Cooperative Living March 2023 - 3

CONTENTS
CL ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA
4
VISIT CO-OPLIVING.COM
ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
5
DEPARTMENTS
2 Our Communities
6 Spotlight
8 Delightful Diversions
10
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
LUCKY CHARM.
Rily's first St.
Patrick's Day,
and she's milkin'
it. Photo submitted
by Allison Dean.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
SWEET BLISS.
A sundown reflection
off the ice and a
painting in the sky.
Photo submitted
by Donald Moore.
26
14 Member FYI
24 Energy Sense
25 Home & Garden
28 Dining with Peggy
29 Cooperative Kitchen
30 Happenings
31 Meadow Adventure
32 Rural Living
34 Marketplace
36 Say Cheese
FEATURES
4 POWERFUL CAREERS
BARC COO Chris Botulinski's journey
is a memorable one.
10 COOPERATIVE FOCUS
A Botetourt County fire camp is
blazing a trail for young girls.
5 HAPPY AND HEALTHY
Maintaining muscle may be the
best way to a healthy weight.
26 FARM LIFE
A Maryland farm is a labor of love
for one local family.
COVER: VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND EMT LAURA KATE JENNINGS-BRINK DISPLAYS HER YELLOW HELMET.
PHOTO COURTESY BOTETOURT COUNTY.
Correction: The front cover photo of the Jan.-Feb. issue of Cooperative Living was incorrectly credited to photographer
Randy Walker. It should have been credited to photographer Lisa Carter. The photo was a composite image that should
not have appeared in the magazine. Cooperative Living regrets the errors and apologizes to Lisa Carter.
VIEWPOINT
Celebrating Spring
M
arch is a month that officially
welcomes spring and starts
transitioning away from colder
weather. In my younger years, it meant
getting ready for outdoor sports like
baseball and soccer. Then in my later years,
it meant preparing to coach those sports for my children.
In this edition of Cooperative Living, we celebrate Women's
History Month, which is recognized annually in March.
Our cover story highlights a group of female firefighters in
and around Botetourt County who help hold an annual
Girls' Fire Camp showing young ladies what it is like to be
firefighters and paramedics, opening their perspectives about
those career paths.
This issue also features the story of Virginia State Police
1st Sgt. Dylan Davenport; the first Black woman to be
co-opliving.com
appointed area commander of the VSP's Area 44 office
serving Caroline and King George counties. As a little
girl growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Davenport says she had
no idea that one day she'd be making history in Virginia.
The agriculture industry plays a big role in our
cooperative service territories, so we wanted to include a
feature on Agriculture Week, which is recognized March
21-27. The article illustrates what it is like to be a Maryland
farmer in the 21st century and gives a detailed history of
a modern farm and what it takes to run it.
I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy this springtime
weather and all the outdoor activities it brings. 
Brian S. Mosier, President & CEO
Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives
March 2023 ● Cooperative Living ●
1

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Cooperative Living March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living March 2023