Ohio Cooperative Living - September 2022 - Firelands by Ohio Cooperative Living

Firelands Electric Cooperative SEPTEMBER 2022OHIO COOPERATIVE oftheSupportingleaderstomorrow ALSO INSIDE Intro to line work Avian oddities Road kill survey

Interested in electrical line work? Youth in grades 7–12 can join their local co-op and the Ohio Farm Bureau for a free hands-on look at various careers within the electric industry at ExploreAg Day! Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 Central Ohio Lineworker Training Facility 5265 State Route 95, Mount Gilead For information and to register, email Jana jmussard@oMussardf.org. forTrainingthefuture ohioec.org/purpose

24FEATURESTHE’SHOEAT 100 Ohio Stadium, going strong, celebrates its 100th season of hosting Buckeye football. 28 COUNTING THE DEAD ODNR’s roadkill survey tracks animal populations in a unique way. 32 KOMBI NATION Koolness, kamping, and kulture are all on display at Kelleys Island’s LEAKOIL Kombi Kampout. INSIDE Cover image on most editions: Historic Ohio Stadium, also known as the Horseshoe, opened 100 years ago this month (Getty images/aceshot). This page: A line of kombinationkraftswagen — roughly translated as “station wagon” — sets up camp at Kelleys Island’s 4-H campground in 2021 (photo via leakoil.net). OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022 SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 1

It is a bittersweet milestone for me. I’ve been at Buckeye Power for about 20 years now, and the partnership with AEP has been central to our work and our business planning. However, as things change, our companies need to evolve to meet the needs of the future. I know this is the right step for both organizations, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Buckeye Power and Cardinal. AEP will continue to supply transmission and power delivery services to Buckeye Power after our Cardinal plant partnership winds down. On behalf of Buckeye Power and Ohio’s electric cooperatives, I would like to personally thank the many leaders at AEP who helped us forge and sustain a successful partnership over the many decades. Both organizations have a bright future ahead — they will just be along diﬀerent paths.

Time for a change

Pat O’Loughlin PRESIDENT & CEO OHIO’S COOPERATIVESELECTRIC Buckeye future.thetocompaniesthingsplanning.workcentralAEPpartnershipPower’swithhasbeentoourandbusinessAschange,ourneedevolvetomeetneedsofthe

uckeye Power has been the generation and transmission supplier to Ohio’s electric cooperatives since 1968, producing electricity from power plants and delivering it across the high-voltage transmission network (or “grid”) to each of those 24 electric cooperatives. Throughout this long history, American Electric Power (AEP) has been a partner to Buckeye Power in the generation of electricity — first only at Cardinal Power Plant, but adding more facilities as time went on. It has been a unique and mutually beneficial partnership for over 50 years, lasting through advances in technology, ups and downs of the economy, and nearly constant evolution of laws and regulations. Recently, though, Buckeye Power and AEP agreed to wind down our partnership at Cardinal. AEP has already largely exited the power generation business in Ohio, meaning other producers now supply generation service to AEP’s Ohio customers. We plan to continue working together through 2028, with Buckeye Power supplying a portion of the output from Cardinal to AEP during that time. Buckeye plans to continue operations at the Cardinal plant at a reduced level after that.

UP FRONT 2 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

September 2022 • Volume 64, No. 12 154037 DEPARTMENTS 4 POWER LINES Intro to line work: OEC and the Farm Bureau team up to give prospective linemen a sneak peek at the job. 8 See you at FSR: Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives’ education center is a popular stop at Farm Science Review. 10 CO-OP PEOPLE Antler ag: Quiet Harmony Ranch is home to several hundred roaming elk. 12 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE A feather in your cap: People have a dubious history when it comes to the treatment of birds. 15 GOOD EATS Ohio traditions: Break out these bits of regional cuisine to impress friends and relatives from across the state. 19 LOCAL PAGES News and information from your electric cooperative. 37 CALENDAR What’s happening: September/October events and other things to do around Ohio. 40 MEMBER INTERACTIVE Youth Tour: Ohio’s delegates to Youth Tour 2022 captured the fun and adventurous side of the event. Visit Ohio Cooperative Living magazine online at www.ohiocoopliving.com! Read past issues and watch videos about our articles or our recipes. Our site features an expanded Member Interactive area where you can share your stories, recipes, and photos and find content submitted by other co-op members across the state. 4 1210 Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd. Columbus, OH www.ohiocoopliving.com614-846-575743229 Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO Caryn Whitney Director of Communications Jeff McCallister Managing Editor Rebecca Seum Assistant Managing Editor Crystal Pomeroy Graphic Designer Contributors: Alicia Adams, Colleen Romick Clark, Getty Images, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Catherine Murray, James Proffitt, and Margie Wuebker. OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 134-760; ISSN 2572-049X) is published monthly by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. It is the official communication link between the electric cooperatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their members. Subscription cost for members ranges from $5.52 to $6.96 per year, paid from equity accruing to the member. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101. Periodicals postage paid at Pontiac, IL 61764, and at additional mailing offices. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved. The fact that a product is advertised in Ohio Cooperative Living should not be taken as an endorsement. If you find an advertisement misleading or a product unsatisfactory, please notify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, OH, and at additional mailing offices. National/regional advertising inquiries, contact Cheryl Solomon American MainStreet Publications 847 749 4875 | cheryl@amp.coop Ohio-based advertisers contact Rheta Gallagher 614-940-5956 | rgallagher@ohioec.org Cooperative members: Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Ohio Cooperative Living staff cannot process address changes. Alliance for Audited Media Member SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 3

Intro -toline work

Knowing his assessment was to be given at the same facility (which is owned and operated by Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives), Mike decided to tag along and do a little scouting; surely it couldn’t hurt his chances of doing well on the assessment — and he was right. He was hired on shortly thereafter at PPEC, where he’s now in the second year of an apprenticeship that leads to journeyman status. Tim made good use of that day as well and is now a lineworker with American Electric Power. “I’d like to think we had a hand in getting them both started,” says Kyle Hoﬀman, coordinator of the COLT program for OEC. “As a participant, Timmy really got an up-close look at the job — it let him confirm it was what he wanted to do — and even though Mike only attended as a spectator, ExploreAg helped him gain a solid understanding of what was ahead to get hired at PPEC.”

Mike Taylor was a few days away from a scheduled pre-hire lineworker assessment at Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative when his little brother, Tim, attended an Ohio Farm Bureau ExploreAg one-day program at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training facility in Mount Gilead.

BY JEFF OEC,MCCALLISTERFarm Bureau team give prospective lineworkers a sneak peek at an in-demand career.

Brothers Tim (left) and Mike Taylor both knew from a young age that they wanted to be electric lineworkers. Both got an up-close look at the profession at an Ohio Farm Bureau ExploreAg event at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training Facility in Mount Gilead.

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ExploreAg is Ohio Farm Bureau’s signature agricultural literacy and workforce development program. The majority of its oﬀerings, which are free, are week- and weekend-long immersion camps for high school students.

Teens get a broad-spectrum look at agriculture and related STEM fields, develop their leadership and collaboration skills, and prepare for college and/or a career.

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“We do a lot of these one-day experiences that focus on a specific area, and they’ve been really popular,” says Jana Mussard, ag literacy specialist with the Ohio Farm Bureau. “We’re particularly excited about the one we have coming up at COLT — the first one was such a huge success, and we’ve only seen more interest in this one. Obviously, there’s a huge need for people in that line of work, and this is a great opportunity for anyone who thinks they might be interested to come in and find out what it’s all about.”

For information or to register for ExploreAg Day at COLT on Oct. 15, email Ohio Farm Bureau’s Jana Mussard at jmussard@ofbf.org.

Attendees at the ExploreAg event at COLT will, among other things, get a lift in a bucket truck. COLT director Kyle Hoffman (below) designed the event to appeal to anyone considering a career in line work.

Along with the broad-spectrum camps, the farm bureau also has expanded its ExploreAg offerings with one-day camps such as the one at COLT where the Taylor brothers cemented their path toward electrical line work. COLT will host another ExploreAg Day Oct. 15, with room for double the number of participants as the last event.

“We got to talk to multiple linemen who have worked in the trade for a long time at Ag Day,” Tim Taylor told Our Ohio magazine. “It was really cool to sit and talk with them, as well as people from different departments, to see the wide variety of what’s out there.”

The program at COLT includes hands-on demonstrations of some of the basics of line work: climbing utility poles, riding in the bucket of a bucket truck, building cross-arms, electrical basics — with a stress on safety. Participants will even get a look at other electric cooperative careers, such as energy advising.

There’s a huge need for people in that line of work, and this is a great opportunity for anyone who thinks they might be interested to come in and find out what it’s all about. “ ”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 7 PortlandBathRocklandBoothbayHarborCamdenBucksport Gloucester HarborBar Boston Atlantic Ocean Provincetown Newport Martha’s Vineyard MAINE NEW HAMPSHIRE MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND ABOARD THE NEW AMERICAN CONSTITUTION Explore picturesque seaport towns and quaint island villages on this 11-day Boston round-trip cruise. Discover the best of New England, while visiting Newport, Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, Bar Harbor, and more. Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly® HARBOR HOPPING New England Cruises AmericanCruiseLines.com Call 800-459-2596 to request a CruiseFREEGuide

Ohio electric cooperative members can enter to win a $100 bill credit by completing the entry form on the inside back cover of their September issue of Ohio Cooperative Living and bringing it to the OEC building at Farm Science Review.

Visitors to the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives education building on the far east side of the review exhibition area will find energy-saving tips, cooking demonstrations, and free popcorn.

Co-ops connect with their members at the OEC education building at the annual Farm Science Review.

Ohio’s electric cooperatives have had a presence at the review for nearly its entire 60-year run. For years, the co-ops erected a giant tent on the grounds and set up educational displays to showcase the latest advances in energy efficiency, safety, and renewables as well as how electricity brings convenience to the modern world. The cooking demonstrations that are so popular, in fact, were first devised as a way to teach farm families about microwave ovens when that technology was cuttingedge (this year’s demonstration, by food-blogger Jennifer

As the Farm Science Review celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the state’s premier agricultural education and industry event will both highlight its own history and keep its focus on educating for the future.

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“While many attending Farm Science Review this year will not remember farming as it was 60 years ago, we hope this is a year to reflect on how much the industry has advanced,” says Nick Zachrich, FSR manager, noting that this year’s review will include examples of farm equipment from the 1960s alongside cutting-edge equipment to highlight advances in technology that have shaped the industry.

Osterholdt, will include electric air fryers, slow-cookers, and Instant Pot pressure cookers).

Hours for Farm Science Review are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 20–21 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22. Tickets are $10 online, at county offices of OSU Extension, and at participating agribusinesses and $15 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.

demo, attendees can pick up giveaways such as rain gauges and yardsticks, pin their home location on a giant map, get energy-saving tips, and, of course, eat free popcorn.

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The OEC building will feature some new attractions as well as some popular standbys — along with the cooking

Eventually, the electric cooperative tent got so popular that the co-ops decided to pool their money and erect a permanent structure on the grounds in 2008.

Farm Science Review attracts upward of 140,000 visitors annually from all over the United States and Canada to the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. The review includes a 100-acre exhibit area with 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors. FSR also dedicates over 600 acres of land for field demonstrations, tillage, nutrient and lime applications, and drainage installations.

“Being a part of the Farm Science Review lets us fulfill several important parts of our cooperative mission,” says Ted Reithman, marketing and energy use specialist at Pioneer Electric Cooperative in Piqua. “It’s right there in our principles that we value education and we have concern for our community. Being part of this event gives us the opportunity to engage with so many of our members and helps us live those principles.”

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARGIE WUEBKER

Quiet Harmony Ranch is home to several hundred roaming elk.

CO-OP PEOPLE

His fascination with elk is a result of thinking out of the box and a desire to remain involved in animal husbandry after he got out of the swine business. He established the ranch in 2015, and opened it as a business a few years later.

Females weigh an average of 650 pounds, full-grown males around 1,000 pounds. They are natural browsers, chomping on tree branches, bark, grass, and dead leaves. Hay, grain, and minerals supplement their diets. Their bodies can withstand temperatures down to -20 F; when it’s hot and humid, they can head to nearby ponds. Elk came to the United States centuries ago, traveling from Asia across the Bering Strait — a land bridge to Alaska. They eventually spread throughout the country, some settling in southwest Ohio and the Great Black Swamp area in the northwest part of the state. Although very much

After viewing an informational movie, visitors can drive through the elk park to view the statuesque animals lounging in pastures and paddocks or opt for the 50-minute Outback Encounter, which affords a closer look and commentary. The inquisitive elk often approach fences for a peek at visitors or simply watch from their open shelters.

ANTLER AG

Around 200 elk are home on the range at Dave Flory’s Quiet Harmony Ranch in the rolling Preble County hills. Flory, a retired entrepreneur who established — and later sold — a nationally known swine-breeding business, located the ranch on 185 acres of land served by Darke Rural Electric Cooperative. His mission is to work in harmony to produce unique farm products while providing a place for families to come, learn, and enjoy.

Quiet Harmony Ranch is also a host location for Harvest Hosts. RV campers who are members of the organization can stay free of charge on the property. Visit www.harvesthosts.com for more information

“The only ones still in Ohio are on farms and ranches like this one,” Flory says. Quiet Harmony Ranch places elk into wildlife reintroduction projects and sells stock for breeding purposes to other elk breeders.

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in evidence when Ohio gained statehood in 1803, they disappeared by 1838 due to hunting and migration.

Elk antlers and bones were once used as tools in bygone days; rib bones even served as runners on primitive sleds. Today, velvet antlers are used in nutritional supplements for both people and animals, while hard antler often becomes chews for dogs, knife handles, or rustic furnishings.

Quiet Harmony Ranch, 10684 Morrison-Mikesell Road, New Paris, OH 45347. Open from June through October on Fridays and Saturdays. The trading post is open year-round on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, including hours and prices, visit www.quietharmonyranch.com or call 937-437-7777.

People also have rediscovered the nutritional value of elk meat — low in fat, low in cholesterol, and high in protein, according to Flory. Although the meat resembles beef, there is less marbling. Quiet Harmony Ranch harvested 27 elk for meat purposes last year — the majority was sold in the trading post. Available cuts include ribeye steaks, New York strips, roasts, patties, and bacon cheeseburgers in vacuum-sealed packages. Elk meat also goes into summer sausage, meat sticks, and jerky of various flavors. Homemade fudge in 30 flavors, unique gifts, T-shirts, and souvenirs round out store offerings. Hungry visitors often head to the food cabin for elk BBQ on homemade buns, side dishes, and a variety of ice cream desserts. Kids’ attractions include twin tailspin slides, a pedal car racetrack, Intelli-Maze, a giant sandbox, and timed basketball shootout courts.

Feathers from some birds, such as the great egret, were in such demand by the millinery trade that they were worth twice their weight in gold.

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A featherin your cap? People have a dubious history when it comes to treatment of birds. STORY AND PHOTOS BY W.H. “CHIP” GROSS WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

Arguably once the most common bird on earth, it was pushed into extinction; the last individual, Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. But this is not a retelling of that sad story. Rather, it’s a tale of how several once-persecuted species were rescued from oblivion and are thriving once more. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, bird feathers were the fashion fad in the millinery — hatmaking — trade. Some feathers, especially plumes from great egrets and snowy egrets, were in such demand that they were literally worth twice their weight in gold. During the 1890s alone, it’s estimated that 5 million birds were killed annually for their feathers. To make matters worse, those birds were taken almost exclusively during the breeding season, their eggs left to rot or their hatchlings to starve and die. Smaller species of wild birds at the time didn’t fare much better. For instance, on two afternoons in 1886 in New York City — on 14th Street in Manhattan, to be exact — ornithologist Frank Chapman began counting the number of dead birds adorning women’s hats, and tabulated 39 species and 173 individual birds. These weren’t just feathers, mind you, but the entire preserved birds themselves: game birds, grebes, shorebirds, woodpeckers, songbirds, even an owl! Help eventually came from an unlikely source. In 1886, George Bird Grinnell (yes, “Bird” was his real middle name), the editor of Forest and Stream, a hunting, fishing, and outdoors magazine, founded the first Audubon Society. Although the fledgling organization attained a membership of nearly 50,000, it eventually folded. But it wasn’t the end. Two women, Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall of Massachusetts, resurrected the idea in 1896, with the goal of persuading ladies not to wear feathered hats. This time the organization succeeded, and Audubon societies spread to many states. To add teeth to its beliefs, in 1902, the Florida Audubon Society hired a warden, Guy Bradley, to patrol Florida’s Gulf Coast and discourage illegal plume hunting. A reformed plume hunter himself (it takes one to catch one, right?), Bradley was shot and killed in 1905 by poachers he was attempting to arrest. Two more Florida wardens died in the line of duty in 1908. These men did not die in vain, however. Public pressure gradually changed attitudes, and women eventually drifted away from wearing birds as fashion. In addition, two important pieces of legislation were passed to protect wild birds and other wildlife: the Lacey Act of 1900 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, both of which are still in effect today.

Ask

But lest you think it was just Americans persecuting wild birds years ago in the name of fashion, consider this ornithological fact: Hummingbirds were once made into jewelry. During the 19th century, millions of hummingbird skins, with their brilliant feathers attached, were shipped from South America and the West Indies to European markets, where they were manufactured into pins, brooches, and other fashion accessories. One London dealer alone imported more than 400,000 hummingbird skins in one year!

Sometimes, it’s good to remember just how far we’ve come in wildlife Throughoutconservation.the history of North America, numerous wild bird species have faced decimation by humans — the passenger pigeon being the most egregious example.

An interesting side note concerning hummingbirds is that Anna’s hummingbird — a species not seen in Ohio — was named for the wife of Prince François Victor Massena, Duc de Rivoli of France. An amateur ornithologist, the prince seemed to know a thing or two about hummingbirds; his collection of 12,000 specimens was eventually sold to the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia.

A positive change that resulted from that dark era for wild birds more than a century ago was the creation of the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System — a total of 568 sanctuaries located at strategic places along our nation’s four major flyways. The refuges today provide safe havens for birds to rest and feed during Inmigration.Ohio,those places include Ottawa, Cedar Point, and West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuges, located along or near the southwest shoreline of Lake Erie. Check them out sometime — just please, don’t wear a feather in your hat when you visit.

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wild birds and other wildlife: the Lacey Act of collection of 12,000 specimens was eventually sold to the the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System — a total provide safe havens for birds to rest and feed during Island Refuges, located along or near the southwest your hat when you visit.

Email Chip Gross with your outdoors questions at whchipgross@gmail. com. Be sure to include “Ask Chip” in the subject of the email. Your question may be answered on www.ohiocoopliving.com!ThroughoutCHIP!thehistory

www.ohiocoopliving.com

CINCINNATI-STYLE CHILI

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 15 GOOD EATS

OHIOOHIOOHIOOHIO

Prep: 15 minutes | Cook: 2 hours | Servings: 6 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 large onion, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons chili powder 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¾ teaspoon ground allspice ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon cayenne ¼ teaspoon black pepper 12-ounce can tomato paste 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes 4 cups water 2 pounds lean ground beef 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, sauté minced onion in oil for 5 minutes. Add garlic and spices (from chili powder to black pepper), stirring until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and 1 cup of the water. Stir and cook another 5 minutes. Add ground beef and begin to break it up into pieces. Mix in Worcestershire sauce and remaining 3 cups of water. Bring to a low boil, turn heat down to medium low, and simmer uncovered for 1½ hours, stirring occasionally. If chili gets too dry, add a bit of extra water. Lastly, add vinegar and chocolate, cooking another 20 minutes or so. Store in refrigerator for up to a week.

Per serving: 457 calories, 15 grams fat (6 grams saturated fat), 135 milligrams cholesterol, 893 milligrams sodium, 29 grams total carbohydrates, 9.5 grams ﬁber, 53 grams protein. Cincinnati chili is traditionally served over spaghetti with ﬁnely shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, kidney beans, and/or oyster crackers on top.

Breakoutthesedeliciousbitsofregionalcuisinetoimpressfriendsandrelativesfromacrossthestate.

Traditions

In a large skillet, heat about a ½ inch of vegetable oil to 350 F. With tongs, carefully lower a ball into the hot oil, frying until golden brown, about a minute. Flip and fry opposite side. Remove from oil and place on paper towels to drain. Adjust temperature if needed, then continue with batches of three to ﬁve balls at a time. Continually adjust temperature as needed to maintain 350 F. Serve immediately, with dipping sauce of choice. Makes approximately 15 to 28 balls.

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 6 2 tablespoons unsalted butter small onion, finely chopped ½ cup flour, divided 1⁄3 cup whole milk 1 cup drained and squeezed sauerkraut, packed tight 5 ounces (1 cup) minced ham 2 tablespoons parsley flakes 1½ teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 large eggs ¾ cup dry seasoned breadcrumbs 2 to 3 cups vegetable oil Russian dressing, cocktail sauce, or coarse mustard for dipping

In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Whisk in ﬂour and cook another minute or two, whisking constantly. Whisk in milk and let thicken a few minutes while continuing to whisk. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and stir in the sauerkraut, ham, parsley, garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, and ¼ cup of the bread crumbs.

Ohio is home to more than one kind of sauerkraut ball! Akron-style uses ham and a roux while Cincinnati-style is made with sausage and cream cheese. Alternatives to pan frying: Spray with cooking spray and fry in an air fryer at 400 F for about 5 minutes, or spray and bake in oven at 375 F for 15 to 20 minutes.

www.ohiocoopliving.com Have you tried one of our recipes? Do you have a recipe to share with other Ohio co-op members? Visit the Member Interactive page on www.ohiocoopliving.com to find recipes submitted by our readers and to upload yours. While you’re there, check out a video of a few of our recipes being prepared.

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SAUERKRAUTAKRON-STYLE BALLS

In a shallow bowl, place remaining ½ cup of breadcrumbs. Form sauerkraut mixture into 1½-inch balls. Roll each ball in breadcrumbs until coated. Set aside on a tray and place in fridge until ready to fry.

Per serving: 253 calories, 13.5 grams fat (5 grams saturated fat), 87 milligrams cholesterol, 795 milligrams sodium, 23 grams total carbohydrates, 2.5 grams ﬁber, 10 grams protein.

According to Ohio History Central, this food trend was created in Columbus by Teresa Marzetti.

Per serving: 621 calories, 23 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 87 milligrams cholesterol, 1,410 milligrams sodium, 59 grams total carbohydrates, 6 grams ﬁber, 46 grams protein.

Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Servings: 8 1 pound macaroni 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 8 ounces choppedmushrooms, 1 pound ground beef 1 pound Italian sausage 29-ounce can tomato sauce 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 2 cups cheddar cheese, divided 2 cups Italian-blend cheese, divided Preheat oven to 350 F. Boil macaroni according to package’s al dente directions. Drain and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper, and mushrooms and sauté until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add ground beef and Italian sausage and sauté until cooked through. Drain oﬀ excess fat, then stir in the tomato sauce along with diced tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Fold in macaroni and half of each of the Greasecheeses.two9 x 13-inch casserole dishes (or one deep casserole dish). Pour mixture into dish, level the top, and sprinkle on the remaining cheeses. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Per serving: 621 calories, 23 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 87 milligrams cholesterol, 1,410 milligrams sodium, 59 grams total carbohydrates, 6 grams ﬁber, 46 grams protein.

MARZETTIJOHNNY

Prep: 20 minutes | Cook: 5 minutes | Servings: 6 2 tablespoons salted butter ¼ cup flour 2 cups whole milk ½ teaspoon black pepper 5 ounces crumbled blue cheese, divided 8.5 ounces kettle-style potato chips 2 tablespoons chopped scallions or chives Melt butter in large skillet over low heat. Slowly whisk in flour, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until a roux forms. (The raw flour smell will have dissipated and it should smell slightly nutty.) Remove from heat and set aside. In a separate pot, bring milk just barely to a boil. Remove from heat and slowly whisk into the roux. Return skillet to medium heat and bring sauce to a boil, then simmer, whisking constantly, until it thickens. Whisk in black pepper and 2 ounces (½ cup) of the blue cheese. On a large, oven-safe tray, spread out half of the kettle chips. Pour some of the sauce across the chips, then top with some of the remaining crumbled blue cheese. Repeat with the rest of the chips, more sauce, and the remaining blue cheese (if you end up with extra sauce, eat it over pasta!). Turn oven to broil. Heat until cheese is melted and the edges begin to turn golden brown. These will heat up fast, so check every minute to prevent burning. Sprinkle with scallions and serve immediately.

The Marzettis were Italian immigrants who settled in Columbus and opened an Italian restaurant, later developing a line of dressings and other foods sold in grocery stores across the country.

BLUE CHEESE CHIPS Also referred to as “Ohio nachos,” these chips are a delicious indulgence.

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Firelands Electric Cooperative takes great pride in our youth and recognizing their achievements — both large and small. It’s an important part of who we are. Quite simply put, it’s part of our deeply rooted sense of Forcommunity.aglimpseat some of Firelands Electric’s recent youth programs, be sure to check out the photo gallery on the next page. For more information about the many activities we oﬀer or participate in, visit www.ﬁrelandsec.com/ community or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Dan McNaull GENERAL MANAGER

Conducting onsite safety programs is yet another way the

The smell of a recently sharpened box of pencils. The feel of a new pair of sneakers. Calling out to a friend in the hallway. There’s nothing else quite like the experience of returning to school every fall. Whether a student looks forward to studying a new subject, mastering a skill, improving their game, or socializing with friends, what they learn during these years will ultimately aﬀect the adults they become. Our local students are the future of our co-op and our community, and Firelands Electric places a great emphasis on supporting them. We take steps to help strengthen existing programs for youth and are constantly looking for new ways to positively inﬂuence the leaders of tomorrow.

MORE THAN JUST HITTING THE BOOKS

Some of the cooperative’s contributions to local youth programs merely involve providing ﬁnancial support. Whether it be sponsoring advertisements in a school sports program, donating a ra e basket to a prom fundraiser, or Firelands’ annual donation to the junior fairs in our service territory, this support helps students participate in activities that help them grow into wellrounded adults. It probably comes as no surprise that learning about electricity is paramount to Firelands Electric Cooperative’s educational goals. Recurring programs, such as our annual electrical safety contest for grades K–5 and the longstanding tradition of helping 4-H Camp Conger attendees build their own extension cords and lamps, have helped generations of youth understand about the power and the dangers of electricity.

great value on developing leadership skills in our local students. It’s why we believe so strongly in the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., and send students on this weeklong, all-expensespaid trip every year. Participants not only learn about the role of electric cooperatives in their community, but also have the opportunity to meet their elected o cials, see important historical landmarks, and gain a better understanding of the inner workings of the American government. This month’s magazine cover features Plymouth High School’s Abby Durbin, our 2022 delegate, who took the trip in June. Some of Firelands’ programs proudly celebrate the hard work of our youth. The Virtual Junior Fair, for example, allows area 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors to show off the results of their projects through the cooperative’s online photo gallery located at www.flickr.com/photos/ firelandsec/albums. Sometimes, we just share something amazing one student did on our Facebook page.

Many of the cooperative’s initiatives support traditional forms of education. For example, The A Team recognizes the academic achievements of middle school students following every grading period. Operation Round Up grants have helped purchase classroom equipment, and our sizeable scholarship program supports students who wish to continue their education after graduation. But learning doesn’t come just from the classroom — it also comes from experiences. For this very reason, Firelands Electric Cooperative supports numerous types of youth activities across a wide range of age groups.

FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 19

GM’S REPORT

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In July, several Firelands Electric powerandhowdangersdemonstrationHartmanAtmaintainingwhenongivesLinemanAtFFA’sas50displaysgames,electricalemployeesCooperativepresentedsafetydemos,andinteractiveforapproximatelystudentsingradesK-3partoftheNewLondonSafetyTownprogram.farleft,JourneymanDaveSumpterstudentsabrieflessontheequipmentusedrestoringoutagesandpowerlines.left,LeadLinemanFredconductsashortabouttheofelectricityandtobesafewhenworkingplayingaroundoverheadlines.

Abbie Durbin of Plymouth, above center, was one of 38 students from electric cooperatives across Ohio to attend the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., this past June. “I would definitely recommend this trip! It’s an amazing learning opportunity and Washington is full of so much history,” says Abbie. Each year, Firelands Electric selects up to two delegates to participate in this weeklong, all-expenses-paid trip. Abbie, who is also featured on the cover of this month’s issue, was especially excited to catch a glimpse of the FBI Building during the trip, since she plans to pursue a future career with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. several of Firelands Electric Cooperative’s recent events, visit www.ﬂickr.

PhotoGallery To view photos from

com/photos/ﬁrelandsec/albums FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES 20 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

PHIL PICKERING

20 YEARS

Phil Pickering marks 20 years with the cooperative this month. He joined Firelands Electric on a part-time basis in the spring of 2000, performing tasks such as mowing substations, flagging traffic, and maintaining the warehouse and equipment. In September 2002, he was hired as a full-time apprentice lineman. After completing the Dennis Merchant lineman training program and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, Phil earned the title of construction lineman in November 2005. Firelands Electric promoted Phil to lead lineman in June 2007. In this position, he is responsible for running a line crew, which involves everything from setting up a job for the day to line maintenance and paperwork. Phil also handles line construction, where he often works directly with members. Some of his projects include substation and underground residential distribution (URD) maintenance, replacing poles, installing transformers, and repairing circuit breakers and switches to provide members with dependable electric service. Outage restoration and periodic after-hours oncall service are also part of his duties.

CO-OP NEWS Phil

LINEMAN The Firelands Electric Cooperative o ce will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 As always, emergency service is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-533-8658. Happy Labor Day! accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity commitment SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20A

Phil says he enjoys working at the cooperative, especially getting to be outside every day and helping maintain reliable electric service for Firelands’ members. “I work with some of the most capable and dedicated co-workers. We are all extremely committed to our members and, especially during outage situations, sometimes spend more time together then we do with our own families,” says Phil. A native of the New London area, Phil lives on the family farm with his girlfriend, Stephanie, and his two children, Peyton and Beau. When not at Firelands Electric, he works on the family beef cattle farm and spends time helping his children with their 4-H projects. The family also enjoys spending time together in the great outdoors, especially camping and snowmobiling. “We love everything from cooking s’mores to playing sports and everything in between,” says Phil. Pickering LEAD

CELEBRATES

Powering the co-op community - one ray at a time.

CO-OP COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM EXPANDS

CO-OP NEWS Phase2

FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES 20B OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

Firelands Electric Cooperative members will soon have an additional, cost-effective alternative for renewable energy with the addition of a new community solar array built by Buckeye Power, Firelands’ generation and transmission cooperative. The ﬁrst phase The existing solar field at Firelands Electric’s facility is one of 24 OurSolar sites across the state. Twenty-three of Ohio’s electric cooperatives participate in this statewide community solar initiative, with each co-op hosting a portion of the 6,358 panels. Combined, the project has a production capacity of 4.77 megawatts (MW). Residential solar is not a good solution for every co-op member. For those who would like to support renewable energy initiatives without the hassle and expense of residential rooftop solar, the OurSolar program allows members to purchase electricity produced by Firelands’ solar array for a small per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) premium. By grouping solar panels together, costs are shared and power output is maximized. With community solar, there is no equipment for members to install, and all maintenance costs are included in the subscription rate. Firelands Electric Cooperative members can subscribe to the output of up to 10 panels. Each panel generates an average of 30 kWh per month, or 375 kWh per year, depending upon sunlight conditions. Firelands’ solar array went online in September 2018, and in just a few short months, co-op members had subscribed to purchase the power produced by all 152 panels. To date, the cooperative’s 50-kilowatt solar array has generated over 208,000 kWh of electricity. Introduction of Phase 2 Due to the popularity of the OurSolar program, Buckeye Power and Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives are launching a second phase. The new 15-acre, 5,600-panel solar field is located near Findlay, Ohio. Co-op members across the state, including those from Firelands Electric, will have the opportunity to purchase renewable energy from this new 2.66 MW solar array. Advances in technology and reductions in manufacturing costs continue to make it less costly to generate electricity via solar. Those participating in both the first and second phases of OurSolar will pay a smaller premium to participate than the premium at the project’s launch in 2018. The current charge for OurSolar is an additional $0.015/kWh above and beyond Firelands’ standard kWh rate. The new premium, however, will only add an extra $0.012/kWh — for both existing and new subscribers. This means that renewable solar power can cost you less than $1 per panel per month. Complete details about this price adjustment are being sent out to those members currently participating in the first phase of OurSolar. Information on how to subscribe to purchase energy from the newly expanded OurSolar program will soon be available to all Firelands Electric Cooperative’s residential members. In the meantime, check out the next page for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. Those who are interested in participating in Phase 2 may also complete the form located at contract1-800-533-8658com/oursolar-community-renewable-programwww.firelandsec.orcalltoreceiveadditionaldetailsandaoncesubscriptionsareopen.

What is the cost to participate? The average additional cost is less than $1 per panel, per month. Is there a limit to the number of panels I can subscribe to? Residential members can subscribe to the energy output of up to 10 panels. How long is the term of the agreement? Members enrolling in OurSolar will sign an agreement to purchase the power produced by a set number of panels for a period of five years. What happens if I move? If you move to another location within Firelands Electric Co-op’s service territory, your subscription can “move” with you! If you move out of the service territory, you have the following options:

1. Transfer your subscription to another member of Firelands Electric Cooperative.

2. Transfer your subscription as part of the sale or rental of your home.

3. Return your subscription back to Firelands Electric Cooperative at no cost. What if I cancel the agreement early? If the agreement is canceled early due to moving or death, then the options under “What happens if I move?” apply. If the agreement is canceled early due to a different reason, then the subscription may be returned to the cooperative by paying an administrative fee of $50 per panel. Will any equipment be hooked to my home? No. The power generated by OurSolar will be distributed by the state’s electric co-op community. If I subscribe to a panel of OurSolar, will I stop receiving my monthly bill? No. You will continue to receive your monthly bill, but your bill will now show that a portion of your energy is produced by your solar panels and paid for at the OurSolar rate ($0.12985 /kWh). Will this lower my bill? No. OurSolar is not intended as a cost-savings initiative but as an alternative to costly rooftop solar. Can I take advantage of any incentives to bring down the cost of a panel? OurSolar has sought out and taken advantage of all available tax credits, rebates, and incentives in order to make the program as affordable as possible. These cost reductions are included in the subscription rate. Is energy production guaranteed? No. The energy produced for each panel is expected to be about 375 kilowatt-hours per year, but may be more or less in any given year depending on weather conditions. Can anyone sign up for Firelands Electric’s OurSolar program? Only residential members of Firelands Electric Cooperative may subscribe to panels.

accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity

commitment SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20C

How do I get more information and a contract? Residential members interested in participating in OurSolar Phase 2 may complete the form located becomereceiveprogramwww.firelandsec.com/oursolar-community-renewable-atorcallthecooperativeat1-800-533-8658tomoreinformationandacontractwhentheyavailable.

METER

• DON’T FALL FOR SCAMS regarding your electric meter. Any device that bypasses or claims to slow your electric meter is illegal and can result in damage to your home and prosecution for power theft, a felony charge that can carry hefty ﬁnes and jail time. If you want to save money and slow down your meter, do it by decreasing your energy use. Take a look at energy savings tips at www.ﬁrelandsec.com/energyeducation, at www.energy.gov/energysaver, or call Firelands at 1 800 533 8658 if you need assistance with saving energy around your home or business.

• PLAN AHEAD so that once the cooperative has pulled your meter, any work you require can be performed safely and e ciently, and the meter can be reinstalled by cooperative personnel as soon as possible. Be sure to ask your contractor about this as you are planning any project that requires your service to be disconnected or your meter to be removed. Scheduling a temporary disconnect during business hours is completely free of charge. Firelands regularly coordinates this kind of work with private electricians and contractors, and we’re here to help!

FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES 20D OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

What you need to know about unauthorized access

Firelands Electric Cooperative’s primary mission is to provide dependable power to the 9 , 100 homes and businesses we serve. As a member — and an owner — of the cooperative, we rely on you to help us achieve this goal. Together, we’re responsible for the safe and proper operation of the equipment Firelands uses to deliver power. An often-overlooked piece of cooperative-owned equipment is the meter, which silently and safely measures usage, monitors for problems, and generates data members can use for home e ciency eﬀorts. Meters are installed and owned by the cooperative, but if a member wants to update their home’s siding, complete other exterior home improvements, make some electrical repairs, or perform certain kinds of electrical upgrades, the meter may need to be removed.

• CALL FIRELANDS ELECTRIC FIRST — never allow a private electrician, contractor, or other noncooperative employee to remove your meter, even temporarily. Pulling the meter yourself, or allowing someone else to do so, is unauthorized equipment access. Not only is it dangerous, but it could also cause damage that could result in hefty fees. In addition, Firelands Electric will need to make a trip to your location to ensure the reinstalled meter is operating safely, as well as resecure the meter seal. Firelands’ meters are equipped with technology that alerts us when a meter is removed or tampered with — so don’t take a chance. Call our operations department ﬁrst at 1 800 533 8658

What should you do if you ﬁnd yourself in a situation where your meter needs to be removed? Follow these guidelines — for your safety, as well as to protect yourself from creating unnecessary damage or fees.

SAFETY AROUNDSAFESTAYINGYOUR

Shrubs, ornamental grasses, and trees planted too close to pad-mounted transformers can significantly slow restoration times during a power outage. They can also create a serious safety hazard for Firelands Electric Cooperative crews who need to access or service the units. If vegetation is hindering crews’ work, it may become necessary to clear it away. Unfortunately, in the photo shown below, Firelands Electric crews had to remove a

Most of us are familiar with the can-style transformers that hang from many utility poles. Transformers are used to change voltage levels. For example, the one positioned outside your home converts voltage from higher to lower levels so that the power entering your home is properly regulated for the electronics, appliances, and lighting you use every day. Each of Firelands Electric Cooperative’s transformers is vital to providing safe, reliable electricity to one or more homes or businesses. Overheard transformers and power lines are mounted on utility poles, providing them with an extra layer of safety. However, there are other styles of transformers and equipment that are installed at ground level, making them easier to access. For this very reason, it’s important to take extra precautions around this equipment.

commitment SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20E

Pad-mounted transformers (also called ground transformers), switch boxes, and pedestals are required for certain homes and businesses, especially those with underground wiring.

PAD-MOUNTED TRANSFORMER

transformer.awhenbyAvoidthismaintenanceorderlandscapingmember’sintoperformontransformer.thisdilemmaplanningaheadplantingnearpad-mounted

precautions

accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity

extendsecondaryhigh-voltageconnectedonmountedhasElectricFirelandsCooperativeroughly275pad-transformersitssystem.Theyaretoprimarylines,andlinescanalsoinseveraldirections to distribute power to homes and businesses. It is extremely dangerous to tamper with these big green metal boxes. While you may seldom see Firelands crews working on pad-mounted transformers unless there are power outages, they are regularly inspected. Co-op crews need at least 10 feet of clearance on all sides of a pad-mounted transformer, and the front should be kept clear of all obstructions, including trees, shrubs, or other vegetation; outbuildings; fencing; or even sprinkler systems. This distance allows room for Firelands’ linemen to work. Tools like hot sticks, which are used to work with energized equipment, are typically eight feet in length. Keeping this amount of space clear also ensures that crews working on a transformer have space to safely maneuver, especially in the case of an emergency. Because they are surrounded by underground wiring, it’s also important to never dig near a pad-mounted transformer. Hitting a wire could result in electrical shock, power outages, or costly damage. Always call 8 1 1 before you perform any landscaping or other work that involves digging — it could save a life. Finally, never allow children to climb or play on padmounted transformers. Don’t put sticks, ﬁngers, or other objects into any gaps. And, if you notice something amiss about a transformer, such as damage or an open door, contact Firelands Electric immediately. If you’re not sure if a situation could possibly be dangerous, err on the side of caution and call the Firelands Electric Cooperative o ce at 1 800 533 8658.

PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT

• You have rooms that are difficult to heat and cool.

LOSING MONEY AT THE SEAMS

ENERGY

behind or under your register grills. Seal what can be reached with caulk, duct mastic, or a product like Aeroseal. You can also check out this video to see how to properly seal this area: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UhrkNSBuE8. For more severe or inaccessible ductwork problems, you may want to contact a professional that offers duct testing and sealing. The money you save on your heating and cooling bills could be worth it. If your home tends to have higher winter bills or you struggle to keep certain rooms comfortable, now’s the time to consider checking your ductwork for leaks — before the colder weather arrives. If you have questions regarding ductwork sealing, contact Firelands Electric Cooperative’s energy advisors at 1-800-533-8658 or visit minimizing-energy-losses-ducts.www.energy.gov/energysaver/ EFFICIENCY SIGNS THAT YOU COULD HAVE PROBLEMS WITH YOUR DUCTWORK

FIVE

• You have ducts located in the crawl space, attic, garage, or unconditioned cellar. Never use duct tape to seal air leaks. It isn’t made to stand up to the extreme temperature changes of an HVAC system and won’t last. Always use mastic, foil tape, or other products specifically made for ductwork.

• You have high heating and cooling bills.

It’sstaysmaterialsbeforethesystem.changesextremewon’tuse(foil)orductconnectionsholes,accessible,Whereskirting.ductsaresealleaks,seams,andwithsealant(mastic)metal-backedtape.Neverducttape,asitstanduptothetemperatureofyourHVACMakesuresurfaceiscleanapplyingsealingsothatitinplace.alsoagoodideatolook

One of the most prevalent causes of energy loss is duct leakage. Between 20 and 30% of the air moving through your home’s system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poor connections in the ductwork. While the problem affects all types of homes, the most common offenders are found in mobile homes, homes on crawl spaces, and houses with ductwork in the attic or garage. The result — decreased comfort and higher energy bills. Losing even a small amount of the air that you pay to heat or cool can add up. And if the air loss is significant enough, it can result in big bucks. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that most homes could save around 15% on their heating and cooling costs by reducing ductwork leaks. For a home that spends $2,000 a year, that’s a savings of $300! Besides saving money, there are several other benefits to properly sealing your duct system. The most important is comfort. Sealing leaky ducts can help with common problems such as rooms that are too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer. Improved air quality is another advantage. Sealing ducts can reduce the risks of pollutants entering the home from dusty attics or musty crawl spaces. Dust, insulation particles, or mold spores from damp spaces can aggravate asthma and allergies. There is also the additional benefit of safety, as properly sealed return ducts will not pull gasoline and exhaust fumes from the garage or mold and radon gas from a crawl space or cellar into the HVAC system. Fortunately, sealing minor ductwork leaks is relatively simple and inexpensive. Start with an inspection of your ductwork and vents. Take off the grills and look for possible air leaks in both delivery and return vents. Pay extra attention to this area on mobile and manufactured homes, since they are moved after construction. Inspect all ducts that you can reach in your cellar, basement, attic, crawlspace, and/or under

• You have stuffy rooms that never feel comfortable.

• You find tangled or kinked flexible ducts in or under your home.

FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES 20F OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

2020ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Winners of July drawing receive Amazon gift cards Education helps shape the leaders of tomorrow. That’s why Firelands Electric includes it as one of our seven core principles. The A Team is a cooperative program designed to encourage students in their pursuit of academic excellence. Students in grades 6 8 are invited to participate and be recognized for their hard work and dedication to education. How you can win Students in grades 6 8 who have a minimum of three A’s on their most recent report card and whose parents or guardians are members of Firelands Electric Cooperative are eligible to apply. A copy of the report card should be submitted by mail to Attn: The A Team, Firelands Electric Cooperative, P.O. Box 32, New London, OH 44851. Report cards may also be emailed to Bemembers@ﬁrelandsec.com.suretoincludethestudent’s name, age, school, grade, address, phone number, parents’ name(s), and email address on your entry. Complete program details are also available at www.ﬁrelandsec.com/team. YOUTH PROGRAMS Bryan Cha ee South Central Local Schools Son of Ben and Jody Cha ee Send us your grade card and win! The next drawing will be held on Dec. 10. Ayden Salyer Hillsdale Local Schools Son of Victoria Turner Adam Wilhelm Monroeville Local Schools Son of Dan and Jackie Wilhelm accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity commitment SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 20G

I a rm that my contribution has been made with non corporate funds (Please make checks out to Firelands Electric Cooperative): (Authorized bill additions will continue until terminated by the member) N AME: ADDRESS: CIT Y: S TATE: ZIP: COOPER ATIV E: EM AIL: SIGN AT URE: *Federal Election Law requires the following information for contributions exceeding $200: EMPLOYER: OCCUPATION: Contributions to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Action Committee for Rural Electrification® (ACRE®) are not tax deductible Contributions to ACRE are voluntary and will be used for political purposes You have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Any contribution guidelines presented are merely suggestions You are free to contribute more or less than the suggested amounts, or not at all. NRECA will not favor or disadvantage anyone by reason of the amount contributed or a decision not to contribute. One-Time Contribution REGUL AR: $25 CENTURY CLUB: $100 PRESIDENT’S CLUB: $500* OTHER $ Monthly Bill Addition REGUL AR: $2 08 PER MONTH ($25/ YE AR) CENTURY CLUB: $8 33 PER MONTH ($100/ YE AR) PRESIDENT’S CLUB: $ 41.66 PER MONTH ($500/ YE AR)* OTHER $ Y ES! I want to help keep the voice of rural electric cooperatives heard in the political process by par ticipating in ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action.

As a member of Firelands Electric Cooperative, you are among the 42 million Americans who have a voice in the operation of their local electric provider. By joining ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action, you have an additional opportunity to be heard regarding the state and federal legislative issues that could impact your electric bills and the availability of aﬀordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally conscious power. For only $2 08 a month, you can become part of a proud, nonpartisan network of 5,989 co-op members in Ohio and 31,093 across the nation who make their voices heard on issues that inﬂuence access to dependable power for their homes, businesses, and communities. By joining ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action for just $25 a year, you can help support government o cials who stand behind rural electric service.

Contributions to ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action are not tax deductible. All contributions to ACRE are voluntary and will be used for political purposes. Contribution guidelines are suggestions only. You may contribute more or less than the recommended amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal.

There’s still time to become a member of ACRE Co-op Owners for Political Action and attend this exclusive event! To sign up, complete and return the form below or contact Firelands Electric Cooperative at 1 800 533 8658. We also encourage you to call if you have questions or would like additional information about the ACRE breakfast. Thank you for your continued support of the ACRE program and your dedication to keeping the voice of America’s electric cooperatives heard.

Current members of ACRE Co-op Owners were mailed an invitation to Firelands Electric Co-op’s third ACRE Member Recognition Breakfast, which is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12. This free, invitation-only event will give ACRE members an opportunity that most other utility consumers never have — to meet and interact with legislators on the local, state, and even federal levels. Legislators representing portions of Firelands Electric’s four-county service territory will provide updates on issues that are aﬀecting electric cooperatives across the Buckeye State and nationwide, as well as on federally funded projects beneﬁting rural Americans.

FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES 20H OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

BIG!

GOVERNMENT Become part of something

The steps to restoring power When a major outage occurs, our crews start with the repairs that will restore the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time — and will continue this process until everyone has power. 4. Individual homes and businesses After main line repairs are complete, we repair lines that serve individual homes and businesses. 2. Distribution substations Crews substationsinspectnext, which can serve hundreds or thousands of people. 3. Main distribution lines Main lines serve essential facilities like hospitals and larger communities. 1. High-voltagetransmission lines These lines carry large amounts of electricity to great number of homes and businesses, so they must be repaired ﬁrst. accountabilityintegrityinnovationcommunity commitment SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 21

• Director of Operations Don Englet reviewed recent activities and projects in the operations department, including the restoration eﬀorts needed as a result of the June 13 14 severe storm event. He commended both operations and o ce staﬀ for their dedication and professionalism during this time.

8658 highlightsBOARD MEETING COOPERATIVE UPDATE FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE LOCAL PAGES GENERAL MANAGER Dan McNaull HAVE A STORY SUGGESTION? Email your ideas to: members@ﬁrelandsec.com FIRELANDS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. OUTAGE HOTLINE 1 800 533 8658 OFFICE 103 Industrial Drive P.O. Box 32 New London, OH 44851 1 800 533 8658 OFFICE HOURS Mon.–Fri. 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. www.ﬁrelandsec.com BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dan ViceBrucePresident,SchloemerDistrict1LeimbachPresident,District 4 Carl Secretary/Treasurer,Ayers District 5 Elaine Oswald District 8 Tom DistrictRobDistrictKevinDistrictJohnDistrictGeneDistrictLucha3Lamoreaux2Martin9Reidy6Turk7 22 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

If you would like to attend the next scheduled meeting, please contact the

o ce at 1 800

• Director of Communications and Technology Andrea Gravenhorst reviewed recent activities involving the member services and IT department.

• General Manager Dan McNaull reviewed OEC’s Statistical Report, noting that load management eﬀorts have helped keep costs in check.

system, fair rates, ﬁnancial responsibility, and superior

• Director of Finance and Accounting Tabi Shepherd reviewed the May ﬁnancials and reported on recent accounting and billing department activities.

Firelands Electric Co-op is democratically controlled and governed by local electric member cooperative’s next board meeting scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 27. Firelands Electric 533

• McNaull recapped the 2022 Member Appreciation Day and annual meeting held on June 18 at the cooperative’s facility in New London.

• McNaull reviewed the monthly tree-trimming and outage reports.

people committed to policies that result in a safe and reliable

• McNaull discussed the ongoing increased costs for equipment and materials and the eﬀect on the cooperative.

for

• Following discussion, the board voted to participate in the second phase of OEC’s OurSolar program.

Firelands Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees met June 28 and covered the following items:

• McNaull advised that capital credits allocation notices were mailed out to members for 2021.

service. The

• The board elected o cers for the upcoming year. Dan Schloemer was selected to serve as board president, Bruce Leimbach as vice president/assistant secretary, and Carl Ayers as secretary/treasurer.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 23 Removable hardtop offers an up-close view of the well-appointed interior. (Please print Signature___________________________________________________________________EmailCity_______________________________________State____________Zip______________Address____________________________________________________________________Name______________________________________________________________________clearly.)(Optional)______________________________________________________________ MAIL TO: YES! Please accept my order for the “Cruising To Buckeye® Victory Woody Wagon” as described in this *Addannouncement.atotalof$17.99forshipping & service, and sales tax; see HamiltonCollection.com. All orders are subject to product availability and credit approval. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for shipment after your initial payment. SEND NO MONEY NOW! 09-08774-001-BI 09-08774-001-E22452 Take to the open road and celebrate your beloved college football team with the new “Cruising To Buckeye® Victory Woody Wagon” — a FIRST-EVER tribute that’s sure to score a win with devoted Ohio State University® fans and all who love an all-American classic car! Handcrafted with fine detailing! Sculpted to BIG 1:18 scale, this terrific sculpture packs plenty of muscle with its famous body style, flowing fenders, whitewall tires, wood-look elements, pointed grille, and fender-mounted spare. Best of all, the official colors, logos and vintage graphics of your 8-time National Champions Buckeyes® enhance this woody wagon from bumper to bumper, creating a one of a kind tribute! Order risk-free with our unconditional 365-Day Guarantee! Limited to 95 casting days, the “Cruising To Buckeye® Victory Woody Wagon” is hand-numbered and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. The issue price is payable in three payments of $36.66*. Send no money now; we’ll bill only your first payment prior to shipment. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed or your money back. Reply today! Product subject to change. Cruise to Victory with the OHIO STATE BUCKEYES ® & Studebaker! 1:18 MeasuresScale103/4"Long! Official Ohio State Buckeyes® logos decorate the classic Woody Wagon on all sides and hood. Celebrate the Ohio State Buckeyes® with this vintage-inspired 1937 Woody Wagon presented by The Hamilton Collection! ©2022 HC. All Rights Reserved. The indicia featured on this product are protected trademarks of the Ohio State University Buckeyes®. Fastest way to order: HamiltonCollection.com/BuckeyesWagon

Local architect Howard Dwight Smith, an Ohio State alumnus and later a professor of architecture — and eventually the university architect — designed the doubledeck style and pioneered new architectural techniques during its construction, such as slurry walls that kept out the nearby Olentangy River floodwaters. When the stadium hosted its dedication game against Michigan on Oct. 22, 1922, it filled its seating capacity of 66,210, leaving an overflow of 5,000 fans to stand. After several expansions, the stadium is currently the fourth-largest on-campus facility in the country, with a seating capacity of 104,581 (though more than 110,000 packed in for the 2016 game against Michigan). Not just a stadium

“We think, in 2022, that this stadium was inevitable — that it was inevitable it was going to be a double-decker and that it was going to be built for more than 60,000 people [its original capacity]. And of course, we inevitably enclose it because we knew we would fill it up so much, right?”

A unique design

Ohio Stadium, going strong, celebrates its centennial this season.

Incredibly, however, according to OSU Head of Archives Tamar Chute, the stadium wasn’t always a given.

BY ALICIA ADAMS; PHOTOS COURTESY OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

The centerpiece of the Ohio State University campus and an iconic image of college football in general, Ohio Stadium turns 100 years old in October. Since its opening in 1922, it is estimated more than 50 million people have been in the stadium for game attendance.

These days, as we watch more than 100,000 fans pack Ohio Stadium for Buckeyes football, weekend after weekend each fall, it’s impossible to imagine Ohio State University without it.

“There was a lot of debate at the time over this crazy, new, huge building,” Chute says. “Why did we need the stadium? What was its purpose? And why would there be more than 60,000 people coming to watch a game? If you looked at their reasons when they talked about it, they rarely, if ever, mentioned football.”

In fact, the stadium came about more as a result of the world’s geopolitical climate than any success of the football team. “Education was a really important driver at the time, as was physical and military preparedness, because these conversations were taking place right after World War I,” Chute says. “The aftermath of that war really tied into the purpose of the stadium. They wanted it for the entire university, for the overall sense of wellbeing of the students. They wanted to make it something that people cared about, regardless of whether they cared about football.”

The stadium’s history is steeped in memorable moments beyond football. It stands as a witness to the annual spring commencement ceremonies; was the original home of the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer team; and has played host to several mega-concerts such as the Rolling Stones, U2, and numerous incarnations of the Buckeye Country Superfest. But the ’Shoe is more than just a venue for entertainment and graduation. “Ohio Stadium holds a special place “The aftermath of [World War I] really tied into the purpose of the stadium. they wanted it for the entire university, for the overall sense of well-being of the students. They wanted to make it something that people cared about, regardless of whether they cared about football.”

The stadium is affectionately nicknamed “the ’Shoe” for its original horseshoe-shaped outline. Construction on it began in August 1920, and when completed two years later, it was the largest poured-concrete structure in the world.

Continued on page 26 24 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

Chute says. “Those assumptions are just not true.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 25

Continued from page 24 26 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

in the hearts of all Buckeyes; it is a place of historic significance,” says OSU President Kristina Johnson.

Ohio State University graduates echo similar heartfelt sentiments about the stadium — even if they didn’t live within its walls. “All my memories of Ohio Stadium are linked to family memories,” says Marcia Dowds, class of ’89. “Going to games with one sister, visiting the other when she lived in the stadium dorms, weekends spent with out-of-town relatives coming in for the tailgates and games. Like a childhood home, the stadium represents some of the best memories of my life in Columbus and my time at Ohio State University.”

Celebrating the memories

Maureen Cahill, class of ’81, summed up her feelings about the stadium, capturing the essence of what the original planners had intended. “When at Ohio State University, everybody wants a chance to be in the ’Shoe and be part of what happens in the ’Shoe — it doesn’t matter what the activity is,” she says. “It could be sports, a commencement, or it could be the Special Olympics. It’s just being part of something bigger than yourself, and that’s amazing.”

“Families have celebrated a loved one’s academic achievement here, champions have been crowned here, and it has helped so many of us fall in love with what it means to be a part of the Ohio State community.”

A home for students While it’s a well-known fact that students regularly fill the stadium on game days, the general public might not know that students used to actually live in the stadium. In 1933, the OSU Dean of Men, Joseph A. Park, created the Stadium Scholarship Dormitory for students who otherwise couldn’t afford to go to college. The scholarship offered students reduced tuition and sleeping quarters inside the stadium in exchange for taking care of dormitory housekeeping chores. The dormitory grew along the west side of the stadium and attracted attention, including a visit from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The program exists today, though because of expansions and renovations, the dormitory moved out of the stadium and into Mack Hall in 1999. The sense of community and special living circumstances of the Stadium Scholarship Dormitory, however, still resonate with former residents. “Even today, more than 20 years later, I still love to tell people I lived in the ’Shoe and had 95,000 die-hard, screaming Buckeye football nuts in my backyard on Saturdays,” says Jessica (Miller) Banks, a former resident and resident advisor from 1995 to 1997. “I have several close groups of friends that I’m still in contact with on a regular basis. The SSD (Stadium Scholarship Dormitory) was unique in that we all lived and worked there, and having nearly 300 people in your everyday life made a huge campus seem small.”

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ODNR’s roadkill survey tracks animal populations in a unique way.

Katie Dennison is a research biologist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife. At the Olentangy Research Station in Columbus, she oversees the annual Furbearer Roadkill Survey. And yes, that’s the official name. “There are 50 diﬀerent routes, 40 miles long,” Dennison says. “We drive them three times a month in March and April, so they get covered a total of six times each.”

ostly in life, possums, skunks, groundhogs, and racoons don’t get much respect. That’s especially so for the ones who spend their last earthly moments on Ohio roadways, just before they get hit. To at least one person in Ohio, however, they’re forever immortalized, even if it’s just as a number.

Every year the routes are driven by wildlife officers or DOW staﬀ like Katie. As the name suggests, they count the roadkill. And for what possible earthly reason?

It’s often wildlife officers like Michele Butler charged with the surveys. Butler, assigned to Erie County, recently spent a couple hours driving a route that meandered through Sandusky and Ottawa counties. At one point, she slowed to a crawl for something unidentifiable, but then shook her head, punched the accelerator, and continued on. It was just a clump of muddy turf.

Speaking of precipitation, wildlife officers say surveys in the rain can be a little tricky because everything gets matted down and harder to identify on the fly.

theCountingdead

BY JAMES PROFFITT M

“All four are native species and they’re game animals in Ohio. As a part of our mission, we monitor all our game species to keep track of their population trajectories,” she says. “It was established in 1979, so it’s been going on for a long time.” Dennison says it’s usually fairly easy to identify a carcass on or near the road, though if it isn’t, surveyors must stop and get a closer look. “We get funny looks occasionally,” she says, laughing. “People will sometimes stop and want to know what you’re doing or what you’re looking for.”

Katie Dennison

28 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

Surveyors driving the routes are also asked to report anything unusual and when possible, to collect the carcass for a necropsy to determine age, sex, health, reproductive status, etc.

Butler says she never seems to find anything too exciting — but sometimes other people do. To supplement the survey that tracks the four furbearing animals, Ohio bowhunters are asked to take part in a voluntary survey each hunting season — about 3,300 sent in data last year. The hunters are asked to keep an eye out for the four species while in the woods. As an example, a recent survey from bowhunters accounting for about 108,000 hours in the woods oﬀered up numbers on the species, plus a few bonus sightings of black bears, fishers, and other notable creatures.

When asked about turtles (which aren’t on the survey), Dennison made it clear she’s no expert. But she does have some advice because — let’s face it — who among us has not stopped to help a turtle cross the road? “If you can stop safely,” she says, emphasizing the “safely” part, “always move them in the same direction they were heading — otherwise they’ll just turn back around and head back across the road.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 29

Wildlife Officer Reid Van Cleve is a veteran of the survey.

“Badgers are one of those we ask them to collect,” Dennison says. “And gray fox also.”

“Sometimes you see something and you don’t know if it’s a racoon that’s been hit 20 times or if it’s dirt or something else,” she chuckles. “There’s definitely more exciting things we could be doing. But this is important data for our biologists like Katie. And plus, I’d much rather be outside than in an office or a lab.”

While porcupines have been sighted in Ohio near the Pennsylvania border, none have been found on the road during the survey. Some armadillos have showed up — though Dennison discounts them as hitchhikers because they were found hundreds of miles from their nearest territory near an interstate in northern Ohio.

Banner years both population- and roadkill-wise for groundhogs, possums, raccoons, and skunks? 1989, 1991, 2000, and 1996, respectively. And apparently time and experience does not teach any of the four animals to better cross roads since the total number hit versus number-per-mile remains a steady ratio throughout the survey history.

Dennison says the bowhunters aren’t hunting for the species, they’re just recording how many hours they were in the woods and what they saw — which is an important supplement to the information collected from the roads. “They’re abundant species — we just use the information from both sources to keep tabs on them and make sure that no large, unaccounted changes take place,” she says.

Another species Dennison wants to know about are bobcats, which have made a comeback in Ohio and so are seen frequently by officers — both alive and on the Dennisonroad.said the bowhunter survey data usually correlates with the roadkill survey data. “For the most part, they’re pretty much in line,” she says. “The possum was one where we’ve seen a declining trend going back to the early ’90s. And on bowhunter and roadkill surveys, skunks declined through the ’90s and early 2000s, but have been stable for about a decade.”

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nationKombiKombinationKombination

“I was one of the first ones coming here 20-plus years ago when we camped at the state park,” says Columbus resident Brett Esquivel, though she notes that marriage and children interrupted for a while. “Two years ago was my first time back here camping, and I brought my 14-yearold daughter. She just loved it.”

32 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

BY JAMES PROFFITT History, kamping, and koolness are all on display at Kelleys Island’s LEAKOIL Kombi Kampout.

LEAKOIL stands for Lake Erie Area Kombi Owners Involvement Group, and “kombi” is short for the German word kombinationkraftswagen, or roughly translated, station wagon. Esquivel said there are disadvantages to owning an old bus, including the “old rust-bucket” itself (as she describes her 1972 camper) and the constant attention it requires. “People are always saying, ‘I love your car!’ and ‘Can I look inside?’” she says. “Of course, I always let them. And people offer to buy it all the time, too, but I would never sell it.”

Love of kombi is an affliction that runs deep and can span decades — ask anyone who suffers. Specifically, ask those who assemble at the Kelleys Island 4-H campground each autumn for LEAKOIL’s annual weekend camping event, Kombis on Kelleys. LEAKOIL invites its members and other owners of classic Volkswagen buses to gather, gawk, and gush over the classic cultural icons often associated with road-tripping, hippies, and the peace movement. This year’s event will be Oct. 7–9.

Esquivel’s friend Kathy Kern, also from Columbus, has a 1968 kombi, which she went to great lengths to own — all the way across the country, actually. She spoke of it fondly as she stood among a convoy of VW kombis waiting for the ferry at last year’s event. “We flew out to California before the internet, and bought it from one of the old Auto Trader magazines. Got it from the original owner,” she said with a lilt of satisfaction in her voice. “Then we drove it home.”

An apparent prerequisite to bus ownership is the willingness to display endearing decals; Kern’s bus has one that reads: “0 to 60 in 5 minutes.”

After a small family kerfuffle, she acquired the vintage bus from a sibling in 1997 for the price of its set of new tires. Then it sat at her suburban Columbus home, moving only on rare jaunts around the neighborhood before another kerfuffle, this time with her homeowners association. As a result, it was towed, extensively repaired, plated, and joyfully returned to the road.

“My mechanic made me put that on there and, well, it’s the truth,” she chuckles. “It’s to let the guy behind me know to not be in a hurry, because we’re not going anywhere fast.” The official LEAKOIL logo, in fact, features a bus dripping oil. When asked about mechanical issues, Kern interrupts. “All the time,” she says with a laugh. “Last year we didn’t make it here with the bus, we broke down in New Washington. That’s why I travel in a group — so if it breaks down, there are people to work on it. In fact, there’s a book that lists an entire network of people across the U.S. that will help you repair Volkswagens.”

But Kathy Kern says that there’s not really a pecking order among the bus crowd. “No, they’re all loved by everyone,” she says. “We’re one big family and I’m sure everyone here would be more than willing to talk to you about their bus. Trust me.”

ThesoldOver(JDHighAvg.Low20221968topEarlierfour-cylinderAir-cooledInVWOfficiallowdown:name:Transporterproductionsince1950engineversionsspeed:60stickerprice:$2,765retail:$18,700retail:$41,400retail:$74,900Power)13millionworldwide

Fortunately, Kern did in fact make it to Kelleys — but without the bus; she just parked it, hopped in a friend’s bus, and kept heading north. Her van was repaired by the time the campout was over, and she drove it back home.

Despite the fact that Stephens’ van is a coveted “splittie,” it is not loved by all. “My wife’s not a fan of it,” he says. “Her idea of camping is on the fifth floor at the Hilton.”

Port Clinton resident Craig Stephens had his 1964 splitwindow bus at the event — “split,” meaning the windshield is two pieces of glass instead of a single wrap-around. Only pre-1968 buses feature the two-pane windows, and such owners consider themselves lucky. “A split would be the most sought-after out of the buses here,” he says. “In general, the split window’s the coolest bus. It’s also true that it’s not ‘if’ it’s going to break down, it’s ‘when’ it’s going to break down. Because it’s going to break down, and that’s why you carry tools.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 33

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34 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

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SEP. 24–25 – Hocking Hills Artists and Craftsmen Fall Show, Hocking Hills Elementary School, 19197 St. Rte. 664 S., Logan. 740 385 8036 or www. hockinghillsartistsandcraftsmen.com.

SEP. 13, OCT. 11 – Inventors Network Meeting, virtual, 7 p.m. Educational presentations and discussion about the invention process. 614 470 0144 or www. inventorscolumbus.com.

OCT. 1–2 – Quilt Show: “Quilting Thru the Times,” Mt. Gilead Park Avenue Elementary School Gym, Mt. Gilead, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Freewill donation. Over 200 quilts will be on display. Presented by Morrow County Quilting Guild. 419 946 5344.

SEP. 24 – Applefest, Lawrence Orchards, 2634 Smeltzer Rd., Marion, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5. Hayrides, music, pony rides, and more! 740 389 3019 or www. lawrenceorchards.com. SEP. 24–25 – Harvest Celebration, Smeck Park, 7395 Basil Rd, Baltimore, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Members of the Fairfield County Antique Tractor Club bring in the crops using early farm machinery. Activities, demos, displays, vendors, music, and food concessions. 740 681 7249 ext. 103 or www.fairfieldcountyparks.org/events.

SEP. 17 – Duck Derby Fundraiser and Student Horse Show, 2795 N. Moose Eye Rd., Norwich, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Proceeds benefit Breaking Free Therapeutic Riding Center. Raffle, silent auction. 740 607 8267 or www. breakingfreeriding.org.

THROUGH OCT. 26 – Bluegrass Wednesdays, Vinoklet Winery, 11069 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, Wed. 6:30 8:30 p.m. Dinner, wine, and entertainment by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Reservations recommended. 513 385 9309, vinokletwinery@fuse.net, or www.vinokletwines.com.

OCT. 7 – First Friday Concert Series: Syrodesy Flute Trio, First UM Church, 120 S. Broad St., Middletown, noon–1 p.m. 513 423 4629 or www.myfumc.net.

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OCT. 1 – Fall Celebration at the Johnston Farm, 9845 N. Hardin Rd., Piqua, noon–5 p.m. Tour the Johnston home, visit the museum, and take a ride on the General Harrison of Piqua at 12:30, 2:30, and 4 p.m. 800 752 2619 or www.johnstonfarmohio.com.

OCT. 8–9 – Fall Open House at Historic Bear’s Mill, 6450 Arcanum-Bear’s Mill Rd., Greenville, Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 1 5 p.m. Bean soup, cornbread, cider, apple dumplings, and music. Grain grinding demos at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. 937 548 5112 or www.bearsmill.org.

CENTRAL

SEP. 23 25 – Tipp City Mum Festival, downtown Tipp City. Free. Parade, rides, entertainment, and more. Cruise-in on Friday; “Run for the Mums” 5K run on Saturday. 937 667 8631 or https://tippmumfestival.org.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

OCT. 13 – Fashion to a Tea’s Silver Jubilee Breast Cancer Gala, Champaign Co. Fgds., 4H Bldg., 384 Park Ave., Urbana, 5 8:30 p.m. $25. Fundraiser to benefit breast cancer awareness and survivorship. 937 408 2288 or www.breastfriendsforeverofcc.org.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 37

THROUGH SEP. 29 – Summer Concert Series, The Square, Liberty Center, Thur. 6 9 p.m. (weather permitting). concert-series-www.liberty-center.com/events/summer-2

SEP. 23–24 – Oktoberfest, 80 W. Church St., Pickerington, Fri. 3 10 p.m., Sat. noon–10 p.m. Free. Traditional celebration featuring local brews, beer garden, vendors, live music, and activities. www.pickeringtonvillage.com.

SEP. 15 18 – Old Timers Days Festival, 123 N. Main St., Peebles. Free. Parades, pageants, contests, raffles, kiddie tractor pull, giant RC racers, live music, and more. Car, truck, and motorcycle show Sun. 9:30 a.m.; $15 registration. 937 587 3749 or https:// oldtimersdaysfestival.yolasite.com.

SEP. 17 18 – Preble County Pork Festival, Preble Co. Fgds., 722 S. Franklin St., Eaton. Free. Parade Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Pork chops, pulled pork, ham sandwiches, and sausage. Kiddie tractor pull, music, and racing pigs. www.porkfestival.org.

SEP. 24 25 – Prairie Days at Darke County Parks, Shawnee Prairie Preserve, 4267 St. Rte. 502, Greenville, Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Free. Focusing on prairie life around 1780 1810, featuring crafts, games, and trades. 937 548 0165 or www.darkecountyparks.org.

SEP. 23–24 – Country Shop Hop, locations in the Amanda, Stoutsville, and Tarlton area, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Enjoy a ride in the country visiting 17 businesses. Special offers, door prizes. Times may vary for individual businesses. 740 503 2125 or www.countryshophop.com.

CALENDAR2022

SEP. 16 18 – WACO Celebration and Fly-In, WACO Historic Airfield and Learning Ctr., 1865 S. Co. Rd. 25A, Troy. WACO owners fly their aircraft back to Troy, the site of their manufacture. See these aircraft close up and talk to the owners, tour the museum, and take a ride in an open cockpit biplane! www.wacoairmuseum.org.

OCT. 7–9 – Columbus Italian Festival, 168 E. Lincoln St., Columbus, Fri. 5 11 p.m., Sat. noon–11 p.m., Sun. noon–7 p.m. $10–$15, under 12 free. Celebration of the finest in Italian food, entertainment, and culture. 614 294 8259 or www.columbusitalianfestival.com. OCT. 7–16 – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, presented by the Pickerington Community Theatre at Wigwam Theater, 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd., Pickerington. 614 508 0036 or www.pctshows.com. OCT. 9–15 – Fairfield County Fair, Fairfield Co. Fgds., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster. $7, under 10 free. Known as the last and best fair of the season. 740 653 3041 or www.fairfieldcountyfair.org. OCT. 15 – Grandma Gatewood’s Fall Colors Hike, Hocking Hills State Park, 19852 St. Rte. 664 S., Logan, 9 a.m. Strenuous hike spans 6 miles. We will navigate the section from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls, returning on the Gorge Overlook Trail. Bring a cool drink. 740 385 6841 or www.thehockinghills.org/Events.htm. OCT. 15 – Sunbury Piece Corps Quilt Show, Sunbury UM Church, 100 W. Cherry St., Sunbury, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $5 Quilts made by guild members on display, vendors, fabric rummage sale, and demonstrations. Lunch available. sunburypiececorps@aol.com.

SEP. 16–18 – Backwoods Fest, 8572 High Point Rd., Thornville, Fri./Sat. 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. $10, free for 10 and under. Arts, crafts, food, and bluegrass music. Over 350 vendors from across the U.S. Held rain or shine. www.thebackwoodsfest.com.

OCT. 8 9 – Fall Farm Fest, Lost Creek Reserve and Knoop Agricultural Learning Ctr., 2385 E. St. Rte. 41, Troy, Sat. 12 7 p.m., Sun. 12 5 p.m. Fees for some activities. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, kids’ activities, and more. 937 335 6273 or www.miamicountyparks.com/fall-farm-fest.

OCT. 9 – Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Sauerkraut Festival, Main Street, Waynesville, 10 11:30 a.m. on main stage. Free. 513 897 8855 or https:// sauerkrautfestival.waynesvilleohio.com.

SEP. 23 – Bluegrass Night, Fibonacci Brewing Company, 1445 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, 7 9 p.m. Free. Lively bluegrass music by Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass. Craft beers and food truck eats. 513 832 1422 or http://fibbrew.com.

THROUGH OCT. 29 – Zanesville Farmers Market, Adornetto’s, 2224 Maple Ave., Zanesville, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. www.zanesvillefarmersmarket.org.

OCT. 11 15 – Bradford Pumpkin Show, downtown Bradford. Free. Parades, concessions, rides, and contests. Pumpkin baking contest on Wednesday. Car show and Smash-a-Pumpkin on Saturday. www. bradfordpumpkinshow.org.

SEP. 24 25 – Harvest Extravaganza, 5207 Weavers Ft. Jefferson Rd., Greenville, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. Over 75 vendors selling handmade treasures, boutique clothing, mums, primitives, antiques, home décor, and more. 937 417 5566 or follow us on Facebook.

SEP. 23–24 – Sims Fall Festival, 11300 ChillicotheLancaster Rd., Amanda, Fri. noon–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Antique farm equipment, arts and crafts, antiques, mums, pumpkins, and fall items. Food truck. Bean cook Friday night. Civil War encampment; Gen. Sherman’s cannon will be fired Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Kids’ games and activities on Saturday. 740 969 2225 or www.simsfallfestival.com.

THROUGH OCT. 29 – Delaware Farmers Market, 20 Winter St., Delaware, Sat. 9 12 p.m. 740 362 6050 www.mainstreetdelaware.com/event/farmers-market.or

SOUTHWEST THROUGH SEP. 24 – Sunbury Farmers Market, 9 E. Granville St., Sunbury Square, Sunbury, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. 740 513 9192 THROUGH OCT. 29 – Coshocton Farmers Market, 300 block of Main Street, Coshocton, Sat. 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Fresh local-grown produce; artisans with handmade crafts. www.facebook.com/coshoctonfarmersmarket.

OCT. 8 9 – Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, Main Street, Waynesville, Sat. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. Homemade sauerkraut and a variety of kraut-containing foods. Non-kraut foods also available. 513 897 8855 or https://sauerkrautfestival.waynesvilleohio.com.

SEP. 25 – Lancaster Community Band Concert, Rising Park, 1120 N. High St., Lancaster, 4 p.m. Free. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. 740 756 4430 OCT. 1 – Heart of Ohio Roundabout Quilt Show, First UM Church, 88 N. 5th St., Newark, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Suggested donation $5. Quilts displayed on pews and balconies. Featured artist Clarita Denius. Silent auction, prizes, vendors, and boutique. https://heartofohioquilters. com/event/2022-roundabout-quilt-show.

SEP. 17 – “The Archaeology of the Battle of Lake Erie and the War of 1812,” Fort Laurens Museum, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd., Bolivar, 11 a.m.–noon. Free. Presentation by Carrie Sowden. www.fortlaurensmuseum.org.

SEP. 24 – Oktoberfest, Wolf Creek/Pine Run Grist Mill, St. Rte. 3 S., Loudonville, noon–10 p.m. Ages 21+, $5; ages 10 20, $1; under 10 free. Foreign and domestic beers, wine, live music, and vendors. 419 541 0161 or www. wolfcreekmill.org/events. SEP. 27–OCT. 1 – AAUW/Kiwanis Used Book Sale, Wayne Co. Fgds., Buss Hall, 199 Vanover St., Wooster, Wed.–Fri. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Over 45,000 used books for sale. Early-bird sale Tues. 4 8 p.m., $10 Friday is half-price day; Saturday, $5/bag day. 330 439 2093 or https://woosterkiwanis.org/booksale.

SEP. 10 15 – Wayne County Fair, Wayne Co. Fgds., 199 Vanover St., Wooster, 10 a.m.–10 p.m., gates open at 8 a.m. Truck, tractor, and semi pulls; live music; rodeo; demolition derby. 330 262 8001 or www. waynecountyfairohio.com.

OCT. 2 – Cleveland Comic Book and Nostalgia Festival, Doubletree by Hilton Cleveland-Westlake, 1100 Crocker Rd., Westlake (I-90 exit 156), 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, free for ages 6 and under. 330 462 3985, jeff@ harpercomics.com, or www.harpercomics.com.

WEST VIRGINIA OCT. 7 8 byIslandBlennerhassett–MansionCandlelight, IslandBlennerhassettHistorical State Park, 137 Juliana St., Parkersburg. $25–$35; reservations required. Board the Island Belle sternwheeler at Belpre, Ohio, and travel back in time to an 18th-century party at the magnificent mansion. A Harvest Supper will be offered on both evenings for additional cost ($10–$20). 304 420 4800 or www. blennerhassettislandstatepark.com.

SEP. 17–OCT. 30 – Corn Maze, Beriswill Farms, 2200 Station Rd., Valley City, Tues.–Sun. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. $6–$8; free for seniors and ages 2 and under. 330 350 2486 or http://beriswillfarms.com.

SEP. 24 – Fredericksburg Homecoming, Fredericksburg Fire Station, 5 p.m. Old-fashioned, down-home festival, with home-style food, games, and live entertainment. 330 695 9919

SEP. 29–OCT. 2 – Preston County Buckwheat Festival, 115 Brown Ave., Kingwood. Buckwheat cakes and sausage breakfasts served all day. Car show, livestock shows, carnival rides, art and crafts, parades, fireworks. 304 698 9991 or www. buckwheatfest.com. Send us your event Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event to Ohio Cooperative Living , 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or events@ohioec.org. Ohio Cooperative Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address or a number/ website for more information.

OCT. 8 9 – Wayne County Farm Tour, northeastern Wayne County, noon–5 p.m. Free drive-it-yourself tour. Attendees can tour various farms and agricultural businesses. 330 263 7456 or http://wayne.ofbf.org.

SEP. 18 24 – Ashland County Fair, Ashland Co. Fgds., 2042 Claremont Ave., Ashland, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. $5/day, $25 week pass, ages 10 and under free. Harness racing, monster truck, motocross, tractor pull, demolition derby, pavilion entertainment. Josh Turner concert on the 20th. www.ashlandcountyfair.com.

NORTHEAST CALENDAR2022SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

38 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022 THROUGH SEP. 18 – “Celebrate the Constitution,” Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Mon.–Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Annual exhibit and activities focusing on the nation’s founding document. 740 283 1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

SEP. 30 – Zoar and the Presidents School Day, Historic Zoar Village, School House, Zoar, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. $7, free for ages 5 and under. Reservations requested. Meet U.S. presidents from various eras covering Zoar’s history; take part in presidential activities and games. 800 262 6195 or www.historiczoarvillage.com. SEP. 30–OCT. 1 – Woosterfest, downtown Wooster, Fri. noon–11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Traditional Oktoberfeststyle festival, with free entertainment, unique food vendors, beer and wine garden, and fun activities. 330 262 5735 or www.woosterfest.com.

OCT. 2 16 – “Riverboats on the Ohio,” Historic Fort Steuben, 120 S. 3rd St., Steubenville, Mon.–Sat. 10a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Exhibit and programs on the history and folklore of Ohio River steamboats. 740 283 1787 or www.oldfortsteuben.com.

SEP. 18 – Jonathan and Tiffany Schaefer: “Song and Story,” Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 2 3 p.m. Free. The husband-wife team weaves together harp music and engaging storytelling with traditional music, ballads, and folk tales from Ireland and Scotland. 419 853 6016 or www.ormaco.org.

OCT. 9 – Jeffrey Slater: “Jazz Bass and Beyond,” HeARTland, 8187 Camp Rd., Homerville, 2 3 p.m. Free. Slater will play and discuss the role of the bass guitar and double bass in music and history, from classical to jazz to the modern era. In the event of rain, the concert move to the Homerville UM Church, 8964 Spencer Rd. 419 853 6016 or www.ormaco.org.

OCT. 1 – Richard Haldi: “German-Speaking Canton and Stark County,” Historic Zoar Village, School House, Zoar, 11 a.m.–noon. Free. 800 262 6195 or www. historiczoarvillage.com.

OCT. 7 9 – Algonquin Mill Fall Festival, 234 Autumn Rd. SW, Carrollton, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $8 per vehicle. Steampowered flour mill and sawmill, crafters, kids’ activities, food, vendors, and more, all in a pioneer village setting. Rain or shine. www.carrollcountyhistoricalsociety.com.

SEP. 16 18 – Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow, 23270 Wally Rd., Loudonville, Fri./Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. $6–$10, under age 6 free. Native American live music, dancing, drum competitions, storytelling, tomahawk throwing, and fire starting demos. 800 766 2267 or www.mohicanpowwow.com.

OCT. 8 9 – Holmes County Antique Festival, downtown Millersburg. Antique markets, arts and crafts, demonstrations, parades, live music, food, and entertainment. http://holmescountyantiquefestival.org.

SEP. 18 – Wellington Harvest of the Arts, 101 Willard Memorial Square, Wellington, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Juried craft show featuring about 70 vendors with fine and folk art, a handmade quilt raffle, and a lunch café. 440 647 2120 or www.wellingtonfriends.org.

OCT. 1 – Wayne County Stitchers Annual Sewing Fest, Church of the Cross UM Church, 5100 Cleveland Rd., Wooster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. $10. Shop for fabrics, craft books, patterns, and more at the Fabric Fair; cash sales only. Light lunch provided for extra fee or bring a sack lunch. 419 368 0393 (Nancy Porter), 330 601 0372 (Barb), or barbarahelmecy@gmail.com.

OCT. 8 9, 15 16, 22 23 – Fall Foliage Tours, Lorain and West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, departure time 1:30 p.m. $15–$20. The perfect way to spend an hour or two on an October weekend. Tickets available at the station on days of operation. 440 647 6660 or www.lwvry.org.

OCT. 1 2 – The Great Berea Train Show, Cuyahoga Co. Fgds., 19201 E. Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $8; under 18 free with adult; $10 for 2-day pass. 700 vendor/display tables. Model trains, accessories, and supplies; operating model railroad layouts. www.thegreatbereatrainshow.org.

OCT. 7 – First Fridays on Fourth, 155 N. 4th St., Steubenville, 6 10 p.m. Free. Art, crafts, games, food trucks, entertainment, and activities to stimulate the imagination. www.theharmoniumproject.org/first-fridays.

SEP. 16 17 – Ohio State African Violet Society Show and Sale, Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 Trimble Rd., Mansfield, Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. . 937 654 7014, melsgrice@gmail.com, or www.osavs.org.

OCT. 15 – Pumpkin Festival, Fort Laurens Museum, 11067 Fort Laurens Rd., Bolivar, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $5; under age 12 free. Pumpkin-themed games and prizes, food, music, pumpkin painting, reenactors, colonial cooking, and of course … pumpkins! www.fortlaurensmuseum.org.

OCT. 15 – Sweetest Day Train, Lorain and West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, departure time 6 p.m. $35; designated driver ticket, $25. Must be 21+. Enjoy a variety of wines from Matus Winery and receive a sampling of chocolates. 440 647 6660 or www.lwvry.org.

OCT. 14 – Wine on Rails, Lorain and West Virginia Railway, 46485 St. Rte. 18, Wellington, departure time 7 p.m. $35; designated driver ticket, $25. Must be 21+. Enjoy tasting a variety of wines from Matus Winery as we travel leisurely through southern Lorain County. 440 647 6660 or www.lwvry.org.

SEP. 24 – FAME Festival, downtown Cambridge, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, art, activities for the kids, and more. 740 439 2238 or http://downtowncambridge.com.

OCT. 6 9, 13 16 – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Chillicothe Civic Theatre, 83 S. Walnut St., Chillicothe, Thur.–Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $15–$17 50 http://cctchillicothe.com.

OCT. 8 – Van Buren Fall Festival and Van Buren Lions Club Craft Show, Van Buren High School, 217 S. Main St., Van Buren, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Homemade apple butter, bean soup, food vendors, craft show, village garage sales, and children’s activities. 419 348

OCT. 1 2 – The Fantastic Tiffin Flea Market, Seneca Co. Fgds., 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin, Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free admission and parking; handicap accessible. 250 to 400 dealers per show. 419 447- 9613 or www.tiffinfleamarket.com.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Art Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Handcrafted local artisan-made works. Variety of artists changes weekly. www.facebook.com/athensartguild or https://athensartguild.org.

SEP. 24 25 – Lucasville Trade Days, Scioto Co. Fgds., 1193 Fairground Rd., Lucasville, Sat. 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.–4 p.m. $7; free for 12 and under. 937 728 6643 or www.lucasvilletradedays.com.

SEP. 17 Breakthrough Harvest Church Annual Craft Sale, Putnam Co. Fgds., 1490 E. 2nd St., Ottawa, Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $3; kids under 12 free. Come see the wonderful creations from local crafters and enjoy delicious food. www.breakthroughharvest.weebly.com.

SEP. 17 18 – Civil War Living History Weekend, Sidney. Free. Presentations on the Civil War, reenactment battles, and period settlers selling their wares. 937 658 6945 or https://sidneyalive. wpcomstaging.com/events. SEP. 22 24 Bluegrass Festival, Van Wert Co. Fgds., 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert, Fri. 6 9 p.m., Sat. 6 11 p.m., Sun. noon–11 p.m. Multiple bands, food/ concessions, cornhole tournament, wagon rides, raffles, and kids’ activities. www.vanwertcountyfair.com.

SEP. 16 18 – Bean Ride Charities Horse/ATV Trail Ride, 34545 Atherton Rd., Macksburg. This year we are raising funds for BrAva, which supports families with children who have cancer. Contact Toni Gober at 740 525 6220 or see Bean Ride Charities on Facebook.

SEP. 24 – Bluffton Fall Festival, downtown Bluffton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Kids’ activities, food, horse-drawn wagon rides, antique tractor show, quilt show, farmers market, and much more. www.blufftonfallfestival.com.

SEP. 24 Fostoria Rail Festival, Fostoria Elementary School and Jr./Sr. High School, Fostoria, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $5, under 10 free. Model train layouts, train merchandise and memorabilia, historic rail tours, kids’ train rides, photo contest, soup contest, food. 419 435 1781 or www. facebook.com/fostoria.railpark. SEP. 24–OCT. 23 Pumpkin Train, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc., 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, Sat./Sun. 1 5 p.m. $3; ages 12 and under, $2. Ride a quarter-scale train to the pumpkin patch to find that special pumpkin, then take one more trip around the track to return to the station. Additional charge for pumpkins. 419 423 2995 or www.nworrp.org/pumpkintrain.html.

SOUTHEAST THROUGH OCT. 15 – Great Sidney Farmers Market, 109 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, Sat. 8 a.m.–noon. 937 658 6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

OCT. 1 2 Johnny Appleseed Festival, Auglaize Village, 12296 Krouse Rd., Defiance, Sat. 9 a.m.–?, Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5; free for kids 12 and under if accompanied by adult. In addition to regular activities, we’ll be making apple cider, sorghum molasses, kettle corn, and more. www.auglaizevillage.com.

6413 or vanburenapplebutter@yahoo.com. OCT. 14 – Annual Downtown Chocolate Walk, downtown Sidney, 6 8 p.m. Tour downtown businesses while enjoying samples of delicious chocolate treats. Tickets required. 937 658 6945 or www.sidneyalive.org. OCT. 14 15 – Harvest Happenings, Apple Fest, and Dairy Barn Emporium, Van Wert Co. Fgds., 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert, Fri. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. Over 300 vendors. Crafts, food, and everything apples! 419 238 9270 or www.vanwertcountyfair.com. OCT. 14 15 Lauer Farms 1944: WWII Living History Weekend, Historic Lauer Farm Park, 800 Roush Rd., Lima, Fri. 4 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. 419 221 1232 or www.facebook.com/ LauerFarms1944 NORTHWEST

SEP. 15 18 – Delphos Canal Days and Parade, downtown Delphos. Free. Live music, food, car show, kids’ activities, parade, and other entertainment. https://delphoscanaldays.com.

SEP. 24 Elida Mennonite School Benefit Breakfast, Lunch, and Auction, 3666 Grubb Rd. N., Delphos, breakfast 7:30 a.m., auction 9:30 a.m. Country breakfast with whole-hog sausage; pork chops for lunch; homemade doughnuts, baked goods, and much more. Auctioned items will include Amish crafted furniture, antiques, home-canned foods, and other fun and useful items. 567 204 4181 or www.facebook.com/emsauction.

THROUGH OCT. 29 – “The Ohio Presidents: Surprising Legacies,” Allen County Museum, 620 W. Market St., Lima, Tues.–Fri. 1 5 p.m., Sat. 1 4 p.m. Free. Exhibition highlighting many interesting aspects of the eight Ohio presidents and their lives. 419 222 9426 or www.allencountymuseum.org.

SEP. 17 – Ghost Walk, downtown Chillicothe, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $10. Tour downtown buildings and discover their haunted history. www.chillicothehalloweenfestival.com.

SEP. 17 18 – Old Iron Power Club Annual Show and Appalachian Foothills Fall Festival, Noble Co. Fgds., 44193 Fairground Rd., Caldwell, just off I-77, exit 25 Tractor displays. engines, antique equipment demos, flea market, arts and crafts, bluegrass music, kids’ activities, and more. 740 213 4713 or www.oldironpowerclub.com. SEP. 22 25 – Barnesville Pumpkin Festival, 117 Cherry St., Barnesville. Parade, fun contests and activities, car show, live music, a variety of pumpkin-based food, and the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. 740 425 2593 or www.barnesvillepumpkinfestival.com.

SEP. 29 Open Air Dinner, Historic Ross Covered Bridge, Tawawa Park, 12 Tawawa Dr., Sidney, 5 8 p.m. Tickets required. Farm-to-table dinner in a beautiful setting. 937 658 6945 or www.sidneyalive.org.

SEP. 25 – Our Town: Chillicothe, Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 3 5 p.m. Free. WOUB presents the premiere screening of the hour-long historical documentary film. Registration through WOUB. 740 772 2041 or https://visitchillicotheohio.com/event.

SEP. 23–OCT. 30 ScreamAcres Haunted Cornfield, Leaders Farms, 0064 Co. Rd. 16, Napoleon, weekends only. Corn maze, hayrides, pumpkins, fall festival, and more. 419 599 1570 or www.leadersfarms.com.

SEP. 16 17 – Rebel Run: Classic Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Event, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima, 8 a.m.–7 p.m. $5; free for ages 12 and under. Awards, entertainment, food; camping sites available. 419 225 8545 or www.rebelrunlima.com. SEP. 16 18 Northwest Ohio Trader Days, Van Wert Co. Fgds., 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert, Fri./Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Free. Flea market, food vendors, water dog trials, live music, and more. Car show with door prizes Sat. 1 4:30 p.m. 419 238 9270 or www.vanwertcountyfair.com. SEP. 16 18, OCT. 14 16 AKC Fast CAT, The Gated Dock-Canine Enrichment Center, 7251 OH-98, Shelby. Come watch the dogs compete in Fast Coursing Ability Tests (CAT). 419 961 4711 or www.thegateddock.com.

SEP. 30–OCT. 1 Tracks to the Past Antique Machinery Show, Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, 12505 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay, gates open 9 a.m. $2–$4. Steam engines, gas engines, tractors, operating sawmill, and much more. Ride the Pumpkin Train during the day or the Halloween Express after dark. 419 423 2995 or www.nworrp.org.

OCT. 7 9 – Chillicothe Halloween Festival, Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe. Free. Costume contest, coffin races, Halloween-themed merchandise, vendors, entertainment, Ghost Walk ($10). www. chillicothehalloweenfestival.com. OCT. 7 9 – Paul Bunyan Show, Guernsey Co. Fgds., 335 Old National Rd., Lore City (Cambridge), Fri./Sat. 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $8–$10; free for 6 and under. The original American forestry show. Lumberjack competitions, demonstrations, clinics, wood crafts, and more. 888 388 7337 or www.ohioforest.org. OCT. 15 – “Falling in Love with Color,” Highlands Nature Sanctuary, 7660 Cave Rd., Bainbridge. Registration required. 937 365 1935 or http:// arcofappalachia.org.

THROUGH DECEMBER – Athens Farmers Market, 1000 E. State St., Athens, Sat. 9 a.m.–noon; Wed. 9 a.m.–1 p.m., April–November. 740 593 6763 or www.athensfarmersmarket.org.

SEPTEMBER 2022 • OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING 39 THROUGH SEP. 28 – Courtside Open Air Market, 801 Wheeling Ave.., Cambridge, Fri. 8 a.m.–noon. Local plants, produce, and flowers, handmade goods, and baked goods. 740 680 1866 or find us on Facebook.

MEMBER INTERACTIVE Send us your picture! For December, send “Candy canes” by Sept. 15. For January, send “Stuffed besties” by Oct. 15. Upload your photos at www.ohiocoopliving.com/memberinteractive. Your photo may be featured in our magazine or on our website. Youth Tour 2022 Students submitted photos during their trip, with one winner chosen each day! Exploring the Gettysburg Civil War Museum and Cyclorama. Gunnar Brennecke, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative Proud Buckeyes in front of the Washington Monument. Jared Bradford, Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative The Schulte brothers chasing waterfalls at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. Abigail Baldwin, Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative Enjoying the amazing architecture and artwork at the Library of Congress. Abby Hill, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative Having a “blast” at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Center. Lauren Bennett, Butler Rural Electric CooperativeDAY DAY1 2DAY1 2 DAY 33 DAY44 55 1 Overall winner! MEMBER INTERACTIVE 40 OHIO COOPERATIVE LIVING • SEPTEMBER 2022

ElectricName: co-op name: Email address: Stop by the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives education center for exhibits, energy-saving tips, demonstrations, and free popcorn! ENTER TO WIN A $100 ELECTRIC BILL CREDIT!* Bring your completed entry form to the Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives education center on Wheat Street at the 2022 Farm Science Review. *Must be an Ohio electric cooperative member to enter and win. Must be original entry form — no photocopies. ohioec.org/energy FARM SCIENCE REVIEW Molly Caren Agricultural Center | London, Ohio Sept. 20–22, 2022 Sponsored by The Ohio State University, Farm Science Review is the largest agricultural event in our region, drawing more than 130,000 people each year.

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Ohio Cooperative Living - September 2022 - Firelands

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COUNTING THE DEAD