“Your Indiana electric cooperative companion” turns 65 years old this month. But “retirement” is nowhere in sight! Rather, Electric Consumer staff hopes readers are still enjoying the publication’s 2013 upgrade to a magazine after being a newsprint tabloid all of its previous years (which began in 1951 as Indiana Rural News). In the past year,… Continue reading.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to fit all of the farm photos we received from our readers into our July magazine. However, we’re happy to share some more reader-submitted photos here for you to enjoy!

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to fit all of the father and son photos we received from our readers into our June magazine. However, we’re happy to share some more reader-submitted photos here for you to enjoy!  

How far would you go chasing a firefly? Across town? Across the state? To the ends of the Earth? In the cool of the evening this time of year, these little bioluminescent beetles emerge and begin beckoning both their mates and us with their tiny flashing greenish gold beacons. It’s easy to fall under their… Continue reading.

Indiana has a state flower and tree, noted West Lafayette third grader Kayla Xu. We even have a state pie and state gun. But when it comes to a state insect, she says Indiana draws a long “blaaaaaaank.” Kayla pointed out Indiana is one of only three states (along with Iowa and Michigan) that has… Continue reading.

Over 40 varieties of fireflies have been seen in Indiana. And while most folks will simply recognize all fireflies as a state insect, Purdue University entomologists distinguished several characteristics that set Say’s Firefly apart for the sticklers: First sighted: Say’s Firefly is one of the earliest emerging fireflies in our area and may be seen… Continue reading.

Someday, consumers may be using lights that won’t show up on the monthly “light bill” or electric bill. The lights, which could replace fluorescent and be much more efficient than LED lamps, will glow using the science found in fireflies. Scientists at Syracuse University have made what they are calling a transformational advance in an… Continue reading.

While electric co-ops have mascot Willie Wiredhand promoting electrical safety and energy efficiency as a “spokes plug,” the electric world as a whole has a special “spokes BUG” — Louie the Lightning Bug — who’s willing and able to teach safety and efficiency to consumers of all ages and of all electric utilities. Louie’s caretakers at… Continue reading.

Thomas Say is the namesake for the “Say’s Firefly” (Pyractomena angulata), the variety of firefly that has been proposed as the Indiana state insect. Say is known as the “father of American entomology.” Born in Philadelphia in 1787, he was a self-taught naturalist, and one of the first American-born naturalists to gain renown. At age… Continue reading.

‘All my life’s a circle …,” the late singer/songwriter Harry Chapin used to leave his audiences singing. “The season’s spinnin’ round again, the years keep rollin’ by …” As the calendar pages of 2017 begin turning, the names of student winners in the recently completed cooperative student art contest or the schools from where they… Continue reading.

From the time the Schuler kids were barely up off the floor, the rural North Manchester siblings were encouraged to create art. First came Eli, now a high school senior. Then came triplets Attie, Ellie and Hallie, sophomores. Then came Will, an eighth grader. And finally, there’s Lily, a first grader. While all are creative… Continue reading.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to fit all of the hiking photos we received from our readers into our April magazine. However, we’re happy to share some more reader-submitted photos here for you to enjoy!