In today’s economy, wise purchases are more important than ever. With the skyrocketing price of fossil fuels, homeowners around he world have found that WaterFurnace is a smart choice. That’s because WaterFurnace taps into the clean, renewable energy in your own backyard to provide savings up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer for more information and to learn about the 30% federal tax credit. It’s money in the bank.
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Arcadia/Mondovi Water Source Htg & Clg (715) 833-9001
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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, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 Rob Richard, president & CEO.
USPS number: 688-480.
Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200.
Periodicals postage paid at Sun Prairie, Wis.
Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. Phone (608) 467-4650.
Website: www.wecnmagazine.com.
Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18.
Rob Richard 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.
energy
Associate Editor Mary Erickson shares a few of her favorite things.
See the best of 2024’s cute co-op kids with their critters.
SYMBOL SEARCH
HIDDEN OBJECT GAME
Winning our November search was Pamela Melby, a member of Oakdale Electric Cooperative. Pamela’s daughter found the ball of yarn. “My daughter says it is on page 13 in the phone in the top picture.
I can’t see it LOL.”
Now, we challenge you to nd our very own Mary Erickson as we wish her a fond farewell and the best in retirement. Remember that the Mary 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 December 9.
Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage of wecnmagazine.com.
You can also enter by mail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative):
SYMBOL SEARCH WECA 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200
WMARY
e can’t let the opportunity pass without recognizing that this is WECN Associate Editor Mary Erickson’s nal magazine edition (432 editions total) as she ends her 36-year career and begins her retirement.
Readers will know her best through our popular Wisconsin Favorites column. In her more than three decades with the magazine, Mary has penned 376 features, many of them Wisconsin Favorites stories about destinations around co-op country, and she’ll tell you that that was one of her favorite parts of the job. (To see her favorite destinations, see page 23.) Mary also traveled to many electric cooperative annual meetings and member appreciation events. (In fact, the picture at right above is from the Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative member appreciation event, and her caricature is this month’s symbol for the Symbol Search). She met many readers and co-op members while cruising around rural Wisconsin and genuinely loved the people she met.
And that’s the thing about Mary: if you know her, you love her, too. Aside from the feature articles, her primary responsibility was working on pages 15-18 with your local coop communicator. Among this group of co-op professionals, she is a rock star. With her help, we communicate better with you, the member at the end of the line.
Much of our success as a magazine and that member connection is Mary. Plain and simple. She coaches and strategizes and makes every column inch of every page count. She makes a di erence at your co-op and with your co-op’s sta . We are all better, personally and professionally, because of her.
She will be sorely missed, but we truly wish her happiness, adventure, and relaxation in retirement.
Cheers Mary, thank you for everything.
Dana Kelroy Editor
Information should be conveyed to your local law enforcement o cials, to your electric cooperative, or to the:
$2,500 $2,500
FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CONVICTION OF ANYONE WILLFULLY DAMAGING THE PROPERTY OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OPERATING WITHIN WISCONSIN OR WILLFULLY DAMAGING PROPERTY RESULTING IN THE INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE TO MEMBERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES OPERATING WITHIN WISCONSIN. Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (608)467-4650 www.weca.coop
NEWS BRIEFS
Richard Named WECA President and CEO
The Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) Board of Directors selected Rob Richard to serve as the statewide association’s next president and CEO. Since August, Richard has been serving dual roles as interim president and CEO, and vice president of government relations and external affairs. He also serves as the executive director of the Federated Youth Foundation.
According to WECA Board Chairman Dan Hillberry, “Rob has demonstrated his ability to be an exceptional leader with the knowledge and dedication necessary to lead our statewide as it continues to work on behalf of Wisconsin electric cooperatives and their members.” The board conducted a nationwide search and reviewed more than 100 applications.
In accepting the position, Richard said, “I am humbled and honored by the confidence of the board and its decision to grant me this opportunity. I am thankful for the guidance of a great mentor, Steve Freese, who taught me what it means to be an exceptional leader, and I look forward to the journey during this transformational time in our industry.”
Richard worked as a legislative staffer and in government affairs before joining WECA in 2019. He and his wife, Carrie, have two children and live in Sauk City.
WECA Welcomes Alesch
Beth Alesch has joined the staff of WECA as associate editor of Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News Alesch will replace Mary Erickson, who is be retiring at the end of the year after 36 years of service. Alesch’s experience includes more than 20 years of service at Riverland Energy in marketing and communication.
Alesch won multiple WECN awards for her local pages over the years, mostly in the category of Co-op News.
She is a recent graduate of NRECA’s Management Internship Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications/public relations from the University of Northern Iowa.
Former General Manager of WECA Dies at 93
DOE Awards $5 Million for Cybersecurity
The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $5 million to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to help the nation’s electric co-ops bolster cybersecurity. NRECA will use the funds to expand two key programs: the Trusted Industrial Control Cybersecurity Community–Threat Analysis Center (TICCC-TAC) and the Strategic Program for Advancing Rural Knowledge (SPARK).
TICCC-TAC will receive $3 million, and SPARK will get $2 million from DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) through its Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity (RMUC) program, which was created by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.
Co-ops Form Stag Moose Solar
Walter Olof Seaborg, former Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association general manager, passed away on October 20, “wearing his Cubs hat and listening to Frank Sinatra,” according to his family. He was 93. Seaborg served as the statewide association’s general manager of the from June of 1975 until April 1981.
Seaborg is survived by his wife, Julie, and son, Andrew, and family.
DPC Hosts Nuclear Energy Roundtable
In October, U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-District 3) joined Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) President and CEO Brent Ridge, DPC Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Nordt, and DPC Vice President External Affairs Jason Herbert for a candid discussion on the barriers to expanding clean, safe, reliable nuclear energy to meet emission-reduction goals.
The group talked about the benefits of carbon-free nuclear energy and the need to streamline the permitting process for energy projects. Van Orden offered his support to the effort.
Ten Wisconsin electric cooperatives have joined forces to get the best volume pricing on solar energy for members. Stag Moose Solar is made up of 15 coops from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. They’re partnering with OneEnergy Renewables of Madison to develop and build utility-scale solar arrays.
In addition, the group worked collectively to secure $75.9 million in low-interest federal loans through the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, which will finance 22 groundmounted solar arrays that will produce 62.75 megawatts of renewable energy.
According to Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative General Manager and CEO Steve Stroshane, the Wisconsin contingent will add 37 megawatts of new solar generation over the next two years, which is enough electricity to power 9,650 homes.
Wisconsin electric co-ops included in Stag Moose Solar are:
• Barron Electric Cooperative, 7.25 MW
• Clark Electric Cooperative, 2.5 MW
• Dunn Energy Cooperative, 2.5 MW
• Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, 2.5 MW
• Jump River Electric Cooperative, 2.5 MW
• Oakdale Electric Cooperative, 4.5 MW
• Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative, 5 MW
• Riverland Energy Cooperative, 3 MW
• St. Croix Electric Cooperative, 5 MW
• Vernon Electric Cooperative, 2.5 MW
Beth Alesch (seated) and Mary Erickson
TIS THE SEASON OF GIVING, AND WISCONSIN GAVE A LOT
Rob Richard WECA President and CEO
We usually try to provide some good post-election analysis in this column after the big day, but unfortunately, WECN’s editor is looking over at me, tapping her watch as a very tight magazine deadline approaches, so I literally have less than a day after the election to put this column to bed. Full disclaimer: Any election comments I provide below may have changed by the time you read this.
Wisconsin gave a lot this election cycle in plenty of sweat, likely some tears, probably some blood, and definitely lots of cash. Reports indicate that total national spending on all campaigns probably came in at around $16 billion. It will not surprise me if, in Wisconsin alone, the final spending tally is north of $500 million for all the races. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Wisconsin’s purple status within the Electoral College is a moneymaker for a lot of businesses in the state.
What’s crazy is that most of that money is all aimed at two groups; making certain the base is energized and trying to sway the 2–3% of the voting public that didn’t quite know which way to go until the last few days.
Besides the economic benefits of having hundreds of millions of dollars spent in the Badger State, I believe we are fortunate that the candidates and their surrogates visited us…a lot! It helps to keep us engaged in the political process, and they’re forced to listen to what we care about here at home. Without the Electoral College, all of that would change, and you might…might get them to at least visit Milwaukee. With the current system, presidential candidates are visiting small towns like Prairie du Chien, Waunakee, and Ripon. I think that benefits us all, especially in rural parts of the country.
Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes put Donald Trump over the 270 necessary to secure victory. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is heading back to D.C. for a third term. All seven incumbent U.S. House candidates won, and Tony Wied will be the new congressman in the 8th congressional district to fill the seat vacated by Mike Gallagher.
Republicans will hold majorities in both the State Senate and the State Assembly, but their margins were significantly reduced. As of this writing, it appears the Republicans will control the Senate 18–15 after losing
four seats, and the GOP will hold the Assembly 54–45 after relinquishing 10 seats to the Democrats.
Elections can be contentious, no doubt about it. But when it’s all said and done, let’s remember what unites us as a country, as a community, and as a family this holiday season. Let’s remember our humanity and treat others with kindness.
Continuing the theme of giving, in my dual role as WECA president and CEO and Federated Youth Foundation (FYF) executive director, I get to witness firsthand the abundant generosity of our membership as hundreds of thousands of dollars are awarded annually in both scholarships to deserving students and charitable gifts to local community causes.
Our cooperatives gave in many ways this past year, but I want to point out a couple in particular. A shout-out is deserved for our electric cooperatives, who helped contribute over $36,000 in humanitarian aid back in October to Aiken, South Carolina, after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Water, generators, personal care items, tarps, gas cans, and other goods were sent in two semitrailer loads to help the local community down there. This was on top of the incredible work and sacrifice of 45 linemen from 15 of our cooperatives who committed nearly two weeks of their time to help rebuild Aiken Electric Cooperative’s system after it was absolutely crushed by Helene.
Your electric cooperatives also helped support the transportation of 170 used transformers generously donated by Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative to the Navajo Nation in Arizona as part of the Light Up Navajo! Project. There are roughly 60,000 people in the Navajo Nation without any electricity. Charitable efforts like this and cooperatives sending linemen to help build the grid will continue the electrification of homes for American citizens who have been waiting many years for the lines to be built.
I wish you all a blessed and joyous holiday season and a safe and prosperous new year!
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SURGE OF SUPPORT FOR LIGHT UP NAVAJO!
Thanks to some Wisconsin electric cooperatives, the holidays will be brighter this year, literally, for families in the Navajo Nation who are now living with the comforts of electricity. This was the fth year for the Light Up Navajo! (LUN) project, in which lineworkers from utilities all across the country travel to the Navajo Nation, which covers portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, to help power homes where residents have been living for decades with no electricity and, therefore, no running water or internet.
Photo courtesy of Riverland Energy
Last year, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative became one of the first co-ops in the country to participate in the effort. Kevin Kurtzweil, the co-op’s vice president of operations, learned about the collaboration between the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), the American Public Power Association, and utilities. The project helps to energize the region, much of which falls below federal poverty thresholds. NTUA hosts the
volunteer teams by providing engineering design, site and home preparation, food and lodging, equipment, and materials associated with the construction of power poles and distribution lines. The visiting utilities pay for the labor and travel of their crew members.
This year, Eau Claire Energy and Riverland Energy Cooperatives joined Central Wisconsin Electric in sending crews to the Kayenta District of the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
Central Wisconsin lineworkers Joshua Wick and Mackenzie Yarbrough made the trip in May. Working alongside colleagues from Utah and Connecticut, they built 1.75 miles of line to a residence that was the childhood home of an older woman who had inherited it from her parents.
“She was very emotional about it,” Yarbrough said. “Getting electricity was something her parents had always wanted, so she felt like they were finally making that happen for them.”
According to Wick, “This is such a good experience and something I’ll remember forever.”
Riverland Energy Cooperative lineworkers Hayden Gran and Nick Koval spent June 22–28 working in the same region for the LUN project.
Koval said the actual work was similar to what they do in Wisconsin, but some of the terrain was different. “We worked in a lot of rock. It was slowgoing, having to use a pressure digger to drill holes for poles,” Koval explained.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to bring power to people who have lived without it for so long. Every family that we were involved with was very excited and thankful for our efforts, knowing that the future will be a brighter place,” Gran said.
Eau Claire Energy lineworkers Jake Buss and Alex Kiraly also spent July 14–19 in the Kayenta District, where they worked to build a 5.5-mile line extension that connected three homes to the grid.
“One very unique thing that we heard about was the struggles they have with having to work around archaeological dig sites. To preserve the findings, sometimes line extensions need to take a roundabout way. It just goes to show
Photo courtesy of Riverland Energy
Photo courtesy of Central Wisconsin Electric
Photo courtesy of CWEC
all of the struggles it has taken them to get power to these members,” Buss said.
Both men said they were happy to help in the effort and would go back in a heartbeat. “All of the people were very kind and appreciative,” Kiraly said.
Eau Claire Energy President and CEO Monica Obrycki added, “Bringing electricity to Navajo families for the first time is not just about power—it’s about empowering lives and giving back to our neighbors. This project is a beautiful example of what we can accomplish when we come together and support each other, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact that Jake and Alex were able to make.”
Kurtzweil, who inspired Wisconsin’s participation, said that working with the Navajo Nation helps build understanding about the culture within the tribes the co-op serves here in Wisconsin, including the Stockbridge Munsee, who were devastated by a recent tornado. “The trees and the herbs and the soil, it all means so much to them and really gives us an appreciation that, you know, it’s not just powerlines or blacktop roads. It’s a big loss of so many trees, and it was really hard on them,” he said.
Transforming Lives The challenge of powering the Navajo Nation goes beyond the need for manpower; it also requires resources and equipment, such as transformers. In October, Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative donated about 170 transformers—enough to fill two semi-trucks—to the project. The transformers are undersized for most new services in the Chippewa Valley territory, but they will fit the needs of NTUA.
The Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association worked together with CoBank to coordinate the transportation.
“Our electric cooperatives are all about bringing positive change, and this is another example of that,” said WECA President and CEO Rob Richard.—Julie Lund
There are still more than 10,000 homes without power in the Navajo Nation, which spans 27,000 square miles. Wisconsin’s three electric cooperatives were among the 48 utilities from 16 states that joined the effort this year. Without the volunteer help, NTUA estimates it would take another 30 years to bring power to every home at a cost of about $40,000 each. Light Up Navajo VI is already planned for next year.
Bringing electricity to Navajo families for the rst time is not just about power—it’s about empowering lives and giving back to our neighbors.
Photos courtesy of Eau Claire Energy
Photo courtesy of Chippewa Valley Electric
One of the best ways to make your home more energy e cient is by choosing products with the Energy Star® label. Many large appliances include a yellow Energy Guide label that provides estimated energy use. Comparing these labels can help you determine how much you’ll save with an Energy Star® model compared to a standard model. Logo image courtesy of Energy Star®
BE AN ENERGY STAR
As the holiday season approaches and the days grow colder, you may be considering ways to stay cozy while also managing home energy use.
One of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient is by choosing products with the Energy Star® label. But what exactly does that label mean, and how can it benefit you?
How Products Earn the Energy Star® Label
Energy Star® is a program by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help consumers identify energy efficient products that save money and reduce environmental impact.
Products that earn the Energy Star® label must meet strict guidelines for
energy efficiency, performance, and cost effectiveness. Here’s how the process works:
1. The product must be more energy efficient than typical models. This helps you save on energy bills by using less electricity while still providing the same performance.
2. The product must be tested in EPA-recognized labs, following standardized procedures. These tests ensure the product meets all energy efficiency and performance requirements.
3. Once tested, the product’s data is reviewed by a third-party certification body to verify it meets the set standards. This ensures that only the best products receive the Energy Star® label. Even after a product is certified, the EPA conducts “off-the-shelf”
testing on random samples of Energy Star® products to ensure they continue to meet the required standards. If a product fails to meet the performance requirements during verification testing, it can be disqualified from the Energy Star® program. The EPA has clear procedures for handling such disqualifications to maintain the integrity of the label.
Speaking of Labels
Whether you’re upgrading your refrigerator, replacing light bulbs, or purchasing new electronics, the blue Energy Star® label is your assurance that the product has passed all energy efficiency tests. It’s easy to spot and can be found on products ranging from small and major appliances to electronics.
Many large appliances, such as
washing machines and clothes dryers, include a yellow Energy Guide label that provides estimated energy use. Comparing these labels can help you determine how much you’ll save with an Energy Star® model compared to a standard model.
While Energy Star® products can cost a little more upfront, their energy savings over time will often cover the difference. They help reduce your household energy consumption, which could translate to lower utility bills.
Why Should I Care?
As a member of an electric cooperative, choosing energy efficient products benefits not only you but also our entire community. When co-op members use less energy, it lowers overall electricity demand, helping to stabilize rates and reduce costs for everyone.
As you shop for appliances, electronics, or other home equipment this holiday season, look for the Energy Star® label. Whether it’s a new washing machine or energy efficient lighting options, these products are a simple and effective way to save money and lower energy use. Check with your local electric co-op to see if they offer rebates or incentives for purchasing Energy Star® products.
To browse products that have earned the Energy Star® label, visit https://www.energystar.gov.
Jennah Denney writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
WHERE WE LIVE
WE FIND POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS
WILL EMPOWER OUR MEMBERS TO THEIR PASSIONS
As your Touchstone Energy ® cooperatives , we are your energy community. The power we provide is much more than a way to keep the lights on, it plugs into the family, friends, and neighbors that make up your local co-op.
Now, THIS is a Knife!
EXCLUSIVE
Inthe blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart.
Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.”
Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle.
Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price.
This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers.
But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife
Stauer® 8x21
Compact Binoculars
$99 valuewith purchase of Down Under Knife
— H., Arvada, CO This 16" full tang stainless steel blade is not for the faint of heart —now ONLY $99!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.
Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knives for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you under.
What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives
“This knife is beautiful!”
— J., La Crescent, MN
“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.”
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Your Insider Offer Code: DUK420-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
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• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath 14091 Southcross Drive W., Dept. DUK420-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
TASTY TARTS
Rice Pudding
Pear Tart
Recipe and photo courtesy of USA Rice.
1 sheet prepared refrigerated pie crust
2 cups dry red wine
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 large pears, peeled, halved, and cored
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups half & half
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar, divided 2 Tbsp butter
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
Cook rice and set aside.
Place pie crust in a 10-inch tart pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 8–10 minutes or until lightly browned; set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Place wine and cinnamon in a 10-inch skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat; add pears. Reduce heat to low; cover and poach for 10 minutes. Turn pears; poach 5–10 minutes more or until tender. Remove from wine; set aside. Combine rice, half & half, 1/2 cup sugar, butter, and salt in a 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 12–15 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Gradually stir one-fourth of rice mixture into eggs; return egg mixture to saucepan, stirring constantly. Cook 1–2 minutes more. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract. Pour rice mixture into baked crust.
Place pears, cut sides down, on cutting board. Cut thin lengthwise slits into each pear, one-third down from stem end. Fan pears over rice mixture. Bake 30 minutes or until rice mixture is set. Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Broil tart approx. 4–5 inches from heat source for 1–2 minutes or until top is browned; cool before serving. Makes 8 servings.
RECIPES
Savory Mushroom Tart
Recipe and photo courtesy of Brooke Lark from Cheeky Kitchen, via The Mushroom Council.
This recipe required no precooking of the mushrooms! Just chop, stir, and bake. Try serving these savory tarts alongside eggs for breakfast or brunch or make them for dinner and serve them with a big, green salad. Delicious!
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together mushrooms, garlic, cheese, thyme, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Unroll pie crusts, cut off the outer edges of each round to create a large square. Cut the square in half and then slice each half into two rectangles, where one rectangle is slightly smaller than the other. Place the smaller rectangles on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon the mushroom mixture in a mound on top of each of the smaller rectangles of dough. Place the larger rectangles over the mushroom mixture and use a fork to press the edges of the top and the bottom pie dough pieces together. If desired, use a knife to cut teardrop “leaves” out of the extra pie dough pieces. Brush the top of each mushroom tart with a bit of beaten egg, press leaves on top of each tart (if desired), brush again with beaten egg and bake in oven for 15–18 minutes, or just until the tarts are golden brown. Serve immediately and enjoy. Makes 2–4 servings.
1 Tbsp finely chopped onion
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp salt
Fisherman’s Brunch
Recipe and photo courtesy of the Eat Wisconsin Fish/Wisconsin Sea Grant.
4 frozen tart pastry shells or 1 (9-inch) pie shell
1 cup cooked flaked fish (lake trout or rainbow trout are good options)
1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese
1 tsp pepper
Paprika
Additional spices, herbs, and garnishes as desired
Bake pastry shells at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until slightly browned; remove from oven. Combine remaining ingredients except for paprika and garnishes and pour into pastry. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Add garnishes and serve. Serves 4.
Blueberry Brie Tartlets
Recipe and photo courtesy of the US Highbush Blueberry Council.
16 frozen, unbaked mini pastry shells, thawed according to package directions
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries*
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp lemon zest
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
8 oz Brie cheese, refrigerated**
1/4 cup finely chopped toasted almonds
Bake tart shells according to package directions; let cool completely. In a small skillet set over medium-high heat, combine blueberries, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, and rosemary; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring frequently, for 10–12 minutes or until thickened to jam-like consistency. Let cool completely. Remove Brie from fridge and carefully cut off rind.** Cut into cubes and place in mixing bowl. Let stand for approx. 30 minutes or until softened and at room temperature. Using electric mixer, beat Brie on high for 10–15 minutes or until smooth and fluffy, scraping down side of bowl as needed. Spoon into tart shells. Top with blueberry compote and sprinkle with almonds. Makes 16 servings.
*If using frozen blueberries, rinse before using.
**Brie cheese rind is easier to cut off when cheese is cold.
READER RECIPES
GREAT AUNT HATTIE’S NOODLE HOTDISH
RECIPE COURTESY OF JANICE AMDAHL, NELSON
REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS
An online reader is looking for bark or nut-brittle recipes.
SEND TO: WECN, Reader Recipes, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 or jennifer@weca.coop
1 (8 oz) pkg noodles of choice
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, sliced 1 (14.75 oz) can cream-style corn
1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup
Cook the noodles according to package directions; drain. Brown the ground beef and the onion together. Mix the ground beef, onion, cream style corn, and cream of chicken soup together with the cooked noodles. Pour all into a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
HOT DISH
RECIPE COURTESY OF KENNETH AND GRACE BANCROFT, LITTLE SUAMICO
2 lbs ground beef (half can be venison as an option)
Salt and pepper, to taste 2 cups cooked noodles of choice
Fry beef (and/or venison) and drain fat; add onion and cook until tender. Add remaining ingredients except noodles and simmer for approx. 30 minutes. Add noodles and simmer another 15 minutes.
EASY TACO CASSEROLE
RECIPE COURTESY OF KATIE LEE, INDEPENDENCE
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 oz) pkg taco seasoning
1 (2 oz) bag corn chips (such as Fritos)
1–2 cups shredded lettuce or more as preferred
1 large onion, chopped 4 tomatoes, chopped
1 (10.5 oz) can cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup milk
8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Brown the ground beef; drain. Add taco seasoning package to the meat and mix well. Crush corn chips and place on bottom of an 8-x-8-inch casserole pan. Layer seasoned beef over chips and top with lettuce, onion, and tomatoes. In a bowl, combine soup and milk. Pour over ingredients in the pan, then sprinkle cheese over top. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts, approx. 40 minutes.
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/.
PLEASE NOTE: Recipes submitted must include quantities for all ingredients. If no measurements are used, your recipe will not be printed. Due to food safety issues, we cannot accept canning recipes.
HUNGRY BOY CASSEROLE
RECIPE COURTESY OF KRISTY MCARTHUR, BLACK RIVER FALLS
Here is our family recipe that we have all loved for years. It is hearty and everyone goes back for seconds and thirds. Hope you enjoy it too!
CASSEROLE
1-1/2 lbs ground beef
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup water
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 lb can pork & beans, undrained
1 lb can chickpeas or lima beans, drained (may use canned green beans, if preferred)
Brown the ground beef with celery, onion, green pepper, and garlic until vegetables are tender; drain. Add water, tomato paste, salt, and paprika. Reserve and set aside 1 cup of mixture for biscuits. Add both cans of beans; simmer.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sift our with baking powder and salt; cut in butter until nely mixed. Add milk to our mixture. Knead dough on a oured surface approx. 12 times. Roll out dough to a 12-x-9inch rectangle. Combine olives, almonds, and reserved 1 cup of meat mixture; spread over dough. Roll up along the 12-inch side; cut into 1-inch-wide pieces. Place meat mixture in a 12-x-8-inch pan, top with biscuits with rolled side of biscuits facing up to see beautiful mixture in the biscuit. Bake for approx. 25–30 minutes.
PAST RECIPES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT WECNMAGAZINE.COM/RECIPES. CLICK “SEARCH RECIPE ARCHIVES.”
THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
As 2024 comes to a close, so will my career at the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association. I’ll be wrapping up my 36 years with this organization—specifically this publication—with much gratitude for everything I’ve had the opportunity to see and experience. Many of these opportunities came through this very feature, as the monthly Wisconsin Favorites section has fallen mostly under my watch since the end of 2009.
This regular feature has been around much longer than I have. It grew out of a long-running monthly column called Wisconsin’s Favorite Small Towns, for which readers submitted their nominations. As repetition became an issue, the column was retooled, with the focus shifting from small towns to specific places or events worthy of visiting. The newly renamed Wisconsin Favorites column was introduced in 1989.
Early Wisconsin Favorites stories were brief write-ups with a picture or two of the place or activity in the spotlight. Co-op membership wasn’t required, and there were no real limits on location. The point was to simply highlight a locale in Wisconsin for readers to consider visiting. Over time these articles evolved into multi-page feature stories. Qualifications for this space were gradually refined— co-op membership is still not required, but the topic must have some type of co-op connection, and it must be located within the rural areas and small communities served by our state’s electric cooperatives.
As the Wisconsin Favorites parameters changed, pursuing a story became an adventure rather than simply a task. I’ve discovered some amazing places tucked here and there in the beautiful areas served by our state’s electric cooperatives. In the process I’ve met some wonderful people and learned so much.
Because it’s nearly impossible for me to pick a favorite among the many experiences I’ve had, I’m ending my Wisconsin Favorites journey by revisiting five stories that were among the most memorable for me, each for a very different reason.
The Toy Train Barn Museum,
December 2012 Once you’ve visited the Toy Train Barn Museum in Argyle, located on Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative lines, you’ll never forget this whimsical place. In December 2012, I compared this eclectic collection of toy-train displays housed in a bright orange barn as Santa’s toyland, saying it “holds as much miniature magic as any mythical North Pole workshop could.”
A recent return visit indicates the magic has only grown with time. Created and lovingly tended by Buck Guthrie, former conductor for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and his wife, Jan, the Toy Train Barn is loaded with multiple track layouts that wind through an imaginary world of fully animated, tiny communities. Trains of all types and sizes, including some antique Depression-era train cars and newer American Flyers and Lionels, chug past miniature downtown districts, farms, parks, and playlands where various scenarios with tiny people and detailed settings play out.
A large part of the barn’s appeal, however, is discovering what’s going on behind these miniature scenes. The Toy Train Barn’s displays are all of Buck’s invention, and they’re powered by pieces of whatever discarded (or not) household item he’s had a mind to take apart and repurpose. Motors from microwaves, VCRs, toasters, electric can openers, and more make everything move at the press of a button. In one scene, tiny firefighters spray water with the help of an old windshield wiper pump. The town band at the station plays music with the help of an old answering machine. All these animated details are controlled by the timers and power buttons on microwave oven display panels.
Jan fashioned many of the little clay figures that populate Buck’s displays herself. In addition, from the time the Toy Train Barn Museum opened to the public in 2001 until Buck retired in 2016, it was mostly Jan leading tours, describing to awe-struck visitors how each little piece of each amazing display is powered. Now she and Buck greet guests together, pointing out all the incredible details and explaining how it all works. Just as entertaining is their good-natured banter, with Jan’s amusing accounts of how some of her own household items have gone missing only to reappear as something else entirely inside the barn.
My takeaway: There truly is magic in ordinary, everyday things. You just need to open your mind to see them.
The Toy Train Barn Museum is located at W9141 State Road 81, Argyle, WI 53504. It’s generally open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Best to call ahead in inclement weather, 608-897-5651. Admission is $5.
Buck and Jan Guthrie converted the barn on their farm into a roadside attraction featuring Buck’s vast collection of trains that wind through the intricate displays he created. Pieces of regular household items bring the Guthries’ toy train displays to life. The smoke in the burning house at left is created from the resister coil of a car defroster, and the miniature re ghters’ water hose is powered by the pump of an old windshield washer.
Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park, Menomonie, August 2014 I was one of those little girls who loved all things pioneer. My sister and I had the nine-book “Little House” series and we read each one until they were completely worn and dog-eared. Laura Ingalls Wilder was our hero.
Then I got a copy of “Caddie Woodlawn” for Christmas. Carol Ryrie Brink’s 1953 Newbery award-winning book chronicling the adventures of her grandmother as she grew up on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s presented a very different kind of pioneer girl. Caddie was a bit wild, getting in and out of one scrape after another—this was someone I could relate to. But Caddie also had a big heart and a brave soul. I was still a fan of Laura, but my allegiance switched to Caddie.
Somehow, I went through much of my life completely unaware of the Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park outside of Menomonie, where Dunn Energy Cooperative is headquartered. I was well into adulthood when I first made a stop there.
I felt downright heady when I found myself standing in front of the Woodlawn house—the very 1856 house that Caddie grew up in, which had been moved to this park site in 1970. I didn’t need an interpretive sign or a plaque to identify it—I recognized the home’s distinctive four-
sided front bay window that was described in the book as soon as I stepped out of my car. I wandered blissfully through the little house, envisioning all the Caddie scenarios I recalled from the book that played out in each room.
I carefully studied a “Caddie Country” map posted inside the house to direct my view through the windows to the actual sites of some of Caddie’s well-documented adventures and antics. In one direction was Chimney Bluff, where Caddie braved rattlesnakes to pick blueberries. In another was the site of the former Dunnville store, where Indian John picked her up and held her high so he could get a better look at her red hair. In yet another was the woods through which Caddie risked a solo nighttime run to warn Indian John that she’d overheard some settlers planning an attack.
The house is the only Caddie-authentic building on the site, but the other historical structures that were moved to the park create the feel of the Dunnville frontier community Caddie grew up in.
As soon as I got home from this venture, I dug out my old, dusty copies of “Caddie Woodlawn” and its sequel, “Magical Melons,” from the attic and read them yet again.
My takeaway: You might grow out of your childhood, but it never really leaves you. And that’s pretty wonderful.
The Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park is located nine miles south of Menomonie on Highway 25. It’s open during daylight hours from spring through fall. For more information, call (715) 232-8685 or visit www.dunnhistory.org.
The 1856 house where Caddie Woodlawn lived is the centerpiece of the Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park. The distinctive bay window described in the book looks out over grounds lled with other historic buildings that were moved to this site.
Stories for Summer, June
2020
The year 2020 was not an easy one, for anyone. By early spring the COVID pandemic had closed off much of the world, and we were all advised to stay home. Suddenly, all of the places and events I had scheduled to feature in the Wisconsin
Favorites section for the summer were closed or canceled. What to do?
About the only entertainment outlets that were still operating— albeit with some adjustments—during those early days of the pandemic were public libraries, so I decided to offer up a summer reading list. In
keeping with the spirit of Wisconsin Favorites, I focused on books that were either set in Wisconsin or written by Wisconsin authors.
To help compile the list, I reached out to five libraries located in different areas of the state. None were on electric co-op lines, but because libraries are an integral part of healthy communities, and co-ops are all about community, each library had some kind of connection with the electric cooperative in its area. A few had received donations through the co-op’s bill round-up program to help fund summer reading programs and other initiatives. Another had a co-op employee serving on the library board. Yet another had gotten a helping hand—and a lift—from the local electric co-op that donated the use of a bucket truck, with a couple of lineworkers who donated their time, to install an historic school bell outside the library building.
This sampling of books with Wisconsin ties, courtesy of the Lena Public Library, was just part of the reading list compiled by ve libraries in electric co-op communities.
I was not the least bit surprised by the enthusiastic response from each library, as I have yet to meet a librarian who’s not happy to make book recommendations. What did surprise me was the wonderful diversity of the suggested titles. Of the five submitted reading lists of Wisconsin-specific books, we had only two repeats.
Not only was this an exceptionally fun and fruitful story for me—I have Lena Public Library Director Amy Peterson to thank for my new devotion to the David Cubiak Door County Mysteries by Patricia Skalka— but reader feedback indicated the book list was much appreciated during a difficult time. This last-minute substitution turned out to be one of our most popular Wisconsin Favorites topics.
My takeaway: You can escape from anything, to anything, and at any time as long as you have a good book in hand. Also, cooperatives do more for their communities than most people probably realize.
Star Power, November 2020 By November, the pandemic was still going on, and it was clear we were facing a long winter of more isolation and restrictions. Many people had grown weary of it all, and for some that weariness crossed over into heated disagreements. In addition, a contentious presidential election season had everyone on edge.
It was a bit of a depressing time, which made my struggle to come up with responsible Wisconsin Favorites topics even harder. I decided to focus on stargazing because it’s an activity that can be enjoyed in a safe, wide-open space, even in one’s own backyard. I turned to two experts with co-op ties: Lauren Likkel, a retired astronomy professor and a volunteer at Hobb’s Observatory, part of Beaver Creek Reserve on Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s lines; and John Heasley, a Richland Electric Cooperative member and astronomy educator who leads stargazing outings at Kickapoo Valley Reserve, on Vernon Electric Cooperative’s lines.
They were both clearly passionate about their work, and as educators, they were skilled at breaking down a complicated topic and making it understandable, accessible, and fun for non-scientific folks like me. I couldn’t help but get caught up in their enthusiasm, and I eagerly went out the night after we chatted to try out their tips and suggestions.
As I stood outside in the quiet darkness with a whole new appreciation for what I was looking up at, it occurred to me that no matter how far apart I felt in that moment from people I couldn’t safely visit in person, or people whose political beliefs were miles apart from my own, we were all looking at the same sky, with the same moon and
stars. These wondrous celestial objects were shining down on all of us. Maybe we weren’t so far apart after all.
My takeaway: What we have in common is far greater than what sets us apart.
For more information about Hobbs Observatory/Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society, visit https://www.cvastro.org/ hobbs-observatory/. Also, visit Driftless Stargazing LLC on Facebook to learn more about stargazing. To learn more about Kickapoo Valley Reserve and its programs, visit http://kvr.state.wi.us/Home.
As a proposed Dark Sky Park as designated by the International Dark Sky Association, the Kickapoo Valley Reserve is a great place for stargazing.
150th anniversary of the Peshtigo Fire, September 2021 I can trace my interest in history to my fourth-grade social studies unit about the Peshtigo Fire of 1871. I was amazed that America’s deadliest wildfire occurred just a couple of hours from where I lived at the time, and I couldn’t get the story—nor the gripping historical illustrations of terrified people and animals seeking refuge from the flames in the Peshtigo River—out of my head.
This tragic story and all its accompanying lessons are expertly told at the Peshtigo Fire Museum. I had long had the museum in mind as a possible Wisconsin Favorites topic, but I was concerned about the lack of required electric co-op connection. The museum isn’t located on co-op lines, and I couldn’t find an employee or volunteer there who happened to be a co-op member.
However, with the 150th anniversary of the fire approaching, I decided historical significance trumped coop connection. Besides, Peshtigo is only about a half hour from Oconto Falls, where Oconto Electric Cooperative is headquartered. Good enough.
Once the story was published, however, I was delighted
to discover that it did indeed have a co-op connection, and it was a doozie.
I had photos of the museum to accompany the story, but I also wanted to include one of those arresting historical illustrations that I recall so clearly from my fourth-grade social studies book. I turned to the Wisconsin Historical Society, where I found the illustration that originally appeared in Harper’s Weekly in 1871.
I also came across a grainy blackand-white photo of a small crowd standing in front of the Peshtigo Fire Historical Marker in 1951, the 70th anniversary of the fire. It wasn’t the most exciting photo as the people were just standing in one spot in front of the marker. But these weren’t just any people—they were Peshtigo Fire survivors, and I was riveted. This photo somehow lifted the Peshtigo Fire out of the history books and made it more real to me. I decided to purchase use of this photo as well as the Harper’s Weekly illustration.
A couple of days after the September 2021 issue left the post office, I got a call from Tom Race, a member of Vernon Electric Cooperative, who recognized his great-grandmother in the photo of survivors. She was standing next to a man he first thought was his greatgrandfather but later determined was his great-grandmother’s brother.
Tom shared his great-grandfather’s harrowing Peshtigo Fire survivor story, carefully documented in family records, and granted us permission to share it in the following issue, which we did.
Not long after I heard from Tom, reader comments started landing, including one from a fourth-grade teacher in Vernon Electric’s service territory who asked if she could use the article in her classroom when her students learned about the Peshtigo Fire. I compared her address with Tom’s and discovered they didn’t live far from each other. I was thrilled to tell the teacher about Tom and offer to put the two in touch with each other.
Because COVID restrictions were still in place, she wasn’t able to have a guest speaker in the classroom at the time, but she was able to share Tom’s story with her students, making history more real for them.
My fourth-grade self would have been downright giddy.
My takeaway: Co-ops make connections—people to people, present to past—in sometimes unexpected ways.
The Peshtigo Fire Museum is located at 400 Oconto Avenue in Peshtigo. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Memorial Day through October 8. Visit peshtigofiremuseum.com or call 715-582-3244 to learn more.
—Mary Erickson
At the top: A mural in the Peshtigo Fire Museum depicts the deadly 1871 re. Above: Tom Race recognized his greatgrandmother and her brother, far right, in this 1951 photo of survivors of the Peshtigo Fire gathered outside the newly unveiled Peshtigo Fire Historical Marker. (Wisconsin Historical Society, WHS-123186)
CLASSIFIEDS
WANTED: Paying cash for WWII ags, daggers, swords, guns, etc. Also, lever-action ri es. 715-340-1974.
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.
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.
THROW YOUR HOME MOVIES IN THE TRASH! Or pro transfer 8mm, VHS, slides, audio, and all formats to DVD or ash drive. Gene DVD Productions 715-827-2302.
WANTED: COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR VINTAGE SPORTS CARDS 1986 or older. 608-343-3503.
WANTED: BEAR TRAPS, large odd traps, and lever-action ri es. Traps for sale: beaver, coyote, and Newhouse traps. 715-563-6658.
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.
STORM SHELTERS AND SAFE ROOMS, custom built. 815-985-3175.
STEP-IN SHOWER—Transforms your existing tub into a safe step-in shower in just one day. Call 608-726-0769.
AKC REGISTERED English Springer Spaniel Puppies. Please call or text for more information. 715-577-8155. Holcombe, Wisconsin.
2019 COACHMAN CATALINA LEGACY, model 263HSCK. 30 ft with one slide. Great condition. Two bunks and a queen master, replace, and air conditioner. ($23K) Contact 920-604-0345. Reuben. Oconto, WI 54153.
CHIPPEWA VALLEY BEE EXPO. April 12, 2025. Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Honeybees, pollinators seminars, cooking with honey, youth programs, education, and awareness expo. See us on FB on Chippewa Valley Bee Expo.
FOR SALE: FRUIT JARS, INK WELLS, FLASKS, BITTERS, OLD BOTTLES. Gordon Stittleburg, S2076 Bundy Hollow Rd., La Valle, WI 53941. 608-985-7533.
THE THREE BEARS FOR SALE: Baby Bear standing 53 inches upright $650. Momma Bear rug 74 inches head to tail $650. Pappa Bear full mount 68 inches head to tail $2750. Package deal $3,500. Thorp, WI. 715-669-5588.
Plants & Shrubs
HARDWOOD AND CONIFER SEEDLINGS AND TRANSPLANTS. Thousands available, Oaks, Maples, Hybrid Poplar, Hickory, Milkweed, Aspen, Dogwoods, Elderberry, Cranberry, Balsam, Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Cedar, fall food plot and grafted apple trees too, large bareroot shade trees including Autumn Blaze. Check us out on the web at www.paintcreeknursery.com, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube also. Paint Creek Nursery, Cadott, WI. 715-723-2072.
5 ACRES, WEST PEPIN COUNTY, small house with 640 sf garage. Last appraisal $263K, sell $245K. 612-805-2685.
Candles, replaces, and bright lights make for cozy holidays, but they also create potential re hazards. Follow these tips to help keep your holidays merry and bright, but also safe.
l Almost half of home decoration res are caused by candles. Keep lit candles at least 12 inches away from anything ammable. Even better, consider using batteryoperated ameless candles instead.
l Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like replaces, radiators, space heaters, candles, or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree isn’t blocking exits.
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, 6405 Century Ave., Ste. 102, Middleton, WI 53562. Ph: 608-467-4638. Email jennifer@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.
l Replace any light strings with frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections, and follow manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strings to connect.
l Choose holiday decorations that are ame resistant or ame retardant.
Source: National Fire Protection Association
Real Estate
We’ve Found the
Most Beautiful Endangered Species
Theirs sold at auction for $226,000. Ours is JUST $29! Curious? Read on!
To art nouveau jewelers at the turn of the last century, nothing was more beautiful than the dragonfly. In the dragonfly’s long body and outstretched wings, jewelers found the perfect setting for valuable stones. ese jewelers’ dragonfly designs have become timeless statements of style; a dragonfly pendant designed by French jeweler René Lalique recently sold at auction for $226,000. Inspired by his stunning artistry, we’ve crafted our Dragonfly Nouvelle Collection, an elegant jewelry set for JUST $29!
True artisanship in Austrian crystal and yellow gold. is necklace and earring set features gorgeous multicolored enamel paired with Austrian crystals and a yellow gold finish. Ask any jeweler and they’ll tell you it takes true artisanship to properly blend the blues and purples found in this enamel. While art nouveau dragonflies are hard to come by, we’re helping to repopulate their numbers with this artfully stylized depiction of some of nature’s smallest wonders!
Buy the pendant, get the earrings FREE. If Stauer were a normal company, we’d sell the necklace and earrings for $199 each, but because we engage the world’s best artisans and cut out the middlemen to sell directly to you, we’re offering the necklace for JUST $29! Even better: If you buy within the next few days, we’ll throw in the earrings for FREE! at’s a nearly $400 value for JUST $29!
Buy pendant, get earrings FREE!
Jewelry Speci cations:
Act fast! e first time we ran this jewelry in our catalog, it sold out in a matter of days. Get this collection now before this offer goes extinct!
• Enamel with Austrian crystal. Yellow gold finish
• Pendant: 1 ½" W x 1 ¼" H. Chain: 18" + 2", lobster clasp. Earrings: 1 ¼" L, french wire
Dragonfly Nouvelle Collection
A. Necklace $199 $29* + S&P Save $170
B. Earrings $199 FREE with purchase of Dragonfly Nouvelle Necklace
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
WISCONSIN EVENTS December 2024
1 Santa, Open House, and Silent Auction— Menomonie. Downsville Community Museum, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Take pictures with Santa and enjoy cookies, hot chocolate or cider, and a treat bag for the kids. There will also be a silent auction.
1, 7, 8 Christmas Open House—Mauston. Boorman House, 12–7 p.m. Hosted by the Juneau County Historical Society.
1–29 Art Display—Alma. Wings Over Alma, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Artists meet Wednesday mornings and paint along the Mississippi River. The “Mississippi Mornings” group art display will be shown at Wings Over Alma, a nonprofit nature, art, and tourist center, throughout the month.
6 Christmas Parade—Phillips. Downtown area, 6–7 p.m. The parade starts at St. Therese Church and goes past Ross’s Sports Shop. If you want to participate in the parade, show up in the church parking lot around 5–5:30 p.m.
6 Holiday Open House—Necedah. National Wildlife Refuge, 9 a.m.–2:45 p.m. Free hot beverages and baked goods. Everything is 20% off this day at our nature store, and free gift wrapping will be available with purchase. Crafting projects, bake sale, indoor displays to enjoy, and a visit with Santa.
6—7 Tree Lighting and Christmas Craft Sale— Wittenberg. WOWSPACE, Fri., 3–8 p.m., craft and bake sale; tree lighting with carols, hot cocoa and cookies at 7 p.m. Bring a non-perishable canned food item for the food pantry. Sat., 9 a.m.–2 p.m., craft and bake sale 715-253-3525.
7 Christmas Bazaar—Chippewa Falls. Faith Lutheran Church, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Featuring baked goods with lots of Christmas cookies, a white elephant table, crafts, homemade noodles, and lefse.
7 Christmas Sale—Cable. United Church of Christ, Fellowship Hall, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sale of gently used Christmas items. Decorations, linens, dishes, and books available with free will donation. For more info, 715-798-3066.
7 Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus— Tomahawk. VFW Post 2687, 8–11:30 a.m. Get a picture, do an activity. A fun way for the kiddos to interact with Santa! Free will donations accepted.
7 Cookie Walk—Eau Claire. Christ Church Cathedral Fellowship Hall, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Get your holiday baking done the easy way! There will be a beautiful and delicious assortment of holiday cookies and other baked goods for sale.
7 Christmas Bazaar—Alma. St. John Lutheran Church, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Includes a luncheon, silent auction, raffles, crafts, and a bake sale.
7 Santa Visit and Bake Sale—Rio. Community Library, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. The Ding-aLings handbell choir will perform from 9:20–9:50 a.m. Santa arrives by fire truck at 10 am. Kids can visit with Santa and get a free picture with him, plus goody bags and crafting activities. There will also be a bake sale and book sale. For more info, or if you need accommodations to attend this program, call 920-992-3206.
7, 8 Red Higgins Country Christmas Show— Medford. Area Senior High School Red/ White Theater, begins Sat. at 6 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Please bring a nonperishable food item for the food pantry.
11 Grand Opening of Winter Wonderland: Festival of Trees and Wreaths—Wittenberg. WOWSPACE, 6–9 p.m. Step into a magical world of holiday cheer at this enchanting festival that celebrates the joy of the season. View creatively decorated trees and wreaths in unique, imaginative styles, and dazzling displays. Includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvers, raffles, and holiday music. Tickets are $20 and you must be 21+ for this event, but there will be free viewings from Dec. 12–22. 715-253-3525.
13 Hometown Christmas—Tomahawk. Downtown area, 4:30–7 p.m. UTV parade starts at 4:30 p.m. at the east end of Wisconsin Ave., and ends at Railway St. Live window displays until 6:30 p.m. This year’s theme is ‘Presents and Presence.’ It’s like stepping into a Hallmark movie!
14 Cookie Walk and Soup and Sandwich Luncheon—Phillips. St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Choose from dozens of homemade cookies and candies for $10/lb; and luncheon is $10. Everyone welcome.
14 Cookie Walk—Alma. St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 9 –10:30 a.m.
14 Candies, Cookies, and Crafts Walks— Beldenville and Ellsworth. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (Beldenville) 8 a.m.–12 p.m.; and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (Ellsworth), 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Visit the homemade candy sale at Our Savior’s Church and just 3 miles down the road at St. Paul’s for homemade Christmas cookies and a holiday crafts sale.
22 Madrigal Court Singers in Concert— Chippewa Falls. Heyde Center For the Arts, 2–3:30 p.m. Music of the Renaissance and contemporary composers, some hilarious “Tomfoolery,” and a nativity story accompanied by Advent songs. For tickets, call 715-726-9000.
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WECN sta reviewed submissions from the past year and voted on their favorite Kids and Critters photos. Enjoy!
JUNE Jackson helps a newborn calf stand. Photo submitted by Grandma Jodi Pauloski, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.
FEBRUARY Lily helps at feeding time. Photo submitted by Kim Garrison, a member of Scenic Rivers Energy.
JUNE Blake is a third-generation farmer surrounded by Holstein heifers. Photo submitted by Tess Fagerland, a member of Riverland Energy. Photo credit: Designs by Denise Photography
MAY Jesse cannot get enough puppy snuggles. Photo submitted by Cara Schmude, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.
MAY Aleece, plus a calf, equals pure happiness. Photo submitted by Maritere Sedelbauer, a member of Jackson Electric.
SEPTEMBER Maddy plays with a kitten while spending time at Grandma’s house. Photo submitted by Carol Bernhardt, a member of Vernon Electric.
MARCH Jerry makes a u ball new friend at the local dairy breakfast. Photo submitted by Shelby Stone, a member of Oakdale Electric.
MAY Tori gives some new-puppy kisses. Photo submitted by Cara Schmude, a member of Central Wisconsin Electric.
APRIL Mason loves holding his new kitten at Grandma’s house. Photo submitted by Craig Olson, a member of Eau Claire Energy.
Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. 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
