During National 4-H Week, we celebrate the young people, volunteers and experiences helping shape the future of Southeastern Indiana. There is a moment at nearly every county fair when you can see what months of work look like. It might be a 4-H member guiding an animal into the show ring, answering a judge’s questions about a project or standing beside an exhibit that began as little more than an idea. The ribbons and awards are easy to see. What is harder to capture are all the hours that came before them: the practice, mistakes, responsibility, problem-solving and determination required to get there. Our Southeastern Indiana REMC team had the opportunity to see plenty of those moments this summer as we traveled to county fairs throughout our seven-county service territory. We visited with 4-H members and families, walked through exhibit halls and livestock barns and saw firsthand how much of the 4-H experience happens beyond the few minutes a project spends before a judge. By the end of fair season, one thing was especially clear: the finished project may be what brings people to the fair, but it represents only a small part of what 4-H is building. That makes October an especially fitting time to celebrate. National 4-H Week is Oct. 4-10, 2026, bringing attention to the young people, volunteers, families and educators who make up the nation’s largest youth development organization. 4-H reaches approximately six million young people across the country, and here in Indiana, opportunities are available in all 92 counties through community clubs, school programs, camps, workshops and other experiences. The national Beyond Ready initiative puts an even sharper focus on preparing young people for life, work and leadership. But in Southeastern Indiana, those words are more than a theme for one week in October. Local 4-H leaders see that growth happening throughout the year. Building Skills That Last Ask 4-H leaders across our region why the program matters, and their answers quickly move beyond livestock, exhibits and ribbons. They talk about communication, responsibility and leadership. They talk about young people discovering what interests them and gaining enough confidence to pursue it. Just as importantly, they talk about learning to work with others, contribute to a community and keep trying when something does not go as planned. “4-H offers a lot of opportunities to the youth of our community,” said Annie Biehle of Jennings County. Through projects, livestock and other experiences, she sees young people developing communication and leadership skills they can carry into school, future jobs and community involvement. “These skills aren’t just academic,” Biehle said. “They are life skills that will help them succeed later in life.” Sometimes that growth is easiest to recognize when you have watched a child return year after year. Ripley County 4-H leader Brenna Sarringhaus has seen quiet, hesitant members gradually find their voices and eventually become the older youth welcoming someone else into the program. “I love seeing the shy or reserved kids grow more confidence every year,” Sarringhaus said. “They make new friends and have even become the club youth leaders who then help welcome new younger members to the club to make sure everyone feels included.” The lesson is not dependent on winning. Sarringhaus said 4-H teaches young people to work hard, think outside the box and be proud of what they accomplish, “winning or losing.” Members learn to work together and step in when someone needs help, while also developing the independence to take responsibility for something of their own. In Switzerland County, those skills are increasingly being connected to what young people will need in a rapidly changing workforce. Kyle Weaver said local 4-H programming uses hands-on experiences to encourage critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and problem-solving while exposing young people to possible careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As members progress, he sees them “developing a foundation of Beyond Ready skills that will support future educational and career success.” The methods may continue to evolve, but the idea at the heart of 4-H is remarkably consistent: young people learn by doing. Heat, Hard Work and a Hose For many people, the county fair is where 4-H is most visible, and this summer gave our Southeastern Indiana REMC team a front-row seat to the breadth of that experience. We traveled throughout our seven-county service territory, spending time in livestock barns and exhibit halls, talking with families and watching young people put months of work on display. We saw plenty of ribbons and awards, but some of the moments that stayed with us had very little to do with judging. One thing nearly everyone will remember about the 2026 fair season was the heat. Temperatures climbed, barns were warm and fair days were long, but the young people we met remained upbeat. They worked to keep their animals comfortable, found ways to cool themselves down and then went right back to preparing for the next show, caring for an animal or helping someone else. It was a small but telling glimpse of the responsibility behind the project. When an animal depends on you, the work does not disappear because the weather is uncomfortable. In Ohio County, that determination came with a healthy dose of fun. On a quiet afternoon between judging events, we found a group of 4-H kids making the best of the heat with a homemade slip-and-slide down the back hill of the fairgrounds. A giant roll of plastic, a garden hose and a steep grassy hill were all they needed. A short time later, still in wet swimsuits, those same kids could not wait to take us through the barns and introduce us to their animals. What began as a chance to cool off quickly became our own impromptu 4-H lesson as they proudly explained what they were raising and taught us more than a few things along the way. That combination of hard work and friendship was something we noticed at fair after fair. For many 4-H families, fair week is much more than a few hours spent at the grounds. We met parents who had taken vacation time from work, families spending long days together in barns and show arenas, and younger children tagging along while meals and conversations were shared between events. Friendships built through years of 4-H become part of the rhythm of summer. Spend enough time at a county fair and it becomes clear that these families are not simply showing up for their own child’s project. They are watching out for one another. We saw that especially clearly in Dearborn County, where older siblings who had aged out of 4-H were still right there at the ring, helping younger brothers, sisters and other members settle their nerves and feel comfortable before showing. They may no longer have been the ones holding the lead rope or waiting for the judge, but they were still very much part of the experience. It was a quiet example of the progression local 4-H leaders describe so often: young people begin as participants, gain confidence and eventually become the people encouraging someone coming behind them. Dearborn County also offered one of the summer’s liveliest examples of how closely 4-H and the broader community are connected. A local celebrity showcase brought familiar educators together with local news, radio and weather personalities for an event that quickly became a crowd favorite. Hearing 4-H members enthusiastically cheer for some of their favorite teachers was a fun collision of two parts of their lives: the school community they know during the year and the fair community that becomes such an important part of summer. For a little while, there was no real distinction between the two. It was simply one community showing up for its kids. Those experiences helped us see the county fair differently. The animals, exhibits and competitions matter, but so do the hours between them: the conversations in the barns, the older member helping someone younger, families catching up in folding chairs and kids finding a garden hose and a sheet of plastic when the afternoon gets too hot. Together, those moments show why fair week holds such an important place in many Southeastern Indiana communities. Beyond the Fair The fair is an important part of the 4-H experience, but local leaders are quick to point out that it is only one piece. Some of the most interesting examples of what 4-H looks like today are happening in workshops, classrooms, camps and Extension offices throughout Southeastern Indiana. In Jennings County, young people themselves have a hand in shaping the livestock program through the Junior Livestock Committee. Representatives from different species work alongside the adult committee, help identify ways to improve the program and plan activities for other members. One of those is an annual workshop called Show Me the Way, where youth representatives give presentations to other 4-H’ers interested in showing livestock. The committee also organizes a Mini 4-H Rodeo before the county livestock auction, complete with stick horses and an obstacle course for some of the program’s youngest members. In Switzerland County, a 4-H experience might involve a robot or 3D printer. The county is home to a STEM Design and Innovation Studio, one of only two located in Purdue Extension offices in Indiana. Young people can explore coding, robotics, engineering and digital design using Sphero robots, Dobots, SNAP Circuits, Indy Cars, 3D printers and Micro:bits. Weaver said the county reached 525 youth through formally reported educational programs and events in 2026, with instruction extending across STEM, healthy living, leadership development and workforce readiness. Jefferson County is taking that connection between 4-H and future opportunities one step further by helping young people explore actual career pathways available close to home. This year, its 4-H & Ivy Tech Veterinary Career Experience gave 13 Indiana 4-H members an inside look at veterinary medicine and animal science. During the two-day experience, participants visited a working dairy farm, feedlot operation, animal hospital and college campus, meeting professionals and exploring the education, skills and day-to-day work associated with different careers. Britt Copeland of Jefferson County said the program was intentionally built around the national Beyond Ready framework. Organizers wanted to highlight Ivy Tech Madison’s veterinary nursing program while also connecting students to local career paths they could pursue with that degree. “Our goal is to continue to complete high-quality programming like our Vet Career Experience that connects youth with career paths and builds soft skills such as leadership and communication within the 4-H program,” Copeland said. Jefferson County also hosted regional Beyond Ready programs focused on leadership and livestock during the year, including a leadership experience at Hanover College and a livestock program that drew participants from eight counties. Those opportunities also cross county lines. Southeastern Indiana 4-H Camp served 257 campers this year, while more than 60 young people participated in regional camp counselor training focused on leadership, teamwork, safety and positive youth development. Switzerland County leaders say hundreds of their members have served as counselors at the regional camp over the past two decades, later carrying those skills into club officer positions, Junior Leaders and mentoring roles. There Really is a Project for Everyone The range of those experiences also challenges one of the persistent misconceptions about 4-H: that you need to live on a farm or raise an animal to participate. “There truly is a project for everyone,” Sarringhaus said. “Tell us what you’re interested in and we can help find a project to inspire your interests.” She is also quick to remind families that young people do not have to live on a farm to participate, with many non-animal project options available. Some counties are working to introduce that variety even earlier. Ripley County’s growing Mini 4-H program serves children in kindergarten through second grade through opportunities such as a Mini 4-H Day Camp, weekly summer mailings and Mini 4-H showmanship during the fair. Jefferson County has also expanded opportunities for younger children through Mini 4-H Mondays and a full-day camp that combined animal science, STEM, outdoor recreation and activities led by older youth. That progression, from a child trying something for the first time to a teenager helping someone younger, may be one of the clearest illustrations of what 4-H can do. A member might begin by completing a project or attending a camp, then gradually discover the confidence to speak in front of a group, lead a club, teach another member or explore a career they had never considered. Community at Heart None of that happens without adults willing to invest their time. Extension educators repeatedly point to volunteers, club leaders, families, fair boards and community partners as an essential part of the 4-H story. Jefferson County puts it simply: “Community is the Heart of the 4-H program here in Jefferson County.” In 2026, 94 registered volunteers helped host clubs, project-based learning experiences and the county fair. Their work can mean everything from providing weekly training sessions to repairing a roof damaged just before fair week or helping a child through the show ring. The young people learn that same lesson about community involvement. In Jennings County, Biehle sees members discover “the value of contributing to your community.” In Switzerland County, youth serve as camp counselors, mentors, club officers and Junior Leaders. In Jefferson County, 4-H projects also found their way back into the community this summer when 62 animals and six boxes of produce from garden exhibits were donated to the House of Hope Food Pantry. That sense of connection is especially meaningful in a region like ours. The seven counties served by Southeastern Indiana REMC have their own fairs, traditions and local programs, but young people routinely cross those county lines for camp, workshops, leadership programs and career experiences. The result is a program that is deeply local while also connecting young people with peers, mentors and opportunities throughout Southeastern Indiana. From Corn Clubs to Coding 1904: Indiana 4-H traces its roots to Hamilton County, where school superintendent John Haines organized boys interested in learning how to grow corn. Ninety-three boys enrolled in that first Corn Club. 1911: A four-leaf clover with an H on each leaf became the designated emblem. The four H’s stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. 1915: The first 4-H club projects exhibited at the Indiana State Fair were market hogs. 1922: Indiana’s first 4-H camp was held near Evansville with 840 youth and 150 leaders in attendance. 1927: 4-H adopted the motto “To Make the Best Better,” and the 4-H pledge was adopted at the first National 4-H Camp in Washington, D.C. 1973: The words “and my world” were added to the end of the 4-H pledge. Today: The learn-by-doing philosophy can still mean livestock, gardening or cooking, but it can also mean robotics, coding, photography, leadership, career exploration and much more. What Remains After the Fair By the end of summer, the livestock trailers had pulled away, exhibit halls had emptied and ribbons had gone home. But much of what was built through 4-H remained. We saw it in an older sibling calming a younger exhibitor outside the show ring. We heard it in kids proudly teaching us about their animals. We watched it in families who had rearranged work schedules and spent an entire week at the fairgrounds because this was something they did together. Those experiences look different from county to county and from child to child, but they share something important. They give young people room to try, make mistakes, accept responsibility and discover what they can accomplish. Just as importantly, they give them a community in which to do it. National 4-H Week gives us one week to celebrate those accomplishments. Across Southeastern Indiana, the learning, leading and growing happen all year long. After spending a summer with these young people and their families, we are proud to celebrate not only what they accomplished in 2026, but what they are becoming along the way. Southeastern Indiana REMC is proud to support the young people and families who make 4-H an important part of our communities. The cooperative reimburses eligible member families for 4-H enrollment fees, up to $20 per participant. To qualify, the 4-H participant’s primary residence must be within Southeastern Indiana REMC’s service territory and a parent or legal guardian must be an active REMC member. Applications for the 2027 4-H Program will be accepted Oct. 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. Enrolling in 4-H? Visit seiremc.com/4h to submit your reimbursement request.

Through every season of growth, Eric and Lisa Riehle have remained grounded in the same things that brought them here: caring for the land, doing good work, treating people with integrity and keeping family at the center of it all. Long before popcorn filled the grain bins at Riehle Farms, this patch of southeastern Indiana was already part of the family story. The farm near Sunman once belonged to Eric Riehle’s grandparents. Today, Eric and his wife, Lisa, have raised their own family here, building a business around the land while watching five children grow up alongside it. In one of the renovated farm buildings, old wooden beams from his grandparents’ barn remain overhead, a quiet reminder that even as the farm has changed, its roots have stayed firmly in place. Outside, the view stretches across the kind of countryside that makes fall in southeastern Indiana feel familiar: fields rolling beyond country roads, tree lines beginning to change with the season and crops nearing harvest. Closer to home, grain bins rise beside the farm buildings, storing one specialty variety of popcorn after another. Lisa jokingly calls them their “grain bin fortress.” After years of living and working among them, the description comes with affection. Those bins have become part of the family landscape, just as much as the fields, old barn and buildings around them. They hold crops Eric has watched from planting through harvest and popcorn that may eventually travel hundreds or even thousands of miles from the Indiana soil where it began. It is a much bigger story than Eric could have imagined when he planted his first popcorn crop in 1998. At the time, his motivation was straightforward: he wanted to stay in farming. Eric and Lisa married the following year, and the farm and their family grew together. At first, Eric raised just one variety of popcorn. A connection with a popcorn company brought opportunities to grow additional varieties, and over time, more customers found their way to the farm. In 2005, after people repeatedly asked if there was a way to buy the Riehles’ popcorn for themselves, the family created Riehle’s Select Popcorn. What started with one crop has since developed into two connected businesses. Riehle Farms is Eric and Lisa’s farming operation, encompassing their popcorn and soybean production as well as bulk popcorn, contract growing and popcorn processing for other companies. Riehle’s Select Popcorn is the family’s own consumer brand, operated with Eric’s parents, Mark and Carlene Riehle, and his brother Chris and wife Susan. Eric concentrates on the farming side, while Lisa keeps the books for both businesses and handles customer service, online orders and many of the details behind Riehle’s Select. It is a division of responsibilities that has evolved naturally over the years, just as the farm itself has evolved around their family. And there is much more happening on this quiet Sunman farm than someone passing by might ever guess. Growing close to home Together, the Riehles farm roughly 600 to 700 acres of popcorn and soybeans, including rented ground, rotating between the two crops. The amount planted in popcorn changes from year to year. They consider which varieties they expect to need, what remains from the previous harvest and the anticipated needs of bulk customers before deciding how much of each to plant. Keeping their own farming relatively close to Sunman allows Eric to watch the crop carefully throughout the growing season. It also means their fields experience much of the same weather, something that can work for or against them depending on the year. The 2026 growing season offered plenty of reminders that a farmer never controls all the variables. Heavy spring rains forced the Riehles to replant much of their popcorn. Some fields were planted twice and one had to be planted three times. Certain specialty varieties can be especially sensitive to weather, including wind, rainfall and growing conditions that affect both the plant and eventual kernel size. It can be difficult to predict exactly what a crop will produce until harvest arrives. That connection between weather, soil and final product becomes particularly visible when looking at the many varieties grown here. Some kernels are surprisingly tiny, while others are much larger. Baby Yellow, for instance, produces a very small kernel and ear compared with a variety such as Golden Rod. Lisa’s favorite changes from time to time, but right now she is partial to the Pink. It is one of the varieties whose size can be particularly dependent on growing conditions, and part of her appreciation for it may come from knowing just how much goes into producing some of these specialty popcorns. When it comes to customer favorites, Red and Baby White are two of the most popular varieties. There are also mixed-variety options, giving popcorn lovers a chance to discover just how different one kernel can be from another. More than one kind of popcorn For anyone accustomed to grabbing one familiar bag from a grocery shelf, the variety inside the Riehle packaging area can be surprising. Baby Blue, Baby Yellow, Autumn Blaze and Baby White are among the smaller varieties. The family also offers larger-kernel popcorn and blends designed around different sizes and characteristics. Some of their hull-less popcorns are heirloom varieties. Rather than purchasing new seed from a seed company each year, the Riehles save seed from these varieties for future crops. “Hull-less” does not mean the kernel literally has no hull. The hull is the seed coat surrounding the kernel, but in these varieties it tends to be thinner and breaks apart more as the kernel pops. Even the family’s microwave popcorn reflects the way a smaller business has learned to find its own place in the market. Instead of trying to compete directly with large companies selling conventional big yellow microwave popcorn at enormous volumes, the Riehles chose Baby Yellow and Baby White for their microwave products. The idea was simple: offer something shoppers do not usually find in a microwave bag. It is one example of the practical decisions that have shaped the business. The Riehles may operate on a much smaller scale than the biggest names in popcorn, but being small gives them room to offer varieties that are a little different. What happens after the combine Harvesting popcorn begins much like harvesting other corn, with a combine moving through the field. Once the crop reaches the farm, however, the process becomes far more specialized. Popcorn is stored in numbered grain bins so the Riehles can keep varieties and lots separated. Systems monitor moisture inside the bins and can automatically move air when conditions call for it. Maintaining the right moisture level matters because popcorn must retain enough moisture inside the kernel to pop properly. When it is time for processing, the popcorn moves through what the family calls the cleaning house. Different screens separate kernels according to size, an important step when one variety may be dramatically smaller than another. A gravity table further separates material by weight, while other equipment helps remove stones and unwanted material. One of the most interesting pieces of technology is an optical color sorter. As kernels move through the machine, it can identify differences in color and remove something that does not belong. If a stray yellow kernel is mixed into red popcorn, for example, the system can detect and eject it. It can also help remove dark weed seeds that may be close to a popcorn kernel in size. Once processed, popcorn can move through enclosed piping into storage bins or be packaged for an order. Some bulk customers purchase it in 25- or 50-pound bags, while other orders fill many 2,000 pound bags. Even the material that does not make the final cut can have another use. Kernels outside the desired size range and other usable agricultural material removed through cleaning are collected and sold to local farmers for cattle feed. A behind-the-scenes popcorn business Riehle Farms does more than grow its own crop. Over time, other popcorn companies began approaching Eric about growing particular varieties or contracting specific acreage. The quality of his work helped those relationships grow, and processing popcorn for other companies eventually became another significant part of the farm. Some of that popcorn comes from other growers and other locations. It is brought to Sunman, where Riehle Farms can clean, sort, store and prepare it for bulk orders. Expanding that part of the business helped drive the addition of newer processing space and equipment. Longtime employee Tony Hountz has seen much of that evolution. He joined the Riehles in 2008 and has watched the buildings, equipment and customer base grow over the years. At busy times of year, the scale of the operation can be surprising. The Riehles have handled hundreds of thousands of pounds of popcorn in a season, with some years reaching around a million pounds. Yet they still consider themselves a small popcorn operation, and that is not something they are necessarily trying to change. Growing with intention At one point, Eric and Lisa thought more seriously about continuing to scale the business. Opportunities were there, but experience also taught them that growth can carry costs that never show up on a balance sheet. Some business relationships worked well. Others did not share the same approach to fairness and honesty the Riehles wanted to bring to their work. “We prioritize honesty and integrity,” Lisa said. “We want to do a good job and be a good steward of our business.” Eventually, the question shifted from how much bigger the operation could become to why it needed to become bigger at all. The size they have today allows the family to pay attention to quality, maintain relationships with customers they trust and manage the operation in a way that still leaves room for the other parts of life they value. Their experience as a small company has also influenced how they work with others. The Riehles know what it feels like to hear that an order is too small for another company to bother with. When possible, they appreciate the chance to work with other small businesses because someone once had to be willing to work with them. “How can you support other small companies if nobody wants to help support you because you’re not big enough?” Lisa said. It is a business philosophy rooted as much in relationships as economics. Family first, from the beginning The business has changed alongside the Riehle family, and in many ways, the two stories are difficult to separate. Eric and Lisa have five children. Their oldest, Abigail, is grown, while their oldest son, Matthew, has finished college and recently married. Ben and Gabe are both in college, and their youngest daughter, Ava, is in eighth grade. Through each season, the children have grown up with the popcorn business quite literally around them. The older children remember Lisa working while they played nearby. Abigail and Matthew remember being allowed to watch one cartoon with their mom while packing shipments before heading back outside. When Ava was younger, she liked rearranging bottles and boxes in the packaging area and pretending she was helping fill orders. As babies arrived and family needs changed, Lisa moved in and out of different levels of involvement with the business. Tony joined the operation when the workload became more than the family could comfortably handle alone. Rather than asking family life to fit around the business at all costs, Eric and Lisa repeatedly adjusted the business to fit the season their family was in. That flexibility was important to them. It is also one reason they have chosen not to operate a traditional storefront at the farm. A retail store would require regular hours, including time when their evenings were filled with school activities, sports and the normal routines of raising five children. “We wanted to put family first,” Lisa said. “It’s a family business, a family farm, but we still want to put our family and the kids first.” The children may not know yet whether farming will eventually call any of them back home, but the pride is there. The older kids have taken Riehle’s microwave popcorn with them to college and shared it with friends. They bring people home to see the farm and talk about the place where they grew up. The business is part of their story whether or not it becomes their profession. From Sunman to dinner tables far away One of the challenges of selling popcorn online is simple physics: popcorn is heavy. Shipping a food product with relatively modest retail margins can be expensive, especially for a small company shipping from one location in southeastern Indiana. Riehle’s Select has worked around that challenge in several ways, including a section of its website where select products qualify for free shipping. Local customers have other options. Riehle’s Select popcorn can be found at George’s Pharmacy, and customers who live nearby can contact the family to arrange pickup at the Sunman farm during an agreed-upon time. Despite those shipping challenges, popcorn from the operation has traveled remarkably far. The family has had customers in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Bulk business has reached overseas customers, too, including a recent shipment headed to Sweden. That is a long journey for something that begins as a kernel planted in an Indiana field, yet the growing reach of the business has never pulled the Riehles very far from where the story started. The same farm that belonged to Eric’s grandparents is still here. Old barn beams remain tucked into a building adapted for a new generation. Nearby fields still respond to the rains, winds and changing seasons, while grain bins rise beside them equipped with technology Eric’s grandparents could never have imagined. Together, those pieces tell a story familiar across southeastern Indiana. Caring for the land does not mean keeping it frozen in time. It means learning from it, adapting to it and finding ways for another generation to build a life from it. At Riehle Farms, that has meant growing an unusual crop, investing in new equipment, building relationships far beyond Sunman and knowing when growth serves the family and when it does not. Nearly three decades after Eric planted his first popcorn crop, the business is still shaped by the reason he started in the first place: he wanted to stay in farming. The harvest today is measured in far more than pounds of popcorn. It can be seen in a family business built with care, in customers who return year after year, in relationships earned through honest work and in the beautiful stretch of southeastern Indiana land the Riehles continue to call home. Riehle’s Select Popcorn is available to purchase online, with varieties including tender hulless popcorn, classic white and yellow kernels, specialty varieties, microwave popcorn, seasonings, oils and gift sets. Orders can be shipped nationwide. Shop online: selectpopcorn.com

Pumpkin treats, apple cider, homemade baked goods and hearty bowls make October a delicious time to explore southeastern Indiana. There is something about October that makes us hungry for the season. Maybe it is the first roadside display piled high with pumpkins and gourds. Maybe it is the smell of barbecue drifting across a farm, a cup of fresh cider on a cool afternoon or something warm simmering in a kettle. Or perhaps it is a homemade pie, cake or cookie made from a recipe that has been part of the family for years. Across southeastern Indiana, October brings plenty of opportunities to taste fall close to home. Family farms serve seasonal treats. Downtown streets become tasting rooms. Bakers pull favorite recipes from their kitchens. And in Jennings County, dinner even comes with a little mystery. So bring your appetite. We found plenty of fall worth tasting. Featured Flavors Pick Your Pumpkin, Stay for Dessert Vogt Farm | Batesville For many families, October is not complete until there is a pumpkin riding home in the back seat. At Vogt Farm, finding that pumpkin is only the beginning. The farm celebrates its 31st annual Pumpkin Festival this year, welcoming visitors on weekends throughout October. A horse-drawn trolley carries guests out to the pumpkin patch, while a corn maze, pony rides, petting zoo, kids play area, crafts and antiques give families plenty of reasons to stick around. There is even an unexpected festival celebrity: JJ the Camel. Then there is the food. Homemade pumpkin desserts and BBQ pork sandwiches have become part of the festival tradition, giving visitors another reason to linger after choosing the perfect pumpkin. The Pumpkin Festival continues Oct. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission and parking are free, and purchases are cash or check only. A trolley ride, a field full of pumpkins and something homemade waiting when you get back may be about as close as we get to putting October on a plate. Bring a Spoon Soup, Stew, Chili & Brew | Madison Some fall events are about pumpkins. Madison’s may be better approached with an empty stomach. On Saturday, Oct. 10, downtown Madison hosts the 24th annual Soup, Stew, Chili & Brew Festival, bringing local businesses and nonprofit organizations together along Main Street for an afternoon built around some of fall’s most comforting foods. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., cooks serve up soups, stews and chili while live music, shopping and beer and wine gardens add to the atmosphere. The fun is in sampling. Rather than choosing one bowl and calling it lunch, visitors purchase festival tickets and work their way from booth to booth. A little chili here. A creamy soup there. Then perhaps a hearty stew that calls for another taste. Because portions are available in several sizes, ordering more than once feels less like overindulging and more like proper research. What makes the event especially fitting for Madison is that the food does more than fill bowls. Local businesses, organizations and community groups become the cooks, turning Main Street into one long outdoor gathering place. On a cool October afternoon, that sounds like a pretty good recipe. Festival tickets are $1 each. Current serving prices: 4 oz. for 4 tickets, 6 oz. for 5 tickets and 8 oz. for 6 tickets. Admission to the festival itself is free. A Sweeter Side of October Ohio County Historical Society Bake-Off | Rising Sun Fall flavors do not always come from a festival food truck. Sometimes they start with a mixing bowl and a favorite recipe. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Ohio County Historical Society is inviting bakers of all ages to Rising Sun for a competition where shortcuts are off the table. Cookies, cakes, cheesecakes and pies must be made from scratch. No store-bought mixes. No premade cookie or pie dough. No store-bought fillings or icing. Bakers must also submit a typed or handwritten recipe with each entry, and blind judging begins at 1 p.m. after entries arrive by noon. There are three age divisions, from children through adults, with $50 prizes awarded for Best Cookies, Best Cake, Best Cheesecake and Best Pie in each category. Visitors get to enjoy the results, too. A tasting table will be available for guests and participants, with donations and entry fees benefiting the Ohio County Historical Society. It is a smaller event than some of October’s larger festivals, but that is part of its charm. A bake-off brings fall back into the kitchen, where favorite recipes are measured, mixed and often passed down one batch at a time. More Flavors to Find Apples, Cider and a Taste of the Orchard Doll’s Orchard Cider Daze | Oldenburg | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. October gets off to a flavorful start at Doll’s Orchard Cider Daze, where apples take center stage. Visitors can pick apples, stop by the sale barn and try the apple cannon. Mike Bentz of Bentz Farm & Apiary will demonstrate an antique cider press and bring along an observation beehive, offering a closer look at two traditions closely tied to orchard season. Lunch is covered, too. Black’s BBQ will serve from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Creek Bottom Brewery will pour beer and hard cider from noon to 5 p.m. Live music by Craig Quick runs from 1 to 4 p.m. With fresh apples, old-fashioned cider pressing, barbecue and hard cider all in one stop, Cider Daze makes a fitting way to kick off October. Fresh From the Market Lawrenceburg Farmers & Artisans Market | Through Oct. 10 October brings the final Saturdays of the season at the Lawrenceburg Farmers & Artisans Market, held at Civic Park Pavilion. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., shoppers can browse local and regional farmers, artisans, makers and other vendors before the market wraps up for the year. For a fall-flavor outing, keep an eye out for seasonal produce, baked goods, honey, jams, preserves and other items worth taking home to the kitchen. Sometimes the best taste of fall is the one you carry home in a market bag. Follow the Smell From the Smoker Stream Cliff Old Barn Christmas Market | Commiskey | Oct. 9-10 REMC Connect readers may remember Stream Cliff Farm from our earlier feature. In October, there is another reason to make a return trip. The Old Barn Christmas Market fills the historic barn, chapel and outdoor spaces with handmade, vintage and repurposed finds, but food lovers may want to follow the smell from the smoker. Farm-smoked pulled pork and other food will be served from the Chuck Wagon, while the farm’s restaurant and winery will also be open. The market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. It may have “Christmas” in the name, but an October visit still comes with plenty of fall flavor. The Spirited Side of Fall Dinner With a Side of Mystery Hector's Haunted Evening | Vernon | Oct. 16-17 The Jennings County Historical Society celebrates the 15th year of its fall fundraiser Oct. 16 and 17 with Hector’s Haunted Evening Ghost Walk and Mystery Dinner. Volunteers and local youth bring Jennings County folklore to life around the historic town square, sharing stories of unexplained happenings dating back to the late 1800s. Among them is the mysterious story of “Hector,” whose tale visitors will discover along the way. Ghost Walk tours begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Historical Society museum on Brown Street and leave every 15 to 20 minutes, with the final tour departing at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 for ages 6 and older, while children 5 and younger are free. Between tours, visitors can warm up with hot chocolate, apple cider and snacks inside the museum or gather around the outdoor fire pits. For those looking to make a full evening of it, the Mystery Dinner begins at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $25 per person and available by reservation only. Organizers say the dinners typically sell out, so reservations are recommended. Reservations can be made by calling 812-346-8989. Sip, Shop and Dine HalloWine | Downtown Aurora | Oct. 23 | 5-9 p.m. By late October, fall flavor moves downtown. During HalloWine, participating Aurora businesses become wine-tasting stops as visitors make their way through downtown with a free Wine Walk Card. Along the way, guests can shop local, enjoy wine samples and enter door-prize drawings. The card also includes dining and treat coupons that are good throughout the weekend, giving visitors another reason to explore Aurora’s restaurants and shops after the wine walk ends. No ticket is required to participate. Wine tastings are for guests age 21 and older. Whether your perfect October taste is a pumpkin dessert, a steaming bowl of chili, fresh cider, homemade pie or a glass of wine downtown, there are plenty of ways to savor the season without traveling far. And perhaps that is the best part of fall in southeastern Indiana. The food often comes with a story, the traditions are close to home and there is always another stop worth making. So bring your appetite, check the calendar and enjoy October while it lasts.

By Abby Berry, NRECA When you hear the word cooperative, what comes to mind? As your local electric co-op, we hope you think of Southeastern Indiana REMC. Regardless of the services offered, all cooperatives have one thing in common: they’re led by the people they serve––and that simple idea makes a meaningful difference. Cooperatives come in all shapes and sizes, each created to meet a specific need. Credit unions help members save and borrow money. Producer cooperatives, like Ocean Spray and Land O’Lakes, help farmers bring their products to market. Retail cooperatives, like REI and ACE Hardware, are owned by their shoppers or a membership of store owners, while housing cooperatives give residents a voice in managing their communities. And utility cooperatives—like SEI REMC—provide reliable electricity to the communities they serve. Unlike many businesses that answer to outside investors or shareholders, cooperatives are built for their members. Their goal isn’t simply to earn a profit—it’s to provide value, meet unique local needs and strengthen the communities they call home. That’s exactly what makes Southeastern Indiana REMC different. Our story began in 1939 when neighbors came together to bring electricity to an area when other utilities wouldn’t. While a lot has changed since then, our purpose has remained steady. We’re still here to provide power and make decisions with our community’s best interests in mind. Being locally owned means we have the flexibility to focus on what matters most to the communities we serve. That’s why no two electric cooperatives are exactly alike. Every community has different needs, and every cooperative reflects those priorities. For some co-ops, that means expanding programs that help members save energy and money. Others may focus on supporting economic development, investing in new technology or creating new opportunities for local students. At Southeastern Indiana REMC, responding to local needs has included investing in high-speed fiber internet for rural communities, supporting local organizations through Operation RoundUp and creating opportunities for young people through scholarships and youth programs. You’ll also find the co-op difference in the little things. It’s the lineworkers restoring power after a storm. The employees answering your questions when you call. The team members volunteering at community events. The board members—your neighbors—who help guide decisions for the future. We’re your neighbor and local energy partner, and we’re committed to serving this community for generations to come. This National Co-op Month, we invite you to join us in celebrating the cooperative difference, because this co-op belongs to you. On October 9, Southeastern Indiana REMC employees will put that cooperative spirit into action during REMC Community Day, working together at Versailles State Park in Versailles, Indiana, to help with clean-up and maintenance projects. Whether it’s SEI REMC, your local credit union or ACE Hardware, cooperatives prove that when people work together, everyone benefits. Your membership is what makes our mission possible—and it’s what keeps us focused on serving the people and communities that matter most. Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.

October is National Co-op Month, and cooperatives can have a lot to teach us about smart money habits. Co-ops are built on member ownership and a shared stake in the outcome—and in practice, that tends to translate into patience and a long view. You can apply the same mindset to your own finances: Think long-term. Co-ops are built around the needs of generations of members, not just what happens this year. The same goes for your retirement savings. Small, consistent contributions today may add up to meaningful progress down the road. Reinvest in yourself. Many co-ops return profits to members as capital credits. Consider doing the same: redirect a tax refund, bonus or unexpected extra income into savings or debt payoff instead of spending it right away. Lean on community. Co-ops succeed through collective strength. Don’t be afraid to lean on trusted resources. Homestead Advisers is here to help you when navigating financial decisions. This financial wellness tip is provided by Homestead Advisers, a financial services company established over 30 years ago to help meet the investment needs of communities within the National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA) family. Homestead Advisers provides a range of investment advisory services, including financial planning, and serves as the investment advisor and/or administrator for the Homestead Funds, a family of registered mutual funds, from which it receives compensation for serving in those roles. Homestead Advisers Corp., a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of NRECA.

For one local family, homemade popcorn balls have kept generations connected for more than 40 years. Some family recipes are measured in cups and teaspoons. Others are measured in memories. For REMC member Debbie Monday and her family, homemade popcorn balls fall firmly into the second category. The tradition began with Debbie’s parents, Tom and Deloris Miles, after their three daughters were grown and began having children of their own. Each Halloween, the family would take the children trick-or-treating, then end the night at Grandpa and Grandma Miles’ house with candy and homemade popcorn balls. As the family grew, so did the batch. Eight grandchildren eventually brought another generation into the tradition, and making enough popcorn balls became a sizable undertaking. As Tom and Deloris grew older, family members began arriving after work to help with the popping, stirring and shaping. Deloris eventually saw the tradition shared across five generations. After Tom died in 2012, the family continued gathering at Deloris’ home. When she died in 2017 and the family home was later sold, the younger generations began asking what would happen to the tradition. One great-granddaughter, whose own children had shared in it, had the answer: They still needed to make the popcorn balls in memory of Grandpa and Grandma. So they did. Today, the family gathers sometime in October rather than necessarily on Halloween night. Attendance varies as family members have spread farther apart, but the purpose remains the same: remember Tom and Deloris, spend time together and keep the tradition going. When plenty of helpers can make it, they can turn out around 200 popcorn balls. The family now starts with two microwaves, an air popper and a Stir Crazy popcorn popper. Everyone brings supplies, including plenty of caramel and popcorn, and pitches in where needed. One niece has even graduated from individually wrapped caramels to buying caramel by the brick, saving the family from one of the least glamorous jobs of the day: unwrapping caramel after caramel. And not everyone wanted the original version. When one family member decided caramel wasn’t for him, the family added marshmallow popcorn balls to the lineup. Once the hot caramel is poured over the popcorn, patience is required. “You can’t go in right away because you’ll get burned,” Debbie said. They stir the mixture until it is cool enough to handle, then butter their hands and shape each ball. By the end, there are sticky hands to wash, caramel to scrape from the floor and plenty of temptation to sample the finished product. Some years bring a big turnout. Other years, fewer family members can make the trip. But every gathering offers another chance to remember the people who started it all. For Debbie, the fondest memories will always be of making popcorn balls with her mother. Continuing the tradition keeps a little piece of those days alive while giving younger generations memories of their own. After more than 40 years, the family has the process pretty well figured out. Pop the corn. Melt the caramel. Butter your hands. Shape the balls. Try not to eat too many along the way. And when it’s over, scrape the caramel off the floor. Because sometimes the best family traditions are the ones that stick. Debbie’s Family Popcorn Balls Like many recipes passed down through generations, this one is made more by feel than by exact measurements. You’ll need: • Freshly popped popcorn • Caramels or bulk caramel • Butter • Optional: marshmallows for a different version To make them: Melt the caramel until smooth, then pour it over the freshly popped popcorn. Stir the mixture with a large spoon while it begins to cool. Be careful: The caramel will be extremely hot. Do not handle the mixture until it has cooled enough to safely touch. Once it is cool enough to work with, generously butter your hands and shape the coated popcorn into balls. Set aside to cool completely. For Debbie’s family, repeat until you have enough for everyone — which might mean making nearly 200.

A fall orchard visit uncovered a piece of REMC history and a story that feels remarkably familiar 45 years later. Sometimes a member visit comes with an unexpected trip through the REMC archives. A September stop at Beiersdorfer Orchard began simply enough: pick up a few bags of apples and some fresh cider and learn a little more about a longtime Dearborn County orchard. Then owner Hilda Beiersdorfer brought out a piece of REMC history. Framed behind glass was a two-page article from the November 1981 issue of Indiana Rural News/Electric Consumer, featuring Beiersdorfer Orchard in Southeastern Indiana REMC’s Watt’s Watt pages. Its headline read, “Apple growing is family business.” The article introduced readers to Bill and Hilda and described an orchard that was already a true family operation. At the time, the Beiersdorfers were growing 12 varieties of apples, along with peaches, pears and greenhouse tomatoes. Their cold-storage rooms could hold more than 10,000 bushels of apples, and the family was producing thousands of gallons of fresh cider each year. Much has changed since 1981, but much sounded remarkably familiar. Hilda is still there, welcoming customers with a giant smile and plenty of stories. The family is still growing fruit on the same REMC lines. Apples and cider still leave the farm for customers near and far. And there was one more familiar detail. The writer of that 1981 REMC article noted that the visitors couldn’t leave without buying some apples and cider of their own. Forty-five years later, neither could we.

GUY WIRES ARE TENSIONED CABLES ATTACHED TO UTILITY POLES, RADIO TOWERS, TENTS, AND OTHER TALL STRUCTURES TO HELP KEEP THEM STABLE. They are typically anchored in the ground and attached to utility poles to help support the structure against the constant pull of power lines. If a guy wire is loose, bent, or cut, it can compromise the stability of the entire pole. In some cases, that could lead to leaning poles, sagging lines, power outages, or injuries. Yellow covers, called guy guards, are often found near the bottom of guy wires to make them easier to see so people don’t accidentally walk or drive into them. Remember These Guidelines to Prevent Accidents Don’t attach anything to a guy wire Signs, decorations, pet leashes, and sports equipment can strain the wire or the anchor over time. Remind children not to play on or around guy wires They may look like fun to climb, but they aren’t designed for play. Be careful when mowing, trimming, or digging nearby Hitting a guy wire with lawn equipment can damage it and create a safety hazard. If you are planning a project such as planting a tree or installing a fence, give the guy wires plenty of space. Call 811 if you plan on digging on your property. Speak up if something looks wrong If you notice a guy wire that’s loose, damaged, or disconnected from the ground, contact your local electric cooperative to have it checked by a professional. At your electric cooperative, safety is always a priority. By staying aware of guy wires and respecting their purpose, we can all help keep our communities safe.

Chandler Hayes helps protect the same reliable power he and his family count on at home. When the helicopter comes into view above a Southeastern Indiana REMC right-of-way, it is hard not to stop and watch. The rotors cut across the summer sky. The aircraft settles into a steady hover over the trees. Below it, a large aerial saw moves with purpose through limbs that have grown too close to the power lines. For some members, it is an impressive sight. Cars pull over. Phones come out. Neighbors watch from porches and fields. For others, it can be a frustrating moment, especially when the trimming changes the look of a familiar tree or leaves a temporary pile of limbs waiting for cleanup. Chandler Hayes understands both reactions. He is the pilot in the helicopter, but he is also a local resident who lives on the same electric system he helps maintain. When Chandler and his partner, Bailey, are working for SEI REMC, they are not simply moving through another service territory. They are working in the communities where they live, travel, shop and depend on reliable power just like everyone else. “We have the same power that they do,” Chandler says. That simple fact gives the work a different kind of meaning. The goal is not just to clear a path through the trees. It is to protect the lines before wind, ice, storms or falling branches can interrupt service. Every careful pass Chandler makes above the right-of-way is part of SEI REMC’s larger effort to keep power safe and reliable for its members, including Chandler and Bailey themselves. A local connection, from the ground up Chandler grew up in English, Indiana, and now calls the SEI REMC service territory of Switzerland County home. He knows the rolling roads, wooded hillsides and tightly connected communities that make this part of southeastern Indiana special. He also knows how quickly a storm can change the landscape. In rural areas, power lines often cross hills, woods, fields and properties where access can be challenging. A limb that looks harmless on a calm afternoon can become a major problem during high winds, heavy rain, ice or a tornado. For members, the results can be immediate: a flash, a downed line, an outage. For line crews, every tree-related outage can also mean a more difficult and dangerous restoration job. That is why SEI REMC invests in vegetation management. The work can be inconvenient in the moment, but it helps reduce the likelihood that trees and limbs will take down lines when the weather turns severe. Chandler has seen the value firsthand. After recent storms, members shared feedback about areas where completed trimming had helped keep branches away from the lines. “Reliable power in all the storms, thunderstorms, tornadoes and ice storms,” Chandler says. “That’s what people need to realize.” For him, this work is personal. He and Bailey do not return to a distant home after the job is done. They go home to the same lines and the same dependable service that the trimming helps protect. A helicopter does not arrive by accident The helicopter may be the most visible piece of the operation, but it is only one part of a carefully coordinated effort. Before Chandler ever lifts off, SEI REMC, the tree contractor and the aerial crew have work to do on the ground. Landowners must be contacted and permissions secured for staging areas and landing sites. In many cases, that means working with farmers or property owners who have agreed to let the helicopter land in a field, pasture or yard. Those locations are essential. The helicopter needs safe places to land, refuel and prepare for the next section of right-of-way. Chandler has worked in the area enough to know some of those landing sites well, but each job still takes planning and communication. The team needs to consider access, safety, the direction of the work, weather conditions and the locations where crews can safely support the operation. Once a site is ready, Chandler flies the helicopter to the work area while Bailey follows on the ground with the truck and trailer. The trailer carries extra fuel, tools and spare parts needed to keep the operation moving. They do not simply take off in the morning and remain in the air all day. Chandler returns to the ground periodically to refuel. Each landing is another coordinated moment between the pilot, Bailey and the crews working below. Bailey handles much of that behind-the-scenes work, including the paperwork and ground operations that help keep the job organized. “She’s the brain power behind them,” Chandler says with a smile. For Bailey, joining Chandler full-time in the business has meant a major change from the office-based work she did before. “I like being outside,” she says. “And on off days like this, we get a lot more time together.” The work has also given the couple a chance to travel together, often with their Great Pyrenees-Shepherd mix along for the ride. Their jobs have taken them across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But this season, much of their work has been close to home, serving SEI REMC and neighboring cooperatives. That makes every successful day feel a little more connected to the people they know. The work behind the view From the ground, aerial trimming can look like a dramatic display of flying skill. From Chandler’s seat in the cockpit, it is focused, technical work. Chandler pilots a Hughes 369D helicopter while guiding a large aerial saw suspended beneath the aircraft. The saw allows him to trim vegetation near electric lines efficiently, particularly along stretches of right-of-way that may be difficult to reach with ground equipment alone. The job requires him to hold the helicopter steady while monitoring the lines, the trees, the saw and the work zone below. He must also remain aware of changing weather and stay in communication with the tree crews supporting the operation. It is not a skill learned overnight. After serving four years in the Navy, Chandler went to flight school in Utah. He began flying helicopters at age 23 and has now spent about 13 years in the cockpit. He built experience through a variety of unusual jobs: flying over the Pacific Ocean to help tuna boats find schools of fish, mustering cattle in Australia and, eventually, aerial tree trimming. He found his way into each opportunity through the close network of people in aviation. “It’s all about who you know,” he says. Aerial saw work became his specialty about seven years ago. The training starts with learning how a helicopter behaves while carrying a suspended load. Pilots may begin by lifting something simple, such as a rope or a tire, and learn to control the motion below the aircraft. Only after gaining confidence with those basics does a pilot begin working with the saw itself. During that early training, an experienced pilot may remain on the ground, speaking to the trainee by radio and coaching each movement. It is a steep learning curve that requires patience and trust in the process. “The first six months” were the most nerve-racking, Chandler says. But repetition builds confidence. What once feels overwhelming becomes practiced, controlled and almost instinctive. “After a while, you just become numb to it,” he says. “It’s like anything else. You do it enough, you get used to it.” That does not mean the work is casual. At the end of a long day, Chandler feels the physical and mental weight of concentrating for hours at a time. “You get sore every day,” he says. “At the end of the day, you’re definitely ready to quit.” Still, he enjoys the work. He likes the independence of operating his own business. He likes being outdoors. And after more than a decade of flying, he still likes helicopters. “Helicopters are fun,” he says simply. One operation, many people Chandler may operate the helicopter, but aerial trimming is a team effort. Tree crews establish and protect the work zone. They communicate with the pilot, watch for safety concerns, help keep people clear of falling limbs and begin managing debris. SEI REMC employees help coordinate the work and respond to member questions. Landowners make the operation possible by granting access for staging and landing sites. The crews also understand that members may have concerns about cleanup. As the helicopter moves efficiently through a section of line, limbs can come down faster than crews can fully process them. Crews work to keep roads and driveways clear, then return to complete cleanup as the aerial work progresses. “Typically, they’ll get it out of the road and out of the driveways,” Bailey says. “Then it stays until the helicopter leaves and they have time to clean it up.” The timing is intentional. Chandler and Bailey often work on a roughly two-week rotation between co-ops, allowing tree crews time to catch up with cleanup and address concerns before the aerial crew moves on. The work also depends on the weather. A clear-looking day does not always mean the helicopter can fly. Low clouds, storms and changing conditions can delay work. And when severe weather causes outages, restoration takes priority over scheduled trimming. That is another reason preventative work matters. The more vegetation safely cleared before a storm, the fewer branches may be waiting to cause problems when conditions are at their worst. A shared investment in reliability Members are right to care about the trees on their property. Chandler and Bailey understand that. A tree can hold memories, provide shade or be part of the view someone values every day. But they also know that protecting reliable service requires difficult, thoughtful decisions about where trees and power lines can safely coexist. The helicopter in the sky is a highly visible part of that work. What may look dramatic from the road is actually one piece of a planned, local effort involving landowners, contractors, crews and SEI REMC. For Chandler, there is real satisfaction in helping keep the lights on in the place he calls home. He sees the work from above, but he understands what it means on the ground: homes with power, families connected and communities better prepared for the next storm. Vegetation management is one of the most important ways we protect reliable power and safer communities. A tree limb near a power line may seem small from the ground, but during high winds, heavy rain or ice, it can quickly become an outage, damaged equipment or a dangerous downed line. Keeping rights-of-way clear helps prevent many of those problems before they begin. It gives power lines the space they need to operate safely and reliably, while helping crews reach the area more quickly when storms do cause damage. When limbs and lines come down together, roads may need to close to protect the public and give crews room to work safely. If you see a downed line, stay at least 30 feet away, keep children and pets clear, and report it right away. Always assume it is energized.

Terry and Connie Geisler, the Southeastern Indiana REMC members behind His Hands Ministry, are feeding families, sharing hope and making sure every guest is welcomed like family. Before I visited the food pantry in Elrod on a recent Saturday, I sat down with Terry and Connie Geisler to hear their story. They are the kind of people who are more comfortable doing the work than talking about it. Terry, especially, would rather be behind the wheel of a truck, moving pallets, organizing boxes of produce or helping a family load a cart than receiving recognition. Connie is equally humble, but she knows someone has to tell the story, make the connections and keep people informed about the need. Together, they operate His Hands Ministry, a self-funded and self-maintained food pantry that is open to anyone. On the Saturday I visited, the pantry served 348 people from all seven counties in SEI REMC’s service territory. The more I learned about the couple behind the operation, the more I wanted to see it firsthand. A Calling That Kept Growing Terry’s path to His Hands Ministry began through earlier work serving people in need of food assistance. Along the way, he built relationships with truck drivers, suppliers and others in the food-distribution world. He saw both the amount of good food that can be available and the number of families who need it. When that chapter ended, Terry felt strongly that he was still being called to help feed people. Connie encouraged him to follow that calling. “He’s a big foodie anyway,” Connie said with a smile during our conversation. “Food is his thing, and he wants to make sure everybody has food.” The ministry began simply, with a borrowed box truck. Terry would fill it with food, park in Versailles near the Rolling Pin restaurant and, with the help of volunteers, bag items and hand them to families as they drove through. Then the need grew. Connie took on the nonprofit paperwork and created the name and logo for His Hands Ministry. The name reflects how they see the work. They do not view it as something they have built for themselves. They see themselves as stewards, using what has been placed in their hands to serve others. Now, food comes in on pallets, in large produce boxes and, increasingly, by semi-load. Terry has built a network through word of mouth, Facebook and his willingness to answer the phone, make the drive and help whenever he can. Sometimes, a truck driver calls because a load has been rejected by a retailer for cosmetic reasons. The food may be fresh and nutritious, but the produce may not be the size or appearance a store wants. Rather than see it thrown away, Terry works to get it into the hands of local families. That work happens on top of his full-time job changing tractor tires. During the week, Terry is working his regular job, making food pickups, planning for the next distribution, unloading trucks and organizing the pantry. On Saturdays, he is there at the end of the line, quietly watching the operation and offering help where it is needed. He does not say much, but he does not have to. The work speaks for itself. Terry and Connie are quick to give the credit to God, not themselves. Their faith is woven into everything they do, from the name of the ministry to the way they respond to the needs placed in front of them. That spirit also extends beyond pantry day. Terry bags nonperishable foods, including granola bars and drinks, to hand out to people experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati. When there is food available, he looks for a way to make sure it reaches someone who can use it. They give, and then they find another way to give. A Saturday at the Pantry On Saturday, before I ever stepped inside the building, I could see what His Hands Ministry meant to the community. Cars filled the gravel lot. People waited patiently in line, some for an hour or more, no matter the weather. But the mood was not tense or quiet. It was friendly. Neighbors chatted, caught up and helped one another. That day, the pantry was also collecting bottled drinking water for local flood victims in Metamora. What struck me most was seeing people who had come for food still thinking about someone else’s need. They were receiving help, yet they were also giving what they could to help their neighbors. At one point, tomatoes slid from the top of a woman’s overflowing cart. People waiting nearby quickly stepped in to gather them. Those small moments said a lot about the place Terry and Connie have built. There are no income requirements or questions meant to make anyone prove they deserve help. At the door, Connie welcomes guests alongside volunteer Judy Alford. She asks each family’s size and what county they live in, not to turn anyone away, but to understand where people are coming from and help with future planning and grant-writing opportunities. Connie was holding a raffle for one of the missions close to her heart, but her attention stayed on the people entering the pantry. Though she was tired after a long morning, her spirit was upbeat and welcoming. The same could be said for Ralph Stenger, another familiar face at the entrance. He hands each family a yellow cart with a joke, a smile and a way of making people feel immediately at ease. While I was in line, a gentleman asked Ralph, “Are you Terry?” Ralph put on a serious face and replied, “Don’t you ever call me that ever again!” Then, unable to keep a straight face, he pointed toward Terry and said, in effect, that Terry was the one he meant. Both men laughed. It was a small exchange, but it captured the feeling of the pantry. Terry’s name carries the warmth of someone people trust. There is an unspoken message from the moment guests arrive: you have come to the right place, and you will be treated like family. The pantry carefully monitors the number of people entering the warehouse at one time so families can shop without feeling rushed by a line behind them. Some items have quantity limits to ensure there is enough for everyone. Other items, particularly fresh produce, are available for families to take what they need. Inside, carts are filled with pantry staples like rice, beans, pasta, canned vegetables, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, hygiene products, milk, bread, bagels, granola bars and bottled drinks. The freezer section that Saturday included ready-made chili and chicken pot pie filling. Fresh produce filled the space, including tomatoes, carrots, berries, peppers and cucumbers, much of it looking fresher than what many of us find in a grocery store. Halfway through the warehouse, I overheard a family looking at their already-full cart. “This is probably already a couple hundred dollars’ worth of groceries,” someone said. For many working families, that kind of help makes a real difference. I stood in line with a young couple who both work full-time jobs. The husband had been out of work for three months, putting the family in a difficult place with rent and utilities. As they waited, he recognized several people he worked with. It was a reminder that the need is not limited to one kind of family. Food and fuel prices have taken a toll this year, and many people who are working hard are still struggling to make ends meet. Another woman told me she comes every month. She helps care for grandchildren who live with her, and the extra food helps stretch her income. Around her, regular guests greeted each other, shared conversation and caught up with volunteers. There was no judgment in the room, only kindness. At the end of the line, Terry quietly kept an eye on the flow of the pantry, offering a hand where needed and greeting people with a nod and a soft smile. He had spent the month bringing in food, the week organizing the space and the morning helping make sure the pantry was ready. He was likely exhausted, but there was also a quiet joy in watching people leave with food for their families. More Than a Food Pantry Just off Highway 50 in Elrod, the blue Hoosier Hills Water District water tower is a familiar landmark for families making their way to His Hands Ministry. Beneath it sits a donated white-and-red metal building, quiet and easy to miss without knowing where to look. On pantry day, though, the gravel lot fills with cars, box trucks wait outside and people arrive from across southeastern Indiana. The building has garage access for Terry to bring in large pallets and produce boxes, but it has become too small for the work it now supports. The food pantry ministry is open every third Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. The pantry also shares updates throughout the month on its Facebook page. When fresh produce or bakery items arrive, Terry and Connie announce the shipment and invite people to stop by the building’s covered porch to pick up items at their convenience. It is another way they make sure food gets to people quickly, especially when a large or unexpected load comes in. His Hands Ministry needs a climate-controlled space that will allow Terry and Connie to keep local produce fresh longer, safely receive larger shipments and continue growing to meet the need across southeastern Indiana. Semi-loads of food can make an enormous difference, but without adequate climate-controlled storage, fresh food can spoil before it has the chance to reach families. Terry works hard to ensure as little as possible goes to waste. Food that is no longer suitable for people can still be useful to local farmers with pigs or horses. Cardboard is recycled. Every donation is treated with care. Much of the equipment that makes the ministry possible has been donated, including trucks, appliances, carts and other supplies. Yet Terry and Connie still cover fuel, insurance, maintenance and countless other costs. They invest their own money, time and physical energy into a work that keeps getting bigger because the need keeps getting bigger. A Shared Heart for Service Connie’s heart for service also reaches beyond the pantry. For years, Connie felt drawn to mission work. That calling eventually led her to El Salvador, where she travels directly to help people in need alongside a group of volunteers. Her work there is especially focused on helping young girls escape situations of abuse and find safer, more stable paths forward. Through raffles and other fundraising, Connie supports on-site missionaries and helps create opportunities for girls to learn trades, including cosmetology. She also works to meet practical needs and improve living conditions for families she encounters while there. Whether the need is food, housing, safety or a chance to build a career, Connie’s heart is to help people find hope and a way forward. Terry and Connie have also responded to disaster-relief needs, making multiple trips with donated supplies to families affected by storms. They have helped connect people with clothing, household items and furniture. When someone calls with something to give, they try to find someone who needs it. But while their giving reaches in many directions, the pantry remains the immediate focus. As I left Saturday, the line had grown shorter, but people were still waiting. The parking lot was still full. The atmosphere was still warm. I looked back toward the blue water tower, the landmark that helps guide so many people to this unassuming building in Elrod. Beneath it, Terry and Connie are doing more than distributing food. They are offering relief, dignity and a reminder that no one has to face a difficult season alone. If you have a connection to available climate-controlled warehouse space, commercial property, storage solutions or resources that could help His Hands Ministry continue its growth, please consider reaching out to Terry and Connie. A stronger space would mean more food saved, more families served and more hope shared across our community. Email: his_hands_ministry@yahoo.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HisHandsMinistry Food Pantry Address: 1595 625 E, Milan, IN

Location: East Main Street, Vevay Date: 8/19/2026 Remarks: Two departments came together to raise the flag, and traffic waited in quiet respect below. Warsaw-Gallatin County Fire and Rescue assisted Jeff-Craig Fire Department as the community honored former Switzerland County Sheriff Nathan E. Hughes. Our crews travel thousands of miles across Southeastern Indiana each year, and along the way, they see some pretty remarkable things. From early-morning skies and quiet country roads to wildlife, landmarks and scenes that simply stop us in our tracks, these are a few of the views spotted along the line. Your Turn to Take Note The best views are not always found on the road. Share a photo from your corner of southeastern Indiana, along with your hometown and a few words about what made you stop and notice. SEND A PHOTO + YOUR NAME + HOMETOWN + SHORT CAPTION TO communications@seiremc.com

Widespread storms brought damaging wind, continuing rain and flooding across SEI REMC territory. Here is a look at the restoration effort. PEAK OUTAGE - TUESDAY, 3:30 P.M. 4,600 members without power as storms moved through the REMC service territory. Tuesday · 11 p.m. 1,050 members remained without power after the first evening of restoration. Wednesday · 7 a.m. 1,200 members were out as continued rain and early-morning storms caused additional damage. Wednesday · 11 p.m. 35 members remained without service as crews worked through the final repairs. Thursday · 11 a.m. Crews completed restoration work and the final members were returned to service. BROKEN POLES 10 poles were replaced following the storm damage. DRONE-ASSISTED REPAIR 1 line span was carried across a creek by drone. FLOOD SAFETY 15 members had power temporarily disconnected as floodwaters rose. Mutual assistance Crews from Jackson County REMC and Hoosier Energy joined the restoration effort. Eyes in the sky Drones helped crews inspect line damage in hard-to-reach areas and monitor flooding along the system. CO-OP PERSPECTIVE “Right-of-way maintenance is one of the most important investments we make in reliable service. Keeping trees and limbs clear of our lines helps prevent avoidable outages, reduces the damage we have to repair after a storm and allows crews to restore power more quickly and safely when conditions are difficult.” - Brandon Linville, Vice President of Operations