Cooperative Living July 2019 - 3

InsideStory
July 2019
As you'll probably
notice, this issue gives
a happy nod to farm life.
Reese Mills, the
fresh-faced 6-year-old
gracing the cover of
this issue, is the perfect
cover girl. From her
sassy pink cowgirl boots
all the way up to the
freckles that dot her sweet nose and
cheeks, she's as picture-perfect as her
entry in this year's Cooperative Living
Youth Art Contest. The art contest's
theme: " Down on the Farm. "
As the daughter of Amelia County
poultry farmers, Reese is no stranger to
farm life. Frolicking in hay and helping
raise pigs and sheep are everyday
experiences for this young artist. But it's
not the sheep and pigs that make this
little girl's shiny brown eyes light up.
It's the horses.
It was Reese's affinity for this majestic,
graceful animal that inspired the art
contest entry that landed her on the
cover of this issue. Her painting of a
horse silhouetted against a vibrant sun
won her Best in Show honors. Reese has
already received her $100 winnings, and
she plans to use it toward the future
purchase of a horse, of course.
Though Reese's art stood out, choosing
grade-level winners was a daunting task for
our staff. Daunting, yet enjoyable. We
gushed over all the farm scenes and
animals. It was the imperfections, like
crooked piglet tails and lopsided cow
eyes, that gave many of the animals such
incredible personality.
If the colorful five-page spread of
winning art entries isn't enough to
transport you down on the farm through
the eyes of a child, this issue's Say Cheese
column just might do the trick. Our
March-April Say Cheese column with the
" Down on the Farm " theme resonated
with readers, resulting in a bumper crop
of farm life photos filling our inbox after
the issue hit mailboxes. So the theme is
back by popular demand.
As you enjoy the farm-focused imagery
and verbiage that fill a portion of this
month's issue, we hope it brings a smile
to your face and inspires you to relish the
simpler things in life.
Enjoy your summer and thank you
for reading! 
- Laura Emery
Field Editor
co-opliving.com
Reader Photo: Lora Jenkins
OUR MISSION
To inform you about your cooperative and its efforts to serve your energy needs;
how to use electricity safely and efficiently; and the people who define and enhance
the quality of life in communities served by electric co-ops.
CONTENTS
13 Cover Story
Cooperative Living's 17th annual Youth Art Contest winners produced a wide range
of colorful depictions of this year's contest theme, " Down on the Farm. " We invite
you to take a trip down on the farm through the eyes of talented young artists from
across Virginia. On the cover: Best in Show winner Reese Mills with " Shady " the
horse. (Laura Emery photo)
28 Dining with Dan
Dan Walker, Cooperative Living's roving restaurant reporter, found a culinary gem in the
bustling town of Blackstone, best known for its proximity to Fort Pickett. The Corner
Kitchen restaurant is owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Laurie and
Sam Allen, and the restaurant's menu offers a unique take on Southern-style cuisine.
30 Crossroads
Eastville, known for its quiet charm and rich history, is a small town in
the southern portion of Virginia's Eastern Shore. It's also one of the
oldest settled portions of the original colonies, and it has been the
county seat for Northampton County since 1680. Eastville is known
for holding the oldest continuous court records in the country, and
locals say it is a great place to live and work.
DEPARTMENTS
2 Viewpoint
4 Mailbag
4 PunToons!
5 Member FYI
6 Training Tracks
8 Happenings
10 For The Future
12 Say Cheese
Visit us online at:
co-opliving.com
18 Your Co-op News
26 Energy Sense
34
Feathered Friends
36 Commonwealth Kitchen
37 Co-op People
38 Classifieds
40 Rural Living
40 WhatzIt?
Find us on:
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July 2019 | Cooperative Living | 1
JAY DIEM PHOTO
Our contests
have moved!
WhatzIt? can be
found on pg. 40.
History Mystery is
now only on
co-opliving.com!
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Cooperative Living July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living July 2019
