V5I3 Good Day! by National Grange

Good DAY!

A quarterly publication of the National Grange Vol. 5, Issue 3 l Winter 2021-22

Winners all around The 155th Annual National Grange Convention in Wichita, Kansas, put the best of the organization on display, from civil debates to talents of members and friends of the Order

™

Grange Membership

BENEFITS Below is an overview of some of the benefits that are available to Grange members across the country. A full, detailed list can be viewed on the National Grange’s website: www.nationalgrange.org/benefits

SHOP

We have partnered with Office Depot/Office Max and The Azigo CashBack Shopping Mall. When you shop at these locations or use these services, you are giving back to the National Grange and receiving special deals in the process.

FINANCE

The National Grange has partnered with TSYS Merchant Solutions, which has been serving merchants for more than 30 years and offers a payment processing program tailored to your business needs. If you have a small business, this advantage could help you.

TRAVEL

With discounts from Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels, Hertz, Dollar Car, and Thrifty rental car services, as well as other hotel and rental car businesses, and RV accommodations with Harvest Hosts, these exclusive Grange benefits are sure to help you when planning your next vacation.

HEALTH

Our partnerships with Life Line, and the Medical Air Services Association, the oldest prepaid emergency transportation and screening organization, are sure to give you peace of mind about your health.

PHARMACY

We have multiple partnerships to help Grange members obtain discount pharmacy cards. CVS Caremark offers the RxSavings Plus Card. The U.S. Pharmacy Card is a free discount prescription card available to Grangers. Last offer excludes members in NC. Also a partnership with National Affinity Services allows access to the public subsidized government marketplace.

INSURANCE

We have partnerships with United of Omaha Life Insurance Company and MetLife Home and Auto Insurance to give our members discounts on insurance rates and deals. We are proud to announce a new benefit partner, Clouse Insurance Agency. State-based and property-based restrictions apply. Contact agency directly. Excludes Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and North Carolina.

... and many more plus new ones added regularly. Check our website for all active benefits. www.nationalgrange.org/benefits

Good DAY!

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GRANGE NEWS & VIEWS

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

S RA

THE STATE OF RURAL AMERICA

IDEAS FOR GRANGE PROGRAMS & ACTION

FOUNDATION

MEMBERSHIP NEWS & RECOGNITION

JUNIOR GRANGE

GRANGE YOUTH

H & L

F & R

L W

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HOBBIES & LIFESTYLE

FOOD & RECIPES

LAST WORD

Photo credit: Lindsay Schroeder

Cover Photo 66

WINNERS ALL AROUND

Attendees enjoy in-person convention Back after a virtual 154th Annual Convention, the National Grange met in Wichita, Kansas, in early November. From displays of member talent to the excitement of seeing one another in person again, the more than 350 attendees delighted in the event. Pictured, quilt block entries from the 2021 National Lecturer’s Quilt Block Contest were displayed in the Showcase for all to see. The blue ribbon for the open-class entry was won by Jennifer Hicks, of Nebraska.

Good Day! Magazine is a quarterly publication of the National Grange. located at 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006. ISSN: 2688-6030. | All comments and questions can be directed to communications@nationalgrange.org Reproduction or distribution of any part of this magazine is prohibited by anyone other than a Grange member or a chartered Grange without written permission from the National Grange Communications Department.

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE ®

www.nationalgrange.org

Staff

WHAT’S THE GRANGE? The National Grange was founded as a fraternal organization for farm families in 1867 – opening its doors to men and women equally from the start. From rural free delivery of mail to the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people, Grange has influenced many aspects of American life and culture. Today we continue to advocate for rural Americans and those interested in all areas of agriculture – including those who just like to eat – and our local Granges provide millions of dollars and hours of service to their neighbors annually. Each Grange operates as a grassroots unit, taking on projects most appropriate for their communities and advocating based on their members’ beliefs.

Learn more at www.nationalgrange.org.

OUR

Christine Hamp, WA, Vice President champ@grange.org Lynette Schaeffer, IL,

Executive Committee Chair lschaeffer@grange.org Susan Noah, OR

Executive Committee Member snoah@grange.org Leroy Watson, NH Executive Committee Member & Grange Advocacy Board Chair leroyawatson@nationalgrange.org William “Buddy” Overstreet, TX, Executive Committee Member boverstreet@grange.org Ann Bercher, MN, National Lecturer

lecturer@nationalgrange.org

Betsy E. Huber, Publisher National Grange President President, Grange Foundation President, Grange Advocacy betsy@nationalgrange.org Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios, Editor Membership & Leadership Development Director & Grange Foundation Associate abrozana@nationalgrange.org Philip J. Vonada, Editorial Assistant Communications Director pvonada@nationalgrange.org Stephanie Wilkins, Subscriptions Manager IT Director swilkins@nationalgrange.org

Officers

Betsy E. Huber, PA, President betsy@nationalgrange.org

OUR

Burton Eller, Advertising Partner Legislative Director Executive Director, Grange Advocacy beller@nationalgrange.org Loretta Washington Sales, Benefits, Programs & Membership Recognition Director lwashington@nationalgrange.org

William “Chip” Narvel, DE, National Steward John Plank, IN, National Assistant Steward

Samantha Wilkins Operations Manager & National Junior Grange Director samantha@nationalgrange.org

Kathy Gibson, MA, National Lady Assistant Steward Barbara Borderieux, FL, National Chaplain

Sean O’Neil Legislative Assistant soneil@nationalgrange.org

Joe Goodrich, VT, National Treasurer

Mandy Bostwick Youth Development Director youth@nationalgrange.org

Debbie Campbell, PA, National Secretary Christopher Johnston, MI, National Gatekeeper Cindy Greer, CO, National Ceres

Pete Pompper Community Service Director communityservice@nationalgrange.org

Kay Stiles, MD, National Pomona

Mujo Mrkonjic Building Engineer

Welina Shufeldt, OK, National Flora

HEADQUARTERS PHONE (202) 628-3507

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE

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www.nationalgrange.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Betsy E. Huber

The 155th Annual Session of the National Grange was very successful, and so good to be together in person after two years apart from our brothers and sisters! About 100 resolutions were considered, many awards given, several new officers elected, and great speakers heard, all of which you can read about in this issue. Again I was amazed to see and hear about all the Grange activities you were able to accomplish in spite of the ongoing pandemic, now nearing two years duration. Thank you to all those Granges who have continued to meet in some way, either virtually, by phone, or in person, to continue your work helping others in your communities. We all need to take this opportunity, while people are re-setting their priorities, to invite them to your meetings and involve them in your community service activities. We can step in now to fill that void created when all other activities shut down, if we show our value to the individual and the community through our service to others. Use these unusual circumstances as an opportunity to showcase your Grange as a vital resource in your community. Our theme for 2022 is “Raised Right Here.” This simple phrase can have many meanings, depending on which word you emphasize. Raised—the Grange educates and trains individuals beginning at 5 years old and continuing as long as they live. Education is

one of the founding principles of our Order, and most of our programming is aimed toward education in some way. Raised also has an agricultural connotation—we plant the seed in our members, as in the First Degree, and cultivate their characters through our departmental activities, eventually reaping a bountiful harvest. We support our farmers and gardeners through lobbying for good government programs and laws to assist them rather than put more obstacles in their path. We advocate for funding and opportunities for local farms, agricultural and small businesses to improve their economic well-being and therefore the health of rural America. Right—We abide by the laws of our state and nation, and the Constitution and Bylaws of the National Grange and our State Grange. We pledge to “inculcate a strict obedience to all laws and edicts emanating from the proper authority.” We exercise our rights to free speech and assembly, but we follow the rules of an orderly society. We search for the truth; we don’t just accept statements and opinions, but do our own research and pursue the facts. We train our children and new members to respect each other, respect our government and Grange leaders, and become outstanding leaders in their communities. Here—where we live. We bloom where we are planted, in every local village or countryside. We work in cooperation with other community organizations for the betterment of our local areas. The Grange does not live in Washington DC; it lives in the Community Grange and the hearts of all our members. Right Here—combining these words gives it the meaning of immediacy—we are being raised, educated, trained, grown

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right now. The phrase doesn’t just refer to past successes, but more importantly, our current work and our future. What are we doing now to “raise” our next generation of Grangers? Throughout the next year we want to focus on local resources, sustainability and resilience for rural and hometowns. We will advocate for small businesses and local farms to help them thrive. The last two years have been especially challenging for these folks and we want to engage our army of Grangers to help them. We want to involve all ages of members—from

the

Junior

Grange,

to youth programming, to adults. We encourage you to plan programs to examine what sustainability, resilience, food security, and protecting the environment mean in your community. Consider inviting local businessmen and agriculturalists to your meetings to learn more about their problems and how the Grange can help them. And we hope you will share your successful programs with others across the country. We have a chance to make 2022 the best Grange year in our lifetimes!

ADVERTISE WITH US Our quarterly publication welcomes advertisers. Up to a 20% discount may be offered to Grange members on their ad purchases. All rates shown are for pre-designed content submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of press date for an issue. You may request rates for ads to be designed by our staff.

GOOD DAY!™ PRESS DATES 2022 Issue

Due Date

Summer

May 1

Spring Fall

Winter

Hits Mailboxes

February 1

April 1, 2022

August 15

September 15, 2022

June 1, 2022

November 15

January 1, 2023

Classified ads are also welcomed at $0.50 per word up to 25 words, $1 thereafter; $2.50 per website, email, or other link regardless of word count; $5 per photo (will appear no larger than 1.5”x1”). Special requests (bold design, font increase) available for extra charge. All copy should be submitted no later than 10 days prior to the due date. National Grange assumes no responsibility for that which is advertised in Good Day!™ and reserves the right to reject ads deemed offensive or irrelevant. Please contact Amanda Brozana Rios at abrozana@nationalgrange.org or by phone at (301) 943-1090 for details.

WRITE FOR US This is your chance! This is your magazine. Submissions may be made by any Grange member in good standing, especially including Junior and Youth members and must be your own original work. For Juniors, you may get your parent, guardian or another mentor or adult’s assistance to write or draw the piece, but we expect all those who assist to adhere to high ethical standards and allow the Junior’s work to be reflected without influence by the adult/ older assistant. All work must be in good taste and appropriate for our audience. The National Grange reserves the right to reject any submissions.

Guidelines & The Fine Print Entries may include: photo essay (at least three photos that together tell a story with captions identifying the people in the photo if applicable and what is happening in the scene); short story (max. 1,500 words); poem; essay/article (maximum 1,500 words and must include at least two relevant photographs with captions); skit (no more than six speaking characters; should not take more than 10 minutes to perform and should not require an elaborate set); D-I-Y (do-it-yourself) project with supply list, step-by-step instructions and photos of each step; or open category (examples include but are not limited to a coloring book page related to Grange or agriculture; comic strip or box; recipes, etc.).

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Each entry must be submitted digitally and include name, address, phone number, email (if applicable) and Grange details (name, number and state of Subordinate Grange and office held). Junior 1+ members can list the Subordinate or State Grange they are affiliated with. E-members can list National Grange E-member. Submission

acknowledgment

that

publication is authorized. In the case of Junior submissions, this is acknowledgment of right to publish by both Junior and their parent/ guardian. All submissions must be made via email to communications@nationalgrange.org.

From the desk of the AMANDA LEIGH BROZANA RIOS The communities in which the Grange lives are special. There is a richness of life in our hometowns that has nothing to do with dollars and cents. But sometimes, it’s hard to see, especially for “outsiders.” In rural areas, failing infrastructure, opioids, the digital divide, loss of manufacturing jobs and outmigration have been hot topics for three decades or more. Yet in spite of these issues and hundreds more unique to America’s most remote and smallest hometowns, we persist in living in them and loving them. As a flood of individuals return from suburban and urban centers or become rural residents for the first time because of the pandemic and the paradigm shifts it brought to the world, Granges and Grange members are presented a golden opportunity to serve as welcome wagon, pride patrol and activist allies for our communities. The Grange theme for 2022-23, “Raised Right Here,” allows us to do just that. Just after returning home from the National Grange Convention, I was able to get a jump-start on using the theme as part of a display for our local Grange, Jefferson #1384, that reorganized in May 2021. Our membership - with an average age of just under 35 and a lot of “littles” running around our meetings - has focused so much of our efforts on supporting local agriculture, local businesses, local craftsmen and more. We have used our pride in what is raised in our county - be it produce, people or spirit - to connect to one another and to help tell the story of why we exist when there are hundreds of other charitable organizations operating in or around our area. In our first few meetings, we introduced new farms or products to our members through our potlucks and giveaways of locally grown produce at our meetings. From a variety of strawberry that would bear fruit late into October making its debut at a farm now owned by a young couple with Grange ties, to a taste test of various apple varieties available at another grower’s farm-stand, the new members and guests who had often previously never heard of the Grange came to expect that when they stepped into our meeting, they would be greeted with food, friendship, a kind of farm tour and most importantly: a group that cherished the area in which we are all invested. That focus on local led us to intentionally purchase potatoes grown in our county to use at our fair booth this past summer. We made sure to feature this fact in our press release, social media ads, banner at the stand and all other advertising about our stand. Our pride in our hometown products was evident and contagious.

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Editor

We were even interviewed on the local radio station about our stand and the humble, but local, baked potatoes we were offering because of the hometown connection. By November, we finally had words for the work and pride and focus we had found, thanks to the “Raised Right Here” theme. We secured a space at an annual decorated tree festival held by a local arts nonprofit, the Walk-In Arts Center (WIAC). WIAC offers other nonprofits in the area the opportunity to decorate trees that individuals visiting the center can vote on as their favorite or place silent auction bids on to take home - tree, decorations and all. There is no fee for entry if you bring your own tree, but most other organizations “purchase” an artificial tree from WIAC and go from there. For our Grange, this was an awesome opportunity to sing the praises of a local Christmas tree farm that was selected as the winner of the national tree contest and farm from which the 2022 White House Christmas Tree will hail. That farm, too, has a Grange connection that we’re pretty proud of. Our theme for decorations was a no-brainer - patriotic with White House Historical Association ornaments and the

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

opportunity for our members to tell people that WHHA is a tenant in the National Grange Headquarters, just a block from the White House. Then we added a few finishing touches that tied the tree back to our county most specifically the farm on which it was grown. We put a few wooden photo frame ornaments on the tree with photos of the three-generations farm family tending to, and standing with pride with their product. Off to the side, we added an 18”x22” sign (pictured to the right) with information about the tree and our Grange along with a box of Jefferson Grange brochures and flyers about our upcoming “Free Photos with Santa” event. The sign includes the “Raised Right Here” logotype and an outline of our county - a very recognizable shape for many in “the Skook” as we affectionately call it. It also includes text that unmistakably conveys: “If you are proud to be from this place, we are the group for you to affiliate with.” But if you’re a transplant, just trying to figure out where you fit in our rural corner of the world, what then? We believe our efforts to elevate the pride of place we have in our area also says, “We’re the group that can help you establish your own roots here and appreciate all that this place has to offer.” Having moved to several communities in my life where I had only academic or professional connections, I was longing for that group or individual who rooted me in a way to my new area and made me feel like I was experiencing the best of the place. A Grange that finds a way to excite the die-hards, the lifers and the generationally connected while inviting the newcomers, transplants and transients to the same table will provide a remarkable service for their hometown. By connecting the individuals without established roots to your community, you will increase investment by individuals who may come with big-city salaries or big-time connections that can raise quality of life in your area in a variety of ways. You’ll also help erase the label “outsider” and be able to squash tension before it begins. Finally, your pride may be

contagious, too. You may help someone, like a fifth generation farm kid or a collegebound business-minded kid, make the choice to stay or come home after school to invest in your community as well. Future-casting is important - a look at where you want to be and how to get there. That means understanding the outcomes you are seeking and relentlessly walking or creating paths to get there. Next year, we’ll take part in the tree event again. We’ll have an evergreen from a different farm (there are lots of them in our area and it’s important to spread the love). We’ll have a different theme, but the message will remain: things that are

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raised here are raised right, and from that, greatness grows. I believe every Grange member can relate. There is something great about the community or area you serve, something that calls you to its service and the service of your neighbors also invested in that place. I can’t wait to see how you use this theme to tell the story of your community and the Grange. Make sure to share that story with us - how you are instilling in both the lifelong and new residents of your area a sense of pride and what makes your hometown special to you. Send your story to communications@nationalgrange.org.

New Communications Director aboard as of Jan. 1 By Lindsay Schroeder

asset in connecting Granges at all levels

Senior Communications Fellow

and is an exciting addition to the National Grange staff.”

Philip J. Vonada of Pennsylvania has

Vonada

been hired as Communications Director

County and Eagle Grange #1 in Lycoming

assumes the role left open by Amanda

County. He serves as the Director of the

Brozana Rios, who was appointed in as

National

Williamsport,

of Penns Valley Grange #158 in Centre

Vonada has big shoes to fill as he

2021

Pennsylvania, where he is a member

of the National Grange.

February

resides

Pennsylvania State Junior Grange, and

Grange

was previously a Communications Fellow

Membership and Leadership Director.

in 2019 and Trimble Legislative Youth

“I am looking forward to the challenges

Delegate in 2018.

and opportunities this new role provides.”

“The

communications

department

says Vonada. “As somebody who has

is multifaceted and fast-paced. I think

grown up in the Grange, I am excited

having a fresh perspective will provide

to be able to continue growing the

our members and our organization as a

Grange by increasing our outreach and

whole with a renewed energy, and Phil

communication, both within our Granges and out to the public at large. Over the past several years, Amanda has set up a strong Communications department, and I am grateful for her leadership and our ability to continue to work alongside each

to grow as an organization, he said.

has a deep Grange background that will

A major goal for Philip in his new

help him hit the ground running. I’m really

position is to connect with Granges who

excited to see where Phil will take us,”

may not feel tightly connected to the

said Brozana Rios. Vonada is the General Manager

National Grange. improved

of the Community Theatre League in

other as she completes the transition into

resources members can use to enrich

Williamsport until the end of this year,

her new role.”

their local communities and see a value in

when he will officially assume his new role.

Vonada’s first major project in his new

hopes

provide

being part of the Grange as a whole.

He holds a bachelor’s in Speech

role was to be the primary lead on the

“Philip brings a positive attitude, a

Communication Fellows program at the

strong work ethic, and a broad background

Millersville University of Pennsylvania and

155th Annual Convention.

in the Grange and public relations to this

a Master of Arts from Villanova University.

He is eager to expand his abilities and

position,” said National Grange President

In his spare time, Vonada enjoys theater,

provide essential services for the Grange

Betsy Huber. “He is going to be a strong

baking, cooking, working out and reading.

Communication

and

Theatre

from

Let’s hear your story

Indeed, being a Grange member is one of the most rewarding experiences. For many, the story of how they came to join the Grange does not capture the essence of how they came to be a Granger and what that means in their lives. We want to hear from you! What is your #Grangestory that tells how you became a Granger? Did you see application of degree lessons to your daily life and relate them to friends and coworkers? Did you find yourself embracing new ideas and finding ways to overcome differences? Submit your story of no more than 650 words and a photo, if applicable, to Philip at pvonada@nationalgrange.org by February 1 for potential inclusion in a future issue of Good Day! or use on our social media.

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Delegates make tough call; 1616 H. will go on market By Philip J. Vonada Communications Director Following months of emotional and passionate discussion, a decision has been made regarding the National Grange headquarters. A roll-call vote on Wednesday afternoon showed a clear majority in favor of selling the building, located at 1616 H Street NW in Washington, D.C. “It was a necessary step,” said National Grange President Betsy Huber. “It was an emotional decision - I understand that. But our mission is not to operate a building as landlords. We need to dedicate more of our efforts and money to Grange programming rather than managing a building.” Delegates, assembled in Wichita at the 155th National Grange Convention, spent many hours debating the pros and cons of retaining the headquarters building, and what to do if a decision was made to sell. In her report to the Delegates, Operations Coordinator Samantha Wilkins pointed out that the structural and maintenance issues the building has faced over the past few years are just the beginning. “We all love this building,” but she advised that continuing discussion would force the Grange to spend on a building that is no longer in prime shape. She advised that the history and sentimentality behind the National Grange Headquarters are not strong enough reasons to face mounting debt from taking on consistent maintenance problems. Following the vote, Grange members nationwide are now grappling with the question of “where do we go from here?” Delegates and past Delegates have expressed concerns of allowing a debt to be paid for by the next generation of Grangers.

Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios Delegates to the 155th Annual National Grange Convention

made the emotional decision to sell the organization’s headquarters located at 1616 H. St. NW, Washington, D.C.

National Grange Executive Committee member Leroy Watson said the sale is not necessarily going to be a fast process.

“It’s about getting a return on the investment that [we] can use

“It’s not like we’re going to put a sign out front that says ‘building for sale,’” he said, noting that there is a “specific universe of potential buyers” who are looking for a building like the National Grange owns. Watson noted that the resolution on which the Delegates voted requires the National Grange to work with a licensed real estate firm, in the same way Community Granges are required to do when they sell a Hall. Then-National Grange Vice President Phil Prelli said that the Executive Committee is challenged to “best use the net proceeds

to help support the mission of the organization,” he said. Investing in traditional stocks and bonds “will generate additional income for Grange operations to sustain and even to grow our programs,” Watson added. These funds “can make a difference in the future of our organization,” Prelli said. The decision to move forward with the sale of the National Grange Headquarters certainly has an emotional effect on Grangers.

from the sale to do the proper job in running our National Grange.”

The National Grange Executive Committee is now tasked

Watson pointed out that the building has been an investment

with the responsibility of making the best decisions and solid

for the past 60 years, and the proceeds from the sale will be an

investment choices to positively affect programming and the

investment for the next 60 and beyond.

future of the Grange.

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New National Lecturer takes opportunity to introduce herself By Ann Bercher National Lecturer I did not grow up in the Grange. I grew up in Iowa the descendant of dairy farmers, a milk processing plant engineer and a retail specialty cheese shop owner. While I grew up in a moderate sized metropolitan area, I clearly remember hearing the farm report every morning on the radio while we ate breakfast. Love those gilts and barrows! My mother was an avid gardener, and I learned to love growing plants for food from her. We spent hours together in the garden and then canning or freezing our bounty for later use. I attended Iowa State University graduating with a BA in Landscape Architecture with an English minor. I moved to Minnesota with my husband, and we raised 2 sons and a daughter. One day, I answered an ad in the Minneapolis Star Tribune for a part time historic farm site tour guide. I applied for the job, got hired and began working at the Oliver Kelley Farm where I first learned about the Grange. While the job was only a six-month seasonal job, with no prior experience on a farm, or much knowledge of history, I am an eager learner and I figured I could do anything for six months. I worked at the Oliver Kelley Farm for 25 years. The state Grange of Minnesota held their annual meetings at the farm, and while I was working on the farm site, I would occasionally get a glimpse of what was going on in the Grange Hall that was concealed behind the curtains in the Visitor Center. During their breaks, many Granger would visit the historic farm site where I was usually puttering around in the garden. I met so many wonderful people in that garden! It wasn’t until I became the Assistant Site Manager that I joined the Grange. To be honest, I did it for work. I enjoyed my local Grange meetings and the partnership they created with the Friends of the Kelley Farm. I attended numerous

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Ann

Bercher,

President

the

Minnesota State Grange, was elected National Lecturer at the session.

National Conventions as a vendor “selling” the Kelley Farm and our activities to you. I met so many wonderful people as they passed by the Kelley Farm table. And I was always thrilled when a familiar face showed up at the Kelley Farm following the convention. I made so many friends from across the country as a Grange member! While I was working at the Kelley Farm, economic struggles began to threaten job security, so I went back to school in Culinary Arts. I became a classically trained chef but soon discovered that the restaurant life was not for me. I would prefer to teach. Luckily, the Kelley Farm received funding to expand and create a new campus to explore modern agriculture which also included a state-of-the-art kitchen classroom. There I was able to create and present hands-on farm to table cooking programs for all ages. After some restructuring of the Historical society (who runs the Kelley Farm) I chose to expand my life work journey and took a job at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum as the Education Culinary specialist. There I develop cooking

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classes (for the first 18 months they were all virtual), invite other chefs to present classes and dinners, and invite wine experts to offer wine tasting and appreciation classes. The Arboretum currently has two kitchens that I work out of. Next year there will be a third. Thew one is located on a historic portion of the Arboretum that was the site of a farm family, contemporaries of Oliver Kelley, who was living 35 miles to the north. I have continued to share the stories of agriculture from the past 19th century to today and love every moment! I can never get very far away from agriculture. Four years ago, I was honored to become a Communications Fellow at the National Convention at Stowe, Vermont. I learned so much and met so many more Grange members from across the country. I was elected to be the state president of Minnesota, but I had already committed to the Fellows program so when the National Convention was in Minnesota, I stayed behind the scenes to continue my education as a Communications Fellow. The next year, as we all know, was a virtual National Session. I participated in the Health and Education Committee work and attended the full session. This year in Wichita, KS, I attended a full, in-person session of the National Grange. Then I got elected as National Lecturer. Well, that was a surprise! A very humbling and welcomed surprise. I follow the footsteps of an amazing past Lecturer and now Vice President Chris Hamp. Chris has left a terrific legacy of programs, many which will continue under my watch, such as Quilts of Valor, the Quilt Block contest and the Photography Contest. I also hope to offer more educational opportunities regarding food waste, climate change as it affects agriculture, and the challenges farmers and all agricultural workers face to feed a growing population despite a global pandemic. So, while I did not grow up in the Grange, I have certainly grown into the Grange. I like the way it fits!

Youth, Juniors invited to become advocates at DC event Youth, Young Adults, and Juniors are invited to join us in Washington, DC on March 12-15, 2022 for the second Washington DC Experience. The purpose of the Washington DC Experience is for Junior and Youth/Young Adult aged Grangers from across the country to come together and learn about how the Grange functions on the legislative side. “This was one of the best opportunities offered by the Grange that I have ever been a part of,” said Pennsylvania State Grange President Wayne Campbell, who attended, with his grandson, the inaugural event in 2019. “It was spectacular and I would encourage every member to consider sending a Youth, taking a Youth, sponsoring a Youth or a Junior to be part of this program.” Youth and Juniors will be educated on the many ways in which Grangers and citizens alike can advocate on the issues they feel important to shape public policy and communities in which they live. During the Washington DC Experience, Grangers are invited to get an up-close and behind-the-scenes look at what government

PLAN TO ATTEND Register online by February 12 at bit.ly/DCE22 (case sensitive). Registration is $150 to include most meals and tours. Call 703-344-8020 to make your reservations with the event hotel, the Quality Inn Tysons Corner for just $79/ night plus tax by February 12 using hotel block code National Grange.

Grange Legislative Department. Plans will also include meeting with governmental entities such as the USDA and with members of Congress from the districts in which the Juniors and Youth reside, as well as a tour of Washington, D.C. “Just as our Grange Declaration of Purposes suggests, we will ensure that our Grange Youth, Young Adults, and Juniors ‘take a proper interest in the politics of one’s country’ so they might become the informed and involved citizens required to move America forward and to guarantee a better society for future generations,” Wilkins said. Travel and lodging costs are the responsibility of the attendees, Wilkins said.

is and how it operates in Washington, DC. “We are ensuring our future, the future of our hometowns, of agriculture, of rural America, by empowering these kids early to know how to advocate and be engaged citizens,” National Junior Grange Director Samantha Wilkins said. Grangers will attend briefings with important information pertaining to the

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The event has a $150 registration fee to cover some meal costs and tours. Potomac Grange #1 of Washington DC is offering a scholarship called the “Grange Grassroots Activism Scholarship,” to enable at least one Junior or Youth to attend the event. Information about the scholarship is available in the National Youth and Junior Grange Program books.

Beauty of language to some may cut deep for others By Corey Spence Vice President, Massachusetts State Grange So many of us treasure the value and beauty of the rituals that sustain us and our Granges. Yet that language can become a barrier to others. Just as no one now condones black-face and its inherent racism, we have to work to root out other forms of discrimination including some Grange ritual. In American society, there is simply no way to remove the stain of the slavery movement from the words Master and Overseer. At the 2020 session of the Massachusetts State Grange the delegates voted to change our officer titles to President and Vice President. Racism and xenophobia are built into the very core of our national identity. We gave the idea that God gave North America to Europeans the title Manifest Destiny. We used this idea to steal land from the Native Americans. In fact the first seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony had a Native American in a loin cloth begging Europeans to come and help them, thus implying their

societies weren’t worth anything and they had no claim to the land they didn’t use the way Europeans thought they should. Government buildings and even the economy of the United States were built by the slave labor of people considered property and in the words of the U.S. Constitution merely 3/5 of a human being. We have yet to atone as a nation for the centuries of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and discrimination against people because of the way they look. Like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I dream of a day when my nephews, and their father who hails from Mali, will truly be judged on the content of their character and not by the standards society has set for them. I no longer want to worry that if my nephews aren’t twice as good as white people the consequences could be grave. I would also argue that sexism should no longer have a place in the Grange or its ritual. When I perform the traditional installation ceremony I change some of the charges to emphasize that women are more than just lovely people that sit there so we can look at them and thus remember to act like refined human beings. I say that the teachings of our Order, “form part of the farming life. They do not call farmers to put their minds on any other subject…” I also say in the charge to Pomona, “Let all

engage in that work whenever practical and proper.” Women don’t need to be urged to take part in agriculture, have their sphere of life enlarged, or reminded that there is work outside the kitchen or the house, they have always been working in all parts of society. Let us begin to see changes in language not as something to be feared or despised but as something opening us up to seeing the world through the eyes of different segments of our society. These changes may challenge our privilege, but they in no way demean us and in many ways empower those whose voices are historically ignored. We trumpet the fact that our Order helped women get a voice and a vote. Can we begin to trumpet that we are looking at ourselves and rooting out the places where language and privilege create hardships for others? Let us become even more open to learning from and welcoming the perspectives of the people around us whether they are Grange members or not. Words can wound and words can heal. When society evolves and words need to change, it is our duty to change them. Let’s create a more welcoming world that we can all enjoy together. Our Order and its ritual have evolved and will continue to evolve as a living organization grows into the 21st century.

Headquarters sale decision allows us to focus on true ‘home’ of Grange By Gene Edelen Past President, Iowa State Grange “There’s no place like home, There’s no place like home, There’s no place like home.” How fitting of a line from “The Wizard of Oz” considering the 155th National Grange Convention just was held in Kansas. The Delegate Body of the National Grange had a difficult decision to make, which could be ranked as one of the most difficult decisions that a Delegate Body has had to make in our history: to give their okay to authorize the sale of the National Grange headquarters building at 1616 H Street NW in Washington, DC. I agree with the decision made to go forth with the sale. The headquarters has been an icon for our organization for over 60 years,

N & V

but to not authorize this sale would have been fiscally irresponsible and place a huge burden on future generations of Grange members. If we had the membership base and were using a majority of the building, my answer would be different. So where is the home of the National Grange? Is it at 744 Jackson Place – the first building the Grange purchased? Or at the Kelley Farm in Elk River, Minnesota? Or is it at 1616 H Street NW? Or is the real home in the foundation of our Community Granges and Grangers? I choose the latter. Sure, the National Grange needs a home office with space for just our organization, but it doesn’t have to be in the current location, which doesn’t fit our needs anymore. We need a functional headquarters that makes sense for this organization. Just like Dorothy made her way back home to her loved ones at the end of the movie, the National Grange will make their way to a new headquarters and still be in the home of her loved ones “ the Community Granges and Grangers throughout the U.S.”

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Dictionaries, degrees and devices work together By Walter Boomsma Maine State Grange Communications Director As many know, the Valley Grange “Words for Thirds” Dictionary Program has become a “rite of passage” in our area–and a bit of a ritual. Last year, we had to make significant changes in our approach when COVID meant third graders couldn’t visit the Grange Hall and Grangers couldn’t visit them at school. One of the things I’ve always enjoyed is showing the kids the staves, explaining what farmer’s tool each represents, and how we apply that to “the Grange Way of Life.” I’m also always pleased when the thank you notes we receive include hand-drawn staves. The kids remember them! So, I can’t resist asking you to list the Photo submitted by Walter Boomsma

four staves. Bonus points if you know which officer carries which stave! (This is reminiscent of the game “Are you smarter than a third grader?” While the recently released National Grange Brochure doesn’t cover the staves, it does an excellent job of summarizing the Four Degrees: their emblems, seasons, and lessons. One thing that recommends this brochure is that it removes any mysticism, simplifies the degrees and symbols, and shows how they can apply to our daily lives. That’s what we try to explain to the kids during

dictionary

remind me to pick up papers and trash

Memorizing the degrees and symbols

on the floor of our classroom.” I was

can be fun, but let’s not miss the meaning.

less pleased when a student asked if

If a Grange is struggling, could we not

we couldn’t use it to “cut out the math

look at the emblems as a way of thinking

lessons.” But she gets points for thinking.

through change? What do we need to

And we get to think about the fact that

prune out? Can the hoe help us “destroy

we don’t always like what’s good for us.

error… while promoting the growth of

wonder–do

“modern-day”

knowledge and wisdom?”

Grangers consider the Degrees and

An obvious Grange Program based

Symbols as part of our daily lives to the

on this brochure is to develop a “trivia”

same degree our forebears did? On

contest based on the degrees and

Dictionary Day, the kids end up thinking

symbols. But if we stop there, we fail our

about what agriculture and farming tools

purpose as educators.

can teach us. Some think it would be

When was the last time someone

pretty awesome to have a set of staves

other than the master and steward

pretty good at the

in their classrooms. (They especially like

looked at the items in the implement

application

when

the owl.) We make the point that their

case? The knowing is good, but let’s not

we discuss the staves. I offer a brief

dictionaries are tools and try to teach the

omit the doing. What tools do we have

explanation, then invite them to consider

concept of stewardship in a simple form.

to grow ourselves and our Granges, and

if they had one in their classroom; what

Are we smarter than third-graders?

how are we going to best use them? Are

might it remind them of? One of my all-

(That’s a game we play at school by asking

we being good stewards? Who is ready

time favorites came from a young fellow

older kids or adults questions about the

to grab the shepherd’s hook and lead the

who said, “The pruning hook would

things third-graders are learning.)

way?

presentations. The

kids

are

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GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

White House may have signaled change coming to antitrust law enforcement By Will Gallagher Reprinted with permission of the Daily Yonder

of which was focused on strategizing

projects to develop new and regionally

avenues for stronger enforcement.

adapted varieties.

After decades of delay and a

The vast majority of patented varieties

legislative rider defunding all efforts to

developed by the big corporations

move forward with rulemaking, USDA

only contain genetic modifications that

The White House on July 9 issued

announced in June that it would finally

grant them resistance to an herbicide or

an ambitious Executive Order tackling

breathe new life into the Packers and

pesticide that is also sold by the same

consolidation in agriculture and several

Stockyards Act.

company, trapping farmers in a revolving

other key industries.

The proposed rules will more clearly

door of dependence on a single supplier

The order reasserts the government’s

define the contours of illegal behavior,

authority to challenge deceitful and

do away with the “tournament” pricing

harmful

corporate

structure — where poultry growers

farmers are routinely investigated for

era

extreme

practices

monopolization

for many, if not all, of their inputs. To

make

matters

worse,

these

are pitted against their peers and paid

patent infringement – for saving these

agricultural markets, including seed,

based on a ranking system — and

proprietary varieties.

farm equipment, and livestock.

allow plaintiffs to bring lawsuits without

Farmers’ time-honored right to save

Consolidation reduces choices and

needing to demonstrate industry-wide

a portion of their harvest for re-planting

drives up prices for seeds and other

harm. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack

is now illegal due to corporate patent

farm inputs, allowing the handful of top

praised the initiative, arguing that the

rights and the egregious contracts

industry players to push products and

agency’s interpretation of antitrust law

protecting them.

polices that perpetuate an unsustainable

“needs to take into account modern

Biden’s plan acknowledges these

system with little to no concern for public

market dynamics” rather than continue

dangers and duly targets patents as

or environmental health.

“to be used as a safe harbor for bad

a driver of consolidation, directing

actors.”

the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Antitrust is governed by a patchwork of 100-year old laws: mainly the federal

While certainly a step in the right

to investigate and prepare a report

Sherman, FTC, and Clayton Acts. The

direction,

Sherman Act outlaws any “contract”

protections envisioned by the Packers

unreasonably

and Stockyards Act should be extended

The body of precedent supporting

restrains trade, the Clayton Act prohibits

to all agricultural sectors, not just

the practice of granting utility patents on

monopolistic mergers and acquisitions,

livestock.

seeds is surprisingly thin: the legislative

“conspiracy”

that

the

enhanced

antitrust

outlining the anticompetitive effects of seed patents and potential solutions.

and the FTC Act established the Federal

The problems inherent in livestock

histories of the Plant Patent Act and

Trade Commission as the major antitrust

farming abound in crop farming as well,

Plant Variety Protection Act show that

watchdog alongside the Department of

in both cases largely due to unequal

Congress expressly considered — and

Justice (DOJ).

ownership of resources and exploitative

twice rejected — overly restrictive grants

Consolidation in agricultural markets

contracts that squeeze out most of the

of power over new varieties. Seeds

was such a potent driving force behind

profits and pin nearly all of the liabilities

became patentable thanks to a novel

these

on the farmer.

interpretation from a narrow majority

laws

that

Congress

devised

especially strict restrictions to combat anti-competitive

behavior

the

livestock industry. This law, known as the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA), has been

Farmers who grow patented seed

of justices on the Supreme Court, who

— over 90% in the U.S. — must do so

in 1980 decided that GMOs were not

in a highly controlled manner or risk

“products of nature” but rather human

breaching the contract with their seed

inventions. How can Congress best remedy the

supplier.

minimally effective, despite the USDA

These agreements bar any and all

and DOJ jointly holding five public

research, replanting, and other off-

workshops on competition in 2010, one

label uses of seed, including breeding

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problems caused by consolidation in the seed industry? Restoring Plant Variety Protection

as the exclusive avenue for protecting new seeds would still promote competition and innovation without the excessively monopolistic results. Increasing funding for public plant breeding would also be a step in the right direction, as these programs tend

getting to know

GRANGE HISTORY

to focus on crops with high sociocultural, scientific, and nutritional value, rather than commodity crops with a high market value. A promising solution identified in the Executive Order would be to promulgate a model contract, which (if adopted by the industry) would help steer the balance of power back in favor of farmers by striking out some of the most egregious provisions in seed sale contracts. In addition to investigating intellectual property and revamping the livestock rules, the order also directs USDA to adopt “anti-retaliation” provisions for farmers who assert their rights or speak up against injustices. In too many cases, farmers who call for more zealous oversight have become the subject of investigations, lost contracts with their supplier, or have otherwise been vilified by the industry. Eight states have adopted “farmer protection” laws in an attempt to level the playing field in patent infringement disputes, and in 2019, New York passed a law creating an affirmative defense when the farmer can show that they had no intentional involvement and did not knowingly benefit from GMO contamination events. Other proposals in the plan would call on the government to strengthen “right-to-repair” protections, allowing farmers to repair their own equipment in a costeffective manner, and investigate monopolies in the healthcare, finance, and tech industries. Biden’s Executive Order should be lauded for its extensive scope and acknowledgment of serious issues that previous administrations have swept under the rug; however, corporations will certainly not change their ways without a fight. The time has never been riper for standing up for what we believe in — safe food, healthy consumers, and autonomy for farmers — and recognizing that ethical corporate practices lie at the heart of these goals.

GRANGE HAS LONG HISTORY OF INVOLVEMENT, SUCCESS IN ANTITRUST EFFORTS As the author mentions, agriculture has long been

a central industry in American antitrust regulation. The National Grange has been at the center of this legislative

battle since its founding and played a key role in the

passage of many antitrust regulations which remain in place to this day.

An early effort in antitrust regulations in agriculture

came in the 1860s and 1870s when many states passed so-called Granger Laws, named after the National Grange which fought for their passage. The laws were designed

to regulate rising fare prices of railroad and grain elevator

companies which were the result of significant market concentration in both of those industries.

Efforts by the Grange and other organizations

increased popular support for even more antitrust

action, and led directly to the passage of the Sherman

Antitrust Act of 1890 which the author references in the article. The National Grange also played a substantial

role in supporting other major antitrust laws including the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, the Federal Trade

Commission Act of 1914, and the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921.

Will Gallagher is a third-year law student at the University of Maryland interested in the intersection of agricultural law and intellectual property. Will currently serves on the executive board of the Maryland Law Review, UMD Food

Today, the National Grange continues this history of

antitrust advocacy by supporting legislation in Congress to strengthen antitrust law in agriculture and urging the executive branch to enforce standing antitrust provisions.

Law Society, and UMD Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. He wrote this piece as part of Organic Seed Alliance’s

- By Sean O’Neil, Grange Legislative Assistant

Seed Patent Watch project.

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Grange supports ‘Know your Social Security Act’ By Lindsey Sather Intern, National Grange Eleven years ago, you received a letter telling you how much you contributed to Social Security in the past year and how much Social Security would pay you at retirement. Do you know this information now? If your answer is no, then you are part of the 83% of Americans that are in the dark about their contributions to and future earnings from Social Security. This is because eleven years ago, the annual paper mailings with these numbers were discontinued with no warning to the millions of Americans reliant on this information. Currently, 180 million citizens are paying into Social Security, but since 2011, the Social Security Administration has only mailed annual statements to a limited group of workers: those who are age 60 years and older, are not receiving Social Security benefits, and have not registered for an online account with SSA. All workers used to receive their annual statements in the mail, but the SSA abruptly suspended these mailings in 2010. Now, there is an online portal, but due to a lack of awareness, security concerns, and a lack of internet access, only 16.7 million people use it each year, leaving the rest in the dark about the information essential for understanding their finances and planning for retirement. Eleven years after the suspension, Congress has noticed the issue, and legislation was recently introduced in June: the Know Your Social Security Act. The bill will simply reverse the 2010 decision to suspend the annual Social Security mailings. Statements would be mailed to every individual who is 25 or older and who is eligible for, but not currently receiving, Social Security retirement benefits. Additionally, individuals may choose to receive their account statements electronically.

Photo by Evgenia Parajanian | Adobe Stock

The reinstated paper statements will give information about how much a worker has earned in a given year, the worker’s contributions to Social Security and Medicare, an estimate of the worker’s Social Security benefit at retirement age, and the benefit a worker’s family receives when they pass away. The bill is bipartisan, introduced by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and House Ways and Means Committee Members John Larson (D-CT) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL). “Social Security is an earned benefit that workers contribute to with every paycheck, and it’s something seniors can always rely on in retirement. It’s never missed a payment. All workers deserve to have a full understanding of what they’re contributing to Social Security and what they can expect to receive. This will help workers and especially Millennials plan for retirement. That’s why it’s vital we pass the Know Your Social Security Act to ensure every worker gets a Social Security Statement mailed to them,” said Larson. As Larson noted, the bill is especially helpful to the generation just starting to pay Social Security. Wyden said, “As younger

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Americans grow more doubtful about their chances for a secure retirement, this bill will provide them a clear view of what their earned benefits will be.” Retirement is a long way off for millennials, and as Wyden said, many doubt that Social Security will still help them by the time they retire. However, a statement will prove that they will benefit as it shows the estimated money they will receive at retirement. Through the online portal, millennials have access to this information right now, but, like the majority of the country, they still don’t know about or don’t take the time to log on to view the virtual statements. With the reinstatement of paper mailings, the younger generation will be able to see their future benefits and understand their annual contributions, both essential to financial planning even if they won’t directly benefit for 40+ years. The reality is that the vast majority of Americans do not receive their Social Security statements at all. The Know Your Social Security Act will help Americans of all ages plan for retirement by making it easier to access critical information about their Social Security earnings, contributions, and future benefits.

Paper mandates are the issue When updates are made to existing drugs, it can take on average 8-12 months to develop, implement, print, process, and deliver it through the supply chain, meaning it can be a full year before prescribers and pharmacists receive these important changes in paper form. Instead these healthcare professionals access this information on the National Library of Medicine’s DailyMed website, which is updated in real-time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While it may have been the case many years ago that rural pharmacies lacked the online access of urban areas, that has changed dramatically over the past decade. In fact, nearly 100% of prescriptions are sent to the pharmacy electronically. And for those prescribers and pharmacists who still wish to receive the paper labels, that will continue to be possible.

Who is the Alliance to Modernize Prescribing Information

The Solution

The Alliance to Modernize Prescribing Information is

on paper labels would help patients receive the up-to-

a group dedicated to finally eliminating the redundant

date information from the healthcare professionals they

and unnecessary use of paper labels for information

trust, and eliminate significant, unnecessary waste. The

pharmaceutical companies send to prescribers and

FDA has sought to digitize prescribing information since

pharmacists -- which they almost entirely access digitally.

2005, and it is time that this modernization finally occurs

The problem by ensuring real-time access to changes to prescribing

Rural perscribers have options for how they access important dosing information

information, and eliminate the production of 90 billion

New Surescripts data shows nearly ALL pharmacies are

Eliminating this redundancy would support patient safety

sheets of paper each year -- produced from 4.8 million trees — that are almost entirely discarded at the point of receipt.

No longer requiring prescribing information to be printed

using electronic labeling for their prescriptions.1 Even in the most rural places, pharmacies are modernizing to ensure the best care for patients. Let’s remove outdated paper mandates where perscribers prefer electronic labels. Learn more at www.modernizerxinfo.org

Source: https://surescripts.com/news-center/national-progress-report-2020

GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

Nearly 4 out of 5 farming-dependent counties lost population since 2010 By Tim Marema Reprinted with permission from The Daily Yonder Rural counties where farming makes up a major part of the local economy were more likely than the rest of rural America to lose population over the past decade, according to a Daily Yonder analysis of U.S. Census data. Counties that depend on recreation, on the other hand, were more likely to gain population than rural America overall. Only 21% of rural counties with farming-dependent economies gained population from 2010 to 2020, the analysis shows. Nearly six out of every 10 rural counties with a recreation-based economy gained population over the last decade. Nationwide, about a third of the nation’s 1,976 rural counties gained population in the last 10 years. Only 84 of the 391 rural farmdependent counties gained population from 2010 to 2020. Among recreation counties, 135 of 228 counties gained population. Over the 10-year period, rural counties with farming economies lost 2.6% of their combined population. The combined population of recreation counties grew by 3.5% over the same period. Nationally, the rural population fell by 0.6%, from 46,340,000 to 46,060,000 over the last decade. The analysis is based on the latest decennial census data and an economic categorization system created by the USDA Economic Research Service. The ERS system evaluates economic activity in each U.S. county and codes them as dependent on farming, manufacturing, mining, state and federal government, and recreation. Counties that don’t meet the criteria for any of the economic types are categorized as nonspecialized.

Counties classified as manufacturing,

related to recreation (e.g., restaurants,

mining, state and federal government,

accommodations, entertainment, etc.)

and

and the percentage of housing intended

nonspecialized

were

not

very

different from the overall pattern of slight rural population loss. The farming category is based on a

for seasonal use. To define rural counties, the analysis used

nonmetropolitan

counties

county’s level of farm earnings and farm

classified by the federal Office of

employment. The recreation category is

Management and Budget. We used the

based on combination of employment

2013 OMB classifications to analyze both

and personal income from industries

the 2010 and 2020 data.

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Rural college go-ers incur more debt, study shows Rhodes said in an email interview. “Rural

By Kristi Eaton Reprinted with permission from The Daily Yonder College students who grew up in rural areas face about 60% more debt than those from urban or suburban areas, according to a recent study from The Ohio State University. The study, titled “Student Debt and Geographic Disadvantage: Disparities by

Rural,

Suburban,

and

Urban

Background,” was published in Rural Sociology. The author of the study, Alec P.

from this kind of policy.”

college-goers’ higher debt can be partly

“Another approach would be to

explained by their parents tending to

revitalize state investment in higher

have lower incomes, lower wealth, and

education as a public good to make

less education compared to their non-

public colleges more affordable. We also

rural counterparts. Rural college-goers’

need to address the long-term working-

higher rates of migration during college

and middle-class wage stagnation that

also plays a significant role.” Rhodes said the best paying jobs in rural areas that do not require a college degree are often male-dominated. “As a result, rural women may feel greater pressure than rural men to take on debt to attend college,” he said. “These combined ‘penalties’ of being a woman and having a rural background

Rhodes, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology

may contribute to especially high student

at The Ohio State University and a

debt levels among rural women.”

has disproportionately impacted rural Americans and their ability to pay for college without taking on student debt,” he added. Another idea, he said, is to establish grant aid policies to help cover the costs of migration, including travel and housing, during college. “I’d like to emphasize that there is very little social science research on geographic inequalities in student

research associate at the John Glenn

Asked how he thought inequity

College of Public Affairs, used national

among geographies and genders could

debt,” he said. “While this paper is an

data on 4,781 college-goers ages 24-30

be remedied, he said: “One response that

important first step in documenting

surveyed between 2005 to 2013.

has been getting a lot of media attention

rural-nonrural disparities in debt, it raises

debt

recently is cancelation of federal student

many unanswered questions about the

gap is larger than the gap between

debt, and my results strongly suggest

social implications of these inequalities

women and men and about 25% as

rural college-goers and especially rural

for young adults from rural backgrounds

large as the Black-white debt gap,”

women would disproportionately benefit

and rural communities.”

“The

rural-nonrural

student

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USDA study identifies barriers faced by SNAP participants trying to eating healthy Courtesy of USDA Nearly nine out of 10 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants face barriers in providing their household with a healthy diet throughout the month, based on a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study released earlier in 2021. The study, “Barriers that Constrain the Adequacy of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Allotments,” conducted in 2018, finds that 88% of participants report encountering some type of hurdle to a healthy diet. The most common, reported by 61% of SNAP participants, is the cost of healthy foods. Participants who reported struggling to afford nutritious foods were more than twice as likely to experience food insecurity. Other barriers range from a lack of time to prepare meals from scratch (30%) to the need for transportation to the grocery store (19%) to no storage for fresh or cooked foods (14%). “No one in America should have to worry about whether they can put healthy food on the table for themselves or their children,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He said the report “makes clear we still have work to do to ensure all Americans not only have food to eat, but access to nutritious foods.” “SNAP benefits are a nutrition lifeline for millions of Americans,” said Stacy Dean, USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services. “So it’s vital that the program helps enable participants to achieve a healthy diet amidst the real world challenges they face. The study findings ... indicate that we’re not yet there.” USDA is dedicated to enhancing the nation’s food safety net, ensuring SNAP

SNAP participation nationally was highest among households in rural (16 percent) and small town (15 percent) counties compared to households in metro counties (13 percent). *American Community Survey 2016 five-year estimates (2012–2016).

participants not only have enough to eat

SNAP is the most far-reaching, powerful

but also access to nutritious foods.

tool available to ensure that all Americans,

As directed by Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill, the department is currently re-

regardless of background, can afford healthy food.

evaluating the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP),

Nearly 42 million Americans – a large

which is used to set SNAP benefit amounts.

portion of whom are children, people with

Since it was first introduced in 1975,

disabilities, and the elderly – currently rely

the value of the TFP has stayed the same, adjusting only for inflation. In the meantime, our understanding of nutrition has evolved significantly, and

on SNAP benefits each month. Participating in SNAP has been shown to increase food security and have a positive impact on participants’ health.

there have been major changes to the

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service

food supply, consumption patterns, and

(FNS) leverages its 15 nutrition assistance

the circumstances of SNAP participants,

programs to ensure that children, low-

resulting in an out-of-date food plan. The

income individuals, and families have

ongoing re-evaluation will help ensure the

opportunities for a better future through

TFP affords families a realistic, healthy diet

equitable access to safe, healthy, and

on a budget.

nutritious food, while building a more

In good times and tough times,

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resilient food system.

Setting the standard: Grange members can be voice of rural users in standardization system By Cleo Stamatos

STANDARDS 101

ANSI Consumer and Legislative Outreach Manager Not many organizations have roots as deep and priorities as broad-reaching as the National Grange – but the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is one of them. So it’s time we had an official introduction. Standards are behind the scenes making our world safer. They may establish size, shape, or capacity of a product, process, or system – like lithium-ion batteries, cybersecurity, or quality management. They can specify performance of products or personnel – like energyefficient appliances, or construction inspectors. Across the full spectrum of U.S. industries and communities large and small, standards for performance, interoperability, and safety help protect the public and foster commerce and innovation by influencing the design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and use of nearly every product, process, and system we use every day (see some examples in the “Day in the Life…” graphic on the following page). But the strength of standards also depends on the active participation of all relevant interests, including volunteer consumers. So it’s important that standards development

A standard is defined as a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for their purpose. These are voluntary consensus standards developed via the combined expertise and cooperation of all those with a stake in the technology working collaboratively to agree upon requirements and best practices for voluntary adoption by industry and others. “Standardization” encompasses a broad range of activities, from the actual technical development of a standard, to its promulgation, acceptance, and implementation, to the methods of evaluating whether products, processes, systems, services, or personnel comply with the standard – conformity assessment. Standards and conformity assessment work hand-in-hand, and without effective conformity assessment, standards are just good ideas. Standards rely on broad collaboration and input from all those with an interest to have their voice heard when decisions that shape future products, processes, systems, and markets are being made.

activities include rural voices. I’m grateful for this opportunity to share a brief background on ANSI and the standards community, and some of the ways

came together to found an impartial national body to coordinate

Grange members and rural advocates can get involved.

standards development and approve national consensus standards. Known at the time as the American Engineering

A Brief History of the (ANSI) Universe

Standards Committee (AESC), the organization now known as

Tight on the heels of the Industrial Revolution, the United States sought to increase the efficiency, interoperability, and

the American National Standards Institute officially approved its first standard for pipe threads in 1919.

reach of its manufacturing and mechanical processes. In 1917

In the more than 100 years since, that collaborative work

the U.S. standards system was established – with its initial

has expanded into a vast system of responsive standardization

work specifying size requirements for railroad tracks and pipe

solutions supporting everything from the machines we operate,

threads.

food we grow, and stores we shop at, to the software platforms,

Recognizing standardization’s power and the need for

programming languages, and infrastructure that connect us, to

a coordinated approach, in 1918 a group of private-sector

the medical devices, systems, and technologies that protect

engineering associations and U.S. government departments

our health and security – and everything in between.

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ANSI coordinates the system and accredits the procedures of standardsetting organizations, but does not develop

standards.

However,

those

developed through this facilitation are relied upon by industry, trade, and professional associations, government, and consumers across the United States and globally. ANSI brings together individuals representing these different interests, so that as standards are set, their voices are heard and perspectives are

CALL TO ACTION

Together

There are countless ways to get involved, and ANSI can help you find the right opportunity to have your voice heard and make an impact. If you are interested in participating in collaborative standards work, please contact Cleo Stamatos, ANSI consumer and legislative outreach manager, at cstamatos@ansi.org.

left out, partnering with organizations that represent a diverse mix of expertise

representatives from consumer groups,

of standards, you have to get informed and, ideally, involved. With the broad-reaching priorities of both the Grange and ANSI and our many common goals, the two organizations

former state regulators.

are poised to increase quality of life, and to do so even more effectively, when working together and with other

Even though standards are literally

cooperation, and collaboration – we can help improve the quality of life, safety, sustainability, and economic strength of rural communities across the nation. Get Involved in Standards-Based Solutions There is a whole world of opportunity in standardization that could benefit you, and make great use of your expertise in turn. Here’s a quick list of ideas to get

standards

developer(s)

whose

work

aligns with your interest and volunteer to participate in a specific technical

Collaboration is key.

local county consumer affairs offices, and

A Visibility Problem

consensus,

• You can identify the ANSI-accredited

and end-users. Current members of our Consumer Interest Forum include

through

your thinking started:

considered. ANSI works hard to ensure voices of specific populations are not

–

stakeholders in standardization.

committee or activity (see www.ansi. org/american-national-standards/infofor-standards-developers/accreditedstandards-developers). • You

can

standardization

join

one

ANSI’s

collaboratives

workshops if your interests align with one

everywhere, helping nearly everything

It is vital that the interests of our

of our current focus areas, which include

around us work safely and effectively,

nation’s rural communities be among

unmanned aircraft systems (drones),

they are invisible to most people.

the

voices

additive manufacturing (3-D printing),

are

developed.

Oftentimes

industry

product

heard By

when virtue

standards of

their

nanotechnology,

homeland

defense

standards only garner attention when

communities,

often

and security, and artificial intelligence in

something goes wrong – typically in the

have unique insights, and a breadth

healthcare (see www.ansi.org/standards-

use or conformance to the standard, and

of experience and expertise that is

coordination).

not with the standard itself.

fundamental across many industries.

rural

individuals

• You can explore U.S. stakeholder

Many people don’t realize what

Grange members, well known as “do-

engagement in specific international

standards can do or how they are

ers,” are welcome to join us at the table

standardization activities relevant to

developed. So ANSI is working hard to

to contribute to or improve standards for

you – for example, in International

get these messages out to key community

everything from household appliances to

Organization for Standardization (ISO,

organizations like the National Grange.

power tools.

see www.ansi.org/iso) or International

“Standards are actually powerfully

Standards have the power to help

Electrotechnical Commission (IEC, see

positive strategic tools that can drive U.S.

ensure that innovative technologies and

www.ansi.org/usnc) technical committee

competitiveness and innovation, open

tools can be translated and implemented

work

markets, improve quality of life, and

efficiently and effectively to benefit rural

autonomous machinery, or off-highway

strengthen the workforce,” according to

communities, but the vibrancy and

vehicles, for just a few examples.

Mary Saunders, ANSI’s vice president of

effectiveness of the U.S. standards system

government affairs.

depend on the strength of stakeholder

for the above and many, many more

engagement

resources and information.

But to gain the greatest advantages

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–

your

engagement.

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focused

• You

can

smart

farming,

www.ANSI.org

Concerns raised of ‘real impact’ of USPS first-class mail delays By Kristi Eaton Reprinted with permission from The Daily Yonder On October 1, the USPS began delaying shipments of first-class mail, including letters, bills, tax documents, and the like. The changes mean that most deliveries that normally took three days now take upwards of five days. Advocates and researchers who study the postal system continue to worry about the effect the changes will have on rural America. The changes are part of a 10-year plan that is aimed to save the Postal Service millions of dollars. Christopher W. Shaw, author of “First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat,” said the changes will negatively affect small businesses. Shaw noted with the changes, rent checks may be delayed and invoices go unpaid, thus causing delays for both parties. “It does have a real impact on people’s lives with payments,” he said.” Or if you’re a small business, that’s pretty dependent on the post office, and that

delivery service is not what it used to be, it does have a real impact.” Asked whether there are any positives to the changes, Shaw told The Daily Yonder in an interview that some may point to the perceived and expected cost savings. But, he added, that is coming at the cost of service to people. “And I also think those cost savings, it’s a very short-term outlook, where reducing the service might save a few dollars in the short run, although it’s not entirely clear,” he said, adding that the Postal Regulatory Commission reported that many of the savings seemed inflated. “The purpose of the postal service isn’t to make money,” Shaw said. “It’s not a business. It’s the public service. And so we’re actually moving away from the mission of the Postal Service. That’s a problem that undermines the very reason that it exists.” He added that democratic public service exists to serve everyone in the country. “There’s a lot of rural America that would be considered economically inefficient to serve,” he noted. “And

so that’s why we have a government agency to do it. And so there’s a lot of people in rural areas that depend on the Postal Service and when it moves in this direction, I think that is a worrisome development for those people.” Susan Dover is the founder of the Social Security Resource Center, which helps citizens across the U.S. access Social Security benefits and services. In March 2020, the Social Security Administration suspended most in-person services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dover said. “Since then, the Agency has been primarily relying on its customers to submit paperwork by mail so it may process critical workloads,” she said. “We are concerned about how delays at USPS are causing the agency to fall behind with regard to processing mailed applications and requests for Social Security cards.” Dover noted there tends to be fewer support organizations in rural communities. “Information

via

the

internet

becoming more and more important,” she said. “We strongly believe that upto-date and accurate information about Social Security should be available to everyone.” In comments to the USPS submitted in June about the then-proposed delays, the National Farmers Union said a slow down to first-class mail delivery would be “catastrophic” for family farmers. The organization said in a press statement that rural areas often lack services like banks, pharmacies, polling places, and supply stores as well as access

broadband

internet

and

private delivery services. Because of that, residents Photo courtesy of Kristina Blokhin | Adobe Stock Live worms are delivered via USPS Priority Mail to a residence in April 2020.

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disproportionately

depend

on USPS to receive medication, vote, communicate with friends and family, cash checks, and conduct business.

Photo by Christine Hamp Volunteer fire departments around the nation, like this one outside Spokane, Washington, have struggled to maintain the numbers needed to provide services to their communities.

COVID stresses already strained rural fire departments homes of relatives, friends and neighbors—which many rural

By Aallyah Wright

firefighters have had to do—magnifies the pain.

Reprinted with permission of Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts

“We’re still in this pandemic, and we’re still fighting those emotions. It’s not [as if] it happened three years ago,” said Jeff

Over the past 30 years, fire departments in both urban and rural areas have struggled to recruit new firefighters into a profession that’s more than half volunteers. In rural America, the pandemic has brought the crisis to a new apex. Rural firefighters have been on the front lines of the

Dill, founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, which runs mental health workshops for fire departments. “We’ve had numerous firefighters that have taken their lives because of it—seeing and handling the stress and the depression and the bodies that piled up.” In many fire departments, the workers expected to endure

pandemic, tackling wildfires and vehicle accidents even as

that stress don’t even receive paychecks. Of more than 1.1

they transport ill and injured residents to hospitals. Covid-

million firefighters nationwide, 67% are volunteers who are

19’s heavy toll on rural hospitals has extended to emergency

not paid or receive a minimal amount to cover gas and other

responders, meaning firefighters are answering more medical

expenses, according to a 2021 fact sheet by the National

calls than ever before. The increased workload, and the specter

Volunteer Fire Council. Many of them are in rural America:

of vaccine mandates, has made recruitment even tougher.

Nearly 40% of communities with between 5,000 and 9,999

And then there’s the trauma they’ve endured.

residents had all-volunteer departments as of 2018, according

The mass death and suffering of the past 20 months has

to a tally released last year by the National Fire Protection

spawned a surge of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety,

Association.

depression, insomnia and substance use disorder among

In communities with between 2,500 and 4,999 people, the

health care professionals of all kinds. Answering calls at the

percentage of all-volunteer departments was 72%, and 92% in

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

towns of less than 2,500.

disabilities or who are Black, Native American or Native Alaskan.

Fire Chief J.T. Wallace Jr. of Benton Fire District No. 4 in

The pandemic has exacerbated longstanding recruitment

rural Louisiana said he does not have enough firefighters, paid

and retention problems in rural departments, especially those

or volunteer, to respond to structural fires. The community is

that rely on volunteers.

small, but the population has grown slightly in the past few

Volunteer firefighting just isn’t as appealing to younger

years, making it harder to meet demand and staff the stations.

couples who rely on two incomes, said Steve Hirsch, a veteran

Recently, Wallace Jr. had an entire shift of firefighters out

firefighter and chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council, a

because they contracted Covid-19. Three firefighters have

nonprofit advocacy association representing volunteer fire,

been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder within the

emergency medical and rescue services.

past year. “I think we didn’t lose community, but we were wounded in other ways psychologically. It got pretty bad,” Wallace Jr. said. “We’ve seen stress. I’ve been doing this almost 50 years and this is a different ballgame with what we have to deal with.” Chris Smith, a lieutenant at the Bolivar County Volunteer Fire Department in Mississippi, has been a volunteer firefighter for 13 years. He likewise said the pandemic has brought a new level of stress to an already difficult job. The extra work is hard enough—firefighters responding to Covid-related calls must don special protective gear, for example. Much worse has been responding to the calls of sick loved ones, he said, which takes a heavy emotional toll. Smith volunteers 30 to 40 hours a week, in addition to working his full-time job as technical program manager of geospatial information technology at Delta State University. It has been “nearly impossible,” he said, to find volunteers to lighten the load over the past year and a half. Smith said he is concerned that even the prospect of a Covid-19 vaccine mandate is driving volunteers away, though there aren’t vaccine mandates in place in Bolivar County—at least not yet. He is fully vaccinated but opposes a requirement because he worries it would dissuade would-be volunteers. Even in the best of times, it’s difficult to find people who are willing to volunteer. “People are too busy, or they don’t understand that the fire departments are volunteer. And when they do, they’re like, ‘That’s not for me,’” Smith said. Between 2000 and 2015, reported fires declined across the country, but fire departments have assumed a greater role in

Even some residents who do volunteer aren’t always available to answer calls, because they work full-time jobs in another community, Hirsch said. “When my dad started in the fire service 60 years ago, typically it was dads who were volunteering, and moms were at home to take care of the kids and it worked out fine. But the reality today is that both mom and dad are working,” Hirsch said. “Some of those rural communities don’t have any jobs available for people. So, they’ve lost population. And sometimes the people that do live in those communities work someplace else.” George Richards, president of the Montana State Council of Professional Firefighters, said many younger people “just don’t have the willingness to volunteer or serve without being compensated.” In Montana, 90% of departments are volunteer. “A lot of the departments had volunteers, members, for 20plus, in some cases 40 years,” Richards said. “There’s just not that stronghold of commitment in this different generation.” Older firefighters tend to take more sick leave, Richards said. When many firefighters are absent, the ones who are available must work longer hours, or some stations are forced to shut down on certain days. Bob Timko, a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council’s recruitment and retention committee, said volunteer departments need to ratchet up recruitment efforts, perhaps in partnership with local businesses. “[Young people] aren’t coming in the door,” Timko said. “I would challenge leadership to develop a program or use resources to educate people on what we do.”

responding to the increasing number of medical aid and rescue

Smith, the firefighter in the Mississippi Delta, said that

calls. In rural America, firefighters have a tougher task because

even people who don’t want to be volunteer firefighters can

they must respond to calls across greater distances.

do things to alleviate the stress on first responders, whether

And there is a correlation between population density and fire deaths, according to a September 2019 report by

it’s cleaning and maintaining the fire stations or helping with operations.

the National Fire Protection Association, which examined fire-

“How would you feel if your house was on fire, and no one

related deaths between 2013 and 2017. Sparsely populated

showed up?” Smith asked. “There’s no one there to protect

counties fared the worst, and nine of the 10 states with the

you or your property. We’re here to do the community good

highest fire death rates were in the South.

and make it a better place.

The report also found that states with higher rates of fire deaths have more residents with low incomes, who have

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“We just want some good people to come and give back to their community.”

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GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

THIS SECTION HIGHLIGHTS BRIGHT IDEAS FOR GRANGE PROGRAMMING

5 things you didn’t know about dairy milk Courtesy of Brandpoint Milk is good for you, but did you know it’s becoming better for the planet, too? Delicious and nutritious, milk benefits people and the environment in many exciting ways. Catch up on the latest milk trivia with this at-a-glance primer. Milk is even more nutritious than you think. Milk has long been considered a powerhouse beverage that delivers nine essential nutrients: calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin A and vitamin B-12. Then, updated data revealed milk is a good or excellent source of four more nutrients: iodine, selenium, zinc and potassium. These upgraded credentials push the beverage to a natural nutrient content level that few other single foods or beverages can match, offering a total of 13 vital nutrients. Since 776 B.C., Olympians have relied on milk to power their athletic performance, a tradition that’s stood the test of time. Today, nine out of ten Olympians say they grew up drinking milk, and no wonder. Milk only has 3 ingredients. Naturally rich in nutrients like few other beverages, milk only contains three simple ingredients: milk, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Milk is good for society. U.S. dairy supports over 3 million jobs in the U.S., all while investing in local communities and providing nutrients that American diets often lack. In fact, milk is one of the most affordable sources of protein on the market. What’s more, America’s dairy companies work hard to broaden access to nutritious dairy foods for people facing food insecurity. For instance, they’ve hosted the Great American Milk Drive in partnership with Feeding America, donating milk to local community food banks. Your glass of milk is becoming more sustainable. The dairy industry believes a sustainable world is attainable. In 2020, the industry agreed to reach three goals by 2050: * Become carbon neutral or better; * optimize water use while maximizing recycling; * improve water quality. Farmers, processors and retailers plan to achieve these goals by investing in new products and technologies, adopting on-farm practices that promote a more sustainable planet. For

example, Turkey Hill Dairy, in partnership with the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, helps farmers offset costs of on-farm conservation practices and funds projects to help improve water conservation. Milk’s carbon footprint is smaller than you think. To gauge its carbon footprint, U.S. dairy was the first agriculture-based industry to commission a full lifecycle assessment in 2008, which revealed, interestingly, that dairy contributes less than 2% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in America. In 2017, producing a gallon of milk used 30% less water, 21% less land and emitted 19% less greenhouse gases than it did a decade prior, and the industry isn’t stopping there: In 2021, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported that “larger U.S. dairy farms could reduce their net GHG emissions to zero within the next five years.” WWF also noted that “if even 10% of dairy production in the US were to achieve net zero, GHG emissions could be reduced by more than thirteen million tons.” Imagine the impact that would make on other industries. And remember, you can always discard your empty milk containers in good conscience: Plastic milk jugs, paper cartons and glass jars have always been recyclable or reusable. Just be sure to rinse your containers before dropping them in the bin!

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Food safety: The dirty truth about shopping carts By Kirsten Hollansworth

by consumers.”

Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center, Oklahoma State University

is the shopping cart and it’s important to wipe down the handle of the shopping

Walking into a grocery store, most shoppers are focused on their shopping lists

avoid

forgetting

The first point of contact for most food

essential

household items. When selecting a

Shopping List

portion of the shopping cart where a child

Plan your list so that non-perishable items, such as pre-packaged foods and paper products go into the cart first. By only purchasing items that are fully intact and in good condition, shoppers

squeaky wheel.

can prevent spills and cross-contamination

But a positive shopping experience can

in the shopping cart. Never buy cans that

easily go bad if shoppers put food safety

are bulging or dented, or packages which

on the back burner. Food safety begins

are torn or damaged.

at the grocery store. By following these

Fresh meat, fish, poultry and hot deli

guidelines recommended by the Robert

items should be picked up last, just before

M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products

checking out.

“Cross-contamination due to improper

Avoid ready-to-eat foods such as cooked shrimp or deli meats that are displayed directly next to raw meats.

storage and handling of foods in shopping carts could result in food-borne illness,”

Don’t let children handle packages of raw meat or poultry.

attention on avoiding that undesirable

enjoyable experience while shopping.

Fresh poultry and meat need to be in separate plastic bags at check out.

cart to remove germs.

shopping cart, most people center their

Center, consumers can have a safe and

purchased.

Fish, Meat and Poultry

said Ravi Jadeja, food safety specialist at

Always keep fresh meat and poultry

FAPC. “Low levels of pathogens could

separate from other items in the grocery

grow to a dangerous level if refrigerated

cart to avoid cross-contamination.

food products are temperature abused

Packages which are loosely wrapped

during shopping and transporting home

or dripping with juices should not be

Avoid putting foods in the upper may typically sit to prevent drips and leaks that contaminate food stored below. Eggs and Dairy Products If

foods

are

marked

keep

refrigerated, they need to be refrigerated in the store and cold when purchasing. Avoid cracked, dirty or ungraded eggs. Produce and Bakery Only purchase pre-cut produce if stored on ice or refrigerated. Bakery items containing icing made of cream cheese or whipped cream should be refrigerated. Pre-cooked Foods Only buy ready-to-eat refrigerated foods if they are cold to the touch. Observe the cleanliness of the deli counter. Avoid

delis

that

use

the

same

equipment to process and slice meats and cheeses without cleaning between uses. Don’t forget to wash your hands prior to sampling new foods. Using the store’s hand sanitizer or bringing your own sanitizer, could prevent exposure to harmful bacteria.

FAPC, a part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, helps to discover, develop and deliver technical and business information that will stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural products and processing in Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of FreePik.com

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Online independence can be protected by cybersecurity literacy Courtesy of Brandpoint It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the increased use of the internet and technology for many; however, this trend is best highlighted by seniors. A recent survey on global internet trends conducted by Avast in partnership with Forsa and YouGov found that 22% of people over the age of 65 spend more than three hours per day online. Forty-six percent also noted that the internet has become more important since the start of the pandemic. While this shift was great for staying in touch with loved ones and keeping busy in a time of isolation, drawbacks emerged. With the uptick in use, online threats like malware (software designed to disrupt, damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer system), phishing scams (manipulation through deception into disclosing sensitive personal information), tech support fraud (unsolicited offers to help fix alleged computer problems) and even romance scams culminating in untraceable payments to bad actors, emerged. Elders reported the least confidence in their online abilities, with only about 16% asserting their ability to do things online is “very good.” This is particularly relevant when looking at fears that keep seniors from fully participating online; in fact, 69% of people over the age of 65 decided not to do something due to security and privacy concerns, and another 17% felt that they don’t have enough online protection knowledge. Further, fears of being a digital burden put older Americans at greater risk online due to a direct correlation between internet literacy, the perceived burden on others, and frustration of online tasks for those over 55. According to the FBI, Americans were particularly impacted by tech support fraud, which garnered nearly 10 million attack attempts on computer users between January and March 2021. These

Photo courtesy of Getty Images scams are particularly insidious because although seniors make up 66% of tech support fraud victims, they shoulder a disproportionate amount of the financial losses at 84% in the U.S., translating to $116 million in 2020. “In our increasingly digital world, cybersecurity literacy is essential, especially as many crucial social interactions and essential services moved online due to the pandemic,” said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. “Despite the risks of using technology, the rewards are boundless. Older adults need to be empowered to extend their independence in the online domain to participate wholly in our modern society.” Build confidence online and avoid becoming a victim by using a comprehensive security and privacy solution and following three simple rules: • Don’t click links: Whether from senders you don’t recognize or messages you aren’t expecting, clicking on suspicious links may lead to phishing scams. • Don’t open attachments: Unless you know the sender and were

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expecting the document in question, they may be a vehicle housing malicious programs on behalf of an attacker. • Don’t respond to calls or popups: Unsolicited calls or pop-up windows could be facilitating a tech support scam or other sinister activity. If in doubt, hang up or close the window and contact someone you trust. “It’s fantastic that older adults are discovering the rich rewards that a more digitally connected life can offer,” said Jaya Baloo, Chief Information Security Officer, Avast. “However, older adults face disproportionate risks online, causing some to hold back. The key to a rich and safer digitally connected life is to approach being online like driving and follow our clear, simple, defensive tips to help ensure a safer and better online experience.” If you think you’ve been victimized, call your financial institution and the FBI right away. To learn more about how to protect yourself or your loved ones online, visit https://blog.avast.com/tag/elders for additional easy-to-use resources.

What you need to know to reclaim communications choice, avoid abuse and safeguard against fraud By Jim Haigh Keep Me Posted North America Sweeping new rules governing debt collection practices in the U.S. went into effect on November 30. Unfortunately, many of the very serious concerns about the use of electronic communications for debt collection raised by citizens, cybersecurity experts and consumer advocacy groups including Keep Me Posted (KMP), an organization of which the National Grange is a partner, were effectively ignored by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the federal agency charged with making sure banks, lenders and other financial companies treat consumers fairly. The widespread impacts of CFPB’s new rules cannot be underestimated: Nearly 70 million Americans now have a debt in collection. That staggering number translates to nearly one in three adults with a credit report being pursued during the pandemic, according to analysis from the Urban Institute. What’s more, even consumers with debts that are beyond the statute of limitations can still be pursued under the rules. Even those with no credit worries need to beware: Scammers are already using unsolicited electronic communications to perpetrate fraud, using debt collection as a pretext. Here are nine things you need to know about the new CFPB rules and how to protect yourself against electronic fraud and abuse related to debt collection. Will debt collectors still mail me notices? Probably not by default. Many will likely communicate electronically now, since it was the debt collection industry that pushed for these rule changes, not consumers. However, you can request to have paper notices mailed to you at an address of your choosing.

Can debt collectors call me more often now? Yes. Under the new rules, they are allowed to make up to seven attempted calls per week – per debt. So if you have one student loan and four medical accounts in collection, you could now receive up to 35 attempted calls per week in total. However, you have a right to choose how debt collectors contact you. But you must proactively express your preference for paper, phone or electronic communications in order for your choice(s) to be honored. Are debt collectors allowed to send unsolicited emails, texts and social media messages? Yes. But you can opt out of any or all of these channels of communications. Debt collectors are required to specify a “reasonable and simple” opt-out method. Additionally, you are entitled to simply call or write back requesting certain mediums of communications be stopped, and which are preferred. Could a debt collector really “friend” me on social media? Yes. But if the purpose for doing so is to ultimately use that platform and direct connection to send direct messages in pursuit of debt, they must disclose their intent in any friend request. You can and should deny such attempts to connect on social media. Do I have a choice in how I will be contacted by debt collectors? Yes. After being initially contacted by either paper notice in the mail, by phone, email, text or social media direct message, you can request that further communications be made via only one or any preferred combination of these options. Is it my responsibility to take notes over the phone about what I’m claimed to owe? No, you can and should request required

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collection disclosure notices in writing. While the new rules allow for oral collection notices, the increased amount of information will make it difficult to understand and remember. You should therefore ask that it be furnished in print for review and safekeeping. This includes paper notice delivered by First Class Mail or email if that is preferred. I am not comfortable clicking links and attachments from unknown senders, but I don’t want to lose my rights to challenge any debt – what should I do? It is not advisable to open any attachments or click on any links. You should research the name of the company that emailed you the notice to first determine if it is a legitimate debt collector. You can enter company URLs directly into your internet browser. You can also reply to any messages to request paper copies of validation notices – and also optout of future electronic communications. If you receive a notice claiming to be from a court — or regarding a lawsuit – find the court phone number and call to confirm that the case is legitimate. A debt collector is not honoring my communications preferences, what can I do? The CFPB is currently updating its consumer guidance on the new rules. In addition to updated resources, this page also has a link to initiate a formal complaint. I’m getting scam emails about a debt I don’t owe, can I report this? The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has volumes of resources on how to safeguard against scams, fraud, identity theft and cybersecurity threats, and they are the agency charged with receiving consumer complaints. This page dedicated to online security has guidance on most consumer threats raised by CFPB’s new rules along with links to other topics, and you can find links for complaint processing here.

How farmers plan to increase income potential in 2022 Courtesy of Brandpoint Post-harvest gives farmers a chance to finally sit down and take a break after a busy season. It gives them the time to track their inputs, meet with their trusted advisers, evaluate the decisions they made this year and see how those decisions ultimately affected their return on investment. Farmers must be both forward thinking and retrospective, understanding the big picture while still digging into the nitty gritty of each field, to produce the highest potential yield and drive profit. According to Mark Callender, farm manager at Farmers National Company in Dighton, Kansas, optimistic growers have shifted from saving to spending - investing now to drive profits higher on good land. Callender encourages farmers to review input costs every year as they develop their plans. “We analyze all our farms annually for cost per acre and per bushel,” Callender explained. “By comparing production numbers with seed, fertilizer, weed control and other costs, growers learn their return on investment for quality products versus generics, for example.” Callender said farmers know their break-even costs, using the data available today to provide better insight into individual fields. “Top producers spend more to achieve better weed control to drive top yields. By examining costs on a per-bushel basis, they can justify higher costs per acre when an agronomic practice delivers more bushels.” Preparing for 2022 Many producers budget per acre for the whole operation, notes Lynn Sandlin, ag economist and business intelligence lead at Syngenta, but opportunity exists during more profitable times to budget directly at the field level - to maximize profit at the bushel level. Sometimes it requires better tools,

Stock Photo sound advice and a shift in thinking to manage each field’s potential at the bushel level. “Trusted advisers help growers increase field productivity with an eye on profit per bushel,” Sandlin said. Fortunately, new tools are available to help farmers find growth opportunities. “Years of depressed prices pushed some growers to try to save their way to prosperity with cheaper inputs and generics,” says Paul Backman, commercial unit head for the West Heartland region, Syngenta. “Our Syngenta AgriEdge whole-farm management program lets growers see how better products can deliver higher productivity on a cost-perbushel level.” Reviewing 2021 decisions against actual yield helps growers understand real costs - shifting from a cost mindset to an investment mindset. “Retailers also play vital roles across farm input decisions,” Backman says. “Our sales reps and AgriEdge specialists help growers see small gains in each field, adding up to more bushels. Good management plans evolve as more data drives greater field-by-field profits.” Retailers trust agronomics Syngenta sales representative Mark Dozler explained the input-cost-perbushel method of thinking: “I worked

with a retailer in Nebraska to build an input-cost-value spreadsheet, showing that if a grower removes a $30 fungicide from their plan, cost per bushel increases because removing that fungicide reduces yield by at least 10 bushels per acre. The data proving that was eye-opening.” Defining more yield-for-weed control challenges everyday thinking and requires digging into details beyond a $40-50 per acre herbicide budget. Field-by-field profit Technical advancements in corn and soybean genetics also play a critical role in productivity per field and cost per bushel. “Many retailers take pride in knowing agronomic details so they can recommend the best hybrid for each field,” said Brent Rockers, a Syngenta district manager in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. “Our research provides growers with seeding rates, fertility and plant health advice that improves their ability to strategize and budget,” Rockers said. “And our Cropwise Seed Selector tool provides growers with a list of hybrids matching their soil classifications by field.” Advisers help growers fine-tune their selections, following the crop through harvest - and use that data to help build more profitability.

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New USPS stamps feature endangered livestock By Sue Bowman Reprinted with permission of Lancaster Farming I don’t often get inside our local post office. I’m usually able to put outgoing mail into our farm’s bright-green Oliver tractor mailbox and our mailman picks it up when he makes his rounds. Sometimes, I’ll drop an envelope or two into the big blue mailbox outside our town’s petite post office, and, occasionally, a visit to the single-service window inside becomes necessary. Recently, I needed to go into the post office because I was sending a birthday card to my nephew, who currently lives in Tokyo with his family, and I needed assistance with the international mailing. I always enjoy chatting with our postmistress, Lori, who is a pleasant and helpful person. One of the other things I look forward to while at the post office is browsing the various sheets of stamps for sale that are posted on the wall beside the service window. I use the standard American flag stamps for bill-paying, but when it comes to personal letters or sending greeting cards, I like something a little jazzier. One particular sheet of stamps caught my attention while Lori was attaching international postage to the Japan-bound birthday card. It had the faces of assorted animals on its 20 “Forever” stamps and the heading “Heritage Breeds.” I knew I had to

have them to share with my farming friends on the correspondence I sometimes send their way. Oftentimes, the USPS will use the occasion of introducing new stamps like this to print an informative narrative on the back of the sheet to educate about the significance of the stamps’ chosen theme. That wasn’t the case this time, but fortunately, an online search for further information led me to the website of The Livestock Conservancy. The Livestock Conservancy states that its mission is “To protect America’s endangered livestock and poultry breeds from extinction.” Somehow, when thinking about extinct animals, I’m inclined to think of dinosaurs and passenger pigeons instead of species once raised on farms. The Livestock Conservancy points out on their website that “Rare farm animals represent an irreplaceable piece of earth’s biodiversity and offer incredible variety that may be needed for future farms — robust health, mothering instinct, foraging and the ability to thrive in a changing climate. I learned that the Heritage Breeds postage stamps were unveiled, appropriately, at a very historic American farm — George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia. Since I only purchased my sheet of these stamps in September — and I haven’t received any letters bearing one of these interesting stamps — I assumed that they had been recently released. However,

Courtesy of the United States Postal Service

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I discovered that they were released at the Mount Vernon dedication event on May 17, 2021. It made me sorry I’d missed out on four months of adding these stamps to my outgoing mail. The 10 breeds represented on the heritage breed stamps were chosen by The Livestock Conservancy. These breeds have interesting sounding names: the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey, the Narragansett turkey, the Cayuga duck, the San Clemente Island goat, the Mulefoot hog, the Cotton Patch goose, the American Cream draft horse, the Barbados Blackbelly sheep, the Milking Devon cow and the Wyandotte chicken. The photographs are also quite interesting. While some of these heritage breeds look fairly “routine,” others are quite dramatic in appearance. The Barbados Blackbelly sheep has an eerie look about it, with dark ovals around its eyes and a band of hair around its neck and chest that is reminiscent of a feather boa. The Mulefoot hog is all black and has a rather foreboding appearance — I wouldn’t want to be late feeding that one. And then there’s the American Mammoth Jackstock donkey. It looks like your average mule, but according to The Livestock Conservancy’s website, these donkeys stand 14 hands high or sometimes taller and weigh 900 to 1,200 pounds. They also have unusually long ears, which can measure an incredible 33 inches from tip to tip. While there were once an estimated 5 million of these mules in America during their heyday in the 1920s, their numbers have now dwindled to a critical level. Every one of these heritage breeds has an interesting history available on The Livestock Conservancy’s website, livestockconservancy.org. Hopefully, the use of these stamps will help call attention to the plights of these vanishing livestock breeds. You can hopefully still see and/or purchase them for yourself at a post office near you — or watch your incoming mail to see if your friends liked these stamps as much as I do.

Why sleep experts recommend eliminating daylight savings time Conversely, another study found that in the fall, during the shift

Courtesy of Brandpoint

from daylight saving time back to standard time, there was a If the Grange and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) had their way, the United States would stop the madness that is time-switching, keeping us permanently in standard time though it may be for different reasons. The two organizations are not alone. In fact, there is widespread support for the elimination of the biannual time change. • In a 2020 AASM survey, 63% of U.S. adults indicated they support the elimination of seasonal time changes in favor of a national, fixed, year-round time. • The AASM and other organizations representing health, safety and education recommended eliminating seasonal time changes and adopting permanent standard time for improved public health and safety in a 2020 AASM position statement. • In early 2021, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and several Republican and Democratic colleagues reintroduced in the U.S. Senate a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent across the U.S. Eliminating seasonal time changes There is ample evidence of the negative, short-term consequences of seasonal time changes. Studies have found an increase in car accidents during the week following the change to daylight saving time and an increase in patient-safety related incidents associated with human error in the week following the transition into and out of daylight saving time. Other negative effects of the time change in the spring include increased risk of stroke and hospital admissions, and increased production of inflammatory markers, one of the body’s responses to stress.

reduction in the rate of cardiovascular events, suggesting that the risk of heart attack may be elevated because of chronic effects of daylight saving time. “Light is the most powerful timing cue for the human body clock,” said Erin Flynn-Evans, who has a doctorate in health and medical science and is director of the NASA Ames Research Center Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory and a consultant to the AASM’s Public Safety Committee. “Shifting to permanent daylight saving time in the winter would result in more darkness in the morning and more light in the evening, leading to misalignment between the body’s daily rhythm and the timing of routine social obligations, like work or school. That has the potential to make it harder for most people to fall asleep at night, disrupting sleep quality and leading to sleep loss, which can negatively impact health and safety.” While there is debate about how the merits of permanent daylight saving time would compare with permanent standard time, the AASM position is that a change to permanent standard time is best aligned with human circadian biology and has the potential to produce beneficial effects for public health and safety. Tips for managing the time change For now, the November switch back to standard time is still a reality. As it begins to get dark earlier in the evening, it is the ideal opportunity to reset your body clock for an extra hour of sleep. To maximize the benefits of the hour gained from the fall time change on Nov. 7, the AASM recommends the following healthy sleep tips for anyone who is getting insufficient sleep: • Wait to change your clocks until it is time to get ready for bed. • Go to bed at your usual bedtime. • Just before getting into bed, set your clocks back one hour. • Wake up at your standard wake time. • Take note of how much better you feel after an extra hour of sleep. • On the Sunday after the time change, your normal bedtime will be an hour earlier. Go to bed at this earlier time to reset your sleep schedule to achieve longer sleep. More information about sleep and sleep disorders is available from the AASM at www.SleepEducation.org. To get help for a sleep problem, use the AASM’s online directory on the SleepEducation.org homepage to find an accredited sleep center near you. See more about National Grange Policies by downloading

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

the 2021 Journal of Proceedings when it becomes available in the first quarter of 2022 on the National Grange website.

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5 simple, natural ways to boost immunity Courtesy of Family Features Even without a superbug spreading around the globe, finding ways to protect yourself from the simple to the super infectious germs and viruses should be high priority. Your body’s immune system protects against illness and infection, fighting off threats before you even know there’s a problem. Even though your immune system usually does its job automatically, you can give it a boost with habits that promote wellness and support immunity. Eat healthy fruits and vegetables. Although you may not be aware they contain flavonoids, these phytochemicals found in some fruits and veggies are a vital part of maintaining health. Flavonoids are found in colorful fruits and vegetables like cranberries and elderberries. When it comes to power foods, elderberries’ exceptional flavanol levels make them an immune system powerhouse. Especially important during cold and flu season, elderberries can also be enjoyed in a cup of warm tea for instant comfort. Reduce stress with outdoor activity. Keeping physically fit provides numerous health benefits such as reducing stress by being one with nature through taking a walk outside. The sun’s UV rays help your body produce vitamin D, which is important for your bones, blood cells and immune system, as well as helping absorb and use certain nutrients. Yoga and massage can also be used to help stimulate the immune system and promote well-being. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Sleep gives you an opportunity to recharge. This is when cellular regeneration and other healing is most efficient. Keeping a regular routine helps signal to your system that it’s time to rest so you can fall asleep easier and reap the whole-body benefits of a healthy sleep cycle. Wash hands frequently. Especially during the school year, when germs are rampant and easily carried from school to home, you can give your immune system a hand, literally, by frequently scrubbing away germs before they have the chance to attack.

Photo courtesy of Buddha Teas Rely on natural remedies. Modern, stressful lifestyles and exposure to environmental pollutants can put immune systems under pressure. However, some of your existing soothing rituals can actually support better health, too. One example is relaxing with a hot cup of tea because the natural and organic ingredients found in various products, including Buddha Teas, provide numerous health benefits. Options like Mushroom Wellness, Divine Immunity, Elderberry Tea and Reishi Mushroom blends all contain immunity-boosting ingredients. While they’re not an obvious ingredient, mushrooms have been incorporated into healing practices for thousands of years for their immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory and antioxidantrich properties. There are several powerful medicinal mushrooms but one stand-out is the reishi mushroom, known as the “mushroom of immortality” and “divine plant of longevity.” This antiinflammatory powerhouse is known to promote healthy cell growth and healthy blood pressure, along with improving immune function.

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Make your home more energy efficient this winter Courtesy of Family Features

light bulbs in place of traditional incandescent bulbs can save

Winter is a time of year when many people are looking for ways to be warm and cozy to combat the chilly temperatures outside. It’s also the time of year when energy bills can skyrocket. Focusing on energy efficiency can help you keep your home temperature comfortable and your energy bills at bay while also reducing your carbon footprint. Energy efficiency means using less energy to accomplish the same tasks while cutting energy bills and reducing pollution in the process. Particularly during the winter months, heating costs are traditionally higher because it requires more energy to keep your house at a specific temperature when the temperature outside is lower. With Americans slated to spend an average of $746 on natural gas this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration’s “Winter Fuels Outlook,” now is a perfect time to focus on energy efficiency. Consider these ways you can improve your home’s energy efficiency without breaking the bank this winter from the experts at Best Pick Reports.

homeowners about $225 in energy costs each year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You can also install timers to ensure you’re only using electricity when needed. Whether you love spending time in the kitchen or you’d rather leave the cooking to someone else, you can make your kitchen a greener space by installing energy-efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers. 3. Add Insulation Install insulation in and around windows, walls and doors to decrease heat flow from warmer spaces to colder ones, helping to maintain your home’s temperature and lower your heating and cooling costs. Also insulate your water heater with a blanket or cover and check the insulation in your attic, basement, walls and crawlspaces for leaks. 4. Improve Flooring and Windows Adding rugs or carpet to hardwood floors and ceramic

1. Do a Heating Systems Checkup Be sure all vents and registers throughout your home are clear of obstructions. Checking that all plugs, vents and appliances are in safe, working order can also help improve efficiency and prevent potential hazards. Also consider hiring a professional annually to tune up your HVAC system, tighten electrical connections and check controls to ensure they are working properly and safely.

tiles can help prevent drafts and make the room feel cozier.

2. Install Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs and Appliances It’s important to replace old light bulbs and appliances in your home with newer, energy-efficient ones. Using LED

heaters are designed specifically for energy efficiency. They

Installing double-paned windows can also help prevent cold air from leaking into your rooms while opening blinds and curtains during the day to let in light can naturally heat up the space. 5. Use an Energy-Efficient Space Heater A space heater is a simple option for heating up a single chilly room for a short amount of time, which makes it perfect for those looking to save money and energy. Some space use infrared technology to heat rooms, sensing spots that need heat and distributing it accordingly by heating objects instead of filling the space with heat. Every winter, be sure to take action to make your home more energy efficient. You don’t have to do it alone, however. You can hire a professional to help you with energy efficiency projects; just be sure to do your homework. Look for unbiased customer reviews on independent business directories review websites like Best Pick Reports and Five Star Rated. These printed directories and online sites often use a combination of third-party research and consumer reviews to rate contractors. Some even offer guarantees on the quality of work. Once you have everything in place, you can reduce the amount of money you spend on heating costs this winter without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Find more tips and information about service providers in your area at

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

BestPickReports.com.

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CONNECTING AMERICA’S HEARTLAND “Blackfoot is standing by our long-held commitment to connectivity by embarking on a multi-year, multi-million dollar network upgrade project to bring fiber to homes and businesses across thousands of square miles of Western Montana and Eastern Idaho.” – JASON WILLIAMS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BLACKFOOT COMMUNICATIONS

n 1954, a group of ranchers, small business owners, and community leaders near Clinton, Montana came together with a goal to better connect their communities. They each pitched in $50 and formed Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, named after the Blackfoot River that runs through the heart of Western Montana. That’s how Blackfoot Communications began. Today, more than 65 years later, that cooperative heritage remains core to the company’s values. As Chief Executive Officer of Blackfoot Communications, and Chair of the USTelecom Leadership Committee, Jason Williams is building on that legacy and leading from the front. Blackfoot is standing by their long-held commitment to connectivity by embarking on a multi-year, multi-million dollar network upgrade project to bring fiber to homes and businesses

across thousands of square miles of Western Montana and Eastern Idaho. Jason and his team have already deployed hundreds of miles of fiber to deliver faster and more reliable high-speed internet. Headquartered in Missoula, Montana, Blackfoot Communications’ mission is to connect people, businesses and communities. Thank you, Jason, and all of our nation’s broadband providers, for connecting America’s heartland to today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s dreams. Learn more about Blackfoot Communications at blackfootcommunications.com.

GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

USTelecom.org

Foundation offers insight into year’s work through annual report By Joan C. Smith Grange Foundation Board Chairwoman Greetings Fellow Grange Members: It is a pleasure to serve as the Chair of your Grange Foundation and hope I have served you well. Below I share with you the Foundation activities since our 154th Annual Convention in November 2020 through November 2021. We would like to thank all Grangers and Granges who contributed during these past 18 months to any of the Grange Foundation funds. This certainly was a traumatic year for many Grange families who lost loved ones, suffered illness, and continue to have residual health issues as a result of the ongoing pandemic. Your Grange Foundation board of directors continued to meet virtually every other month to manage the investment portfolio, look at alternative fundraising avenues, program planning, grant options, how to support our members and Granges and to determine our way-ahead for supporting the Grange programs. Organization Structure Our committee and members of the 1-N-1000 Club, developed recommendations on our Board structure, the election process, and sub-committees. By-Laws were amended which allows the Delegates to the National Grange Convention to vote for candidates who have applied by October 15 or on those nominated from the floor during our Annual Grange Foundation meeting. This 10-member Board may include individuals who are not Grange members but have shown an interest in the Grange and its programming. Fundraising Grange Foundation has the following 12 individual fund areas:

• American Arts and Heritage/Culture Fund • Headquarters Building Fund • GROW Club Fund • Kelley Farm Fund • Leadership and Community Development Fund • Communications Fellows Fund • Youth Exchange Program Fund • Program for the Deaf Awareness Fund • Junior Leadership Development Fund • National Lecturer Fund • Youth Leadership Development Fund • Grange Foundation – General Fund Your support is greatly appreciated and donations may be made online at www.grangefoundation.org or by check to Grange Foundation, sent to 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006. We are now reworking our Foundation website to modernize it and provide the type of data needed by individuals in corporate giving offices such as board member bios, Foundation financial info, measures of impact, etc. We then asked Amanda Brozana-Rios, a National Grange employee, to provide a few hours of her work month to fundraise for the Foundation. We also tried something new: a Grange Foundation Virtual Telethon in June 2021. The telethon, conceptualized and carried out by National Grange Junior Director Samantha Wilkins and National Grange Youth Director Mandy Bostwick, was held in support of the Junior and Youth Programs. A total of nearly $23,000 was raised in the one-day event. There will be another telethon in July 9, 2022. Members can contact Samantha at samantha@nationalgrange.org to become a host of a segment, provide a recorded testimony, be interviewed, or to offer a video of your talent or some other demonstration. Sponsors get special recognition. We are also seeking individuals

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GRANGE FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT The Grange Foundation supports youth development, promotes

agriculture education and research, improves communities, and fosters culture, heritage, citizenship, and charitable activities.

willing to provide funds for a matching contribution. “Grange GivingTuesday” Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States that encourages people to do good. It is touted as a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” On November 29, 2022, or any Tuesday of any month there are hundreds of ways to participate in Grange GivingTuesday (GGT). Whether you give your voice, goods, your time, or your money, being generous is a way to fight for the causes you care about and help people in need. Investment Portfolio In October of 2019 we completed our analysis of our portfolio and moved the funds to Park Avenue Securities with First Financial Group (FFG) as our investment manager. Since inception in October 2019, in its first year we have realized a return of 9.07%. The income earned from January through October 2021 is $22,131. The board is very pleased with the performance of our investments and look forward to continuing positive earnings. Audit An independent audit was conducted of the Grange Foundation financial documents, and all was found to be in

order. A copy of it will be available for anyone to review in the 2021 National Grange Journal of Proceedings. Jewelry donated for fundraiser During Grange Revival 2021 in Sturgis, South Dakota, a generous donation of two pieces of Montana silver and gemstone jewelry was made by Marty Billquist, Past President Montana State Grange and former National Grange Executive Committee member. These were used as a fundraiser and grand prizes in a special coverall BINGO. Thank you to Marty for the donation. Deaf Program We had no applications in 2021 for our two Deaf $1,000 Grants. An application for a project must be submitted through your State Grange for consideration by the Foundation. See the criteria on www.grangefoundation.org. 1-N-1000 Club Seven fellow Grangers have become members of this Club in 2021. We want to thank Club member Eugene Fletcher of Michigan who personally designed and created the 2021 Revival Cornhole Tournament 3D Trophies, 3D produced Fidgets, and 2021 National Grange Convention Emblem auctioned off at Convention. We invite you all to become a member of the 1-N-1000 Club. This Club - whose membership is capped at 1,000 people or Granges - requires a one-time $1,000 donation to join. The current special project is our historical documents preservation. Twenty-seven boxes of documents were gathered so far at the Headquarters of original handwritten writings of our founders, the original charter documents/signatures of Granges across the country, original ceremonial and ritualistic thoughts and guides, etc. These items are now being scanned and digitized. These precious documents are more than 150 years old and were deteriorating. The 1-N-1000 Club felt this was our most pressing and urgent need. The next set of documents for preservation will be identified in early 2022. Partnership in Agricultural Literacy (PAL) Award This was the 13th year we have sponsored this award. This was formerly known as the Agriculture Advocate Award and is provided by the Grange Foundation as part of the National Agriculture-in-the-Classroom program. This award was renamed in 2021 and criteria was adjusted to include individual volunteers, associations, Grangers/Granges who support the agricultural education of pre-K-12 graders. See our award winners’ full story on www.grangefoundation. org. Remember, this award can be won by you or your Grange. Go to www.agclassroom.org for more information and the application which has a due date of February 2022

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Eugene Fletcher has provided a variety of 3-D printed items for the Foundation to sell or auction to raise money.

At this year’s session, he provided a 3-D printed version

of the Convention logo and fidget blocks to benefit the Junior, Youth and general Foundation funds.

Publications Continue to follow what your Grange Foundation is doing through articles in Good Day!, Patron’s Chain, Facebook, YouTube, Website and our soon to be published Grange Foundation Newsletter. Bequests/Estate Planning Put the Grange Foundation in your estate planning/will or as a beneficiary on a 401k or a CD or IRA as a charity which you support. We are a charitable, tax deductible 501(c)3 organization. Giving to the Grange Foundation can help your own current personal IRS obligations and your inheritance tax burden and you are supporting the organization you love. Don’t forget about the Grange in your will. How about making the Foundation a beneficiary in your life insurance policy or as a percentage of your estate? Think of your National Grange Foundation when estate planning — you love it, preserve it. Please remember your National Grange Foundation projects and especially our Juniors and Youth programs. Do not forget about a long-term planned giving to support your Grange Foundation through your estate planning. If you have any further questions, please reach out to me by email at ngfb@grange.org or (5710) 662-7220. You may also send your donations to Grange Foundation, 1616 H Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006.

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Grange Foundation board gets new members, officers By Amanda Brozana Rios Foundation Associate The National Grange Foundation board recently held its reorganizational meeting after the appointment of several new members. Daniel Greer, of Colorado, has been selected for an at large seat to the board. Greer’s family has been honored as a Grange Legacy Family and his son, Billy, was National Junior Ambassador in 2019. “I’m excited to serve on the board of

the Foundation that has provided many opportunities to my family over the years,” Greer said.

2016, was elected Secretary. Betsy Huber, by virtue of her office with the National Grange, serves as President of

Members of the National Grange Executive Board who have been cross-

the Foundation board. Joan

Smith

was

retained

appointed include Lynette Schaeffer, of

Foundation Board Chairwoman. She has

Illinois, who will serve as Vice Chair, Christine

been a Grange member for more than

Hamp, of Washington, who was newly

50 years and is the President of Potomac

elected Vice President of the National

Grange #1 in Washington, D.C. and member

Grange, and Susan Noah, of Oregon, who

of Farmington Grange in New Jersey.

will serve as Treasurer of the Foundation. Clay Snyder, of Pennsylvania who has been an at-large member of the board since

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Michael Martin, of Pennsylvania, and Melanie Bostwick, of Kansas, have been retained as members at large.

Esto Perpetua Ensure the

Grange future in 4 easy steps

Contribute to the many Worthy Projects of the Grange and Grange Foundation You can make a difference by donating to the National Grange or make a tax-deductible donation to the Grange Foundation, which will help in many ways to strengthen our organization and ensure it truly lives on forever.

STEP 1. SELECT FUNDS OR PROGRAM(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT.

Please indicate the amount you wish to donate to each fund or project. Choose as many as you wish to support and indicate the percentage or amount of your total donation you wish to go to each fund or project selected. If you do not indicate amounts, an equal distribution of your donation will be made to each. Unspecified donations will be credited to the Grange Foundation General Fund.

NATIONAL GRANGE

STEP 2. CALCULATE YOUR TOTAL DONATION. 100% of all proceeds go to the programs you wish to support.

A nonprofit, agricultural fraternity designated as a 501(c)(5) by the IRS.

I am making a $_________ donation to National Grange.

$______ Internship Program $______ Legal Protection Fund

I am making a $_________ donation to Grange Foundation.

GRANGE FOUNDATION

STEP 3. PROVIDE YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS. Check one.

A nonprofit organization, focused on the betterment of rural America and agriculture based on education and leadership development, designated as a 501(c) (3) by the IRS. Donations to the Grange Foundation may be tax deductible. Consult your financial advisor.

_____ I have enclosed checks made payable to National Grange and/or Grange Foundation. _____ I wish for my donation to be made via credit card. (Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted)

$______ General Fund $______ Junior Grange Fund

Name on card ___________________________________

$______ Grange Youth Fund $______ Community & Leadership Development Fund $______ American Arts & Culture Fund

Card Number ____________________________________ Expiration Date ________/_________ CVC __________

$______ Deaf Awareness Fund $______ Kelley Farm Fund

Signature _______________________________________

$______ Communication Fellows Program

You may also go online to www.grangefoundation.org or call Amanda Brozana Rios (301) 943-1090 to make your contribution today.

$______ National Lecturer’s Fund

STEP 4. SEND YOUR COMPLETED FORM to the National Grange at 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006 and relax, knowing you have honored our past and helped to secure our future.

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Heirloom Program can introduce, reinforce Grange fundamentals By Amanda Brozana Rios Membership & Leadership Development Director With more than 150 years of tradition and culture, it can be difficult for new members and new Granges to acclimate and truly become part of the organization. While our ritual and language are beautiful, they are often cited as unattractive or barriers to entry for those without a deep Grange background – yet without them, we lose our identity and the thing that bonds us as a fraternity. Change is a constant aspect of life, as our ritual tells us, but retaining what makes us Grange is essential to fulfilling the charge from our founders – for the Grange to be perpetual. For us, the Grange traditions and values are our heirlooms – inseparable pieces of the Grange that are passed down through our membership over generations. These valuable cornerstones of what it is to be a Grange and Grangers are part of our identity and tie us to our roots while preparing us for success in the future. Imparting Lessons through Values Readings One of the biggest disconnects with new members – especially members of younger generations with less of an orientation toward formal ritual work – is the sometimes obscure language and archaic presentation of these foundational lessons during Degree Days or Installations. Many new members are never given or read the Declaration of Purposes or see degrees because we infrequently hold exemplifications, and as such our Grange heritage and identity becomes compromised. This program is designed to impart these lessons to new Grange members in a way that meets them at a modern level of comfort and attention span while creating meaningful connection to the lessons themselves that are the most important piece of the ritual work. Values readings are just that – short one

or two sentence snip-its that communicate a lesson or a value. As attention spans wane, even in older adults, they offer a new way to incorporate our most basic and fundamental lessons to new and seasoned Grangers to encourage thought and reflection and application to daily life, no matter your age or occupation. Including these readings as part of your work does not change the way in which a Grange functions, the formalities of a Grange meeting or any other part of the work of an active Grange. These suggested readings come from our degree work and other ritual and foundational documents. They fit easily into the order of business of a Grange meeting in the Good of the Order section or can be used to inspire the occasional Lecturer’s program or at another appropriate time during the course of your meeting. Change is inevitable, as our founders told us through the ritual work they left us. Even as we change, evolve and grow, it is essential that we retain and impart upon new members our most sacredly held values – not only those of faith, hope, charity and fidelity, but also of civility, respect for others, nonpartisanship, lifelong education, the reverence for those who allow us to meet our most basic of needs (agriculturalists and others that produce our food and shelter), and more. By providing direct quotes from these ritual and essential documents as part of our meetings, all members are part of the journey and new members become more familiar with our culture and traditions and form a deeper bond with the organization as a whole. Having heard several of the phrases from the degrees and installation as well as the Declaration of Purposes over the course of a year or more prior to seeing the degrees or installation in full form, members are much more likely to be more attentive, better understand the teachings and welcome the experience to see Grange heritage on display. This focus on a slow introduction to the lessons is key to connecting them with the Grange of

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yesterday, today and tomorrow. The program provides one reading for each monthly meeting. (If you have two meetings a month, you may add further discussion on the topic, use one of the supplementary materials to impress again the lesson or not hold a reading that session.) These readings are on a five-year schedule and allow Granges to pick up at any time in the schedule. You will see these lessons, distributed as bite-sized phrases, used in various publications and social channels from National Grange each month. Often, but not always, they correspond to the season of the year. Each of the lessons are introduced by the month and year, starting with Spring 2022 as “Year A.” Each subsequent year is labeled as B, C, D and E. With this model, Year A would be repeated in 2027; Year B in 2028 and so on unless new yearly reading plans are released through that time. In addition, you will find sample social media posts or traditional print ads that your Grange, Pomona or State may use to encourage members to reflect on these lessons. Jump Right In In this section you will find the five-year schedule of readings that your Grange can use to introduce new members and encourage reflection by seasoned members on the essential lessons of the Grange. This program is meant to begin in

March 2022, however any Grange can pick this up at any time thereafter. The program aligns with seasons rather than the annual calendar. These readings may be used anywhere in your Grange meeting. Two suggestions are to use a few moments (5 or less) during the “Conferring of degrees” period in the traditional Grange meeting agenda. While this is clearly not a full conferral of a degree or degrees, we know this current agenda item is not used during Grange meetings. Further, the reading is imparting a small piece of the wisdom found in the degrees. Another is to place this near the end of the meeting during the Good of the Order period. Behind the reading is the reference, showing where this appears and if applicable, who says it during our ritual work. You may choose to assign these pieces to the corresponding officer of your Grange or designate someone else to read and present this short program. You are encouraged to provide this to the designated reader in advance so they can prepare as necessary. You may also choose to provide the reading to your members in advance so they reflect and come prepared to give an example of its application. Here are a few examples inspired by the presentation of these readings at two Granges where this program was piloted: Example 1. Reader (President): “This month’s reading comes from the Second Degree. The President says: Let ‘no fear ... deter you from doing that which is right.’ “When I read this, I thought of exactly what I was facing that day. A job opened in my company on first shift. I was on third shift for the past several years and I was trying to decide if I wanted to apply for the transfer. I was a little scared, to be honest. I don’t know anyone on the day shift and I don’t know the manager. I know my current manager well and my coworkers and we all get along. But I have been missing out on a lot of my kids’ activities now that they’re getting older and on things with my wife, and I think it would make me healthier if I had a better sleep pattern and worked days. I thought that while I was afraid of change, I know it’s right for me, so I shouldn’t let fear deter me.” Example 2. Reader (Community Service Chairperson): “I’d like to read this month’s

PREPARING FOR WORK

Here are a few recommendations when working with new members: • Provide them a Grange mentor who is positive and encouraging, but who does not force them to learn all things about Grange all at once. Use the time to reflect on the lessons already before them and share positive experiences about the Grange, as well as history of the organization as a whole and the Grange they have joined. • Learn why they joined Grange and “take their temperature” throughout the first few months and beyond about their Grange experience. Most new members will have questions they are uncomfortable asking in a large group or they do not find an appropriate time during our meetings. See if there are ways you can enhance their experience and make sure your Grange is fulfilling the needs of the member and the opportunities as advertised in your recruitment documents or pitch. • Encourage them to see or take part in the First Four Degrees and beyond but consider waiting to recommend this until they have been part of Grange for at least a year, or until they have attended at least a dozen meetings where they can be exposed to the lessons through track one of this program. While this is not our tradition, through this program new members are still learning about our values and the lessons of the Grange, and when they see the full exemplification are more likely to feel comfortable and be more receptive. • Consider helping them find their personal motto from the work of the Grange. Ask them after some time with the Grange what phrase from the readings they connect most with, which motivates them most or what summarizes their reason to be part of the Grange. Consider providing them a personalized gift with this phrase to connect them with the Grange and take it with them in their daily lives. • Encourage them to take part in opportunities that broaden their Grange world – from State contests to reading the National Grange magazine. Allow them to see the connection they have with other members from outside their Grange thanks to the shared values and fraternal experiences. • Some individuals who join find they are not a good fit after learning the Grange’s central tenets. While the Grange should be and is flexible about the “how’s,” we should not be flexible as to who we are (nonpartisan; charitable; law-abiding; etc.). Encourage the new member to examine if they can respect the differences between their values and those the Grange holds. If they can – for example, if they accept that a prayer is said and faith is a key component but they do not practice a faith of their own – continue to encourage them on their Grange journey. If they cannot and would demand all references to faith and a higher power be removed, accept that this may not be a good fit. • Others find the Grange they are in does not fit them well. If this is the case, consider introducing the regional deputy or State membership director to them to encourage a demit to a nearby Grange or to help establish a new Grange that provides programming and outreach more in line with what the new member is looking to accomplish as part of the Grange. To the reader: Use a few minutes of your meeting not just to read the statement, but to reflect on its application to your life or to ask others to reflect on it. You will find application of these lessons no matter your occupation or background. Encourage your members to truly connect these with their lives.

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lesson and use it to have a discussion about some new ideas for service projects. The lesson comes from Installation of Officers and reminds us all that service is a big part of the Grange. It says, ‘Let us work hand in hand for the good of our neighbors. Let us remember that those with trials and tribulations need our help most of all.’ So, we’ve been talking about finding different ways to connect with our community and that our current projects have kind of run their course. Let’s remember that we are supposed to help those especially facing trials and tribulations and come up with some ideas tonight that we can consider and think about between now and next meeting. Then we can choose one or a few and decide how we can make an impact here.” Example 3. Reader (Lady Assistant Steward/Junior Director): “Prior to the meeting, I sent out a request to each of you asking if you could give me an example of something learned at home, not at school. I got a bunch of examples from each of the five people who responded (so thank you for giving me a few each to pick up the slack!). This activity was inspired by the reading for this month, which is from the Grange Declaration of Purposes: ‘Influenced by our strong beliefs in the institution of the family, we are convinced that education begins in the family circle.’ Some of the responses included ‘Right from wrong,’ ‘Prayer,’ ‘My mother taught me how to count long before I entered school,’ (more examples) … Tonight, I just wanted you to think for a minute about what our Juniors and even younger kids here in the room are learning and will take with them for life that they are getting here but won’t get in school and

how great it is that the Grange gives us an opportunity to pass on knowledge and values to them in a safe environment.” You may also choose to come up with activities to reveal or otherwise engage with the reading in a tactile way, such as providing members a cryptogram or adult coloring page. A few for the Year A (2022) readings are included in this pack and more will be created and available throughout the course of the next few years. We also encourage you to share any creative way you use the readings to engage your members with the National Grange so we may highlight your work at our Regional Conferences, in our magazine, newsletter or social media. You may also choose to tie it occasionally with the Lecturer’s program for the meeting. Overall, you are encouraged to find creative ways to engage your new and seasoned members, allowing them to hear, think about and apply the lessons to their lives. We also recommend you use the posts created by the National Grange to start a discussion about the values of the Grange on your social media channels with your community. These can help to demystify what the Grange is about and may encourage people to visit a meeting or engage with one of your community service projects. You can share the items that appear on our Facebook page or are linked to download in weekly Patrons Chain e-newsletter editions. You may also want to post a printed flyer with lessons in your hall to let guests and individuals visiting during rentals know more about our values. These will be available to download through the Patrons Chain and on our website.

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Member appreciation should be personalized, frequent By Amanda Brozana Rios Membership & Leadership Development Director Want to increase your member satisfaction and retention and get more from your members and volunteers than you ever dreamed possible? Make sure they know they’re appreciated. For most people, a simple “Thank You” is not enough. Instead, they truly feel appreciated when your actions consistently show gratitude in a way that is most comfortable to them. Each person craves gratitude in specific ways and feels most connected to people who show appreciation from friends and associates in one of five ways - welcomed, platonic physical touch; tokens of appreciation; acts of service; spending quality time; and words of affirmation. The theory of Love Languages was created by Dr. Gary Chapman and originally used in relationship counseling for romantic partners. However, the same concept can be applied to volunteer appreciation. To learn what mode of gratitude resonates best with your members and volunteers, have them identify their Love Language using the simple quiz included in this program, possibly at an activity night or as part of a Lecturer’s program. The survey is based on the one created by Dr. Chapman for clients, but modified to fit non-romantic situations including people who appreciate or admire one another.

Take note of the individual responses and look at the way you can use those to make the biggest impact in member satisfaction throughout the year. When you identify the best mode in which a person receives and feels respected, appreciated and essential, you will likely see a stronger connection form between the member and the Grange. Tips on how your Grange can personalize your approach to member appreciation are included at the end of this document. In addition, you can identify your own style of giving gratitude, which is not necessarily the same you are most comfortable with or impacted by when receiving gratitude. This survey is available on the National Grange website under Member Resources. Organizationally, this is important because you can bring to your member appreciation program other types of encouragement, support and signs of gratitude, such as being sure to shake the hand of someone you think did a great job or adding a little token of appreciation to the program where member milestones are being celebrated. In all, understanding the Love Languages of each member - be it giving or receiving gratitude - can help your Grange create a well-rounded and meaningful member appreciation program that helps boost the productivity and happiness of members and bolster the fellowship between members.

SHOW OFF YOUR PREFERRED APPRECIATION LANGUAGE Members who attend Grange Growth Summit 2.0 events, Regional Leaders

Conferences and 2022 Convention will be able to get a pin to show off their Love Language once they complete the quiz

found on the next two pages. Additionally, if your Grange uses the quiz, you can

contact me at (301) 943-1090 or by email at

abrozana@nationalgrange.org to arrange to get pins for your members who participate.

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Honoring THE BUILDERS OF OUR

GRANGE MILESTONES 150 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE ®

• Guilford Hope Grange #6, Illinois • Plain Grange #2, Ohio • Eagle Grange #1, Pennsylvania

125 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE • Blue Ridge Grange #1448, Ohio

L egacy

100 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE • • • • • • • • • • • •

Progress Grange #1611, Illinois Perryville Grange #1805, Illinois Broad Hollow Grange #1806, Illinois Shiloah Valley Grange #1807, Illinois Leaf River Grange #1812, Illinois Emerald Mound Grange #1813, Illinois Dunstable Grange #31, Massachusetts North Creek Valley Grange #769, Washington Olympic View Grange #774, Washington Inland Grange #780, Washington Elk Plain Grange #782, Washington East Hill Grange #783, Washington

MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES 85 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP

75 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP

Connecticut • Alice Stemmler, Hemlock Grange #182

Maine • Connecticut • Robert Baines Sr., Hemlock Grange #182 • Clarence Ballard, Senext Grange #40 • Georgia Ballard, Senext Grange #40 • Cindy Finch, Bethlehem Grange #121 • David Howe, Senext Grange #40 • Elsie Johnson, Senext Grange #40 • Sally Newcombe, Senext Grange #40 • Reno Rathbun, Glastonbury Grange #26 • Barbara Rawson, Senext Grange #40 • Robert Parkhurst, Senext Grange #40 • William Sanborn Sr., Hemlock Grange #182 • Alfreda Stevenson, Senext Grange #40

80 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP Connecticut • Charles Cooper, Winchester Grange #74 • Arline Cote, Winchester Grange #74 • Elsie Johnson, Senexet Grange #40 • Minola Terwilleger, Senexet Grange #40 Ohio • Maxine Bennett, Madison Grange #1981 • Francis Sampson, Waterford Grange #231 • Sarah White, Neelyville Grange #299

Idaho • George Carnie, Mica Flats Grange #436

Oregon • Cleda Jones, Willamette Grange #52

Maine • Eunice Flagg, Willow Grange #366 • Edward Fletcher, Benton Grange #458 • Theresa Monk, Benton Grange #458 • Stanley Shores, Benton Grange #458

New Hampshire • Edna Bartlett, Concord Grange #322 • Gordon Gowen, Walpole Grange #125 Washington • Verna Rosenberg, Addy Grange #603

Maryland • Betty Ripley, Linganore Grange #410

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75 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP (CONT’D) Pennsylvania • Grace Balthaser, Fleetwood Grange #1839 • Minerva Gauker, Fleetwood Grange #1839 • Margaret Hickman, Goshen Grange #121 • Sheldon Robinson, Fassett Grange #1567

Massachusetts • James LaSalle, Whately Grange #414 • Marilyn Wentworth, Whately Grange #414 New Hampshire • Roberta Roberts, Wingold Grange #308 • Richard Stevens, Wingold Grange #308

Rhode Island • Barbara Kinniburgh , Roger Williams-Rumford Grange# 52

New York • Maurice Burton, Brunswick Grange #1337 • Riley Hemingway, Dryden Grange #1112 • Leslie Rathbun, Westville Grange #540

Vermont • Ida Snow, Taconic Grange #491 Washington • Robert L. Campbell, Mt. Valley Grange #79 • Peggy Martin, Mt. Valley Grange #79 • Roy Painter, Catlin Grange #199 • Walter Record, Selah Heights Grange #608 • Marion Van Wechel, Selah Heights Grange #608

North Carolina • Hoke Karriker, Corriher Grange #627 Ohio • James Vogel, Madison Grange #1981 • Mary Nan Vogel, Madison Grange #1981

50 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP Connecticut • Muriel Achtermer, Senexet #40 • Sara Bement, Winchester #74 • Cara Blazier, Winchester #74 • John Carter, Senexet #40 • Dierdre DiCara, Winchester #74 • Nancy Hills, Senexet #40 • Susan Kline, Winchester #74 • Stephen Lincoln, Senexet #40 • Carol Kudzal, Senexet #40 • Mercedes Robbins, Senexet #40 • Mary Sullivan, Winchester #74 • James P. Swider, Colchester #78 • Sybil Williams, Senexet #40 Illinois • Rollin Greenland, Union #811 • Diane Meyer, Union #811 Massachusetts • Ronald Belder, Whately #414 • Christine Drake, Whately #414 • Steven Emerson, Chesterfield #83 • Steven Hannum, Whately #414 • Jane Howe, Holden #78 • James Marra, Chesterfield #83 Maryland • Allen Stiles, Medford #188 • Wayne Stiles, Medford #188 • Patricia Ripley, Linganore #410 • Donna Wiles, Linganore #410 • Maurice Wiles, Linganore #410 Maine • Carol Flagg, South Sangerville #335 • Henry Flagg, South Sangerville #335

• • • • •

Thomas Gaddis, Harraseeket #9 Beverley Haywrrd, Benton #458 Bruce Remillard, Harraseeket #9 Donna Remillard, Harraseeket #9 Aldeverd L. Robbins, Medomac Valley #175 • Elsa Seeger, Willow #366 • George Shores, Benton #458 Michigan • Carl Eaton, Burr Oak #1350 • Lena Latterner, West Oshtemo #1630 • Beverly Souter, White Pigeon #1345 Montana • Wilfred Johnson, Smith Valley #130 North Carolina • Madge McNeil, Ferguson #809 New Hampshire • Eunice Hodgdon, Tuftonboro #142 • Barbara Humphrey, Gilman #1 • Norma Neary, Pembroke #111 • Gail Paul, Gilman #1 • Kim Ann Swenson, Crown Point #65 New York • Linda Allen, Brunswick #1337 • Evan Carpenter, Dryden #1112 • Jacolyn Dybka, Villenova #604 • Stanley Dybka, Villenova #604 • Margaret E. Hall, Ricard #993 • Helen Horth, Ellery #353 • Randy Hulle, Hamptonburgh #950 • Vincent Kesby, Ellery #353 • Edward J. Lawton, Oxford #894

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• Dennis MacDonald, Pleasant Valley #1453 • Terry Neuroth, Kirkland #684 • Janet Norris, Excelsior #456 • Wayne Norris, Excelsior #456 • Shirley Robbins, Ricard #993 • Janice Sandman, Fairport #467 Ohio • Mary Bebout, Morgan #829 • Cindy Blendenbacher, Mile Branch #933 • Peggy Cahill, Goshen #578 • Gene Dunkelberger, Collinsville #2264 • Nadine Gittinger, Oxford #2211 • Janet McLeese, Robertsville #1784 • Carol Misimec, East Plymouth #1548 • Diana Nordquest, Mile Branch #933 • Louanne Sanor, Willow Grove #1688 • Ralph Schaad, Waterford #231 • Terry Williams, Painter Creek #1923 Oregon • Celia Fox, Boring Damascus #260 • Georgia Garrett, Ada #570 • Leonard Luttrell, Boring Damascus #260 Pennsylvania • Wilmer Brown, Fleetwood #1839 • Linda Byers, Perry Valley #1804 • Wayne Campbell, Oliver #1069 • Berneice Gabel, Oliver #1069 • Gail Greth, Fleetwood #1839 • James Grove, Lincoln #914 • Barbara Harrison McPherson, Goshen #121 • Jeffrey Keller, Fleetwood #1839

Welcome New Members to the Grange Family

50 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP (CONT’D) • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Bethel #404 (WA) • Fred Phundt • Diann Pfundt • Ole Schow

Caroll Kopfer, Fleetwood #1839 Robert Kopfer, Fleetwood #1839 Rebecca Luxbacher, Oliver #1069 Echo McGovern, Fassett #1567 Thomas Perdue, Goshen #121 William Perdue, Goshen #121 David Schuler, Fleetwood #1839 Elizabeth Shedden, Windfall #257 Lynn Shedden, Windfall #257 Corbett Strawser, Oliver #1069 Linda Strong, Lincoln #914 Nancy Walker, Oliver #1069 Teresa Zechman, Gouglersville #1743 Gloria Zimmerman, Seipstown #1657

Black Lake #861 (WA) • Sherry Stacy Broadway #647 (WA) • Claire Carpenter • Gary Miller • Mel Leskinen • Sheila Leskinen • Harry Staven • Lyn Backe • Lissa Staven • Sara Staven • Jackson Mayes • Charles Firster • Joan Jacobs • Amy Ravenholt • Lynne Dolph • Eric Dolph • Denise Edwards • Terri Widergren • Cheryl Sample

Rhode Island • Cassandra Crandall, Perryville #14 • Kimberly Smith, Perryville #14 Vermont • Hiram Allen, Lakeview #359 • Lois Allen, Lakeview #359 • Deborah H. Ploof, Bridport #303 Washington • Mary Jo Allen, Edgwood #266 • Charles Anderson, Kellogg Marsh #136 • Lawrence Auvil, East Wenatchee #1012 • Adriaan Bons, Ten Mile #399 • Wayne Calhoun, Olympic View #774 • Rodney L. Clouse, Spring Hill #909 • Norman De Graaff, Ten Mile #399 • Jimmy R. Downs, Violet Prairie #996 • Marvin James, Edgwood #266 • John A. Farthing, Minnehaha #164 • Randy D. Flink, Olympic View #774 • Lawrence H. Ganders, Columbia Valley #938 • Ross F. Hahne, Cedar Valley #1306 • Ralph E. Hupp, Olympic View #774 • Karen Jackson, Edgwood #266 • Sue Krupke, Spring Hill #909 • Keith Krueger, Wilcox #141 • Beulah Muller, Olympic View #774 • Kay Nelson, Brighton Park #163 • Jerrold Regan, Kellogg Marsh #136 • Jonathan Richart, Olympic View #774 • Richard L. Stewart, Brighton Park #163 • Lucy Vest, Olympic View #774 • Allan Vroman, Kellogg Marsh #136 • Thomas J. Walker, Selah Heights #608 • Ross Wood, Ten Mile #399

Burns #160 (MI) • Greg Bacon • Patrick Finnegan • Deanna Finnegan Burr Oak #1350 (MI) • Bob Persons • Sandy Persons Chimacum #681 (WA) • Catherine Slayton • Heidi Eisenhour Clarkston Heights #982 (WA) • Jerry Northrup • Mary Lou Northrup • Kenneth Rea • Shannon Peterson • Kim Meek • Sandy House Columbia #87 (WA) • Nathan Fleming Crescent #1123 (WA) • Trisha Lovgren • Catherine Beltrami • Catherine Stordeur

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Deer Lagoon #846 (WA) • Damian Greene • Laura Canby • James Wrightson • Janet Piehler • Ronald Shugar • Lark Shugar • Will Collins • Jeanne Congdon • James Meany • Polly Pong • June Shetlene • Kalsey Tennisson • Justin Tennison • Matt Hamblen • Emily Hamblen • Eleanor Hamblen • Everett Zook • Wendy Zook • Samuel Zook • Jeremy Birchfield • Jackie Birchfield • Dayton Birchfield • Serenity Birchfield • Sara LaChaussee Elma #26 (WA) • Mark Brasel Fern Prairie #866 (WA) • Marc Elkins Fruitland #999 (WA) • Monica Stewart Grays River #124 (WA) • Patricia Wooden • Ella Ammer • Charlie Schumar • Kelly Schumar Green Bluff #300 (WA) • Melanie Pfaff LaCenter #48 (WA) • Lindsey Brown • Grady Brooks • Brody Brown • Riley Brown • Gracy Brown Lincoln Creek #407 (WA) • Bob Taylor • Isaac Taylor

NEW MEMBERS (CONT’D) Linganore Grange #410 (MD) • Kay Staley • Frank Grabill • Trinity Gribling Manor #1101 (WA) • Leticia Sherbahn • Fiona Humphrey • Justin Smith • Nick Johnson Manson #795 (WA) • Amiko Severns • Jim Severns • Carl Blum • Kathy Blum • Jama England • Doug England • Mona Ferguson • Norm Manly • Jeff Conwell • Megan Schenwald Marion #276 (WA) • Monica Warner Minnehaha #164 (WA) • Marilyn Price Molson #1069 (WA) • Laura Robinson • Ernie Hennig • Kathie Hennig New Market #362 (MD) • Pam Noble North Creek Valley #769 (WA) • Loyd Harris • Bruce Selin • Elizabeth Berg Oakview #311 (WA) • Patti Nelson Quimper #720 (WA) • Dave Olson

• • • • • • • •

Deborah Olsen Jim Kellogg Mary Beth Haralovich JJ Johnson Barney Truman Joanne Rittmueller John Collins Carol McLane

Pittsfield Union #882 (MI) • Micheal Bean • Carol Jacobs Pleasant Hill #101 (WA) • Becky Norris Rexville #815 (WA) • Gary Serwold Roy #702 (WA) • Keith Ross, Coni Winans • Blain Nelson • Laura Nelson • Karl Coulson • Amanda Sinz • Ryan Paetz • Wanda Paetz • Daniel Hilsabeck • Erika Hilsabeck Sallal #955 (WA) • Melinda Nichols • Kimberly Borum • Cindy Snyder • George Storrs • Melissa Richmond • Peter Cook • Wando Boe • April Davis • David Beegle • Natalie Bryant • Mark Bryant • Racheal King • Lucy Adams

Salmon Creek #849 (WA) • Myhriah Young San Juan Island #966 (WA) • Emily Scofield • Marvin Severn • Jess Simone • Rick Waldron • Tom Fuhrmann • Russell Fredy • Elexis Fredy • Derek Smith • Brook Landers • John Latimer • Jessa Madonsky • Steve Simpson • Gave Maas • Alicia Brattin • Jeannette Choe • Elizabeth Farr • Natalie Hall • Becky Kilpatrick • Siege Kilpatrick • Kyle Rose • Mark Noyes • Caroline Ramos • Deborah Nolan • Yaim Cooper San Poil #684 (WA) • Jesse Ackerson Sequim Prairie #1108 (WA) • Lester Ellis • Heidi Ault Gray Sharon #800 (WA) • April Messenger • Joanne Rigger • Nick Doelman • Nora Doelman • Eric Quartnstrom • Mary Luz Silver Lake #105 (WA) • Randy Walker

•

Karen Walker

Skokomish #379 (WA) • Rick Endicott • Michelle Endicott • Shawn Beuchel Stillaguamish #1058 (WA) • Carol Goodell Studley #1174 (MI) • Kevin Mudd • Heather Mudd • Shane Mudd • Brennan Mudd Terrace Heights #596 (WA) • Linda Babbitt The Valley #1048 (WA) • Danny Spencer Tunk Valley #1019 (WA) • Debra Lee • Max Frazier • Vern Frazier Tyler #610 (WA) • Kevin Gray • Ruth Gray • Oliver Harrington • Sandy Harrington • Theresa Finley • Tommi Hammons • Karen Strohmaier • Aaron Miller • Jeffrey Roatz Violet Prairie #994 (WA) • Brett Swidecki • Megan Swidecki • Jack Swidecki • Hayley Tresenriter Washington #82 (WA) • Steven McDonald • Patti Fuller

HAS YOUR GRANGE RECENTLY WELCOMED A NEW MEMBER? Make sure they are recognized!

Anyone may submit the names of new members so they can be recognized in Good Day! magazine using the online form found at tiny.cc/NewGranger (case sensitive) or by emailing Amanda Brozana Rios at membership@nationalgrange.org or calling (301) 943-1090. NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1

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MEMORIAL NOTICES CHERYL SHAFER

Past Delegate, Oklahoma State Grange Cheryl Dawn (Rapp) Shafer, Past National Delegate, was born to Forrest Leon and Beverly (Wirick) Rapp on October 6, 1950 in Enid, Oklahoma, and departed from this life September 4, 2021. Cheryl graduated with the class of 1968 from Wakita High School. After graduation, she studied fashion design and merchandising at Bauder Fashion College in Arlington, Texas. After completing her coursework, she worked at Lerner’s clothing store in Enid, Oklahoma. They were blessed with two daughters, Sharen Smith of Cushing, Oklahoma, and Sheila (Mark) Conrady of Wakita, Oklahoma. After raising her daughters, Cheryl went on to work as a florist for The Flower Pot in Medford, Oklahoma. Cheryl was a faithful member of the Wakita Methodist Church. She was also

active in the Cherryvale Grange and Oklahoma State Grange where she served as Secretary and First Lady. Cheryl was a loving grandmother, “Nana” to her grandchildren: Aidan Smith, Colton and Carlie Conrady. Cheryl will be greatly missed by Larry, her husband of 46 years; her children; her grandchildren; her father, Leon Rapp; siblings, Mary (Keith) Krehbiel, Leslie (Steve) Nutter, Rodney (Charlotte) Rapp, Lisa (Kevin) Ryan, Randall Rapp; sister of her heart, Lou (Roy) Weidner; her caregiver, Lori Bergman. Many nieces and nephews will also mourn her passing. Funeral service for Cheryl will be Monday, September 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Wakita United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Wakita Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Medford. www.lanmanmemorials. com Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials can be made to the Wakita Methodist Church or Wakita United Methodist Women, the Grant County Historical Museum, or Oklahoma State Grange Youth Fund. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cheryl Dawn (Rapp) Shafer, please visit our floral store. Cards and condolences may be sent to: Larry Shafer, Past State Master 31358 CR 870 Wakita, OK 73771

LYNWOOD L. DAVENPORT

Past President, Delaware State Grange Lynwood L. Davenport, 96, of Liberty, Kentucky, formerly of Lewes and Dover, Delaware, passed away on May 26, 2021. He was born in Deep Run, North Carolina, the son of Louis and Lena Davenport. Lyn was a proud Army Veteran. He worked as a produce inspector for the USDA, becoming the USDA Federal supervisor for the State of NC Inspection Department. He served as Grange President for the State of Delaware from 2001-05. He proudly served on the Board of Directors for the University of Delaware. After his retirement he assisted both

the Papens and Fifers on their family farms. He enjoyed reading, gardening and his little dog Katrina. He loved to watch football and baseball games. It was important to him to keep up with his comrades from the military, the 36th Infantry Division, T Patch, WWII. He was a hero, receiving a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife of 53 years, Carole Cataldi Davenport. He is survived by his children, Connie Dulin, Elizabeth Bozievich

(Jay) and Suzanne Hopkins (Gregory); grandchildren, Carolann Wilson (Otis), Erica Gallagher (Joey), Jared Dulin (Dawn), Angela Moore (Ben Hosken), Ashley Miller and Mark Hopkins (Mikayla Glanden); great-grandchildren, Noah, Addison, Colton, Ryleigh, Baylor, Collins, Carson, Madison, Bryson and Atticus, extended family and friends. A funeral Mass was held on Friday, June 25, 2021, at the Church of the Holy Cross, Dover, Delaware. Interment with military honors followed at Holy Cross Cemetery, Dover, DE.

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HAROLD ‘BUD’ ESHELMAN

Past Idaho State Grange President Harold “Bub” Raymond Eshelman Past National Delegate of Boise, Idaho. Harold was born at home in Meridian, ID Dec 15, 1937, to Ray and Pauline Eshelman. In 2017 he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and his family feels very fortunate to have gotten to spend 4 more years with him. Harold passed away on August 28, 2021. Harold went to school at Lake Hazel Elem, Meridian Jr High and graduated from Meridian High School, where he was still in contact with classmates from 1st grade – High School. In his senior year he enrolled in Idaho Air National Guard at Fort Sheppard Air Force base in Texas and completed 6 years. During his time there he was enrolled in Boise Junior College (presently BSU) where he met Jacquie Rogers. He majored in Science and Math, which he taught at Meridian High for 11 years. He loved his students and they him, from those days on he couldn’t go anywhere and not run into someone he knew. He developed and implemented a class called “How to repair anything”. Every Friday a student would bring in a broken appliance and he would show them what was broken and how to fix it...and they did! He was truly a “Jack of all Trades”. He also taught Drivers Training at Meridian and owned several Drivers Training Companies throughout the years. In the summer he worked for the National Forest Service and was on 38 fires: traveling to Oregon, Washington & California fighting fires there too. He worked for many chemical companies, one of which he started and owned, Western Systems Company. He was involved with many organizations including, but not limited to Maple Grove Grange, where he has been the President for many years and served as the State President for two years; several veterans organizations – Ada County Veterans Council (where he was serving as the President), Am Vets - Post 4 (which he just started in honor of his cousin, Henry Schauer). He is Charter/Lifetime member of Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and has served in many positions with the local Chapter. Perhaps his most important work was founding Wounded Vets Fishing Alaska a non-profit – which started about 15 years ago and will continue under the watch of his daughter and son- in-law, Cheri and Steven McKinney. Harold loved to fish and hunt, a love that he shared with many family members and friends. He enjoyed working on puzzles, having booths at MGG Flea Markets, and having coffee and breakfast with his buddies. He had a great sense of humor, especially in his younger years…but he swears that he was not the instigator. He never knew a stranger! He was very proud of his kids, grandkids and great-grand kids and loved “Condo” time with them even though it sometimes got crowded and loud. He is survived by his loving wife, of 60 years, Jacquie; daughters: Teresa (JW) Barnes and Cheri (Steven) McKinney; five grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; a special niece, Angie Rogers, and a special nephew, Nick (Dina) Rogers and a great-nephew Jayden Rogers; and sister, Lillian McCoy; as well as numerous extended family members. Cards and condolences may be sent to Jacquie Eshelman, 1829 Ancestor Avenue, Boise, ID 83706-6720.

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BETTY ANN THOMPSON Past Delegate, Maryland State Grange

Sister Betty Ann Thompson, Past National Delegate from Maryland, passed away August 10, 2021, at the home of her daughter, Jennifer, surrounded by her loving family. She was 94, the daughter of the late Norman Stone Lease and Edith Burall Lease. She was born in New Market on August 20, 1926. Betty was happily married for 67 years to the late John Leonard Thompson Sr., who left his Earthly home to prepare their Heavenly one on June 8, 2021. She was a graduate of Frederick High School in 1943 and Bridgewater College in 1947. Betty taught in Frederick County Public Schools for eight years until starting their family. She never gave up trying to instill proper use of adverbs, adjectives, and punctuation in her children and grandchildren, with mixed success. She was ahead of her time in her dedication to protecting the environment and healthy eating and living. Betty was active in the New Market and Frederick County Homemakers and greatly enjoyed the fellowship and lessons given by the group. She was a member of LibertytownUnionville Lions Club. She was an Golden Sheaf member of the New Market Grange. Sister Thompson was an active member and served the State Grange as Chaplain and First Lady when Brother John served as President of the State Grange. Betty was a lifelong active member of the Bush Creek Church of the Brethren, living her faith through serving in many capacities. She is survived by her four children, John Leonard Thompson, Jr. (Suzan), Joel Lease Thompson (Catherine), Jennifer Lou Cliber Smith, and Jan Lucinda Stitley (Chip). She will be remembered for her positivity, generosity, and patience by her 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Edith Hallock, and sister-in-law, Anna Mary Leiter Lease. Cards and condolences may be sent to Jennifer Smith, 11009 Bennie Duncan Road, Frederick, MD 21701.

GORDON HILLER

Past Pennsylvania State Grange President Gordon Hiller, past President of the Pennsylvania State Grange, passed away on July 13, 2021. Born February 15. 1926, the son of Jacob and Rebecca Deitrick Hiller. Gordon grew up on the family farm, and graduated from Montoursville High School, 1944. He was president of the local chapter of Future Farmers of America and continued his agriculture interest after his marriage to Mary Gill from Selinsgrove April 20, 1946, as the Resident Manager of the Brock Farm School of Agriculture, Williamsport Technical Institute. In 1952, he and Mary tenantfarmed in the Muncy area until 1959 when they purchased their family farm in Eldred Twp. The general farming operation included a small campground and Farm Vacation for city visitors. Gordon developed a keen interest in conservation of natural resource practices which he diligently applied to any lands he owned or leased. In 1956, he was instrumental in persuading the Lycoming County Commissioners to declare a Conservation District for Lycoming County, and he was appointed District Director for 12 years. In 1967 he accepted a full-time position with the State Conservation Commission as a Field Representative. In 1980 he was promoted and relocated to Harrisburg as a program Specialist, responsible for training, permitting and enforcement of Erosion Control provisions of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law. He was appointed Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Department Of Agriculture, by Gov. Dick Thornburg, from 1986-88 when he retired with 20 years of public service to agriculture and natural resource programs in Pennsylvania. He served on many boards in his lifetime, including school board,

MARTHA McGOSKEY Past National Chaplain

Martha

Mary

Ravenswood,

WV,

McGoskey, passed

94,

away

October 2, 2021, at her home. She was insurance company board, the state Ag Awareness Foundation, on the Penn State Board of Trustees and as Overseer of the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in New Bolton. Gordon was a devout Christian throughout his life and served on Church Boards where he held memberships and has served as a Lay Leader. He was a member of the Grange since 1942, serving in various offices including President of West Branch Grange, Bottle Run Grange, Lycoming Co., and Shermanata Grange, Perry Co. He was elected Lycoming Pomona Grange President in 1991 and again 1997, and served as State Grange President 1992-1996. He was also President of the Pennsylvania Grange Service Corp. Gordon became a Master Mason at Eureka #335 in Montoursville in 1963 and the Scottish Rite Consistory, Valley of Williamsport and Williamsport Kiwanis Club. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary. Surviving are his four daughters; three foster sons and two foster daughters; 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grands. Cards and condolences may be sent to the family of Gordon Hiller, 326 NW 7th Street, Williston, Florida 32696-1510.

born on February 22, 1927, in Westerly, WV, daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Kovacs Bernath. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband George; many brothers and sisters; and an infant grandson. Martha was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ravenswood, and past president of the United Methodist Women. She was the first female Chaplain of the National Grange, and a member of the Mountaineer Pomona Grange, Silverton Grange and Ohio Valley Grange. She was a member of the WV Artists and Craftsman Guild; and former President of the Ravenswood Civics Club. She and her husband George were involved in the Cedar Lakes Arts and Crafts Fair for 49 years. She was also an Ohio River Festival Chairperson. She was a writer for several years with the Parkersburg Newspaper. She is survived by her three children, Marcella Rose Curry (David), Frederick Sheldon

(Robin),

and

George Daniel McGoskey (Patricia); five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a great-great granddaughter; and sister-inlaw, Mildred Griffith of Beckley, WV. Special thanks to Kanawha Hospice; and extra special thanks to five caregivers, Nancy Deal, Brenda Stone, Patty Stone, Connie Starcher and Brenda Hicks. Cards and condolences may be sent to the Family of Martha McGoskey, PO Box 574, Ravenswood, WV 26164.

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McGoskey

Topsham #37 (2) Union Harvest #591 (2) Winthrop #209 (1) Maryland Calvert #424 (4) Massachusetts Central Community #22 (1) Guiding Star #1 (2) Hanover #206 (2) Hinsdale #19 (1) Norfolk #135 (1) North Orange #86 (5) Prescott of Pepperell #73 (2) Ware #164 (2) Whately #414 (1) Williamstown #366 (1)

2021 California American River #172 (1) Anderson Valley #669 (3) Costa Mesa #612 (6) Hessel #750 (37) Jacinto #431 (21) Little Lake #670 (1) Mattole #569 (8) Merced Colony #527 (7) North Fork #763 (6) Orangevale #354 (22) Redwood Valley #382 (22) Sierra Valley #466 CA (1) Vaca Valley #298 (24) Colorado Colona #259 (1) Crescent #136 (4) Florida #306 (1) Garden Home #407 (13) Golden Gate #451 (31) Green Valley #441 (4) Lake Vista #336 (2) Lewis #406 (9) Oxford #482 (5) Pleasant View #164 (4) Redlands Mesa #487 (10) Sunflower #162 (2) Victory #452 (3) Connecticut Beacon Valley #103 (20) Bridgewater #153 (7) Cannon #152 (12) Lyme #147 (1) Norfield #146 (4) Vernon #52 (10) Winchester #74 (4)

Idaho Clearwater #299 (3) Edgemere #355 (6) Kendrick #413 (1) Mica Flats #436 (1) Paradise Valley #389 (10) Illinois Beaver Valley #1791 (2) Big Thunder #1940 (10) Capron #1901 (9) Emerald Mound #1813 (1) Hopewell #1747 (3) Indiana Lake #2192 (1) Kansas Indian Creek #1431 (1) Morning #227 (2) Neosho Valley #1883 (1) Pleasant View #1459 (2) Maine Alexander #304 (2) Castine #250 (4) Chelsea #215 (2) Chesterville #20 (2) East Sangerville #177 (2) Excelsior #5 (22) Halcyon #345 (3) Harraseeket #9 (7) Highland Lake #87 (2) Jonesboro #357 (11) Manchester #172 (1) North Scarboro #495 (2) Norway #45 (3) Porter #569 (4) Rumford #115 (1) Saco #53 (4)

Michigan Burns #160 (3) Harbor Springs #730 (2) Pittsfield-Union #822 (2) Plymouth/Westland #389 (2) Studley #1174 (2) Minnesota Zumbro Valley #765 (2) Montana Corvallis #17 (2) Thompson Falls #123 (1) Nebraska Carver #432 (2) Riverview #392 (1) New Hampshire Concord #322 (4) Gilman #1 (16) Park #249 (4) Watatic #36 (1) New York Bethlehem #137 (2) Clifton Springs #1042 (1) Copake #935 (18) Corinth #823 (1) Five Corners #1000 (7) Goodrich Settlement #1532 (13) Hammond #677 (1) Kendrew #891 (1) Mayfield #683 (2) Oak Grove #873 (1) Pierstown #793 (16) Sandy Creek #127 (3) Stone Church #1561 (3) Taft Settlement #473 (1) Towlesville #430 (5) Yorktown #862 (8)

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North Carolina Corriher #627 (6) Edneyville #1051 (1) Grantham #968 (9) Matrimony #771 (2) Old Richmond #675 (1) Schley #710 (10) Ohio Pike #1669 (1) Unity #1761 (1) Williamsport #1815 (2) Oklahoma Bethel #129 (11) Big Cabin #156 (159) Blue Jacket #353 (22) Cabin Creek #359 (37) Clear Creek #84 (48) Goodwill #13 (1) Noxie-Wann #362 (4) Oak View #198 (2) Pleasant View #354 (5) South Coffeyville #351 (12) Union #349 (12) Vinita #360 (30) Oregon Ada #570 (1) Ash Butte #802 (8) Azalea #786 (7) Beaver Homes #518 (7) Bellview #759 (1) Brownsmead #822 (7) Coburg West Point #535 (8) Columbia #267 (20) Creswell #496 (16) Fairmount #252 (2) Fernwood #770 (9) Forest Grove #282 (2) Fruitdale #379 (21) Garfield #317 (2) Goldson #868 (6) Hope #269 (3) Hurricane Creek #608 (2) Kinton #562 (2) Lake Creek #697 (8) Marys River #685 (23) McMinnville #31 (16) Milwaukie #268 (1) Mohawk-Mckenzie #747 (7) Rockwall #679 (2) Salmon River #516 (4) Scholls #338 (1) Silverton #748 (4) Smith River #585 (9) Spray #940 (1) Springwater #263 (6)

Tigard #148 (9) White Clover #784 (1) Willamette #52 (23) Pennsylvania Big Knob #2008 (3) Buckhorn #1119 (2) Central #1216 (2) Eagle # 1 (22) Goshen #121 (14) Hickory #1285 (3) Honey Brook Twp #1688 (3) Jefferson #1373 (12) Keystone #2 (1) Kimmerlings #1529 (7) Liberty #1780 (6) Lincoln #914 (2) Log Cabin Unity #2110 (3) Madison #2064 (2) Marion #223 (1) Middletown #684 (5) Mifflin #1725 (2) Minnequa #754 (4)

Progress #96 (10) Royal #1972 (3) Russellville #91 (4) Scrubgrass #1705 (3) South Auburn #1188 (1) Trexlertown #1755 (4) Tuscarora #774 (1) Valley #1360 (15) Walker #786 (17) York Run #1699 (2) Rhode Island Laurel #40 (2) Texas Black Hill #1547 (28) Cibolo #1541 (13) Kreutzberg #1655 (24) Vermont Bartonsville #481 (3) Caledonia #9 (8) Charlotte #398 (5) Maple Valley #450 (1) Tunbridge #384 (1)

QUILT BLOCK

Group I (Age 14+) 1st - Jennifer Hicks, NE (not yet a member) 2nd - Stephanie Racine, RI (not yet a member) 3rd - Amanda Pool, ID (not yet a member) Group II (Age 13 and under) 1st - Rylee Flanery, Little Acorns Junior #38, MN 2nd - Lillian Racine, RI (not yet a member) 3rd - Max Swenson, Little Acorns Junior #38, MN

Virginia Beach Community #958 (1) Burnt Tree #957 (5) Washington Addy #603 (36) Birdsview #957 (1) Broadway #647 (54) Columbia #87 WA (14) Deer Lagoon #846 (94) Diamond Lake #506 (2) Fern Prairie #866 (6) Finley #414 (10) Five Mile Prairie #905 (2) Fredonia #545 (1) Fruitvale #348 (2) Gardenspot #278 (3) Humptulips #730 (9) Inland #780 (2) Lincoln Creek #407 (4) Manor #1101 (1) Mansford #710 (1) Manson #796 (7)

PUBLICITY

In House 1st - Eagle Grange #1, PA 2nd - High Desert Grange #593, CA 3rd - Marble Valley Grange #567, VT 4th - Marble Valley Grange #567, VT Professional 1st - Jefferson Grange #1385, PA 2nd - Jefferson Grange #1385, PA 3rd - Five Mile Prairie Grange #905, WA 4th - Beach Community #958, WA

Group III (Men, Age 14+) 1st - Duane Hamp, Five Mile Prairie #905, WA 2nd - Harold Hahn, Glenville #1531, NY 3rd - Roger Bostwick, Pleasant View #1459, KS

North Creek Valley #769 (2) Oakview #311 (16) Patit Valley #1039 (1) Rexville #815 (5) Rose Valley #953 (20) Roy #702 (40) Samish Valley #926 (1) San Juan Island #966 (46) Satsop #183 (4) Silver Creek/Ethel #150 (4) Skamokawa #425 (6) South Camano #930 (3) Steptoe #1005 (20) Stillaguamish #1058 (2) The Valley #1048 (13) Tyler #610 (6) Waitsburg #1 (1) White Trail #1143 (1) Willapa Valley #527 (25) West Virginia Silverton #506 (11)

PHOTOGRAPHY

Barns 1st - Ashley Mohn, Marion Grange #1853, PA 2nd - Gloria Montero, High Desert Grange #22, NV 3rd - Carolynn Chamlee, High Desert Grange #22, NV Selfie 1st - Lindsay Schroeder, Virginville Grange #1832, PA 2nd - Rebecca Hodgson, Jonesboro Grange #357, ME 3rd - Ethan Edwards, Shiloh Valley Grange #1807, IL Close-Up/Macro 1st - Lindsay Schroeder, Virginville Grange #1832, PA 2nd - Jeanette Smith, Corvallis Grange #17, MT 3rd - Elizabeth Kattner, Jefferson Grange #1384, PA

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Montague #140, NJ Morgan #829, OH Moses Lake #1151, WA Mossyrock #355, WA Mountain Valley #79, WA North River #946, WA Oakview #311, WA Ohio Sheffield Star #1610, OH Pleasant Ridge #135, ID Progress #96, PA Quimper #720, WA Ralston #943, WA Riverside Valley #1047, WA Rose Valley #953, W Sammamish Valley #286, WA San Juan Island #966, WA Sequim Prairie #1108, WA Sharon #800, WA Sierrra Valley #466, CA Silver Lane #105, WA Skamakawa #425, WA Spencer Creek #855, OR Springwater #263, OR Sterling #53, MA Stevens Couty Pomona #17, WA Stillaguamish #1058, WA Stockbridge #295, MA Studley #1174, MI Sunbeam #2, MN Sunflower #162, CO Swauk Teanaway #984, WA Ten Mile #399, WA The Valley #1048, WA Thurston County Pomona #8, WA Twisp Valley #482, WA Unity #1761, OH Wayne #262, OH Wheat Ridge #155, CO Williamsport #1815, OH

2021-22 Maryland State Grange Pennsylvania State Grange 10-Year Granges Grantham Grange #968, NC Gratiot Grange #1898, MI 5-Year Granges Bethlehem Grange #137, NY Linganore Grange #410, MD Stony Point Grange #1694, PA All others Burns Grange #160, MI Central Union Grange #559, CA Creswell Grange #496, OR Deer Lagoon Grange #846, WA Eagle Grange #1, PA Five Mile Prairie Grange #905, WA Goldendale Grange #49, WA Hookstown Grange #1980, PA Humptulips Grange #730, WA Marys River Grange #685, OR Prairie Grange #1832, IL Redland Grange #796, OR St. John’s Grange #729, NC Stanford Grange #808, NY Turkey Hill Grange #1370, IL Upton Grange #125, MA Valley Grange #1360, PA

ISHED G RA GU IN

GE N

Addy #603, WA Adna #417, WA Alamo #1446, TX Amesville #798, OH Animas Valley #194, CO Barberton #571, WA Baw Faw #34, WA Bee Hive #385, WA Calispel #500, WA Camas Valley #842, WA Chimacum #691, WA Clear Lake #692, MN Crescent #1123, WA Dry Creek #646, WA Dudley #163, MA East Oakville #902, WA Elma #26, WA Emerald Mound #1813, IL Fern Prairie #866, WA Fruitland #999, WA Gardner #68, KS Goshen #121, PA Grays Harbor/Pacific Pomona #28, WA Grays River #124, WA Green Bluff #300, WA Greenwood Park #590, WA Happy Valley #322, WA High Desert #22, NV High Desert #593, CA Holden #78, MA Humptulips #730, WA Humptulips Junior #376, WA Inland #780, WA Jefferson #1384, PA Jonesboro #357, ME Keystone #2, PA Long Beach #667, WA Lopez Island #1060, WA Marble Valley #567, VT Marvel #479, CO Mile Branch #933, OH Monroe-Dan Emmett #847, OH

DI ST

Ohio State Grange Washington State Grange

GRANGEYOUTH

YOUTH PROGRAM

2021 Stanford #808, NY

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Photo by Lindsay Schroeder

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PERSPECTIVE

‘Warm Welcome’ 155th Annual Convention

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By Philip J. Vonada Communications Director

with Rob Beamon, Ethan Edwards, Jenn Nauss, Sasha Secor, Lindsay Schroeder and Chad Smith 2021 Communication Fellows

From November 9-13, Grange members from across the country gathered in Wichita, Kansas for the 155th Annual Session of the National Grange. For many, this was their first time seeing each other in two years, as the 2020 Annual Session was held virtually, and many other members were unable to attend this year’s regional events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “Kansas opened the door and gave us the warm welcome home we were missing for the past year,” National Grange Membership and Leadership Development Director Amanda Brozana Rios said. “The Great Plains was so welcoming and to see everyone in person again was like a balm to the soul of sorts.” Throughout the week, Grange members came together in workshops, concerts, banquets, tours, and special events, enjoying the fellowship and camaraderie the Grange is known for. Huber offers views On Tuesday afternoon, National Grange President Betsy Huber made her annual addresses to the Delegates and to the public. “It is wonderful to be standing here in front of a roomful of Grangers in person this year!” she said, “Now is the time to get back to work.” Huber urged Grangers to get “back in the habit” of monthly or semi-monthly meetings and activities. She encouraged making strong, renewed efforts to attract new members who have found that they want “more useful, valuable activities than just busyness.”

She touched on the tense political discourse and climate throughout the United States, saying, “We must set the example for the rest of the country, not become like it. Please exercise patience, forbearance, charity, and tolerance in all your meetings and Grange activities.” Huber noted that “the National Grange continues to recapture its historical reputation as the voice for rural and smalltown America.” By participating in a multitude of issue coalitions based around agriculture, healthcare, and rural broadband, she said an increasing number of influencers in D.C are “realizing that grassroots rural and small-town residents actually do have a voice in the Nation’s Capital and that voice is the Grange.” She went on to thank National Grange Legislative Director Burton Eller for his work in Grange Advocacy and all the efforts to keep the well-respected voice on the Hill. Among many other activities, the Grange has remained active in lobbying the USDA on issues such as continuing

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder The Great Plains Region dressed up tables, common spaces and more with little welcoming touches such as this sign, crafted by a Grange member, on the table at the luncheons.

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the food assistance programs that were developed and started near the beginning of the pandemic, encouraging the approval of selling locally-processed meats across state lines and advocating for increased funding for agriculture research. “The National Grange and the Agriculture Workforce Coalition continue to urge Congress to pass bipartisan agriculture labor reform legislation,” Huber told the audience in person and online. Healthcare was another significant topic covered in Huber’s address. She said the unaffordable, out-ofpocket costs associated with Medicare Part D prescriptions continues to be an issue that the National Grange is petitioning Congress to rectify. Working with other organizations and interest groups to address the high rate of farm suicides in our country has also been a high priority. Huber said she never knew how important our Grange theme for the past two years would have been. “Cultivating Connections” became alltoo-real during the pandemic, as it took work to reach out and continue to foster the work of the Grange, she said. Over the next two years, the National Grange will operate with the theme “Raised Right Here.” Brozana Rios said the theme can help Granges focus on efforts that improve local sustainability and resiliency for rural communities and hometowns, from fostering a sense of pride of place, to encouraging the purchase and use of locally-grown or made products to promoting our own programs that help develop the next generation of leaders for our communities. “This is not new for Grange. This is a celebration of what we’ve been concerned about in our communities for more than 150 years.” As she closed, Huber drew her attention both to the past and the future. “We are on the verge of major change in our organization,” Huber said, noting the effects of the pandemic on the organization. “Our founders were radical

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Host committee members dressed in sunflowers for the banquet to kick off the week of the 155th Annual National Grange Convention in Wichita, Kansas, “The Sunflower State.” Many posted to social media using the convention logo, as seen above.

thinkers, not afraid to take chances and try new things. Can we live up to their heritage?” Elections see change Leadership is a huge focus of any National Session – from the act of leading as Delegates to the work to train the next generation. As part of the week, Delegates prepared to elect a total of 18 officers for the next two years of service to the Order. Starting on Thursday morning and lasting through early Friday, Delegates kept the faith in Huber as President of the organization, granting her a fourth term in the office she is the first female to hold. “Thank you for placing your trust in me,” Huber said after winning the majority vote on the first ballot. “I look forward to continuing to lead the Grange.” Delegates also re-elected Lynette Schaeffer to the Executive Committee. Schaeffer was later selected as chairwoman of the committee by its members, making it the first time in the organization’s history that the “top four” offices – President, Vice President, Lecturer and Executive Committee Chair - are held by women. New to their positions are Christine Hamp who was moved by delegates from the Lecturer’s post that she held since 2016 to Vice President and newly elected Lecturer Ann Bercher, President of the Minnesota State Grange, who is holding her first National office.

“I look forward to engaging our members at every level,” Hamp said, “as we collaborate to grow the Grange in every community across the country. Bercher said she is looking forward to continuing Hamp’s wisdom and legacy as Lecturer, and creating and fostering projects and programs nationwide. “I am greatly honored by the confidence of the Delegates, and I am excited to see where this leads,” she said. In addition, Buddy Overstreet of Texas was elected to the Executive Committee. “It’s an honor,” Overstreet said. “There are a lot of issues facing the Grange right now,” he noted, stating that he is ready to work with the rest of the Executive Committee to help guide the Grange. Overstreet was elected to the seat that has been held by Steve Coye of New York since 2017. Vermont State President Joe Goodrich was elected Treasurer; Debbie Campbell, of Pennsylvania, was elected Secretary; Kathy Gibson of Massachusetts was elected Lady Assistant Steward. Chaplain Barbara Borderieux, of Florida; Steward Chip Narvel, of Delaware; Assistant Steward John Plank, of Indiana; Gatekeeper Christopher Johnston, of Michigan; and all three Graces – Ceres Cindy Greer of Colorado, Flora Welina Shufeldt of Oklahoma, and Pomona Kay Stiles of Maryland – retained their seats. Phil Prelli, of Connecticut, encouraged delegates to embrace

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change when he declined nomination for Vice President, but faith in his ability to lead clearly remained as he was elected on Thursday evening Priest Archon by the Assembly of Demeter. He takes the place of Roger Bostwick, who was elected High Priest when Bruce Croucher declined to serve another term. Martha Stefenoni, elected Priestess Annalist in 2019, was reelected for another two years. Big names come to visit The National Grange made news as it entered Wichita, with Huber doing an interview prior to session with the local news station and a drop-in by city mayor Brandon Whipple, who invited attendees to enjoy all the area had to offer. Other big names were on the schedule as well as workshop leaders, speakers and entertainment on Thursday evening. Peterson Farm Brothers On Thursday, attendees were delighted with the personalized workshops and full performance of the Peterson Farm Brothers. A fifth-generation Swedish farm family,

the Petersons found a great deal of success after developing social media presence by parodying popular songs in a “farm life” style. While many online personalities create a fictional character in their social media influence, the Petersons are legitimate farmers of wheat, corn, milo, soy, sunflowers and alfalfa. Their rise to social media relevance happened while running their nearly 3,000-acre farm in rural Kansas. Growing up, the brothers (and sister) were involved in extracurriculars of all kinds, including 4-H, FFA, music, leadership and a variety of sports. These activities helped them make the plunge into the world of social media, where they have enjoyed success for nearly a decade. Greg, the oldest of the Peterson brothers, hosted a workshop for the benefit of Grangers. He touched on subjects spanning from organic farming practices, legacy of farming in the Midwest and the future of the Peterson Farm Brothers and their creative enterprises. “I wanted to be an NBA basketball player as a kid,” he said. “If I had a message

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Kansas State Secretary of Agriculture is interviewed by a local TV station before speaking at the Salute to Agriculture Luncheon at the 155th Annual Grange Convention.

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Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was the keynote speaker during the Advocacy Luncheon at the 155th Annual National Grange Convention.

to 15-year-old me, it would be to try some things. Even if it is stuff that your friends don’t like, step out on your own and take some risks.” Greg was later joined by his brothers, Kendal and Nathan, presented a concert for Grange members and the public at the Century II M. J. Teall Theater. With a nearlyfull house, the three brothers talked about their farm, their success as ag-vocates and influencers and their pride as producers. “We never intended to go viral,” Greg said. “It just happened that one video we did was picked up at the right time.” They chronicled their journey from the farm to the big city and back to their farm, which they still operate, despite their success. Their goal through their videos is to teach children and adults about where food comes from and what it’s like to work on and run a farm. They want to make “farm life” accessible and fun and hope to encourage others to become farmers in their own right - perhaps at a smaller scale than the Peterson family’s own farm. “This was just the crown jewel of the whole convention in some ways,” said Melanie Bostwick, regional convention co-chair. “We are so happy to have the

Peterson Brothers here to share with us their knowledge and their love of agriculture. They are just so special.” Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Prior to the opening of session on Tuesday, former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, a native of “The Sunflower State,” served as the speaker at the annual Advocacy Luncheon. Pai and National Grange President Betsy Huber have worked together on the Grange’s continued rural broadband initiatives. Pai addressed attendees on issues that included rural broadband, rural healthcare and mental health disparities and the diaspora from rural America. As Pai discussed the ways in which rural America is growing more rural by the year noting the 2020 census, he also addressed physical health. “The literal health of rural Americans has suffered too,” Pai said. “You’re familiar with the statistics for things like heart disease and cancer, which harm rural residents more frequently than others.

GRANGE LEGACY FAMILIES 7 Generations Ingwersen, KS Schif, KS 6 Generations Emmerich/Sloan/Dehn, OR 5 Generations Hepler/Smith, IN/MI Roberts, CT Schilling/Rider/Butler, PA Teisinger, OH

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder The Peterson Farm Brothers provided Thursday night entertainment at the 155th Annual National Grange Convention to a delighted audience. And another unfortunate disparity involves mental health.” Pai stated that in 2022, the FCC will release 9-8-8, a three-digit phone hotline for mental health crises and suicide prevention, allowing the service to be implemented nationwide. He thanked the National Grange for their advancement of this proposal in 2019 and 2020. Finally, Pai encouraged the Grange and its members to continue fighting for their communities by connecting with legislators from the local to national levels, and to use their voices for change and for good. Pai’s full speech as well as streams from many other events from the week can be found at youtube.com/nationalgrange. Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam Keeping the focus on Kansas, Wednesday’s Salute to Agriculture Luncheon speaker was Kansas State Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam, who spoke about responding to stress within the agriculture community, developing local product markets, enhancing rural broadband and climate resiliency, which are among the most important opportunities and issues facing farm communities. While supporting the technical and

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economic demands of farming, Beam reminded the attendees of the impact of the often unrecognized emotional stress related to farming. Unpredictable weather, heavy workloads and financial worries can create overwhelming stress, sometimes resulting in mental and emotional distress, substance abuse, anxiety, depression and even suicide. “We realize that caring for health and wellness is just as critical as caring for the farm business,” Beam said. To address this need, Beam said the Kansas Department of Agriculture has partnered with mental health and agriculture service agencies and institutions in Kansas and neighboring states to create the Kansas Ag Stress Resources Website. “We provide resources that farmers and ranchers need to help cope with agrelated stress,” Beam said. “The site is tailored to different demographics and types of assistance needed. It also includes a free 24/7 support hotline.” Eller said hearing from speakers like Beam about what agriculture looks like in their states and ways in which their states are responding to various needs or crises is good “food for thought” for attendees who may take ideas back and advocate for

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder After the Peterson Farm Brothers show, attendees took photos and got autographed merchandise. Some of the youngest fans like Inara Keeton, Oklahoma, took a moment to enjoy the children’s book the group was selling.

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their implementation at home. Audience members asked for Beam’s thoughts on how to protect family farms. “I believe opportunity will lie in producers adding value at the local level,” said Beam, noting that Kansas has provided support “for specialty crops and food products, issuing grants for local meat processing operations and even expanding local grocery stores.” Beam acknowledged the impact of climate stress and resiliency. He noted that family farmers continue to act in the longterm interest of the land. Smart practices are key to the stewardship of the land as we look to the future, he said. “Farmers and ranchers are well known as the first and best stewards of their land, and many are early adopters of smart conservation practices including cover crops, minimized tilling, et cetera,” he said. He encouraged Grange members to continue being a voice for rural America and supporting agriculture at all levels. He recognized that many of the foundational values of the Grange, such as aspiring to a higher manhood and womanhood, fostering mutual understanding, striving to secure harmony, good will, and brotherhood, and suppressing personal, local, sectional, and national prejudices will continue to be the best support that rural America can have.

The Grange is an Under our Wings partner of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, and on hand to represent QOVF was Lisa Conner, the Kansas State Coordinator. For the first time, individuals who do not hold Grange membership were honored, including members of the local Augusta Memorial Post 6746 - Veterans of Foreign Wars and Augusta Leonard Whitehill American Legion Post 189, who presented the colors. The anthems of each military branch were played by John Noonan, with veterans standing up when the music of their branch was played to be recognized by the crowd. Noonan was later presented with a quilt. Several Grange Youth assisted in escorting the veterans to the front of the room to receive their quilts. Kimber Newman, daughter of National Young Patrons Molly and Vince Newman, assisted in giving the recipients thank you cards made by the fourth-grade class

Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios

Hall of Fame Inductees Just prior to the Quilts of Valor presentation, two Washington men were inducted into the National Grange Hall of Fame. Albert S. Goss and Ira E. Shea, both nominated by then-National Lecturer Chris Hamp who had the privilege of reading their biographies as part of the induction ceremony, are the newest of less than 20 individuals so far honored for their contributions to the Grange on a national level. Shea became associated with the Grange in 1921, at the age of 26. While his accolades read like a work of epic fiction, he is perhaps best known for his skill and commitment to organizing Granges throughout the land. “My first love was the actual work of organizing a new Grange,” Shea once wrote in a book that can still be found called “The Grange was my Life.” Albert S. Goss was born in 1882. He became the manager of the Grange Cooperative Wholesale in Seattle at the age of 38. In 1922, Goss was elected President of the Washington State Grange, and in 1924 he became a member of the National Grange Executive Committee. He was chairperson of the committee from 1929 until 1933. In 1941, he was elected President of the National Grange, and served until his death in 1950. Huber said the honor for each of the men was fitting and said she hopes the Historical Committee will see more nominations in the coming years. To find the Hall of Fame and information nomination criteria, visit www.nationalgrange.org/ grange-hall-fame/.

Attendees to the convention received daily newsletters produced and delivered by the Communication Fellows and friends. Those who were not in Wichita were able to keep up-todate with a digital e-mail edition.

National Grange Awards Night On Friday evening, the first National Grange Awards Night took place. Emceed by National Grange Community Service Director Pete Pompper, the evening

A time to honor and celebrate Throughout the 155th Convention, there was much to celebrate, from members’ talents to the heroism and dedication of veterans and active duty service members who have sacrificed for our freedoms. Quilts of Valor On Wednesday night, Hamp kicked off the fifth year of presenting Quilts of Valor during the session. “What a fitting tribute to be able to hold this on Veteran’s Day Eve,” she said of the program that provides quilts to service members and veterans “touched by war” to “cover them with comfort and healing.”

of her aunt, Mandy Bostwick, National Grange Youth Leadership Director.

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2021 NATIONAL GRANGE QUILTS OF VALOR RECIPIENTS Harlan Bartel (Air Force) 1971-

75, Bayneville Grange #1810, Kansas

Richard Tennissen (Air Force) 196872, Bayneville #1810, Kansas

Larry N. Shafer (Army) 1958-63, Cherryvale Grange #221, Oklahoma

Allen S. Thomsen (Army)

2000-Present, Thompson Grange #352, Oklahoma

Don Durflinger (Navy) 1962-92 Sue Gregg (Navy) 1968-71 Mindy Heater (Army Reserve) 1991-95

Charles Heinrich (Army) 1965-2000 Hump Hodge (Air Force) 1956-60 Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Kansas Junior Grange member Kimber Newman, shakes the hand of Army veteran and Past Oklahoma State Grange President Larry Shafer, and presents him with a card written by fourth-grade students in the class of her aunt, National Grange Youth Development Director Mandy Bostwick. featured National Grange departments presenting their annual awards. Awards included recognitions from the Junior, Youth and Young Adult, Communications, Membership, Lecturer’s and Community Service Departments. One of the highlights of the evening was the naming of the new Junior Grange Ambassadors, Youth Ambassadors and Outstanding Young Patron, who will represent the present and future of the Grange from a younger perspective. Ryleigh Hartsell and Cade Howerton, each of North Carolina, were selected as National Junior Grange Ambassadors. National Junior Grange Director Samantha Wilkins said the new Junior Ambassadors “have worked hard and have plans for a stellar program in 2022.” She believes that this program will help them grow as leaders and anticipates a fulfilling year with them. Hartsell, of Mount Pleasant, said she

“is most excited to travel more places and meet new people” by being Junior Ambassador. She hopes “to develop into a strong leader and to grow the department” over the next year. Cade Howerton is from Roxboro, North Carolina, and has an interest in agriculture. He has participated in building a large vegetable garden and serving as an ambassador for North Carolina State Grange at their state fair. He says that “meeting new people” is what he is looking forward to as Ambassador, and that he wants “to grow membership in both the Youth and Junior departments” over the next year. For the Youth team, Cole Settle, also of North Carolina, and Amber Corll of Ohio were selected as Youth Ambassadors, and Emma Edelen of Iowa was selected as Outstanding Young Patron. National Grange Youth and Young Adults Director Mandy Bostwick said she

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John Noonan (Navy) 1969-73 James Owsley (Army) 1964-72 Harold Roth (Air Force) 1975-79

Lisa Snyder (Marine Corps) 1986-93

is excited to work with the new Youth Leadership Team. “They all bring different experiences that will build a well-rounded team.” The Youth Leadership Team will receive training in leadership and legislative skills, and have the opportunity to present workshops and encourage Grange growth around the country. Amber Corll is from Berlin Center, Ohio, and is a member of Dublin Grange #1409, where she is Flora and serves as Family Activities Director. She is a senior at Western Reserve High School and hopes to go into school to earn her RN. “I’m excited to further my experience and meet new people,” she said. Corll said she hopes to learn how to show people the ways that Granges connect to their communities. She hopes to lead with empathy and compassion in order to build the Grange.

Cole Settle is from Elkin, North Carolina, and a senior at Appalachian State University studying criminal justice. He is a member at Little Mountain Grange, and is President of the North Carolina State Youth Team, and also on the North Carolina State Grange Young Adult Committee. “I’m excited to get to work with a lot of other states - other than my own,” he said. He wants to spend time with other Grangers to see “how they do it” in other states. Settle said that North Carolina has had strong success in Junior and Youth involvement, and wants to be able to take the skills he has learned in his home state out to Granges nationwide. Emma Edelen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a ninth-grade Earth science teacher in Cedar Rapids Community School District. She is the Lecturer of both Chester Royal Grange #2181 and the Iowa State Grange. Edelen said she is “ecstatic for this opportunity” of being named Outstanding Young Patron. “My hope is to find ideas and programming efforts to bring back to my home Grange and home State to help

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Junior members enjoy the Celebration Banquet at the 155th Annual Convention.

bring our Granges up. I want to see how communities are being positively affected” by Granges nationwide, she said. She hopes that the new Youth

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder North Carolina Juniors Cade Howerton, 12, and Riley Hartsell, 13, were selected the 2022 National Junior Grange Ambassadors. They are pictured with National Junior Director Samantha Wilkins.

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Leadership Team can bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas and workshops to Grange Youth across the country. Edelen wants to bring accessible workshops based on “lost skills” like canning, breadmaking or candle making to Youth and Young adults - “even Juniors,” she added. Other honorees recognized Other major awards presented included the new Grange Cultivators awards, presented by Brozana Rios, and the Wib and June Justi Youth Community Service Award. The Cultivator Awards were presented to Grange members who “put in the work” to grow the Grange through innovative and positive messaging and programming. Brozana Rios said individuals selected had found ways to improve not just their Grange or even the Grange in their State, but to provide “guiding light” for Granges around the nation. Brozana Rios presented the inaugural awards to Oregon State Grange President

GROWING UP GRANGE Speech given at the Evening of Excellence By Session Youth President Ann Allen, Thompson Grange #352 (OK) Today is the day I came into the world. An

announcement is sent to the State Grange newsletter. All the members ooo’ed and aww’ed. “She’s growing up Grange. We can’t wait until Fall.”

My mom and dad packed all our bags come Fall.

We are going to Grange. They are so very glad. We made it to State Session and everyone ooo’ed and aww’ed. “She’s growing so big, she’s getting so tall.”

Year after year I’m starting to grow. I had so

many Grange Moms and Dads! I didn’t get away with much, but if there was ever a child playing in

the middle of the hall, that would be me as I gave the cloth a tug. Some members didn’t agree and

the rest would say, “she’s just growing up Grange, now let her play.”

Finally old enough to participate, Junior Grange started me well on my way, with

learning parts, sign-a-song, and crafts galore. With a twinkle in my family’s eyes, they were so glad to say, “She’s growing up Grange, and we’d have it no other way.”

14-years-old and it’s finally time! I walk around the Grange Hall and take in every

word. I’ve completed my degree work, now what to do? Dive in head first, that’s what good Grangers do. “She’s growing up Grange, and she acts just like you.”

From regional conferences and getting up to speak, to State Sessions where

participation was key. Fifth and Sixth degree, Youth marching in, presenting a resolution near and dear to my heart. Night time fun with some oogah boogah and a goat. “She’s growing up Grange. She’s doing her part.”

Let’s take our next step as a growing person would do. National Convention, I’m

coming for you. From Drill team, to Youth Ambassador, and back once or twice. Having a part always felt nice. Adults smiling as you put your feet in their shoes. Acquaintances become lifelong friends. “She’s growing up Grange. She will soon be you.”

Officer elections, you nominated me, I’m growing up Grange! But am I ready for

that? Will I make them proud? I just know I can. Thank you for trusting me with the responsibilities at hand.

There’s “I’d be delighted” and do-ers galore. I can only imagine what came before.

Now I move on to the last step. No longer a Junior, no longer a Youth, I’m just a

member. I’ve grown up Grange and I’m here to say. I’m here to grow old, I’m here to

stay. Growing up Grange has taught so much more than I can share, but here is a few.

It has taught me to be a leader. It has taught me to be a follower. It has given me many people to look up to in life and in death. Grange gives me hope that my voice can be

heard, not only in my community, but all over the nation. The people you meet here and there you find at all life’s events from babies, weddings, to saying goodbye. They are always there with a shoulder to cry.

I’ve grown up Grange, I’m growing old with the Grange, and I am Grange.

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Susan Noah and the Oregon State Grange; Washington State Grange President Tom Gwin; Rhode Island State Grange Vice President Walter Hartley and his daughter, Nettie, who is a Junior Member; Andrew Adams, webmaster and Grange member in Delaware; and Nathan Strawder, Past President of the Kansas State Grange. The Wib and June Justi Youth Community Service Award is presented to a Youth or Young Adult member who has made a concerted effort to make their community and state better. This year’s award was presented to Jennifer Nauss from Pennsylvania for her work to revitalize Eagle Grange #1 in Pennyslvania, helping to steer the Subordinate Grange’s 150th Anniversary Celebration and bring to the area new programs, activities and events for the entire community. Also presented during the evening were awards for Granges in Action, Distinguished Granges and Legacy Families - including the Schif and Ingwersen families of Kansas, who were recognized for seven generations of Grange membership. Evening of Excellence Following the Celebration Banquet on Saturday, the final ‘official’ function of the National Grange Session was the annual Evening of Excellence. Emceed by Hamp as the outgoing National Lecturer, the evening highlighted winners from State Grange talent and sign-a-song competitions. Grange members from 10 states showed off their talents, ranging from piano playing to signing a song from the hit musical Hamilton to an original Grange-themed stand-up sketch based on “Who’s on First?” At the end of the evening, Lillian Booth and Martha Stefenoni, from

California, welcomed those in attendance in person and virtually to the 2022 National Grange Convention in Sparks, Nevada. The duo encouraged everyone to make their travel plans to attend the 156th Annual Session of the National Grange, which will be held at the Nugget Casino Resort beginning on November 15, 2022. Opportunities to learn abound Throughout the day on Thursday, National Grange staff presented a series of workshops designed to give Grange members the tools they need to make strong moves within their communities. Several members helped others learn how to make quilt blocks that will be used to make Quilts of Valor. Advocacy Workshop Legislative Assistant Sean O’Neil presented an Advocacy workshop, where he underscored the value of the Grange as a grassroots political action organization. O’Neil outlined ways to maximize the role of individual Grangers and their collective local and Pomona Granges in wielding big power in the political process.

“The Grange is the original advocacy group,” O’Neil said. O’Neil expressed hope that Granges across the nation will push targeted resolutions up the organizational ladder to the hands of the National Grange legislative staff. He explained how modern grassroots action groups have been intensely successful in their missions, equally through efforts to push agendas forward and by obstructing the agendas of their political adversaries. He emphasized that the National Grange staff - Eller, himself, and Huber - work in collaboration with agricultural trade groups, and other similarly-aligned institutions to push the agendas and interests on behalf of Grange members across the country. “I hope Granges understand their power as a group to affect the way legislators think and represent,” he said. Membership Workshop Today’s Granges face a dual challenge in attracting new and younger members

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Mary Kreibel, of Oklahoma, worked on a quilt block that will become part of a Quilt of Valor during the 155th convention.

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to the work of the Grange and also making cornerstone precepts of the Order accessible and meaningful to individuals without prior Grange exposure. This was a primary message of Brozana Rios during her Membership workshop. Those who might be motivated by the community service and social aspects provided by a Community Grange may not commit the time or respond positively to degree work as it has traditionally been presented – but she stressed the lessons found in them are still relevant and central to Grange today. “For example, everyone might not be that excited about sitting for hours on a Saturday afternoon to experience the first Four Degrees,” Brozana Rios said. Noting that the sixth item in the Order of Business for Subordinate Grange meetings is “Conferral of Degrees,” Brozana Rios shared a newly-developed program to assist Granges in sharing the Order’s essential values to new and existing members. The Heirloom Program, which is made available to all Granges in five concise pamphlets, is a helpful resource for leaders to systematically introduce the core ideas that guided the development of the Grange. The “heirlooms” are 60 of the most potent and meaningful nuggets that appear throughout Grange work of the first Four Degrees, the Installation of Officers and the Declaration of Purposes. They are arranged on a schedule that covers all of the ideas over a five-year period. “Even taking five minutes each meeting to read the entry for that month and encourage a brief discussion may be a really impactful introduction to the powerful ideas that should guide our work,” she said. Fundraising Philip Vonada, newly-announced Communications Director, held the workshop entitled “Putting the Fun in Fundraising” to help Grangers realize there are more fundraising opportunities than selling candles and cookbooks.

These fundraisers are all very “one-touch,” he said, noting there is no real interaction or collaboration when it comes to selling an item - or to build the Grange. Vonada encouraged sponsoring events that involve the whole community, and partnering with other local organizations. Another point he made was about funding, how you need to spend money to make money and securing a tax-exempt number that every state Grange has, which gives legitimacy to your fundraiser. Vonada also explained the importance of partnering with youth-based groups such as 4-H and the Future Farmers of America, given that those groups are a great starting point and recruiting tool to get potential new members. He spoke on the importance of using your local media outlets and free resources like social media and online community calendars as a way to advertise your event. All three workshops can be found in their entirety by visiting the National Grange YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/ nationalgrange).

Lecturer’s Workshop On Saturday morning, Grange Lecturers/Program Directors from around the country attended the Lecturer’s Workshop. Led by past National Lecturer Hamp, and newly-installed National Lecturer Ann Bercher, of Minnesota, the workshop focused on the department’s programs for 2022. Hamp began the workshop with a recap of the programs she has developed over the last five years. The goal of these programs has been to energize and connect with local members, as well as not-yet-members, she said. Hamp urged, “it has to happen with you in your local Granges.” She acknowledged the difficulties of the pandemic but challenged Lecturers to move forward despite the pandemic: “COVID is no longer a reason – it’s an excuse. Find those things your community needs and do it!” Hamp reminded the attendees that they have a valuable resource at their fingertips: a National Lecturer’s newsletter – A Quarter’s Worth – which she started in 2020. Each issue is posted on the National Grange website, and she said she hopes more Granges let the secret out about that publication and the

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Youth party attendees enjoyed dressing as characters from the “Wizard of Oz” on Thursday, Nov. 11, at the 155th Annual National Grange Convention in Wichita, Kansas.

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resources available in this publication, Good Day! magazine. She also said after five years, she has been overwhelmed by how well the partnership with the Quilts of Valor Foundation has been embraced by Granges around the country. Hamp then introduced Bercher, who led the remainder of the workshop. Bercher introduced herself, noting she grew up in Iowa and has a degree in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. She worked at the Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River, Minnesota, for 25 years, including as Program Manager for the last several years. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu and now works as a culinary specialist for the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and is a regular contributor to this publication, offering the quarterly recipes and look at a specific food item from both the grower and consumer lenses. Bercher led an exercise where attendees were asked to illustrate the steps required to make toast. Each

attendee’s process was different, but all culminated in enjoying a piece of toast. Bercher emphasized that, “there are lots of different ways to do things.” Her approach may be different from Hamp’s, but ultimately their goals are the same – providing quality programs at the National level, she said. Time for fun and exploration The annual Youth costume party took inspiration from the location of this year’s convention. “Wizard of Oz” characters were bounding through the halls of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Thursday evening. From a cowardly lion to lollipop guild members, no one was worried about home while they danced and socialized. On Friday, nearly 50 Grangers experienced several of Wichita’s landmark attractions on the session tour. The group was eager to get a closer look at the National Session’s host city. Wichita boasts of its deep connection with the aviation industry; this fascinating history was fully on display at the Kansas

2021 Community Service Contest Winners COMMUNITY SERVICE BOOKS 1st - Cibolo #1541 (TX)

2nd - Fargher Lake #853 (WA) 3rd - Goodwill #959 (VA) 4th - Unity #1761 (OH)

Honorable Mentions- Gardner

#68 (KS) and Studley #1174 (MI) JUNIOR GRANGE REPORTS

1st - Humptulips Junior #376

FIREFIGHTER/EMT OF THE YEAR

Doug Fosburg, of Lewis County Fire District #3, Washington; nominated by Mossyrock Grange #355

TEACHER OF THE YEAR - Dora Greene, of Landis Elementary

School, North Carolina; nominated by Corriher Grange

(WA)

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF

3rd- Marvel Junior (CO)

Bellville Police Department, Illinois;

2nd- Ekonk Junior #101 (CT)

“WIB AND JUNE JUSTI AWARD” for Outstanding Community Service by

THE YEAR - William “Dan” Cook, of nominated by Turkey Hill Grange #1371

a Grange Youth - Jennifer Nauss (PA)

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Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Communication Fellow Sasha Secor and 2021 Youth Ambassador Brittney Mercado, both of New York, enjoy a moment of fellowship at convention.

Aviation Museum. Even before exploring the museum’s diverse collection of airplanes, visitors were impressed with the striking art deco design of the museum building. Built in 1935 as a project of the Works Project Administration, the building was erected to serve as the Wichita Municipal Airport. During its heyday, Wichita boasted one of the busiest airports in the nation, with planes taking off every 90 seconds. A new airport was built for the city and control passed to the United States Air Force by 1954, and finally abandoned in 1984. The museum opened in 1991. In addition to preserving Wichita’s vast history in airplane manufacturing, the museum organization is systematically restoring this landmark building to its former beauty. The tour included exploring the collection of planes from the earliest days of aviation, roaming the old tarmac to see larger planes such as a B-52 bomber and a commercial Boeing 737, climbing to experience the view from the control tower and learning from the other galleries. The second stop was an entirely different sort of attraction that originated in Wichita at nearly the same time the terminal was built — The Nifty Nut House.

This third-generation family owned business offers a vast array of chocolate, candy, nuts and other snack items. Tour attendees left with impressive quantities of treats to take home as gifts or for their own enjoyment. The last stop for the day was the Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum. The museum is housed in the former Wichita City Hall and now exhibits floors of galleries that interpret all eras of Sedgwick County’s 150-year history. Participants studied exhibits about settling the territory, details about the oil and aviation industries and items drawn from everyday life. Dispersed throughout the museum are fully-recreated spaces from past eras, including a fully-decorated Victorian cottage, the Mayor’s office as it would have appeared around 1900, and vintage drug store, complete with soda fountain. Also on Friday, Youth Members attended some of the sights, as well as Botanica, the Wichita Gardens, learning about the

‘prettier’ side of agriculture and landscaping. Junior Grange members experienced Exploration Place, a hands-on museum and science center. Throughout the week, in every corner of the hotel - from the lobby to the session room, the restaurant to the exhibit rooms, the elevators to the theatre - Grangers of all ages and backgrounds united in laughter, storytelling and friendship. In the Grange, wherever you turn, there’s a friendly face eager to catch up, Huber said. She said she hoped that each attendee left the event inspired by a week of fellowship and education, full of ideas to build the Grange and increase its reach and influence for the good of all. Although it may be another year until many of these friends get to see each other again, the work of the Grange will continue to happen in communities nationwide, she said.

Photo by Lindsay Schroeder Officers of the National Grange, including the Assembly of Demeter, gather after installation on Friday at the 155th Annual National Grange Convention in Wichita, Kansas. From left, back row, Treasurer Joe Goodrich, Vermont; Session Pianist Sheree Damashek, Kansas; Assistant Steward John Plank, Indiana; Lecturer Ann Bercher, Minnesota; Chaplain Barbara Borderieux, Florida; Executive Committee Member Leroy Watson, New Hampshire/Washington, D.C.; Secretary Debbie Campbell, Pennsylvania; Executive Committee Member Buddy Overstreet, Texas; Lady Assistant Steward Kathy Gibson, Massachusetts; Steward Chip Narvel, Delaware; Gatekeeper Christopher Johnston, Michigan; High Priest of Demeter Roger Bostwick, Kansas; Priestess Annalist Martha Stefenoni, California; Priest Archon Phil Prelli, Connecticut; front row, from left, Executive Committee Chairwoman Lynette Schaeffer, Illinois; Vice President Christine Hamp, Washington; Ceres Cindy Greer, Colorado; President Betsy Huber, Pennsylvania; Flora Welina Shufeldt, Oklahoma; Pomona Kay Stiles, Maryland; and Executive Committee Member Susan Noah, Oregon.

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Delegates to the 155th Annual Convention set policy priorities for 2022 and beyond By Sean O’Neil Legislative Assistant From November 9 to 12, the National Grange held it’s 155th National Session in Wichita, Kansas. During the session, delegates debated resolutions in policy areas such as Agriculture, Citizenship and Taxation, Conservation, Education and Health, and Labor, Judiciary and Transportation. Altogether delegates adopted 21 policy related resolutions, which now stand as official policies of the National Grange. Five resolutions from the Agriculture Committee were adopted. These resolutions expressed support for changes in beef and milk pricing, the creation of a Farm Food Corps, and USDA programs for both climate-smart and organic agriculture. From the Citizenship and Taxation

committee, four resolutions were adopted. They included support for year-round Daylight Savings Time, support for the protection of federal monuments, opposition to a methane tax, and opposition to expanded Treasury Department powers to access bank account records. The Conservation Committee had a total of five resolutions adopted by the national delegates. Three of these resolutions expressed opposition to federal seizure of lands for conservation, taxes on diesel fuel, and speculation in water rights. The remaining two resolutions that were adopted expressed support for development of better desalination technologies, and for the creation of a Chesapeake Bay Resilient Farms Initiative. The Education and Health committee was the most productive of the convention with seven total resolutions being adopted.

These resolutions expressed support for bans on flavored vaping products and heavy metals in baby food, the expansion of healthcare benefits for the children of veterans, updates to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s drug classification schedule, incentives for rural healthcare workers, increased stability regulation of furniture products, and a balanced approach to education on topics of race. Finally, the Labor, Judiciary, and Transportation committee had no resolutions that the delegates of the National Grange Session deemed worthy of adoption into official National Grange policy. Altogether, the 2021 session was highly productive, and the delegates were able to adopt many new policies which will allow the National Grange to address pressing ongoing challenges and issues that affect rural America.

Plans set for 156th session to be held in Sparks, Nevada The states of the Western Region want to spark your enthusiasm for the 156th Annual Session of the National Grange November 15-19, 2022 in Sparks, Nevada. The Nugget Casino and Resort hotel will be the home-away-from home for this exciting week of activities. There is something for everyone at The Nugget. From the great rooms to entertainment. Kids will love the arcade and the indoor pool when they aren’t involved with the Junior Grange activities. “This is a family destination - location and event,” Regional Convention co-chair Lillian Booth said. The states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, and California are working together to bring you the best experience at a National Grange Session. Tours are being finalized to show off the best that the Reno/Sparks area has to offer. For the Delegates – because we won’t leave them out – there is a delegate tour planned to fit around the schedule. There will be a special consult with National Grange Vice President Chris Hamp to make sure it is a unique experience. New this year is the Grange Academy!

Throughout the National Session, exciting hands-on seminars and workshops will be facilitated by Grange members for Grange members. These will cover all things Grange – membership, Grange ceremonies, advocacy, communicating what Grange “is”, and more. It’s new, it’s interactive, and it is worth it,” Booth said. She said she hopes everyone joins in the fun and learns more about “your organization.” “Nevada isn’t just desert, tumbleweeds, mining, and casinos,” Convention co-chair Martha Stefenoni said. “The agriculture industry ranges from beef, sheep, goats to alfalfa, vegetables, and dairy. Plenty of places to go to find out more.” And Grange History, the two ask. “Nevada has that too,” Booth said. “You can find some interesting family information about Grange founder Aaron B. Grosh. The discovery is half the fun. You will have help to point you in the right direction.” Mark your calendars for November 15-19, 2022 at the Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, NV.

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2021 Junior Grange award winners announced Junior Granger of the Year - Annette Harley, RI Sign-A-Song Best of Show - Kimber Newman, KS Public Speaking Best of Show - Eric Rodriguez, TX Creative Art Best of Show - Kimber Newman, KS

Creative Writing Best of Show - Annette Hartley, RI Age 5-7 1st Addison Conroy, VA

Age 5-7 1st Paige Darling, NY 2nd Ellen Durand, KS 3rd Addison Conroy, VA

Age 8-10 1st Kimber Newman, KS Age 11-14 1st Annette Hartley, RI 2nd Brianna Gervais, CT

Age 8-10 1st Kimber Newman Kansas Age 11-14 1st Brianna Gervais, CT 2nd Mackenzie Fens, VA 3rd Rheannon Fens, VA

Photography Best of Show - Ellen Durand, KS Age 5-7 1st Ellen Durand, KS 2nd Addison Conroy, VA 3rd Savannah Fens, VA

Seed Art Best of Show - Paige Darling, NY Age 5-7 1st Paige Darling, NY 2nd Henry Greer, CO 3rd Annabell Maring, NY

Age 8-10 1st Kimber Newman, KS Age 11-14 1st Sarah VanHouse, KS 2nd Brianna Gervais, CT 3rd Rheannon Fens, VA

Age 8-10 1st Kimber Newman, KS 2nd Jacob Smith, WA 3rd Chance Burtenshaw, WA

Cape of Honor Award Gold Annette Hartley, RI (507.5 Hours) Gold Danni Wilcox, PA (139 Hours) White Taylor Elliott, OR (28 Hours)

Age 11-14 1st Brianna Gervais, CT 2nd Jaelyn Johnson, WA 3rd Abbi Schmoe, WA

Recognition of Submitted Annual Reports Oregon State Junior Grange New York State Junior Grange Ekonk Community Junior Grange #101, CT Kirkland Junior Grange, NY Whitehall Junior Grange #346, NY

Mini Scrapbook Best of Show - Kimber Newman, KS Age 8-10 1st Kimber Newman, KS

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BEST IN SHOW

Junior imagines being National Grange President for a day I would also make the opportunity

By Annette Hartley

to schedule Zoom meetings with Junior

National Junior Granger of the Year

and Youth directors from all the States to discuss how we can recruit new members

The hour of labor has arrived and

and keep the ones we have.

the work of another day demands my

After that meeting, I would meet with

attention...

the membership directors from all States

If I was National President for the day,

to see where we can incorporate ideas

where do I even begin?

from the Juniors and Youth to come up

I should start planning since I really

with a plan to build up our membership

want to be the National Grange President

so our great organization could flourish

in my future!

and continue for generations to come.

It is going to be hard to narrow it

With the assistance of the National

down since I would only have one day to

Legislative Director, I would like to host

be the President, but I think I could do it.

a luncheon with our legislative contacts

I would definitely need help with the

from Capitol Hill to discuss the important

things I want to do, as I know I couldn’t

issues to the Grange and our members

do it by myself, so I would ask for the

nationwide. With open communication

guidance from national directors and

and continued discussions, we can keep

office staff.

the Grange’s important matters on their

One of the first things that I Would

agenda and moving forward to achieve

do is retake a picture of me sitting in the

our goals.

National President Betsy Huber’s chair, in

After my luncheon, when I get back

her office, in Washington, D.C. One thing that I would really want to do and focus on is membership as I am on the northeast regional membership committee. I would like to get people’s input on why they would and wouldn’t like to join the Grange. I would see if it

Submitted Photo Nettie Hartley, who was named Junior of the Year in 2021, had her photo taken with National President Betsy Huber when visiting the National Headquarters in 2018.

is something we could fix and work on.

to my office, I’d like to meet with the building manager to get a full tour of the building and an update as to the needed repairs and priority levels. On my tour, I would also like to meet the tenants to hear what their thoughts are on the status of the building. My final meeting of my day would be

Our Junior Granges in particular are having a hard time with the number

Since I would only have one day, I

with the National Executive Committee

of members. When we had our last

would make a Zoom meeting to reach

to discuss my day’s events and to share

membership meeting for the northeast

out to the State Presidents just to remind

the concerns voiced throughout my day.

membership committee in March, there

them that I would always be there for

Together we could come up with a

were 50,479 (fraternal) Grange members

them if they needed me.

plan to boost and retain our membership great

at all levels of the Grange, hear updates

Juniors. That would equal about 1,010

communication line with all the States

from our State Presidents, review our

Junior Grangers out of all the States.

in case something is happening in their

legislative agenda and to go over the

As a Junior Grange and current

State Grange, they would like me to step

building status and options.

President of my Junior Grange, I would

in to help where I can. I think that it could

Once the labors of the day are

love to see those number get bigger.

in general and only 2% of those are

It’s

important

have

help a lot of the States out, in case they

complete, I would end my night with a

I would also like to see so many more

need advice with finances, membership

guided night tour of our nation’s capital

Juniors that we would have to organize

and any other things that they might

and dinner with the entire national office

brand new Granges.

need assistance with.

staff.

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Submitted Photo

Reading ourselves: Rural experiences in Young Adult literature By Chea Parton

However, in school I came to understand

Literacy In Place Founder

Standard

Academic

English

the

only kind that would allow me to be I am a farm girl and the legacy of proud working-class people from rural Indiana and East Tennessee. Growing up, we never had cable TV - only had what we affectionately

successful, so I got good at it. Because I believed I needed it to be successful, to go to college, and to get out of that onestoplight town. Because, as far as I knew, that was the only way to be somebody. So, I did leave. I ended up attending

called the “Farmer Five”. One of those channels was PBS and we existed on a

steady diet of Wishbone and Austin City

getting my teacher’s license. Then, I

Limits (ACL). Together they fostered in

taught high school English in a rural

me a deep love and respect for stories

Indiana school, eventually left to earn my

of all kinds and country folk intellectuals

master’s degree, and then moved out of

- which describes pert near all my family.

state to attend The University of Texas at

ag-based

institution

Indiana,

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Visit literacyinplace.com

Austin to pursue my Ph.D. I chose Austin because of my love

Chea Parton is a farm girl and

for ACL and the singer-songwriters that

former rural student and English

sang about it and because I thought it

teacher. She is currently an assistant

would feel like some kind of home. But

professor of instruction at The

when I got down here, I discovered that

University of Texas at Austin and

the Austin I knew from their songs didn’t

founder of literacyinplace.com.

exist anymore and definitely didn’t feel like home. She is passionate about rural stories

Feeling completely out of place in my urban-focused Ph.D. program in

and helping students and teachers

language and literacy, I was routinely

find texts that make them feel seen

misunderstood because of the rural-

as rural people. You can follow her

connected cultural practices I used to

@readingrural on Twitter.

engage with ideas, colleagues, and faculty members in conversation. And I realized that I was different in a way I hadn’t expected from the other cityfolks in my program. These experiences formed the basis of my research on how rural identity influences the professional identities and teaching practices of rural outmigrant teachers. While conducting my study, I realized that in all my time as a rural student and teacher, I never read a book (maybe besides Charlotte’s Web) that made me feel seen as a rural young person and that locating and choosing to include rural young adult literature (YAL) in their instruction was challenging for the teachers I was working with.

and learn about texts that present

becoming as teachers as well as sample

authentic and nuanced depictions of

activities and lesson ideas. seeks to provide a space for students

was born. In this work, I’m essentially combining

of all levels, teachers, and teacher

those two favorite shows from my

educators of varying rural and out-

childhood. Bringing people access to

migrant identities to write their stories

stories that are deeply connected to

so that we can continue to disrupt

rural people, places, and cultures.

and dismantle the dominant deficit understandings of rural people as

What’s on the website? Literacy in Place is founded on three

2. Rural stories are seldom viewed as

hillbillies/rednecks clinging to guns and Overall, I hope that Literacy in Place

1. Rural stories are worth reading and

will support rural students, teachers,

worthy of study. 2. Rural stories are worth telling.

parents, and teacher educators from

3. Rural cultures (imperfect as they

all over in finding books that serve

The site provides a running list of

1. Rural YAL is hard to come by.

ignorant, backward, no-count hicks/ Bibles.

main beliefs:

may be) are worth sustaining.

The main obstacles were that:

Lastly, the (Non)Rural Voices blog

rural living. Thus literacyinplace.com

as mirrors for young peoples’ rural experiences and lives. Everybody

books featuring rural people, places,

deserves

see

worthy of study, even by folks with rural

and experiences, access to my Reading

themselves represented - in all of their

backgrounds.

Rural YAL YouTube channel where I

complexity - with dignity in literature.

3. The theories of learning and

give book talks of rural YAL, access to

And I hope Literacy In Place will help

teaching that teachers learn in their

the Reading Rural Goodreads account

young people have those opportunities.

teacher

where I review books.

If you have questions, suggestions for

preparation

programs

are

For teacher educators, the site

additions to the book list, or ideas for

provides a suggested reading list of

collaboration, please contact me here.

Rather than report on this and leave

texts to include in teacher preparation

You can also follow me @readingrural

it at that, I set out to create and launch

programs to invite preservice teachers

on Twitter for updates on blog posts,

a website that would help rural teachers,

to think about how place has and

videos, and happenings in rural English

teacher educators, and parents locate

will continue to shape who they are

Language Arts teaching.

metro-centric, focusing on and created out of urban spaces.

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Short story collection ‘Rural Voices’ challenges assumptions By Chea Parton Literacy In Place Founder Rural America is not a monolith. Some folks – especially those in cities – may find it hard to believe that the depictions they’ve seen of rural people in shows like The Beverly Hillbillies and Duck Dynasty and films like Deliverance aren’t accurate or authentic depictions of rural places and people. This popular dominant narrative of rural folks as backward, ignorant, inbred hillbillies, hicks, and rednecks clinging to guns and Bibles is highly pervasive and leads to further marginalization of rural people and communities. There are folks out there, however, who are actively working to disrupt and dismantle that narrative through their work, and one of them is Nora Shalaway Carpenter, an award-winning young adult novelist. As the editor of Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions of Small Town America - a collection of shortstories, poems, and essay - she and the other authors featured in the anthology diligently work to do exactly what the title says. As Carpenter outlines in her introductory letter to the reader, this collection is meant to “change the conversation. To offer new narratives and ways of viewing the incredible people who make up rural America, the people who are so often misunderstood, made fun of and maligned, who are overlooked or even outright ignored. The short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, personal essay, and author anecdotes in these pages dive deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home” (n.p.). This makes Rural Voices a perfect text for classrooms and book clubs where rural readers can dig deeply into what it means to be rural, how that connects to the way they see the world, and how it shapes the way the world sees them. In total, there are 16 pieces in the collection: two poems; three graphic short stories; one essay; and ten short stories.

Courtesy of Penguin Random House The states represented include: South Carolina, New York, Texas, Idaho, West Virginia, Virginia, Utah, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Alaska, and New Mexico. Most of the stories are realistic fiction but there are a few with speculative elements to them. All of them are deeply connected to the authors’ own experiences as rural people and illustrate the complexity of what it means to be rural across different states and geographies. The pieces gathered here tackle everything from issues of class, ableism/disability, mental health, family, religion, LGBTQIA+ identity building and acceptance, and just being

Courtesy of Penguin Random House

a human being with all the beauty and challenges that come with it.

Nora Shalaway Carpenter is the editor of Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Asusmptiosn About SmallTown America.

For example, in Carpenter’s own story in the collection entitled “Close Enough,” we meet Alina (the main character) as she’s chopping wood to put off writing a short story for a writing scholarship. She’s struggling to write her story because she knows winning stories always feature recognizable or “tellable”

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narratives of West Virginia - “topics like dried-up coal-mining towns, mountain dulcimer-playing grandparents, or extended families who’d lived on the same land for generations” (p. 85). These are undoubtedly authentic narratives for those writers and are experiences of some folks who live in West Virginia. Just not for Alina. For her - “trying to find herself in those stories was like seeking her picture in another family’s photo album” (p. 85) because she had only lived in her West Virginian home since she was three, so none of those were her experiences. She tells us she has “no West Virginia relatives or roots of any kind” making her feel “utterly other.” Alina tells her friend, Mori, “Even though I’ve lived most of my life here, I don’t truly belong. But I don’t belong anywhere else either” (p. 99), realizing that she “may be embarrassed about being too West Virginian and also jealous that [she’s] not West Virginian enough at the same time” (p. 99). And that line right there points to an important and often ignored discussion around identity and what it means to be from some place. With all the moving around that people can do nowadays - both into and out of rural places - considerations for a much

more nuanced understanding of what it means and who gets to identify as rural or from a rural place is much more complicated than it might seem. Rural could but doesn’t necessarily mean that your family has been there for generations or that you’re a farmer or a miner or a bullrider or a hunter or in 4-H or conservative or Christian or white or heteronormative - the list could go on. Alina and Mori’s experiences living in West Virginia and the way they’re shared through the story forces readers to reckon with what it means to be from somewhere, what it means to belong, and how that connects to the stereotypes typically associated with that place. Carpenter’s story isn’t the only one that does this work, but it’s an example of one that really tackles it head on. What it means to be rural differs across places and people and experiences. Definitions of rural also continue to shift across time. Reflecting on our layered rural identities, connecting them to the rural experiences of others, and understanding how the outside world sees and understands rural people are all vital for pruning and preserving rural cultures. Rural Voices offers important opportunities for readers to do just that.

Resources for reading rural gems Reading Guide Questions for Book Clubs and Classrooms

Possible Activities for Classrooms

Because this collection offers such a wide variety of

There are so many possibilities

depictions of rurality, it makes a perfect text to help readers

for connecting stories in Rural

tackle important questions about who they are and what

Voices to other texts and their

it means to be rural. As the class or book club reads the

own experiences as rural people

individual pieces in the collection they could ask:

• What does it mean to be rural in this piece? How does

their

rural

communities.

Students could:

that connect my own definition of what it means to be rural?

• Find a song that they feel like represents rural people

• What does rural look like, sound like, taste like, feel

and compare/contrast it with one or more of the stories,

like, smell like in this piece? How are those sensory details similar to and different from my own experiences in my rural place?

poems, or essay in the collection. • Write their own rural stories (either fiction or nonfiction) using one of the stories in the collection as a mentor

• Once readers have finished each of the pieces, thinking of the collection as a whole they could discuss how

text. Literacy In Place would be happy to publish those on the web-site.

does their senses of rurality compare to those featured in

• Interview folks in their rural communities collecting oral

the collection - what they recognize and what they can learn

histories and stories about them and the town to compile in

from what they don’t?

a Humans of ______ type of collection, comparing the rural

• Readers can also visit the Author Talk with Nora Shalaway Carpenter on the Reading Rural YAL YouTube

ex-periences of folks where they live to those represented in the pieces in Rural Voices.

channel to further consider the importance of reading and writing rural sto-ries for pruning and preserving rural

To learn more, visit literacyinplace.com

cultures.

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NOTES FROM A SMALL TOWN

The Where is important By Christopher Dean Massachusetts Grange Member

my grandfather retired; they had wanted

ago; that’s maybe 16 generations,

to live by the ocean, in a town where

depending on how you count them.

they’d vacationed.

These are people who have names that

I didn’t even grow up here, having

match those of street signs or hardware

I have no particular claim to life in

lived here only until I was eight, before

this town by the sea. I’ve never worked

we moved to a suburb of Boston; and

Still, I like to think that I have some

the waters here myself, I never wrestled

I only returned here six-and-a-half years

sort of strong personal connection; I

my life from the harbor or the quarries

ago, which means that I’ve lived by the

spent summers here, and all holidays

which dot the landscape north of my

sea for only 13 of my 61 years – about

that required family to be gathered.

family home, nor have I any relatives or

one-fifth of my life.

Most of our Thanksgiving dinners were

ancestors who have. My grandparents settled here after

stores.

There are people in this town whose

here, and many of our Easter dinners,

families settled here about 400 years

and always at least part of Christmas

H & L

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day. I used to have family in Connecticut,

Mostly though, I walk the beach in the

the car somewhere and then go see

but my time spent there was without

mornings, savoring the gray early light,

everything on foot, no cars, no stretches

any real connection to the place; family

now almost to its darkest point and latest

of six-lane roads, no chain restaurants,

is often hard, and the members of that

sunrise. I’ve watched that eternal cycle

side of the family had their difficulties

of the seasons, and since I no longer

just cozy and tidy little downtowns filled

and complications, many of which I’ve

work in the big city, I can experience the

since grown to understand, though not

change more closely.

forgive.

Living in a suburb means that you’re

For years – most of my adult life

not really connected to the seasons:

actually – I’d thought about moving here,

you buy your food in a supermarket and

just waited for the time to be “right,”

weather is what you experience between

until I had enough money to make a fair

the car and the house or what puts off

down payment on a home.

your cookout from Saturday to Sunday.

So, when the time was finally right, Dumpling and I took the plunge, and did it, and we haven’t looked back.

It’s a little bit different here, not much,

with ancient homes and huge old trees. And we always come home to our little town, with its tiny houses lining the streets and roads, little yards, and huge old trees.

My love for this town and,

actually, the walkable parts of downtown Boston are all part of the same thing: I like looking at buildings and people, and being part of a crowd, seeing and being seen. We’re people and that’s how

but a little. I can get fish from a guy who sets up

people are meant to live.

We found our forever home after a

shop outside the general store on Friday,

I’m also very glad that the landscape

search of all of 40 minutes, after which we

at least during the warmer months, and

around here is imprinted on me: the

looked at a few others over the course of

there’s a small Farmer’s Market behind

Great Salt Marsh that stretches all along

the day mostly to be polite to the realtor

the old bank in town, plus there’s the

who had worked out a whole day of visits

farm stand just up the street from our

the coast of eastern Massachusetts; the

to properties. We’d even expected that

house.

the search would take years. But I knew

Waves of tourists come and go

in my heart that we’d found our forever

with the seasons, like the birds and the

home when I was walking up the stairs

whales, though the animals come by

to look at the second floor for the first

some unknowable ancient drive that’s

time and my arm hair bristled, an actual

mysterious as it is powerful; humans just

physical reaction to our potential home.

like a change of scenery every now and

Many things have happened in my life, not as many as I’d hoped when I

then and a drive up the coast will cure

dunes on the beaches; the great granite ledges, created under unimaginable stress over the course of hundreds of millions of years, of landscape tipping upwards as earthquakes and colliding continents made real the rocks that I climb on every weekend. That’s a new little pastime of mine: going for a walk along the edge of the

that.

Atlantic.

was young. I’d never moved to Europe,

We’ve lately been making a concerted

never had an apartment in Paris, or a

effort to get out and see local historic

I have a walk, I see things and other

squat with artists alongside the Berlin

towns of eastern New England, since we

people also taking walks, we chat, we

wall, never made movies in London,

can’t get out of the country so easily due

marvel at the eternal sea and the rocks

never sailed across the Atlantic on a

to COVID.

being slowly whittled down by the

sailing ship, nor learned to fly a plane,

We’ve been to many lovely towns –

or really any of those things that I read

towns we’d only heard of and towns we’d

about and yearned to do. This is one the

been to before but figured it would be

few dreams I had that actually came true,

worth seeing again. We walked around,

though, and I love that it did.

bought stuff, had lunch, looked at more

I did some other things though, like

things, and looked at vistas and suchlike;

I joined the Grange (we’re members

sometimes we’d go to a museum,

of Beverly Grange not far from here,

sometimes we buy art.

it’s small but sincere and we’re always

always

nice

days,

looking for new members, hint hint); I’ve

everyone’s in a nice mood, things are

done some writing. I’m, essentially, quite

clear and sunny.

content; I’m in a good place in my life right now.

New England has a lot of nice towns with walkable centers where we can park

H & L

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relentless pounding of the waves. We can stand on the edge of time, taste the salt in the air, feel the wind and sort of touch the infinite that’s all out there, waiting to be experienced. A life lived without nature, without being in nature at least for a little while each day, is a life that is sadly missing out, I’m afraid. In fact, I’m going out for a walk along the shore as soon as I’ve finished proofreading this.

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The

humble potato is the hero

By Ann Olson Bercher Lecturer, National Grange Certified Culinary Specialist

There’s just something wonderful about potatoes. They are so versatile! They can be prepared in so many ways. I grew up eating mashed potatoes and gravy at every dinner. I love mashed potatoes and gravy. There’s the roast beef gravy, and the chicken gravy, and the turkey gravy, and the venison gravy and the onion gravy. Yes, mashed potatoes are the perfect vehicle for directing more gravy to the mouth. I also enjoy baked potatoes, which also allow for adding buttery, sour creamy toppings to enjoy. Then there are fried potatoes: French fried, Southern Fried, crispy fried and hash browned. Additions to those range from simple catsup to hot sauces. What at first blush appears to be a lowly root vegetable, the potato has a very noble history. According to John Reader from his book, “Potato: A History of the Propitious Esculent,” “In the regions of Peru and Bolivia that border Lake Titicaca… people began to manipulate the wild potato…

The motivation is a complete mystery. The tubers of wild potatoes are generally small, bitter to the taste and contain potentially poisonous levels of glycoalkoids. Why would people have bothered? But bother they did, and human ingenuity working with the plant’s adaptability eventually produced not one but seven cultivated species of potato.” The potato provided essential nutrition in the high regions of the Andes. When the Spanish introduced potatoes to Europe in the 1500s, the tuber met some resistance where it was thought to cause leprosy. A Frenchman, Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, had been captured by Prussian soldiers and was forced to eat potatoes while imprisoned. He did not get leprosy, and in fact discovered that potatoes were quite delicious and began experimenting with different ways to cook and prepare them. It turns out they were quite nutritious as well. According to Reader, a single acre of potatoes and milk from one cow could keep a family in good health for a year. This was the case in Ireland during the 1700s. Potatoes became an essential food in Ireland and provided 80 percent of the

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population’s caloric intake. The Great Famine of 1845-49 was caused by a blight that destroyed the potato crops. With only a handful of potato varieties being grown where none of the varieties had any resistance to the blight, over a million lives were lost, a million people emigrated to the United States and two million more to other countries. Today there are more than 2,000 varieties of potatoes, many bred to resist diseases, drought and low temperatures and are being grown in over 160 countries. The nutritional benefits of potatoes continue to be remarkable including fiber, carbohydrates, protein, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. Here in the United States, we eat more potatoes than any other vegetable. While we think of potatoes as root vegetables, they are actually the tip of an underground stem, called a tuber. They swell with stored starch and water and produce primordial buds, the “eyes”. From the “eyes” the stem grows and rises above ground, and the roots also grow from the “eyes” remaining below ground. Potatoes can taste a little sweet, sometimes a little bitter, sometimes a little earthy, depending on the variety and where they are grown.

New potatoes are immature tubers that are harvested in the late spring and through the summer when the plants above ground are still green. They are relatively low in starch and are highly perishable. Mature potatoes are

President’s Recipe

A favorite recipe shared by President Betsy E. Huber

harvested in the fall after the plants have dried and the skins have toughened. Potatoes should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. There are generally two cooking categories of potatoes

Supper in a Dish

that basically describe their textures when cooked: “waxy”

1 pound hamburger or sausage, browned and drained

and “mealy.”

Sliced raw potatoes

“Waxy” types in the U.S. include true new potatoes,

Sliced carrots

red and white skinned varieties and contain less starch and

Peas

more moisture than “mealy.” When cooked, they have a

Chopped onion

solid, dense, moist texture and are perfect for roasting,

Chopped celery

making gratins, potato cakes and potato salad.

Chopped green pepper

“Mealy” types such as russets, blue and purple varieties

Salt and pepper to taste

contain a lot of starch tend to swell when cooked and produce a fine, fluffy, dry texture that works well for fried, baked and mashed potato dishes.

Layer above ingredients in a 9x13 inch greased casserole dish.

Then there is a final category: all-purpose. These potatoes have characteristics that fall between waxy and mealy. Yukon Gold and Marcy potatoes hold their shape, have a fluffy texture when cooked and are good to use in most recipes. Yukon Gold tends to have yellow flesh. Try different types of potatoes and find out which ones are

Mix one 10 oz can of cream of chicken soup and ¼ cup milk; pour over top of dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 ¼ hours. Sprinkle 2/3 cup grated cheese on top. Return to oven until melted. May cook in slow cooker on high for 4 hours.

your favorites. Now, back to those mashed potatoes…

Best Mashed Potatoes

The

4 pounds potatoes (russet or Yukon Gold) 1/3 c butter, at room temperature 1 c milk or cream Salt and pepper to taste 1. Peel and quarter potatoes, placing in a pot of cold, salted water, making sure potatoes are completely covered. 2. Bring to a boil and cook uncovered 15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain well. (Let drained potatoes remain in the warm pan until all water has evaporated.) 3. Heat milk until warm. (This is part of the secret to creamy potatoes.) 4. Add the butter to the potatoes and begin mashing using a potato masher. (Using a potato masher also helps to result in creamy potatoes without them getting gummy.) 5. Pour in the heated milk a little at a time and continue mashing until desired consistency is reached. (If you prefer texture to your mashed potatoes, use Yukon Gold potatoes, and leave the peels on some of the potatoes.)

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Breakfast Potatoes 2 1/2 lbs. red potatoes (5 large), cut cubes just over 1/2-inch 1/3 c olive oil 1 tsp salt and pepper, then more to taste 3/4 tsp garlic powder and 3/4 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp onion powder

The

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a rimmed 18 by 13-inch baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. 2. Place potatoes in a mound in center of baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. 3. Sprinkle potatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and

Best Baked Potatoes

onion powder. Toss well to evenly coat. 4. Spread potatoes even into a single layer. 5. Bake in center of preheated oven 15 minutes. 6. Remove from oven, toss and continue to bake until just tender, about 15 minutes longer. 7. Move oven rack about 5-inches from broiler. Broil potatoes about 2 – 3 minutes until slightly browned. 8. Remove and toss, continue to broil until golden brown and crisp on opposite side a minute or two longer. Serve warm.

Chowder

Russet Potatoes (1 per person) Extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt

Potato & Corn

2 c peeled and diced potatoes ½ c diced carrots ½ c diced celery ¼ c chopped onion 1 tsp kosher salt ¼ c butter 2 c milk ¼ c flour 2 15-ounce cans whole kernel corn, drained 2 ½ c cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 2. Scrub potatoes with a brush, then dry them off. 3. Prick each potato in the center with a fork on each side 4. Microwave the potatoes on high for 5 – 6 minutes for up to two potatoes, 10 – 12 minutes for four potatoes. For more than four potatoes, microwave them in batches. 5. Transfer microwaved potatoes to a sheet pan. 6. Drizzle with olive oil and rotate potatoes until evenly coated. 7. Sprinkle generously with salt and toss gently to evenly coat. 8. Place potatoes directly on the middle oven rack. (You may wish to place a baking sheet beneath the rack to catch any drips) 9. Bake for 30 minutes or until the skins are crispy and a fork easily penetrates the potato. 10. Remove potatoes from oven, split them open and serve with favorite toppings.

1. In a large saucepan, combine potatoes, carrots, celery, onion and salt, covered with water. 2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. 3. In a small saucepan, combine butter, milk and flour and heat over medium -low heat. Stir constantly until thick and smooth. 4. Pour milk mixture into cooked vegetables. Stir in corn and cheese until cheese is melted. Serve.

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Cheesy Potato Gratin

STORAGE TIPS Store in a cool, well-

ventilated place

1 Tbsp butter at room temperature 3 oz. sharp white cheddar, grated 3 oz. gruyere cheese, grated 3 pounds russet potatoes (about 6 medium) ½ large yellow onion 1 ¾ tsp kosher salt ½ tsp cayenne pepper Freshly ground black pepper 1 ¼ c heavy cream 1. Butter one side of a 12” X 12” square of foil. Line a rimmed baking sheet with another sheet of foil. Preheat oven to 400 degrees with oven rack in upper third of oven. 2. Toss together white cheddar and Gruyere chesses in a medium bowl. 3. Scrub and peel potatoes. Slice into ¼ inch thick rounds. 4. Very thinly slice the half onion crosswise into half-moons, toss with the potato slices. 5. Add salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper to the potato/onion mixture and toss to combine. 6. In a pie dish, lay a row of potato slices across the bottom of the dish, overlapping them about 2/3. 7. Repeat another row beneath the first one, overlapping the second row on top of the first row about halfway. 8. Push the two rows toward the top edge of

Keep out of the light Temperatures lower

than 50 degrees cause a potato’s starch to convert to sugar,

resulting in a sweet

taste and discoloration when cooked. the dish until the slices slide up the sides toward the rim. 9. Continue to shingle more potatoes into the dish in rows, overlapping as before, pushing the potatoes together snugly, until the dish is filled. 10. Place pie dish onto the prepared baking sheet. 11. Gradually pour the heavy cream over the potatoes. Top with half of the cheese mixture. Cover with the prepared foil, butter side down, crimping tightly to seal. 12. Bake gratin 60 – 75 minutes or until potatoes can be pierced easily with a knife or skewer. 13. Remove gratin from oven and heat broiler. 14. Carefully remove foil. Top gratin with remaining cheese. 15. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 4 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Samosas

Avoid areas that reach

high temperatures

or receive too much sunlight

Perforated plastic bags

and paper bags offer

the best environment

for extending shelf-life. Don’t wash before

storing. Dampness promotes early spoilage.

Baked Vegetable

¼ cup olive oil 2 onions, minced 3 Tablespoons ground coriander 1 Tablespoon curry powder 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon allspice ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon ½ pound red or white skinned potatoes, peeled and cubed into ½ inch cubes ½ cup frozen peas, thawed and drained 2 Roma tomatoes, finely chopped and drained 9 sheets phyllo pastry sheets

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1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions until soft. 3. Add coriander, curry powder, ginger, salt, turmeric. Cumin, allspice, cayenne pepper and cinnamon and cook for another minute. 4. Remove from heat, add potatoes, peas and tomatoes stirring to mix well. 5. Stack 3 – 4 sheets of phyllo dough together Cut into 4 even rectangles with a kitchen shears.

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Continue with remaining sheets, then cover with plastic wrap. 6. Place 2 – 3 Tablespoons of vegetable mixture in the corner of the dough. Roll the corner toward the center. Fold in the right and left corners and continue to roll up. 7. Repeat until all phyllo is used. 8. Place each samosa on an oiled baking sheet. Lightly brush the tops with olive oil. 9. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

THE LAST

Word

By Christine E. “Chris” Hamp National Grange Vice President Going into the 155th Annual National

their life. Indeed, many seem to have

The importance of embracing these

Grange convention, I was in a groove. I

no interest in putting themselves in

transitions cannot be overstated.

was comfortable. After five years as

positions where they are challenged to

On the next page, I offer a playbook

National Lecturer, I had a routine and

learn new things. This “know it all” belief

on how to encourage change and how to

programs I enjoyed immensely. Even

is not only limiting to the individual,

embrace it. And I’d love to hear from you

though I had not before been a Lecturer,

but hinders the organization’s ability to

– how did you encourage the growth of

I loved it – loved the details, loved the

continue to advance.

others so they could fill shoes you once did, and how did you embrace the new

planning and loved interacting with our

Why is the social norm to not expect

members and yet-to-be members who

continued learning and growth? Why

entered the contests and participated in

are we as adults not expected to have

The ability to see the big picture, to

the programs.

continued goals and dreams? Consider

maintain a 30,000-foot view of where the

that came with the change?

I was preparing to unveil new

the amazing change in our playing

organization needs to go and how it will

programs for 2022 and beyond, and

field if everyone strove to continually

get there is critically important for leaders

then it happened.

set new goals, expressed their dreams,

at every level, everywhere. It is easy and

the

learned new things and generally made

comfortable to fall into the day-to-day

delegates elected me Vice President –

themselves incrementally better every

minutia with our heads down and our

an unexpected honor and a challenge I

day. And not only did everyone do these

eyes focused on ourselves and/or the

look forward to meeting with every tool

things, but they held themselves and

moment at hand, but then all we see is

in my toolbox.

each other accountable for such!

our current position and situation. As long

Thursday,

November

11,

At all levels of the Grange, as in

as our view remains the same, so do our

introspection, and perhaps a tug on my

every other organization regardless of

actions and expectations, our growth and

big girl panties, galvanized my desire

age, type or size, it is important and

our betterment. If each of us can challenge

and commitment to fully embrace the

imperative that everyone involved not

ourselves, collectively, to keep the big

new challenges as Vice President – to

only embraces transition and change,

picture in mind, then we focus on more

look forward to my new view and to keep

but comes to expect such. Elections

than just today, we focus on tomorrow!

learning and growing.

occur. Organizations change. Members

Tomorrow brings change, tomorrow brings

quick

moment

two

The concept of learning and growing

come, members go. Transitions and

hope and tomorrow brings to fruition our

can be a difficult one to discuss with

by their nature, pending changes, are

dreams and our labors.

other adults – it’s as if most feel that

healthy and allow organizations and

they have moved beyond that stage of

their members to advance and to grow.

L W

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I am committed and ready to grow and to learn. How about you?

A playbook for successful transitions Preparing for change Preparing for change can be hard, for some people it can be really hard. This is where it is incumbent upon each of us to embrace change with the understanding in mind that the success of the team/organization (mission and goals) is what is truly important – of ensuring that our organization remains strong and active and vibrant; as well as necessary and critical to the continued development of our members and of the communities where they live. What would we have for an organization today if our Founders had not been willing to hand off the baton? 1. Involve Others in Decisions, Planning and Action • A game plan for success includes building capacity – empowering and allowing others to be able to take the baton when/if necessary. o Create a formal or informal Advisory Board with which to bounce ideas. o Develop a village of stakeholders (both generalists and specialists) to assist as needed. • The game plan should also put the organization as a whole in a position to win. • Experiences can provide valuable confidence and develop initiative. 2. Demonstrate Pride in All You Do • Share results with both members and the community. • Be positive and inclusive in all written and oral communication – say thank you, give credit where credit is due. • Ensure civility. • Continuously look for opportunities to do better, to be better – Raise the Bar! 3. Continually Look to Collaborate • Invite other groups to participate, to share the work load and to share the benefits. • By its very nature, collaboration adds strength and resiliency. 4. Constantly Assess Results and Welcome Comments and Feedback • Always be willing to learn. • Change direction as necessary.

When change comes When change comes give yourself some credit for a job done well. Confidence in your performance and pride in the job you have done will allow you to easily and comfortably transition with your successor without fearing that they will surpass your achievements. Remember, the success of others doesn’t in any way diminish your own. 1. Consider Your Elected Office or Appointment a Leg in a Relay and not an Individual Race • The handoff is really important. o Relay runners carry a baton – be prepared to pass it! • Keep complete records and share them with your successor. 2. Communicate Effectively and Thoroughly • Be available and willing to provide information, insight and guidance as requested. o Do as you would appreciate if the roles were reversed. 3. Provide Support • The importance of a mentor, a supporter or of that person who always provides a kind word, a smile or a pat on the back cannot be overstated, nor can you ever have too many. • Be able to read the tea leaves – know when to be there and know when to back off.

• Ensure you are better tomorrow than yesterday.

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RALLYING FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES In the midst of an already challenging time, the opioid epidemic continues to rage in communities across the country. Working together, we can help to ensure a brighter future. The Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative (RALI) is pleased to partner with The Grange to increase awareness of prescription drug misuse & connect rural communities with resources to help prevent substance misuse and abuse.

LEARN MORE AT RALIUSA.ORG

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S RA THE STATE OF RURAL AMERICA

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