Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 5

Missouri
RURAL
Volume 74 | DECEMBER 2021 | Number 12
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Jim McCarty, editor
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Heather Berry, associate editor
hberry@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Zach Smith, field editor
zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, designer
ajones@ruralmissouri.coop
ADVERTISING:
Mary Davis, production manager
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
Editorial:
Rural Missouri
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop
Advertising:
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
573-659-3400
National Advertising Representative:
American MainStreet Publications;
611 S. Congress St., Suite 504; Austin, TX 78704
573-659-3400
Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri,
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO
65101. Subscribers: Report change of address to
your local cooperative. Do not send change of address
to Rural Missouri.
Advertising standards: Advertising published in
Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that
the merchandise and services offered are accurately
described and sold to customers at the advertised
price. Rural Missouri and Missouri's electric
cooperatives do not endorse any products or
services advertised herein. Advertising that does
not conform to these standards or that is deceptive
or misleading is never knowingly accepted by
this publication. The acceptance of all advertising
shall be in the sole discretion of the editor.
Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS 473000)
is published monthly by the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, 2722 E.
McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, Caleb
Jones, CEO/executive vice president. Individual
subscription rate: $12 per year or $25 for three
years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for
members of participating RECs $2.22, plus taxes
and postage, paid from equity accruing to the
member. Delivery as specified by subscriber. If not
specified, delivery will be by periodical class mail
at subscriber's expense. Periodical Class postage
paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing
offices. Copyright 2021, Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights.
Circulation of this issue: 577,539
RM | PERSPECTIVES
Traditions, old and new
by Caleb Jones | cjones@amec.coop
or many of us this holiday
season will mark the return
of celebrating with the family
and friends we've been missing
since the pandemic began. The annual
Christmas gathering has always
been a major event for my family.
It was so important that even when
I lived in Washington, D.C. I would
make the long drive in all kinds of
weather to spend the holidays back
home in Moniteau County.
In my neck of the woods, it was a
tradition to bundle up and help our
church serve chili and hot chocolate
during the annual Christmas parade.
Nowadays we never miss seeing the
Magic Tree in Columbia.
Christmas traditions like these
take place across rural Missouri.
Many of my friends who live in the
city still return to their old stomping
grounds to cut a cedar from the family
farm. Scotch pines might be less
painful when you are decorating your
tree barefooted, but nothing smells
better than a fresh-cut cedar.
Our churches put on live Nativity
scenes, bring joy with Christmas carols
sung to the homebound and add
to the anticipation with candlelight
services. There's hardly a small town
that doesn't host a holiday parade,
complete with Jolly Old St. Nick arriving
in everything from horse-drawn
carriages to a flatbed truck and
gooseneck trailer.
F
The annual Christmas gathering has always
been a big deal for the Jones family.
Food plays a big part in our traditions,
and the best recipes are the
ones that come from family members.
Some recipes aren't written down, but
are passed on from generation to generation
by putting on the apron and
getting in the kitchen to help. You
can always tell it's that time of year
when my wife, Lindsey, starts baking
rohliks - something I had never
heard of before we got married, but
now can't live without.
Thanks to COVID - and the outof-whack
supply chain - many of
our holiday traditions have had to be
adjusted. For example, I've always
been politely browbeaten into going
Christmas shopping with my wife the
day after Thanksgiving. Somehow this
year I found myself Christmas shopping
the day after Halloween after
dire warnings to shop early because
potential gifts could be tied up on
ships stuck off the California coast.
Those delays won't be an issue
if you shop local. Across Missouri,
there's a wealth of talent creating the
perfect gift for everyone on your list,
whether it's a sweater handcrafted
from Missouri-raised sheep, a knife
forged in a blacksmith's fire or a
chess set made in a country woodshop.
If you're on my list, chances are
you will get a big slab of peppered bacon
from my favorite Moniteau County
business, Burgers' Smokehouse.
This is a great time to create new
traditions. While you are out enjoying
the twinkling lights rest assured your
electric co-op will keep them shining
bright. However you celebrate, here's
hoping you get to spend time with
those you love. From my family to
yours, have the merriest holiday ever.
Caleb is the executive vice president
and CEO of the Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives and a member of
Boone Electric Cooperative.
DECEMBER 2021 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 5
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Rural Missouri - December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - December 2021

Contents
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - Contents
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 4
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 5
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 6
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 7
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 8
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 9
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 10
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 11
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 12
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 13
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 14
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Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 16
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 17
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 18
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Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 20
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - 21
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Rural Missouri - December 2021 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - December 2021 - Cover4
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