Win a cordless compact drill/driver kit!

See Page 5

YOUTHTOUR2018

J U L Y 2 0 1 8

Visit our website at www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com

2 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

Volume 71 • Issue 7E D I T O R

Robert A. Dickelman

A R T D I R E C T O RJoel Clifton

R E G U L A R C O N T R I B U T O R SBuck Jones Ruth Rasmussen Valerie Van Kooten

________________________

E X E C U T I V E V I C E P R E S I D E N TChuck Soderberg

D I R E C T O R O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N SErin Campbell

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R SSteve Seidl, Coon Rapids – President

Don Shonka, Independence – Vice PresidentLarry White, Mount Pleasant – Secretary/Treasurer

Roger Solomonson, Leland – Asst. Secretary/TreasurerGordon Greimann, Sheffield

Neal Heldt, MallardDarrell Jensen, Menlo

Marion Denger, Dows – NRECA RepresentativeCarmen Hosack, Harlan ________________________

Living with Energy in Iowa magazine (ISSN: 1935-7176) is published monthly by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, a not-for-profit organization representing Iowa’s member-owned local electric cooperatives. Association address: 8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992. The phrase Living with Energy in Iowa is a mark registered within the state of Iowa to the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. The magazine does not accept advertising.

Editorial Office: 8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992. Telephone: 515-276-5350. E-mail address: editor@livingwithenergyiniowa.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and length before publication. Living with Energy in Iowa magazine does not assume responsibility for unsolicited items.

Website: www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com

Postmaster: Send address changes to Living with Energy in Iowa magazine, 8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48, Des Moines, IA 50322-2992. Periodicals Postage Paid at Des Moines, Iowa, and at additional mailing offices.

Change of Address: Every local electric cooperative maintains an independent mailing list of its members, so please send your change of address directly to your local electric cooperative’s office. Living with Energy in Iowa magazine cannot make an address change for you.

© Copyright 2018, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. No portion of the editorial, photographic or other content of Living with Energy in Iowa magazine or its website may be reproduced without written permission of the editor.

Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

Features

6 The economics of an electric car may make sense sooner than you think

Should your next car be electric-powered? The answer could depend on where you live and how the electricity you use is generated.

8 Recipes with a little international intrigue

The names may be unpronounceable, but their flavors are unforgettable. PLUS: Receive a $25 credit on your power bill if we use your recipe in a future issue.

10 See the 2018 Youth Tour from all the angles

Thirty-seven Iowa students made the annual pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., last month, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the educational trip that originated in Iowa.

C O N T E N T S J U L Y 2 0 1 8

Favorites

3 Statewide Perspective The simplest technologies still

pay off for energy savings.

5 Editor’s Choice Contest Win a cordless compact drill/

driver kit that offers full-size performance.

14 Product Recalls What goes up may come down:

telescoping ladders are recalled.

15 Out Back Every Fourth of July has a

special lesson.

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8

10

Energy-saving tip of the month

Using the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom to reduce humidity is always a good idea, but what about the laundry room? While you’re washing load after load, flip on the fan to cut down on humidity that otherwise may find its way to the rest of the house and increase the load on your air-conditioning system.

Have you seen our website?

www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 3

S T A T E W I D E P E R S P E C T I V E

The simplest technologies still pay off for energy savingsBY KALEY LOCKWOOD

Buying the latest energy efficiency technologies has become an increasingly common way for people to try to reduce their monthly energy bills, whether they’re homeowners or renters. This rings true especially during the deep heat of summer, when higher energy bills result from air-conditioning units working overtime to keep homes and apartments cool and comfortable.

New and emerging technologies hitting the marketplace as the latest and “best” energy-saving products continue to promise innovative ways to effectively manage and reduce your home’s energy consumption. Some work – and some don’t.

You need to exercise caution in evaluating these products, so take advantage of the experts at your local Touchstone Energy® cooperative, agencies such as Energy Star® and independent testing labs for help. Once you do your homework, you may find that the tried-and-true methods of making your home more energy efficient are the ones you should tackle first.

Consider, for example, how one of the most effective energy savers of our time, the programmable thermostat, developed over the years. You may think that it was invented during the last 25 years or so, but in reality the “clock-thermostat” was introduced more than 100 years ago by a company now known as Honeywell. It combined a clock and a thermostat to offer automatic control of setting a lower temperature at night and a higher one in the morning.

During the 1970s, basic programmable thermostats let you choose multiple daily programs during weekdays and different ones on the weekends. And if you zoom ahead to today, you can find a $100 smart thermostat that adapts to

your family’s lifestyle and is controllable from your smartphone. By shaving 10 to 15 percent off an average home’s electric bill, smart thermostats easily will pay for themselves in energy savings, which makes them a smart choice.

Obviously, not all technologies live up to their hype, and some even come with side effects that can overshadow their benefits. In addition, some of the “magic” devices only stay on the market long enough for their inventors to make a quick buck and disappear.

On the other hand, there are some new products today that merit your attention. One may be the Mistbox Air Conditioner Cooler, which claims to save its customers 20 to 38 percent on their electricity bills. This technology requires a simple installation on a home’s outdoor air-conditioning unit and works by spraying a mist to precool the air around the unit. In using this evaporative cooling method (which has been a part of industrial cooling applications for decades), your air conditioner theoretically doesn’t have to work as hard to pump cool air into your home. Interestingly, the Mistbox is sold as a subscription service that includes the hardware. You can read more at mistbox.com.

Iowa’s electric cooperatives know it’s important to help their member-owners navigate emerging technologies and provide the most cost-effective and beneficial energy

management solutions. So, it’s no surprise that they recommend investing in tried and true tips such as these before exploring other possibilities:

Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.

Increase insulation where necessary, but start in the attic, where more insulation will have the greatest effect and the space is accessible.

Clean and change the filters on your heating and air-conditioning system regularly to make your unit run more efficiently.

In spring and summer, set your ceiling fans to run in a counterclockwise direction to create a cool breeze. During autumn and winter, set your fans to turn clockwise to redistribute warm air throughout the rooms.

Install a programmable or smart thermostat.

Kaley Lockwood writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

The Mistbox adapts evaporative cooling, an energy-saving idea that’s been used in industrial cooling applications for decades, for home use.

Photo: Mistbox

4 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

“Robust, modern infrastructure is a foundation for quality of life and economic opportunity no matter the ZIP Code in which you live. Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, USDA is committed to being a strong partner in addressing rural infrastructure needs to support a more prosperous future in rural communities.”

On June 7, during a visit to power supplier Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) in Cedar Rapids, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that USDA is investing $309 million to improve rural electric infrastructure in 12 states. Two of the 16 approved projects are located in Iowa.

One of CIPCO’s members, Farmers Electric Cooperative in Greenfield, is receiving a $1.4 million USDA loan to invest in smart grid projects. Farmers plans to install more than 5,800 single-phase meters and additional meter reading equipment in its west-central Iowa service area.

Hazlett also announced that Harrison County REC in Woodbine is receiving a $6 million loan to build 20 miles of electric line, improve 57 miles of line and make other system improvements. The loan includes $578,000 for smart grid projects.

These USDA loans are being made through the agency’s Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program. It helps finance generation, transmission and distribution projects; system improvements; and energy conservation projects in communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. The overall goal is to increase the reliability and efficiency of electric power systems.

Q U O T E O F T H E M O N T H S A F E T Y M A T T E R S

Maintain a safe zone around the big green box

Pad-mounted transformers are connected to primary high-voltage lines, and secondary lines can extend in several directions to distribute power to homes and businesses. That’s why it’s important to contact Iowa One Call online at www.iowaonecall.com (or call 811) – and also to check with your electric cooperative before planting shrubs or trees, setting fence posts, installing sprinkler systems or digging where you could damage underground lines.

SAVE THE DATE!Aug. 28-30, 2018

The pad-mounted transformers in your area serve a serious purpose: distributing high-voltage electricity to several homes or businesses on the street. More specifically, the transformers inside the boxes convert high voltage to the voltages you use in your home for heating, cooling, electronics, appliances and lighting.

In many newer subdivisions and residential developments, overhead lines are no longer an option. Burying the power lines also reduces potential system damage from high winds and severe storms.

While overhead power lines and transformers are mounted out of reach on utility poles – and substations are protected by security fences and other measures – pad-mounted transformers, switch boxes and pedestals sit at ground level. Certainly, the big green boxes are safe, but they need to be treated with the same respect (and distance) as all of your electric cooperative’s equipment. They’re not designed for kids sitting, climbing or playing on them – or adults hiding them behind shrubs, flowers or fences.

While co-op member-owners seldom see technicians working on the pad-mount transformers unless there’s a power outage, the equipment is regularly inspected by co-op crews riding through neighborhoods that can see fault indicators from the road. In fact, one of the biggest concerns for co-op crews is safe access when they need to make repairs or component adjustments.

That’s why it’s important that landscaping and other barriers

be kept at least 10 feet away from the transformer box’s doors and 4 feet away from its sides and rear. These distances allow for the safe use of tools to work with energized equipment, including insulated hot sticks that typically are 8 feet in length. The clearances also ensure that one or two technicians working on a transformer have space to maneuver should they have to back away if problems occur.

Finally, if you notice anything amiss, like an unlocked transformer door or a box that’s been damaged, please contact your electric co-op immediately.

The Farm Progress Show returns to Boone this year Details: farmprogressshow.com

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 5

Outdoor fans need a little love (and regular maintenance) too

E D I T O R ’ S C H O I C E C O N T E S T

Did You Know?Electric co-ops serve primarily rural areas with sparse

populations, meaning they literally cover more ground than other types of utilities. While investor-owned electric utilities in Iowa serve 27 meters and generate $72,600 of revenue per mile of line on average, electric co-ops serve just 4 meters and generate only $10,700 of revenue per mile of line on average. Iowa municipalities average 54 meters per mile and generate $129,000 of revenue per mile of line.

These realities mean that Iowa’s electric cooperatives must maintain more infrastructure with less revenue per mile, compared to other electric utilities in the state. To accomplish this task, co-ops structure rates and fees to recover costs and partner with other cooperatives and organizations to create efficiencies of scale for supplies, insurance, financing, technology solutions and more. For example, most of Iowa’s electric co-ops are part of the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives national brand alliance, which means they have access to a vast network of resources and services that they couldn’t create on their own.

Win a cordless compact drill/driver kit that offers full-size performance

Good things come in small packages, which is certainly true with the Ryobi Model P1811 Compact Drill/Driver Kit. The drill includes a 24-position clutch, 2-speed gearbox and a ½-inch keyless chuck to power through your toughest jobs. It runs on the same 18-volt lithium battery as more than 100 other Ryobi tools; the kit includes the drill, two batteries, a quick charger and a tool bag.

The retail price of the compact drill kit is $99, plus we’re adding a bonus: the Model P4001 Drain Auger worth $70! For details on both products, go to ryobitools.com.

Visit our website, and win!Enter this month’s contest for the Ryobi tools by

visiting the Living with Energy in Iowa website at www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com no later than July 31, 2018.

You must be a member of one of Iowa’s electric cooperatives to win. There’s no obligation associated with entering, we don’t share entrant information with anyone and multiple entries from the same account will be disqualified.

The winner of the Philips Hue automated lighting kit in the May issue was Ashley Flathers from Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative.

The state of Iowa recently expanded its Move Over or Slow Down law; as of July 1, motorists are now required to move over or slow down when approaching any stationary vehicle on the side of the road with its flashing lights activated – including passenger cars with hazard lights. Failure to obey the law could result in a ticket or potentially the loss of your driver’s license.

S A F E T Y M A T T E R S

Please make sure to give emergency responders and utility workers the room they need to perform their jobs safely on Iowa’s roads. Their jobs are dangerous enough already. You can sign a simple pledge to obey the law at www.MoveOverIowa.com and share the updated law with your friends and family, especially younger drivers who don’t have as much experience behind the wheel.

Revised “Move Over or Slow Down” law went into effect July 1

6 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

Should your next car be an electric vehicle? The answer could depend on where you live.

At this time, electric vehicles account for just 1.2 percent of the U.S. vehicle market, but sales are booming; they increased 25 percent last year. And the vehicles are getting better and cheaper as researchers improve the batteries that power them. Here’s a guide to help you decide if an electric car is for you.

Deal with the distance mythThe first thing to realize about

electric cars is that they can travel more than enough miles for you on a single charge, even if you live way out in the wide-open countryside. Of course, your range will be affected by your driving style and how much you use the car’s heater and air-conditioning.

To test this idea for your situation, keep track of your actual daily use of the car you drive now, suggests Brian Sloboda, a program and product

manager at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

“If you’re an insurance salesman, you’re logging a lot of miles, so an electric car’s not going to be for you,” he says, noting that a typical range for an electric car today is over 100 miles, and ranges of 150 to 250 miles are becoming common. “But if you look at how many miles you drive in a day, for most people in the United States – even in rural areas – the number is under 40 miles per day. So, if your car has a range of 120 miles, that’s a lot of wiggle room.”

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the average American drives 25 miles a day, and for rural areas, the average is 34 miles a day.

Sloboda says another reason it’s worth thinking realistically about your daily mileage comes from the most likely way an electric car would be refueled. When an electric car is done driving for the day, you can plug it in to recharge overnight. Essentially, you’re “topping off the gas tank” while

you sleep, giving you a fully-charged battery every morning.

There are three ways to charge an electric car:

Level 1 – The simplest charging technique is to plug the car into a standard home outlet. That will charge the battery at a rate that will add from 2 to 5 miles to its range each hour. That’s pretty slow, but the battery might start the charging session already partially charged, depending on how far it was driven that day.

Level 2 – Faster charging will require a professional installer to upgrade a circuit in the garage to a higher voltage for a unit that will add between 10 and 25 miles of range for each hour of charging – a rate that would fully charge the battery overnight. Installing a Level 2 charger in a house or garage would run $500 to $800 for the equipment, plus at least that much for the labor. You can also use a timer to charge the vehicle in the middle of the night, when electric consumption is typically lower.

Level 3 – A DC fast-charging system requires specialized equipment more suited to public charging stations; it will bring a car battery up to 80 percent of capacity in 30 minutes. However, this high-speed technique only should be used for long-distance driving, since it can degrade the battery over time. That’s also why DC chargers shouldn’t be used to bring a battery up to a 100 percent charge.

Take advantage of off-peak electric rates

What you pay to charge your electric car could also depend on where you live, says Sloboda. He advises checking to see whether your local electric

The economics of an electric car may make sense sooner than you thinkBY PAUL WESSLUND

You’ll soon be seeing more special public parking spots for electric vehicles across the state, many with quick chargers you can use for a fee.

And when you’re done driving your electric vehicle for the day, you can plug it in to recharge overnight, “topping o� the tank” while you sleep!

Sources: Dept. of Energy, Energy Information Administration, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Range anxiety—fear of the battery running out before you’re able to recharge—is a roadblock to wider use of electric vehicles. But statistics show this fear is overblown, even if you live in a rural area. While extra planning may be needed for vacations or longer trips, nearly everyone’s daily driving needs can be met with one charge.

Easing Electric Vehicle Range Anxiety

AVERAGE MILE COMPARISON

Average miles-per-charge for all electric vehicles in 2017

Average miles driven per day by Americans living in rural areas

Average miles driven per day by Americans

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

114

35.7

29.8

Miles

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 7

cooperative offers a lower rate to charge an electric vehicle overnight, when the utility has a lower demand for electricity.

“It’s different depending on where you are in the country,” says Sloboda. Some local co-ops have fairly stable electric demand throughout a typical day, so they may not offer a special electric vehicle rate. He adds, “There are areas of the country where the on-peak, off-peak difference in price is extreme,” so it might make financial sense for the utility to offer an overnight charging rate.

Another factor affecting the economics of an electric car is, of course, the original cost of the vehicle. Today, the prices of many electric cars fall into the luxury or near-luxury price classes, but industry projections put their cost coming down to match conventional vehicles by about the year 2025. Today, the average electric car costs close to $40,000, compared with less than $30,000 for one with an internal combustion engine.

Consider the environmentFor many people, one of the biggest

selling points for electric cars is their effect on the environment.

The sources of electricity for a local utility vary across the country – some areas depend heavily on coal-fired power plants, others use larger shares of solar or wind energy. The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed all the local electric utility fuel mixes, and determined that for most of the country, electric vehicles have much less of an effect on the environment than conventional vehicles. That study shows that in the middle part of the country, driving an electric vehicle has the equivalent environmental benefits of driving a gasoline-powered car that gets 41-50 miles per gallon. For much of the rest of the country, it’s like driving a

car that gets well over 50 miles per gallon.

“Seventy-five percent of people now live in places where driving on electricity is cleaner than a 50 MPG gasoline car,” says the report. On the other hand, some folks worry that the manufacturing process for the batteries in electric cars may cause more pollution than the production of a conventional vehicle – and there are concerns about recycling or disposing of old batteries.

Sloboda concedes that electric vehicles aren’t for everybody – yet. One limit to their growth is that no major carmaker offers a fully electric version of the most popular vehicle sold in America: the pickup truck. This applies to SUVs too.

Sloboda says there’s no technological barrier to making an electric truck. He even suggests possible advantages: a heavy battery in the bottom would lower the center of gravity for better handling, and at a remote worksite the battery could run power tools.

“Within the next 24 months I believe there will be a credible pickup truck on the market,” says Sloboda. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Paul Wesslund writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which represents more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape.

8 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

Khachapuri(Russian Cheese Bread) 2 teaspoons light brown sugar 1 package yeast 1/2 cup warm milk 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 7 tablespoons softened butter, divided 1 pound mild grated cheese (Monterey Jack

or Cheddar) 2 eggs

Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm milk and let stand 5 minutes. Sift flour and salt. Add 4 tablespoons butter and yeast mixture. Mix ingredients and knead 8-10 minutes until dough is smooth and stretchy. Place dough in a bowl, brush top with butter, cover and let rise an hour. Punch down and let rise another 45 minutes. Combine cheese, 2 tablespoons butter and 1 egg. Beat until blended. Divide risen dough into 4 parts and roll each out. Place 1/4 of the cheese mixture on each portion of dough. Gather together edges to cover the cheese. Let rise 15 minutes. Separate the last egg, and mix yolk with 1 tablespoon butter. Brush bread loaves with the egg/butter mixture and place on rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Lori Loehr ∙ Ida Grove ∙ North West REC

Norwegian Almond Torte 11/3 cups butter – no substitutes 11/3 cups sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 12/3 cups flour 1 cup finely chopped almonds 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 11/2 teaspoons almond extract 3/4 cup sliced almonds 1 tablespoon sugar

Cream butter and 11/3 cups sugar well. Blend in 1 egg, vanilla and flour to form a smooth dough. Pat half the dough into a spring-form pan. Combine finely chopped almonds, ½ cup sugar, 1 egg and almond extract. Spread over dough. Cover with remaining dough. Sprinkle 3/4 cup sliced almonds and 1 tablespoon sugar over top layer. Bake at 325 degrees about 1 hour until lightly golden brown. Cool, remove from pan and cut into wedges to serve. May top with whipped cream and fresh berries.

Faith Blaskovich ∙ LohrvilleCalhoun County Electric Cooperative Association

Houska(Czech Coffee Cake) 11/4 cups milk 1/4 cup shortening 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 package yeast 2 eggs, lightly beaten 41/2 cups flour 11/2 cups seedless raisins 1 egg Poppy seeds, to garnish

Scald milk and combine with shortening, sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm. Soften yeast in this mixture. Add 2 eggs, flour and raisins. Knead lightly until smooth. Place in greased bowl, cover and let rise until double in size. Divide dough into 2 parts, and let rest 10 minutes. Shape one part into a long loaf. Roll the other part lengthwise and cut into 3 strips. Braid the 3 strips and place on top of the loaf, securing the ends. Place on greased baking sheet. Beat 1 egg well and spread over loaf. Top with poppy seeds. Let rise until double in size. Bake at 370 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Mary Gropper ∙ Chelsea ∙ T.I.P. REC

TIPFILL ‘ERUP!Run full loads in your dishwasher, but don’t overdo it. Everything in the load must be exposed to the water spray and not interfere with the spray arms or water jets. Dishes, bowls and silverware that touch or “nest” – and cookie sheets or other large items that rest against the interior walls of the tub – won’t get thoroughly washed or rinsed.

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 9

Wanted: Recipes for an election night partyThe Reward: $25 for every one we publish! What will you serve your guests while the results are being tallied? (The only side we’re taking here is the one in favor of winning recipes.) If we run your recipe in the magazine, we’ll send a $25 credit for your electric co-op to apply to your power bill. Recipes submitted also may be archived on our website at www.livingwithenergyiniowa.com.The deadline is July 31, 2018. Please include your name, address, telephone number, co-op name and the recipe category on all submissions.

E-MAIL: recipes@livingwithenergyiniowa.com(Attach your recipe as a Word document or PDF to your e-mail message.)MAIL: Recipes Living with Energy in Iowa magazine8525 Douglas Ave., Suite 48Des Moines, IA 50322-2992

TIPSMOOTH OPERATOROver-blending will give you a puree, no matter which speed button you pushed.

Czech Sweet and Sour Cabbage 1/2 head cabbage Boiling water to cover 1 tablespoon caraway seed, optional 1 small onion, chopped 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar

Chop cabbage, place in pan and pour boiling water over to cover. Add caraway seed, if using. Cook for about 10-15 minutes. Drain, saving 3 cups of the cabbage water. Fry onion in the butter just until soft, and set aside. Mix together flour, vinegar and sugar. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the reserved cabbage water to make a paste. Add the onions to the cooked cabbage. Pour the remaining cabbage water over the cooked cabbage and onions, stir in the vinegar paste and cook on medium heat until thickened.

Francene Holstein ∙ Persia ∙ Harrison County REC

Dutch Letters 2 cups flour 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup cold water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup almond paste 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, plus 1 yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together flour, butter, water and salt as you would for a pie crust. Chill. Beat paste with mixer until smooth. Add remaining ingredients; mix well and chill. Divide the dough and filling into 7 parts. Roll each piece into a 14 x 4-inch strip. Spread filling in center, fold sides over filling and seal the ends. Place on greased cookie sheet, seam side down. Brush top with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Prick with a fork every 2 inches. Bake at 375-400 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Mary Ann Olivier ∙ PellaPella Cooperative Electric Association

Rommegrot(Norwegian Rice Pudding) 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup flour 2 cups milk 1 pint half-and-half 1/3 cup sugar 2 cups rice, cooked Cinnamon sugar Butter

Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and cook until thickened. Stir in half-and-half and sugar. Mix with rice and pour into a greased casserole dish. Top with cinnamon sugar and dabs of butter. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until heated through.

Elizabeth Hartter ∙ Rock Rapids ∙ Lyon REC

Win an Instant Pot multi-cooker!See page 14 for details.

TIPSOUPERTHICKFor a last-minute thickening agent for soup, combine 2 teaspoons softened butter with 2 teaspoons flour, mix into a paste and stir into the hot liquid.

TIPLET’S NOT GET MUSHY …Be sure to empty the food processor container often when chopping food. Otherwise, you’ll end up with mushy food!

TIPWHAT A CHEESY IDEA!Use Parmesan cheese rinds when making soup. Freeze them until needed.

10 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

See the 2018 Youth Tour from all the angles

Joining about 1,800 students from across the country, 37 Iowa students made the annual pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., last month, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the educational trip that originated in the Hawkeye State. Participants met their U.S. representatives and senators, started and ran their own cooperative, met student leaders from nearly every state and watched history come alive as they explored museums, memorials, monuments and other sites. Best of all, the students made friendships that will last a lifetime.

Be sure to check the quotes from the kids too!

“It was literally the experience of a lifetime.”

Kaitlyn Faber, Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.

“I got to be immersed in history through monuments and memorials, which taught me more than any history textbook ever could.”

Katelyn Langel, North West REC

“It was a great experience. I’ve already explained the application process to a younger member of my co-op!”

Luke Tuecke, Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative

Pre-dawn 3-mile run with Sen. Chuck Grassley

The White House

U.S. Air Force Memorial

Just landed!

Sen. Joni Ernst at Capitol Hill

Photo: Dennis Gainer, NRECA

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 11

“Youth Tour has given me a deeper understanding of our country ... ”

Madalyn Weber, Farmers Electric Cooperative (Greenfield)

“We did all this while gaining a greater appreciation for our electric cooperative and all that they do for our rural communities.”

Joe Anderson, Lyon REC

“This experience has opened my eyes to a world of possibilities.”

Halie Heitritter, Lyon REC

Just landed!

Note to my co-op

Nap time!

Vietnam War Memorial

Madame Tussauds: Ford’s Theatre

Tidal Basin

National Museum of the Marine Corps

After successfully launching a snack cooperative for Iowa’s hungry students last year, the organizers of the 2018 trip decided to kick the concept up a notch. This year’s D.C. Munchie Cooperative became a fully functioning co-op with 43 members who each paid $1 to join, five elected board members, a CEO/general manager and other employees.

The co-op raised additional capital for purchasing snacks by borrowing $131 from a special trust fund and by selling punch cards students could use for purchases at the co-op’s store. The co-op also held regular meetings and sent out daily safety messages to members – plus ads to encourage them to patronize the co-op’s store, which based its inventory on responses to a member survey.

By the end of the week, the D.C. Munchie Cooperative had generated a margin, so the board of directors declared a distribution to members, paid back the loan (plus interest) and held back a small amount to restart the co-op next year.

Photo: Dennis Gainer, NRECA

12 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

He’s the YLC delegate! Jacob Risse from Butler County REC was

selected to serve as Iowa’s Youth Leadership Council delegate during the Youth Tour. He will travel back to Washington, D.C., this month for leadership training and to enhance his knowledge of the energy industry and the cooperative business model.

He also will speak at the annual meeting of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives in December and attend the annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Orlando next year.

Jacob will be a senior at Wapsi Valley High School in the fall, where he’s been involved in band as the saxophone section leader and the National Honor Society. He’s also the FFA chapter president for 2018-2019.

“I highly recommend this opportunity to every single person out there, as you come back with a new attitude and a ton of new friends!”

Mackenna Pannhoff, Heartland Power Cooperative

“You never know who you will meet or even the opportunities that may come as a result of participating in Youth Tour.”

Hollie Nelson, Access Energy Cooperative

National Museum of the Marine Corps

4 a.m.: Ready to go on the Grassley run

Korean War Memorial Ben’s Chili

Bowl

Madame Tussauds: Oval Office

National WWII Memorial

Photo for the folks back home

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 13

S A F E T Y M A T T E R S

Photo for the folks back home

14 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA July 2018

P R O D U C T R E C A L L S

What goes up may come down: telescoping ladders are recalled

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Werner Co. has recalled five models of its telescoping ladders. If you own one, you should stop using it immediately.

To report a problem with another product you believe is unsafe, go to www.saferproducts.gov. For details on recalls of a product you own, go to cpsc.gov, twitter.com/uscpsc, facebook.com/uscpsc or instagram.com/uscpsc. You also may call the agency’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. Note that it’s illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Werner Multi-Purpose Telescoping Aluminum LaddersRECALL: 18-179UNITS: About 78,000IMPORTER: Werner Co., of Greenville, Pa.HAZARD: The ladders can break while in use, posing a fall hazard to the user.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: The firm has

received one report of a ladder breaking while in use, resulting in one injury to the left side and elbow of the consumer.DESCRIPTION: This recall involves five models of aluminum telescoping ladders that can be used in five different positions– twin step ladder, stairway step ladder, extension ladder, wall ladder and as two scaffold bases. The recalled ladders have a load capacity of 375 lbs. The date code (121744XX or 011844XX) is stamped on the inside of the outer leg of the ladder, beneath the bottom step. The model number is printed on a label located on the side of the ladder rail.SOLD AT: Home Depot and Lowe’s stores nationwide from April 2018 through May 2018, for between $180 and $275.MANUFACTURED IN: ChinaREMEDY: Immediately stop using the recalled ladder and return it to the store of purchase to receive a full refund.CONSUMER CONTACT: Call Werner toll-free at 888-523-3370 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday. You also may send an e-mail to

customercare@wernerladder.com, or go online to www.wernerco.com and click on “News & Recalls” at the top of the page.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives of Iowa are once again sponsoring the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building on the south side of the fairgrounds during the Iowa State Fair. Please stop by our booth to show us at which electric cooperative you’re a member-owner – and register to win one of three Instant Pot Ultra Multi-Use Programmable Cookers we’re giving away. You’ll also learn more about saving energy and the power of your co-op membership.

Make your mark at the Iowa State Fair, and you could win an Instant Pot Multi-Cooker!

Aug. 9-19, 2018

July 2018 LIVING WITH ENERGY IN IOWA 15

Fourth of July celebrations don’t vary much over the years in small towns. This town always has a 5K race the morning of the Fourth, while that town has a softball tournament. The Pella of my childhood always featured several ball games in the evening, with the town clustering around the ball diamond on the hill by the high school – and in the parking lot by the pool – waiting for enough darkness for the fireworks to start. Although we knew that Independence Day was the time to be patriotic – which usually meant wearing red, white, and blue and waving a dime store flag – the fireworks were always the much-awaited prime event.

One year, as an 11-year-old, I got a much more sobering history lesson.

Several Laotian and Vietnamese families had settled in Pella in the early ‘70s, part of then-Gov. Ray’s welcome to southeast Asians in our state. A few of these families were attending our church, and my family had gotten to know some of them rather well. My mom had invited a couple of the kids from one of the families to go to the ballgame and fireworks with us.

We huddled on our blanket at the diamond, waiting for the interminable last out of the game, eyes set beyond the outfield where the fireworks were set up and ready to go. The tension was palpable as the ump called the last strike, the players trickled back to their dugouts and the lights on the ballfield cut out, leaving us in starry darkness.

The first missile flew into the air and puffed out into a green blossom, covering the sky. The second “whoomphed” into the air and suddenly exploded into a sharp light, followed a few seconds later by the blinding crack. We kids hated those.

O U T B A C K

But our Asian friends were overcome with terror. “The bombs!” one of them screamed, lifting the corner of the blanket and scrambling beneath, the second child following quickly. They lay flat on the ground, the blanket over their bodies, trembling and crying.

It didn’t do any good for my sister Amber and me to try to explain that these weren’t bombs – they were fireworks! They’re fun! They’re beautiful! Their sobs of horror and repeated “The bombs! The bombs!” continued until my mom stood up and, wrapping the blanket around them, rushed them quickly to our car

and took them home.Amber and I sat there, numbly

watching the nighttime display unfold, waiting for our mom to come back.

For those of us who were born in the United States, the freedom that comes with our birth is often taken for granted. On that day, however, I realized that freedom is often hard-purchased by those who will never take it for granted.

Valerie Van Kooten grew up on an Iowa farm and loves writing about everyday things that affect all of us. She and her husband have three sons and two grandsons.

Every Fourth of July has a special lesson

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