MAY 2021 WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS 12 CO-OP SPOTLIGHT HELPING HEROES 24 Wheatland cowboy Service Through shares expertise Generations This is one of the best areas ‘‘ in the nation to raise bees. − Dusty Backer, Backer Bees Environment isn’t just a buzz word at Basin Electric. ’’ Backer Bees has bees at Glenharold Mine, a reclaimed coal mine that used to supply coal to our first power plant. The reclaimed pasture has a variety of flowers−alfalfa, clover, sunflowers, wildflowers−making it one of the best areas in the nation to raise bees. Environmental stewardship has always been a guiding principle for us. That’s why we’re committed to reclaiming and restoring land back to its natural state, like Glenharold Mine. Your energy starts here. basinelectric.com BEPC Environmental bee ad WREN 7-20.indd 1 7/17/2020 2:15:04 PM 2021 MAY ON THE COVER 12 CENTERPIECE FEATURES CO-OP YOUTH 06 GARLAND LIGHT Helping Heroes: & POWER’S JAMES SHEETS Wheatland cowboy shares expertise HOMETOWN HITS BY RACHEL GIRT PHOTO BY TYSON KRINKE 11 Cover Photo: Heroes and Horses CEO Micah Fink, left, CO-OP SPOTLIGHT 24 SERVICE THROUGH and Program Manager Chris Bova get the horses ready GENERATIONS for the day. Heroes and Horses is a program for returning BY ILENE OLSON or transitioning combat veterans. 20 26 36 10 JUST FOR FUN FROM OUR ESSAYS & STATE NEWS KIDS’ CORNER READERS ANECDOTES & EVENTS 20 MAYFLY COUNTRY COOKS WREA NOTES THE CURRENT 26 PIZZA 04 A SILVER LINING 08 BOOK GIVEAWAY BY SHAWN TAYLOR 22 BURY HIM COWBOY STATE BUZZ BY DOUG CHAMBERLAIN PEN TO PAPER 10 27 WINDY WAVES HOME ON THE RANGE 18 HUMANS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING PUZZLE HORSES 32 23 CONNECT JUST PICTURE IT BY GINA LUTTERMAN THE KNOTS 28 TRANSPORTATION BY KENDRA SPANJER ENLIGHTEN US 36 BULL RUN BY JACKIE DOROTHY WREA NOTES A Silver Lining The year was 2020 and COVID was her name We closed businesses and schools and nothing was the same. SHAWN TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR But we did what was best, according to our beliefs, And thankfully we don’t live on the coasts, OK, I’ll admit it, I had a severe case of man what a relief. writer’s block trying to decide what to write about for this month’s column and We masked up, with my deadline looming I was coming washed our hands, up blank. While we’re already five months and kept 6 feet apart. into the new year, it was just over a year We shopped online ago when things went south due to the and filled our virtual shopping cart. coronavirus and other 2020 “things.” Zoom is now a thing for kids and adults alike, So, for my column this month I thought I would share a little ditty that I wrote at And when the weather was nice we walked more the beginning of this year. Sorry for my and the kids rode their bikes. laziness but I hope you enjoy. Curbside pick-up, DoorDash, Grubhub and contactless delivery helped keep us fed, While Wyoming and the nation’s economy continued in the red. Protests and violence and political divides, Elections and recounts the growing anger in the country was impossible to hide. But with every problem a silver lining can be found. Connecting with family and friends and virtual happy hours abound. We’ll never forgot the year of the ‘Rona and we’re not out of the woods yet. But let’s take a deep breath and be thankful for all that we have, because it’s time to get ready and to get set. Let’s heal up and hairover and let bygones be bygones, for 2020 has passed, and now it’s time for all to come together and kick a little … tail. WREN WYOMING FULL PAGE, EXPORT WITH NO PRINTERS MARKS +BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION UPGRADE TO ELECTRICITY AND SAVE Make the switch to electricity and keep money in your pocket with more efficient household appliances and systems. From heat pumps to electric vehicles, these proven technologies have the potential to run your home and life more simply, efficiently and cost-effectively. To learn more about rebates and incentives for electrification programs, contact your local co-op or public power district. VISIT US AT www.tristate.coop/BE Tri-State is a not-for-profit power supplier to cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. CO-OP YOUTH PHOTO BY DANIEL WENGER MAGAZINE JAMES SHEETS THE WREN MAGAZINE WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS The official publication of the WREN: Tell us about your studies Wyoming Rural Electric Association and interests. The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 67, number 4, May 2021 (ISSN 1098-2876) JS: I’ve always had an interest in engineering is published monthly except for January for $12 per year by Linden Press, Inc., Periodicals postage paid and computer science. Both my parents at Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at graduated from the University of Wyoming additional mailing offices. and I am a proud fifth generation Wyomingite, WREN Magazine is owned and controlled by rural so naturally I wound up studying at this electric cooperatives in the interest of the economic progress of rural areas specifically and the entire university. I’m quickly approaching my fourth population of Wyoming and the nation generally. WREN and final year at the University of Wyoming, Magazine has a total average monthly paid circulation of 40,437 for 11 months ending September 2020. and I can honestly say that I have enjoyed WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/ my time here. This summer I will have the consumers and other subscribers throughout the HOMETOWN: entire state of Wyoming and the nation. opportunity to intern with J.R. Simplot at Powell Acceptance of advertising by WREN Magazine does not their phosphate plant in Rock Springs. I am imply endorsement of the product or services advertised excited for a glimpse of engineering in the by the publisher or Wyoming electric cooperatives. HIGH SCHOOL: real world, and to learn more about things I WREN STAFF Powell High School may want to do once I graduate. Publisher: Linden Press, Inc. — Editorial Team — Maggie York Kelly Etzel Douglas YEAR OF GRADUATION: WREN: How have your hometown, Alison Quinn 2018 family and/or friends influenced you? — Design Team — Dixie Lira David Merkley JS: My family has played a very influential Shawna Phillips COLLEGE: role in my life, they have always supported BOARD OF DIRECTORS University of Wyoming me and pushed me to achieve my best. My Garland Light & Power, Powell – Scott Smith, President mother is a third grade teacher at a local High West Energy, Pine Bluffs – elementary school in Powell and my father is Michael Lerwick, Vice President MAJOR STUDY INTEREST: a retired engineer. Their support has meant Wheatland REA, Wheatland – Mechanical engineering with a Sandra Hranchak, Secretary/Treasurer a lot over the years and I am very thankful Basin Electric, Bismarck, ND – Paul Baker minor in computer science Big Horn REC, Basin – John Joyce for them. Powell is home to Northwest Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View – Ruth Rees Community College, and our local high school Carbon Power, Saratoga – Kenny Curry Deseret Power, South Jordan, UT – Gary Nix allows its students to enroll in college courses High Plains Power, Riverton – Matthew Frericks during their junior and senior year. This Lower Valley Energy, Afton – Fred Brog Niobrara, Lusk – Andy Greer Wyoming’s rural electric allowed me to get a fair amount of college Powder River Energy, Sundance – Mike Lohse cooperatives are proud to credits during high school, which made Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Julie Kilty support our youth, giving the workload during college much nicer. I Wyrulec, Torrington – Dewey Hageman college scholarships and am very thankful for the Garland Light and SUBSCRIPTION RATES lineman scholarships. $12 per year, Single copies $1.50 each Power scholarship, and others like it from the community that helped me succeed during ADVERTISING my years here at the University of Wyoming. To purchase, contact Dhara Rose: THIS MONTH: [307] 996-6552 • [email protected] Garland Light and Power awarded OFFICE OF WREN OWNER WREN: What are your plans for the future? 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001 James Sheets with a $1,000 college scholarship in 2018. JS: I’m very excited to see what the SEND ADDRESS CHANGES AND future holds. During my schooling I have CORRESPONDENCE TO PUBLISHER AT developed a particular interest in mechanics, WREN Magazine • 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001, [307] 286-8140 thermodynamics and heat transfer, so I hope [email protected] to find a career field that lets me use those POSTMASTER skills. I still have a lot of interests and have — Send address changes to — Youth Tour and youth camps not been able to specify one company or one The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, were canceled this year due to c/o Linden Press, Inc., 223 S. Howes St., Fort Collins, the COVID-19 pandemic. Your rural career that I’d like to have after graduation. CO 80521, [970] 221-3232. Include 3-digit co-op code. electric cooperative may be taking Of course I would love to stay in Wyoming, applications for next year. See the insert in the center of the magazine but if I can’t do that right after graduation I’d PRINTED WITH VEGETABLE INK for contact information. love to make my way back here someday! Spring is in the air. The squirrels are dancing and the Earth is smiling.