copper Box band, Wisconsin Czech-Slovak Queen pageant, children’s museum, arts and crafts, kroje, and more. Free admission. Bring your lawn chair. 715-339-4100.
21 Pork Fest—Janesville. Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds, 4–8 p.m. 2 grilled pork chops, applesauce, potato salad, buns, and drink. 4-H members selling desserts. Live music. Cost $15. 608-751-8872.
22 Cleansweep—Ladysmith. Rusk County Highway Shop (500 W 9th St S), 2–6 p.m. Collection of unwanted, unused, damaged, restricted, or banned household and ag wastes. 715-532-2167.
22–24 Truck & Tractor Pull—Tomah. Recreation Park parking lot, Thu. 7 p.m. through Sat. close. Five sessions with two pulling tracks. Cost $25 per session; $45 all-day ticket; $115 season ticket; entrance to the grounds and pit areas is free. Food and vendors. 608-372-2081
23, 24 Cheese Curd Festival—Ellsworth. East End Park (located on Highway 10), Fri. 4–10 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Free admission. Learn and engage with the crafters, cooks, and makers of cheese, craft beer, wine, hard ciders, real dairy ice-cream, and authentic Sconnie BBQ.
24, 25 Event in Bevent—Hatley. St. Ladislaus Church, Sat. 4 p.m. through Sun. close. Sat., polka mass at 4 p.m.; country music with Whiskey & Lace from 5–7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.–midnight. Sun., polka mass at 10:10 a.m. Grilled chicken dinner at 11 a.m., music, food, refreshments, train rides, games, raffles, and bingo at noon. 715-446-3060.
25 Pie and Ice Cream Social—Mauston. Juneau County Historical Society Boorman House, 1–4 p.m.
Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Due to space limits, we may need to eliminate details, so be sure to include a phone number (with area code) where callers may obtain more info. If we receive more listings than space allows us to print, we reserve the right to select those we believe will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. Please no virtual events. Events can also be mailed to: WECN, Events, 222 W. Washington Ave. Ste. 680, Madison WI 53703-2719
DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the event is to appear.
June 2023
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1. Annalise found newborn kittens on the farm. Photo submitted by Cathy Ausen, a member of Riverland Energy.
2. Hadley has the full attention of her dog, Bailey.
Photo submitted by Grandma Cindy Wasrud, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.
Photo by Jessica Narum
3. Neil helped Papa Scott and Dad Adam tag calves.
Photo submitted by Scott Ausen, a member of Riverland Energy.
4. Sophie snuggles with her cat, Cocoa. Photo submitted by Jill Sperl, a member of Price Electric.
Kids and Critters June 2023 YOUNG MEMBERS 31 wecnmagazine.com June 2023
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photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be uploaded via wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. By submitting, sender implies that he/she has rights to and owns the image, and grants WECN permission to use the image. By submitting, the parent or legal guardian also authorizes us the right to publish the image.
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Make sure all outdoor outlets are GFCI outlets, and test them regularly. GFCIs shut o power automatically whenever the outlet detects a “leak,” usually due to water.
If you need extra extension cords, make sure to only use cords that are marked for outdoor use. Don’t use an electric grill in the rain; always remember that water and electricity don’t mix.
PLAY IT SAFE WHEN YOU PARTY OUTDOORS
up to $2,000 TAX CREDIT* Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater Save Now Use Federal Tax Credit And Local Electric Utility Rebates To save on purchase AND installation! Save Later Save up to $3,000 over 10 years with reduced electricity costs. *Effective January 1, 2023. Tax Credit limited to 30% of the cost of equipment and the installation up to $2000. Consult a tax advisor for qualifications and VISIT ENERGYSTAR.GOV FOR DETAILS SCAN to visit Menards.com for rebate information. 50 and 80 gallon models available. Shop your local Richmond Hybrid 8.25x10 ad_OPT2.indd 1 3/9/23 12:09 PM