Rural Missouri - June 2023 - 5

Missouri
RURAL
Volume 76 | JUNE 2023 | Number 6
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Caitlin Whaley, VP communications
cwhaley@ruralmissouri.coop
Jim McCarty, editor
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Zach Smith, director of digital media
zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, designer
ajones@ruralmissouri.coop
ADVERTISING:
Mary Davis, production manager
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
573-659-3400
National Advertising Representative:
American MainStreet Publications;
611 S. Congress St., Suite 504; Austin, TX 78704
CONTACT:
Rural Missouri
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop
Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri,
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO
65101. Subscribers: Report change of address to
your local cooperative. Do not send change of address
to Rural Missouri.
Advertising standards: Advertising published in
Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that
the merchandise and services offered are accurately
described and sold to customers at the advertised
price. Rural Missouri and Missouri's electric
cooperatives do not endorse any products or
services advertised herein. Advertising that does
not conform to these standards or that is deceptive
or misleading is never knowingly accepted by
this publication. The acceptance of all advertising
shall be in the sole discretion of the editor.
Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS 473000)
is published monthly by the Association
of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, 2722 E.
McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101, Caleb
Jones, CEO/executive vice president. Individual
subscription rate: $12 per year or $25 for three
years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for
members of participating RECs $3.24, plus taxes
and postage, paid from equity accruing to the
member. Delivery as specified by subscriber. If not
specified, delivery will be by periodical class mail
at subscriber's expense. Periodical Class postage
paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing
offices. Copyright 2023, Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights.
Circulation of this issue: 583,026
RM | PERSPECTIVES
Here's to dads of all kinds
by Caleb Jones | cjones@amec.coop
F
ather's Day may be June 18
this year but to all of the people
who hold the title of dad,
every day is special. Nothing
makes a more profound change in
a man than becoming a father. In
fact, some would say fatherhood is a
journey that leads boys on a path to
becoming men.
Today's dads are a lot different
from the man who raised me. My
dad, Kenny, came from an era when
men brought home the bacon - but
didn't necessarily know how to cook
it. When Mom passed away, my dad
had to take on that role too. He was
probably better prepared for teaching
me how to tie a tie, sharpen a pocketknife
and adjust a baler so it tied
both strings tight. But he never shied
away from anything we needed.
My good friend told me once that
being a dad is easy, but being a great
dad is the hardest thing you will
ever do. My dad worried about me
breaking an arm by jumping out of
the hayloft. Nowadays, I worry more
about danger that is just a mouse
click away.
I think the biggest thing you can
do, and one of the hardest, is just
being there for your kids. In a dad's
world of work, cellphones, emails and
technology, it's easy to show up but
not actually " be there. "
I was reminded how important
being there is when I saw some
photos posted on Facebook by Lori
Rehkop of her husband, Black River
Electric lineman Jeremy Rehkop, and
daughter, Leah. When your dad is a
lineman like Leah's dad is, you get to
ride to prom in what is probably the
coolest prom ride ever - in this case
a bucket truck.
Lori's post included a video that
shows Leah's burly bearded dad
opening the truck door for her, helping
her down and handing her the
all-important cellphone.
I know a lot of dads who are
father-of-the-year material through
the Mornings with Dad program
at my kids' school. These monthly
Dads do great things, such as taking their
daughter to prom in a bucket truck. Shown
here is Lori, Leah and Jeremy Rehkop.
mornings include stepdads, grandpas,
uncles and all other forms dads
take these days. Over a fine culinary
breakfast of donuts and the occasional
fruit, we get to spend some
time with our kids talking about
life. We have even had a few guest
speakers stop by to help, like Mizzou
coaches Dennis Gates and Eli Drinkwitz
- both of them fathers too.
The most recent census showed
1 in 4 homes are missing a father.
These kids - and their moms - face
many unfortunate consequences from
this absence. On the flip side, kids
with a dad like I had are less likely
to be injured or obese, more likely to
do better in school and most importantly,
they tend to become great parents
themselves.
I will never forget the day I first
became a father. It made me want
to change the world so that my kids
have a better place to live.
Here's to fathers of every type, who
hide their tears and fears and man up
when it counts.
Caleb is the executive vice president
and CEO of the Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives and a member of
Boone Electric Cooperative.
JUNE 2023 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 5
http://www.instagram.com/RuralMissouri http://www.pinterest.com/RuralMissouri https://www.facebook.com/RuralMissouri/ http://www.youtube.com/RuralMissouri http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP
Rural Missouri - June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - June 2023
