Kansas Country Living October 2015

It’s routinely said that change is the only constant in life.

One of my favorite quotes about change is by Ester Dyson, a Swiss-born American journalist, author, businesses woman and philanthropist who coined, “Change means that what was before wasn’t perfect. People want things to be better.”

If you believe change to be some-thing essential to improve our lives, than it’s a little easier to manage.

We think about change this month as we transition from summer to fall and into corn—and cotton—harvesting season. Yes, cotton.

Kansas is known for its wheat, corn, sorghum and soybean crops but not so much for its cotton crop. The fact is, Kansas farmers have been testing and growing cotton since the 1980s. One such farm family is the Briggemans of Pratt. Stuart and Teri took a chance at growing this crop 16 years ago and continue to reap the benefits. Their cotton harvest, set to begin around Nov. 1, will draw onlookers from the nearby highway. Read on page 12 about how they made a change in growing this alternative crop.

Another change throughout the years is reflected in the harvest meal, how it’s prepared, what is prepared and who prepares it. The Morse

Department of Special Collections at Kansas State Libraries, searched their archives for us so we could share with you harvest meals of yester-year. Read more on page 18.

With changes in technology come, unfortu-nately, changes in scams perpetrated on unsus-pecting electric co-op members. On page 22, we highlight recent scams reported by electric co-ops in Kansas and across the U.S. and offer tips on how to avoid being a victim. KCL

VICKI ESTES, EDITOR

Life Continues to Change as We Head into Fall

E D I TO R’ S L E T T E R

Stuart and Teri Briggeman, members of Ninnescah Electric Cooperative Association, grow cotton in addition to corn and soybeans on their farm they’ve named “Briggeman West.”

2 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING OCTOBER 2015

Bruce GrahamChief Executive Officer

Doug ShepherdVice President, Management Consulting

Shana ReadDirector of Communications

Vicki EstesEditor

Bob JenningsManager of Publishing Services

Carrie KimberlinCommunications Specialist

Officers Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Ralph PhillipsPresident

Kathleen O’BrienVice President

Keith McNickleSecretary

Patrick RileyTreasurer

Cooperatives You receive Kansas Country Living as a communications service of these electric cooperatives:Alfalfa, Cherokee, OKBluestem, WamegoBrown-Atchison, HortonButler, El DoradoCMS, MeadeCaney Valley, Cedar ValeDS&O, SolomonFlint Hills, Council GroveKaw Valley, Topeka Lane-Scott, DightonLJEC, McLouthLyon-Coffey, BurlingtonNinnescah, PrattPioneer, UlyssesPrairie Land, NortonRadiant, FredoniaRolling Hills, MankatoSedgwick County, CheneySumner-Cowley, WellingtonTri-County, Hooker, OKTwin Valley, AltamontVictory, Dodge CityWestern, WaKeeneyWheatland, Scott City

Kansas Country Living (ISSN 0091-9586) is pub-lished monthly for $10 per year (tax included) by Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS and additional entry offices. For members of Kansas rural electric systems, subscription cost is $5.88 per year. This cost is part of your electric service billing. Editorial offices: P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267. Phone 785-478-4554. Fax 785-478-4852.

Address Changes Please report any change in address to your local electric cooperative.

Postmaster Send address changes to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604-0267.

Advertisers Contact National Country Market: 512-441-5200, or see www. nationalcountrymarket.com. Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives of the product or services advertised.

Kansas Country Living assumes no respon-sibility for unsolicited material. Submissions must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with sufficient postage to be returned. The publication does not guarantee publication of material received and reserves the right to edit any material published.

(ISSN 0091-9586)OCTOBER 2015 VOL. 65, NO. 10© KANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, INC., 2015WWW.KEC.COOP

OCTOBER

D E PA RT M E N T S 4 | Around Kansas Fall events highlighted

6 | Commentary Applause, applause

8 | Guest TalkHarvest safety tips

10 | Cut Your Utility Bills Balancing temperatures

32 | Cook’s Library Real conversations

O N T H E CO V E RTeri and Stuart Briggeman began growing cotton on their farm near Pratt 16 years ago and continue to enjoy raising this uncommon Kansas crop.

P H O T O BY V I C K I E ST E S

“LIKE” Kansas Country Living on Facebook to view monthly extras and submit your story ideas.

12 | Cultivating Cotton Family enjoys growing this alternative crop

18| Harvest Meals Then and now

22| Energy Scams Learn the latest scams and how to avoid them

18OCTOBER 2015 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 3

12

http://www.nationalcountrymarket.com



THROUGH OCTOBER 31 Night Sky Tours of Kansas, Stockton. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the heavens and anomalies with advanced telescopes and Generation-4 technology. Private tours available. 785-425-7350, www.catchaghosttoursofkansas.com.

OCTOBER 1-31 Quail Valley PumpkinFest, Winfield. Fun fall activities for the family including pumpkin patch, hayrack rides, paddle boats, barrel train, fishing, haybale maze and more. Fridays 3-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 9315 194th Dr., 620-402-6781, www.goquailvalley.com.

OCTOBER 2-4 Mountain Men Rendezvous, Canton. Experience life in the 1800s with traders, trappers, blacksmiths and flintknappers demonstrations. Bluegrass and bison tours and concessions available. 2565 Pueblo Rd., 620-628-4455, www.maxwellwildliferefuge.com.

OCTOBER 3-JANUARY 16 Flint Hills Masters Programs, Manhattan. This collection of paintings and sculptures interprets a sense of place and a love for the regional landscape of the Flint Hills by more than 30 premier artists. www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/masters.

OCTOBER 3 City Market Fall Fest, St. Marys . Shop a variety of vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George J. Perry Memorial Armory. 110 S. 5th, 785-437-6835.

OCTOBER 3-31 Wild West Zombie Paintball, Jetmore. From dusk until 11:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October at Horse Thief Reservoir, the “zombies” are hungry but don’t shoot back. Paintballs and guns provided on “zombie” trailer. Hotdogs and marshmallow roasts. 19005 SW Highway 156, 620-253-8464.

OCTOBER 3-31 Mr. Gourdman’s Pumpkin Patch, Wichita. Open each Saturday and Sunday in October, bring the family to enjoy a corn maze, boat rides, fishing, unique playground, produce, gifts and a colorful array of pumpkins of all shapes,

sizes and colors. Four miles east of McConnell Air Force Base. Check out the website for live entertainment dates. 3750 S. Dusty Rd., 316-733-1887, www.wichitaspumpkinpatch.com.

OCTOBER 4 Shannon Creek Quarter Horses, Olsburg. This 8th annual sale includes weanlings, broodmares and riding horses. For updates visit shannoncreekquarterhorses.weebly.com. 4915 Long Parkway Rd., 785-565-8422.

OCTOBER 6 Diverse Cultures Help Kansas Communities, Harper. This presentation highlights real-world examples of people who have used their diverse cultural background to contribute to Kansas communities. Harper Public Library, 708 W. 14th, 620-896-2959.

OCTOBER 10 City Market, Leavenworth. Last Saturday to browse

and shop Haymarket Square for a variety of antiques, collectibles, art, artisan crafts and other great stuff. 7th and Cherokee, www.leavenworthmainstreet.com.

OCTOBER 10 Trail Ride, Melvern Lake Join this trail ride with catered meals and door prizes that benefits Eisenhower State Park Equestrian Campground and Trails at Melvern Lake. Call or email Jim Thomas at 785-633-4761 or [email protected].

OCTOBER 10 Night at the Museum: Gatsby Edition, Burlington. Come in your glad rags to the Coffey County Historical Museum and enjoy the swankest party in town. Learn the Charleston, Scavenger Hunt, costume contest; must be 21 or older. 1101 Neosho St., 620-364-2653, 888-877-2653, www.coffeymuseum.org., facebook.com/coffeymuseum.

T H I N G S TO D O

SHARE YOUR HOLIDAY RECIPES WITH KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING READERS!THROUGH NOVEMBER 1 Do you have a special holiday recipe you must make each year or else it’s simply not the holidays? If so, we urge you to share it with other Kansas Country Living readers. In our December issue, we plan to publish our read-ers’ holiday recipes—snacks, main dishes, desserts, side dishes, beverages, cookies, and food gift recipes—to share with other Kansas electric cooperative members. To participate, send us your recipe, and include your full name and name of your electric co-op, to [email protected] or mail it by Nov. 1 to: Holiday Recipes, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. If you have a photo of your food item, send us that too, either by email with your recipes or mail it to us and we will return it. We will print recipes on a first-come, first-served basis by category as space allows. If we receive duplicate or similar recipes, we will publish based on earliest submission.


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http://www.maxwellwildliferefuge.com

http://www.maxwellwildliferefuge.com

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http://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/masters

http://www.wichitaspumpkinpatch.com

http://www.leavenworthmainstreet.com

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.coffeymuseum.org


OCTOBER 15 Preserving Memories: The Story of Volland, Kansas, Manhattan. This Go See It! lecture series run from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. www.flinthillsdiscovery.org.

OCTOBER 16-18 Singles in Agriculture, Garnett Join other singles for this Kansas Chapter Annual Meeting that begins at the Kirk House and offers a variety of activities including tours, dinners, dancing and the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin. Call Wilma South at 620-754-3844 or 620-238-9340 for more information.

OCTOBER 17 Harper Fest, Harper. The Harper Teen Library Council will have an apple bobbing booth at this city-wide event 620-896-2959.

OCTOBER 17 Our Cabinet of Curiosities, Junction City. Tour the Geary County Historical Society and discover strange finds from collections throughout the building and learn about curiosity cabinets and how they became museums. 530 N. Adams, 785-238-1666.

OCTOBER 17 Boo! At the Zoo, Garden City. Young witches and wizards are issued a souvenir wand to defend the train from evil “demeanors” as they journey through the dark forest. Call Brian Nelson at 620-276-6243, or email [email protected].

OCTOBER 17 Helping Hands Benefit Trail Ride, Mahaska. All riders and wagons are welcome to ride the beautiful countryside of northwest Washington County. Registration at 8 a.m.; ride starts at the Barton Ranch at 10 a.m. Lunch provided on the trail. Can’t make the ride? Enjoy the evening meal, auction and dance. 102 Highway Ave., 785-313-5490, [email protected], www.facebook.com/helpinghandsbenefittrailride.

OCTOBER 17-18 Trail Ride, Flint Hills. Saddle up and ride the rolling Flint Hills in the fall in Pottawatomie County. Call 785-776-0662 or email [email protected].

OCTOBER 17-18 Republic Valley Pioneer Festival, Clay Center. The U.S. Calvary, Wild West Show, can-can girls and more at the Clay County Fairgrounds. 785-632-3786.

OCTOBER 19-24 Straw-vaganza!, Luray. Join this week-long celebration of wheat weaving and straw crafts, with workshops, exhibition, local tours and a chance to meet and swap ideas with other straw enthusiasts including plaiters from the Netherlands. Luray Historical Society, 19480 Beatty Lane, 785-698-2223, Doris Johnson at djon@gorhamtelcom.

OCTOBER 20 Ranchito Sharing Program, Newton. The Harvey County Historical Museum and the Newton Public Library invite the public to bring photos, documents and stories related to the Ranchito housing community in Newton. The materials will be scanned at the event and returned, and informal oral histories will be recorded to document stories and memories. Refreshments provided; program will be repeated on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. 720 N. Oak, 316-283-2221, [email protected].

OCTOBER 22-25 Historic Cemetery Walking Tours, Garden City. Guided tours of Valley View Cemetery include 12-15 gravesites and memorials plus five encounters with re-enactors portraying figures from Southwest Kansas History. Contact Steve

Quakenbush at 620-272-3664 or email [email protected].

OCTOBER 24 Ham and Bean Feed, Wakarusa. The Wakarusa Presbyterian Church hosts this annual event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. where ham and beans are cooked outdoors over an open fire in old time kettles. Enjoy bluegrass music and pony rides. Contact Helen Ramshaw at 785-836-2320.

OCTOBER 24 Aunt Sadie’s Anniversary Celebration, Winchester. Aunt Sadie’s Quilt Shop in Winchester will host a 12th anniversary celebration with a sale, snacks and free gifts while they last. 208 Winchester St., 913-774-7455.

OCTOBER 24 Talking Tombstones, Hutchinson. Actors portray local residents of Hutchinson who have passed away and are buried in Hutchinson’s Eastside Cemetery. Two

Continued on page 9

OCTOBER 2015 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 5

http://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org



http://www.facebook.com/helpinghandsbenefittrailride

http://www.facebook.com/helpinghandsbenefittrailride




Three Cheers B Y B R U C E G R A H A M

Bruce Graham

CO M M E N TA RY

We believe that

intervention by wildlife

officials was premature

and the Texas

court also found that the listing

decision process

was faulty.

A few things to applaud. Happy Anniver-sary! The Wolf Creek Generating Station recently marked its 30th anniversary of commercial gen-eration (see story on page 16). Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (KEPCo) and its 19 electric cooperative members have an ownership interest in the nuclear plant located near Burl-ington. KEPCo is the generation and transmis-sion (G&T) cooperative headquartered in Topeka with the responsibility to provide power supply and transmission service to those cooperatives serving roughly two-thirds of rural Kansas.

Wolf Creek actually has three owners– KCP&L and Westar Energy each have 47 percent interest and while KEPCo owns just six percent, the plant is the bedrock of its diverse power supply portfolio.

Wolf Creek is also the bedrock of the economy in Coffey County and the surrounding region. The plant has more than 1,000 full-time employees and economic studies credit at least 2,000 more jobs to support local goods and ser-vices needed by the plant and its employees.

Wolf Creek also pays taxes that benefit local and state government as well as a signifi-cant portion of the state’s education budget. In addition to the energy and economic benefits, the plant’s employees have a legacy of civic and charitable participation.

I remember being part of the planning team for Wolf Creek’s 10th anniversary. That same year, the plant set a U.S. record for electricity production among single unit nuclear plants—an achievement that came on the heels of a world record for continuous operation. Now there are three decades of operation worth cel-ebrating and the best news is that the plant has received approval to implement a maintenance and improvement program that extends its oper-ating license to the year 2045.

Cross your (chicken) fingers! Kansas Country Living readers have most likely noticed the electric cooperative concern related to the federal government’s listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as a threatened species. Readers may also have heard that a court in Texas recently delivered a decision vacating the LPC

listing. While we are hopeful that such senti-ment will eventually prevail across Kansas and the other affected states, it will most likely be a process full of appeals.

Electric cooperatives aren’t opposed to efforts to protect and encourage the LPC population. We continue to be engaged in vol-untary preservation practices while working with authorities to shape a conservation plan that will minimize the negative impact on the economy and electric rates. It is good news that the most recent LPC census shows a 25 percent increase in the species population over last year. That follows a 20 percent increase from the year before.

Clearly the chicken is enjoying a combina-tion of voluntary conservation efforts, improv-ing habitat and drought relief. We believe that intervention by wildlife officials was premature and the Texas court also found that the listing decision process was faulty. We are hopeful that a majority in Congress will now join the Kansas Delegation in support of legislative efforts to temper the impact of the listing. Delaying enforcement would provide an opportunity for the courts to make a final determination on the listing. Legislation to force federal officials to re-evaluate the listing decision should also be bolstered by the court decision.

A salute! Please join me in praise of your electric cooperative during National Coopera-tive Month in October. Across the country, more than 47,000 cooperative businesses of all types and sizes use these 31 days to recognize what sets us apart from other industries and sectors of the economy: voluntary and open membership; democratic member control; member economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; coopera-tion among cooperatives; and concern for the community. We hope you are as proud to be a member of a cooperative as we are to be part of this uniquely local, participatory, resilient and caring electric cooperative network. KCL BRUCE GRAHAM is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., Topeka.


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Don’t Sacrifice Safety for Speed During Harvest B Y M O L L Y H A L L

G U E ST TA L K

For many farmers, the harvest season is a flurry of activity with long hours and little rest. The pressure to harvest as much as possible–in combination with fatigue and looming dead-lines–can result in too little attention being paid to potential hazards. Safe practices should never be compromised for the sake of speed. Doing so could potentially end in tragedy.

Farmers and agricultural workers have one of the most dangerous occupations in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One of the causes of injury and death in the agricultural industry is electrocution. Of those injuries, overhead power lines are the most common cause of electrocution.

According to KWCH 12 News from Wichita, a 24-year-old central-Kansas farmer was harvesting a soybean field when a piece of farming equipment came into contact with overhead power lines. While attempting to extinguish an electrical fire caused by contact with the power lines, he nearly lost his life when he came into contact with an electrified

grain cart. While he did survive, he suffered severe burns and had to have partial amputa-tion of both legs.

If you are a farm operator or worker, be aware of the location of power lines and keep the following safety guidelines in mind during the harvest season:f Always use a spotter when operating large

machinery near lines. f Use care when raising augers or the bed of

grain trucks around power lines. f Keep equipment at least 10 feet from lines–

at all times, in all directions.f Inspect the height of the farm equipment to

determine clearance.f Always remember to lower extensions to

the lowest setting when moving loads.f Never attempt to move a power line out of

the way or raise it for clearance. f If a power line is sagging or low, call the

local utility immediately. f If your equipment does hit a power line

do not leave the cab. Immediately call 911, warn others to stay away, and wait for the utility crew to cut the power.

The only reason to exit equipment that has come into contact with overhead lines is if the equipment is on fire, which is very rare. However, if this is the case, jump off the equipment with your feet together and without touching the ground and vehicle at the same time. Then, still keeping your feet together, hop to safety as you leave the area.

If you or someone you know would like more information on electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org. KCL

MOLLY HALL is director of Safe Electricity.

Molly Hall

Stay safe while working near electric poles. Keep equipment at least 10 feet from lines at all times.


performances: 5:30 p.m. at the mausoleum and 7:30 p.m. walking tour performance. Eastside Cemetery, 646-628-4353 or [email protected]

OCTOBER 24 The Humanities Combat Rural Decline, Harper. The Harper Public Library will host this presentation by the Kansas Humanities Council that will highlight the success of the small but mighty town of Glasco in strengthening its community. 708 W. 14th, 620-896-2959.

OCTOBER 24 Garden of Eden Ghost Tours, Lucas. Catch a Ghost Tours explores the history hiding among folklore and legend. 785-425-7350, www.catchaghosttoursofkansas.com.

OCTOBER 31 St Marys City Market A Day of Thanks, St. Marys . Shop a variety of vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George J. Perry Memorial Armory. 110 S. 5th, 785-437-6835.

NOVEMBER 6-7 Many Minis Quilt Shop Hop, Winchester. The Great Plains Sew Down Shop Hop will host this event from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and each participating shop will offer a free mini quilt pattern to customers. Enter to win a Featherweight sewing machine. “Like” the Great Plains Sew Down Shop Hop Facebook page or contact Aunt Sadie’s Quilt Shop at 913-774-7455.

NOVEMBER 6,7, 13, 14 The Balcony Scene, Winfield. Winfield Community Theatre presents this play by Will Calhoun that follows the friendship of Alvin and Karen who meet on their adjoining balconies at a Chicago high-rise apartment building. 1500 E. 8th, 620-221-6270, 620-221-2420, www.winfieldcommtheatre.com. KCL

Send items for your free listing in Around Kansas to Kansas Country Living, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604 by the fifth of the month prior to publication. Or email [email protected]. Please include a contact phone number.


Around KansasContinued from page 5

http://www.catchaghosttoursofkansas

http://www.winfieldcommtheatre.com

http://www.winfieldcommtheatre.com


C U T YO U R U T I L I T Y B I L L S

Balancing Temperatures in a Two-Story Home

BY J A M E S D U L L E Y

Dear Jim: We have a new heat pump, but we have a problem keeping all of the rooms in our home comfortable. Someone is always too hot or too cold. What are some simple methods to even out the temperatures throughout the house? –Jason F.Dear Jason: The problem you are experiencing is common, particularly in a two-story home—even for the newest heat pump systems. Unless you install an expensive zone-control system with multiple thermostats, your heat pump can only respond to the temperature of the room where the wall thermostat is located.

Numerous factors determine how much heating or cooling is used, and therefore the tem-perature is affected. These factors can include the number and orientation of the windows, whether the room is located on the first or second floor, the activity level in the room and the length of the duct leading to it.

There also may be differences in the energy efficiency of various rooms, which cause the tem-perature difference. Leaky windows are a par-ticular problem. When using an air-conditioning system, place an air deflector over the register to help distribute cool air throughout the room.

Check your home’s attic insulation, espe-cially if it is the blown-in type. The insulation can shift during storms, and eventually, some rooms can have two feet of insulation while others only have two inches, which can have a major effect on the room temperature. Even out

the insulation as much as possible.The standard builder-installed sheet metal

ductwork often has many leaky spots, so some of the heated or cooled air leaving the heat pump never makes it to the rooms in your home. The joints between the duct segments are the most common areas that leak. Use a high-quality duct tape, such as black Gorilla Tape, to wrap all of the joints. You may find that taping the leaks takes care of most of the problem.

Each room should have a return air register, particularly bedrooms where the doors may be closed at night. Return ducts usually run down between the wall studs inside interior walls, so adding them in problem rooms is not difficult for a contractor to do.

There are many innovative ways to install an additional return duct. For example, in my par-ent’s older two-story home, the contractor was able to run a return duct down through a never-used laundry chute to the basement.

Check the ducts near the heat pump. If you see short handles on each one, they are for control dampers inside the ducts. When the handle is parallel to the duct, the damper is fully open. Partially close the dampers in the duct leading to the rooms which are getting too much heating or cooling to force more to the problem rooms.

Don’t try closing the damper in the room’s floor or wall registers. First, they typically are

This register booster fan fits over a register on the floor or wall and plugs into a stan-dard electrical outlet.

SUN

CO

URT

QUICK TIP

When installing an air deflector over a register, it’s a good time to use a shop vac or regular vacuum hose to clean out the duct as far as the hose will go.


leaky, so the air flow will not be reduced by much. Second, because the ducts inside the walls are probably leaky and you have no access to seal them, conditioned air is lost inside the exterior walls.

If these methods do not provide adequate temperature balancing, consider installing duct booster fans. These small fans mount in the ducts to the problem rooms and force more con-ditioned air to them.

These fans are sized to fit standard round and rectangular residential ducts and can be controlled in different ways. The simplest fans sense when the main blower turns on, and they automatically run at the same time. Others have built-in thermostats to determine when they run. It is best to hire an experienced contractor to handle the installation for you. The fan can be wired into your blower switch to turn on with

the heat pump. A simple do-it-yourself option is to install

a register booster fan. This small rectangular fan mounts over the register cover in the room and is plugged into a standard electrical wall outlet. The small fan uses only about 30 watts of elec-tricity, and some models are adjustable to turn on only when more cooling or heating is needed in that particular room.

Setting the thermostat to continuous fan may also help, but note, it will increase your electric bill. The fan setting is most helpful if your new heat pump has a variable-speed blower, which allows the blower to continuously run on a low speed. Variable-speed blower motors are also more efficient than a standard blower motor. KCL

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Kansas Country Living, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

SUN

CO

URT

This adjustable duct thermostat is easy to install and it controls when the booster fan comes on. Instructions come with a template that makes it easy to mark the mounting holes to be drilled for installation.

WHERE TO SHOPThe following companies offer booster fans:fAero-Flo Industries, 219-393-3555, www.aero-flo.comfField Controls, 252-522-3031, www.fieldcontrols.comfSuncourt Manufacturing, 800-999-3267, www.suncourt.comThe following companies offer register deflectors:fAmeriflow, 800-252-8467, www.ameriflowregisters.comfDeflecto Corporation, 800-428-4328, www.deflecto.com

1

2 3OCTOBER 2015 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 11

http://www.aero-flo.com

http://www.fieldcontrols.com

http://www.suncourt.com

http://www.ameriflowregisters.com

http://www.deflecto.com

http://www.dulley.com

http://www.dulley.com

Cultivating

Teri and Stuart Briggeman inspect their cotton crop on their farm west of Pratt.


What’s been branded as the “fabric of our lives” grows in 30 Kansas counties with certified cotton acres, according to the Kansas Cotton Association. Stuart and Teri Briggeman, Ninnescah Electric Cooperative Association members and owners of the Briggeman West farm in Pratt County, planted a test plot of this alternative, drought-resistant crop in 1999 at the suggestion of their crop consultant. Sixteen years later, these fifth-generation farmers continue to grow cotton on their 6,000-acre farm near Cullison.

Stuart admits that at first he wasn’t con-vinced he should try growing cotton when the crop consultant suggested it. “I thought, ‘why would I do that?’ There’s no one in the area to harvest it, and there’s nowhere to take it. It’s not feasible.” The Briggemans, who also farmed corn, wheat and soybeans at that time, planted an initial test plot of cotton with surprising results.

“The numbers compared to dry land wheat were so amazing, even when hiring help for harvesting,” Teri shared. “And, it saves a huge amount of water.”

Stuart’s subsequent conversation with a Haviland co-op employee persuaded him to take a chance. The man told Stuart he was going to start farming and grow cotton, and that he had the harvesting equipment specific for cotton. “He said if you grow it, I’ll harvest it,” Stuart recalled. That started the “boll” rolling. “We did a 180-degree turn to see what the cotton could do.”

That spring, the Briggemans planted 100 acres of cotton on dry land, with great results.

“The next year we thought, hmm, if it can

do that on dry land what will it do on irrigated land?” Stuart explained. “So we put out 400 acres the next year, some irrigated and some dry land.”

It was a successful havest and they’ve been growing cotton ever since. They now plant about two-thirds irrigated to one-third dry land.

Another reason the Briggemans chose cotton as an alternative crop is the timing of its planting and harvesting seasons, which comple-ments those of corn and soybeans, the two addi-tional crops they grow.

“Cotton goes in after the corn and soybeans and it’s harvested after the corn and soybeans, so the workload is spread out,” Teri explained. “And it’s easier to find help that time of the year because everybody else’s harvest is over,” she added. The cotton harvest generally begins Nov. 1 and can run through February, depending on weather and humidity. “Our goal each year is to be done by Christmas, which happens once in a while if the weather cooperates,” Teri chuck-led. She went on to explain that the cotton fiber must be fairly dry when harvested. “And you can’t harvest on a hor-ribly windy day either or it all blows away when you dump it into the module builders,” she added.

Although Kansas farmers have been pro-ducing cotton in test plots and limited acreage as early as the 1980s, and four cotton gins now serve

While driving the dirt road along the vibrant green field west of Pratt, you might mistake the plants growing under the Kansas sun for soybeans. A closer look reveals avocado-like “bolls” prominent during the late summer and early fall. Those bolls grow and open to reveal fluffy white locks, and once harvested, will produce what some call nature’s wonder fiber—cotton.


the state’s cotton farmers, the cotton harvest continues to draw attention from locals, out-of-towners and other farmers. The Briggemans said they were caught off guard that first year harvesting cotton when they became a roadside attraction for people traveling U.S. Highway 54.

“They were stopping in the middle of the highway trying to figure out what was going on and what we were doing,” Stuart recalled. “They weren’t even pulling off to the side of the road. We were starting to worry about whether we were going to cause accidents.

It became a fear factor because people were actually stopping in the middle of

the highway to watch us.”Cotton harvest requires

more equipment than a wheat or corn harvest: three strip-pers that strip and clean the cotton; three module build-

ers that pack the cotton into bales that resemble

bread loaves; and two trac-tors with boll buggies, similar

to grain carts for a corn harvest. Teri believes that, although a

cotton field’s white brilliance

against a Kansas blue sky can turn heads, it’s the massive equipment that probably catches every-one’s attention. “It’s quite a site,” Teri exclaimed.

“We haven’t seen any accidents yet but we’ve heard some brakes and tires squealing,” Stuart added with a laugh.

Some of the onlookers, including area farmers, will query the Briggemans about growing cotton this far north. “Usually every year, especially if we have cotton growing by the highway, we’ll have several people stop and ask questions,” Teri said. “Sometimes it will be farmers who have considered it [growing cotton] who want to see how we do it,” she added.

The couple, who met while attending Skyline High School in Pratt, has one daughter, T’Lane

COTTON HARVEST DEMANDS ADDED SAFETY MEASURESAlthough not listed as the official safety “forewoman” for Briggeman West Farm, Teri Briggeman ensures that her husband, Stuart, their farm hands and harvest crew follow safety precautions year-round, whether harvesting corn, soybeans or cotton.

“I’m always the one who scolds people for things,” Teri said. “I’ve fired someone for smoking at the end of the field.” The field she’s referencing is a cotton field, which can easily catch on fire with one small spark.

Cotton harvesting and the equipment it requires offers additional challenges when trying to keep everyone safe during harvest time. Module builders and strippers are large—and tall—machines with numerous moving parts that demand the harvesting crew’s full attention at all times.

The tall arms and cylinders of the module builders can and should be folded down before moving from field to field to minimize the risk of hitting overhead electric lines. The strippers do not adjust,

however, and although the Briggemans do their own cotton stripping, once in a while they help a neighbor harvest and must take extra precaution in moving the equipment.

“There is no way to make the strippers shorter so in some places we scout the roads to make sure we can get where we need to without running into high lines,” Stuart explained.

The Briggemans require a good, working fire extinguisher on each piece of harvest-ing equipment. The fire extinguishers on the

Cultivating

Seed cotton–cotton that is unginned–awaits other uses at High Plains Cot-ton Gin in Pratt. It can be used as livestock feed and to make cooking oil.


WHAT CAN BE MADE FROM A BALE OF COTTON?Cotton has become the most popular and best-selling fabric in the world. It’s prop-erties that have made it a suc-cessful fabric include its softness, breathabil-ity, moisture absorbancy, comfort, durability, easy to care for and to wash, and it’s a natural and fully renewable resource. A bale of cotton weighs about 480 pounds and can produce:f 215 Pairs of jeansf 249 Bedsheetsf 409 Men’s sport shirtsf 690 Terry bath towelsf 765 Men’s dress shirtsf 1,217 Men’s T-shirtsf 1,256 Pillowcasesf 2,104 Boxer shortsf 2,419 Men’s briefsf 3,085 Cloth diapersf 4,321 Mid-calf socksf 6,436 Women’s knit briefsf 21,960 Women’s handkerchiefsf 313,600 $100 bills

Courtesy of High Plains Cotton Gin, Pratt

COTTON HARVEST DEMANDS ADDED SAFETY MEASURESstrippers are water-based because “inevi-tably, somewhere down the road you will have a fire on a stripper or a module fire,” Stuart explained.

“We tell them that when there’s a fire they need to turn into the wind, dump the load and pull away without panicking,” Teri said. “We say ‘when’ not ‘if’ because it will happen. Cotton is very flammable. You might get a weed or a stem that sticks in the spinning brushes and cause a spark.” Stuart added that it’s not uncommon for

the stripper to pick up rocks and metal—like old wrenches—which can get caught, rub and cause sparks that can create a fire.

When the cotton module builders are parked at the end of the field, the Brigge-mans make sure they are far enough away from powerlines to accommodate the space needed for when the boll buggies raise up to dump the cotton into the builders.

“There’s been a time or two someone has said, ‘I’m going to park this here.’ And we’re saying, ‘no you’re going to pull up

another 50 feet,’” Stuart said.Although harvest equipment comes

with safety devices, it’s tempting to take care of something quickly without think-ing you need to set a safety mechanism. “If somebody goes to pull a weed off the header, I ask, ‘Is your safety set?’” Teri said. “You just have to make them do it,” she added. “You think ‘I’m just going take one second, I’ll be careful.’ Well that’s when it’s going to happen,” she added. “It’s not worth the risk.”

Balue, who now lives in Los Angeles but returns every summer to sell sweet corn like she first did when she was about 5 years old. “She’s always helped us,” Teri shared. “She ran the grain cart and combine when she was in high school. I think she may have been on the combine at two weeks of age,” she laughed. The Briggemans fondly recalled T’Lane selling sweet corn in front of their home just off the highway. The response was similar to when they now harvest cotton. “It was amazing. You would hear these brakes of the truckers and they would back up on this highway for some sweet corn. Of course, the highway wasn’t that busy back then,” Stuart noted.

Teri and Stuart both come from farm families, with Stuart’s family farming north of Platt in Iuka and Teri’s family, the Stonestreets, farming the land that Teri and Stuart now farm. “That’s why we call our farm Briggeman West because there was always confusion with the Briggeman

Farm in Iuka,” Teri explained. Farming since 1979, the Brigge-

mans find satisfaction in continuing the rich farming history of their fami-lies and in the changes they experi-ence when growing a diverse set of crops. “That’s a big reason why we tried cotton and enjoy it,” Stuart said. “Watching the progress, the growth and development of the crop. It is a little bit more management intensive, but it’s a fun crop to grow,” he added.

Teri agreed. “With farming, you’re not doing the same thing every day. About the time you are sick and tired of doing something, you’re done and moving on to the next thing.”

The next thing for the Brigge-mans will be to begin harvesting their cotton crop around the first of November, if the crop is ready and the weather cooperates. And the curious travelers along U.S. Highway 54 no doubt will pause to watch the harvest as they have for the past 16 years. KCL

It became a fear factor because they were actually stopping in the middle of the road to watch us.


Continued on page 17

A G L A N C E ATnewsbriefsA G L A N C E AT

Wolf Creek Celebrates 30 Years of Powering Kansas and Missouri

Thirty years ago, the Wolf Creek Generat-ing Station began supplying power to the nation’s electrical grid. That day–Sept. 3, 1985–was the culmination of a long journey through con-struction and commissioning, and the begin-ning of a proud history of milestones and memories.

Now, more than 267 million megawatt-hours later, the plant has established a long-standing legacy of safety and reliability while also serving as an important economic engine for Coffey County and the surrounding area. In addition to the $30 million of annual prop-erty taxes paid by Wolf Creek, the local and state economies benefit greatly from the plant’s payroll and purchase of materials and supplies.

The site employs more than 1,000 full-time and supplemental personnel. Of the current

workforce, 219 have been at Wolf Creek since the plant began provid-ing electricity to the nation’s power grid three decades ago. The plant is able to generate enough electricity to power about 800,000 homes around the clock.

“For 30 years, the people who work at Wolf Creek have carried through on their com-mitment to the people of Kansas and Missouri to provide reliable, clean power while keeping safety as our highest priority,” said Adam Heflin, President, CEO and Chief Nuclear Officer of Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Cor-poration. “Going forward, we’re going to re-commit and try to make the next 30 years even better than the first 30.”

Wolf Creek’s Anniversary celebration included many dignitaries and leaders who have been key to the safe and reliable opera-

tion of the plant over the past 30 years. It also included hundreds of the employees who work hard to assure the plant operates successfully.

“It takes great teamwork between the owners, managers and employees to be able to establish this 30-year mark and we look forward to Wolf Creek’s success in the coming years,” said Marcus

Marcus Harris, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of KEPCo, spoke at the 30th anniversary celebra-tion of Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation. Wolf Creek is jointly owned by Westar Energy, Kansas City Power & Light and KEPCo.


Harris, CEO of Kansas Electric Power Cooperative (KEPCo).

Wolf Creek’s initial operating license was for 40 years but in 2008 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a request to extend Wolf Creek’s operating license an addi-tional 20 years, to 2045.

In addition to the energy and economic benefits Wolf Creek pro-vides, the plant’s employees have established a legacy of generosity by

donating money and time to enhance local communities. This support has taken the form of educational part-nerships with the local schools, dona-tions of funds and expertise to local emergency preparedness activities, and active participation in civic and charitable organizations.

The plant is jointly owned by Westar Energy, Kansas City Power & Light and KEPCo. Westar and KCP&L each owns 47 percent and KEPCo owns 6 percent. KCL

Continued from page 16

Wolf Creek Celebrates 30 Years of Powering Kansas and Missouri

Learn More about Wolf Creekf THE COFFEY COUNTY

HISTORICAL MUSEUM, at 1101 Neosho, in Burlington displays pictures and facts about Wolf Creek. Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 1-4 p.m.

f DWIGHT EISENHOWER LEARNING CENTER call for group tour reservations, 620-364-4141. This is the learning center for Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation employees. You can peer into a window of the control room simulator that monitors each stage of electricity production.

f WOLF CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AREA NATURE TRAILS are located 1 1/4 miles east of U.S. 75 on 17th (5 miles north of Burlington). A fun observation tower is a silo with a 65-step spiral staircase inside. Three nature trails guide you through a variety of habitats.

f COFFEY COUNTY LAKE, two miles north, and then one mile east of Burlington. Across the lake is the Wolf Creek nuclear plant dome. Called the crown jewel of Kansas fisheries, this lake is open to the public and provides cooling for the Wolf Creek Generating Station.

Employees of Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation sign a banner celebrating the generating station’s 30th anniversary. Two hundred and nineteen Wolf Creek employ-ees have worked there since the plant began providing electricity to the nation’s power grid three decades ago. The plant is able to generate enough electricity to power about 800,000 homes around the clock.

The plant’s employees have established a legacy of generosity by donating money and time to enhance local communities.


Harvest Meals

Raisin sandwiches with chilled tea. Ginger bread with chilled coffee. Cheese and pickle sandwiches with diluted, unsweetened grape juice. Not typical meals of substance but they would satisfy a hungry, hot and tired harvest worker taking a break in the heat of the day.

Those suggested meals are a few of the harvest recipes and meal planning suggestions included in the April 1922 Extension Bulletin No. 35, “Meals for Harvest Time.” The bulletin was published by the Department of Food Economics and Nutrition, Division of Home Economics, at the Kansas State Agricultural College in response to calls for help in planning harvest-time meals.

Times have obviously changed since 1922. Many farm wives work outside of the home to help make ends meet while others work alongside family in the field to help with the harvest, both of which leave little or no time to plan meals for family let alone farm hands. Crockpots and freezers have replaced iron kettles and fireless cookers as families try to manage the changing times.

Then Lunch breaks often served in the field were meant to provide respite with a side of

sustenance until a heavier supper was prepared and served later in the day for everyone joining in the harvest.

NowIn some cases it’s BYOF-bring your own food.For Teri and Stuart Briggeman, owners of the

Briggeman West farm near Pratt, and members of Ninnescah Electric Cooperative, times have changed how harvest meals are handled. “The harvest help all bring their own food,” Teri explained. She works alongside her husband in the farm business, which doesn’t leave much time for meal preparation.

THEN & NOW


Nancy and Dean Lewis, owners of Lewis Produce, Topeka, and members of Kaw Valley Electric Cooperative, recall days making harvest meals. “We would basically prepare the meal for eight or 10 workers and they would come in the house and eat with us,” Nancy shared. That was 30 years ago, but the Lewis’ feed the few adults who work for them as a second job for extra spending money. “These are grown men who work hard and need a good meal,” Nancy explained. Their part-time high school workers prefer to go out to eat. “It’s gotten to be a recreational time for them,” Nancy said. The Lewis’ do offer Pizza Tuesdays and Pizza Sundays for the kids.

Then A quick read of Extension Bulletin No. 35 uncovers

information some might find objectionable today. “In many farm kitchens an excellent quality of bread is produced but in far too many farm kitchens a heavy, porous, ill-flavored product is produced which may be due to poor materials, ignorance of the principles of breadmaking, or to carelessness. The first cause may be unavoidable but the last two causes are unpardonable.”

Now The Briggemans eat meals in the field but they generally

consist of a sandwich to satiate their hunger until they can eat later in the evening.

Nancy is OK with having to serve sand-wiches and potato salad. “The one who is prob-ably thinking we should do more is Dean. It was always a highlight for him to be able to serve the workers hot meals. It gives him good memories.”

Then The evening meal should be anticipated and everything that

can be, should be prepared in the morning, thus conserving time, energy, and fuel. Amounts necessary for the number served should be carefully estimated to avoid leftovers … .

Now Teri manages harvest meal preparation by what she

described as “marathon” cooking, mixing up and grilling 40 hamburger patties at a time as well as cooking a supply of pork chops on the grill to freeze for later use. “I make 12 meatloaves and freeze them so we can come in at 10 or midnight and eat,” she said.

“And I do all this during weather breaks.”Once she began working full-time, Nancy

would fix soup or Dean would make his chili the night before to serve to the workers.

Then“As far as careful investigation extends there seems to be

no reason, physiological or psychological, for the serving of pie for breakfast—it should never be included in the breakfast menu.”

Now The one meal the Briggemans make sure they eat before

heading out to the fields is the first meal of the day to prepare them for the day’s demanding work. “We make sure we eat a healthy breakfast every morning,” Teri assured. “The old-fashioned harvest time crew and meal just doesn’t happen anymore,” Nancy said. KCL

Thank you to the Morse Department of Special Collec-tions, Kansas State University Libraries, for locating the bulletin and scanning its content for use in this article.

“All drinks should be served cool, not too sweet, and in generous quantities.”


For many Americans, that simple morning routine would bring them in contact with at least five different cooperatives.

That alarm could be powered by electricity from one of Kansas’ electric co-ops. The paper is likely filled with stories from the Associated Press. The juice might be Sunkist, Ocean Spray or Florida’s Natural.

The butter on your toast could have been processed by one of several dairy co-ops, including Dairy Farmers of America or Land-O-Lakes.

If the local hardware store is a True Value, Ace or Do-It-Best, then it’s part of a co-op, too.

If you’ve been a co-op member for long, you’ve probably heard these examples before. What you might not realize is that this time-tested business model has been rediscovered by a new generation of Americans who appreci-ate doing business with locally based organizations that put people ahead of profits.

Co-ops are experiencing a surge in popularity. Today, it is estimated that one in three Americans is a member of at least one cooperative.

America’s electric cooperative network now serves 42 million Americans. In 2014, America’s credit unions sur-passed 100 million members.

In addition to the growth of true cooperative organizations, there has been a surge in the popularity of other funding and business models that feature many of the same traits as cooperatives.

Websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe allow large groups of

people to pool small contribu-tions to achieve a larger goal. Though groups raising money through these

sites aren’t cooperatives, it’s clear that an increasing number of people are seeing the value of working together and pooling resources to improve their communities.

The benefits of being a member of your electric co-op go far beyond the warm fuzzy feeling we get from sup-porting a local business and keeping our dollars in our communities.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, our sole mission is to ensure you have safe, reliable and affordable electricity when you need it. We aren’t in busi-ness to make a profit, we aren’t trying

Rediscoveringthe Co-op Difference

BY J U S T I N L A B E R G E

Your alarm goes off

and you get out of

bed. You go outside

and grab the morning

paper. You sit down

at the kitchen table

to read your paper

while enjoying a glass

of juice and some

toast. After breakfast

you head down to the

local hardware store

to pick up supplies to

tackle your weekend

to-do list.


to get elected to public office and we don’t have a hidden agenda. Our job is to look out for you and your fellow co-op members.

That’s important to keep in mind as we go through an unprecedented period of transition in the energy industry.

The coming years are likely to bring many changes to the way our nation generates, delivers, stores, con-sumes and regulates energy.

When an industry goes through a change of this magnitude, there will be many interest groups vying to influ-ence policy and advance their agendas. As that process unfolds, there will only be one group that’s truly acting as the voice of energy consumers, and that’s America’s electric cooperatives.

We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but you can rest assured knowing that your electric co-op–and more than 900 other not-for-profit electric cooperatives across the U.S.– will be working hard to ensure your voice is part of the conversation. And that’s the cooperative difference. KCL

JUSTIN LABERGE writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

Voluntary and Open MembershipCooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all people able to use its services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

Democratic Member ControlCooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members—those who buy the goods or use the services of the cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.

Members’ Economic ParticipationMembers contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than on the capital invested.

Autonomy and IndependenceCo-ops are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the co-op’s autonomy.

Education, Training and InformationCooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.

Cooperation among CooperativesCooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

Concern for CommunityWhile focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.

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THE 7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLESThese principles, along with the cooperative purpose of improving quality of life for their members, make electric co-ops different from other electric utilities.


Across the U.S., cases of fraud and identity theft are at all-time highs. In 2014 alone, there were more than 40,000 cases of phone- or utilities-related fraud, or 118 cases every day.

Jennifer Rapp, public information director for the Kansas Attor-ney General’s Office, said their consumer protection division has received more than 1,200 scam-related calls this year. “Additionally, more than 145 scam-related complaints have been filed with our office by Kansas consumers since Jan. 2, 2015,” Rapp said. She added that five of those complaints were specific energy-related scams but could not provide additional details of the complaints “because they may be currently under investigation.”

Energy scams and those who perpetrate them are becoming more sophisticated and prevalent, and even the most savvy consumers can be tricked by them. Leavenworth-Jefferson Electric Cooperative in McLouth recently alerted its members on its Facebook page to a scam involving a flier left on homeowners’ doors with the bold headline, “Electric Update!” Next to a picture of an electric meter, a message reads, “Unfortunately, we are unable to reach you by phone or in person. Please contact us within 72 hours.” It then lists office hours and phone numbers. At the bottom, in teeny-tiny type with an aster-isk it notes, “Not affiliated with any public or private utility company.” Anyone finding that flier on their front door could easily mistake it for communication from the electric cooperative, call the numbers provided and think they are communicating with their cooperative.

Members can steer clear of these types of scams by being aware of some of the common ploys used, be suspicious of free energy claims and to always contact your electric cooperative if anything seems amiss.

Phone scamsIn summer of 2012, thousands of consumers from coast-to-coast,

including members at electric cooperatives, fell prey to a telephone scam promising bogus help with energy bills. The criminals claimed that President Obama had authorized a special federal program to

Energy scammers have become more sophisticated, more prevalent

ALERTEnergy Scam


pay electric bills. Then, they asked each victim to provide personal information, such as a bank routing number or a Social Security number to receive the payment. Although this particular scam has run its course, scammers are always coming up with new stories to steal consumers’ personal information. One such scam making the rounds involves callers posing as employees of a local electric cooperative and attempting to obtain credit card information to pay for “an overdue bill.”

Pioneer Electric in Ulysses posted a scam alert on its Facebook page

in September warning its members of a caller claim-ing to be an employee. The caller requested credit card information and threatened to shut off electricity if the “victim” did not comply.

It’s never a good idea to give out personal informa-

tion over the phone. If you receive such a call, contact your

electric co-op, and then the Kansas Attorney General’s office to report the scam.

Door-to-doorEven in the digital age, there are still scams

being perpetrated face-to-face. Typically, these scams target the elderly or people who may not speak English well, who may be easier to intimi-date. Claiming to be from the utility, they will tell you that something is wrong (bill past due, equipment missing or broken) and that you need to pay them money immediately or be discon-nected. Electric cooperatives do not demand payment like this in the field and do not go to a member’s house unless there is a scheduled appointment. Again, if you want to check if the person at your door is a utility employee, call your electric cooperative.

EmailIf you’ve routinely

used email, you’ve realized that today is not the day a “Nigerian prince” will give you his fortune, but many people don’t realize how much more sophisticated scam emails have become. Scam emails will mimic mes-sages from legitimate sources and contain personal information such as your name, address, bank name and more. Unfortu-nately, this information is not difficult to find and can make otherwise sensible people send back sensitive information or click a link in the email. If you open an email that you suspect is a scam or asks for private information, call your electric co-op to confirm its authenticity. And don’t click on the link.

Product scamsWe’ve all been taught that if it sounds too

good to be true, it probably is. This is almost always the case with “miracle” devices that claim to reduce energy use without providing a sen-sible explanation for how they work.

In May 2008, the Texas Office of Attorney General took legal action against a firm offering what it called the Xpower Energy Saver or Mega Power Saver, a $300 small gray box that plugged into an electrical outlet and promised to cut elec-tric bills by 10 percent. Testing by the University of Texas in Austin revealed these devices couldn’t deliver their promised savings. In addition, the lab revealed that the products are, in reality, ordi-nary capacitors.

Capacitors are regularly used by electricians, and they can be purchased for less than $20. While this gadget is now off the market, you can be sure that similar products will spring up in its place. KCL

AVOID ENERGY SCAMS WITH THESE TIPSfAlways guard your personal accounting and banking informa-tion, (name, social security number, account numbers, etc.) and never share this information unless you know how it will be used and protected. Don’t reply to, or click on, emails asking for this information.fRemember–your electric cooperative will NEVER call and ask for sensitive personal information over the phone or by email.

fOnly use methods authorized by your electric cooperative to pay your bills.fCooperative employees visit a home only in response to a service request. If a service call has not been scheduled or requested, do not allow the person to enter your house.fWhen an employee does respond to a service call, check iden-tification and make sure the service truck is clearly marked with the proper logo.


Liz Sosa

B Y L I Z S O S A

The Time is Now

Time is of the essence. Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur and motivational speaker said, “Time is more precious than money. You can get more money but you cannot get more time.”

Yet, demands on one of our most precious personal resources, our time, continually gets stretched thinner and thinner while we try to prioritize personal, professional, and civic choices.

How do we determine the most impactful way to utilize our time when there is a significant gap between our starting point and the ultimate goal of our desired endpoint?

While I’m not a credentialed expert in time management or efficiency strategy, I offer up this simple action: Do Something. Take Action!

I recently attended a gathering of my peers to provide feedback and brainstorm solutions around a targeted civic theme. The event was energizing: the one-on-one interactions were deep, the facilitated discussions were thought-provoking, and the success stories validated that good work was happening and progress was being made.

And yet I left feeling overwhelmed. Armed with pages of notes and noble goals, I quickly dis-covered the sheer magnitude of potential efforts I could embrace and undertake to move civic work, our community work, forward was vast and nearly limitless.

I decided to do something!That “something” came in the form of a

phone call to a colleague to help me wrangle my thoughts into cohesive ideas. The next “some-

thing” became a realistic, measurable action-item complete with a timeline and accountability measures.

While I’m not immediately solving a large-scale problem, I am creating steady progress towards my goal. I can now accept that my small step is at the very least a step in the right direc-tion and this means that I am working towards the finish line, instead of deciding “if” I should move off the starting line.

The Public Square Community model centers around this very concept of:f Getting started through positive conversation

about an issue;f Mobilizing the right people who support the

goal, and; f Taking action.

The same is true with civic work and the application of Public Square Community prin-ciples to community development. Many goals we have partnered with communities to tackle may seem big—economic development, housing, infrastructure, succession planning—but once an individual, a group, or organization gets started through a dialogue about change, decisions on what it will take to do something emerge so action can naturally follow. This can all begin with breaking down those overwhelming goals that might otherwise strand us at the starting line wondering where to begin.

Do something. Time is of the essence. KCL

LIZ SOSA is CEO of Public Square Communities; www.publicsquarecommunities.com

I can now accept that

my small step is at the very

least a step in the right direction ...


http://www.publicsquarecommunities.com

http://www.publicsquarecommunities.com

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT & CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title, Kansas Country Living. 2. Publication No. 290-440. 3. Filing Date, 10-1-15. 4. Issue Frequency, monthly. 5. No. of Issues Published Annually, 12. 6. Annual Subscription Price, $10.00. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication, P.O. Box 4267, 7332 SW 21st St., Topeka, KS 66604. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Offices of Publisher, same as above. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor. Publisher, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Editor, Vicki Estes, P.O. Box 4267, Topeka, KS 66604. Managing Editor, same as above. 10. Owner, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, P.O. Box 4267, 7332 SW 21st St., Topeka, KS 66604. 11. Known Bondholders, None. 12. The purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organiza-tion and the exempt status for Federal income tax purposes has not changed during preceding 12 months. 13. Publication title, Kansas Country Living. 14. Issue date for circulation data below, September 2015. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation. Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, (No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date). A. Total No. Copies, 126,244 (129,048); B. Paid Circulation (by mail and outside the mail). 1. Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541, 124,753 (127,565); 2. Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541, none (none); 3. Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS, none (none); 4. Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS, none (none).C. Total Paid Distribution, 124,753 (127,565); D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution. 1. Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541, 408 (408); 2. Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541, none (none); 3. Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS, none (none); 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail, 669 (675). E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution, 1,078 (1083). F. Total Dis-tribution, 125,831 (128,648). G. Copies Not Distributed, 413 (400). H. Total, 126,244 (129,048). I. Percent Paid, 99.14% (99.16%); 16. No electronic copies; 0. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the October 2015 issue of this publication. 18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner. /s/ Vicki Estes, Editor. Date, 10-1-15.

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Acceptance of advertising by Kansas Country Living does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Kansas’ electric cooperatives of the product or services advertised.

W H E R E TO S H O P

26 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING OCTOBER 201526 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING OCTOBER 2015

Moooving?

Report your new address to

your local electric cooperative.

(785) 478-4554(in Kansas)

(915) 533-5394 (outside Kansas)

Would You Like to Advertise?

For advertising information call:

OCTOBER 2015 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 27OCTOBER 2015 KANSAS COUNTRY LIVING 27

Risk is always how it starts. It has to. One of you has to take the risk to invite the other person to lunch or coffee or some oppor-tunity where you will talk and a friendship can blossom. In the beginning you don’t know how it’s going to go. One lunch may tell you in no uncertain terms this is not a person you want to spend any more time with. Then again, it may leave you eager for the next meeting.

But both of you have to be willing to accept the risk. Admittedly, there’s more risk for the person who does the initial ask, but it requires the other party to be willing to engage as well. Those first few conversations can be a bit awkward, with both of you doing your best to keep the words flowing.

Eventually, people who are meant to be friends find a rhythm and the words come easily. The topics skip from one thing to another with a grace that only natural conversation has. It’s hard to reconstruct it. It has a life of its own.

Sometimes, when you least expect it, those seamless transitions in conversation go down roads neither of you expected. You find your-self talking about things that matter. Things that affect you deeply. Things you care about, sometimes even when you don’t want to. Things that make you who you are, including the things

you’re not proud of. I recently had this experience with someone

I didn’t know well. But in a two and a half hour conversation we started with banalities and ended with deeply personal confessions rarely spoken even to those closest to us. Sometimes there’s less risk when it’s a young friendship. If the other person walks out, you haven’t wasted years on them.

Real conversation is somewhat rare, but such a tremendous thing to experience. It requires both people to be open, and to accept that what they say will be treated with gentle-ness. It requires vulnerability, something most of us are loathe to extend to our fellow humans. It requires believing we can count on kindness for parts of ourselves even when we have difficulty accepting. I’m so fortunate to have people in my life who fall into this category. And I’m thrilled to have another one now.

I have friends from a number of different arenas in my life. When I’ve moved on from schools or jobs or towns, I’ve tried to take friend-ships with me. It’s not always successful but the true, deep ones usually survive and that’s a joy.

I always love to share a meal or a treat with a friend. Whether in a restaurant or something you’ve cooked yourself, there’s a magic to having your feet under the same table. This is a cookie recipe I’ve baked to share with many friends over the years. It is absolutely delicious and actually

gets better after a day or two. Don’t skimp on the crystallized ginger. I promise it’s worth the effort! KCL

Real Conversation Requires Vulnerability B Y P A T S Y T E R R E L L

Patsy Terrell

CO O K ’ S L I B R A RY

Ginger Cookies

Cream butter, shortening and sugar together. Add egg and molasses and mix well. Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to wet ingredients. Mix in crys-tallized ginger last. Mix and form into one-inch balls. Put on sheet and flatten with glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

2 1/4 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup shortening

1/4 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses 2 ounces crystallized ginger, minced


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Cedar Plank Grilled Eggs in Toast

2 cedar planks (about 12x6 inches each)

4 slices bread, such as brioche or challah (3/4-inch thick slices)

7 eggs, divided

2 tbs. m

ilk

2 tbs. plus 1/2 tsp. applwood rub, divided

1/2 cup grated smoked cheddar cheese

Soak cedar planks in water for at least 4 hours or overnight. Drain and pat dry.

Remove the centers of each slice of bread with a 3-inch round cookie cutter. Beat 3 of the eggs

with milk and 2 tablespoons of the applewood rub in m

edium bowl until well blended.

Lightly oil 1 side of each of the planks. Place planks, oil side up, on preheated grill over medium

heat. Dip bread in egg m

ixture. Place on planks. Break an egg into each of the holes. Sprinkle eggs with rem

aining 1/2 teaspoon applewood rub. Cover grill. Grill 10 minutes.

Sprinkle eggs with cheese and additional applewood rub, if desired. Grill, covered, 10 minutes

longer. Makes 4 servings.

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Barbecue Meatball Skew

ers

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/3 cup basil, chopped

1 egg, scram

bled

3 tbs. onion, diced

1/2 tsp. salt

4 ounces fresh m

ozzarella

2 cups barbecue sauce

20, 3-inch wooden skewers

Build a charcoal fire for indirect cooking by situating the coals on only one side of the grill, leaving the other side void. Preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In m

edium bowl, com

bine ground beef, bread crum

bs, basil, egg, onion and salt. Mix well. Form

about 20 meatballs using

2 tablespoons of beef mixture for each m

eatball. Place meatballs over indirect heat and close

grill lid. Cook for 10 minutes, or until internal tem

perature reaches 160°F.

While m

eatballs cook, form a ball of m

ozzarella (1 teaspoon each) around each wooden skewer, 1 inch from

end. Remove m

eatballs from grill and stick a m

ozzarella skewer into top of each m

eatball. Place back on grill over indirect heat, close grill lid and cook for an additional 2 m

inutes, or until cheese melts. Pour 2 cups barbecue sauce into bowl. Once cheese m

elts, rem

ove each skewer from grill and im

mediately dip m

eatball into barbecue sauce, up to bot-tom

of melted cheese. Serve warm

. Makes 20 m

eatballs.

Cajun Country CaviarFor black-eyed peas:

2 cans black-eyed peas, drained

1 tsp. chives, thinly chopped

1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped

1/3 cup lim

e juice

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 tsp. Tabasco Original Red Sauce

1/2 cup carrot, thinly shaved

2 tbs. radish

For avocado:

2 avocados

1/2 tsp. salt

3 lim

es, juiced

1/2 cup cilantro

In large mixing bowl, com

bine black-eyed peas, chives, parsley, lime juice, olive oil, salt and Ta-

basco Sauce. Add additional salt and lime juice to taste. Using knife, slice off tops of carrots on

bias. Using mandolin, shave thinly from

top to bottom; place in ice bath for 5 m

inutes. Remove

and place on towel to dry for 5 minutes; add to bowl. Using m

andolin, shave radishes thinly; place in ice bath for 5 m

inutes. Remove and place on towel to dry for 5 m

inutes; add to bowl. Slice avocado from

tip to tail to open; secure pit, twist and remove. Score each side vertically 3

times and horizontally 4 tim

es. Using a spoon, remove avocado from

rind and add to blender. Add salt, lim

e juice and cilantro; blend until smooth.

On large serving platter or in wide bowl, spread avocado mixture in wide, thick circle. Pile

black-eyed peas mixture high in center. Serve with corn chips.

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Candied Grilled Bacon

6 slices thick-cut applewood bacon

3 tbs. honey

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Arrange bacon slices in single layer on bacon grilling rack or shallow disposable foil pan. Grill over m

edium-high heat 10 to 12 m

inutes or until bacon edges begin to curl. Remove pan from

grill. Drain drippings.

Microwave honey and cinnam

on in small m

icrowavable bowl on high 30 seconds, stirring after 15 seconds. Brush bacon with honey m

ixture. Place bacon directly on the grill over low heat. Grill 2 to 3 m

inutes per side or until crisp. Makes 6 servings.


TRUTH BE TOLD, YOUR ELECTRICITY COMES FROM PEOPLE POWER. Thankfully, there’s one energy source that co-op members can always depend on–the hard-working dedication and efficiency of your electric co-op linemen. Learn more about the power of your co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.

TOGETHERWESAVE.COM

Kansas Country Living October 2015

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