Colorado Country Life MVEA March 2013

[March 2013]

GenerationsBlue Jackets

of

Supporting

The official publication of the Colorado Rural Electric Association || Volume 44, Number 03

COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor@303-455-4111; [email protected] Wallin, Associate Editor; [email protected] • Amy Higgins, Editorial Assistant/Writer; [email protected]: Kris Wendtland@303-902-7276; NCM@800-626-1181

OFFICERS: Bob Bledsoe [Tri-State] President; Bill Midcap [Fort Morgan] Vice President; Don Kaufman [Sangre de Cristo] Secretary;Jack Schneider [Poudre Valley] Treasurer; Kent Singer [CREA] Executive Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Bill Patterson [Delta-Montrose]; John Porter [Empire]; Don McClaskey [Grand Valley]; John Vader [Gunnison]; Jim Lueck [Highline]; Megan Gilman [Holy Cross]; Dan Mills [K.C.]; Tom Compton [La Plata]; Stan Cazier [Mountain Parks]; B.D. Paddock [Mountain View]; Joseph Costa, Reg Rudolph [San Isabel]; Eleanor Valdez [San Luis Valley]; Marcus Wilson, Kevin Ritter [San Miguel]; Randy Phillips [Southeast]; Jim Jaeger, Ron Asche [United Power]; Bill Jordan [White River]; Stuart Travis [Y-W]; Scott McGill [Yampa Valley]; Basin Electric, CoBank, Moon Lake Electric, Wheatland Electric [Associate Members]

[contents]

March 2013

EDITORIAL: Denver Corporate Office, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216; Phone: 303-455-4111 • Email: [email protected] • Website: coloradocountrylife.coop • Facebook: Colorado Country Life • Twitter: @COCountryLife

Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly for $9/$15 per year by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.

[cover] FFA blue jacket illustrated by Cathy Morrison from Livermore.

44 Viewpoint EnergyWise Project empowers members through energy efficiency

5 Letters6 Calendar7 Co-op News12 NewsClips14 Shale Shock Natural gas may edge out coal as nation’s primary power source

21 Gardening A look at gardening as the new season approaches

22 Gardening The botanical truth about four-leaf clovers and shamrocks

24 Outdoors A chance encounter brings memories

of bunny games

25 Energy Tips Choosing the best central air cleaner for your home

29 Funny Stories

16 22

30

80,000 2015 18,000the world record set by a single person’s largest collection of four-leaf clovers as of 1995

the United States will overtake Russia as the world’s largest gas producer, according to studies

approximate square footage of learning space at the Center for Agricultural Education

16 Future Generations of Blue Jackets New training facility for FFA

teachers planned at CSU

20 Recipes Simply succulent sandwiches —

hot alternatives to the hoagie

International Energy Agency Chief Economist Faith Birol

mailto:[email protected]




[viewpoint]

ColoradoCountryLife.coop4 March 2013

CColorado’s electric co-ops have been proponents of the wise use of energy for decades. They regularly encourage you as members to improve the in-sulation in your home and to upgrade the lighting in your business with more efficient bulbs and lamps. They offer rebates to help you cover the costs of these improvements. And, through this and every issue of Colorado Country Life, the co-ops provide you with tips on how to be a better energy consumer.

At Colorado Rural Electric Association, we have decided to add to those ongoing efforts and to shine an even brighter light on energy efficiency. As part of that focus, we recently announced the creation of the Colorado EnergyWise Project. This is a joint effort between CREA and our mem-ber co-ops to provide new opportunities to use energy more efficiently throughout the homes, schools, businesses and gov-ernment facilities across co-op territory. The Colorado EnergyWise Project, which will be implemented over several months, will include numerous components.

One component will be to retrofit state-owned buildings in electric co-op territory with one or more energy-saving devices or upgrades. This might include the installation of efficient lighting, weatherization of buildings or upgraded heating or cooling. We are hoping to work with Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office to help us identify projects in state-owned facilities that would lower energy costs and save taxpayer dollars.

EnergyWise will also have programs for you, our co-ops’ member-owners. We are planning a new EnergyWise page on our website that will link to the Touchstone

Energy “Together We Save” web page as well as to other energy efficiency sites. The new web page will have in-formation about EnergyWise projects that have been com-pleted or are under way, as well as potential lenders who can assist individual electric co-op member-owners who may be interested in making

an energy efficiency investment in their home or business.

One of the lenders in the co-op pro-gram, CoBank, has agreed to help provide funding for students who will compete in the state science and engineering fair in the area of energy efficiency. We are working with CoBank to develop a special award for the science fair and provide judges for the April event. We are looking for-ward to an ongoing relationship with the state science fair and helping focus students on energy efficiency long into the future.

We have also had discussions with the credit unions and community banks that do business in Colorado’s electric co-op territory. The credit unions and banks are excited to provide loans to co-op mem-ber-owners for energy efficiency improve-ments. And CREA is excited to help them market these loan products. We want to make sure that you as co-op member-owners are aware of the low-cost loans that could help you upgrade your home or business and lower your electricity bills.

Already there are many rebates avail-able for energy-efficient appliances, thanks to Tri-State Generation and Trans-mission Association, the power supplier to 18 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops. For years, Tri-State has supported a variety of energy efficiency programs for its mem-ber co-ops to offer to their members. This will continue with Tri-State’s financial support of rebates and programs being a key component of the Colorado Energy-Wise Project.

This new program will expand on the many services electric co-ops already provide for their members. Co-ops are nonprofit utilities. We do not have share-

holders that require profits on electricity sales. Instead, our rates are set at a level that will enable us to make the investments neces-sary to provide reliable service. We don’t try to make money. Our busi-ness model allows us to be concerned about the pocketbooks of our member-owners.

We believe that the purpose of electric co-ops is to empower you, our members, to improve the quality of your lives. Your local electric co-op will be participating with CREA in the Colo-rado EnergyWise Project to do just that.

Announcing the Colorado EnergyWise Project Colorado’s electric co-ops empower their members through energy efficiencyBY KENT SINGER || CREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR || [email protected]

Kent Singer

Kent Singer, Executive Director

FOLLOW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KENT SINGER’S BLOG AT COLORADOREABLOG.WORDPRESS.COM.


[letters]

ColoradoCountryLife.coopMarch 2013 5

Send your letter to the editor by mail to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver CO 80216 or email [email protected]. You must include your name and address which will not to be published. Letters may be edited.

Just for the BirdsOn behalf of Colorado Parks and Wild-life and the Area 12 staff, we would like to thank Southeast Colorado Power and its fabulous field staff for immediately re-sponding to our request for assistance in the construction of a new artificial bald eagle nest structure east of Lamar. For the past 20-plus years, a local nest has consistently supported a breed-ing pair of bald eagles. Recently this nest, located in a large, dead cottonwood tree near the Arkansas River, was toppled by extremely high winds. A pair of bald eagles arrived at this historic nest site and began courtship behavior in late January. This created a sense of urgency for us to locate the necessary materials, equipment and professional help to stand a new pole, guy wires and nest platform. We cannot express enough our ap-preciation in your immediate and enthu-siastic offer to help with a new 45-foot pole, trucks, equipment, braces, wires, related hardware and, most importantly, a willing and highly competent field crew. We would like to recognize this [commitment of money and personnel] while sharing our heartfelt appreciation for your immediate response with such a professional crew and equipment.

Mike Smith, conservation biologistColorado Parks and Wildlife

We Still Need TransmissionSolar and wind are great renewable sources and need to be used whenever practical. However, until a satisfactory method of storing such production for the times the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing [is found], such pro-duction is limited. At present, storage is bulky, requires its own room and is lim-ited in the amount of production, which is occasionally not enough to meet the demand. And wind generators do make noise that can be terribly distracting. We will continue to need transmission lines until technology develops.

Anis Kelley, Collbran


[calendar]


[March]March 8-10Monte VistaCrane FestivalVarious Monte Vista Locationscranefest.com

March 8-10Nederland Frozen Dead Guy DaysVarious Nederland Locationsfrozendeadguydays.org

March 13DenverBeginning Rocky Mountain GardeningDenver Botanic Gardens6-8:30 pm • botanicgardens.org

March 14-17CortezFour States Ag ExpoMontezuma County Fairgrounds970-529-3486 • fourstate sagexpo.com

March 15-April 7Evergreen“Leaving Iowa” PerformanceCenter/Stageevergreenplayers.org

March 16-17DurangoChildren’s Consignment Sale EventLa Plata County Fairgrounds970-749-5582 • munchkinkidzmart.com

March 16GranbyBeach Bash and Rail JamGranby Ranchgranbyranch.com/event-calendar

March 16La JuntaFrontier Skills DayBent’s Old Fort9 am-4 pm • 719-383-5010

March 16LovelandGet Up & Get Down to Get Kids OutLoveland Ski Areaskiloveland.com/events/March.aspx

March 30MeekerEaster Egg HuntBarone Middle School10-11 am • 970-878-5510

April 4-13PuebloSouthern Colorado Regional Quilt ShowEl Pueblo History Museum10 am-4 pm • 719-647-0004

April 5Burlington“Two on Tap” Song and Dance ShowBurlington High School7:30 pm • 719-346-8918

April 5LittletonFree Admission DayDenver Botanic Gardens at Chatfieldbotanicgardens.org

April 6CalhanRummage SaleWhittemore Hall at Fairgrounds8:30 am-2 pm • 719-347-2328

April 6MonarchKayaks on SnowMonarch Mountain Ski Resort888-996-7669 x 5050

April 6-7AuroraRepticon Reptile ShowArapahoe County Fairgroundsrepticon.com

April 13GreeleyRunning with the Bears 5K Uni-versity of Northern Coloradofacebook.com/events/ 349363798490141

March 16Pueblo “The Mark of Zorro” PerformanceSangre de Cristo Arts Center11 am & 2 pm • 719-295-7200

March 16RidgwayWine & Whiskers CarnivalOuray County 4-H Event Center970-626-2273

March 17SalidaWalden Chamber Music Society ConcertSteamPlant Theater3 pm • 719-395-2097

March 19Denver“John Otto: A Man of Many Letters” LectureHistory Colorado Center1 pm • 303-866-2394

March 19Littleton“Hummingbirds of the Front Range” ClassThe Inn at Hudson Gardens6-8 pm • 303-797-8565 x 306

March 21-31Aspen/SnowmassSpring JamVarious Aspen/Snowmass Locationsaspensnowmass.com/en/events-and-activities/events

March 21FruitaSquare DanceFruita Community Center6:30-8:30 pm • 303-548-5789

March 22-24Greeley“Arsenic and Old Lace” PerformanceUnion Colony Civic Center970-356-5000 • ucstars.com/shows

March 22-24LongmontHome & Garden ShowBoulder County Fairgroundsgreatwesternproductions.com/shows

March 22-23Loveland“Charlotte’s Web” PlayRialto Theater Centerrialtoloveland.ticketforce.com

March 22-24LovelandGem and Mineral ShowLarimer County Fairgroundsfortcollinsrockhounds.org

March 22-24Trinidad“Twelve Angry Men” Perfor-mance Famous Performing Arts Center719-846-4765 • historic trinidad.com/events.html

March 23BayfieldCowboy LuauBilly Goat Saloon970-884-7137

March 23Beulah(Just Past) SpringEquinox Hike Mountain Park Environmental Center9 am • 719-485-4444

March 23Fort CollinsWinter Farmers MarketOpera Galleria10 am-2 pm • 970-219-3382

March 24NorthglennVintage Voltage ExpoRamada Plaza Convention Center11 am-4 pm • danacain.com/events

March 28-30Fort Collins“TRACES” PerformanceLincoln Center 970-221-6730 • fcgov.com/lctix

March 30DurangoPeanuts Easter TrainDurango & Silverton Railroad888-872-4607 • durangotrain.com

March 30GoldenBunny Express TrainColorado Railroad Museum10 am-4 pm • 303-279-4591

[April]

Calendar, Colorado Country Life, 5400 N. Washington St., Denver, CO 80216; fax to 303-455-2807; or email [email protected]. For more information on these and other events, visit coloradocountrylife.coop.

TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO: {SEND CALENDAR ITEMS

mailto:@coloradocountrylife.org

MOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION


AAt Mountain View Electric Association we serve “mem-bers” not “customers.” This is just one of the differences between electric co-ops and other electric utilities. The dif-ference is also represented in our core mission and business model.

For example, MVEA oper-ates on a not-for-profit basis. Revenues above operating costs, called margins, are returned to members in the form of capital credits. This is part of what distinguishes a cooperative from an investor-owned utility. Capital credits are returned to our members when financial conditions allow and bylaw provisions are met. MVEA is currently refunding capital credits on a 15-year rotation.

In the United States, there are two other kinds of not-for-profit electric providers: public utility districts or PUDs, and public power districts or PPDs. There are also two other types of electric utilities: city-owned municipal electric systems and profit-driven investor- owned utilities. In every case, utilities receive financial assistance from the federal govern-ment in some fashion. The following is a brief description of each.

Cooperatives, PUDs, PPDsElectric cooperatives, PPDs (located exclu-sively in Nebraska) and PUDs (all in the Pacific Northwest) are all not-for-profits. Cooperatives choose directors from their membership and are required by state law to hold annual mem-bership meetings. The MVEA annual meeting of members is scheduled for June 13, 2013 at Falcon High School commencing at 7 p.m. for the purposes: to elect two directors of the Association, one from Dis-trict 3 and one from District 5, all as provided by the Association’s Bylaws and Articles of Incor-poration; and to conduct such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Allen Gresham, director of District 3, has announced his intention to retire from the board at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Members. B.D. (Bud) Pad-dock is the incumbent for District 5.

PUDs and PPDs are local government units, similar to school districts, and are not required

to hold annual meetings or to allocate capital credits. In addition, their directors are elected on the state ballot. Candidates only need to reside within the PPD or PUD’s boundaries to serve on a board; they do not have to receive power from the utility.

Federal assistance to electric co-ops comes in the form of low-

interest loans from the Rural Utilities Service, formerly the Rural Electrification Administra-tion. Based on current interest rates, RUS loans actually make money for the federal govern-ment, about $274 million in fiscal year 2012. Aside from aiding in construction of critical infrastructure that keeps electric service reli-able and electric rates affordable, RUS financ-ing remains important because household incomes in co-op service territories run about 11 percent lower than the national average.

Co-ops serve an average of 7.5 consumers per mile of line. MVEA is a little above average at 8.03 consumers per mile of line. Co-ops also collect an average of $14,900 per mile of line. MVEA collects an average of $15,027 per mile of line. Nationally, electric co-ops pay $1.4 bil-lion in state and local taxes each year.

Municipal electric systemsMunicipal electric systems are distribution utilities owned by a city or other incorporated community. As public entities, they can levy taxes, issue government bonds and adopt and enforce rules and regulations.

Not-for-profit municipals serve the most

consumers per mile of line, an average of 48, and collect an average of $113,301 per mile of line. The federal government subsidizes municipals, too; when cities issue tax-exempt bonds, interest paid to bond owners is not taxed. The cost of this benefit in 2003 (the last year data is available) was $909 million, or $55 per consumer.

Investor-owned utilitiesInvestor-owned utilities, or IOUs, are gov-erned by and generate profits for sharehold-ers (stock owners) who do not necessarily live in the utility’s service area. IOUs average 36 customers and $75,498 in revenue per mile of line.

In virtually every case, IOUs charge electric rates that include amounts for presumed federal tax liabilities. However, available tax breaks, such as investment tax credits and accelerated depreciation, allow IOUs to retain most of the taxes collected. At a cost to the government of $4.6 billion in 2010, this federal subsidy to IOUs works out to about $44 per customer.

Back to the cooperative differenceMVEA is here to provide affordable, reliable, environmentally responsible electric power. But at the core, it’s really about improving the quality of life in the communities we serve. That’s the main difference, the cooperative difference.

Jim Herron

The Cooperative DifferenceBY JIM HERRON || CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER || [email protected]




AAt the Annual Meeting on June 13, 2013, at Falcon High School in Falcon, two directors will be elected to Mountain View Electric Association’s Board of Directors from the following districts:

n District 3 — Elbert and surrounding areas to include a portion of the Black Forest (current director Allen Gresham is retiring, leaving an open seat for this district)

n District 5 — Ellicott, Fountain, Falcon and surrounding areas (incumbent B.D. Bud Paddock)

The procedure for director elections and member voting is available on MVEA’s website at www.mvea.coop.

If you are interested in being a candidate, please contact a member of the nominating committee. A candidate must be a MVEA member and reside in the district where there is a vacancy. Before applying, please contact either MVEA office at 719-775-2861 or 719-495-2283 to verify your district.

A member may also petition for nomination. Petitions and proce-dures are available at 1655 Fifth Street, Limon; 11140 E. Woodmen Road, Falcon; or online at www.mvea.coop. Petitions must be signed by 15 members of MVEA and returned to either MVEA office by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2013.

A candidate questionnaire must be completed for either the verbal nomination or the petition. This application can be found on MVEA’s website or you may pick one up at either office. If you have questions, please contact a member of the nominating committee. Candidate applications must be received at either office or by the nominating committee by 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, for the committee’s consideration. If you are petitioning for nomination, the candidate ap-plication must be submitted with your petition no later than 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2013.

NOW OPEN — 2013 MVEA BOARD NOMINATIONS

MVEA District Map

Name: ________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Home Phone: __________________________________________

Work Phone: ___________________________________________

MVEA Account #: _______________________________________

Email Address: __________________________________________

Please title your entry. This will appear with your photo if selected: ______________________________________________________

2014 MVEA Photo Calendar Contest Entry Form

Limit 2 entries per person. Deadline is July 1, 2013. Send a completed form with each entry. Photocopy form for additional entries. Mail to: MVEA, Attn:, Sarah Schaefer, 11140 E. Woodmen Road,

Falcon, CO 80831 or email [email protected]

IIt is time for MVEA’s Photo Calendar Contest. This is the 10th year and the calendar has just gotten better and better. Last year’s photos were incredible and the new layout allowed for more winners. MVEA invites you to send in your pho-tos taken within MVEA’s territory and reflecting the seasons and the people, lifestyle or landscape of the area. The winners will be included in the 2014 calendar. Please read the following guidelines carefully. The deadline for entry is July 1, 2013. If you have questions, please call Sarah Schaefer at 719-494-2670. Here are the rules:1. Only MVEA members, directors, employees and their family members are

eligible.2. Photos will not be accepted without a completed entry form. Cut out the

form below and submit with entry or go online to www.mvea.coop, click on “Community” and then “Photo Calendar Contest.” Duplicate form if necessary.

3. Only two photos per person will be accepted. Submit a separate entry form for EACH photograph. You may submit both entries on one disk.

4. DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION ON THE PHOTOGRAPH.

5. Digital format of the photo is preferred. CDs or disks will be accepted. It is not necessary to send enlargements. See note to digital camera users.

6. Photos must have horizontal/landscape orientation.7. DO NOT SUBMIT ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS. PHOTOS BECOME THE

PROPERTY OF MVEA AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED. NO EXCEPTIONS.8. Deadline: July 1, 2013. Mail to: Mountain View Electric Association, Attn:, Sarah

Schaefer, 11140 E. Woodmen Road, Falcon, CO 80831. Or send by email to [email protected] to digital camera users: Resolution of digital photos printed on home

printers is too low for commercial printing. Resolution needs to be 300 dpi.

2014 Photo Calendar Contest in the Works

Painted Mines by Ron Ruhoff of Limon

Nominating CommitteeDistrict 3 — Joy Rosburg12481 County Road 90, Elbert, CO 80106phone: 303-648-3342

District 5 — Carl Alexander25480 Little Springs Road, Calhan, CO 80808phone: 719-683-5212

http://www.mvea.coop







TThe Mountain View Electric Association Board of Directors has approved new retail rates to be effective on bills calculated on or after March 1, 2013.

For the residential rate class, the grid access was increased $10 from $19.95 to $29.95 per month to recover more of the fixed costs. In addition, for usage less than 1,500 kilowatt-hours per month the rate is reduced by approximately one cent per kilowatt-hour to offset this change. The chart below shows the rate de-tail for Residential Rate 16.01. A detailed list of all rate classes and changes is posted on MVEA’s website.

For the average user there will be a zero increase. The graph below highlights how the rate change may affect your bill based on your usage.

The advantage of having fixed costs covered by fixed charges in any rate design is the ability to maintain a sound financial position and reliable service that is not associated with the fluctuating energy sales. It also allows for the reduction in kWh sales through energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy projects.

RetireeChar Cohrswarehouse clerk26 years of service

CON

GR

ATU

LATI

ON

S!

Monthly Increase in Dollars

Present Rate New Rate Rate Change

Residential Rate 16.01

Grid access per month $19.95 $29.95 $10.00

First 1,500 kWh per month per kWh $0.11678 $0.10565 -$0.01113

Over 1,500 kWh per month per kWh $0.09664 $0.09800 $0.00136

Thank You for Your Service

n You have an older home and haven’t added insulation. Only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 are well-insulated.

n You are uncomfortably cold in the winter or hot in the summer. Adding insulation creates a more uniform temperature and increases comfort.

n You build a new home or an addition or install new siding or roofing.

n You pay high energy bills. n You are bothered by noise from the

outside. Insulation muffles sound.

Insulate Your Home When:



EMVEA Essay Contest WinnerEach fall, Mountain View Electric Association offers an essay con-test for high school juniors whose parents or guardians receive service from the cooperative. This month MVEA introduces you to the second place winner, Keturah Tatum. Keturah is a junior at Limon High School and the daughter of Robin Tatum of Limon. Keturah is a leader and is class president and student council secretary. She is on the superintendent’s honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Society. She has received the Na-tional Honor Roll award. She also is a member of the band, choir, speech and debate teams and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In July, Keturah will be attending the Colo-rado Electric Educational Institute’s Coopera-tive Youth Leadership Camp near Steamboat Springs. During the week, she will participate in leadership and team building seminars and legislative simulations and help start and run a camp cooperative. But there are also a lot of social activities during the week, includ-ing dances, barbecues and volleyball games, and time to explore the beautiful Steamboat Springs area.

Following is Keturah’s winning essay. Congratulations.

How can social media help an electric company interact with its members and better understand their needs and concerns?It seems like all we see nowadays is “Like us on Facebook!” from companies. Why would all of these companies create Facebook pages in the first place? No one actually takes the time to go to these “like” pages anyway, right? Wrong! Many companies have actually caught on to a very effective way to advertise. Social media has become the hub of not only entertain-ment, but it has also opened huge doors for companies to reach and meet the demands and needs of the people they serve.

As mentioned above, Facebook has become the “go-to” site for advertising purposes. With over 901 million users (157 million of those in the United States alone), it is the most popular social networking site of today. It is easy to see why companies would advertise on this site: it’s affordable, it’s easy to join and practically all potential or current customers use the site.

Creating a “like” page would ensure that a company would reach most of its consumers. This makes it easy for companies to meet the needs of the people because they know the needs of the people.

Another big step toward reaching consumers for companies would be the creation of Twitter accounts. Twitter isn’t as popular as Facebook,

but if a company could get its consumers to “follow” it, then the company has already made progress. Twitter users could “re-post” company information, which would spread the word to several users instantaneously versus each individual waiting for a letter in the mail. For example, if the electric company were to temporarily shut off the electricity of its consumers for some odd happenstance, there wouldn’t be as many phone calls or complaints because the consumers would already know in advance what was going to happen. Twit-ter definitely would be a useful site to use because of its ability to virtually connect and inform everyone who uses the site.

Blogging is another creative way to keep up with consumers’ needs and concerns. A blog is an easy way to send and receive information from multiple parties. If the electric company were to keep a blog about the company status, current and potential customers would be able to access the information and leave responses instantly. By making it easier for the custom-ers, the electric company would be making it easier on itself. The company would be able to access the blog instantly and know “what was up” with its consumers, thus eliminating tedious surveys and customer feedback ques-tions by way of telephones or computers. This would save so much time for so many people.

Ultimately, social media will become the way for all companies to advertise and reach their consumers. Social media provides us with faster ways to connect with people, and it is definitely on the rise. As the use of social me-dia becomes more frequent with companies, the efficiency and effectiveness of the com-panies will greatly increase. The use of social media would not only benefit consumers, but it would also greatly benefit the companies of the consumers in numerous ways.

Keturah Tatum

[Country Kitchen]Debi Reed of Monument shares this reci-pe from the 1st Ops Group at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. “It is comfort food perfect for winter days,” writes Debi.

If you have a recipe you would like to share, please send it to MVEA, Attn.: Sarah Schaefer, 11140 E. Woodmen Road, Falcon, CO 80831. You will receive a $10 credit on your electric bill the month your recipe appears in Colorado Country Life magazine.

CHICKEN POT PIE1 ½ quarts chicken broth12 ounces red potatoes, diced3 medium carrots, diced1 cup celery, thinly sliced1 cup skim milk1/3 cup flour¼ teaspoon poultry seasoningChopped cooked chicken, rotisserie is fine1 cup peas, frozenSalt and pepper to taste1 sheet puff pastry, thawed1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 4- quart saucepan, bring broth to boil over high heat; boil until reduced to 3 cups, about 15 minutes. Add pota-toes, carrots and celery. Return to boil, cook until vegetables are almost tender. Combine milk, flour and sea-sonings in a jar and shake to blend. Stir slowly into broth and vegetable mixture. Return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir in chicken and peas. Season to taste. Pour into a 9-inch by 13-inch pan. At this point, lattice the puff pastry and brush with beaten egg and place on top of pan. Bake chicken pot pie at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Enjoy!

ColoradoCountryLife.coopSeptember 2012 11

[newsclips]


Beware of Magazine Scam Looking for ID Info

CCo-op Day at the Capitol was one of the high-lights of the 2013 Colorado Rural Electric As-sociation Annual Meeting. During the Monday, February 11, time at the State Capitol in Denver, electric co-op representatives heard from several legislators, including Rep. Max Tyler (D-Dist. 23), chair of the House Transportation and Energy Committee. They also visited the House and the Senate chambers.

The co-op directors, managers and staff mem-bers also met with Commissioner Pam Patton of the Public Utilities Commission. Formerly a di-rector on the La Plata Electric Association Board of Directors, Patton encouraged co-op represen-tatives to pay more attention to the PUC and to be aware of its activities and how those activities might affect co-ops.

As the meeting continued later in the day at a downtown hotel, co-op representatives heard from Roger Pielke Jr. of the Center for Science and Technology Policy and Research in Fort Col-lins. According to Pielke, climate change is real and emissions need to be lowered, but it all needs to be done in ways that won’t adversely affect the economy. Energy runs the economy and electricity is needed by billions of people around the world who don’t have it now. What we need, he said, is innovation that provides us with more energy at a lower cost.

Other sessions Monday included a panel with CREA Execu-tive Director Kent Singer moderating a discussion between Stuart Sanderson, president of the Colorado Mining Associa-tion, and Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado. There was also a presentation by Alan Harrison, vice president of drilling operations for WPX Energy, on frack-ing in Colorado.

Monday closed with a reception attended by 24 legislators. Tuesday’s meetings included reports from Tri-State Generation and Transmission and various affiliated organizations.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS MEET AT STATE CAPITOL

Electric co-op representatives gather outside the Colorado Senate chamber during a visit to the Capitol.

CREA officers Don Kaufman (upfront left) and Bob Bledsoe (right) listen as PUC Commissioner Pam Patton addresses electric co-op representatives during their visit to the State Capitol.

Don’t give your information!

TThieves are attempting to get credit card information from electric co-op members in the Midwest by posing as someone renewing the co-op member’s magazine subscription.

A co-op in Ohio was recently alerted by a member-owner about an unsolicited call she received stat-ing that her subscription to Country Living magazine had expired. The unidentified caller offered to renew her subscription by phone if she provided a credit card number and other personal information.

This member was aware that she receives the magazine as a benefit of her co-op membership and will always get it as long as she remains a member, so she provided no information. When she pressed the caller for a name and return telephone number, the suspected scammer hung up.

Colorado Country Life has not heard that this is happening here in Colorado, but readers should know that this award-winning magazine is a benefit of membership and they don’t need to renew their subscription. Individual subscribers, who are not co-op members will receive written notice when their subscription expires.


[newsclips]

CREA Board Re-Elects Officers

Bob Bledsoe President

Tri-State G&T

William “Bill” MidcapVice President

Morgan County REA

Donald L. Kaufman Secretary

Sangre De Cristo Electric

Jack Schneider Treasurer

Poudre Valley REA

Demand for Coal Grows Worldwide

Reader OpinionsThis month we are asking: What is the biggest barrier to improving your home’s energy efficiency?

Email your thoughts to [email protected].

Share Safety Rules with Kids

QUOTE

“We’ve got this immaculate conception theory of energy: It just happens … until it’s not. If it had gone out during the halftime show

and cut Beyoncé off … the country would be up in arms.”— Sen. Lisa Murkowski talking about the electrical

outage during the Super Bowl

CColorado Rural Electric Association’s current slate of officers was re-elected at the January 25 board meeting. The officers began their second year of service in these positions following the CREA Annual Meeting February 12. Elected to one more year were Bob Bledsoe, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, president; Bill Midcap, Morgan County Rural Electric Association, vice president; Don Kaufman, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, secretary; and Jack Schneider, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, treasurer.

GGlobal coal demand will rise 2.6 percent annu-ally over the next five years and challenge oil as the world’s top energy source, according to the International Energy Agency. Coal consumption will climb to 4.32 billion tons of oil equivalent by 2017, compared with about 4.4 billion tons of oil equivalent, the IEA said in its Medium-Term Coal Market Report. Coal use will rise in all regions except the United States, where cheap natural gas has cut demand. Somewhat ironically, decreased U.S. coal use will lead to increased U.S. coal exports to Europe, due to a more favorable price com-parison with European gas prices. European coal use is expected to grow, IEA said. Eventu-ally, however, this demand will wane due to tighter European emission regulations. Read the full report at iea.org.

CColorado’s electric co-ops have added a new tool to help members be safe around electricity: They have joined Safe Electricity.

This safety-centered organization offers a robust website filled with information that can be used to share how to be safe around electricity with students and others. You’ll find the website at safeelectricity.org.



[industry]

OOver the past decade, the natural gas industry in North America has experienced a dramatic renaissance thanks to a combination of horizontal drilling and a shale fracturing technique called “hydraulic fracking.” With this technology, previ-ously unrecoverable gas reserves located in shale formations deep underground are now flooding the market and should continue to do so for several decades.

This “shale gas revolution” promises to have a major impact on our nation’s energy future, par-ticularly in shifting reliance from burning coal for power generation. Studies show that the United States will overtake Russia as the world’s largest gas producer by 2015, according to International Energy Agency Chief Economist Faith Birol. She notes the resulting cheap domestic supply should lead electric utilities toward a heavier reliance on natural gas for generating power.

Given the fact that consumption of natural gas for electricity has increased every year since 2009, Birol’s predictions appear to be well under way. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas’ share of electric power generation in the United States will increase from 25 percent today to 28 percent by 2035, with renewable energy’s share growing from 10 percent to 15 percent and coal falling from 48 percent to 38 percent. However, preliminary 2012 numbers indicate that pace of change may be accelerating.

When it comes to electricity, natural gas is most commonly used to fuel peaking plants, power stations that operate for brief periods during times of high electricity demand, as well as intermediate plants, those whose output changes in response to changes in electricity demand over the course of each day. Today, gas accounts for about 15 percent of the power produced by generation and trans-mission cooperatives and 16 percent of all electric cooperative power requirements nationwide.

Over the past two years, the relatively low price for gas combined with increasing federal and state regulation of power plant emissions have led to natural gas-fired plants being run for longer peri-ods, while many older coal-fired baseload power plants — those that provide dependable electric power year-round at a low cost — are being shut down or converted to gas operations. In fact, last March the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a New Source Performance Standards, or

NSPS, rule that aims to curb the release of carbon dioxide and six other greenhouse gases blamed for contributing to climate change from new fossil fuel-fired power plants. It also could be expanded at some point to cover existing generation. To do so, it sets an emissions cap of 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour, a nearly impossible standard for coal-fired power plants to achieve with an average in excess of 1,800 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt-hour.

“The only way to meet it is with carbon capture and storage technology, which is prohibitively expensive and years away from being commer-cially viable,” David Hudgins, director of member and external relations at Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, a generation and transmission co-op based in Glen Allen, Virginia, told the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment in June 2012. “No company will take the risk to invest bil-lions of dollars in a power plant in the hopes that CCS will be developed.”

NSPS, as outlined, will push power plants away from coal and toward natural gas baseload generation because most newer combined cycle

gas facilities produce emissions within range of the 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour limit. But natural gas prices are more volatile than coal, making the fuel a dicey option.

“Historically, natural gas prices have varied widely, making reliance on gas as the sole fuel to provide affordable future baseload power risky at best,” says Rae Cronmiller, environmental counsel for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Asso-ciation. “These risks are significantly enhanced be-cause the cost of electricity derived from natural gas is largely driven by cost of the fuel itself. This differs from coal power, which is driven by capital costs. Also, natural gas in quantities necessary to provide year-round baseload generation is unavail-able in some geographic areas.”

Despite this, utility experts believe that natural gas production will continue to increase and that the “blue flame” will surpass coal as the nation’s leading source of electric energy.

Angela Perez writes on technology issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, based in Arlington, Virginia.

Shale ShockNatural gas may edge out coal as nation’s primary power sourceBY ANGELA PEREZ

This map shows shale gas “plays” across the 48 lower U.S. states. The term “play” is used in the oil and gas industry to refer to a geographic area that has been targeted for exploration.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration


The blue corduroy jackets and bright yellow emblems of the Future Farmers of America

are familiar sights throughout rural Colorado. To some they signify that the wearer is a

farmer, but that’s only part of what the jacket represents.

Yes, the wearers of blue jackets are interested in agribusiness and the economics of

agribusiness, but they are being taught more than that. They are young men and women

who are the pride of their communities, learning responsibility, accountability, prepared-

ness, organizational skills, respect, public speaking, leadership and more.

Hundreds of thousands of members strong, the National Future Farmers of America

Organization has provided a network for high school students across the nation since

its beginning in 1928 in Kansas. Today, spread throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico and

the U.S. Virgin Islands, the National FFA Organization supports ag student education and

builds on a belief in the importance of agriculture. It does this through the extracurricular

organization that FFA is and through the curricular ag classes offered by the schools.

Generations of Blue JacketsBY JOANNE LEE

T

Colorado FFA members visit with Laura Spencer, host at “Good Morning America” while touring New York City.

FFA members from New Raymer celebrate after win-ning the State Farm Busniness Management Career Develop-ment event in Fort Colllins.

SUPPORTING


The combination of classes and extracurricular activities is part of the three-circle model of agricultural education. This model over-laps instruction, a super-vised agricultural experience and student leadership organizations. The Colorado FFA Foundation has helped FFA serve thousands of students through this model, and it is working to expand that support.

Kenton Ochsner is excited about what is ahead. Involved in FFA since his sophomore year in high school and now FFA state advisor with the Colorado Community College System, Ochsner followed his older brother into the organization, which later became his career.

“My dad was in FFA also,” Ochsner said. “I went to college for two years and became a state officer, and that really spurred my interest in events like the [National Western] stock show. I realized how little people really know about agriculture, and that is the reason I became an ag teacher: to educate people about it. I taught agriculture in Colorado for nine years and for the past nine years, my job has been to manage the state officers who are elected each year and to manage state FFA events.”

It is these kinds of students that Executive Director Don Thorn is passionate about reaching. To do that, the program needs strong instructors so that ag teach-ers are well-prepared to teach. One way to do that is with a comprehensive teaching model at Colorado State University that includes theory and hands-on experi-ences, something that is difficult with the current facilities. So, in conjunction with Ochsner and Michael Womochil of the CCCS, Thorn and the CFFA Founda-tion are working toward a new Center for Agricultural Education at CSU in Fort Collins.

“In Colorado there are right at 100 high schools that offer agricultural education classes to students,” Thorn said. “That represents about 6,500 students in this state. If the school offers agricultural education then in most cases they also offer the cocurricular student leadership organization of FFA. This makes our delivery of education robust. It also makes us unique.”

The addition of the center will blend traditional FFA instruc-tion and experience into a real-life classroom setting for ag students.

“The building components are intended to serve as the model agricultural education program and give our budding educators a very realistic place to practice their instruction before their student teaching experience,” said Thorn.

Building such a facility does not come cheap; however, fundraising for the structure’s $3 million price tag is successful

in part thanks to Thorn and his board members’ dedication to the project. On February 14, it was announced that CoBank, American AgCredit of Greeley, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs and Premier Farm Credit of Sterling are donating more than $1 million toward the center’s construction.

Designed with more than 18,000 square feet of learning space, the center will house customized laboratory, technol-ogy, teaching and office spaces. In addition, it will include

special exhibit space for the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, a program of the CFFA Foundation.

Sadie Sayler, a former blue coat-clad member of the National FFA Organization, is the exuberant second-year agriculture teacher at a small high school in the southeast corner of Colo-rado. A CSU graduate, Sayler bubbled with enthusiasm at this year’s National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. “My experience as an ag teacher has been awesome,” Sayler said. “The training I got at CSU was amazing. It gave me everything

I needed to be able to come out and hit the ground running to make sure that I have an amazing FFA chapter and to be able to propel my students forward.”

Like so many former members, Sayler spent much of her high school experience involved in FFA as an officer and chapter president.

CSU juniors and future ag educators Clay Miller and Shannon Baylie have both been involved with agriculture in education from a young age. “My mom was a past FFA advisor so I was kind of expected to be in FFA,” Baylie said. “I started my FFA experience my freshman year of high school in 2005.”

Like Baylie, Miller started his formal FFA training as a fresh-man in high school. “I wasn’t really sure what

Generations of Blue Jackets

Artist’s rendering of the center for Agricultural Education at CSU.

Student teacher Elisa Sagehorn engages students in an ag science lesson.

[continued on page 18]

Colorado FFA members visit with Laura Spencer, host at “Good Morning America” while touring New York City.

One way individuals can participate in the fundraising is to make a gift toward the project and join the Blue Jacket So-ciety. If you are a society member you get the opportunity to put your FFA jacket in a shadowbox and it will hang in the new center. Here is a link: http://coloradoffafoundation.

http://coloradoffafoundation


Four of Colorado’s top agricultural lenders have joined together to donate more than $1 million for construction of a modern Center for Agricultural Education at Colorado State University that will train new generations of agricultural teachers and leaders.

The gift to CSU and the Colorado FFA Foundation is among the first to benefit students at ag colleges and land-grant universities nationwide as part of Denver-based CoBank’s new $5 million agricultural research and education funding initiative.

Other partners supporting the Center for Agricul-tural Education are American AgCredit of Greeley, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado in Colorado

Springs and Premier Farm Credit of Sterling. All are members of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions specifically chartered to serve agriculture and rural America.

“The CoBank Center for Agricultural Education and the Farm Credit Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame will represent the best of Colorado’s agricultural past, present and future,” said Ron Carli, chief executive officer of American AgCredit. “The Farm Credit System shares the same rich history and passion for preparing the next generation of agricultural educators. Their dedication and influence will help meet the challenge of feeding our

nation and the world.”According to Kellie Enns, assistant professor and

program leader, graduates of the CSU agricultural education program have been in high demand, and nearly all the program’s students have been em-ployed after graduation because they are prepared to mentor high school students and to fulfill other leadership roles.”

“This gift is a testament to the partners’ commitment to agriculture, our rural communities and the development of students who will play key leadership roles in the future,” said Craig Beyrouty, dean of the CSU College of Agricultural Sciences.

Ag Lenders Donate More than $1 Million to Ag Education Center

FFA was until I got involved, and then I really fell in love with it. Shannon and I are both state FFA officers since last year, and we plan to continue our passion with FFA in working with youth into the future.”

Graduates of the same program as Sayler, Miller and Baylie will bring a wealth of knowledge to their future classrooms.

“What I hear about the new building at CSU is that it will have a lot of hands-on things that we lacked when I went through the program,” Sayler said. “I learned the concepts that go along with those hands-on things, but with the new building, future graduates will learn concepts and the hands-on training that is so vital to teaching our future generations.”

Womochil, program director for agriculture and natural resources for the CCCS, agrees. “Kenton [Ochsner] and I both work with continuing education for teachers in the field, and the new building will most definitely bring opportunity for those experiences,” he said.

“One of the challenges we’ve had in the past was where to meet with teachers,” he continued. “Of course, we could always get a conference room in a hotel, but there we could only do so much. Now we can get to the hands-on skills: the true representation of what needs to happen in an ag class and ag programs in the high schools. It will be a huge benefit.”

The primary focus will be to serve the teachers of Colorado but the building could serve as a distance lab that could possibly help serve teachers from around our region.

“We are always looking for opportunities to collaborate with other states and if the opportunity arises, this facility will be the opportune place for it,” Womochil added.

“Any time a university offers additional training facilities, it

attracts people. I believe this will be an added attraction for students to come to CSU,” Womochil said. “I further believe the added student population will increase teaching positions and staff members.”

The new facility will sit on the research farm, and across the road to the south is the Agronomy Research Center. The facility will try to duplicate as well as show the potential for what a high school program would look like. As CSU trains instructors, they will be learning in the type of environment that they will teach in, in the future.

From initial thoughts to present construction, project members have invested almost two years into the growth of the building and its concepts. “I think it has been a fairly

quick process,” Womochil said. “Don Thorn has really worked hard to secure funding. Another reason the process has gone fast is that there are a number of people out there who know what we are trying to do and who really believe in an ag education.

“It’s a unique project because we are all raising funds and constructing a building that will educate and train future generations of high school and community college agriculture instructors.”

Those new instructors will be ready to teach new members of Future Farmers of America, keeping the legacy of the blue jacket moving forward.

Former high school English and art teacher JoAnne Lee now spends her days skiing and working on the slopes in northern New Mexico. Her spare time includes capturing photos and writing about the interesting people and places she visits.

Go to coloradocountrylife.org to see more pictures of the FFA project.

[continued from page 17]

Left to right: Dale McCall, FFA Foundation board chairman, Dr. Kellie Enns, professor of agricultural education and Don Thorn at the “future home of” site.

ColoradoCountryLife.coopSeptembere 2012 23

[recipes]


S

Be creative, make colorful

sandwiches

Other uses for a waffle maker

Enjoy the crunch of blue corn chips on

your sandwich. Why not include

chopped toasted walnuts or pe-

cans? How about dried cranberries,

cherries or raisins? Make sure your

sandwich is full of color. Incorporate

fresh, vibrant elements, such

as parsley leaves, finely diced red

onions or green, yellow and red

peppers.

You don’t need a panini press. Just

fire up your waffle iron and cook your

sandwiches. The bread comes out toasty and crisp and the heated

weight of the lid presses the sand-

wich to gooey perfection.

Simply Succulent SandwichesTry these hot alternatives to the traditional hoagieBY AMY HIGGINS || [email protected]

Sinking your teeth into a submarine sandwich can be a divine experience until your options become more and more predictable. So when piling on the basic meats and cheeses seems mundane, try one of these delicious, easy-to-make sandwich recipes.

Spiced Peanut Butter1 cup peanut butter1 teaspoon salt1 3/4 teaspoons honey1/8 teaspoon ginger powder1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until well blended. Peanut butter can be stored in an air-tight container for 6 to 8 weeks.

Sandwich12 slices enriched white bread1 cup spiced peanut butter (above) 6 bananas, sliced2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon2 ounces butter, room temperature

Lay out all 12 slices of enriched white bread on a cutting board. Spread all slices of bread with homemade peanut butter. Take 6 slices and top each with sliced bananas, then drizzle with honey. Place the reserved 6 slices on top. Combine cin-namon and sugar in a small bowl and set aside. Brush top and bottom of each sandwich with room temperature butter. Grill sandwiches in a sauté pan over medium heat on stove top for 3 1/2-4 1/2 minutes on each side. As you remove sandwiches, season liberally with cinnamon and sugar mix. Cut sandwiches in half and serve while hot. Makes 6 sandwiches.

Source: The Grain Foods Foundation and Chef Bryan Voltaggio

Pastrami Reuben12 slices rye bread12 slices Muenster cheese, thin1 1/2 cups sauerkraut, prepared and drained24 ounces sliced beef pastrami1/2 cup Thousand Island dressing2 ounces butter, room temperature

Lay out all 12 slices of rye bread on a cutting board. Top 6 slices of bread with one slice of Muenster cheese, 2 ounces of sauerkraut, 4 ounces (or roughly three to four thin slices) of pastrami and a second slice of Muenster cheese. Set aside. Spread remaining 6 slices of bread with Thou-sand Island dressing, and then place each slice on top of the other halves of sandwiches. Brush top and bottom of each sandwich with butter. Grill sandwiches in a sauté pan over medium heat on stove top for 3 1/2-4 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove sandwiches, cut in half and serve hot. Makes 6 sandwiches.

Source: The Grain Foods Foundation and Chef Bryan Voltaggio

Banana, Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich

Banana, peanut butter and honey sandwich

Pastrami Reuben



[gardening]

Any vining or sprawling plant with fruits smaller than a bowling ball can be trellised as long as there is a sturdy, tall structure that is strong enough to support the weight of the mature plant and resulting fruits. Lightweight trellis structures are often adequate to support the weight of cucumbers, pole beans and peas. Those needing sturdier sup-port include indeterminate tomatoes, non-bush varieties of summer squash and small-fruited winter squash. A heavy-duty trellis is required to support the weight of grapevines and non-bush varieties of small melons or pumpkins (bowling ball size or smaller) and winter squash. Support developing melons, pumpkins and squash with a sling made of nylon stockings or other stretchy material tied to the trellis. Place the developing fruit in the sling. The added support will ensure that the fruit stays on the vine and doesn’t cause the vine to break.

Trellis-Worthy EdiblesBY KRIS WETHERBEE


[gardening]

Luck Is EllusiveThe botanical truth about four-leaf clovers and shamrocksBY EVA ROSE MONTANE || ABUNDANTEARTHGARDENS.COM || [email protected]

Eva Rose Montane hosts a cutting-edge series on gardening in Colorado. Read more gardening advice at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Living in Colorado and then Gardening.

As you anticipate the arrival of St. Patrick’s Day, you might have visions of leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, four-leaf clovers or a frothy pint of Guinness. I welcome them all, although I’ve personally come upon more rainbows and pints of Guinness than the others. But for this article I’d like to take some time to focus on the lucky four-leaf clover.

Beware of impostersIf you think you’ve seen a nice shamrock plant com-prised entirely of four-leaved clovers, I have disap-pointing news for you: It’s not the real McCoy. A small handful of plant species with clusters of three or four leaflets have been falsely marketed as shamrocks and four-leaf clovers. The most common species include plants of entirely different genera, even different families altogether. One is a water plant, commonly known as pepperwort or water clover, and is in the Marsileaceae family of aquatic plants. The other is sorrel, which is edible with a fresh lemony flavor. It is in the Oxalidaceae family and grows naturally in deep, damp forests.

The true original shamrock plant is Trifolium repens, or white clover. It is none other than the common field weed. True clovers such as this are in the pea or Fabaceae family. Native to Europe, West Asia and North Africa, it has been introduced as a pasture crop worldwide and as a result can be easily found in most open, grassy areas in North America. It naturally produces just three leaflets per pedicel, with a rare occurrence producing a fourth, smaller

leaflet. In fact, your chance of finding one with four leaflets is one in 10,000. Its rarity is what earned it the reputation of lucky for the person who hap-pened upon one.

The four leavesIt is universally accepted that a four-leaf clover is good luck and it has enjoyed a long tradition of recognition. Eve is said to have brought a four-leaf clover with her from the Garden of Eden, and the Celts of Wales considered the white clover helpful in warding off evil spirits.

The four leaves are symbolic of faith, hope, love and luck. St Patrick used the three leaves to repre-sent the Christian trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The fourth represented God’s grace.

If you want a true four-leaf clover this St. Patrick’s Day you best look elsewhere than your favorite florist or houseplant store. Don’t worry; it’s not impossible. The world record set by a single person’s largest collection of four-leaf clovers totaled almost 80,000 as of 1995. Just follow the little green man to the end of the rainbow and you might be lucky, too.

A

Most people have heard that it is lucky to find a four-leaf clover. It is also believed that the person who finds this lucky clover will meet his or her future lover on that same day. If the clover is given to another person immediately after finding it, the finder’s luck will double. It is also believed that each the four leaves of the lucky talisman has meaning. They are fame, wealth, a faithful lover and good health.

Four-Leaf Clover Folklore


ColoradoCountryLife.coopFebruary 2012 23


[outdoors]

Rascally RabbitsA chance encounter brings memories of bunny gamesBY DENNIS SMITH

OOne morning last winter, the thermom-eter on our little indoor weather sta-tion read 2 degrees below zero. There was an inch of sparkling new snow blanketing everything in sight and the air outside was so cold and sharp, my nostrils pinched shut with every breath as I picked my way cautiously down the driveway to get the morning paper.

On my way back up the drive, I saw the bunny tracks. They came from the neighbor’s juniper patch across the street and led into a similar thick hedge in our yard and onto our front lawn.

The bunny sat there a few feet away, hunkered down, ears laid back, legs pulled tight up under its belly, its little nose twitching nervously this way and that, contemplating, I suppose, whether it should squirt back into the tangled secu-rity of the junipers or wait out the funny looking giant in the red plaid pajamas and camouflage stocking cap. It chose the latter. Tough little bugger, I thought, to be out prancing about in this cold.

It occurred to me that if I’d been 13 years old and back in the little Catskill mountain town where I grew up, I proba-bly would have been doing a bit of pranc-ing myself. Prancing with anticipation at the prospects of another frosty morning rabbit hunt with my brother, my dad, our two little beagle hounds, Queenie and Thor, and Belle, our mournful-voiced basset hound. Instead, I headed for the coffeepot, the fireplace and the editorial page of the local paper.

But the little bunny had worked its magic, and I soon found myself recall-ing some of those rabbit hunts from years gone by. We’d stalk neighborhood woodlots, briar patches and slash piles in hopes of “kicking up” a rabbit. As soon as one flushed, we’d put one of our short-legged hounds on its track and then sit back and listen to the hilarity of a hare and hound escapade unfold. More

often than not, the rabbit would play for a while and then dive down a convenient hole when it tired of the game. I some-times think the rabbits had as much fun at confounding the hounds as the dogs had chasing them in the first place. They were happy times for sure, occasionally followed by a family dinner of southern-fried rabbit, mashed potatoes with coun-try gravy and cornbread.

Today I know of few people in Colo-rado who hunt rabbits with any degree of seriousness, and almost none of them use trailing hounds. Hunters here con-centrate on big game and waterfowl. Of those who pursue small or upland game, most focus on turkeys, doves and pheas-ants, while a relative few hunt dusky grouse, bobwhite quail or sage grouse. Still fewer hunt rabbits.

In fact, the only dedicated rabbit hunt-ers I know in Colorado are the neigh-borhood foxes. And I find it especially amusing that they employ many of the same tactics we did back in the day: They stalk the tangled shrubs and field edges in hopes of flushing a bunny from pro-tective cover, then trail it by scent until they lose the trail or capture the little bugger and either eat it on the spot or bring it home to their pups for dinner.

The only part they’re missing is the mashed potatoes, gravy and cornbread.

Miss an issue? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors.

AVAILABLE NOWInteractive

2013 Colorado

LegislativeDirectory App

Colorado’s elected officials at

your fingertips.

or at Google Play or call 303-455-2700

for more information.

Legislative APP 99¢

[energy tips]


W

For more information on central air cleaners, visit coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Energy Tips.

Which type of central air cleaner is best?

Manufacturers now produce new, super-efficient central air cleaners. They use a combination of electronic air charging and filter media to trap almost all of the tiniest particles in the air. They can even catch flu viruses and bacteria as they pass through the duct system.

Standard electronic air cleaners use wires to give air particles a negative charge. A collection cell has plates with a positive charge so the negatively charged particles stick to it.

For many people, this standard type of electronic air cleaner is adequate. For people with heightened allergies, the new electronic air cleaners with the charged filter media may be more effective.

Pleated media air cleaners are another option. They are less expensive and rely on many square feet of folded filter mate-rial to catch particles as the air passes through. There are various levels of media quality and price. The cleaning effective-ness of various models can be compared by their minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, rating.

Finally, there is the bypass high-effi-ciency particle air, or HEPA, cleaner that has its own air circulation motor. A HEPA filter is a dense media filter, which makes it effective, but it may create too much resistance for the furnace blower to force adequate airflow through it. The bypass design has its own blower so the airflow through the coils or heat exchanger is not impeded.

BREATH OF FRESH AIRChoosing the best air cleanerBY JAMES DULLEY

A media air cleaner usually requires professional instal-lation because duct modifi-cations are needed.

Sour

ce: A

prila

ire

[

ENER

GY

WIS

E W

ILL

BRIN

G T

HES

E PR

OG

RAM

S TO

YO

U

Colorado’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, in partnership with CREA, Tri-State and community-based lenders, are dedicated to pro-moting the wise use of electric energy to reduce costs and protect our environment.

INTROdUcING ENERGYWISE

Contact Geoff Hier at 303-455-2700 ext. 702 or email [email protected] for more information.

n Easy Internet access to energy saving tools

n “Green Button” energy-efficiency information programs

n Education for member-owners on the value of

energy efficiency

n Promotion of innovative energy-efficiency products

n Rebates for energy-efficiency products

n Partnerships with community-based lenders to

finance energy efficiency projects

n Partnerships with state agencies to save

taxpayer dollars

n Cash for clunkers to take inefficient appliances

out of circulation

n Weatherization programs to increase member comfort and reduce costs

n Verification services to make sure energy efficiency

projects are implemented appropriately

n Promotion of energy-efficiency research and design

through a science fair scholarship


[marketplace]


Colorado Country Life

goes to more than 190,000 readers.

Call Kris at 303-902-7276 to place your ad.

Advertise in MarketPlace

Be a Colorado Country Life fan on Facebook.Go to Facebook then search Colorado Country Life.


[classifieds]

ANTIQUESANTIQUE RESTORATION STUDIO – Antique conservation. Quality craftsmanship since 1974. Bayfield, CO, www.antiqueresdurango.com 970-884-1937. (988-04-13)

ANTIQUES IN PUEBLO, MARCH 9-10 at Colorado State Fairgrounds. Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4, $3 admission. $1 off with this ad. Glass grinder on duty for your chipped crystal. Jewelry appraiser on duty on Saturday. Great selection of antiques, collectibles, uniques, ac-tually anything worth remembering can be found. Free parking. Food on site. Info: Jo Peterson 719-596-1022 (510-03-13)

BUY, SELL, TRADE, RESTORE antique woodstoves, cookstoves, early gas heaters, always looking for stoves, parts. Bob 303-902-7709 (049-05-13)

CHAIR CANING, hand caning, machine caning, fiber rush can-ing. Pueblo West, 719-547-0723. [email protected] (858-04-13)

BOOKSRODEO ROOTS to Modern-Day Cowboys is a wonderful book about rodeo. Order copies for your kids, grandkids. $10. Bulk order discounts. Call 303-455-4111 to order one today. (106-12-13)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES (These opportunities have not been investigated by Colorado Country Life.)

BUSY, FULL SERVICE, AUTO REPAIR WORKSHOP in SW Colorado. Est. 35 yrs. Solid business, dependable staff, 6 bays, paint booth, offices. Financing options. Call Joyce, 970-563-4500. (942-06-13)

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES-CAMPGROUND – MAIN HOUSE, 4 cabins, 10 RV sites. For sale on 4.81 acres. $359,000. www.nwcolorado.com/realestate/mountain-homes-for-sale/ Barbara 970-482-4004. (091-05-13)

LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME opportunity. No sales, investment, risk. Training/website provided. Monthly income plus bonuses, benefits. Call Carrie 303-579-4207, www.workathomeunited.com/ourabundance (932-06-13)

LOTTERY – Guaranteed income-producing system. Free booklet. Call toll free 24 hrs/day 1-877-526-6957 ID# S4465 (911-04-13)

PIANO TUNING PAYS. Learn with American School home-study course. Tools included. Call for info. 800-497-9793. (158-01-14)

REALISTIC HOME BUSINESSES – HOW TO SELECT, start, operate. Over 80 businesses detailed from actual owners. www.patsbookshop.com (075-06-13)

REDUCED $50,000 -- 14 spacious motel rooms, beauty shop (rented), studio apartment, lovely owners’ quarters. Good Business. Many repeat guests. Completely remod-eled. Call Betty 719-263-4773 or cell 719-251-1554 (025-06-13)

START YOUR OWN BUSINESS – home/internet. Simply the highest quality candles/beauty/fundraising. Enter free drawing. www.natures best.scent-team.com (831-03-13)

CARS/TRUCKS/BOATS50 SUBARUS! (1995-2012) Outbacks, Foresters, Imprezas, Tribecas & more! Great prices! Warranties available! Dealer: www.Monu ment Motors.com 719-481-9900 (574-08-13)

CLOCK REPAIR & RESTORATIONDURANGO AREA. CLOCKS of all kinds repaired. Antique and mod-ern. Clocks bought and sold. Call Robert 970-247-7729, [email protected] (109-05-13)

COMPUTERSCOMPUTER REPAIR – CALL ME FIRST! Affordable computer repair for Western Colorado. Joel, 907-778-5253, WesternSlopeDigital.com (096-06-13)

EDUCATIONHIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS/PARENTS: Looking for a different approach? Want something exceptional? Biblical perspective, wilderness adventure, college prep, close Christian community, housing provided. www.emhweb.org (035-07-13)

ENERGYSAFELY, CONVENIENTLY, BURN wood fuel pellets in potbelly stoves, fireplaces, BBQ’s, and campfires. See www.pelletlogkits.com. (098-08-13)

FINANCIAL SERVICESFINANCIAL HELP LINES for CO families. Bankruptcy advice for free 877-933-1139. Mortgage relief help line 888-216-4173. Student loan relief line 888-694-8235. Tax relief IRS help line 877-633-4457. Debt relief non-profit line 888-779-4272. Collection agency complaints 800-896-7860. Numbers provided by www.careconnectusa.org, a public benefit organization. (087-04-13)

FINE ARTKAREN VANCE original oil of Forest Cyn in RMNP. 26”x36” image size. Custom framed size is 38”x48”. 970-627-3104 -- Grand Lake Art Gallery (097-04-13)

FOODBIGGEST LITTLE CORNERSTONE CAFÉ in Eaton, Colorado. Super green chili !! 130 1st Street. (099-06-13)

FOR SALEGRASSFED YAK AND BISON MEAT for sale. Delicious and nutritious. Delivery available. Fourth, half, or whole. 720-256-3364 (029-03-13)

OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS - $380 with warranty. Also sell portable concentrators and oxygen supplies. Repair and service of equipment. Aspen Concentrators Repair Service 719-471-9895 (040-04-13)

FREEFREE BOOKS/DVDS. Soon the “Mark of the Beast” will be enforced as Church and State unite! Let the Bible reveal. The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771. [email protected] 888-211-1715. (814-04-13)

TRUSTING JESUS CHRIST versus lies of doing duties, laws, rituals, Priestcraft, idolatry. Pastor Edwin Vrell, 303-772-8825 (995-05-13)

HELP WANTED$400 WEEKLY ASSEMBLING PRODUCTS FROM HOME. For free information, send SASE: Home As-sembly – CC, Box 450, New Britain, CT 06050-0450.

HOBBIES & CRAFTSBOOKS, PATTERNS, CLASSES, knit-ting, felting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, natural dye extracts, Jacquard and Gaywool dyes. www.tablerockllamas.com Colorado Springs, 866-495-7747 (791-05-13)

HOUSEHOLD HELPSLOOKING TO REPLACE AMWAY PRODUCTS? Lose your distributor? I can ship to your home, no hassle, no salesman. Monika Cary 970-724-2912. (982-05-13)

MACHINERY & PARTSSAWMILL EXCHANGE: North America’s largest source of used portable sawmills and commercial equipment for woodlot owners and sawmill operations. Over 800 list-ings. THE place to sell equipment. 800-459-2148 www.sawmill exchange.com . (267-09-13)

POULTRY/GAMEBIRDSFREE – 5 EXOTIC CHICKS or 3 ducks with 100 frypan special @ $37.50 plus shipping. Also Cornish Cross, standard breeds, fancy chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, bantams, guineas, pheasants, quail, supplies, video. FREE COLOR CATALOG 417-532-4581. Cackle Hatchery – PO Box 529, Lebanon, MO 65536. www.cacklehatchery.com. (876-07-13)

QUILTSAWARD WINNING LONG-ARM QUILTING Services - Karen Niemi, 303-470-9309, http://creative.stitching.home.comcast.net, [email protected] (846-08-13)

REAL ESTATEGRAND JUNCTION HORSE FARM, 3130 A 1/2 Rd, 3550+ sq. ft. home on 14 acres. Newly remodeled, new central air, new boiler, new water heater, new roof, half brick ranch w/new vinyl siding. 5 bdrm, 3 1/2 bath, living room, dining room, large kitchen, large family room. New carpet/tile/wood floors. Full horse barn w/indoor stalls & outside runs. All steel fencing, arenas, loafing sheds on large pastures. Additional fencing around home & inground heated pool. RV building (50x28’), two large ponds, etc. $625,000. Ginny 970-260-9629, Terry 970-261-3001, [email protected] 3% to 6% to any REALTOR w/buyer (946-06-13)

HOWARD, COLORADO. Tree covered residential home site. Year round access. Owner finance. 719-276-7294 (050-06-13)

WANTED: PROPERTY TO LEASE for hunting, fishing. We offer landown-ers numerous benefits. Hunting club also looking for new members. 303-460-0273 (069-04-13)

RELIGIONBECOME AN ORDAINED Minister by correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, PMB 767, 6630 W Cactus, B107, Glendale, AZ 85304. http://www.ordination.org (441-06-13)

TICKETSNFR & PBR RODEO TICKETS – Las Vegas. All seating levels available. Call 1-888-NFR-rodeo (1-888-637-7633) or www.NFR-Rodeo.com. *BBB Member; Since 1990. (912-11-13)

VACATION RENTAL KAUAI VACATION RENTAL, 2bdr, full kitchen. Minutes from beaches. $600/wk. 808-245-6500; makana crest.com; kauaiweddings.com. (756-05-13)

WANTED TO BUYNAVAJO RUGS, old and recent, native baskets, pottery. Tribal Rugs, Salida. 719-539-5363, [email protected] (817-04-13)

OIL AND GAS MINERALS, royalties, overrides, and working interests. Call John at 303-704-6756 or fax details to 303-292-9226 (082-03-13)

OLD COLORADO LIVESTOCK brand books prior to 1975. Call Wes 303-757-8553. (889-08-13)

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED ADPlease type or print your ad on a separate paper. Indicate how many months you would like your ad to run and which month to start. There is a minimum of 12 words at $1.63 per word/month. Be sure to include your full name and address for our records. Check MUST accompany this order or call to pay by credit card. Send your ad to: mail: Colorado Country Life 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216phone: 303-902-7276 fax: 303-455-2807email: [email protected]

http://www.antiqueresdurango.com


http://www.nwcolorado

http://www.workathomeunited.com/

http://www.patsbookshop

http://www.natures

http://www.Monu

http://www.emhweb

http://www.pelletlogkits

http://www.careconnectusa.org


http://www.tablerockllamas.com

http://www.tablerockllamas.com

http://www.sawmill

http://www.cacklehatchery.com

http://www.cacklehatchery.com

http://creative


http://www.ordination.org

http://www.ordination.org

http://www.NFR-Rodeo.com


[funny stories][education]


We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year, we draw one name from those submitting jokes and that person will receive $150. Send your 2013 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email [email protected]. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

Some visitors to Colorado are known for asking, “At what elevation do the deer turn into elk?” Those “in the know” find this amusing. Anyhow, we had moved out of town into the foothills where there is a large outbuild-ing on our property. One morning my husband saw some mule deer walking down the hill and then out of sight behind the building. A moment later, out the other side from behind the building appeared some elk. I really wish we had thought to catch it on video. We could really freak out people who ask about this “metamorphosis.”

Jace and Brenda Thorpe, Loveland

One night at bedtime, my 5-year-old grandson, Joseph, was dawdling as he went up the stairs. When exhorted by his dad to go faster, he retorted, “Mom says to slow down and enjoy life, and I am!”

Lynn Woodman, Monument

Ever walk into a room with some purpose in mind only to completely forget what that purpose was? Turns out, doors themselves are to blame for these strange memory lapses. Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame discovered that passing through a doorway triggers what’s known as an “event boundary” in the mind, separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next. Your brain files away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate for the new locale. So it’s not aging. It’s the darn door. Whew! Thank goodness for studies.

Beth Cox, Loma

My 3-year-old great-niece, Scarlett, and I came up with a kinder version of Humpty Dumpty:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a chair,No one saw him sitting there.He didn’t fall. He didn’t break.

He’s OK for goodness sake!Kay Robinson, Loveland

WANTED TO BUY OLD COWBOY STUFF–hats, boots, spurs, chaps, Indian rugs, baskets, etc. ANYTHING OLD! Mining & railroad memorabilia, ore carts! We buy whole estates. We’ll come to you! Call 970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256. (871-05-13)

OLD GAS AND OIL items: Gas pumps, advertising signs, globes, etc. Pieces, parts, etc. consid-ered. Also 1932-34 Ford cars and trucks, parts and pieces, too. Any condition. Brandon, 719-250-5721. (519-11-13)

WANTED TO BUYOLD POCKET WATCHES – working or non-working and old repair material. Bob 719-859-4209 [email protected]. (870-12-13)

VINTAGE FISHING TACKLE. I buy rods, reels, lures, creels, etc. References available. Call Gary at 970-222-2181. (960-08-13)

WANTED: JEEP CJ OR WRANGLER. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets. 888-735-5337 (099-06-13)

WANTED TO BUY WE PAY CASH for minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and non-producing. 800-733-8122 (099-02-14)

Place an ad in the Colorado Country Life

classified section. Call Kris at 303-902-7276.

Advertise in Colorado Country Life

and everyone will know your business.

Call Kris at 303-902-7276




[discoveries]

T BUNDLED BENEFITS

Keep mosquitoes at bay while lighting your way with the Therma-CELL Outdoor Insect Repellent Lantern. This cool beacon uses

allethrin, a non-harmful repellent that mimics the insecticide found naturally in chrysanthemum flowers, to ward off those pesky blood-suckers within 15 feet while providing ambient lighting. Use the ThermaCELL lantern on your next camping adven-ture or in any other outdoor setting. The lantern is silent, odor free and portable, weighing in at 13 ounces. The butane car-

tridge houses the mosquito repellent and lasts up to 12 hours. Light is provided by eight LEDs and powered by four AA batteries.

According to ThermaCELL, the lantern’s repellent is 98 percent effective in protecting against mosquitoes and has been tested and used by the Department of Defense and the United States Army. The Therma-CELL Outdoor Insect

Repellent Lantern can be found at home improvement, sporting goods and retail stores or on several online stores for around $32. For more information, visit thermacell.com or call 866-753-3837.

The Cord Hog Cable Wrap’s simple design does a difficult task: curbing cord clutter. This clever gadget winds up cords, wires and cables keeping them tidy and out of the way. Available in blue/gray, charcoal, red and blue, the Cord Hog makes it easy to use a color-coding method to identify electronic cables. Furthermore, at merely 2 inches in diameter the Cord Hog’s compact frame fits in some of the smallest spaces. Cord Hogs are sold for $1.99 each on cableorganizer.com. For additional information, call 866-222-0030.

Be prepared for Mother Nature’s surprises with the Eton FRX3. This lightweight device is an AM/FM radio, USB smart phone charger, LED flash-light and alarm clock all in one little package. Other important features include: •Aredflashingbeacon •SevenNOAA(NationalOceanic

and Atmospheric Administration) weather band stations

•An“alert”functionthatbroad-casts emergency weather alerts

•AnAAAbatteryoption •ADCpoweroption •Aheadphoneoutput •Aglow-in-the-darklocator •Abacklitdisplayandilluminated

buttons What’s more, you can recharge your FRX3 in a jiffy with the hand turbine as well as solar power. The FRX3 comes with a mini USB cable and wrist strap and is available in red and black. The Eton FRX3 sells for $59.99 on the company’s website, etoncorp.com. For more information, call 800-872-2228.

Doing Double Duty

NEATLY WOUND

Colorado Country Life MVEA March 2013

Documents

Transcript of Colorado Country Life MVEA March 2013