2024 Lane Electric Member Awards
Members Recognized for Ingenuity & Community Support
By Craig Reed
Sharing their knowledge and resources has earned Laughing Stock Farm and Silvan Ridge Winery honors from Lane Electric Cooperative.
Recognition for their community outreach and education efforts came at Lane Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting in June. Paul Atkinson and Sid Baum, owners of the farm, were honored as the co-op’s Larry Erickson Members of the Year. Silvan Ridge, owned by Andrew and Julia Stiltner, was named the Business of the Year.
Co-op board member Dean Livelybrook nominated Paul and Sid. Board member Ingrid Kessler nominated Silvan Ridge.
Paul and Sid use an electric tractor, a solar system, and a battery system to make their business greener. The winery donates ticket proceeds from its Friday night music concerts to Lane County charities.
Here’s more information about what earned these members and a local business Lane Electric honors.
Members of the Year
A Ruralite magazine article on Paul and Sid and their sustainable efforts was published in April 2023. Paul says the couple received about 10 phone calls from people who read the article and were interested in more information regarding the electric tractor and solar panels on the farm’s barn and pole building.
Paul and Sid say they want to be an example and show a transition to electric is possible. Paul says he was pleasantly surprised by how many people saw the Ruralite article. He says the article and the phone calls provided the couple with opportunities to educate people.
“It means they may try to do the same thing,” Paul says. Dean says he nominated Paul and Sid for the Member of the Year honor because of their exemplary community-mindedness and service to others.
“For the former, they’ve had a longstanding commitment to green energy and local agriculture,” Dean says. “As examples of the latter, they serve as leaders for organizations focused on providing affordable housing and bringing arts to rural classrooms.”
Paul says after electric power came to his farm’s rural area near Crow in 1938, most homes used propane cook stoves, water heaters, and wood-burning stoves.
“At that time, rural residents didn’t know about the harmful effects of gas and wood heaters on their home’s indoor air quality,” he says. “Now we do know and can change direction with the availability of electric cars, ATVs, tractors, and, very soon, trucks. Highly efficient ductless, electric heat pumps are replacing wood stoves. These new electric appliances, vehicles, and equipment are cheaper to run more reliable, quieter, and free of health-harming pollutants and emissions.
“A clean electric-powered future is coming for all of us. It’s possible and necessary.”
In the last year, Paul and Sid have added an independent solar-powered battery system. The battery powers a water pump and is a backup power source for the farm’s egg cooler, freezer, and chick brooder. It also makes the water pump mobile, allowing it to be moved from pond to pond on the farm.
“Receiving this award will get more people to try to do what we’re doing,” Paul says.
Business of the Year
Silvan Ridge’s philanthropy has been part of the business’s culture since Carolyn Chambers bought Hinman Vineyards in 1993. She rebranded the winery to Silvan Ridge.
Carolyn’s daughter, Elizabeth, was the winery’s general manager for many years until four years ago when Julia and Andrew Stiltner, Elizabeth’s daughter and son-in-law, took ownership.
“Philanthropy has been important for the Chambers and now the Stiltners,” says Angela Jaquette, the winery’s general manager. “Giving is very deeply ingrained in their family businesses.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to adapt, Silvan Ridge continued to hold its Friday night music concerts through the summer but required tickets to space seating and limited attendance. Tickets were inexpensive, and Silvan’s management donated proceeds back to the community. Due to COVID-19, many nonprofits couldn’t hold in-person fundraisers, so the winery’s donations were much appreciated.
Although the pandemic gradually faded, Silvan Ridge has continued donating ticket sales. Angela says close to $35,000 has been donated to 36 nonprofit organizations in Lane County over the past four summers.
In addition to donations, staff from the different nonprofits can set up display tables, speak about their missions during concert breaks and hold raffles.
“As a small business owner myself, I want to recognize what small businesses add to our communities,” Ingrid says. “What Silvan Ridge has been doing has been a win-win for it and the nonprofits.”
Angela says the concerts have provided education in addition to music.
“It’s very rewarding to see so many different types of ways people are helping others,” she says. “It’s great for us as the winery staff to know we’re helping spread the word to the community for these nonprofits.
“This is a nice refreshing break, to hear people are out there doing amazing things for the community. It’s awesome for us to help celebrate that.”
Lane Electric Cooperative members can nominate a member or business for the annual awards by calling the co-op’s office at (541) 484-1151.
