What was once known as the Moonlight Substation, located along Highway 238, has been renamed Hogenes Substation in honor of a well-established farming family whose roots run deep in Maricopa’s history.

At ED3, growth and development continue as the city expands. While new infrastructure supports the future, the history of the community and the people who helped build it is never forgotten. The renaming of the substation recognizes the Hogenes family and the generations of agricultural heritage that helped shape Maricopa.

Dick Hogenes remembers the early days when Maricopa was known primarily as a farming town and few people outside the area had heard of it. He recalls stories from his family about when the town had just one grocery store, one restaurant, and a memorable hot dog stand that locals still talk about today.

Mr. Hogenes shared that his parents first met in Maricopa before moving to Tempe, where the family started their dairy in 1958. In 1962, they returned to Maricopa and continued operating the dairy there until around 2022. While the dairy has since closed, the family continues farming south of the railroad tracks.

“Farming and dairying were in our blood,” Mr. Hogenes said when reflecting on the impact agriculture has had on his family.

For the Hogenes family, dairying and farming has always been about more than work. It is about tradition, shared memories, and skills passed down through generations. One tractor in particular holds a special place in the family’s history. An old John Deere 720, purchased by Mr. Hogenes’ father, has served as the first training tractor for generations of kids on the farm. Though he jokingly calls it “the worst tractor in the world,” with no power steering and a difficult hand clutch, it still runs today.

While their dairy was the first in Maricopa, Mr. Hogenes says it was never the largest. Still, it was part of the agricultural foundation that helped build the town.

“The town was built primarily on cotton and cattle,” he explained. “That’s really where Maricopa got its start.”

Today, as Maricopa continues to grow, stories like the Hogenes family’s serve as a reminder of the hard work, dedication, and agricultural roots that helped shape the community.

Hogenes Substation is tentatively expected to be in service in the fourth quarter of 2026.