Illinois Country Living

It may be one of the shortest retail seasons in Illinois. For just four hours each fall, Kris Allen opens the doors of her farm store to hundreds of visitors. The store itself, however, isn’t the main draw. The llamas are the main attraction. For three decades, the shaggy and, frankly, goofy animal has been a fixture on the farm Kris shares with her husband Terry, called K&T Llamas and located on Illinois Electric Cooperative lines just outside of Bluffs.

The phrase “member powered” describes our identity. The Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) exists because of Illinois’ electric cooperatives. And our member cooperatives exist because of the people who own them and the families, farms, businesses and communities they serve. Everything we do begins and ends with those members — every legislative priority, every training class, every safety program, every communication tool and every service we provide.

It’s the final call for Illinois Country Living’s 2026 SnapShots contest. Whether you’re a photographer, an enthusiastic hobbyist or an amateur, this is your chance to share how you see Illinois. The contest celebrates the beauty of the Prairie State throughout the year, with four seasonal categories: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Photographers may submit up to three photos per category, capturing landscapes, rural life, nature or moments that reflect the spirit of each season.

This fall, 17 students will head to college as 2026 recipients of Thomas H. Moore Illinois Electric Cooperatives (IEC) Memorial Scholarships. The scholarship program has grown from initially awarding two $1,000 scholarships in 1996 to now offering 17 $3,000 scholarships. The Illinois Community College System Foundation (ICCSF) administers the scholarship fund.

Joe’s Chicken Tortilla Soup Submitted by Joe Marlo, SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative 4 chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 4 15-ounce cans chicken broth 4 cups frozen corn kernels 2 cans Rotel tomatoes 2 cups onion chopped 1 teaspoon chili powder 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 cups chunky salsa Corn tortilla chips or tortilla strips 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded Sour cream optional In a large pot over...

As the growing season ends and gardens transition into a well-deserved period of rest, a few important fall tasks can help extend the season while laying the groundwork for a healthy, vibrant landscape next spring. Fall-blooming annuals and perennials help extend the beauty of the garden and provide an important food source for pollinators that remain active into autumn. This also helps refresh summer containers.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9X13-inch pan and set aside. Using a mixer, cream together butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. In a separate bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Pour into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle liberally over the top of the dough. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until the bars are lightly browned and the middle is set.

Artificial intelligence (AI) doesn’t always appear artificial and that can be a problem. AI can create realistic text, voices, images and websites in seconds. Those capabilities make many everyday tools more useful, but they also make it easier for scammers to impersonate family members, banks and even your electric cooperative.

Illinois Country Living Magazine * Site by Energized Graphics

During the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC) annual meeting, held July 30-31, three elected officials were named recipients of Illinois Electric Cooperatives’ (IEC) Public Service Award, which recognizes dedicated public service to Illinois citizens and outstanding contributions to the rural electrification program.