NEWS Prairie Land Sponsors Youth on Trip of a Lifetime

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P.O. Box 360, 14935 US Highway 36, Norton, KS 67654 785-877-3323 or 800-577-3323 www.prairielandelectric.

The students learned about cooperatives, met government officials and developed their leadership skills.

The trip, coordinated by Kansas electric cooperatives, began in Topeka with a banquet and a night tour of the Kansas State Capitol led by youth tour alumnus Rep. Steve Johnson.

1 P.O. Box 360, US Highway 36, Norton, KS or Thirty-six Kansas high school students attended the 56th annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., from June The students learned about cooperatives, met government officials and developed their leadership skills. FAITH HOFAKER, Logan; MAGGIE MALMBERG, Phillipsburg; and ELI OHLDE, Clyde; enjoyed an all-expense-paid weeklong tour of the nation s capitol. The trip, coordinated by Kansas electric cooperatives, began in Topeka with a banquet and a night tour of the Kansas State Capitol led by youth tour alumnus Rep. Steve Johnson. On Friday, before flying to Washington, D.C., the students had breakfast at Kaw Valley Electric Cooperative where linemen presented an electrical safety demonstration and gave bucket truck rides. While in our nation s capital, the students met with Congressman Tim Huelskamp and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins. The youth also visited with Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran after their tour of Capitol Hill. Electric cooperatives are more than just poles and wires. They re about people and communities, Moran said. Recognizing that youth are the future of those communities is what the rural electric cooperative program is all about. This trip opens the eyes of many students to future possibilities in leadership roles, I liked talking to Congressman Huelskamp and Senator Moran, Hofaker said. To know that they came from rural Kansas backgrounds just like us, and having accomplished so many great things gives me reassurance that my background will not hinder me, but rather provide a great foundation to do exceptional things in the future. The youth toured the The Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian museums, Mt. Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, attended a professional baseball game at the Nationals Stadium, and saw the production of Shear Madness at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. All of the memorials have given me a new found appreciation for our PRAIRIE LAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS Prairie Land Sponsors Youth on Trip of a Lifetime From left: Maggie Malmberg, Eli Ohlde and Faith Hofaker at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. nation s history and military, Ohlde said. The delegates also attended the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Day that brought together 1,700 youth from 43 states to hear speakers. All of the memorials have given me a new found appreciation for our nation s history and military, Ohlde said. Many students expressed how this trip has changed their view on the world and also the view on themselves. Talking to Iwo Jima veteran Frank Matthews made me view our nation s history in a different way, Malmberg said. It was impactful to learn about World War II from a piece of living history, rather than a book or museum. It is crazy to think he was only 18 years old when he joined the military. I could never imagine enduring what he did in a year s time. He was a courageous young man and American. A unique and surprise turn of events also occurred on this year s trip. Students had the opportunity to see the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet while visiting the capitol, watch from a distance as presidential candidate Donald Trump boarded his plane at the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport and witnessed a vote in the Senate Gallery with several well-known senators who have also been part of the current presidential campaign. Prairie Land sponsors three students for the Youth Tour each year as part of our strong commitment to the community and our mission to help the future generations to become leaders. Hofaker, Malmberg and Ohlde were selected through a competition held by Prairie Land Electric. To be selected, the students took a written test and were interviewed by a panel of judges. Prairie Land is proud to support the Youth Tour program and send our youth to experience government in action, Allan Miller, CEO of Prairie Land, said. Our hope is that local students will gain some awareness of how our political system works and how important it is for the youth to be involved in our community. 16-B AUGUST 2016

EVENTS FROM LYON-COFFEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Lyon-Coffey Fills the Bucket for Local Schools Lyon-Coffey

On Aug. 5, Lyon-Coffey joined forces with the Emporia Walmart.

Those who donated school supplies were entered into a drawing for a flat screen TV.

Shopko of Burlington then joined forces with Lyon-Coffey on Aug. 12 to collect school supplies.

Lyon-Coffey feels they have a social responsibility to help gather school supplies for students in the

presents the supplies collected from the Burlington drive to local area school sponsors.

Providing services and After filling the bucket of the work-truck with donations, Shopko and

2 EVENTS FROM LYON-COFFEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Lyon-Coffey Fills the Bucket for Local Schools Lyon-Coffey Electric teamed up with Walmart and Shopko in August to hold a Fill the Bucket school supply drive. On Aug. 5, Lyon-Coffey joined forces with the Emporia Walmart. Although it was a little rainy, there was a great turnout. Those who donated school supplies were entered into a drawing for a flat screen TV. Emporia winners were MELVIN and DORA HARTIG. Shopko of Burlington then joined forces with Lyon-Coffey on Aug. 12 to collect school supplies. This was also a successful day. The Burlington winner of the TV was KASEY HOLVECK. Lyon-Coffey feels they have a social responsibility to help gather school supplies for students in the communities we serve, said Mike Tweedy, Mike Tweedy (left), Lyon-Coffey Electric member services, presents the supplies collected from the Burlington drive to local area school sponsors. Lyon-Coffey Electric member services. Providing services and After filling the bucket of the work-truck with donations, Shopko and Lyon-Coffey Electric employees draw for the winner of the TV. supplies in our areas is part of our cooperative s commitment to community. Items donated at each event were given to local schools to help replenish their supplies. Lyon-Coffey Electric members have helped gather school supplies and Fill the Bucket since Thank you for your donations to Fill the Bucket! OCTOBER C

Preschoolers help Lyon-Coffey celebrate Arbor Day Left: Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative staff joins preschool volunteers to plant two red oak trees on Arbor Day.

Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative joined forces with the City of Osage City, the City Tree Board, and a local preschool, to celebrate Arbor Day.

The celebration began with Kathy Webster, member of the Osage City Tree Board, speaking to preschoolers about the importance of Arbor Day.

Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative is honored to be part of the Arbor Day celebration in Osage City, Tweedy said. It is a reminder that we have responsibilities that extend beyond our own backyards.

3 Preschoolers help Lyon-Coffey celebrate Arbor Day Left: Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative staff joins preschool volunteers to plant two red oak trees on Arbor Day. Top Right: Lineman Dylan Martin and volunteer preschoolers begin planting a tree at Lincoln Park in Osage City. Bottom Right: Lineman Bryce Morgan helps volunteer preschoolers finish planting a tree. Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative joined forces with the City of Osage City, the City Tree Board, and a local preschool, to celebrate Arbor Day. Co-op linemen planted two trees in Lincoln Park in Osage City April 27. The cooperative donated two red oak trees, the equipment, and staff time for the celebration. The celebration began with Kathy Webster, member of the Osage City Tree Board, speaking to preschoolers about the importance of Arbor Day. Mike Tweedy, Lyon-Coffey Member Services, explained the origins of Arbor Day to the young group. Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative is honored to be part of the Arbor Day celebration in Osage City, Tweedy said. It is a reminder that we have responsibilities that extend beyond our own backyards. Arbor Day challenges us to take seriously our job as caretakers of our natural environment. We are fortunate to band together with our neighbors Power Restored After Flooding On April 27, overnight storms and torrential rain left approximately 20 Lyon- Coffey Electric members temporarily without power. At their first attempt Wednesday night, a Lyon- Coffey Electric crew found a tree on the primary power line, but with the impassable flood waters they were unable to re-energize the line. With the water receding substantially by Thursday morning, Lyon-Coffey linemen devised a plan to restore power. Foreman Matt Sowers and Lineman Sam Seufert used a small boat to Storms cause a tree to fall on a power line, resulting in outages. safelyaccess the line and restored power by Thursday afternoon. We thank everyone involved and appreciate the hard work and dedication shown by the Lyon-Coffey Electric crew. to leave the environment in a better state than we may have found it. Preschool volunteers helped Debbie Chrum, member of the Tree Board, and Osage City staff and co-op plant the trees. This event was the second year Lyon-Coffey has donated trees to its community in honor of Arbor Day. With this program, children not only get to learn about the environment, but it also allows them to participate in the holiday. Candidate Meet and Greet Join us for a chance to meet your state and federal candidates! On Tuesday, July 5, Lyon-Coffey Electric will host a Co-op Candidate Tour meet and greet at 10:30 a.m. at Lyon-Coffey s headquarters: 1013 N. 4th St., Burlington. The Co-op Candidate Tour is sponsored by Kansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. s Government Relations department as part of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association s (NRECA) Co-ops Vote initiative. Co-ops Vote is a national non-partisan campaign to encourage co-op members to register to vote, educate voters on key issues, and encourage members to vote for candidates that support electric co-ops. Read more about KEC s Co-ops Candidate Tour on page 22 of this month s issue of Kansas Country Living. JUNE C

Join Us for Wheatland s Annual Cram the Van Wow, it s difficult to believe summer is winding down and September

We can t wait to fire up the van and head to your community this fall.

The pumpkins and warm weather have already been ordered for this year s finale.

pumpkins. So mark your calendars for another great Cram the Van finale in Scott City on Saturday, Oct.

29, we have 10 more stops to make in communities across our service territory.

the Garden City Clarion Inn on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Thank you for partnering with us to help feed hungry people across Kansas.

See the schedule below for a list of events and dates we are already planning: f Sept.

15 BULLSEYE BBQ/FALL FEST, Harper f Oct. 21 CARDINAL CHALLENGE, Conway Springs f Oct.

4 Join Us for Wheatland s Annual Cram the Van Wow, it s difficult to believe summer is winding down and September is just around the corner. And with September comes the beginning of our annual Cram the Van food drive. We can t wait to fire up the van and head to your community this fall. We re planning several new events and looking to make some of last years even better. The pumpkins and warm weather have already been ordered for this year s finale. Last year s Halloween finale, was a great time: We had hayrack rides, roasted marshmallows and decorated pumpkins. So mark your calendars for another great Cram the Van finale in Scott City on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Wheatland Broadband building in Scott City. But before we get to Scott City on Oct. 29, we have 10 more stops to make in communities across our service territory. Be sure and watch for the big red van at an event in your community, starting with the Z98 Women s Night Out at the Garden City Clarion Inn on Thursday, Sept. 15. We appreciate everyone who has helped us collect more than 7 tons of food over the past two years. Thank you for partnering with us to help feed hungry people across Kansas. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events as we work together to pass the 10 ton mark this year. See the schedule below for a list of events and dates we are already planning: f Sept. 15 Z98 WOMEN S FAIR, Garden City f Sept. 20 HEARTLAND FOODS, Scott City f Sept, 30 GOOCH S FOODS, Tribune f Oct. 15 BULLSEYE BBQ/FALL FEST, Harper f Oct. 21 CARDINAL CHALLENGE, Conway Springs f Oct. 29 CRAM THE VAN FINALE, Wheatland Broadband in Scott City We will be adding more events to the schedule, so be sure to check Wheatland s website ( and Facebook page ( for updates. See you soon, and thanks for helping us Cram the Van! Cram the Van events throughout Wheatland s service territory have netted more than 7 tons of food for local food banks over the past two years. AUGUST G

1850 W. Oklahoma, P.O. Box 368 Ulysses, KS 67880 620.356.1211 or 800.794.9302 www.pioneerelectric.coop PIONEER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Randy Magnison Executive Vice President, Assistant CEO Lindsay Shepard Executive Vice President and General Counsel George Bushnell Vice President of Engineering and Operations Chantry Scott Vice

5 1850 W. Oklahoma, P.O. Box 368 Ulysses, KS or PIONEER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board of s Melvin Winger President Alfred Alexander Vice President Perry Rubart Secretary/Treasurer Jim Bell Mike Brewer Fred Claassen Martie Floyd John Jury Charles Milburn Staff Steve Epperson CEO Randy Magnison Executive Vice President, Assistant CEO Lindsay Shepard Executive Vice President and General Counsel George Bushnell Vice President of Engineering and Operations Chantry Scott Vice President of Finance and Accounting Anita Wendt Vice President of Energy Services Drew Waechter Editor In Case of an Outage If your electricity is off for more than a few minutes, call Afterhours calls will be answered by dispatch and forwarded to standby personnel. H.U.G.S. for Local Organizations Giving back to our communities we serve is a part of our mission at Pioneer Electric. That is why Pioneer Electric developed Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) to support nonprofit organizations that work for the sustainable development of our communities. How H.U.G.S. Works The goal of H.U.G.S. is to find ways to give back to our communities and build better, stronger relationships with members. H.U.G.S. is funded by Pioneer Electric's recycled materials gathered from the replacement and repair of our infrastructure. As funds allow, the H.U.G.S. team then seeks projects to assist in Pioneer's 10-county service territory. Since formed, the H.U.G.S. team has supported a variety of projects focusing on human needs, education, culture and civic improvements. Applying For H.U.G.S. To be eligible to receive funds, interested organizations must complete an application and cover letter according to the application requirements. Applications can be submitted to Pioneer Electric's office at any time, and will be held until the H.U.G.S. team meets. H.U.G.S. members Larry Davis (right) and Sheila Mason present a $3,000 check to Cody Sams (left) and Wade Penrod for the Ulysses Bit and Spur Rodeo Club. Applications are reviewed and voted on by H.U.G.S. quarterly. Funds are then awarded to the approved organizations. Funds will not be awarded for events, programs or projects that have already occurred or have been substantially completed before the application is submitted. Additionally, applicants who do not meet requirements outlined in the application will not receive funds. Completing and submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Applications and eligibility information can be found at pioneerelectric.coop. H.U.G.S. Awards Funds to Bit and Spur Rodeo Club On May 7, members of Pioneer Electric s Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S) team presented a check for $3,000 to the Ulysses Bit and Spur Rodeo Club for the construction of a new announcer s stand. Our goal with the project was to be able to have a safe and secure facility for our community to enjoy," said Bit and Spur President, Wade Penrod. "We hope that in building this new facility, we will be able to hold more events at the fairgrounds. Full story at pioneerelectric.coop. AUGUST A

NEWS FROM THE WHEAT CAPITAL FROM SUMNER-COWLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Use SmartHub to Manage Your Account Members Help Members by Rounding-Up Their Bill Since 2008, Sumner-Cowley has offered its

The program, which is strictly voluntary, has been established so that Sumner-Cowley Electric members have a quick and easy method of making financial contributions to non-profit organizations that

6 NEWS FROM THE WHEAT CAPITAL FROM SUMNER-COWLEY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Use SmartHub to Manage Your Account Members Help Members by Rounding-Up Their Bill Since 2008, Sumner-Cowley has offered its members a chance to help their community by participating in our Members Helping Members program. The program, which is strictly voluntary, has been established so that Sumner-Cowley Electric members have a quick and easy method of making financial contributions to non-profit organizations that help people throughout their community. Once enrolled in the program, members electric bills are rounded up to the next dollar. For example, a bill of $52.49 is rounded up to $53. The 51-cent difference is deposited into the Members Helping Members fund. Sumner-Cowley Electric then In September, Sumner-Cowley Electric launched a new, powerful account management tool for members called SmartHub a web and mobile application that delivers accurate, timely account information and the ability to quickly pay your electric bill. SmartHub will serve as Sumner- Cowley s safe and secure electronic payment system and will give members more control over their accounts. Using SmartHub on your computer, phone or tablet, you will be able to: Pay your bill View billing history View electricity usage and history View account information Receive notifications Access Sumner-Cowley social media The launch of SmartHub means that our E-Bill service has been disabled. If you previously used the E-Bill feature to make payments to Sumner-Cowley, your login information ( address and password) will remain the same when you use SmartHub. Please note that any bill notification you receive will now be sent from the domain smarthub.coop. This is a tremendous new tool for our members, said Cletas Rains, Sumner-Cowley CEO/General Manager. We want to provide our members the ability to lower their bills and increase energy efficiency. The data provided through the SmartHub website and phone application will give Sumner-Cowley members the power and information needed to better control their energy consumption. Want to contribute to local non-profit organizations? It s easy just sign up for Sumner-Cowley s Members Helping Members program and your monthly bill will be rounded up to the next dollar. SmartHub will not only give Sumner-Cowley members more power to control their energy consumption, but it will do so at no additional cost to the cooperative. To login to SmartHub, visit our website and follow the Smart- Hub link. Visit sucocoop.smarthub. coop or download the application on your mobile device in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android devices. Sumner-Cowley will provide more information about SmartHub and its benefits in future issues of Kansas Country Living, as well as on our website and Facebook page. If you have any questions, contact our office at matches the members contribution and deposits the contribution into the Members Helping Members fund, as well. All funds collected through Members Helping Members are donated to local charitable organizations. A panel of volunteers and Sumner-Cowley Electric employees determine where and how to allocate the funds. Past donations include college scholarships for children of members, after prom/graduation celebrations, various local school, sports and community organizations and programs. Members who participate in Members Helping Members will give an average of 50 cents each month, which equals $6 a year. With Sumner-Cowley Electric issuing thousands of electric bills each year, the potential is great for our members to make a big impact to many worthwhile organizations. If you would like to contribute to Members Helping Members, please contact our office at or Jared McIntire, director of member services, at jaredm@sucocoop.com. 16-B OCTOBER 2016

Recipes from Our Members Kitchens RED PEPPER SEASONED CRACKERS QUICK ALFREDO PASTA 1 box saltine crackers 1 ¼ c. canola oil (use only canola) 2 T. red pepper flakes 8 oz. cream cheese ½ c. butter ¾ c.

Shake bag or tumble in bowl every 15 minutes for an hour. Mixture does not go in oven. Ronda Monaghan, Haviland ¾ c. milk 8 13 oz.

May also top with 2 cups sautéed chicken chunks seasoned with lemon pepper and garlic salt. Serve with steamed broccoli, Caesar salad or French bread.

baking soda 2 oz. semi sweet dark chocolate, chopped Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place butter in small pot over medium heat.

7 Recipes from Our Members Kitchens RED PEPPER SEASONED CRACKERS QUICK ALFREDO PASTA 1 box saltine crackers 1 ¼ c. canola oil (use only canola) 2 T. red pepper flakes 8 oz. cream cheese ½ c. butter ¾ c. parmesan cheese 1 tsp. garlic powder ½ tsp. onion powder 1 pkg. dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix Mix all ingredients together in a large plastic bag or large Tupperware bowl. Shake bag or tumble in bowl every 15 minutes for an hour. Mixture does not go in oven. Ronda Monaghan, Haviland ¾ c. milk 8 13 oz. pasta, cooked Warm cream cheese, butter, parmesan cheese, and milk over low heat stirring until smooth. Stir sauce into cooked fettuccine or whole wheat thin spaghetti. May also top with 2 cups sautéed chicken chunks seasoned with lemon pepper and garlic salt. Serve with steamed broccoli, Caesar salad or French bread. Heather Bowman, Pratt BROWN BUTTER DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES ½ c. butter ½ c. sugar ½ c. brown sugar, packed 1 egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 1/3 c. flour ¼ tsp. baking powder 1/8 tsp. baking soda 2 oz. semi sweet dark chocolate, chopped Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place butter in small pot over medium heat. After butter has melted start swirling pot gently until butter starts to brown and become fragrant. Once the butter is golden amber color, take off the heat and pour into the mixer bowl. Pour in sugar and brown sugar and stir. Mix in egg and vanilla. Scrape sides and stir again. Pour in all dry ingredients and stir slowly. Scrape the sides and mix again, briefly. Stir in Chocolate chunks by hand. Scoop by the teaspoon onto pans and bake 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack. RAISIN-CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES 2 c. butter or margarine, softened 1 2/3 c. sugar 1 2/3 c. brown sugar, packed 4 eggs 1 T. vanilla 4 c. flour 2 ½ c. quick cooked oats 2 ½ c. old fashion oats 2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips 3 c. nuts, chopped 2 c. raisins 1 c. flaked coconut In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine dry ingredients, gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips, nuts, raisins and coconut. Drop by heaping tablespoonful 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for minutes until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool. Marianne McGuire, Pratt Gail Jorgensen, Greensburg Want to share your recipe? We hope you enjoy the recipes from your neighbors at Ninnescah. Please consider submitting your favorite recipes for all to enjoy. In your 16-D JUNE 2016 submission, include the following: ff Your name and contact information; ff Ninnescah account number; and ff the recipe (clearly printed or typed). Send your entry to: Ninnescah Rural Electric Attn: Recipes P.O. Box 967, Pratt, KS or to naschenbrenner@ninnescah.com

ESSENCE. There are 2 openings on the SVRCS Board of Trustees for Community Members. Sugar Valley Rural Charter School

ESSENCE. There are 2 openings on the SVRCS Board of Trustees for Community Members. Sugar Valley Rural Charter School Sugar Valley Rural Charter School April 20, 2017 ESSENCE ADMINISTRATION UPDATE April 25-27 PSSA Math testing Grades 3-8 27 Athletics Banquet 6pm 28 Kents Fest May 2-3 PSSA Science Testing Grades 4 & 8