Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News September 2022 Eau Claire by American MainStreet Publications

Since 1940 September 2022 MIDWEST LEADS ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS TRANSITION WILD –THIRDTHEPHOTOWISCONSINCONTESTWINNERHEARTOFCLEGHORNANNUALEVEXPERIENCEDETAILSINSIDE!

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Steve Freese WECA president & CEO Dana Kelroy editor Mary Erickson associate editor

It’s KidsWisconsinWildElectric!WisconsinFavorites&Critters

Julie Lund contributing writer Ann Bailey graphic designer Geri Milleradvertising 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. September 2022 Vol. 83 No. 3 Please recycle Join us on 3wecnmagazine.com September 2022

The Midwest rallies to lead nation in electric school bus transition. See some of our favorite photo contest submissions. The closed elementary school still serves as the heart of Cleghorn. Cute co-op kids get cozy with their critters.

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.

Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 222 W. Washington Ave., Ste. 680,WIMadison,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.

On the cover: Electric co-op leaders took an up-close look at an electric school bus recently. More about the feasibility of these buses on page 10.

24141031 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 312410

Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 222 W. WashingtonSte.Ave.,680, Madison, WI 53703. Steve Freese, president & CEO. USPS number: 688-480.

CONTENTS

SAFETY STARTS YOUNG

Third-graders are at a perfect age to understand these safety concepts, so much so that some electric cooperatives hosted a safety poster contest for third graders in their service area. Each co-op decided on three posters to send to Madison, and we picked the top three in the state. It is clear that these safety messages are being absorbed by these youth. The concepts they are relating on their posters are spot on. Safety is really at the heart of everything we do. Winning this year’s Third Grade Electric Safety Poster Contest are (top to bottom): First-place winner, Lily from Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, who won a Chromebook; second-place winner, Keith from Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative, who won a $100 gift card; and third-place winner, Avery from Riverland Energy Cooperative, who won a $75 gift card. Thanks to all the talented young artists who participated! Dana Kelroy Editor Winning our August kitchen kit is Oconto Electric Cooperative member Allan Wilke. He found the zucchini symbol hidden in the red phone graphic on page 11. “Well, if this wasn’t the toughest symbol to nd we have ever seen! We seriously didn’t think we would ever see it!... We had a good competition going and the best man won! Me, yours truly. Thanks for the always good and informative magazine. We enjoy it from cover to cover. (This month’s especially.)”

Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage wecnmagazine.com.ofYoucanalsoenterbymail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative):

SYMBOL SEARCH WECA 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703 these safety concepts, so much so that some electric cooperatives hosted a safety poster contest for

HIDDENGAMEOBJECT SYMBOL SEARCH Good luck! Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News4

This month we challenge readers to nd this school bus in honor of our electric school bus feature. 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. Send entries by September 15.

Aculture of safety is at the heart of everything Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives do. Powering the homes and businesses of rural Wisconsin is one of the most gratifying jobs out there. But, unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous. Of course, working with electricity is hazardous work, but electric cooperatives weave safety into every aspect of every job. We also see it as part of our mission to educate members about the dangers of electricity. So often, on these pages, you will see messages and articles about how to avoid the risks present with the power around your home. Many co-ops extend this safety messaging to our youngest members through hotline safety demonstrations at schools, youth conferences, county fairs, and festivals. These eye-opening displays use actual electricity to show what happens (on a very small scale) when objects come into contact with a live wire.

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The Federal verseDigitallargestLTDfederalDecemberCommissionCommunications(FCC)reversedits2020decisiontoawardfundstoSpaceXStarlinkandBroadband,whichweretwoofthegrantawardwinnersintheRuralOpportunityFund(RDOF)reauction.TheFCCsaiditwasnot

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News took home two national writing awards at this year’s Statewide Editors Association (SEA) Institute in Chicago. Taking first place in the category of News Feature, 650 words or more was “Powering Through the Potential Perfect Storm,” written by Director of Communication Julie Lund for the March 2022 issue. The judges described Lund’s story about how co-ops are plan ning for severe weather events despite the supply-chain woes as “an outstand ing piece of journalism. Substantive, rel evant, timely, insightful. Close enough to perfect to earn this year’s Willie.” In addition, the September 2021 feature “Taking Charge: Partnership Helps Promote EV Awareness” won an Award of Excellence in the category of Best Feature Illustrating the Coopera tive Spirit. Written by Associate Editor Mary Erickson, this story has a “great headline and good information through out about an innovative partnership,” according to the judges. Editor Dana Kelroy was on the plan ning committee and served as co-host of this year’s SEA Institute.

confident that LTD could deliver on its broadband expansion promises, and said Starlink was a promising, but unproven technology. The $2.2 billion will remain in the Universal Service Fund and be el igible for other state and federal funding programs.

President Joe Biden has signed into law a sweeping $750 billion climate, health care, and tax bill. It includes direct pay clean energy incentives, a big win for electric cooperatives, which as not-forprofit entities often cannot take advan tage of tax credit options.

WECA Files to Participate in PSC Proceeding on Third-Party Financing

Biden Signs In ation Reduction Act

MISO Board Approves WI Projects in Long-Range Transmission Plan

CHARGE EV was first formed in 2020 by 31 electric cooperatives in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

The bill also includes $9.7 billion for a grant and loan program that electric co-ops can access to buy or build new clean energy systems, extends subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, doubles the size of the IRS, extends the $7,500 electric vehicle credit, and implements a new 15% minimum corporate tax.

WECN Wins Two National Writing Awards

NEWS BRIEFS

The Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) board, which directs energy transmission in 15 states including Wisconsin and part of Canada, approved a $10.3 billion transmission plan that could support 53 GW of new wind, solar, hybrid, and battery projects.

Hands-On Focus on Electri cation at Energy Issues Summit

Electric cooperative leaders from across the state gathered in Eau Claire last month for WECA’s 2022 Energy Issues Summit. The full-day event included

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News presentations on beneficial electrifica tion, the future of nuclear energy, the Clean School Bus funding program, the current potential for rolling blackouts in Wisconsin, the transition to renewables and the future of natural gas, and the state and national political landscape. Attendees had the opportunity to take a ride in an all-electric school bus and view the landscape from the sky-high view from the bucket of an all-electric bucket truck.

CHARGE Network Reaches West Coast Midstate Electric Cooperative in Oregon has joined the CHARGE net work, an electric cooperative branded charging effort aimed at easing range anxiety and offering home charging op tions for Formermembers.JumpRiver Electric Cooperative general manager Jim An derson now heads up Midstate, making him the first GM to join the CHARGE network twice. All of Wisconsin’s electric co-ops are part of the network, which is now 94 affiliated strong.

FCC Rejects LTD Broadband and Starlink RDOF Funding

WECA has filed a request to intervene in the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s proceeding on the issue of third-party financing for solar installa tions. The PSC has voted to take up pe titions following the request by Midwest Renewable Energy Association and Vote Solar, who argue that solar installers are not public utilities, and third-party financing of solar systems should be legally allowed. WECA supports a tran sition to clean energy, including solar expansion, as long as it supports efforts to provide safe, affordable, and reliable energy for all members.

The plan includes 18 transmission projects including three in Wisconsin. They include the Tremval-Eau ClaireJump River project, (West and Central WI), the Tremval-Rocky Run project, (Central WI) and the completion of the Wilmarth-North Rochester-Tremval project (MN and Western WI). All proj ects will still require approval from state regulatory agencies.

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In essence, they are asking a non-elected, three-person, gubernatorial-appointed Commission to legalize the sale of electricity by a third-party entity within the regulated service territory of another electric provider your local electric cooperative without any regulatory oversight of that entity. This action could completely upend a regulatory model that our electric cooperatives have been governed by their entire existence. In submitting public comments in Docket 9300-DR105 (MREA) and Docket 9300-DR-106 (Vote Solar), WECA argued that these “petitions fail to provide a clear and convincing argument for the Commission to alter significant energy policy in the state” and that ultimately “it is incumbent that any changes of this magnitude to statutes and or administrative code must be deliberated and implemented by the Legislature.” In a blistering dissent of her colleagues’ decision to open the dockets, Commissioner Ellen Nowak echoed WECA’s comments when she wrote that “the Commission ignored years of precedent, both from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Commissions’ holding that deciding public utility status is a fact specific determination and the general questions posed by the petitioners raise a significant policy issue that is properly left for the Legislature to decide.”

It is the latter part of this resolution that our 25-member Legislative and Regulatory Committee intentionally and carefully deliberated on to protect the interests of ALL electric cooperative consumer-members. Adopted at a WECA Annual Meeting by the general membership in attendance, this grassroots, bottom-up resolutions process has all our consumer members that’s you in mind.

This month’s “Message from the CEO” is guest commentary from Rob Richard, WECA Director of Government A airs. WECA President and CEO Steve Freese is currently on medical leave.

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News MESSAGE from the CEO THE RISING THREAT OF UNREGULATED THIRD-PARTY OWNERSHIP

If the Commission decides in favor of Vote Solar and or Rob Richard WECA Director of Government A airs MREA, the filing of an appeal in court may be a next step.

In late May of this year, two non-profit entities, Vote Solar and Midwest Renewable Energy Association, filed individual petitions asking the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin to make declaratory rulings that third-party financed distributed energy resources (i.e. solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) are not “public utilities” defined under state law and therefore not subject to PSC jurisdiction for regulatory purposes.

To be perfectly clear, WECA does not hold a position of opposing third-party ownership outright. In fact, we have a WECA resolution that states: Third Party Ownership (TPO) refers to a business arrangement where renewable energy generating equipment and technology is financed, owned, or leased and maintained by an entity that uses it to produce energy which is then sold directly to the host property owner or occupant. WECA supports necessary and equitable oversight of TPO arrangements, ensuring safe installation and proper interconnection of the generating equipment, as well as adequate liability insurance. Any TPO arrangement needs to prevent subsidization and rate increases on remaining utility customers and co-op members, include proper reimbursement for utility infrastructure and reliability, provide compensation for any energy added to the grid that is fair and reasonable to both the seller and buyer, and assure adequate consumer protections concerning safety, contractual and legal obligations.

How does this affect you We have heard from electric co-ops that solar system vendors in their communities are using door-to-door, high-pressure sales tactics to sell their product. In some cases, these vendors claim they are working in a partnership with the electric cooperative or that their product is endorsed by their electric cooperative utility which hasn’t been the case. Reports like these raise an immediate red ag of whether co-op members’ interests your interest will be justly protected under a solar vendor’s leasing terms for the life of an installed solar system that may potentially be 20 years or more, assuming they are in business for that long. The intermittency of these energy resources will still require a connection to the co-op’s electric wires and continued investments to ensure that when a third-party system isn’t working that you still have electricity. Third-party system owners have every incentive to shift these costs to your co-op because it makes their product much more attractive when they have no accountability in providing you electricity 100% of the time.There will be more to come in this column explaining how this decision could affect consumer members so stay tuned.

WECA has filed for intervenor status in the dockets. Once accepted, briefs will be filed, and testimony could be offered to oppose the position that the Commission should make a declaratory ruling in favor of third-party ownership’s legality. The PSC is expected to make an expedited decision before the end of the year, a timeline that Commissioner Nowak labeled “a purely political decision.”

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It looks like your typical yellow school bus, but instead of giddy kids on the way to the rst day of school, this bus is lled with Wisconsin electric co-op leaders attending Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association’s (WECA) Energy Issues Summit in Eau Claire. They were evaluating the feasibility of replacing traditional diesel buses with an electric school bus like this one in school districts in rural Wisconsin. Just in time for back to school, there’s a nervous excitement in the air. Those lined up to board the big yellow bus are full of anticipation—optimistic, yet a little apprehensive. Change is hard, after all. But these aren’t kids embarking on a new year of school. Instead, these are electric cooperative leaders attending WECA’s Energy Issues Summit in Eau Claire, taking a ride on a new all-electric school bus to see if they are a reasonable and realistic option for Wisconsin schools. Fueling the potential transition is the option for free or nearly free electric buses, courtesy of the $5 billion “Clean School Bus Program.” Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently reviewing applications. It will grant at least $500 million to cover the cost of new electric buses to help expedite a transition to a cleaner transportation sector. School buses are the nation’s largest mode of transportation, and transportation is the largest contributor of dirty emissions.“TheEPA’s Midwest region is leading the country in the number of applications,” said Anthony Maietta, EPA representative for Region 5, which includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Just days before the August 19 deadline for the ﬁrst round of funding, the EPA had already received more than 1,500 applications seeking more than $1 billion in funds for no-emission or low-emissions buses from across the country. More than 49 of Wisconsin’s 464 districts had applied as of August 15. RALLIES TO LEAD NATION IN SCHOOL BUS TRANSITION

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Get Your INFO KIT to learn more! Call: 1-800-592-4712 or Visit: CycloneRake.com partner with our community to make improvements.”“Icouldn’ttell it was electric, except for the lack of diesel smell,” added Judy Anibas of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative. The kids like the clean air in the electric buses, too, according to presenters at the Energy Issues Summit, where the audience peppered the panel with questions about range anxiety, cold weather complications, and battery replacement costs. e resentati es fro the enefi ial Ele trifi ation eague, ho as uilt Buses, Nelson’s Bus Service, and Proterra Power (battery systems) answered questions. Jamie Stallman, energy conservation and optimization specialist at Great River Energy, resented ne findings fro a fi e year electric school bus pilot program launched in Minnesota in 2017. By year four, he said the combined fuel and maintenance cost of the electric bus was lower than a diesel bus. “Some of the numbers that we’re already seeing from around the country when it comes to maintenance costs, owning and operating diesel buses is somewhere around 54-55 cents per mile, and with electric buses, the numbers are around 17-19 cents per mile, and of course, you don’t have the emissions leaking out into the atmosphere,” Stallman said. Electric buses have lower maintenance costs because they do not require fuel, oil, or filter hanges, elt re la e ents, or have issues with after-treatment components, which are required to reduce emissions in diesel engines.

11wecnmagazine.com September 2022 Under the program, the EPA reimburses “priority” applicants up to $375,000 per electric bus for up to 25 buses, plus up to $20,000 per bus for charging infrastructure. Rural, tribal, high-need, and lowincome districts get priority funding. Non-priority districts may qualify for up to $250,000 per electric bus and $13,000 for charging infrastructure. Districts may also be eligible for funding for new low-emission compressed natural gas buses (up to $45,000) and propane buses (up to $30,000). In addition, districts granted funding must use the money to replace a diesel bus that is in ser i e in its eet “I loved it. I thought it was great,” Kristi Hanson, Jackson Electric Cooperative board director, said after hopping off the bus. “What a great opportunity for us to try new things and see where we can

“It’s hard to say” how much battery replacement will cost in coming years due to supply-chain woes and other ost u tuations, the anel said, ith one rep offering his best guess of $40-$50,000.

12 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News

offers an eight-year, 175,000-mile warranty on its electric bus batteries and estimates they will last 11 years without degradation.Asforrange, Stallman said the Minnesota pilot shows the electric bus runs about 100 miles per charge and recharges in about three hours. But technology is changing rapidly, and the electric school buses of today are already improving on that. According to Greg Webb of Thomas Built Buses, their latest bus, the Jouley, goes 138 miles on a single charge, more than enough to cover the average 35-50 mile school bus route. Of the greatest concerns for potential electric bus buyers and parents is safety and how well bus batteries will hold up in a cold Wisconsin winter. According to Webb, the Jouley has two water coolant heaters—one that heats the battery pack, which is computer-monitored to maintain a 70-degree temperature, and one that heats the bus cabin. While admitting extreme cold can impact any vehicle, Webb said they have received feedback from a school district customer in Alaska who claims the electric bus performs better than diesel in the cold. he iggest hallenge to on erting to an ele tri eet, or even a single bus, is the cost. An electric school bus can cost three to four times as much as a diesel school bus, which runs around $150,000. But with the funding under the Clean School Bus Program, school districts, tribal organizations, contractors, or government entities that operate school buses can apply for the $5 billion in funds, which will be dispersed o er the ne t ﬁ e years, so the est ti e to get on oard ay be right Backnow.atthe Energy Summit electric bus test rides, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services Board Chair Roger Wiff’s initial reaction was surprise. “It was cool, but when did the seats get so small and close together?” he said. “Even the aisle seemed smaller!” added Pierce Pepin’s JosephWhileBacon.thecost, technology, power system, sound, smell, and impact on the environment of the electric school buses are all very different from classic diesel buses, the size and capacity are about the same. Sometimes unchanged is hard too.—Julie Lund 13 2 4 5 1. and 3. An electric school bus is typical of a regular school bus in most ways; however, the side of this bus reads “All Electric! 226 kWh Battery Storage” and “Look, No Tail Pipe.” 2. Electric co-op leaders from Riverland Energy Cooperative and Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services go for a ride. 4. and 5. The driver’s view and dashboard resemble a regular bus; however, the fuel gauge conveys a little more than a half “charge.”

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Pamela Adams, Price Electric CooperativeJill Kruse-Drinkwater, Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative Kerri Zastrow, Oconto Electric Cooperative

Christine Tandberg, Dunn Energy Cooperative Glenn Mancel, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Debra Gates, Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative John Koch, Pierce Pepin Cooperative ServicesEric Wollum, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative Donna Williams-Richter

Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News14

WILD WISCONSIN

Well, this was sure di cult. When we announced our Wisconsin Wildlife Photo Contest back in June, we expected to get a lot of great entries. However, we were overwhelmed by the volume and variety of gorgeous photos we received, making this the most challenging (and also the most fun) photo contest we’ve ever judged. Ultimately, after considerable, somewhat passionate discussion, we settled on this photo of a turtle at Bark Bay Slough in Herbster, taken by Je Underhill, a member of Bay eld Electric Cooperative. Je won a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. Thanks to all the amazing photographers who shared their beautiful photos, a few of which we’re sharing below. You’re all winners!

MY CO-OP www.ecec.com September 2022 15

16 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News River PumpkinGinormousPrairieFestival Celebrating Giant Pumpkins & Their Growers! Saturday , Septembe r 2 4 , 202 2 Rive r Prairi e Park , Altoona , WI Even t fro m 9A M to 2P M Weigh-Of f Begin s at 6A M - Weighin g of 100 0 lb + Pumpkin s Begin s at 11A M Confirmed Events Include: Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, Pumpkin Run, and Pumpkin Dessert Contest Prize Categories: Pumpkins, Watermelon, Long Gourd, Field Pumpkin, Squash, Tomato, Marrow, Bushel Gourd, Mayor's Choice Award, Closest Weight Prize, and Howard Dill "Prettiest Pumpkin" Award FOR MORE INFO VISIT RPGIANTPUMPKINFEST.COM

ou can manage your account right from your smartphone or tablet with SmartHub. Make payments, notify member service of account and service issues, check your usage and communicate directly all at the touch of a button. Download the FREE mobile or tablet app in the Apple App Store or Adroid Marketplace. Manage your account with the SmartHub App! Download today and manage your account anywhere!

Account Number 0000000 Credit Card Drafted On 08/22/22 $91.06

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Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Office: 715-832-1603 Outage:www.ecec.com800-927-5090

Amount Due after 08/20/22 $91.97 Your payment and any returned items may be processed electronically.

Eau Claire Energy Cooperative does our very best to keep our members informed. Every so often we will need to contact you whether it is about a billing question or because of routine maintenance happening in your area. Please check your statement to ensure that the telephone number we have on file is correct. Any phone numbers we have will be listed on the tear-off portion on the bottom of your bill. If this phone number is not correct, please log in to your SmartHub app to change it or contact our office at 715-832-1603. ou can also view and pay your bills online with the SmartHub App

www.ecec.com September 2022 17 MY CO-OP HOW DOES ECEC CONTACT YOU?

$91.06TOTALAMOUNTDUECREDITCARDDRAFTEDON08/22/2022

Eau Claire Energy Cooperative PO Box 368 Fall Creek WI 54742-0368 1 PO Box 368 Fall Creek, WI 54742-0368

Monthly Energy Use Comparison Total Energy Use Last Month Total Energy Use This Month Total Energy Use This Month Last Year 73kWh784 ° tempAvg72kWh444 ° tempAvg69kWh460 ° tempAvg IMPORTANT MEMBER INFORMATION Make sure you are using generators safely! Temporary-use generators should not be connected to the circuit breaker or plugged into an outlet. Portable generators should only be used with extension cords to power lights and small appliances. Permanently installed generators should be wired into your home by a qualified electrician. Charge detail found on the

Member AccountName:#:BillingDate:CurrentBillDue Date: WILLIE WIREDHAND0000000 08/02/202208/20/2022

LOWER YOUR BILL RIGHT NOW! See your daily electric use on SmartHub through the purple button on our website or through the SmartHub App. Why wait to see your bill and THEN make changes? See your daily use and make changes RIGHT AWA to lower your next bill.

of this page. AVERAGEDAILYUSEkWh14 AVERAGEDAILYCOST$2.85 PLEASE RETURN BOTTOM PORTION WITH YOUR PAYMENT NYNN WILLIE WIREDHAND 123 MAIN ST FALL CREEK, WI 54742 Home Number: Work MobileNumber:Number:(715)123-4567 MobileNumber:Number: (715)123-4567(715)123-4567(715)123-4567(715)123-4567

A message from your Cooperative Do you know a high school student looking to expand their social network and have fun while learning about the electric cooperative? Check out our Youth Ambassador (YA) program! The YA's meet monthly during the school year. They learn about cooperatives, go on field trips to local businesses and perform meaningful community service. Apply at www.ecec.com! back

IMPORTANT: If the phone numbers listed below are incorrect, this could result in delayed response to your power outage. Please correct the numbers below:

Previous Balance $93.21 Payments Received -$93.21 Balance Forward $0.00 Current Charges $91.06 Total Amount Due 08/20/22 $91.06 Your Average Daily Use

Monica Obrycki, President and CEO 8214 Hwy 12, P.O. Box 368, Fall Creek, WI 54742-0368 www.ecec.com Ofﬁce Hours: 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon–Fri Non-emergencies: 715-832-1603 Emergencies & outages: Toll FREE 800-927-5090 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Diggers Hotline: 811 or 1-800-242-8511 Call 3 working days before you dig. Taylor Skibba, Marketing and Communications Coordinator 18 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News Eau Claire students!CongratulationsGerikeTheyandFrankThisandattendtheAuction.EauClaireproudCooperativeEnergyisalongtime,supporteroftheEauCountyFairandtheClaireCountyLivestockRepresentativesfromECECBoardofDirectorstheauctioneachyearbidonvariouslivestock.year,AndyBourgetandNeibauerparticipatedpurchasedtwoanimals.wereraisedbyTravisandEmmaWathke.toboth4-H ECECLOCALSUPPORTSYOUTHDURINGLIVESTOCKAUCTION Our faucets and appliances use a lot of hot water. You can lower your water heating costs by using less hot water in your home. Water heating accounts for a large portion of home energy bills. To save energy (and money!) used for water heating, repair any leaky faucets, install low- ow xtures, and insulate accessible hot water lines. When it’s time to purchase a new washing machine or dishwasher, look for models that are ENERGY STAR®-certi ed. Source: Department of Energy Credit: Eau Claire County Fair Facebook

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20 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News PEAR FECTI N!

Honey Pear Upside Down Cake

Recipe and photo courtesy of the National Honey Board.

1TOPPINGpear(Bartlett or Anjou), peeled and thinly sliced 1 Tbsp all-purpose our 2 tsp grated orange peel 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 cup Arrangehoneythepear slices in bottom of a greased 9-inch pie pan. Sprinkle with our, orange peel, and cinnamon; drizzle evenly with 1honey.CAKEcupall-purpose our 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup honey 1 egg 2 Tbsp butter or pareve margarine, melted 2 Tbsp fresh orange juice 2 Tbsp course ground cornmeal In a large bowl, combine our, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well. In a small bowl, combine honey, egg, butter, and orange juice; mix well. Add to our mixture, stirring until just blended. Spread mixture evenly over pears. Top with course ground cornmeal. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until browned. Let cool 5 minutes on a wire rack; invert onto platter. Serve warm. Serves 8.

Pasta with Pears, Spinach, Walnuts, and Cherries in Rosemary Garlic Sauce

4 Tbsp honey Brush each slice of bread with the canola oil and layer an even amount of blue cheese on each slice. You can use slices or just crumble it on. Peel and core the pears and cut thin slices vertically. Place slices over the cheese and grill the tartines for about 10 minutes or until the bread is lightly toasted. You can also do this in a grill pan on top of the stove. When done, generously drizzle on the honey before serving. Serves 4. Bring 6 cups water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add pasta and cook until al dente; drain. In a sauté pan, add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan and warm over medium heat. Add minced garlic and allow to simmer for a few minutes. Slowly add almond milk and rosemary and increase to medium-high heat. Allow the sauce to cook down and thicken, until about a third of its original volume. Add salt and pepper, more to taste, if desired. Thinly slice pear. Place thinly sliced pear slices into simmering sauce and cook until pears are tender, approx. 4 minutes. Add spinach and cooked pasta to the pan and toss with a spoon or tongs until pasta is coated with sauce. Spinach should wilt slightly in the process. Top with crushed walnuts and dried cherries; toss again. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

Pear, Blue Cheese, and Honey Tartine

come together in this pasta recipe lled with fruit and vegetables paired with a delicious rosemary sauce. Pasta with Pears, Spinach, Walnuts, and Cherries in a Rosemary Garlic Sauce was created for us by Katherine from the food blog KBaked. This recipe is both dairy-free and vegetarian.

Pear and Bacon Wa e Bake Recipe and photo courtesy of The Wheat Foods Council.

1 cup uncooked pasta (i.e., bow ties)

RECIPES

6 (4-inch) round frozen wa es, whole-grain, thawed 1 (15 oz) can sliced pears in 100% pear juice, well-drained, diced 12 slices pre-cooked, thinly sliced, maple bacon, diced 8 large eggs 1-1/2 cups 1% milk 2 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg 2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Maple syrup (optional)

Recipe and photo courtesy of the National Honey Board.

1 large garlic clove, minced Olive oil 1-1/4 cup almond, soy, or regular milk

4 slices crusty bread, sliced thin 2 Tbsp canola oil

Cut the waf es in half crosswise. Lay 6 halves in the bottom of an 8-×8-inch baking dish, arranging them so they lay at. Sprinkle with half the pears and half the bacon. Cover with the remaining 6 waf e halves and sprinkle with the remaining pears and bacon. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and nutmeg. Pour over the waf es. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and press all over the surface with your fingers to submerge the waf es in the liquid. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle it over the waf es. Bake in the middle of the oven, 50 55 minutes, until lightly puffed and firm. Let sit 5 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve warm, with maple syrup, if desired. Serves 6. 21wecnmagazine.com September 2022

4 oz Roquefort or other blue cheese, at room temperature 1 large or 2 small Bosc pears

Recipe and photo courtesy of the National Pasta Association at www.sharethepasta.org.Sweetandsavoryavors

2 tsp rosemary dried or fresh 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 large pear, thinly sliced 2 cups fresh spinach 1/2 cup crushed or chopped 1/2walnutscupdried cherries

Pulled Pork Sandwiches for a Crowd

Spray a 9-x-13-inch pan with oil. Melt butter and honey mixed with cinnamon and put in bottom of pan. Beat together eggs and orange juice, dip bread slices into mixture, and place in pan. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

SHARON HALVERSON, NEW LISBON Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

5 lbs ground beef 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 cup nely chopped onion 1 tsp mustard 3 (10.75 oz) cans tomato soup

An online reader requests favorite recipes using meatballs.

Baked Chicken Thighs in Horseradish Sauce

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.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in our to form a roux; whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. When milk has thickened, add the horseradish, sour cream, and mustard. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Place chicken thighs in an oven-safe baking dish (skin-side up) and pour horseradish-cream sauce over the chicken. Bake 50–55 minutes until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Serves 6.

SANDY DRESCHER, NEILLSVILLE

Brown beef in a frying pan over medium heat until pink is gone; add salt and pepper. Place beef in slow cooker but leave fat in frying pan. Sauté onion in beef fat until tender. Add cooked onion, any remaining beef fat, mustard, and tomato soup to slow cooker. Turn to MEDIUM heat and cook until thickened, stirring occasionally. Serve on toasted buns.

Cooperative News

Orange-Cinnamon French Toast

Place roast in slow cooker on HIGH until pork akes o main roast with a fork, approx. 5–6 hours. Combine soup, brown sugar, onion, salt, and pepper in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for several minutes to thicken. Pour over shredded pork, stirring thoroughly. Serve on toasted buns.

SEND TO: WECN, Reader Recipes, 222 West Washington Ave., Suite 680, Madison, WI 53703-2719 or jennifer@weca.coop.

22 Wisconsin Energy

1/4 cup butter 2 Tbsp honey 1/2 tsp cinnamon 3 1/2eggscup orange juice

Horseradish Dills

REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS

DOROTHY PLANK, EAU CLAIRE

1 (5 oz) jar fresh horseradish (not creamy) 2 cups sugar 1/4 cup vinegar

2 (10.75 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup 1 cup sour cream Wrap each chicken breast with 2 slices of bacon and place in a shallow baking dish. Mix mushroom soup with the sour cream and pour over the chicken. Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours. Serves 4.

Correction: The Frozen Coleslaw recipe in the August magazine was sent in by Judith Ebersold. We regret the error.

SHARON HALVERSON, NEW LISBON BBQ Sandwiches for a Crowd

5 lb pork shoulder roast 2 (10.75 oz) cans tomato soup 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup diced onion 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper

JUDY STONEY, CLINTON

Drain and discard pickle juice. Cut pickles into 1/2-inch pieces. In a large bowl, mix horseradish with pickles and place pickles back into jar(s). Boil together sugar and vinegar until sugar is dissolved into a syrup. Pour over pickles and refrigerate. Turn jar(s) every 2–3 hours to coat all pieces; chill. Best if left to refrigerate overnight before serving.

2 qts dill pickles (not Kosher)

SHIRLEY LEWIS, MADISON 2 Tbsp butter 2 Tbsp our 1 cup milk 3 Tbsp prepared horseradish 2 Tbsp sour cream 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard Salt and pepper, to taste 6 bone-in chicken thighs

4 chicken breasts 8 slices uncooked bacon

6 slices bread (thick-style bread, such as “Texas Toast” works well)

READER RECIPES

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The original school bell is kept on display at Cleghorn School Park in Pleasant Valley, where the former Cleghorn Elementary School once stood. Behind it is the town’s historic town hall, which was moved to the park and is now a museum.

24 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News It’s never been very difficult to identify the center of a rural community. Especially in the early days of Wisconsin’s statehood, the core of the settlements that were popping up could mostly be found without the use of a compass, map, or tool of any kind. All one really had to do to was look up for a cupola, listen for the bell that would ring inside it, and follow along to the local school.

THE HEART OF CLEGH RN WHEN THEIR LONG-SERVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLOSED, THIS COMMUNITY TRANSFORMED THE PROPERTY INTO A PARK

These little rural schools typically just one room and presided over by a single teacher played a much more significant role than simply providing a place where children learned the three Rs. Rural schools were often the heart of their communities, serving as social hubs where families would gather for picnics, performances, town meetings, and other occasions. The schools themselves may have changed with time and progress, but their importance in keeping the community connected stayed the same. Such was the case with the Cleghorn Elementary School, which served the community of Cleghorn within the Township of Pleasant Valley for more than 100 years. Begun in 1881, the original structure was replaced with a “modern” brick building in the 1950s, serving children from kindergarten through grade 5. Although it was beloved in the community, the Cleghorn school eventually succumbed to the challenges faced by all small rural schools, and the Eau Claire School District closed the building in 2003. “That was a critical time for us here in our little Cleghorn community because the school was a big part of us,” said Dan Hanson, Town of Pleasant Valley board chair. “The school closing we were all very disappointed in that. We had two or three generations in this community that went there.”However, the story of the Cleghorn Elementary School didn’t end with the building’s closure. That sad development simply became the start of a new chapter. Today, almost 20 years after the Cleghorn Elementary School was closed, the 9.1 acres it sat on comprise a beautiful public park with wooded nature trails, gardens, a professional-grade softball

The town received a substantial grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and another from the State of Wisconsin to help with the cost of removing the old school building. The community also held the first of many fund-raising events in the fall of 2004 inside the empty building. That modest gathering has morphed into Cleghorn’s annual threeday Harvest Fest held in September, an event that has grown in popularity to the point of needing space even beyond the park’s borders. After the old school building was safely removed, the committee focused on adding a pavilion equipped with a kitchen. Once again, community support made light of a large, expensive project; the Chippewa Valley Homebuilders Association built the pavilfield, a covered pavilion complete with a fully equipped kitchen, colorful playground equipment, basketball courts, and lots of benches and picnic tables placed throughout. In the middle of it all is the original Cleghorn Elementary School bell, still very much the center of the“Wecommunity.turnedsomething really bad and really negative into something super special,” Hanson said. “We’ve got a spectacular park here that came from something that we were all so sad and disappointed about. It took us a long time to get here, but what we have now is really special.”

WISC NSIN FAVORITES 25wecnmagazine.com September 2022

Community E ort The transformation of Cleghorn Elementary School to Cleghorn School Park was nurtured by virtually every aspect of the community including service organizations, local businesses,

Clockwise, starting top left: The park’s pavilion includes public restrooms and a state-approved serving kitchen, stocked with stainless steel equipment, large co ee roasters, and large co ee pots donated by individuals or purchased with money raised by members of the community. The museum inside the historic town hall building showcases the history of the community. The park has lots of new playground equipment. The ball eld, designed to accommodate both adult softball leagues and youth baseball, was built largely with funds donated by the family of former Lions Club member Ron Anderson as a memorial gift. and individuals, all of whom donated time, talent, and funds to the ongoing project.The effort began when the town took up the school district’s offer to purchase the school property, which included the old school building, some playground equipment, a nature trail, and a private well and septic system. The transaction was for only $1, but that didn’t exactly mean it was a bargain. The agreement came with the understanding that the town would cover the costs of demolition and any necessary upgrades to the property’s infrastructure. A park committee was formed to oversee the property’s development.Thankfully, the well and septic system were found to be fine, but testing of a 1950s building unsurprisingly turned up asbestos, which had to be removed before the building could be razed. Even this unfortunate discovery, however, led to something special.

The Co-op Touch Installing lights at the ballfield is not the only way the co-op has helped the Cleghorn School Park shine. ECEC serves electricity to the park and has been involved in its development every step of the way. “The Eau Claire Energy Co-op has been a great friend to our park and the Town of Pleasant Valley over the years,” Hanson said. “We can’t thank them enough for what a In addition to the Cleghorn School Park, the Chippewa Valley area is home to two other parks that pay tribute to small schools and their importance to the rural communities they once served. Located in Eau Claire’s Carson Park, the Chippewa Valley Museum campus includes the historic one-room Sunnyview School (pictured above left), which served grades 1–8 in the Town of Washington from 1882–1961. Typical of other one-room schoolhouses, Sunnyview was also a community center for social activities and other needed services. According to the Chippewa Valley Museum, the school served as a registration site for ration coupons during World War II, and also as a mail pick-up site on the days when there was too much snow for the mail carrier to make it to individual houses. When the school was closed in 1962, area schoolchildren collected more than $1,500 in pennies to move the school to a location where it could be preserved. It was moved to Carson Park the following year. Carson Park is located at 1204 E. Half Moon Drive, Eau Claire, 54703. The Chippewa Valley Museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and 5–8 p.m. on Tuesdays. For more information visit cvmuseum.com or call 715-834-7871. Just over 13 miles north is Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls, which includes among its attractions the historic Sunny Valley Schoolhouse (above right). Originally called the Goethel School, it was constructed in 1904 to serve the Town of Wheaton just west of Chippewa Falls. The school was closed in the early 1960s when the district consolidated with the Chippewa Falls City Schools and given to the Chippewa Falls Lions Club, which donated it to the city and had it moved to Irvine Park in 1965. Irvine Park is located at Bridgewater Avenue in Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. The park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., although the schoolhouse is only open for tours Sundays and holidays from 1-5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information visit chippewafalls-wi.gov.

26 Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News ion, complete with public restrooms and a state-approved kitchen, in 2006 as a community-service project.

Next, the committee focused on creating a new, professional-level ball field at the site where the school’s little playground ball field had been. This project, completed in 2008, involved filling and grading the field, installing an irrigation system, seeding grass, putting in new bleachers and dugouts, adding an electronic scoreboard and a professional PA system, and installing lights. The latter was done with the help of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative (ECEC). “We put the co-op’s equipment to the test on that project because they’re 80-foot poles, and the co-op crews volunteered their time to come out and brought the trucks,” Hanson said. “We would never have gotten those lights up without Eau Claire Energy.”

One-Room Schoolhouses in the Chippewa Valley

27wecnmagazine.com September 2022

Amongwork.”themore

The historic building now houses a museum showcasing the history of the Cleghorn community. A Celebration In addition to partnering in the park’s development, ECEC is also a major sponsor of the town’s annual fall festival, which has gotten bigger and better over the years, even as the park’s dependence on the event as a fundraiser has all but disappeared.“Thepark supports itself now with money generating from the pavilion rental and kitchen rental,” Hanson said, noting that the pavilion is typically booked solid every weekend from the middle of May to the end of September for tournaments, reunions, parties, and other gatherings. Money from fundraisers as well as memorial donations continue to be used to enhance the park; future plans call for additional landscaping and trees, adding a fan deck and dugout covers at the ball field, and building a Veterans Memorial. However, the Cleghorn Harvest Fest now serves first and foremost as a celebration of all the good that’s come of a sad situation thanks to a community that pulled together to keep its school spirit alive. Held this year September 9–11, the Harvest Fest includes a softball tournament; a large car show; a craft and farmers market; grand parade on Saturday afternoon fireworks (weather permitting); and games, food, and live music throughout. And in the center of all the activity stands the old Cleghorn school bell, still bringing the community together.—Mary Erickson

The Cleghorn School Park is located at 10434 County Road I, Eleva, WI 54738. It’s open to the public year-round, typically 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. To learn more about the park, visit pleasantvalleywi.gov. or call 715-878-4645. For more information about the Cleghorn Harvest Fest, visit www.cleghornharvestfest.com friend they are.” ECEC is also a member of the Chippewa Valley Homebuilders Association. Mary Kay Brevig, former manager of marketing and communications for the co-op (recently retired), was the key liaison between the organization and the Town of Pleasant Valley when the Chippewa Valley Homebuilders built the park’s pavilion. In addition, ECEC Director Frank Neibauer is current chair of the Town of Pleasant Valley Park Committee. He’s also a member of the Cleghorn Lions Club, which was formed about the time the park project began and has played a major role in the park’s development ever since. Among other contributions, the Cleghorn Lions Club purchased the lights that ECEC crews installed at the park’s new ball field. To help control the cost of the electricity to power the park, Neibauer helped arrange for the Lions Club to purchase subscriptions for ECEC’s MemberSolar community solar installation and donate them to Pleasant Valley Township. With the purchase of those subscriptions, the Lions Club has locked in electric rates for the town through 2035. “Over the years, Eau Claire Energy has helped us in many ways,” Neibauer said, “but it took lot of community support to get this whole project to unique donations was Cleghorn’s old town hall building, given to the park by the owners of the property on which the town hall was located. The town had to take care of moving the building, and ECEC stepped in to help again by raising power lines along the route so the building could pass safely through.

The Cleghorn School Park hosts many community gatherings, the biggest of which is the three-day Harvest Fest in September. This annual celebration makes use of every inch of the park, with car shows, ball games, food, live music, and other activities.

WISC NSIN FAVORITES

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WANTED: DEER TAGS, back tags. Trapping, bear, hunting licenses. Otter, bobcat, sher tags. Old traps. David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446. 715-255-9284.

WANTED: Paying cash for WWII ags, daggers, swords, guns, etc. Also, lever-action ri es. 715-340-1974.

SEPTIC PROBLEMS: Do you have standing water on your drain eld? Have you been told you need a new expensive septic system? I have an alternative that works, also comes with a warranty (no digging). Call toll free 855-797-6072 or email mmtagm@ yahoo.com.

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. ADVERTISE WITH US geri@weca.coop Reach rural readers & Cooperative

WANTED: RED WING STONEWARE. Crocks, beater jars, bean pots, poultry fountains/feeders with advertising. 608-7672282 email slawag@tds.net.

CLASSIFIEDS 28 Miscellaneous Plants

News

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Buying 1 or 100 McCulloch, Pioneer, Jonsereds, Echo, STIHL, Homelite, Remington, Mall. Buying all brands and sizes. Non-running, running, seized, parts. Let me know what you have—will travel. Call Chainsaw Mike at 715-828-9414.

STAINLESS STEEL GUTTER GUARDS. Cleaning of gutters included so get it done before the leaves fall. Attractive pricing, twenty-year warranty. For more information, call or text 608-751-5337.

Shrubs Wisconsin Energy

OLD MOVIES TO DVD—Transferring 8mm, VHS, slides, and all formats. Saving family memories! Special on now! DVD Productions. Gene 715-827-2302. I.H. 2-ROW CORN PLANTER. Like new $800. Farmell “A”, 1940, xed up $900. Cement mixer “Mont. Ward” $75. 715-613-4074.

CHAINSAWS

29wecnmagazine.com September 2022 OUR 60th YEAR Do have…you 4 A special recipe? 4 A beautiful photo? 4 A fun event planned in your community? Please share with us! Go to wecnmagazine.com to upload recipes, photos, and community events. Your submissions may appear in the magazine and/or on our Facebook page. YOUR SOURCE FOR POWER. AND INFORMATION. Being there, every minute, or every day. As your hometown electric cooperative, it’s not just our way of doing business, it’s our way of life. And as a Touchstone Energy ® Cooperative member, that means value that goes far beyond the energy we provide, value you can’t really put a price on.

EVENTS September 2022

10, 11 Antique Tractor Club Show—Rosholt. Corky’s Bar, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Stock garden tractor pulls, threshing demo, shingle lath ill, orn shelling, ﬁrst tra tor dri e, saw rig demo, swap meet, large cash and as et raf es, arrel train, and eo le haulers. Food and drinks available. Fun for the entire family. Free admission.

17, 18 Northern Aged Iron Tractor & Threshing Show—Highbridge. 38595 State Hwy 13, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission $5; 12 and under are free. Show button admittance for both days. Pancake breakfast by Ashland 4-H on Sun. 9–11 a.m. 715-274-7807.

17, 18 Tractor Pull, Kids Pedal Pull, and Car Show—Clifton. 12–6 p.m. Sat., tractor pull at noon and pedal pull at 4 p.m. at Clifton Park. Sun. car show at 11 a.m., downtown. 608-343-4411.

24, 25 Green County Model Train Show-Swap Meet—Monroe. Stateline Ice and Community Expo, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For info, contact Kevin at 608-558-9332.

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. Upload events

9 Rock County Senior Fair—Janesville. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Resource Center, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Many local agencies and booths. Free parking, health screenings, and shredding service. Flu shots available onsite. Bring used eyeglasses for the Lions Club, a non-perishable food item for ECHO, old/unused medications and prescriptions for safe disposal, and any items you want shredded.

wecnmagazine.comtoUploadevents directly to the throughwecnmagazine.comthe“Events”tab.

15–18 Cheese Festival—Blair. Downtown area, all day. Tractor pulls, car show, parade, bingo, rosemaling show, live musi , and a ea ar et all ee end ood available. Button required for admittance over 12 years of age.

12 Church Harvest Dinner—Tigerton. St. John Lutheran Church, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Worship service with music by Faith, Hope & Harmony, followed by menu of Swiss steak and broasted chicken with all the trimmings. Adults $13; children ages 5–12 are $6; and under 5 are free.

1–30 Harvest Moon Fall Tour—Clark County. Various locations, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, community festivals, and farmers markets. Scoop up home-grown apples, gourds, sweet corn, honey, homemade candy, jams, maple syrup, and more. Experience Clark County’s many artists, meat and cheese shops, boutiques, winery, and many music venues all season long. Greenhouses are loaded with beautiful, bushel-size mums, ornamental grasses, pumpkins, and so much more to adorn your homes, yards, and businesses for fall. Watch for the Harvest Moon signs. Call 715-2559100 for a brochure.

23–25 Pancake Breakfast—Warrens. St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 6–11 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes, organic maple syrup, sausage, cranberry sauce, coffee, milk, and cranberry juice, and features their secret cranberry pancake syrup recipe in celebration of the Warrens Cranberry Festival. Carry-outs available. Breakfast is $7 for adults and $4 for children. 5 or younger eat free.

WISCONSIN

9, 10 Yellowstone Art Trail—Chippewa Falls, Cadott, Boyd, Eastern Lake Wissota area. A free self-guided art tour consisting of 33 artists at 11 locations. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Artist giveaways and brochures with maps available. Restaurants and specialty shops included on the trail. For more info, call 715-313-0011.

1–3, 8–10, 15–17, 22–25, 29–Oct. 1 Tours and Burger Nights on the Farm—Mondovi. Together Farms, W93 Norden Rd. Thurs. & Fri. 4–9 p.m. and Sat. 12–9 p.m. Every Thurs.–Sat. through October 8. Burger Nights are unique, casual nights on our small Wisconsin family farm where you can eat in a relaxing atmosphere. Tours on Saturday nights.

9 Donut Fry—Jim Falls. United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Advance orders encouraged; $5 per dozen. 715-382-4397.

11 Heritage Sunday—Beloit. Beckman Mill Rock County Park, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Historic trades demonstrations, different era soldiers, music, classic cars, tours with grinding demonstration of 1868 grist mill and museum, and kid’s activities. Admission by donation. Brats, hot dogs, and drinks for purchase. For more info, call 608-751-1551.

17, 18 Western Wisconsin Pottery Tour—River Falls area. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. A tour of three studios and the work of 16 potters.

11 Church Fall Festival—Bloomer. St John the Baptist Catholic Church, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Buffet style grilled chicken dinner, games, drawings, and live and silent auctions. For more info, call 715-568-1508.

17 Wings, Wheels & Things Car/Tractor/Airplane Show—Oconto. J Douglas Bake Municipal Airport, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Veteran’s ceremony at 10 a.m. We have cars of all years, a nice tractor display, antique and small aircraft, a remote-control airshow, crafter area, a food court with 6 different vendors, children’s activities, a WWII re-enactment camp with military vehicles, and wonderful music from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s! Helicopter rides for $60 per person and antique airplane rides for varied prices, (starting at $200 and up).

18 Polish Dinner—Hawkins. St. Mary Czestochowa Catholic Church, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Admission $8 ages 6–11; $12 ages 1 and u af e, a aar 1

24 Christmas Tree Festival—Ogema. Downtown, all day. Festival will feature a parade, craft vendors, food trucks, book sale, children’s museum, Christmas tree and wreath judging, tree toss, games for kids, quilt show, face painting, a photo ith r and rs laus, and a raf e drawing.

24 Sole Burner Event—Chaseburg. Village Park, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Registration and the “Best Ever Chicken” drive-through chicken que, starts at 11 a.m. Vendors, a health fair, Red Cross Blood Drive, a live dessert auction, silent auction, u et raf e, ine or raf e, o e e ot id s e ent, ﬁnger ainting, oun e house, fa e ainting, ﬁnger rinting for children, live music, a variety of soups, and much more. 608-452-3135

4 Truck and Tractor Pull—Jump River. Community Park, 12–8 p.m. Horseshoe tournament at 11:30 a.m.; hot farm truck and tractor pull starts at noon. Serving our charcoal grilled chicken, hamburgers, and cold beverages.

28 Blood Drive—Iola. Iola-Scandinavia Fitness & Aquatic Center, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Pre-registration is appreciated at 1-800-Redcross.

4. Braxton enjoys grandma’s pet duck, Walter. Photo submitted by Susan Henry, a member of Riverland Energy. Send 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. Upload photos directly to the new“Submitwecnmagazine.comthroughtheaphoto”tab.

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Source: es .org

Kids and Critters September 2022 YOUNG MEMBERS 31wecnmagazine.com September 2022 Overloaded electrical circuits are a re hazard. Recognize the warning signs and contact a licensed electrician if you spot any in your home: Flickering, blinking, or dimming lights Warm or discolored electrical outlet plates Frequently tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses Mild shock or tingle from appliances, receptacles, or switches IS YOUR HOME OVERLOADED?

1. Evy meets a newborn calf at grandma’s farm. Photo submitted by Karla Yanske, from Vernon Electric.

2. Brantley thinks it’s all fun and games until someone gets licked. Photo submitted by Erica Beilke, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.

3. James loves to hug his kitten, Chili. Photo submitted by his grandfather Doug Pitchford, a member of Oakdale Electric.