2017BLUEBONNET

ANNUAL MEETING Members will hear a State-of-the-Cooperative report, learn

of milestones that Bluebonnet reached in 2016, have the opportunity to take care of Bluebonnet business and be entered in a drawing for door prizes. We hope you’ll join us for a day of business, fellowship and fun. If you cannot attend but want to

have a voice on any issue that may require a vote at the Annual Meeting, you may vote by proxy. Those forms were mailed to

members in March.

IN THIS ISSUE:See the back two pages of this special magazine cover for a Q&A

about the Annual Meeting and proxy voting plus information about the four unopposed incumbents who have been re-elected

by general consent to Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors.

REGISTRATION:When you arrive at the Bluebonnet Annual Meeting,

stop by the registration table. A member service representative will ask you to verbally verify account and personal identification. This account verification

process is identical to the one performed when members transact business on their account.

WIN A TRUCK!Any Bluebonnet member who submits a completed proxy (by mail or in person at a member service center by 5:30 p.m. May 2, 2017) or who registers at the Annual Meeting will be entered

in a drawing to win a used 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 extended cab. The truck, which has 131,000 miles, is being

retired from Bluebonnet’s fleet. A member who has submitted a completed proxy does not have to be present at the Annual

Meeting to be entered in the truck drawing.*

*Bluebonnet employees, members of the Board of Directors and spouses are ineligible to win.

For more information, call 800-842-7708 during business hours,

email memberservices@bluebonnet.coop or visit bluebonnet.coop/annualmeeting.

Roderick L. EmanuelDistrict 3

Emanuel, secretary/treasurer of the Bluebonnet Board of Directors, has been on the electric co-op’s Board since 2011. He is chairman of Bluebonnet’s Member Experience Committee and a member of the Employee Services and Legal & Governance committees. He earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership and Gold certifications through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Emanuel raises cattle on the family farm with his son. Emanuel previously spent 34 years in the education field. He was an economics and special education teacher for Bastrop ISD before moving up to superintendent. He also worked at Gary Job Corps near San Marcos. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from what is now Texas State University and a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University. Emanuel is a motivational speaker and chairman of the deacon board at Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church in Cedar Creek. He serves on the boards of Hopewell Rosenwald School, Bastrop Central Appraisal District and the Juneteenth Committee. Roderick and Charlene have one son, Roderick Jr.

Byron BalkeDistrict 6

Balke, assistant secretary/treasurer of the Bluebonnet Board of Directors, has been on the electric co-op’s Board since 2000. He is a member of Bluebonnet’s Audit & Finance and Member Experience committees. He’s a cattle rancher and former shopkeeper from Bleiblerville, a community of fewer than 100 people in northwestern Austin County. There, he helped run his family’s historic general store and later operated a fertilizer and seed business. He played baseball at Blinn College in Brenham and had a short pro baseball career with the Houston Colt .45s (now the Houston Astros). He earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from what is now Texas State University and served in the Army Reserves. He is treasurer of the Austin County Livestock Association and a member of the 100 Club and the Bleiblerville Volunteer Fire Department. His hobbies include collecting antiques, hunting and fishing on the coast. He and his wife, Annette, have two children, Virgil and Phyllis, and four grandchildren.

Russell JurkDistrict 4

Jurk has served on the Bluebonnet Board of Directors since 2011. He is chairman of Bluebonnet’s Audit & Finance Committee and a member of the Energy Services, Member Experience and Legal & Governance committees. He earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certification through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He is vice president and general manager at Bobby Lehmann Inc., a Giddings-based trucking company that hauls oil field equipment. He has worked there since 1994. Jurk earned a technical degree from Southwest School of Electronics in Austin. He has served several positions with the Giddings Noon Lions Club, and he and his wife, Laurie, own Ashley’s Attic, a home décor and collectibles shop in Giddings. At the state level, Russell is a past chairman of the Texas Trucking Association and has served as the association’s foundation treasurer. His hobbies include target shooting, hunting, saltwater fishing and restoring old pickups and Jeeps. He and his wife, Laurie, have two children, Ashley and Richard.

Robert MikeskaDistrict 7

Mikeska has served on the Bluebon-net Board of Directors since 2008. He is chairman of Bluebonnet’s Energy Services Committee and a member of the Employee Services and Legal & Governance committees. He earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certification through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He is senior vice president/controller at Mike Hopkins Distributing Co. in Brenham, which sells beer, wine and other beverages wholesale to retailers in seven counties. Mikeska earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Texas at Austin. He has a long and varied career, from assistant budget o�cer of the Texas House of Rep-resentatives to vice president at the Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas and vice president at Brenham National Bank. Mikeska is a former Brenham city council member and Washington County commissioner. He’s an active member of Abiding Word Lutheran Church, currently serving as vice president, and a former board member with Brenham’s Senior Activity Center. He and his wife, Marita, have a daughter, Michele.

2017: INCUMBENT DIRECTORS RE-ELECTED TO BOARD

BLUEBONNET SERVICEAREAMAP

San Marcos

Lockhart

Austin

Bastrop

Smithville

Giddings

Lexington

Brenham

BASTROPCOUNTY

LEECOUNTY

BURLESONCOUNTY

WASHINGTONCOUNTY

CALDWELLCOUNTY

HAYSCOUNTY

TRAVISCOUNTY

WILLIAMSONCOUNTY

MILAMCOUNTY

AUSTINCOUNTY

COLORADOCOUNTY

FAYETTECOUNTY

GONZALESCOUNTY

GUADALUPECOUNTY

Caldwell

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 6

DISTRICT 7

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 2

TWO BOARD MEMBERS

ONE BOARD MEMBER

THREE BOARD MEMBERS

ONE BOARD MEMBER

ONE BOARD MEMBER

ONE BOARD MEMBER

TWO BOARD MEMBERS

4,099 meters

13,087 meters

29,142 meters

8,669 meters

7,294 meters

13,902 meters

16,051 meters

Total meters: 92,244

BLUEBONNET MAG APR2 2017.indd 17 3/11/17 12:14 PM

WE’RE NOT CUSTOMERS.

2017BLUEBONNET

ANNUALMEETING

REFRESHMENTS — DOOR PRIZES — INFO BOOTHS

MAY 9, 2017 SONS OF HERMANN HALL

1031 CR 223GIDDINGS, TX

REGISTRATION 1:30-2:30 P.M.MEETING STARTS AT 2:30 P.M.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s Annual Meeting is Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Sons of Hermann Hall, 1031 CR 223 in Giddings. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. The meeting starts at 2:30 p.m. If you need more information after reading the questions and answers below, call 800-842-7708 between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or email memberservices@bluebonnet.coop.

Q: What is the Annual Meeting, and why is it important to attend?A: Bluebonnet’s Annual Meeting is one of the many benefits of being a member of an electric cooperative. The meeting, held each year in May, o�ers members the opportunity to meet the Board of Directors, the general manager and the co-op’s executive sta�. Members hear a “State of the Co-op” message and elect, or re-elect, directors.

Q: Bluebonnet’s service area is divided into seven districts. Can I vote for candidates in all districts or just the district in which I live?

A: During contested board elections, co-op members can vote for directors in all districts. The districts in the co-op’s service area were drawn along Bluebonnet’s service area boundary and county lines. The seven districts are represented by one to three directors based on, among other things, the number of meters in each district.

Q: How many Board of Director seats were up for election?

A: Four of the 11 seats on Bluebonnet’s Board of Directors were up for election this year. The seats represent District 3 for Bastrop County; District 4 for Lee, Milam and Williamson counties; District 6 for Austin, Colorado and Fayette counties; and District 7 for Washington County. Because the candidates for the four board seats were unopposed, they were elected by general consent in accordance with Bluebonnet’s bylaws.

Q: What are my voting options?

A: There are currently no ballot items to be voted on this year. However, items can be added to the Annual Meeting agenda that would require a vote by members. Those items would have to be added no later than 10 days before the Annual Meeting. Your proxy could be used in that vote, which is why your proxy selection is important.

Q: What is proxy voting and how does it work?

A: Proxy voting is a method that allows a member who cannot attend the Annual Meeting to designate another person to vote in his or her place. On the proxy, members can assign their vote to either Bluebonnet’s Proxy Committee or to a person of their choice.

Q: Who serves on Bluebonnet’s Proxy Committee?

A: The Proxy Committee is composed of all Bluebonnet Board members whose terms are not currently up for election. This year’s Proxy Committee members are Ben Flencher, Debbi Goertz, James B. Kershaw, Kenneth Mutscher, Richard Schmidt, Milton Shaw and Suanna Tumlinson.

Q: How do I vote by proxy?

A: Complete the proxy form and return it by mail or drop it o� at any of Bluebonnet’s member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart or Manor. If you misplace the proxy form, stop by a member service center to pick one up or call 800-842-7708 and ask a representative to mail one to you. Proxies must be hand-delivered to a member service center by 5:30 p.m. May 2, 2017, or mailed to:

Bluebonnet Elections Processing c/o Election Services Co. P.O. Box 9020 Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-9822

Mailed proxies must be postmarked by May 2, 2017.

Q: Can this proxy be used again at future Annual Meetings?

A: No, the proxy is valid only for the meeting specified on the proxy form.

Q: Can I vote at the Annual Meeting if I sent in a proxy form?

A: When you register at the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and then cast your ballot in person.

Q: What information do I need to bring with me to register at the Annual Meeting?

A: You will be asked to verbally recite two pieces of information that are on your account. This account verification process is identical to the one performed when members would like to transact business on their accounts. You can simply tell the member service representative at the registration desk any two of the following pieces of information about your account: the name(s) listed on the account, your birthday, last four digits of your Social Security number, your driver’s license number, your mailing address or your Bluebonnet account number.

Q: Who administers the election?

A: Election Services Co., which is a third party, independent vendor that specializes in administering corporate elections nationwide. It has the skills, experience and equipment to e£ciently and accurately tally proxies and votes while adhering to the Federal Trade Commission’s Red Flag requirements that protect members’ confidential account information. This is the eighth year Election Services has administered Bluebonnet’s election.

Q: Can I change my address or do other business at the Annual Meeting?

A: Bluebonnet’s member service representatives at the information booth will be able to help members with most of their co-op business and answer any questions they would normally handle at any of the member service centers or through the call center.

Q: I still have questions. Who can I contact?

A: Call a member service representative at 800-842-7708 or email memberservices@bluebonnet.coop.

2017 ANNUAL MEETING & BOARD ELECTION FAQ

The Rev. Robert and Ruth Goins, at left, and Robert’s sister-in-law Marjorie Goins

are ready for the Bluebonnet Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 9, at the Sons of

Hermann Hall in Giddings. The Rev. and Mrs. Goins of Giddings have been Bluebonnet members for more than

45 years and they’ve attended every Annual Meeting in that time.

BLUEBONNET MAG APR2 2017.indd 16 3/11/17 12:14 PM

Drones: An Overview Berry Delicious Fruits of War APRIL 2017

|| CAMP ||

’CUEFoodways Texas fires up hot tipsfor barbecue fans

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TexasCoopPower.com April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 3

April 2017

Postcard From Camp Barbecue Program at Texas A&Mimparts classroom and fireside wisdom Story by Paula Disbrowe | Photos by Robert Jacob Lerma

Drones: An Overview Texas innovators, includingelectric co-ops, hone drones as tools of todayStory by Chris Burrows | Photos by Christopher Sherman

128

F A V O R I T E S

5 Letters

6 Currents18 Local Co-op NewsGet the latest information plus energyand safety tips from your cooperative.

29 Texas HistoryPatriotic Peach Pits By Martha Deeringer

31 RecipesBerry Delicious

35 Focus on TexasPhoto Contest: Birds

36 Around TexasList of Local Events

38 Hit the RoadMoorhead’s Blueberry Farm By Ruth Fields

O N L I N ETexasCoopPower.comFind these stories online if they don’tappear in your edition of the magazine.

Texas USALED Bulbs for the Birds By Gayleen Rabakukk

ObservationsFarm Bureau RadioBy LaDawn Fletcher

F E A T U R E S

O N T H E C O V E R Pitmaster Steven Kapchinskie adds wood to the open fire at Martin’s Place in Bryan. Photo by Robert Jacob Lerma

29

31 38

35

N E X T M O N T H Treasure From the Gulf Seashellsdraw scientists and dreamers alike tohunt along the Texas coast.

D R O N E : C H R I STO P H E R S H E R M A N . S H E L L : A L E T H A ST. R O M A I N

Workers prep a $200,000power line inspection

drone in the Hill Country.

TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mark Tamplin, Chair, Kirbyville; Bryan Lightfoot, Vice Chair, Bartlett; Blaine Warzecha, Secretary-Treasurer, Victoria; William F. Hetherington, Bandera; Kendall Montgomery, Olney; Anne Vaden, Corinth; Brent Wheeler, Dalhart • PRESIDENT/CEO: Mike Williams, Austin • COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER SERVICESCOMMITTEE: Jerry Boze, Kaufman; Clint Gardner, Coleman; Rick Haile, McGregor; Greg Henley, Tahoka; Billy Marricle, Bellville; Mark McClain, Roby; Gary Raybon, El Campo; Kathy Wood, Marshall •MAGAZINE STAFF: Martin Bevins, Vice President, Communications & Member Services; Charles J. Lohrmann, Editor; Tom Widlowski, Associate Editor; Karen Nejtek, Production Manager; Andy Doughty,Creative Manager; Grace Arsiaga, Print Production Specialist; Chris Burrows, Communications Specialist; Christine Carlson, Communications & Member Services Assistant; Paula Disbrowe, Food Editor;Suzanne Featherston, Communications Specialist; Taylor Montgomery, Digital Field Editor; Jane Sharpe, Senior Designer; Ellen Stader, Communications Specialist; Shannon Oelrich, Proofreader

Since 1944

TexasCoopPower.com4 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

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Broke My HeartOpen Hearts [February 2017] hit very close

to home for me. I was diagnosed at age 26

with a massive atrial septal defect. The hole is

the size of a tennis ball, but I never knew I had it.

I have had open-heart surgery, and the thing I remember the most about being

in the cardiac intensive care unit were the babies crying—and feeling so bad for

them. I knew why I was hurting, but they didn’t, and as the mother of a 16-month-

old at the time, it broke my heart to hear them cry.

I would love to knit some hats for the cause.

DONNA WRIGHT | BURLESON | UNITED

Editor’s note: Find out how to help at TexasCoopPower.com.

TexasCoopPower.com April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 5

TEXAS CO-OP POWER VOLUME 73, NUMBER 10 (USPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC). Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX, and at additional offices. TEC is thestatewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@TexasCoopPower.com. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE is $4.08 per year forindividual members of subscribing cooperatives. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Individual copies and back issues areavailable for $3 each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (USPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing oldaddress and key numbers. ADVERTISING: Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in other states, contact Martin Bevins at (512) 486-6249. Advertisementsin Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely withthe advertiser.

© Copyright 2017 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2017 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

edition [above]? Looks like astart of a good 42 low hand.DENNIS A. MUECK | ROCKDALE

BARTLETT EC

Worse Than War Growing up in the 1950s inOdessa, I remember watchingmy parents and their family andfriends play 42 dominoes forhours at a time and reallyenjoying all the camaraderiethey had.

I was also very interested inthe history behind The NewLondon School Explosion [Janu-ary 2017]. I heard many storiesfrom my father, uncle andgrandfather, who were amongthe oil field workers called offtheir jobs to help search for

and recover the bodies of thechildren and adults who diedthat day.

It was very hard on my father,who knew so many of thembecause he had graduated theyear before. I remember himsaying it was much harder onhim than what he underwent in World War II as a Marine sergeant.JEAN RINEHART | KINGSLAND

CENTRAL TEXAS EC

Before recently retiring as a lawenforcement officer, I frequentlytaught classes on school safety.The tragedy at New Londonwas always a part of the cur-riculum. Odorized gas was notthe only requirement that cameout of that tragedy. Mandated,monthly fire drills and class-room doors that open outwardwere also a result. STEVE GARST | WILLIS

SAM HOUSTON EC

Blessed To Be the BuilderWhat a beautiful surprise to seeyour page of photos [Focus onTexas: Churches, January 2017],especially the one submitted byGeorge Littrell, a member ofGrayson-Collin EC. My husband,Chris, built that church about 15years ago. He took such greatpride in building it.TRACEY OSBORNE | ARGYLE

COSERV

Bonding Over 42The Top Spot [January 2017]sure did bring back memoriesof when we moved to Old Gloryin 1969. A cousin taught us howto play 42. We were hooked.

Not long after we movedhere, we entered a 42 tourna-ment. Surprisingly, we ended upwinning the tourney and wereafraid we had alienated our-selves with our new neighbors.They were avid 42 players.

But they were forgiving, andwe enjoyed many nights of 42and 84 with them. MITTIE DUNHAM | OLD GLORY

BIG COUNTRY EC

Nazareth also has 42 partiestwice a year. I enjoy participatingand visiting with old and newfriends. I’m impressed that youngpeople and even children play. YVONNE WAKEFIELD | DIMMITT

BAILEY COUNTY EC

I love to play 42. I grew upplaying; now I’m 80. We playedwith our parents a lot on coolwinter nights.VLASTA BARTOS | EL CAMPO

WHARTON COUNTY EC

What are the other three domi-noes in the person’s hand onthe cover of the January 2017

Longleaf LegacyI have two giant longleaf pinesthat were planted over 40 yearsago from a donor in East Texas[Long Live the Longleaf, Janu-ary 2017].JEAN LIVESAY | WILLS POINT

LETTERS

GET MORE TCP ATTexasCoopPower.comSign up for our E-Newsletter formonthly updates, prize drawings and more!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

ONLINE: TexasCoopPower.com/share

EMAIL: letters@TexasCoopPower.com

MAIL: Editor, Texas Co-op Power,1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701

Please include your town and electric co-op. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

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TexasCoopPower.com6 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

BOB BRISCHETTO has tons of feelings for the Medina River, which meanders

through Bandera County for about 50 miles, and he’s not alone.

“This is probably one of the most beautiful rivers in the state of Texas,” says

Brischetto, a member of Bandera Electric Cooperative, who is enticed by giant

cypress trees that shade the water. “Frankly, I’m in love with the river.”

So for 16 years he has organized the MEDINA RIVER CLEANUP, an all-day venture by

volunteers—sometimes more than 200—who cover the river by boat, truck or

foot to pull out trash. And not just candy wrappers and drink lids but also big

stuff that floods wash downstream. Brischetto says they fill dump-

sters with metal roofing, sheds, trailers and decking pried away

from homeowners.

“This is what amazes me,” he says. “Each year, we still pull

out several tons of debris.”

The cleanup, which starts at Bandera City Park, is MAY 6 this year. “We would

love to attract people to the river cleanup from throughout the state,”

Brischetto says, “and we would like very much for them to be interested in

starting their own cleanups.”

INFO a (210) 413-7264, medinariver.net

HAPPENINGS

Tons of Love

CURRENTS

NATIONAL L INEMANAPPRECIAT ION DAY

MUCH APPRECIATEDNATIONAL LINEMAN APPRECIA-TION DAY, when electric coopera-tives shine a spotlight on line-workers’ dedication and commu-nity service, is April 10 this year.

But Greg Mays, a lineman atFarmers Electric Cooperative, hasbeen experiencing lineman appre-ciation of a different nature sinceOctober. That’s when he appearedon the cover of Texas Co-opPower, which caught the attentionof readers around Greenville andSulphur Springs who realized theyhad something of a celebrity intheir midst.

Nearly a dozen Farmers EC mem-bers dropped off magazines atco-op offices so Mays could auto-graph the covers. “It’s cool, butit’s a little embarrassing,” Mayssays. “We’re just regular people.”

Emails to the magazine suggestotherwise. “If our linemen lookedlike Greg … all the women in Con-roe would be cutting their linesdown,” wrote one reader. “Thelineman is just totally gorgeous,”another said. “Yowza!”

Mays says his wife playfullythreatens to check his email, butthe attention has given him achance to talk about his passion.

“I love my job,” he says. “I trulylove helping people. At 2 o’clockin the morning when the power is out, I love to help people.”

Find more happenings all

across the state at TexasCoopPower

.com

WATCH TIME-LAPSED CONSTRUCTION of Mid-South Synergy’s solar projectat tinyurl.com/solartimelapse.

;Check it out!

ALMANAC

THE DOOLITTLE RAID APRIL 18 marks the 75th anniversaryof one of the most daring military mis-sions in American history: the DoolittleRaid on Tokyo.

Eighty men in 16 B-25 bombersattacked Japan in retaliation for thebombing of Pearl Harbor, four monthsearlier. Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle led theraid April 18, 1942. His co-pilot was Lt.Col. R.E. Cole of Comfort, now the lastliving raider at 101 years old and amember of Bandera Electric Coopera-tive. [See My Flight With a DoolittleRaider, November 2016.]

Seven of the raiders died as a result of the attack. Three died makingemergency exits from their planes;three were executed and one starvedto death as Japanese prisoners of war.

April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 7TexasCoopPower.com

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WORTH REPEATING

“Idea is nothing but an electricity through the wireof nerves.” — THOMAS HUXLEY, 19th-centuryBritish biologist

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Have You Heard?April Fool’s Day is being moved fromApril 1 to April 8, starting next year, togive people more time in April to plantheir pranks.

WEATHER WATCH

April ShowersOverrated?

APRIL SHOWERS bring Mayflowers. But a list of the 30rainiest U.S. cities doesn’tshow April to be the monthwith the most rain.

In Beaumont, No. 28 with 60.47 inches per year, June gets the most rain. The list is based on average annual precipitationacross cities with populations of 20,000 or more using climatedata from 1981–2010. Beaumont is the only Texas town listed.Hilo, Hawaii, is No. 1 with 156.79 inches of rain annually.

KNOWING THAT ELECTRICITY USERS in the area betweenHouston and College Station wanted solar power without thehassle of installing and maintaining their own panels, Mid-South Synergy built a community solar farm in Bedias.

Through Synergy Solar, the electric co-op offers its residen-tial members the option to purchase solar power in 100-kilowattblocks. More than 315 co-op members have signed up as of February.

“We are excited to be providing our members with an easy,affordable and cooperative-based approach to solar power,” saidKerry Kelton, general manager of Mid-South.

ENERGY INFO

Cooperative Solar

TexasCoopPower.com8 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

“Tips and Techniques” section has been renamed “What ILearned at BBQ Summer Camp.”

Walsh tells us the family-owned Martin’s operation startedin 1925 and that pitmaster Steven Kapchinskie is the third-generation proprietor. (The business takes its name from hisgrandfather, Martin Kapchinskie, who started it.) Because Mar-tin’s moved to its current location in 1939, its interior is like abarbecue museum. What began as a service station and meatmarket evolved into a full-service eatery. The space remains“frozen in amber,” Walsh says, mostly because “they can’t makechanges without bringing the entire building up to code.”

Before lunch, we tour the sweltering smoke room, whereeverything, including an old-fashioned pencil sharpener, hasbeen blackened by decades of soot. Placing a hand above the hotgrates, Steven Kapchinskie tells us there are varying temperatureswithin the same pit—something he knows by feel—so throughoutthe cooking process, he moves briskets and ribs according to his

Story by Paula Disbrowe | Photos by Robert Jacob Lerma

CAMP BARBECUEPOSTCARD FROM

Agroup of 60 brisket lovers gathers around a vintage horseshoebar at Martin’s Place in Bryan to kick off Barbecue SummerCamp, a weekend symposium created by Foodways Texas,an academic organization committed to preserving, pro-moting and celebrating the state’s diverse food cultures.

The sold-out event, produced in conjunction with the MeatScience Section of the Department of Animal Science at TexasA&M University, has drawn “campers” from across the country.We’re all here to learn and hone our skills, but the seductivearoma of smoked meat is distracting us. Soon, we’re all interestedprimarily in lunch, and we’re getting restless.

Robb Walsh, a James Beard-award winning food writer andauthor of Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook (Chronicle Books,2002), welcomes us with a quick overview of what’s to come.“The culture of barbecue is our focus,” he explains. A barbecuecamp veteran, Walsh updated the second edition of his book withinformation that he picked up through the event. The book’s W

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Weekend program at Texas A&M University shares meat-smoking skills and

importance of maintaining asteady flame during the barbecuewood and smoke panel discus-sion, featuring acclaimed CentralTexas pitmasters such as BryanBracewell of Southside Market &Barbeque in Elgin, who prepares

that night’s dinner. All that technical info could be boring, butA&M meat science professors Jeff Savell and Davey Griffin, longtime friends and colleagues, keep the exchanges light andengaging with plenty of entertaining personal anecdotes.

There are also plenty of rubber-gloved, hands-on oppor-tunities. We break into groups and blend our own rubs and marinades then massage the spices into pork shoulders andspareribs. We make jalapeño sausage and toss chicken wings inorange-marmalade-Sriracha sauce. We even take a field trip: On Saturday morning, the class travels to Savell’s backyard toprep a whole hog for an all-day roast in his concrete block pit.We return that evening to savor the delicious results, along withcold cans of Shiner.

TexasCoopPower.com April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 9

own sense. He adjusts the pit temperature by opening vents anddoors (even the door to the room). “It’s different every day,” hesays. Such hands-on knowledge and intuitive understanding ofsmoking meat to consistent perfection, day after day, is at theheart of Texas barbecue culture.

At last, it’s time to eat. The hearty spread of tender pork ribs,charred brisket, German potato salad and coleslaw is an appro-priate start to our belt-busting weekend devoted to the techniquesand history of Texas barbecue.

Much of the learning unfolds in College Station at the A&MMeat Science Center, where we spend a lot of time in chillymeat lockers wearing lab coats and hairnets. Classroomsessions cover everything from pit design to food safety,with subjects such as how to avoid cross-contamination

with marinades. We get up close to suspended animal carcassesduring beef and pork anatomy overviews. We learn about the

Opposite: Texas A&M meat science professor Davey Griffinshows off a finished brisket.Above: A concrete block pitcontains a whole hog, whichwill smoke all day.

the storied culture of Texas barbecue

TexasCoopPower.com10 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

Part of the fun is getting toknow the other attendees from abroad range of professions whocome from across the UnitedStates and as far as Mexico City. I discuss the virtues of wood pel-lets and swap recipes and restau-

rant recommendations with a Navy deep-sea diver, an anesthesiologist,a chef from Houston and a restaurateur from Charlotte, North Carolina.Between sessions, there are enthusiastic conversations about smokerstyles, beef ribs, brining and how a cooker might hold its temperatureduring winter in the Northeast. Many campers added a tour of Texasbarbecue shrines to their travel itinerary and shared opinions aboutwhose brisket reigned supreme. “I agree with Robb. It’s not aboutwhose barbecue is best,” said my new friend Dave Brown, the deep-sea diver. “It’s about understanding the culture behind the food.” Mis-sion accomplished, Foodways Texas.

Idon’t expect that hunks of raw meat and stacks of wood willinspire the same desire to get home and cook that emerges when I hit the farmers market, but it does. I drive away withplenty of inspiration and a renewed excitement to stoke my ownfires at home.

Paula Disbrowe of Austin is Texas Co-op Power’s food editor.

WEB EXTRAS at TexasCoopPower.com For more information on Barbecue SummerCamp, see foodwaystexas.com. Barbecue camps are open to Foodways Texas mem-bers only. Memberships are $75 and can be purchased online.

From top: Steven Kapchinskie ofMartin’s Place opens the pit door.A&M students demonstrate properbutchering. Campers in a class-room. A&M meat science professorJeff Savell shows a properlysmoked brisket.

USE TOOLS THAT SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS. Texas A&M University meat science professors Jeff Savelland Davey Griffin encouraged us to buy tools that wouldhelp ensure the best results. Pros rely on their hard-wonknowledge (as in, gauging doneness by touch), but mostof us need a surface-mount probe for the most accuratemeasure of temperature inside the smoke, an injectorneedle for marinating chickens, and a thin, pliable boningknife for trimming fat from larger cuts like brisket.

PICK THE PROPER MARINADE.Marinades aren’t just about flavor. They affect the cookingprocess by making meat more tender and juicy, and theycan improve the final texture of the meat. Consider thespecific cut that you’re cooking. Your desired result willdirect you to use either an acid-based marinade (with vine-gar, citrus or tomato) or an enzyme-based marinade (usingbuttermilk, yogurt or papaya/papain). Both tenderize meatbut differ in how they react during the cooking process.

Acid-based marinades work well for tender cuts such as bone-in pork chops and tenderloins because they don’trequire as much soaking time. Enzyme-based marinadesare better suited for larger muscles with more connectivetissue to break down, such as pork and lamb shoulders.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT WOOD.Although different types of wood (mesquite, oak, pecanor fruit) offer various nuances, regional wood prefer-ences historically reflect what’s readily available.Franklin Barbecue in Austin uses post oak because itburns hot and clean, and because it is most available inCentral Texas. What’s more important is using woodthat’s properly aged—for at least 6–9 months. Greenwood produces dirty smoke that can make meat bitter.

GRAZED AND CONFUSED.Don’t expect consistent results from grass-fed beef, Griffin says. It doesn’t have the great equalizer of a finish-ing feed, so meat from different cattle can have varyingtastes. Grass-fed beef lacks the traditional layer of white,creamy exterior fat that is the result of approximately 100 days on a high-nutrition corn diet.

BECOME A SMOKE CHARMER.Charcoal produces heat, not smoke, so you’ve got tomaintain a steady fire that produces clean smoke. You’ll know you’re on track when you see a flame andthe logs are being slowly consumed. Your goal is tocreate a clean, white smoke and avoid black smoke.

Bryan Bracewell, owner of Southside Market & Barbecue in Elgin, says he knows how the smokedmeat at his restaurant will turn out from the smoke billowing from the chimney. If it’s black, there’s achance that his cooks have used green wood or damp-ened down the fire too much. He also notes that youcan create bad smoke from dry wood if you don’t ventilate properly.

DON’T JUDGE A CUT OF BEEF BY ITS LABEL ALONE.Although “prime” is the industry standard for the best meat, a cut of “choice” can be just as well-marbled. Look past thegrading and inspect the meat yourself. Chances are, if it has a rich color and plenty of marbling, it will be delicious.

TOP TAKEAWAYS

From Foodways Texas

Barbecue Camp

Sausage from South-side Market in Elgin

THERE’S NO SHAME IN AN OVEN FINISH.The “smoke ring” is the pink layer of meat just underthe outside “bark,” and the development of a smokering ends at 140 degrees. Once the meat reaches thattemperature in the smoker, you’re not losing anything bywrapping the meat in butcher paper and finishing it inthe oven. —PD

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR SMOKE. Use smaller chunks of wood in smaller smokers. Don’t go for quick results. The pros stress that impatience and adding too much firewood to the smoker will get you in trouble.

E

TEXAS INNOVATORS,

INCLUDING ELECTRIC CO-OPS,

HONE DRONES AS TOOLS OF TODAY.

AN OVERVIEW Drones

ric Bitzko guessed it was a new truck or a gun thatco-worker Jeff Horton had bought when he got theweekend phone call.

“He said, ‘Hey, I’m coming over. I got something to show you.’I was like, ‘Here we go,’ Bitzko says before all the excitementleaves his voice. “But he comes over, and it’s this gray box.”

Inside the box was a toy of a very different sort: a remote con-trol hobby quadcopter—a drone.

“We pretty much spent all afternoon flying it around myhouse, getting used to the controls and playing with it,” Bitzkosays. Yet the Pedernales Electric Cooperative linemen couldn’thelp but notice, between backyard aerobatics and near misses,

that this device could have work applications. “That’s just a line-man’s mentality,” he says.

Those thoughts became plans, and that toy became a toolsome months later, in May 2015, when historic flooding forcedthe Blanco River beyond its banks near Blanco and Wimberley.People were missing, river crossings were destroyed and thou-sands of Pedernales EC members were without power. The line-men devised a way for the drone to carry string over the river.The string would be attached to ropes, which in turn would beaffixed to downed power lines. Once across, the length could beused to restring the lines and restore power.

Not long after receiving the call to help with recovery efforts,Bitzko and Horton sent their idea of using a drone to help restorepower up the chain of command. Within hours, they had approvalfrom PEC management, as well as county officials and local Fed-eral Aviation Administration contacts.

STORY BY CHRIS BURROWS | PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN

TexasCoopPower.com12 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

E

TexasCoopPower.com April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 13

which among 200–300 breeds of cotton cultivars grows bestunder given conditions. Drones can collect more thorough datafrom the air more efficiently than a researcher on the ground.

“This helps researchers and plant breeders do a better job select-ing varieties and interpreting experimental results,” Landivar says.The research his team is conducting already is affecting the smallbut growing community of farmers and ranchers that relies ondata collected by drones to boost efficiency and improve profitabil-ity. “The same techniques, the same technologies that we’re devel-oping to analyze the small plants, will be used for precision cropmanagement.”

The market for agricultural drones is expected to grow to asmuch as $3.7 billion by 2022, according to a study by Massachu-setts-based WinterGreen Research, and the Association forUnmanned Vehicle Systems reports that agricultural droneseventually could account for 80 percent of all drones.

While Landivar says the technology he puts into service isnot yet ready for widespread use, it is close. Drones help farmersbe “not only more efficient, but use less chemicals and hopefullyhelp protect the environment,” Landivar says. “I think in thenext five years, there are going to be a lot of advances.”

GETTING TO WORKAgriculture might be the most promising use for drones, but theboom already has spread to many other sectors in Texas.

Police on South Padre Island last year purchased a pair ofdrones with the capability of streaming high-definition video tobetter keep tabs on the more than 25,000 spring break revelerswho occupy the beaches every March.

A collaboration between Microsoft and Harris County healthofficials has brought smart mosquito traps to Houston. They aredesigned to catch, track and fight disease-carrying bloodsuckersusing a plethora of data. The project is investigating ways toincorporate drones to seek out dense mosquito clusters that posethe greatest risk and remotely deploy traps.

The Texas A&M University System launched a national cer-tification program for drone pilots in2016, and Austin-based HUVRData,which uses drones to inspect windfarms, was one of the first companiesto take advantage. LeTourneau Uni-versity in Longview created a similardegree program.

Scientists have begun usingdrones to monitor red tide algaeblooms off the coast of South Texas.Previously, data was supplied bysatellites at a premium price.

Drone racing clubs bring together“rotorcross” enthusiasts who racetheir high-dollar devices through

Instead of waiting for waters to recede to attempt risky small-boat crossings on the debris-filled, raging river to repair lines,the pair used Horton’s drone, keeping lives out of harm’s wayand restoring power to some 2,000 members in hours instead ofdays. By the end of the afternoon, crowds had gathered to watchthe drone work.

“The members were the ones that were the most excited aboutit,” Bitzko says. “They were told all night long that it’s going tobe a few days. … As soon as they caught wind that we were doingriver crossings with drones: ‘I’ve got to see this.’ ”

Drones are now working their way into many corners of Texaslife. Agriculture, public health and utilities innovators are findinguses for these nimble eyes in the skies that were once the domainonly of hobbyists.

POWERING UPMore than a half-million drone pilots now call Texas home—second only to California—according to the latest figures fromthe FAA, which has been tracking drones since 2015.

Their aircraft come in many shapes: from more traditional-looking, fixed-wing craft to hover-capable quadcopters withprices that start in the hundreds but can reach thousands of dol-lars. Some drones are equipped with cameras or sensors, andothers can transport payloads.

The FAA in August released its rules governing the use ofcommercial drone operations, opening the doors for drone-basedbusinesses. The agency projected this new industry will includesome 600,000 aircraft nationwide by August and become an $82billion industry employing 100,000 Americans by 2025.

Already, commercial drones are making their mark in Texas.

TAKING FLIGHTSitting at his desk at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research andExtension Center in Corpus Christi, Juan Landivar, the director,is preparing a report for the Texas State Support Committee forcotton producers on a system that employs drones to analyze

Opposite page and at left: Pilots withTexas Drone Professionals prepare theiraircraft and its LiDAR sensors for a flightalong Pedernales EC power lines.

TexasCoopPower.com14 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

Wechoes. He initially was worried by thereaction the buzzing behemoths mightreceive in the field. But after some 500miles flown, Terral now feels reassured.

“I figured there’s going to be somepeople that just say, ‘I don’t want that thing out here on my prop-erty,’ ” he says. “Most of the members are ecstatic. In fact, a lot ofthem will say, ‘Do you know what time y’all will be out here? I’dlike to bring the grandkids out.’ ”

STAYING ALOFTBitzko left the 2015 floods invigorated by what he and Hortonaccomplished, since then pursuing a drones program at PEC. Hecompares this advance to the time, decades ago, when linemenfirst started working on hot power lines—a bold technique thenthat is commonplace now.

“Now, if we’re going to kill out a main feeder, people look atus like we’re crazy,” he says of the notion of cutting power tothousands of homes for linemen to work—uncommon nowadays.

Bitzko is hopeful that drones will help usher in a safer, moreefficient era for co-ops as innovators across the state find new andunique uses for the devices. “It’s good to see that there are otherlike-minded individuals that see the possibilities as really endless.”

Chris Burrows is a communications specialist at Texas Electric Cooperatives.

WEB EXTRAS at TexasCoopPower.com See a slideshow and learn more aboutthe rules of flying.

tight-turning obstacle courses in the air, either indoors or out,using cameras mounted onboard and streaming video to the pilots.

HELPING BOTTOM LINESAs Bitzko and Horton discovered, drones and electric utilitiesare a natural combination when it comes to managing miles andmiles of power lines.

McCord Engineering was first on the scene in Texas in 2014when the company began to investigate ways to make engineeringmore efficient by using drones. Since then, the company hasdeveloped its own fleet of heavy-duty drones armed with an arrayof sensors and cameras that electric utilities, including co-opssuch as Mid-South Synergy and Bluebonnet and Pedernales, callon to conduct engineering surveys, monitor power lines and planfor the future.

At the forefront are Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR, sensors that the company uses to collect a range of data fromthe air.

“We can fly it down a power line, and basically it capturesabout a 500-foot-wide swath, 3-D scanning the power line andthe areas around the power lines to look for any obstructions,”says Cy Terral, McCord’s field services manager.

While the economic benefits seem clear, Landivar and Terralagree that operators must work to overcome drones’ public rela-tions issues.

“We try to avoid the name ‘drones’ because that’s what thedefense department uses,” Landivar says, a sentiment that Terral

From a height of 60 feet,the drone can capture a3-D view of potential dangers to the system.

E CAN FLY IT DOWN A POWER LINE,

AND BASICALLY IT CAPTURES ABOUT A 500-FOOT-WIDE SWATH,

3-D SCANNING THE POWER LINE AND THE AREAS AROUND

THE POWER LINES TO LOOK FOR ANY OBSTRUCTIONS.”

‘

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By Lisa Ogle

When Kendal Fiebrich applied to be-come an apprentice for Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative at age 19, he knew that linemen dig holes and set

poles, but not much more about the job. He has since learned how to work in the pitch-black during a severe

storm, armed with a flashlight to locate downed power lines. He also spent four years learning how electricity works, how to build and safely repair power lines, and how to use dozens of pieces of equip-ment and machinery. Along with that, he has built a lifelong bond with fellow linemen.

Although experience is a factor in hiring, “we look for somebody who is going to fit into the Bluebonnet culture,” said Garrett Gutier-rez, assistant superintendent of operations in Bluebonnet’s Red Rock service center. “We have the knowledge and know-how here to teach them how to do the job. It falls back on that person to have the passion to get through the apprentice program.” After four years of dedication, that’s exactly what Fiebrich did. He and Gutierrez were among five employees who recently completed the program and became U.S. Department of Labor-certified journeyman linemen. Bluebonnet’s program requires 672 hours of technical instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning. The program generally takes four years, though previous experience and education can speed things along. Some apprentices start right out of high school, while others have had years of experience in utility line work or other fields. The co-op began offering an apprentice program in 2004. Since then, 81 people have graduated from the program. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved benefits for military veterans going through the training program. The source of the technical instruction has changed a few times over the years. The 18 current apprentices are going through the Northwest

Bluebonnet’s rigorous training program for linemen produces skilled, confident pros

18 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE April 2017 bluebonnet.coop

Continued on page 20

APPRENTICESTHE

Five employees completed Bluebonnet’s apprentice program and became U.S. Department of Labor-certified journeyman linemen — from left, Blake Schramm, David Davis, Kendal Fiebrich, Garrett Gutierrez and Jeremy Lynch.

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 16 3/9/17 4:42 PM

bluebonnet.coop April 2017 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas Co-op Power 19

Bluebonnet’s rigorous training program for linemen produces skilled, confident pros

APPRENTICES

Sarah Beal photo

Want to become a lineman?

Bluebonnet accepts applications for its U.S. Department of Labor Certified Apprentice Program on the first Tuesday of every month (and only on that day). Find applications and other career opportunities at bluebonnet.coop by clicking on Careers at the bottom of the any page.

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 17 3/9/17 4:42 PM

Lineman College program for that compo-nent, which involves two weeks per year at the Idaho-based college’s Texas campus in Denton. Northwest Lineman College’s instructors have worked across the country and draw from a wide variety of experiences, said Corban Hegdal, a fourth-year apprentice in Bluebonnet’s Red Rock service center who went through the college’s 15-week training program in Idaho before being hired in 2015. The program supplements what the appren-tices learn on the job and results in better-educated linemen, said Brandon Johnson, Bluebonnet’s safety and training supervisor. That benefits co-op members because when that lineman “goes out on a trouble call, he’ll have a better idea of how to figure out the answer,” he said. The co-op’s apprentice program also at-tracts the strongest candidates, said Heath Siegmund, superintendent of operations in the Red Rock service center. It can make the dif-ference between a top candidate choosing to work for Bluebonnet rather than another util-ity that doesn’t offer an apprentice program. The program was a big draw, and it showed that Bluebonnet cares about training and retaining employees, Hegdal said. “I enjoy the challenge” of becoming a lineman, he said. “It is something that many people can’t do or are unwilling to do. The people who are good at it have invested a lot of time to become so.” It’s sometimes hard to tell at the beginning of training who will become a successful lineman, Johnson said. Candidates must overcome any fear of heights, be ready to work with electricity every day and be willing to work in extreme conditions.

Good linemen “enjoy working with their hands, enjoy working outdoors, are typically accustomed to physical activities and enjoy being part of a team,” he said. On-the-job training focuses primarily on building overhead power lines, though ap-prentices also learn about underground lines and transmission of power at substations. On-site training has certainly offered some memorable moments. During calls, Hegdal has crossed creeks, jumped fences to avoid dogs at night and spent cold, wet nights in a bucket during freezing rain. The payoff is when you “see everybody’s lights come on,” said Logan Lancaster, a fourth-year apprentice in Bluebonnet’s Gid-dings service center. The training also starts linemen off on the

right foot down a long-term career path. “I always think about what the future holds — graduating from this program, moving up the ladder, teaching future apprentices,” said Ty Kasper, a first-year apprentice. Because the program today is more hands-on, apprentices now spend less time in the classroom and more time in the field, apply-ing the lessons they’ve learned, Johnson said. The comprehensive classroom program covers all aspects of line work, with the toughest components — “basic electricity” and “alternating current fundamentals” — being heavy on theory, algebra, geometry and the relationship between voltage, current, resistance and power.

A

CThe wire grip (A) holds wire and connects it to the strap hoist (B), which is a hand-held, ratchet-action crank used to tighten a wire.

This amp meter (E) measures electric ‘load’ to determine whether the equipment is capable of handling the load. If not, adjustments to the equipment are made.

The voltage detector (C) is a safety tool that detects the presence of voltage before work begins. The multi-meter tool (D) is used on the member’s side of the line to measure voltage.

D

bluebonnet.coop20 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE April 2017

Continued from page 18

Continued on page 25

Apprentice Connor Sanderson strips the jacket off a cable while crew supervisor Matthew Ledford guides him during this challenging task.

action crank used

The voltage detector (C) is a safety tool that detects the presence of voltage before work begins. The multi-meter tool (D) is used on the member’s side of the line to measure voltage.

Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE April 2017

B

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

bluebonnet.coop

This amp meter (E) measures electric ‘load’ to determine whether the equipment is capable of handling the load. If not, adjustments to the equipment are made.

TOOLS OF THE TRADEE

Sarah Beal photos

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 18 3/9/17 4:42 PM

The beefy bolt cutter (F) is used to cut steel support wires. A compression tool (G) is used to clamp down on a connector to hold two pieces of wire together. Hot cutters (H) have insulated handles for cutting wire while a line is energized. A hammer stick (I) is a fiberglass, insulated tool for safely removing equipment from underground access points. Long ratchet hot cutters (J) are used on overhead lines to isolate a section of line so a crew can work safely and members don’t lose power. The shotgun stick (K) is used to maintain control of equipment when working from the bucket of a bucket truck.

bluebonnet.coopbluebonnet.coop

Kendal Fiebrich, above, is tested on his ability to ‘ground’ an underground transformer. At left, Fiebrich, in foreground, and Jeremy Lynch take a written test during classroom time.

IJ

K

bluebonnet.coop

F

G

HF

April 2017 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas Co-op Power 21

Apprentices are encouraged to participate in the Texas Lineman’s Rodeo, a competition in which they climb poles, make power line repairs and perform other tasks, all simulating skills they perform on the job. They compete for accuracy and time on a field of poles and equipment that are not electrified.

Bluebonnet has sent apprentices to the annual event in Nolte Island Park in Seguin since 2004. Daniel Fritsche, a crew supervisor in Giddings, was among three apprentices who competed that year. He now serves as the apprentice coach and said those who compete are better climbers and tend to be more highly motivated to become linemen.

Kendal Fiebrich, a recent apprentice program graduate who was named top apprentice lineman at the 2014 rodeo, said participating in the competition has been just as important as going through the apprentice program. The events often reinforce what the apprentices are learning in the classroom and allow competitors to connect with those at other co-ops to compare notes on techniques and tools.

This year’s rodeo is set for July 15. Find details in the July issue of Texas Co-op Power magazine.

SHOWCASING THEIR SKILLS

Think you could be a lineman? Watch for pop quizzes on our Facebook page this month for your chance to win a pair of Bluebonnet leather gardening gloves. Plus, Lineman Appreciation Day is April 18, so stay tuned for a special tribute to Bluebonnet’s linemen on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

WIN A PRIZE!

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 19 3/9/17 4:42 PM

22 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE April 2017

SMART HOMEWELCOME TO MY

By Sharon Jayson

With spring visitors heading to your

house, some of the latest innovations in home technology can welcome your guests at the door.

Options include door locks that can be remotely locked and unlocked, doorbells with video and two-way audio, and garage door openers that use geo-location from your smartphone to automatically open the door when you’re near home (and can also alert you if you forgot to close the

garage door.) Such conveniences, which until recently had been reserved for more high-end homes, are now expanding to the DIY market as

well as by custom installation, experts say. “With organizations like Apple getting involved and the Amazon Echo, Samsung SmartThings and Works with Nest, these huge brands are bringing home automation to the masses,” said Mike Buckingham of San Francisco-based August Home. Because of the varied wireless communications networks, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee and Z-Wave, consumers will need to determine what’s compatible with their home systems. Many companies – from well-known names to start-ups – debuted new smart products last fall at the international trade show CEDIA (an association of home technology professionals) in Dallas. Here’s a sample of what’s new in the world of smarts for entry to your home.

Smart Front Door Locks August Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled ($229) from August Home uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and turns your smartphone into another key to your front door. Be-cause it replaces only the interior side of your standard deadbolt while maintaining the exterior door hardware,

it’s simple to install, said Buck-ingham, of August Home.

“Ninety-five percent of our end-users have put it in them-selves,” he said. “You don’t have to buy a new lock. Your existing keys work.”

Kwikset, a door lock and door hardware company, introduced four new products at CEDIA last year. The top of the line is a

10-digit touchscreen electronic deadbolt called Obsid-ian ($229) that uses no keys. Other o�erings include a Contemporary SmartCode 914, ($229) which has a 10-digit backlit push-button keypad and a Contempo-rary SmartCode 916 touchscreen electronic deadbolt ($249). Also, a product called Kwikset Convert, that turns mechanical locks — even non-Kwikset locks — into Z-Wave smart locks, will launch in June ($129).

“Electronic locks also keep a record of when that code was entered and give you notification. So if you want to check, for example, to make sure your mother got there safely, you can set it up with a notification that a code you gave them was used on your lock and at what time and what day,” said Ashton Good of Kwikset.

Smart Video DoorbellsA variety of companies at CEDIA in 2016 showed o� their version of the video doorbell, which allows home-owners to answer the door on-site or remotely and speak with the visitor, no matter where the homeowner happens to be. These video doorbells have built-in HD cameras, Wi-Fi capabil-ity, image capture, night vision and can work with lock systems to remotely

unlock the door for the visitor. The homeowner can see who’s at the door and get a video recording of the exchange. Many of these doorbells also have motion sensors that alert the homeowner when someone is on the front porch, even if he or she doesn’t ring the bell.

The Ring Video Doorbell ($199) can replace the current doorbell or use its rechargeable battery if the original bell is in a di�cult-to-access location.

“Burglars tend to knock on your door or ring your doorbell before breaking in to check to see if there is anyone home,” said Yassi Shahmiri, of Ring. “The key to Ring is that your visitors have no idea whether you are home or not as the Ring Doorbell provides a presence to any home.”

Another option is the Skybell HD Wi-Fi Video Doorbell ($199), which o�ers full-color night vision. RemoBell Wireless Video Doorbell, a product of Olive & Dove, ($199) is battery-powered and can be placed on or next to your door. The August Doorbell Camera ($199) is hardwired and replaces your existing doorbell.

bluebonnet.coop bluebonnet.coop

The Kwikset Obsidian

The Garageio

The Ring Video Doorbell

Smart Garage Door OpenersPart of the appeal of a smart garage is that your phone will notify you if you forgot to close the garage door and will let you close it re-motely from anywhere there’s an internet connection.

Because of its geo-location ability, the garage door can open automatically when your smartphone is near home. A smart garage door opener requires Wi-Fi, but can work with existing openers. They include Garageio ($199 for one-door and $209 for two-door) and Chamberlain MyQ Garage ($130). For a completely new garage door system, there’s Chamberlain Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener ($268).

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 20 3/9/17 4:42 PM

SMART HOME New devices greet visitors with cool tech (door)bells and whistles

unlock the door for the visitor. The homeowner can see who’s at the door and get a video recording of the exchange. Many of these doorbells also have motion sensors that alert the homeowner when someone is on the front porch, even if he or she doesn’t ring the bell.

The Ring Video Doorbell ($199) can replace the current doorbell or use its rechargeable battery if the original bell is in a di cult-to-access location.

“Burglars tend to knock on your door or ring your doorbell before breaking in to check to see if there is anyone home,” said Yassi Shahmiri, of Ring. “The key to Ring is that your visitors have no idea whether you are home or not as the Ring Doorbell provides a presence to any home.”

Another option is the Skybell HD Wi-Fi Video Doorbell ($199), which o�ers full-color night vision. RemoBell Wireless Video Doorbell, a product of Olive & Dove, ($199) is battery-powered and can be placed on or next to your door. The August Doorbell Camera ($199) is hardwired and replaces your existing doorbell.

bluebonnet.coop April 2017 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas Co-op Power 23bluebonnet.coop

The Garageio

Smart Garage Door OpenersPart of the appeal of a smart garage is that your phone will notify you if you forgot to close the garage door and will let you close it re-motely from anywhere there’s an internet connection.

Because of its geo-location ability, the garage door can open automatically when your smartphone is near home. A smart garage door opener requires Wi-Fi, but can work with existing openers. They include Garageio ($199 for one-door and $209 for two-door) and Chamberlain MyQ Garage ($130). For a completely new garage door system, there’s Chamberlain Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener ($268).

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 21 3/9/17 4:42 PM

24 Texas Co-op Power BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE April 2017

Q: I recall reading last year that Bluebonnet gave away a used truck after the Annual

Meeting. Do you plan to do that again this year?

A: Yes, this is the fifth year we are retiring one of our fleet trucks and giving it away to a lucky

co-op member. This year, we are giving away a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 extended cab with about 131,000 miles on it. To qualify to win, you must

register at Bluebonnet’s Annual Meeting on May 9 or send in a proxy voting form that was mailed to you in March. Bluebonnet encourages all members to attend the Annual Meeting. It’s a great opportunity to meet co-op leadership, hear a State-of-the-Cooperative report and learn of milestones that

Bluebonnet reached in 2016. But if you can’t make it, be sure to vote by proxy. It’s one way to make sure your voice is heard, and you will automatically be entered in the truck drawing. The drawing will be held the day after the Annual Meeting. To vote by proxy, complete the proxy form that was mailed to you in March and return it by mail in the postage-paid envelope or drop it off at any of Bluebonnet’s member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart or Manor by 5:30 p.m. May 2. If you misplaced the proxy form, you can pick one up at a member service center or call 800-842-7708 and ask a representative to mail one to you. Members who attend the Annual Meeting also will be eligible to win one of dozens of door prizes ranging from gift cards to an iPad to a riding lawn mower. These prizes will be given away in a draw-ing during the meeting. Vendors who do business with Bluebonnet donated money to purchase the door prizes. Find out more about the Annual Meeting at blue-bonnet.coop/annualmeeting, or contact a member service representative by emailing memberser-vices@bluebonnet.coop or calling 800-842-7708 during business hours.

— Nikki Ahlbrandt, member service representative

bluebonnet.coop

By Lisa Ogle

A Future Farmers of America chapter officer who plans to become a

veterinarian and an aspiring en-gineer with a passion for history are the recipients of Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s 2017 Government-in-Action Youth Tour, which includes a paid trip to Washington, D.C. Daylon Drews, a senior at Round Top-Car-mine High School, and Caleb Smith, a junior at Brenham Christian Academy, will represent Bluebonnet on the annual youth tour. Logan Perry, a sophomore at Giddings High School, is the alternate and will join the tour if Drews or Smith is unable to attend. The two participants will visit historical sites in our nation’s capital, as well as tour the Texas Capitol and the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, from June 7-16. They also each receive a $500 scholarship upon high school graduation. The two recipients and alternate were among 10 finalists who gave oral presenta-tions and were interviewed by community leaders at Bluebonnet’s headquarters in Febru-ary. Recipients were selected based on oral presentations, personal interviews and essays about electric cooperatives, politics and com-munity issues. Drews, 17, of Carmine, shows pigs and has served as an officer in her school’s FFA for four years. She will study animal science in the fall at Texas A&M University and wants to become a food animal veterinarian, a doctor who cares for animals raised for food produc-tion and human consumption. During her oral presentation, Drews said that if she met her congressman, Rep. Michael McCaul, in Washington, she “would ask him how he has worked to strengthen national security and why it is an important matter to him.” She also said getting to meet McCaul would broaden her knowledge of government and allow her to grow as an American. Smith, 17, of Brenham said one of his his-tory teachers has been his mentor since he was young and inspired his love of history and learning. Smith is also on the leadership team

of the youth group at Brenham’s First Baptist Church and a member of Student Council and Interact, a Rotary Club-sponsored leadership group. In his essays, he said he was concerned that the younger generation isn’t willing to get involved. “It is imperative that young leaders begin to step up and make an impact in their communities,” Smith said. Perry, 15, of Paige, is a leader in 4-H and served as a delegate to the national 4-H Congress in Atlanta. He’s involved in the Leo Club, Student Council and St. Paul Lutheran Church and plays varsity tennis. He volun-teers for a number of community service proj-ects and proposed and implemented a water bottle refill station at his school that reduced the use and waste of more than 10,000 plastic water bottles as of February. Drews and Smith will join 145 young people representing other Texas electric co-ops and more than 1,700 teens from around the country in the nation’s capital, where they will visit historical sites and the U.S. Capitol, meet members of Congress and attend events hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative As-sociation, an organization that represents more than 900 electric cooperatives. The youth program has more than 51,000 alumni, including CEOs and U.S. senators, since it began in 1964. For more information, go to bluebonnet.coop and click Scholarships under the Community tab. Look for 2018 ap-plications in the fall. n

Bluebonnetsending teens to D.C.Young leaders will represent Bluebonnet at Government-in-Action Youth Tour

Daylon Drews, left, a senior at Round Top-Carmine High School, and Caleb Smith, right, a junior at Brenham Christian Academy, were selected to represent Bluebonnet during the Government-in-Action Youth Tour. Logan Perry, center, a sophomore at Giddings High School, will be the alternate.

After this year’s Annual Meeting, Bluebonnet will give away a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 extended cab to one lucky member.

Sarah Beal photos

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 22 3/9/17 4:42 PM

April 2017 BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas Co-op Power 25bluebonnet.coopbluebonnet.coop

The classroom knowledge can help when crews are out on calls. After learning about a less common type of fuse, Lancaster and an experienced lineman came across one during a cold weekend last winter. Lan-caster was able to help trouble-shoot based on what he had learned in class. One of the most technical and time-consuming tasks an apprentice must learn in the field is the proper way to connect meters when providing new service to a large commercial member, Johnson said. “This requires connecting as many as 28 different conductors going from our transformer to the member’s electrical panel, plus installing the metering devices that require extensive and precise wiring,” he said. “All of this has to be done in a very limited space within our transformer.” But the learning curve doesn’t stop there. “In this line of work, you learn every day,” said Daniel Fritsche, a Bluebonnet crew supervisor in Giddings and coach for the apprentices that the co-op sends to the annual Texas Lineman’s Rodeo competi-tion. Several apprentices said the best part about the job is the camaraderie. When you’re working around 7,200 volts of electricity — the amount on a typical Bluebonnet line — it’s all about trust and working safely, Fiebrich said. Knowing your life is in your co-workers’ hands “makes everybody you work with at least your friend, if not family.” Jeremy Lynch, who started and com-pleted the program alongside Fiebrich, agreed: “All these guys like to act so tough, but they’re all looking out for each other. They care about each other.” That’s why Bluebonnet emphasizes safety in everything from gear, such as fall restraints, to clear communication. Jobs don’t start until workers understand who will do what and how and when. Clear communication is critically important, especially when it comes to live power lines through which electricity is flowing. “The main goal is to go home at the end of the day the same way you arrived,” Fiebrich said. The final step in becoming a Bluebonnet lineman is demonstrating the capability of being the first and possibly only person sent out on a trouble call. Crew supervisors typically make that decision after watching the apprentices troubleshoot and make repairs during outages. Apprentices must be able to explain, handle and work with various pieces of equipment, Johnson said. “Because of the program, Bluebonnet has some of the most knowledgeable and skilled linemen in the business,” he said. “They have learned that each person on the crew is an important link in the efficiency and safety of day-to-day work. Each may have their different thoughts and ideas about how accomplish the tasks, which provides a crew with options to safely get through the day.” n

Continued from page 20

of the youth group at Brenham’s First Baptist Church and a member of Student Council and Interact, a Rotary Club-sponsored leadership group. In his essays, he said he was concerned that the younger generation isn’t willing to get involved. “It is imperative that young leaders begin to step up and make an impact in their communities,” Smith said. Perry, 15, of Paige, is a leader in 4-H and served as a delegate to the national 4-H Congress in Atlanta. He’s involved in the Leo Club, Student Council and St. Paul Lutheran Church and plays varsity tennis. He volun-teers for a number of community service proj-ects and proposed and implemented a water bottle refill station at his school that reduced the use and waste of more than 10,000 plastic water bottles as of February. Drews and Smith will join 145 young people representing other Texas electric co-ops and more than 1,700 teens from around the country in the nation’s capital, where they will visit historical sites and the U.S. Capitol, meet members of Congress and attend events hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative As-sociation, an organization that represents more than 900 electric cooperatives. The youth program has more than 51,000 alumni, including CEOs and U.S. senators, since it began in 1964. For more information, go to bluebonnet.coop and click Scholarships under the Community tab. Look for 2018 ap-plications in the fall. n

An upgrade to Bluebonnet’s Lyle Wolz substation near Deanville in Burleson County has more than doubled the

capacity to provide power to more than 4,800 members. The upgrade included a new trans-former that increased the substation’s capacity to 50 megawatts. One megawatt is enough power to provide electricity to about 200 homes during peak demand, like a hot summer afternoon or cold winter morning. The Wolz substation is one of 45 on Blue-bonnet’s electric grid that takes power from high-voltage transmission lines and reduces it to a lower voltage so it can be distributed to Bluebonnet’s members. It is located on Texas Highway 21 near Deanville and serves south-west and central Burleson County, northeast Lee County and northwest Washington County. The

substation’s two transformers provide electricity to 4,824 meters along 1,028 miles of power lines. The increased activity of the area’s oil, gas and water supply industries prompted the Wolz substation upgrade, according to Eric Kocian, Bluebonnet’s chief engineer and systems opera-tion officer. “We continuously monitor our electric distri-bution system to ensure that we are able to meet the power needs of our members and plan for future growth,” Kocian said. “Adding a second transformer and more than doubling the load ca-pacity of the Wolz substation will ensure that we continue to provide reliable power to our current and future members.” Bluebonnet started the Wolz substation up-grade in May 2016 and completed it in Decem-ber 2016.

CONTACT US Bluebonnet Electric CooperativeP.O. Box 729Bastrop, TX 78602

Member services: 800-842-7708, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Email: memberservices@bluebonnet.coop

BOARD MEETINGBluebonnet’s Board of Directors will meet at 9 a.m. April 18 at Bluebonnet’s Headquarters, 155 Electric Ave. (formerly 650 Texas Hwy. 21 East), Bastrop.

ABOUT THIS ISSUEFor information about the magazine, contact Lisa Ogle at 512-332-7968 or email lisa.ogle@bluebonnet.coop.

OUTAGES

Call 800-949-4414 if you have a power outage. Send a text to 85700 and type BBOUTAGE, then follow the prompts. If your power goes out, text OUT to that number. Report an outage on your smartphone by downloading our free mobile app.

Substation upgrade doubles power for 4,800 members

CONNECT WITH BLUEBONNET

Daylon Drews, left, a senior at Round Top-Carmine High School, and Caleb Smith, right, a junior at Brenham Christian Academy, were selected to represent Bluebonnet during the Government-in-Action Youth Tour. Logan Perry, center, a sophomore at Giddings High School, will be the alternate.

Construction has been completed on an upgrade to the Lyle Wolz substation near Caldwell. The changes ensure Bluebonnet’s ability to meet current and future energy needs in the area.

AFTER

BEFORE

Sarah Beal photos

BLUEBONNET MAG APR 2017.indd 23 3/9/17 4:42 PM

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Texas History

A flood of patriotic Texans donneduniforms and leaped into the fray nearly100 years ago when the U.S. entered WorldWar I. Those who didn’t go overseas tofight joined the war effort at home, raisinghoming pigeons destined for the frontlines, making bandages for the Red Crossand collecting peach pits. Peach pits?

Yes, these lowly fruit seeds, so plentifulin Texas, played a vital role in protectingAllied soldiers from poisonous gas.

World War I was the first conflict to em-ploy the use of poisonous gases—initiallychlorine, a yellow-green gas that driftedacross the battlefield, causing death byasphyxiation. Later, phosgene and mustardgases were introduced.

Gas masks were issued to Americansoldiers at the front. These contraptionsallowed the wearer to breathe through afiber hose attached to a charcoal filterdesigned to capture gases. The masks wereeffective, even though the rubberized can-vas faces were hot and restrictive andmade the soldiers look like an army ofmutant insects. Scientists continued totest new filtering processes, and gas maskmanufacturers soon discovered a moreeffective replacement for the wood char-coal originally used.

“It has been found that the coal fromthe shells of certain seeds and nuts, amongthem cocoanuts [sic], chestnuts and horsechestnuts, as well as peach stones, has amuch greater power of absorbing poison-ous gases than ordinary charcoal fromwood,” Popular Science Monthly reportedin December 1918. “Cleaned, dried, andthen subjected to a high temperature … thestones become carbonized, and the coal,in granulated form, is used as an absorbentin the manufacture of gas masks.”

During the final year of the war, theGas Defense Division of the ChemicalWarfare Service of the U.S. Army issued a

call for Americans to save fruit pits. “SaveFruit Pits and Save Lives,” shouted a head-line in the October 28, 1918, edition of theTemple Daily Telegram.

“Good charcoal will absorb as much asfive hundred times its bulk of some gases,”according to National School Services, Vol-ume 1. This newfound knowledge spurredAmericans to set up local collection pointsto gather the peach pits. The governmentneeded hundreds of millions of fruit pits(apricot, plum, cherry and olive pits alsoworked) to process into charcoal for pack-ing gas mask filters. About 200 peach pitswere needed to create enough charcoal foreach filter canister.

Grocers and fruit stands in Temple,Belton, Bartlett, Killeen, Holland and Mof-fat displayed signs announcing collectionpoints where folks could deposit peachpits for shipment to the government,according to a July 11, 2016, article in theDaily Telegram.

Schoolchildren gathered the pits fromrestaurants, hotels and bakeries as part of the reported 6,000 pounds shippedfrom Temple, where a local businessmandonated a downtown warehouse for pack-ing and processing the pits.

Nationally, the Girl Scouts and Boy

Scouts got involved, bringing nutshells andfruit pits to 160 Army collection points.In the Girl Scout campaign, this rhymeappeared:

“Gather up the peach pits,Olive pits as well.Every prune and date seed,Every walnut shell.”The National Council of Boy Scouts in

Temple offered a cash reward to the troopcontributing the most pits, and Bell Countyset aside official Gas Mask Days to increasedonations. “It is the duty of everyone,”reported the Daily Telegram in 1918, “thatno fruits or nut shells lay unused.”

Despite the efforts during World War I,more than 90,000 soldiers died from toxic gases, and millions more sufferedirreparable damage and debilitating healthproblems.

The Geneva Protocol in 1925 bannedthe use of chemical weapons in war. Aninternational treaty banning the produc-tion, stockpiling and use of chemicalweapons was ratified in 1997. It has beensigned by 192 nations.

Today, Del Monte Foods sells peachpits as biomass to generate electricity.

Martha Deeringer, a member of Heart ofTexas EC, lives near McGregor.JO

HN

KA

CHIK

BY MARTHA DEERINGER

Patriotic Peach PitsCharcoal from fruit seeds and nutshells improved gas masks during World War I

TexasCoopPower.com30 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

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Recipes

Berry Delicious These days, berries are prettymuch available year-round, butnothing beats the flavor of fresh,locally grown varieties. In Texas,that means early spring for straw-berries, and a bit later for black-berries and blueberries. A greatway to celebrate the bounty is byheading to the Poteet Strawberry Festival, April 7–9. Proceeds fromthe festival’s Taste of Texas FoodShow and Auction pay for scholar-ships for local students, and milesof strawberry-inspired fare makeit a berry lover’s nirvana. Visitstrawberryfestival.com for more info.

PAULA DISBROWE, FOOD EDITOR

Poteet Strawberry Pie 1¼ cups sugar2 tablespoons cornstarch1¼ cups water2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin1 quart fresh Poteet strawberries, cleaned, hulled and sliced1 prebaked 9-inch deep-dish or 10-inch regular pie shellWhipped cream for serving

1. In a medium saucepan, combinesugar and cornstarch. Add waterand lemon juice. Over high heat,bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cookand stir until slightly thickened andclear, 4–5 minutes. Add gelatin andstir until dissolved. Cool to roomtemperature.2. Stir strawberries into gelatinmixture. Pour into prebaked andcooled pie shell. Chill 4–6 hours oruntil set. 3. Serve topped with whippedcream, if desired. Serves 6–8.

COOK’S TIP Using sliced strawberriesinstead of whole strawberries makes the pie easier to cut. M

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April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 31

into the frosting. Top the second layerwith remaining frosting. Do not frost the sides of the layers. 6. Cut the tops of the remaining straw-berries with a gouge in the middle andthen cut each berry in half lengthwise toform two hearts. Place the strawberryhearts all around the top edge of thecake and some in the center. Store thecake in the refrigerator until you’reready to serve. Serves 8–10.

Strawberry Yogurt Panna Cotta With Strawberry MousseANITA PORTERFIELD | BANDERA EC

Traditional panna cotta (Italian for “cookedcream”) is made with heavy cream. In this recipe,Greek yogurt creates a similarly rich texture andadds an appealing tangy flavor. Fluffy strawberrymousse takes this panna cotta to the next level.Porterfield serves hers in wine glasses, butMason jars or bowls also work well.

PANNA COTTA1 packet unflavored gelatin ¼ cup room-temperature water 1 cup heavy cream⅓ cup sugarSeeds of 1 vanilla bean16 ounces plain Greek yogurt4 ounces fresh or frozen strawberries, puréed8 tablespoons strawberry whole-fruit preserves for topping

STRAWBERRY MOUSSE1 packet unflavored gelatin¼ cup room-temperature water¼ cup very hot water1 cup of superfine or powdered sugar4 ounces heavy cream, whipped8 ounces fresh or frozen strawberries, puréedSliced strawberries, for garnish

1. PANNA COTTA: In a small bowl, bloomgelatin in water. In a small, heavysaucepan, bring cream, sugar andvanilla seeds to a simmer, stirring untilthe sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Removefrom heat and stir bloomed gelatininto the cream mixture. Cool to roomtemperature. 2. Whisk the yogurt in a bowl untilsmooth, then add it to the cooled gelatin FI

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Recipes

THIS MONTH’SRECIPE CONTESTWINNER

NANCY FILER | COSERV“Whenever the fam-

ily got together, mygrandmother would have

this torte waiting for us in the dining room,”Filer remembers. “It’s light and refreshing.”With a delicate, crackly crust (imagine an angel food cake-meringue hybrid), this torte is the perfect base for a pile of sweet, juicyberries and whipped cream.

Grandma’s Schaum Torte6 egg whites½ teaspoon cream of tartar1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar 2 cups sugarFresh strawberries, sliced and sweet- ened, to tasteWhipped cream for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.2. Beat egg whites until frothy. Addcream of tartar and vinegar, and con-tinue beating until mixture thickens.Add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, continuing to beat until egg mixtureis glossy and stiff. 3. Gently spread mixture into a 9-inch square baking dish and bake 1 hour. Transfer to a rack to cool atleast 10 minutes. 4. When ready to serve, top withstrawberries and whipped cream.Serve warm or at room temperature.Serves 6–8.

COOK’S TIP This dessert will have its best tex-ture the day it’s made. If you want to prepareit in advance, leave it in the oven (with the heatoff) to keep the meringue from weeping.

Berry Delicious

September’s recipe contest topic isTailgating Favorites. We’re recruit-ing blue-chip dishes to add to ourroster before next season. Thedeadline is April 10.

ENTER ONLINE at TexasCoopPower.com/contests; MAIL to 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701;FAX to (512) 763-3401. Include your name, addressand phone number, plus your co-op and the name of the contest you are entering.

$100 Recipe Contest

TexasCoopPower.com

Strawberry Love CakeVALERIE DOTY | COSERV

Decorated with heart-shaped strawberries, thisswoon-worthy cake is true to its name. Doty likesit because the berries make a simple cake lookspectacular. “For some, like me, decorating a fancycake is just outside of our abilities,” she says. “This cake is beautiful in its own right.”

CAKE2 cups flour½ teaspoon salt½ cup butter-flavored vegetable shortening1 teaspoon baking powder1½ cups sugar½ teaspoon almond extract1¼ cups buttermilk1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon baking soda2 eggs

FROSTING8 ounces whipped topping, thawed8 ounces cream cheese, softened3 tablespoons powdered sugar1 teaspoon almond extract1 pound fresh strawberries, cleaned, hulled and sliced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Greaseand flour a 13-by-9-by-2-inch bakingdish or two 8-inch round baking dishes. 2. CAKE: In a large mixing bowl, combineall the cake ingredients except eggs andbeat with a mixer on medium speed. Add the eggs, then beat at least anotherminute until combined. 3. Pour batter into the dish (or dividebetween two dishes) and bake 20–30 min-utes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Ifyou’re making a layered cake, remove thelayers from the dishes after 10 minutes ofcooling. Cool cake to room temperature. 4. FROSTING: In a separate mixing bowl,beat together the whipped topping,cream cheese and powdered sugar with a mixer on medium speed. Add almondextract and beat until well-blended. 5. Spread frosting over the single-layercake and top with sliced strawberries. If making a double-layered cake, put one layer of the cake on a serving plate,rounded-side down. Top with half thefrosting and half the strawberries. Pressthe second layer flat-side down on top ofthe first layer, so the strawberries squish

TexasCoopPower.com April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 33

mixture. Stir in puréed strawberries.Mix well. 3. Divide mixture evenly among eightwine glasses and chill until firm, about 2 hours. When set, spread 1 tablespoonof preserves on top of each, then returnto refrigerator.4. STRAWBERRY MOUSSE: In a mediumbowl, bloom gelatin in room-tempera-ture water. Add hot water and stir untilgelatin is completely dissolved. Addsugar and mix thoroughly. Cool mixtureuntil it begins to thicken. 5. Gently fold whipped cream and gelatin into the strawberry purée, thenrefrigerate until cool and thickened. 6. Spoon the mousse onto each pannacotta and garnish with fresh strawber-ries, as desired. Serves 8.

Strawberry, Basil and GoatCheese Grilled ChickenCARLY TERRELL | UNITED

Charred quarters of romaine lettuce and grilledchicken give this striking main dish salad a

smoky nuance that complements tart-sweet balsamic-marinated berries and creamy crumbled goat cheese.

⅓ cup fresh basil, chopped2 cups strawberries, quarteredExtra-virgin olive oil, as neededBalsamic glaze, to taste 4 chicken breastsSalt and pepper to taste2 cloves garlic, minced1 bunch romaine lettuce, quartered 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese

1. Combine basil, strawberries, 1 table-spoon olive oil and balsamic glaze in amedium bowl. Gently toss, then coverand set aside. 2. Heat grill (or a grill pan greased with2 tablespoons olive oil on the stovetop)to medium-high heat. Place the chickenin a large mixing bowl. Generously sea-son with salt, pepper, garlic and 2 table-spoons olive oil, tossing to combine. 3. Grill chicken on each side untilcooked through and golden-brown grill

marks appear. Set aside to rest.4. Drizzle each quarter of romaine witholive oil, balsamic glaze, and generoussprinkles of salt and pepper. Place eachquarter cut-side down on grill or panuntil charred, about 2 minutes. 5. Arrange grilled romaine on a largeplatter (or individual plates, as desired)and top each with a chicken cutlet(whole or sliced). Top chicken with thestrawberry-basil mixture, goat cheesecrumbles, another drizzle of balsamicglaze and a final pinch of salt and pepper. Serves 4.

COOK’S TIP Don’t confuse balsamic glaze withbalsamic vinegar! The glaze is a reduction of thevinegar—and it’s thick and syrupy. You can find it in the vinegar section at the grocery store. Formore flavorful chicken, marinate meat with sea-sonings and olive oil in the refrigerator 1–2 hoursbefore grilling.

WEB EXTRAS at TexasCoopPower.com We have Blueberry Pecan Fritters online.

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Focus on Texas

UPCOMING CONTESTS

AUGUST SURF’S UP DUE APRIL 10

SEPTEMBER AT THE RODEO DUE MAY 10

OCTOBER COSTUME PARTY DUE JUNE 10

All entries must include name, address, daytime phone and co-op affiliation, plus the contest topic and a brief description of your photo.

ONLINE: Submit highest-resolution digital images at Texas CoopPower.com/contests. MAIL: Focus on Texas, 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX78701. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must be included if you wantyour entry returned (approximately six weeks). Please do not submitirreplaceable photographs—send a copy or duplicate. We do not acceptentries via email. We regret that Texas Co-op Power cannot be responsi-ble for photos that are lost in the mail or not received by the deadline.

o CHARLES ASCHENBECK, Jackson EC: “Pine siskins come down to winter in Texasevery year.”

d GREG KRENEK, Mid-South Synergy: “Male wood duck takingflight from our pond at our home in Montgomery”

o PAT DUNNUCK, Sam Houston EC: “Foundthis osprey on the east end of Galveston”

o KAREN RICE, Sam Houston EC: “[Great blue] heron atsunrise at Holiday Shores Marina on Lake Livingston”

g ANTHONY LOUVIERE, Pedernales EC: “Northern cardi-nal cools off in a water hole on a South Texas ranch.”

BirdsWe asked for your best bird photos from acrossTexas, and the winners have come home to roost. Thisflock of favorites flies in the face of the competition.

GRACE ARSIAGA

WEB EXTRAS at TexasCoopPower.com Don’t get your feathers ruffled; there’s more to crow about. Just migrate to our website.

TexasCoopPower.com36 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

19Smithville [19–23] Jamboree, (512) 461-9216,jamboreesmithville.com

21Johnson City [21–22] FarmHaus Market,(830) 330-4209, facebook.com/farmhausmarket

Seguin [21–22] Yellow Rose Fiber Producers Fiesta, (830) 433-5078, yellowrosefiberproducers.com

Marble Falls [21–23] Balcones Songbird Festival, (512) 965-2473,balconessongbirdfestival.org

April7Bastrop [7–9] Mostly Clay, (512) 988-0034,facebook.com/bastropclayarts

San Marcos [7–9] Swing on the Square,(512) 393-8430, smtxswingfest.com

8Bryan Downtown Street & Art Fair,(979) 822-4920, downtownbryan.com

Decatur Glitzy Girls Trailer Park, (940) 210-9169, glitzygirlstrailerpark.com

Gruene Spring Walk, (830) 625-6330

Sealy Bluebonnet Master Gardeners Plant Sale, (979) 865-2072,bluebonnetmastergardener.org

15Denison Easter Egg Roll, (903) 465-8908,visiteisenhowerbirthplace.com

Jefferson Women of Jefferson Organization 5K Scholarship Rabbit Run,(903) 665-7954, wojo5k.com

E V E N I N G P R I M R O S E : G O S | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M . E N A M E LWA R E : O KS I X | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M . DAC H S H U N D : SV E T L A N A P E T R OVA | D R E A M ST I M E .CO M

Pick of the MonthWildflower Trails Hughes Springs April 27–29

(903) 639-7519, hughesspringstxusa.com

Catch the blooming season amid the statelypines and oaks of East Texas along the high-ways connecting Avinger, Linden and HughesSprings. Then enjoy crafts, food and a carnival.

Around Texas Event Calendar

April 21Johnson City

FarmHaus Market

axahachieWth inorWt orwn Dallas/Fotwno of D

mod o y

ofof PrPrereyey . Beeeerer & WiWininne TaTasasstitiningngsgs . 200 + ShShohopoppppeesaiaididsds . Reenenanaiaisissanancncce RiRididedeses . FuFunun fofoor KiKididds . MuMucuchch Mororeree!

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onday MMial Dai l Demor& M& Ms S d y, Sundasd ydaturtaSS

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2Y 9 20172Y 9 2017

es . Jououuststitiningng . BiBirirdrdsds omoonnststrtraratatitiiononns . Merermrmma

St B k iS B k i

AA MMUAPRIL 8 THR8

me

es southJust 30 minut

TexasCoopPower.com April 2017 Texas Co-op Power 37

Submit Your Event!We pick events for the magazine directly fromTexasCoopPower.com. Submit your event forJune by April 10, and it just might be featuredin this calendar.

Texarkana [21–23] Scout-O-Rama, (903) 793-2179, 4statessor.com

22Bonham Red River Art, Wine & Music Festival, (903) 640-2196, creativeartscenterbonham.com

Canyon Lake Earth Day, (830) 964-3744,tpml.org

Hico Flacas Clean H2O Run, (707) 695-7805,runsignup.com/flacascleanrun

La Porte San Jacinto Day Festival and Re-enactment, (281) 479-2421, sanjacinto-museum.org

Santa Anna Spring Craft Fair, (325) 348-3535, santaannatex.org

Mooreville [22–23] Mooreville UnitedMethodist Church 150th Anniversary,(254) 859-9030

Wimberley [22–23] Arts Fest, (512) 826-4286, wimberleyartsfest.com

25Jacksonville Tasting Jacksonville,(903) 586-2217, jacksonvilletexas.com

28Granbury [28–29] Wine Walk,(682) 498-3089, granburywinewalk.com

April 29–30Buda

Country Fair andWiener Dog Races

Gun Barrel City [28–29] Annual Quilt Show,(903) 340-6547, gunbarrelquiltersguild.org

Lamesa [28–30] Chicken-Fried Steak Festival & Balloon Rally, (806) 777-1171,ci.lamesa.tx.us

29Grapeland Folk Festival at Mission TejasState Park, (936) 687-2394

Buda [29–30] Country Fair and Wiener DogRaces, (512) 914-2858, budalions.com

May5Austin Diamond Chefs Gala: Starry Starry Night, (512) 462-5328,tsdfoundation.org/diamond

Brenham [5–6] Maifest, (979) 836-3696,maifest.org

Plainview [5–6] Mark Marley’s Go Big or GoHome Barbecue Bash, (806) 296-1119

Seguin [5–6] South Texas Cowboy Gathering& Western Music Festival, (830) 491-8888,southtexascowboygathering.com

6Rio Medina South Texas CattlewomenAnnual Fundraiser, (210) 416-2286, southtxcattlewomen.com

PLAN YOUR TRIP TODAY AT

TexasCoopPower.com

Gas Up and Go!Fairs, festivals, food and familyfun! It’s all listed under the Eventstab on our website.

Pick your region. Pick your month.Pick your event. With hundreds of events throughout Texas listedevery month, TexasCoopPower.comhas something for everyone.

AROUNDTEXASEVENT CALENDAR

38 Texas Co-op Power April 2017

It’s 7 o’clock on a May morning, butalready dozens of cars are parked at Moor-head’s Blueberry Farm. It’s the peak ofblueberry season, and the most eager pick-ers arrived at 5:30, says Sid Moorhead,whose father, Albert Moorhead, foundedthe pick-your-own farm. One mother saysof her 3-year-old, “He was still in his paja-mas because we came so early.”

Blueberry-hungry people drive to thefarm between Conroe and Porter, andsome will pick from daylight until dark.The fields are open to pickers Fridaythrough Sunday from late May throughJuly. Moorhead advises pickers to comein the evening to take advantage of small-er crowds and cooling temperatures.

“Large bucket or small?” Moorheadfamily members ask before directing us tothe ripe blueberries. The farm has 20 acresand varieties of blueberries. Some ripen byMemorial Day; others wait until Father’sDay or as late as the Fourth of July.

“Regulars ask for certain varieties,”Moorhead says. About half of the berriesare early-ripening varieties, and manypickers like them because they are largeand plump. “They’re fun to pick,” he says.Among the later-ripening berries are Tifblue. “It’s our workhorse,” he says. “Itmakes it through the heat.”

It’s warm in the blueberry field, and theatmosphere is festive. The dense busheshide people, but their voices carry. “It’s thebiggest blueberry in history!” a child says.A few rows over, someone begins singing.

On one row, I meet Karen Seay, a re-tired seventh-grade science teacher whodrives about 30 minutes from Kingwoodevery blueberry season. “I have been com-ing for over 25 years,” she says. “It was afamily outing every year.” Seay is lugginga large bucket. She’ll eat the berries freshfor a couple of weeks then freeze theremaining ones for baking during winter.

“Don’t wash before freezing becausethen they stick together,” Seay advises.

“I try to get the biggest berries,” saysLilly Moore, 9, who has been coming fromKingwood to the farm with her mother,Chrissy Moore, for six years.

“We wait all year for this,” ChrissyMoore says. She has discovered that thebest picking is at the often-neglected topand middle of each bush.

“There’s tons of blueberries!” saysBrynn Johnson, 11, a first-timer. The bushesare heavy with berries, and I’m remindedof the classic children’s book Blueberriesfor Sal by Robert McCloskey that describeswhat I hear as the berries land in my bucket:“Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!”

Blueberries are known as a northernfruit, and people often are surprised that they grow in Texas, Moorhead says.Research and experimentation, how-ever, led to the development of heat-tolerant varieties in the 1940s. In the mid-1970s, Albert Moorhead, a descen-dant of farmers, Texas A&M Universitygraduate and retired elementary schoolprincipal, attended a field trip to A&M’sexperimental blueberry station in Over-

ton. He bought blueberry plants fromNorth Carolina to create the humblebeginning for one of the first blueberryfarms in Texas.

“My dad got four rows going, and heinvited his friends to come pick blue-berries. He didn’t charge anybody,” Moor-head says. The friends, however, felt guiltyabout picking free fruit and were reluctantto return. “He started charging them a dollar a pound, and they came back.”

More plants were added, and the farmopened to the public. Today, the bushes —all 9,000 of them—are harvested by visi-tors. Blueberries are $2.50 per pound.Honey, collected from the beehives keptnearby to pollinate the plants, costs $5 per12-ounce bottle.

The Moorhead family regularly updatesits website, moorheadsblueberryfarm.com,with picking reports.

Writer Ruth Fields lives in Montgomery andis a member of Mid-South Synergy and HamiltonCounty EC.

Hit the Road

Aisles of BlueVisitors get to pick their own at Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm near Conroe

BY RUTH FIELDS

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TexasCoopPower.com

WEB EXTRAS at TexasCoopPower.comLearn more about blueberries and findother you-pick berry farms in Texas.

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Picking seasonruns from lateMay through July.

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