Good Day! Volume 7 Issue 1 (April 2023) by National Grange

Good DAY!

A quarterly publication of the National Grange Vol. 7, Issue 1 l April 2023

From Farm to Tap One Pennsylvania company has set out to help breweries craft truly "local" drinks, while working with farmers to create new income streams through cover crops.

™

Good DAY!

N & V

GRANGE NEWS & VIEWS

FOUNDATION

S RA

THE STATE OF RURAL AMERICA

IDEAS FOR GRANGE PROGRAMS & ACTION

MEMBERSHIP NEWS & RECOGNITION

M J

JUNIOR GRANGE

GRANGE YOUTH

H & L

HOBBIES & LIFESTYLE

F & R

FOOD & RECIPES

L W

LAST WORD

™

PERSPECTIVE Food21 Farm to Tap pilot

On the cover: Alquin Heinnickel of Heinnickel Farms preparing the soil for the 2022-2023 fall barley crop. Photo provided by Food21

Follow us on Social Media National Grange, National Junior Grange National Grange Youth, National Grange Lecturer @nationalgrangeofficial

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National Grange

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 pvonada@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 ®

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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.

OUR

Betsy E. Huber, Publisher National Grange President President, Grange Foundation President, Grange Advocacy betsy@nationalgrange.org Philip J. Vonada, Editor Communications Director pvonada@nationalgrange.org communications@nationalgrange.org Stephanie Wilkins, Subscriptions Manager IT Director swilkins@nationalgrange.org

Learn more at www.nationalgrange.org.

OUR

Burton Eller, Advertising Partner Legislative Director Executive Director, Grange Advocacy beller@nationalgrange.org

Officers

Betsy Huber, PA, President betsy@nationalgrange.org

William “Chip” Narvel, DE, National Steward

Chris Hamp, WA, Vice President champ@grange.org

John Plank, IN, National Assistant Steward

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

Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios Membership & Leadership Development Director & Grange Foundation Associate abrozana@nationalgrange.org Loretta Washington Sales, Benefits, Programs & Membership Recognition Director lwashington@nationalgrange.org

Kathy Gibson, MA, National Lady Assistant Steward

Samantha Wilkins National Junior Grange, Youth & Young Adults Director samantha@nationalgrange.org

Barbara Borderieux, FL, National Chaplain Joe Goodrich, VT, National Treasurer

Pete Pompper Community Service Director communityservice@nationalgrange.org

Debbie Campbell, PA, National Secretary

Sean O’Neil Legislative Assistant soneil@nationalgrange.org

Christopher Johnston, MI, National Gatekeeper Cindy Greer, CO, National Ceres Kay Stiles, MD, National Pomona

HEADQUARTERS PHONE (202) 628-3507

Welina Shufeldt, OK, National Flora

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Betsy E. Huber

Contests have played a major

and cruise and a week’s vacation in

role in the Grange for many decades.

Bermuda.

They allow us to show off our talents,

The

National

Grange

Stuffed

whether sewing, yarn work, quilting,

Toy Contest was extremely popular

photography, growing vegetables, or

because all the toys were given to

musical and dramatic talent. Grangers

hospitals to benefit children. Tens of

love to compete! It creates interest

thousands of stuffed toys were created

among our members and attracts new

each year by Grangers all across the

members who want to exhibit their

nation. Poly-fil sponsored this contest

skills too.

as well as the Quilt Contest for several

Back as far as 1929, the Grange

years.

sponsored

conservation

topics

such

essay

60s,

The Youth

sponsor contests you can read about in this issue.

take great photos. For the quilt block contest, bring some fabric scraps and a couple sewing machines and have everyone practice making this year’s pattern. Fun for all ages! Have everyone work together to design a publicity item, especially if your Grange is planning an event. You can have fun, work together, learn how to design a promotional piece, and promote your event all at the same time.

There are numerous ways you

You can also think up your own

“Conservation of our Soil Resources,”

can use our contests to interest your

contests based on your members’

“Soil

Nation’s

members and attract others. For the

interests. A talent show is always great

Future,” and “Conservation Farming

photo contest, ask each member to

fun, and you can invite family members

for Abundant Living.”

bring their favorite photo they’ve taken

who don’t usually attend to come and

Contest

this year to show at your next meeting,

perform.

began in 1958 with fabulous prizes

just for fun or for competition. Invite a

The Grange has a rich history of

including a mink coat, a fifty-two piece

photographer to speak about how to

contests and competitions of all sorts.

set of solid sterling silver, a Symphonic

take better pictures. Help members

Check out the contest information in

Hi-Fi, and even a new Ford Mustang,

learn how to use their cell phones to

this issue and try them out!

Fertility

National

and

Grange

the

The famous

Sewing

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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!™ 2023/24 PRESS DATES Issue

Due Date

Hits Mailboxes

V7, I3

August 31

October 2023

February 28

April 2024

V7, I2 V7, I4 V8, I1

May 31

November 30

July 2023

January 2024

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 Philip Vonada by email at pvonada@nationalgrange.org or by phone at (814) 404-7985 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 pvonada@nationalgrange.org.

From the desk of the PHILIP J. VONADA

Editor

When was the last time you were a true beginner

assumptions and try to look at them from new angles. This

at something? Was it learning to ride a bike? Maybe it

will help you start to feel less upset when you can’t control

was a craft project or a new hobby, a sport, maybe even

every situation. 2. Take inspiration from children. Look at how they

becoming a parent? While one of the first things many people think of is the

interact with the world. They ask questions - what is

struggle they had in learning the “newness” of whatever

this, why does it work like this, how can I make this do

they’ve started; others remember the joy of their successes

something else? Just like children approach the world

and the thrill of being able to approach something with

with eager and questioning eyes, adults should try to look

no preconceptions.

at things from a new perspective.

Try adopting a beginner’s mindset. What does this mean and how does it work? The term is translated from the word shoshin in Zen Buddhism. It means to look at every situation as if it’s the first time you are seeing it. In other words... you are opening yourself up to a world of possibilities where any existing expectations you’ve had are wiped clean from the table. Cultivating and living with a beginner’s mind allows us to get out of “ruts,” or avoid becoming stale in situations. In our Granges, it can allow us to approach events (community service, programming, fundraising) with fresh and more creative minds. While experience and expertise are important, they can also set us on the pathway of feeling like we “know it all,” or have all of the answers, and that can pigeonhole our activities into only happening certain ways - the “my

3. Slow down. It’s so easy to go into autopilot, but do you question why things are done in certain ways? Betterup suggests that we “act with intention and live in the present moment.” Don’t just go through the motions - look for a new approach. 4. Remove the word “should” from your vocabulary. With no preconceived notions or expectations, we don’t know how something “should” turn out. Let the outcome be whatever it is, based on the new way you’re approaching something - know your goals, but let the path there be a surprise as you work together in your Grange. 5. Put your ego on the back burner. You may be an expert at one thing, but you probably aren’t an expert at all things. Try letting go of your need to be “right” at all times, and allow yourself to approach each situation as an opportunity to learn. With a beginner’s mind, you and your Grange may

way or the highway” attitude. So how do we get there? According to betterup.com

find that, as you learn together, you’re also drawn closer

and the book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu

together. This mindset allows all - newcomers and “elders”

Suzuki, there are five main steps:

- to provide ideas, work together, and feel ownership over

1. Ignore the “stories” past experiences tell you.

their activities.

This is the “we’ve tried that before” mentality that can

It’s not an easy thing to do - I’m certainly not an

stifle creativity and new ideas. It will also help you to put

“expert” at it, but it’s something that I try. I encourage

things in perspective - i.e. if you’re not looking forward

you to take a deep breath the next time you feel the urge

to working with another person because of a past

to say “what we usually do is...” or “the best way is...”

experience, consider was that person really out to hurt

Allow yourself the time - and the grace - to experience

me, or were we both just in a bad mood? Question your

something from a new perspective and mindset.

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Editorial: Partnering for Success

Grange. My daughter, one of our six children, is a fifth-generation

By Dave Roberts

Connecticut State Grange Lecturer/ Program Director Connecticut Lions District “B” Governor

Grange member. Since Grange helps members promote leadership skills, I serve as President of my local community Grange (Riverton Grange #169 in Barkhamsted, Connecticut), Vice President of Mountain Laurel Pomona Grange in Connecticut, and State Lecturer/Program Director for the Connecticut State Grange. I volunteer service for all of these positions, and I am pleased that

We have all heard the old adage that the best way to find successful outcomes to weighty problems is to partner with like-mind-

my family supports my Grange activities, particularly since I retired from my professional career six years ago to enjoy life!

ed individuals and groups. With that in mind, Rural Minds was

So, while in Reno at the National Grange Convention in 2022,

founded by Jeff Winton with the mission to “serve as the informed

I attended Jeff Winton’s keynote speech on Rural Minds and

voice for mental health in rural America, and to provide mental

thought his presentation was awesome. After his lunch presenta-

health information and resources.” Rural Minds knew that they

tion, I rushed to the seminar room where Jeff held a follow-up lec-

needed partners to be successful, so they reached out to numer-

ture that provided more information on mental health awareness

ous organizations to collaborate to promote impactful solutions.

and collaboration. I sat front and center and introduced myself to

One of those partners is the National Grange. The Grange

Jeff. I told him that I saw so many opportunities for partnering. The

is a family and community organization with roots in agriculture.

room was packed, and chairs had to be added to accommodate

Founded in 1867, The Grange was formed as a national organiza-

the overflow audience. The presentation was a home run and in-

tion with a local focus. Since its founding, Grange members have

spired me to do more.

been given the opportunity to learn and grow to their full potential

Next Steps to Collaborate and Make a Difference

as citizens and leaders. National Grange, under the leadership of President Betsy Hu-

During my flight home to Connecticut, I had time to think

ber, recognized that mental health was a top priority for many

about next steps. First, I knew I wanted to build a strong, resilient

Grange chapters and members throughout the United States, so

collaboration with people who could make a difference.

it chose to partner with Rural Minds. The COVID-19 pandemic ac-

As one of three District Governors for Lions Clubs International

celerated the importance of addressing this challenge, as mental

in Connecticut, I knew that Lions had resources to help build pro-

health is a serious concern to many Grange families in rural areas

grams. For those who don’t know, Lions Clubs International was

of the country.

founded in 1917 and today is the world’s largest service organiza-

In order to help educate Grange members from across the

tion, with over 48,000 Lions Clubs around the world. Some Lions

United States, Rural Minds founder Jeff Winton was invited as a

Clubs focus on their communities and some Lions Clubs are known

keynote speaker to the 156th Annual Convention of the National

as specialty clubs that focus on a special need.

Grange in Reno, Nevada, which was held on November 17, 2022,

I immediately called a friend whom I had just recruited to Lions

National Rural Health Day. As keynote speaker, Jeff hosted a work-

and said, “I have the prefect initiative for you.” Kim Becker is a

shop to help attendees see the opportunities of strategic partner-

community leader and active citizen in Granby, Connecticut. She

ing.

immediately said she wanted to be part of this new initiative. So I

I happened to be one of the attendees of the National Conven-

told her she had to join a local Grange, which she did immediately!

tion in Reno. By way of background, I am 62 years old, a 47-year

What did we do? Lions Clubs International requires a minimum

Grange member, and a fourth-generation member of National

of 20 members to establish a new Lions Club. However, a new Li-

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ons Club Branch can be formed with only

start a Lions Club Branch in Connecticut

training helps save lives and reduce sui-

five members, as long as a Lions Club will

to partner with the Connecticut State

cidal behaviors by providing innovative,

sponsor you.

Grange and local community Granges.

practical, and proven suicide prevention

The Northwestern Connecticut Cyber

The Branch recruited six adults as Lions

training. Quality education empowers

Lions Club immediately said that they

and two high school students as Leos.

people, regardless of their background,

would sponsor this new branch. (My son

The new members selected the name

to make a positive difference in the lives

happens to be the president of this Lions

“Connecticut 988 Lions Club Branch” as

of others.

Club!) I told Kim that we had to find at

their official branch name. They select-

Just as people trained in CPR and

least four more members to join her to

ed 988 as it is now the new three-digit,

the Heimlich maneuver save thousands

form a Lions Club Branch.

nationwide phone number that connects

of lives each year, people trained in QPR

Right before all this happened, Con-

directly to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

learn how to recognize the warning signs

necticut had experienced a terrible trag-

Lions Clubs International has to approve

of a suicidal crisis and how to question,

edy when a mentally disturbed young

all Club and Branch names, so I had to

persuade, and refer someone to help.

man ambushed three police officers in

justify this unique name. Lions approved

QPR can be learned in one Gatekeeper

Bristol, Connecticut, killing two of them.

the name and the Branch is now up and

course in as little as one hour.

Lions immediately wanted to join with

running. Kim Becker was elected Char-

Rural Minds is also speaking to many

others who wanted to help. While the

ter President and the new members have

state and local Granges around the Unit-

community raised over $1million dollars

met via Zoom as they live in two separate

ed States. Connecticut State Grange will

for the families of the slain officers, Lions

rural Connecticut counties.

host a Rural Minds speaker this spring

wanted to do more. So, the idea began to germinate to

to encourage all Connecticut Granges

Looking for Ways to Spread Mental Health Awareness in Rural America Moving forward, members will determine how to spread mental health awareness

information,

particularly in rural areas, to those in need. Students will research needs in the towns of New Hartford and Barkhamsted, Connecticut, to see what gaps, if any, exist in providing mental health services. QPR training will be evaluated to see if members might promote offering this training as many Lions Clubs and Granges already offer cardiopulmonary

resuscitation

(CPR)

training to members. QPR stands for QuesFrom left: Connectict State Grange Lecturer Dave Roberts, CT 988 Lions Clubs Branch President & Granby Grange Member Kim Becker, Granby Grange Lecturer Judy Doyle, Lions Global Membership Team Chair Alan Hill. Photo provided

to incorporate mental health awareness and training into their lecturer’s programming. National Grange has launched a new initiative for any Grange that completes one mental health program during the year to be named as a Golden Honor Grange. I want many of our Connecticut Granges to be named Golden Honor Granges to showcase our commitment to helping our communities. I want to thank Jeff Winton and Rural Minds for approaching National Grange and for opening this important opportunity to us. With Lions Clubs International, National Grange, State Granges, Pomona Granges, and local community Granges partnering with Rural Minds, Jeff Winton’s vision that launched over 10 years ago is taking giant steps forward. We truly are Partnering for Success! For more information, please contact Dave Roberts at granbydavidroberts@ gmail.com or contact him at 860-4695067.

tion, Persuade, and Refer – the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR

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Along the Way... Aaron Grosh’s resting place By Norman Houser Author, The Pennsylvania Rambler www.thepennsylvaniarambler.com Pennsylvania Grange Member Note: Many Grange histories note that little is known about the life of Reverend Grosh and years ago, when I wrote my first article about the life of Rev. Aaron B. Grosh, this was true. At the time, I recorded what I had found, which was very little. In the past couple years, more newspapers have been added to the online newspaper archives and this has allowed insight into the early years of Rev. Aaron Grosh. Clinging to the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River is the quiet community of Marietta, Pennsylvania. Route 441 moves vehicles quickly past the river town. South of town is Chickies Rock County Park, known for its hiking and scenic views of the Susquehanna River, historic Route 30, and east of the quiet community, shopping opportunities can be found in Lancaster. This was not the first time I stopped in Marietta to visit the grave of Rev. Aaron Grosh, one of the founders of the Grange, nor would it be the last visit. Entering the sacred grounds of Marietta Cemetery from West Fairview Avenue, I drove slowly amid the stones marking those who once called the community home. I watched carefully on my right, scanning the stones – I knew the grave I had come to visit was between the cemetery roadway and North Gay Street. The bronze plaque caught my attention and I carefully made my way to the stone. The old stone shows the effect of time on it, but the words at the top of the headstone are still legible – “Sacred to the memory of Rev. Aaron B. Grosh.” At the base of the stone is a marker placed there by the National Grange during the 100th anniversary celebration. The plaque is the only hint of Rev. Grosh’s importance in history – “One of the Seven Founders and

first Chaplain of the National Grange of

Magazine and Gospel Advocate and

the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.” While

edit The Universalist Register from 1838

Grangers know of his importance in the founding of the organization, Rev. Grosh played an important role in the history of the Unitarian Church and his hometown of Marietta. Aaron Bort Grosh, who went by A.B. in his writings, was born May 22, 1803 in Marietta. Interestingly, all Grosh family histories have his name spelled Bort, which was his grandmother’s maiden name. The name Burt appears to have been a misspelling which was never fixed as it was copied. Grosh attended the local school system and at an early age became an apprentice to a newspaper printer and soon after became proprietor of the Marietta Pioneer. By 1820, Grosh was teaching at the Bell schoolhouse in Marietta and in 1822, Grosh was ordained as a minister in the Universalist faith, with his first sermon preached at the Zion Church in Marietta. Rev. Grosh was married twice. His first marriage was to Hannah Rhinehart in 1823, who bore six children. Hannah would pass in 1849 and was laid to rest in the Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading. Four years after the death of Hannah, Grosh would remarry, this time to Sarah S. Smith. In 1830 Grosh moved to Utica, New York, where he began his life in ministry. He would establish the Evangelical

to 1865. After seventeen years in Utica, Grosh moved to Philadelphia, to pastor at the Church of the Messiah before continuing to Reading, PA. After a stay at Reading, Grosh retired to Marietta, where he helped his father with the family lumber business, while he continued preaching at the home of his father. By 1860, Grosh was listed in the local newspapers as a school director in Marietta. In the early years of the U.S. Civil War, Grosh was very active in preparing Marietta for war. In 1861, he was a part of the Marietta Relief Committee, which aided those returning from war and their families. In August 1862, the committee under Grosh’s advisement began raising

The inscription on Grosh’s tombstone reads: For I am persuaded that neither death

nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor

depth, nor any other creature shall

be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38 & 39

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Grosh’s final resting place can be visited in Marietta Cemetery in Marietta, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Norman Houser

much like they are for the Grange, are still used in the present day. Within the Odd Fellows, Grosh would rise to become the Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. In 1876, Grosh would write another book for the National Grange, Mentor in the Granges and Homes of Patrons of Husbandry (1876). This writing effort clarified the duties of Grange officers and explained the lessons of the Grange ritualistic work. Grosh would settle in Towson, Maryland, where he lived when he took ill in 1884. Grosh died March 27, 1884 and was buried in his hometown of Marietta. Sarah would survive her husband, passing in 1890 and was laid to rest next to him in Marietta Cemetery. I finished remembering Grosh’s life before I left his gravesite within the sacred grounds of Marietta Cemetery. I solemnly left his resting place, knowing a part of his “unknown” life had been recovered and would now be an important piece of Grange history.

A portrait of Grosh from Origin and Progress of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry in the United States by Oliver Hudson Kelley.

funds to give every veteran in East Donegal Township returning from the war $25. In September 1862, Grosh was elected a member of a delegation to go to Harrisburg and request weapons for the young men who were drilling in preparation of the advancement of the Confederate Army. Grosh took a clerk job at the Department of Agriculture shortly after it was created in 1862. This position was obtained thanks to his association with Simon Cameron, a Pennsylvania Representative in the U.S. Senate. Grosh would be appointed as the first Department Librarian of the United States National Agricultural Library, serving from 1867 until 1869. While working for the Department of Agriculture, Grosh befriended William Saunders and was introduced to Oliver Hudson Kelley and the idea of a national farmer’s organization. With Grosh’s knowledge of Degree work, he was tasked with writing many of the songs for the Degrees and developing the rituals that are still part of the organization. Grosh would serve as the first Chaplain of the National Grange. While the Grange would benefit from Grosh’s leadership, he would also use his knowledge to benefit the Odd Fellows. Grosh would write the Odd Fellows Manual (1853) and the Odd Fellows Improved Manual (1871) which included their rituals and history of the organization. The rituals Grosh wrote for the I.O.O.F.,

Note: Another event directly connects Rev. Aaron Grosh to an important piece of American history and involves his two eldest sons, Ethan Allen (who went by E. Allen) and Hosea. The brothers went westward in 1849 in search of their fortune during the California Gold Rush. As part of their exploration for gold in Nevada, they discovered the “worthless rock” many gold prospectors were throwing away was silver. Many presently believe that vein the two brothers were working was a part of the rich vein that would be referred to as the Comstock Lode, which was discovered roughly a quarter of a mile away from their diggings.

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Nashville Grange offers delicious, homestyle fare By Amanda Brozana Rios

cookbook on display and some State

National Grange Leadership & Membership Development Director Thinking of visiting Music City anytime soon? Make a stop on your trip the Nashville Grange, a licensee of the National Grange. Located in the Grand Hyatt Nashville on Broadway, about one mile from the iconic four blocks of music-first establishments known

Honkytonk

Highway,

the

restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner at reasonable prices in a classically classy atmosphere. As you enter, the restaurant offers a charming and comfortable sitting-roomstyle waiting area, neat bar area, and big farmhouse tables, set complete with flowers and place settings reminiscent of a stylized country home. A few bookshelves display a variety of

cookbooks.

After

discussion

with

management on a recent trip, visitors will soon see the most recent National Grange

Grange cookbooks in rotation. On the coffee tables, this very magazine will soon appear for guests to peruse as they wait for their table. Plentiful seating and pleasant service await, giving Nashville Grange the feel of that beloved hometown restaurant that locals call “fancy” but outsiders consider “everyday nice.” You’ll never feel far from your food. The menu has local flavors and restaurant execs tell us they are adding an even more pronounced farm-to-table orientation to their selection. In addition, the kitchen

Nashville Grange restaurant, in the heart of downtown and just a few blocks away from the Country Music Hall of Fame, is an official licensee of the “Grange” trademark. Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios

is visible as you pass through the nicely

we’re finding other ways to partner that

decorated space, allowing you to sneak a

will allow locals or tourists from all parts of

peek at dishes as they are prepared.

the world to learn a little more about the

Before heading off to the Ryman

restaurant’s namesake.

Auditorium for a show or after a long night

So, if you’re in Nashville, stop by. We

of hopping from venue to venue to hear

believe you’ll feel welcome and well-fed

the sounds of city and country, consider

without breaking the bank.

stopping by the Nashville Grange for dinner, breakfast or lunch. From

tasty

appetizers

like charred onion dip to entrées like the shrimp and grits, or breakfast items like the fried chicken benedict or “the Grange” – a morning sandwich anyone could get into – the menu allows you to explore cuisine notable to the city and the south without taking a full dive in. Finish with a dessert like the chocolate chip cookie skillet topped with bourbon vanilla ice cream for a treat. This

licensee

also

adding a bit of information Some of the cookbooks on display. Soon, Grange about our Order to the staff’s cookbooks from around the country will join them. Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios orientation materials and

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The charred onion dip was a fan-favorite starter. Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios

Grange Revival 3.0 - Grange with your feet up! By Karie Blasingame Grange Revival Committee

Grange Revival 3.0, July 18-23, 2023, at Log Cabin Resort & Campground in Curtis, Michigan, is a family event open for all Grange members and friends to create and strengthen fraternal bonds. This year, for the third time, Grangers from across the country will gather for five nights of outdoor camping enjoyment. The cost for the event is rental of your campsite/cabin and $75 registration to Grange Revival. Please get your registration in the mail before April 15th as the registration cost goes up by $5 Communal dinners with new and old friends make every evening special while at after that date. Grange Revival. Photo provided Already, there are over 100 registered or soon-to-be-registered Grangers and Our campground located on Big Manistique Lake on friends coming along for the ride this time. Bring your RV, Michigan's Upper Peninsula has limited amenities, but we have load your car and pack a tent, fly to your destination and stay access to 2 different beaches, a boat launch and fishing areas in a cabin, or enjoy the experience with some added creature on the lake. We are looking into scheduling time to do a fishing comforts at a nearby hotel. All the fun of Grange Revival is excursion together; however, you will need to purchase a daily waiting for you - and don’t forget to bring your friends! You need Michigan fishing license. From outdoor activities to off-property not be a Grange member to attend, but you sure will want to be adventures with lots of time to kick back and relax with other after it’s over! Grangers, there is something for everyone. Take part in planned activities and excursions or strike out on your own to find some fun during the day. Then, head back to the campground at night to enjoy a communal meal and maybe even some campfire songs. This is a great time to meet other Grangers without a nametag on, to introduce yourself and find out more about them at the same time. Grange Revival includes numerous activities for attendees both on-site and around the area. Similar to a cruise, you can choose what to take part in and when to just relax with friends or on your own. It's your vacation - enjoy it with your Grange family your way. There are many different attractions located on the Upper Peninsula. Our campground is located almost in the center Attendees at the 2021 Grange Revival in Sturgis, South Dakota, visited Mount of the Upper Peninsula, which gives you Rushmore as one of their outings. Photo by Kennedy Gwin access to Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior,

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Registration information

their own tray and keeping it safe. This year, we are trying to use as many sustainable items as possible to cut down on the paper products we need to supply and that need to be thrown away. Taking care of our planet is always something that we as Grangers try to promote, especially while we are enjoying nature while camping. Remember to throw a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and silverware kit into your bag to use throughout the week. We will also be assigning different nights There’s always fun to be had with great for every family to help groups of friends during Grange Revival! Photo provided with serving and meal clean up many hands make for light work and Fayette State Park which has a historic and getting everyone back to townsite located in it. The Seney National enjoying each other. Wildlife Refuge and Mackinac Island/ We have had many groups Bridge are also interesting places to see. and families volunteer to provide As a group, we will be traveling to the other refreshment and add to Soo Locks in Sault St. Marie and taking our dining enjoyment at various a cruise on one of the days of our event. times throughout the week. If Hopefully that allows you to plan on you are willing to be added to heading to other attractions. the schedule, please let Chris Each evening during the 6 o’clock Hamp know. hour, a group meal will be held in a The Revival Committee common area, cooked by Grangers and has been working diligently to covered by registration cost. As part coordinate events that are being of your registration fee this year, we are hosted by other Grangers and providing reusable trays for all meals. make sure we have an enjoyable Each person is responsible for cleaning time throughout the week.

The registration fee, made payable to Grange Revival, covers five dinners (Tuesday through Saturday; leftovers may be available for other meals), an event food tray, t-shirt and admission for most workshops (some excursions or workshops may have a small fee for admission, materials or transportation and will be announced in advance). The registration fee is 50% refundable if canceled at least one week in advance of the start of the event; the fee is non-refundable if canceled less than one-week prior to the start of the event. Complete and return the next page or visit www.grangerevival.com to register!

A new event this year will be a Veterans Happy Hour on Wednesday starting at 5 :00 p.m. The full schedule will be available in Mid-April at www. grangerevival.com. Please check out the website for further details, updates and the countdown to Grange Revival. We hope to see you there! Remember this event is not sponsored by the National Grange it is put on by the Grange Revival Committee who work very hard to make ensure that all in attendance will have a great time.

Grange Members $75 Subordinate Members (36+) and E-members $60 Grange Youth and Young Adults (14-35) $60 Golden Sheaf Members (50+ yrs. of membership) $40 Junior Grangers (5-13), including 1+ Juniors $20 Pre-Juniors (0-4 years old) Friend of the Grange $90 Adults (36+) $75 Youth and Young Adults (14-35) $50 Children (5-13) $35 Infants & Pre-Schoolers (0-4 years old) Prices go up $5 after April 15!

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GRANGE REVIVAL 2023 REGISTRATION FORM (This is separate from accommodation reservations. Make reservations directly with Log Cabin Resort & Campground by calling Lisa at 906-586-9732 or 785-633-3783) Your Name

Shirt Size

This person will be the "head of party" for all communications, payments, etc.

Registration type (check one) Grange Member:

Pre-Junior

Friend of the Grange:

Junior

Infant/Pre-K (0-4)

Youth

Subordinate

Child (5-13)

Golden Sheaf

Youth/Young Adult (14-35)

Adult (36+)

Address Phone

What days do you plan to attend Grange Revival? (dates) If there are other parties who will attend with you, please indicate their names AND registration type (using the definitions above) so we can keep family/group registrations together.

PAYMENT (choose one) A payment of: $

I am pre-registering. Bill me:

is enclosed, made payable to Grange Revival. via PayPal to email above OR

by mail to address above.

CONDUCT POLICY (must be signed by each person attending 14-years-of-age or older)

By signing below, I understand and agree to the following: I will not damage event property and will report any defects with venue property to the owners/employees of Log Cabin Resort & Campground as soon as possible. I will attain necessary licenses and use recommended safety equipment while on property. I will assist in keeping the grounds clean and listen to all instructions related to campfires, cooking, swimming, recreational water use, etc. Campfires may only be created in approved facility fire rings. If I bring any weapon, including a firearm, large knife or other object, it will be secured by lock in my vehicle or other place where access by attendees is restricted. I will not smoke indoors or in any part of the facility marked non-smoking and I will not bring or consume any illegal drugs. I will not engage in or enable any minor to engage in underage drinking. I will not be inebriated when tending to a fire, participating in water activities or any other activity that may put myself or others at harm. If I am the responsible party for a minor child, I will ensure the child has appropriate chaperones if outside of my immediate care. I may be asked to leave the event with no refund if I violate any of these policies or act inappropriately for a Grange event. If I provide a form of payment that is declined or returned, I will be charged an additional $40 insufficient funds fee that must be satisfied before the end of the close of the event or within 5 days after the event ends. I understand I may be required to sign a full conduct and rules policy prior to or at the event and that this is an introductory piece to that full agreement.

Signature (of attendee, or if attendee is under 18 parent/guardian should also initial)

Date

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GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

Grange Foundation seeks donor members for exclusive club Have you ever thought about the legacy you will leave for those who follow behind you? The Grange Foundation's 1-in-1000 Club is doing just that! Founded in 2017, the 1-in1000 Club is an exclusive group, limited to the first 1,000 people who complete a pledge of $1,000 within one year to the Grange Foundation. This lifetime spot not only helps ensure the future of the Grange, but also opens exclusive opportunities for the members, like gatherings at National Grange Convention. Thanks to donations made through the Club, projects like digitization of Grange records have been completed. This is an important project that allows future generations of Grange members to have access to original records. Other activities have included sponsoring events during Grange Month, including the upcoming “Long Term Care

and Estate Planning” webinar on April 26th. Currently, there are just under 60 members in the Club, with a few future members participating in a payment plan. This allows ample room for new members who wish to become sustainers of the Grange legacy. Each member receives their own unique number for life, a certificate, and a pin. Organizations (like Granges or State Grange Foundations) can also become members, but will require a $1,000 renewal every 10 years. Families of deceased members have the option to renew their loved one's membership. The 1-in-1000 Club aims to raise $1 million, to create a lasting impact through the Grange Foundation and the National Grange. The Grange Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donations may be tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax advisor.

Current Club members

1. Betsy Huber

30. Mary Bryant

2. Marty Billquist

31. Jacqueline Bishop

3. Christine Hamp

32. Stephen C. Coye

4. Duane Hamp

33. F. Phillip Prelli

5. Susan Noah

34. Maureen Prelli

6. Mark Noah

35. Michigan State

7. Joan C. Smith

Grange Foundation

8. Nancy Hardtla

36. George E. Thomas III

10. Carol Everman

37. Lillian Booth

11. Dr. Charles William

38. Eugene Fletcher

Dimmick

39. Norman D. Peterson

12. William "Bill" Booth

40. Clay Snyder

13. Gloria Paddock

41. Lynette Schaeffer

14. Roger J. Halbert

42. Gwen Eidsmoe

15. Bruce M. Croucher

43. Nicholas Eidsmoe

16. Brian Ebersole

44. Clint Weirick

17. John Plank

45. Leroy Watson

18. Brian Carr

46. Cheryl Watson

19. Roland Winter

47. Katie Squire

20. Elizabethtown Area

48. Ellen Wadsworth

Grange #2076

49. KayLynn Booth

21. Amanda Brozana Rios

50. Donna Keeton

22. Marilyn A. Reiher

51. Dr. Jerry Billquist

23. Tricia Edismoe

52. Tina J. Reynolds

24. Naomi Fletcher

53. Riley T. Reynolds

25. Maurice Wiles

54. Roberta O'Dell

26. Kay Merritt

55. Amanda Booth

27. Yvonne Merritt 28. Shirley Johnson

Thorne 56. Philip J Vonada

29. David Bryant

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Rural America faces higher cancer rates, less access to care

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States. But thanks to new innovations to screen, diagnose and treat cancer, mortality rates have been steadily decreasing across the country. Unfortunately, as a new study by the National Grange with data analytics firm Xcenda reveals, this decline has not been experienced equally. The study finds that compared to urban areas, rural communities have overall higher rates of cancer incidence, late-stage diagnoses, and mortality – and the urbanrural disparity in cancer mortality has been steadily widening over the last decade. Rural areas also generally have lower selfreported rates of preventive screenings for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers at Xcenda aimed to quantify the disparity in cancer burden for people living in rural areas. The researchers also examined disparities in four states: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas – all of which have significant populations living in both rural and urban areas which made for a more straightforward comparison. Key Findings of the Report • Nationwide, cancer deaths in rural areas are 14% higher than urban areas and the urban-rural disparity in cancer death rates is getting worse. Nationwide, the disparity in the rate of cancer deaths between rural and urban counties increased between 2011-2015 and 20162020, despite the overall cancer death rate decreasing. This national trend was reflected in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. Only in South Carolina did the urban-rural disparity in cancer death rates not increase between the two time periods studied. • The 5-year cancer survival rate for all cancers was 8% lower in rural areas

compared to urban areas. The research also showed that the urban-rural disparity in survival rates increases the later the stage the cancer is diagnosed. For example, cancers caught at the “local stage” (before it spread to other parts of the body) had a similar 5-year survival rate between urban (91.5%) and rural (89%) areas. But at the late (or distant) stage after the cancer has spread, 5-year survival was 30.2% in urban areas but only 26.2% in rural areas. • Rural areas are behind urban areas when it comes to getting preventive screenings. This is especially true for colorectal cancer screenings, the rates of which were lower among rural areas nationwide and in the four states reviewed. • Concerning colon and lung cancer specifically, the rates of both cancers found at late-stages were higher in rural areas than urban areas. Lung and colon cancers are the two most common cancers in the US that affect both men and women. According to the study, the rate of new lung cancer cases diagnosed at late-stages ranged from 21% to 25% higher in rural areas compared to urban areas between 2015-2019. Over that same period, the rate of new colon cancer cases diagnosed at late stages ranged from 12% to 18% higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. Addressing the Rural-Urban Disparity in Cancer Outcomes Nearly one in five Americans live in a rural area, so these challenges and impacts regarding cancer care have broad impacts on the nation’s overall health. People living in rural areas often struggle to access healthcare – due to poverty, a lack of insurance, or being located far from a provider – and as a result may not have the same access to screening services as people living in urban areas. The best health outcomes related

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to cancer are linked to early detection. Routine screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, and lung cancer have been successful in catching cancer early and savings lives. In addition, new technologies, notably multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing offers new hope for further reducing rural cancer disparities in the future. These blood tests can detect dozens of types of cancers all at once – including those for which there is currently no other screening. And because MCED tests require only a blood draw, they can be more readily accessible and without the expensive equipment required for other types of screenings. The FDA is in the process of reviewing these tests and is expected to grant approval over the next few years. But once they are approved, policy solutions will have to be in place to unlock their full potential. Today, the Medicare program does not currently have a straightforward pathway to covering MCED tests, which greatly impacts rural and other at-risk communities. Legislation to create such a pathway and ensure these tests can be accessed by those who need them the most has been supported by over 300 bipartisan Members of Congress last year. These technologies have a critical role to play in addressing rural cancer disparities highlighted in this new study, but only if patients can access them. View the full study by scanning this code or by visiting http://bit.ly/ruralcancerdisparities

In rural America, right-to-repair laws are the leading edge of a pushback against growing corporate power By Leland Glenna Professor of Rural Sociology and Science, Technology, and Society, Penn State University Originally published in The Conversation

As tractors became more sophisticated over the past two decades, the big manufacturers allowed farmers fewer options for repairs. Rather than hiring independent repair shops, farmers have increasingly had to wait for companyauthorized dealers to arrive. Getting repairs could take days, often leading to lost time and high costs. A new memorandum of understanding between the country’s largest farm equipment maker, John Deere Corp., and the American Farm Bureau Federation is now raising hopes that U.S. farmers will finally regain the right to repair more of their own equipment. However, supporters of right-to-repair laws suspect a more sinister purpose: to slow the momentum of efforts to secure right-to-repair laws around the country. Under the agreement, John Deere promises to give farmers and independent repair shops access to manuals, diagnostics and parts. But there’s a catch – the agreement isn’t legally binding, and, as part of the deal, the influential Farm Bureau promised not to support any federal or state right-to-repair legislation. The

right-to-repair

movement

For farmers, few examples of those

pesticides and machinery, as well as

corporate constraints are more frustrating

commodity processing and meatpacking.

than repair restrictions and patent rights

One

that prevent them from saving seeds from

Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, was

their own crops for future planting.

responsible for approximately 80% of the

How a few powerful

companies

became

study

2014

estimated

that

corn and 90% of the soybeans grown in the U.S. In farm machinery, John Deere and Kubota account for about a third of

The United States’ market economy

the market.

requires competition to function properly,

Market power often translates into

which is why U.S. antitrust policies were

political power, which means that those

strictly enforced in the post-World War II

large companies can influence regulatory

era.

oversight, legal decisions, and legislation

During the 1970s and 1980s, however,

that furthers their economic interests –

political leaders began following the advice

including securing more expansive and

of a group of economists at the University

stricter intellectual property policies.

of Chicago and relaxed enforcement of federal antitrust policies. That led to a concentration of economic power in many sectors. This

The right-to-repair movement At its most basic level, right-to-repair legislation seeks to protect the end

become

users of a product from anti-competitive

especially pronounced in agriculture, with

concentration

has

activities by large companies. New York

a few companies consolidating market

passed the first broad right-to-repair law,

share in numerous areas, including seeds,

in 2022, and nearly two dozen states have

has

become the leading edge of a pushback against

growing

corporate

power.

Intellectual property protections, whether patents

farm

equipment,

crops,

computers or cellphones, have become more intense in recent decades and cover more territory, giving companies more control over what farmers and other

New tractors are increasingly high-tech, with GPS, 360-degree camera and smartphone

consumers can do with the products they

controls. Waiting for repairs from dealers can cost farmers time and money. Photo courtesy of AdobeStock

buy.

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that couldn’t be patented. That changed in 1980 with the U.S. Supreme Court decision Diamond v. Chakrabarty. The case involved genetically engineered bacteria that could break down crude oil. The court’s ruling allowed inventors to secure patents on living organisms. Half a decade later, the U.S. Patent Office extended patents to agricultural crops generated through transgenic breeding techniques, which inserts a gene from one species into the genome of another. One prominent example is the insertion of a gene into corn and cotton that enables the plant to produce its own pesticide. In 2001, the Supreme Court included conventionally bred crops in the category eligible for patenting. Historically, farmers would save seeds that their crops generated and replant them the following season. They could also sell those seeds to other farmers. They lost the right to sell their seeds in 1970, when Congress passed the Plant Variety Protection Act. Map: The Conversation/CC-BY-ND Source: The Repair Association

active legislation – about half of them targeting farm equipment. Whether the product is an automobile, smartphone or seed, companies can extract more profits if they can force consumers to purchase the company’s replacement parts or use the company’s exclusive dealership to repair the product. One of the first cases that challenged the right to repair equipment was in 1939, when a company that was reselling refurbished spark plugs was sued by the Champion Spark Plug Co. for violating its patent rights. The Supreme Court agreed that Champion’s trademark had been violated, but it allowed resale of the refurbished spark plugs if “used” or “repaired” was stamped on the product. Although courts have often sided with the end users in rightto-repair cases, large companies have vast legal and lobbying resources to argue for stricter patent protections. Consumer advocates contend that these protections prevent people from repairing and modifying the products they rightfully purchased. The ostensible justification for patents, whether for equipment or seeds, is that they provide an incentive for companies to invest time and money in developing products because they know that they will have exclusive rights to sell their inventions once patented. However, some scholars claim that recent legal and legislative changes to patents are instead limiting innovation and social benefits.

Utility patents, which grant an inventor exclusive right to produce a new or improved product, are even more restrictive. Under a utility patent, farmers can no longer save seed for replanting on their own farms. University scientists even face restrictions on the kind of research they can perform on patented crops. Because of the clear changes in intellectual property protections on agricultural crops over the years, researchers are able to evaluate whether those changes correlate with crop innovations – the primary justification used for patents. The short answer is that they do not. One study revealed that companies have used intellectual property to enhance their market power more than to enhance innovations. In fact, some vegetable crops with few patent protections had more varietal innovations than crops with more patent protections. How much does this cost farmers? It can be difficult to estimate how much patented crops cost farmers. For example, farmers might pay more for the seeds but save money on pesticides or labor, and they might have higher yields. If market prices for the crop are high one year, the farmer might come out ahead, but if prices are low, the farmer might lose money. Crop breeders, meanwhile, envision substantial profits. Similarly, it is difficult to calculate the costs farmers face from not having a right to repair their machinery. A machine breakdown that takes weeks to repair during harvest time could be catastrophic. The nonprofit U.S. Public Interest Research Group calculated

The problem with seed patents The extension of utility patents to agricultural seeds illustrates how intellectual property policies have expanded and become more restrictive. Patents have been around since the founding of the U.S., but agricultural crops were initially considered natural processes

that U.S. consumers could save US$40 billion per year if they could repair electronics and appliances – about $330 per family. The memorandum of understanding between John Deere and the Farm Bureau may be a step in the right direction, but it is not a substitute for right-to-repair legislation or the enforcement of antitrust policies.

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By Dr. Katie Estill, DVM Q Fever refers to the infection of people with the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. So how is it that people contract this infection? To understand that, one must understand Coxiella. Coxiella burnetii is, as stated before, a bacteria. It has a worldwide distribution (aside from New Zealand) and is found in both wild and domesticated mammals, birds, and arthropods. It can be spread

large

Photo by Carolynn Chamlee

Q Fever in goats: My goats can give me what? amounts

the

bacteria

birthing.

The

bacteria are found in the placenta, as well as milk, urine, and feces. So people

how

get

Coxiella infection? When Coxiella is shed, it can survive

from animal to animal via ticks and other

in the environment

arthropods. It is also secreted in the bodily

for a long time.

fluids of infected animals.

People

can

determine the cause. Your veterinarian will

It can be found in any area with ruminant

infected from as little as the inhalation of one

likely recommend sending an aborted fetus

livestock. When Coxiella is secreted in bodily

single organism. While inhalation is the main

and placenta to a reputable lab for testing.

fluids, it is excreted in a form that can survive

method of transmission, contact and the

When kidding your goats, care should

for extended periods in the environment

ingestion of contaminated dairy products

be taken to practice good hygiene. Pens

despite drying and the application of

are other possible means of transmission.

should be cleaned thoroughly and bedding

disinfectants.

Given the main hosts of Coxiella, it follows

for animals should not be re-used.

In goats and sheep, it can cause

that those who work closely with ruminant

subclinical infections, or infections that are

livestock are most likely to become infected.

insecticides to prevent tick infestations.

not readily visible, as well as anorexia and

Humans infected with Coxiella can exhibit

late-term abortions. Infected animals shed

flu-like symptoms, as well as hepatitis,

Sources:

endocarditis,

and

abortion. Individuals who

are

immune

disease-faq/q-fever

as pregnant women,

history/The_Origin_of_the_term_Q_

especially

So what can you do to decrease the risk? If your goats are experiencing term you

chapter_81/81mast.htm http://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu/animalhttp://www.antimicrobe.org/hisphoto/

susceptible.

results from tested goats. Screenshot provided

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/

compromised, such are

Getting your goats and sheep tested is simple. This chart shows

Goats should also be treated with

late-

abortions, should

closely

with

veterinarian

work your to

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Fever_and_Coxiella_burnetii_2013.pdf https://www.merckvetmanual.com/ generalized-conditions/coxiellosis/ overview-of-coxiellosis This article was originally published in the September/October 2018 issue of Goat Journal. Dr. Katie Estill DVM is a veterinarian consultant for Goat Journal, Countryside & Small Stock Journal, and Countryside online. She works with goats and other large livestock at Desert Trails Veterinary Services in Winnemucca, Nevada.

Researchers devise, test food-safety training program for farmers market vendors By Jeff Mulhollem

Public Relations Specialist/Science Writer, Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences Responding to a need revealed in their earlier studies, a team of Penn State researchers developed and pilot-tested a customized food safety training program for farmer’s market vendors. The training caps several years of research and addresses a problem in Pennsylvania and other states related to inadequate food safety practices among farmers market vendors, noted team leader Catherine Cutter, professor of Food Science and assistant director of Food Safety and Quality Programs for Penn State Extension. Cutter said the training and research are especially relevant because the farmers market movement is thriving, with the sale of locally grown agricultural products direct-to-consumers becoming commonplace and extremely popular. According to 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the number of farmers markets in the U.S. has increased to more than 8,600, amounting to approximately $2.8 billion in agricultural sales. While direct-to-consumer sales still account for less than 1% of total agricultural sales in the U.S., the impact is significant for the 130,056 farms that participated in direct-to-consumer marketing in 2017, in addition to the millions of consumers who purchased those agricultural products. But despite these benefits, many in public health have begun to realize the inherent food safety risks associated with this relatively under-regulated food industry, Cutter pointed out. “In most states, farmers market vendors and their food products may not be inspected by local, state or federal public health inspectors, so the safety of foods sold at farmers markets may be unknown,” she said. “Farmers market vendors may be uncertified

Editorial photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

or untrained in food processing and food safety concepts.” Research team member Joshua Scheinberg, a former doctoral degree student in Cutter’s research group in the College of Agricultural Sciences, spearheaded the research, which was part of his doctoral thesis research; he was assisted in the work by Penn State Extension educators. The Farmers Market Food Safety training program includes a PowerPoint presentation and a resource guide. The PowerPoint presentation slide collection and associated training activities were designed by Penn State Extension educators experienced in retail food safety education. The topics covered for the training program were researched thoroughly and specifically selected to address the gaps identified in the comprehensive farmers market food safety needs assessment performed by Scheinberg and colleagues in a previous study, while also covering major areas of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code and applicable Pennsylvania state food safety regulations. In that earlier study, researchers performed a needs assessment that utilized retail food safety vendor observational analysis, vendor and health inspector surveys, and farmers market manager structured group interviews to determine gaps, needs, the knowledge and attitudinal base of farmers market vendors, and training preferences. Based on responses from vendor surveys and market manager group interviews, researchers determined that a three-hour, in-person, semi-interactive program in a classroom setting would be appropriate for training farmers market vendors. The results of the current study, recently published in the Journal of Extension, also demonstrated that a combination of a training resource guide with traditional slide-presentation training methods resulted in a significant gain in knowledge and change in attitudes among farmers market vendor participants. The results also revealed that participants understand the importance of hygiene, hand washing, cross contamination, thermometer use and food safety hazards at the farmers markets. Additional results suggest that demographic and even educational background differences among participants had little bearing on their knowledge, and that the training was effective in reaching participants of varied backgrounds. As a result of the success of this pilot study, a four-hour online version of the training developed from this study is currently offered by Penn State Extension. Rama Radhakrishna, former professor of agricultural and extension education in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education, contributed to the research. The research was funded by Penn State Experiment Station and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agricultures.

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Getting the job done together Combining federal infrastructure funding and private sector investment will get more Americans connected to the internet. Let’s get to work and connect more people than ever before.

GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

This section highlights bright ideas for Grange Programming

Two steps to save a life: The importance of hands-only CPR Courtesy of Family Features More than 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur annually outside hospital settings. However, a hands-on emergency intervention

cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (CPR), especially if performed

child, spouse, parent or friend going into

importance of bystander CPR and offers

cardiac arrest hesitate to perform potentially

these two simple steps:

lifesaving CPR for fear of making the

1. Call 911.

situation worse.

2. Push hard and fast in the center of the

“By equipping people with Hands-Only CPR training, we are empowering them

chest of the individual experiencing cardiac arrest.

to spring into action if a loved one needs

Using the beat of a familiar song with

help, as the majority of cardiac arrests occur

100-120 beats per minute, such as “Stayin’

at home,” said Dr. Anezi Uzendu, M.D.,

Alive” by the Bee Gees, can help you stay

Association, 70% of cardiac arrests –

interventional cardiologist and American

on pace with the necessary compressions.

electrical malfunctions in the heart that

Heart Association volunteer.

immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. According

the

American

Heart

“Being able to efficiently perform Hands-

cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

As part of its Hands-Only CPR campaign,

Only CPR in the moment can mean the

and disrupt the flow of blood to the brain,

nationally supported by the Elevance Health

difference between life and death, and by

lungs and other organs – occur at home,

Foundation, the American Heart Association

but often family and friends who witness a

aims to increase awareness about the

following these two simple steps we can increase someone’s chance of survival from cardiac arrest,” said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., board certified emergency medicine doctor and chief health officer at Elevance Health. “As a longstanding supporter of the American Heart Association, we remain focused on working together to improve health inequities in our communities by expanding access to training and increasing the number of people who learn and feel confident performing Hands-Only CPR to save lives.” To find more information, watch a livestream video demonstration of HandsOnly CPR or download a first aid smartphone

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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app, visit heart.org/CPR.

Contests: Good for the Grange

Has your programming felt stagnant lately? If you are looking for a way to infuse some new fun and excitement into your Grange, why not consider one of the many contests offered by the National Grange departments and staff members. While some contests are familiar, others are new this year or have new rules. This section contains a non-exhaustive list of Grange contests that you may be able to use in the work of your Grange. Information on all contests can be found at https://www.nationalgrange.org/our-values/ programs, http://www.nationaljuniorgrange.org, or http://www.nationalgrangeyouth.org. Check out the spread on pages 30 & 31 for all contest deadlines.

Distinguished Grange Since 2012, the Distinguished Grange program has challenged Granges to think “outside of the box” and work to complete projects and programs like inviting youth members from another Grange, 4-H, or FFA to speak, writing and presenting resolutions, using your Grange’s website or Facebook to increase outreach, organizing community service or educational events, holding a forum with public officials, taking part in the Patriot’s Program or Quilt of Valor, and more. For 2023, any Grange who completes the Distinguished Grange application AND holds an event or program on mental health will qualify as a “Golden Distinguished Grange.” Due Date: August 1st

Grange in Action The Grange in Action program encourages Granges to “show off” some of their projects that they complete during the year. This ONEPAGE entry is simple to complete and should include one photo and caption of 3-6 different events/activities/meetings that the Grange sponsored, ran, or assisted with during the year. Due Date: September 1st

Grange Advocacy in Action Award New this Year! For over 150 years, the National Grange has been driven by the grassroots advocacy of Granges across the country. This award will be given to an outstanding individual or local Grange who has made exceptional grassroots advocacy action in the past year. To apply for the award, eligible individuals should submit a minimum one-page written description of their grassroots advocacy action along with at least one photo. Examples include (but are not limited to) hosting events with elected officials, organizing campaigns, or meeting with elected officials. Your efforts should be issue-focused and in line with Grange values, including respect, honesty, and a spirit of non-partisanship. Due Date: September 1st

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Lecturer’s Department Any of the contests from the National Grange Lecturer’s Department could make for an interesting program - guide members through the creation of a quilt block, or invite a Master Gardener to talk about garden design!

Quilt Block Contest The Quilt Block Contest provides an opportunity for Grange members and friends to collaborate in creating quilted items that can be donated or auctioned for funds to provide additional services to community members in a nationwide effort. Each year, quilts are made from completed squares and given to Granges across the country for special projects. The 2023 quilt block is a “nine patch with a half square corner” block. To enter the contest, mail one block to National Grange Lecturer Ann Bercher (though please send 4 identical squares so larger blocks can be created after the contest is done.) Contest Deadline: September 1

Weather Watcher Challenge New this Year! While not a “contest,” this Challenge encourages Grange members to become aware of day-to-day changes in the weather, and track it for a period from one week through the full year! All entrants will be recognized. This could make a great project for your Granges to participate in together, and a tie-in with local Extension programs or television and radio stations with meteorologists. Due Date: September 1

Garden Design Contest New this Year! Bring your Green Thumb out of retirement! Share gardening experiences, large or small, that connect us to the larger picture of agriculture, growing and nurturing plants for a variety of purposes. With multiple age groups and gardening styles (containers, raised beds, ground space), this contest is perfect for Grangers of all ages. This contest encourages you to become a more in-depth gardener, planning out your garden and tracking its progress. Consider challenging everyone in your Grange to take part - even an herb garden counts! More information can be found in the February 2023 issue of A Quarter’s Worth: https://www.nationalgrange. org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Quarters-WorthV4-I1.pdf Due Date: September 1

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Junior Grange Junior Grange contests, while only able to be entered by children age 5-14, may make perfect programs for your adult and “young at heart” Grange members. A full listing of Junior Grange programs and contests can be found in the National Junior Grange Program Guide at www.nationaljuniorgrange.org. Consider using the Junior projects as “jumping off” points for ideas for your Grange.

Quarterly Focus Areas New this Year! National Junior Grange Director Samantha Wilkins introduced new quarterly focus points for Junior Granges this year. This encourages Junior Leaders and Junior Granges nationwide to work on the same kind of projects throughout the year, and each also has a contest and project attached to it.

Quarter 1 (January-March): Advocacy for All Ages

Project: Local Advocacy Project - Junior Grangers and Leaders are encouraged to identify various parts of advocacy and issues that the Junior Grange can help solve. Then, they should make a presentation to officials about why their idea for change is important.

Quarter 2 (April-June): Agricultural Awareness - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Project: Ag Awareness Award - Junior Grangers can enter this award by completing the steps laid out in the National

Junior Grange Program Guide. This project helps Junior Grangers learn about reducing, reusing, and recycling, and complete activities as an individual or as a group. Due Date: September 1

Quarter 3 (July-September): Deaf/Hard of Hearing Awareness

Project: Creative Art Poster Contest on “Deaf Awareness” - Junior members can enter this contest with an 8.5” x 11”

poster on any aspect that brings awareness about the deaf and hard of hearing communities. Due Date: September 1

Quarter 4 (October-December): Community Service

Project: Local Food/Supply Drive - Junior Granges should identify a need in their communities and to organize a food

or supply drive for them. This could be toiletries for a homeless shelter, school supplies for a low-income school district, or specific food items for a food pantry (shelf-stable meals, for example). Whatever need you see in your community is acceptable.

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Youth & Young Adults The Youth & Young Adult Department contains programs, projects, and contests for Grange members age 14-35. As youth & young adults are also full members of the Subordinate/Community Grange, any program in this section may be the perfect addition to your Grange. Find all of the programs in the National Grange Youth/Young Adults Handbook at www.nationalgrangeyouth.org.

Parliamentary Procedure This contest is designed to encourage Grange youth and young adults to learn to effectively participate in a business meeting and to assist in the development of their leadership, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. Teams can be formed from local or State Granges, who will demonstrate knowledge of parliamentary law, conduct a demonstration Grange meeting, and take a written examination. Teams will compete against one another during the National Grange Convention in Niagara Falls, New York. Entry Date: September 1 - email youth@nationalgrange.org

G.R.A.N.G.E. Youth Pillar Project Individuals or groups (up to 3 people) are challenged to put together an event or project with their their Subordinate, Pomona, or State Grange that aligns with one of the six “pillars” - Growth, Ritual, Action, Networking, Grassroots Advocacy, or Education. Youth/ Young Adults must complete their project, compile a portfolio and create a display board, then make a presentation during the National Grange Convention in Niagara Falls, New York. Entrants are encouraged to use the “Project Inspiration Calendar” using the focus areas of specific months. These can be found in the Youth/Young Adults Handbook. Entry Date: September 1 - email youth@nationalgrange.org

Youth Officer Council Revised this Year! The purpose of the Youth Officer Council is for Grange Youth and Young Adults to provide valuable input on current and future programming, fundraising, youth events at Annual Session, regional conferences, and other youth and young adults-focused events, in addition to assembling a team of Youth from across the nation to open the National Grange convention on Friday morning at the annual session. This will provide more youth with an opportunity to participate in the National Grange Convention. Duties include –The Youth Officer TeamOpening Drill and Open the Grange at National Session AND once selected to the Youth Officer Team they will automatically serve for one year on the Youth Officer Council. This Council is open to any Grange Youth or Young Adult member who is 14-35 years old. Due Date: September 1

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

July 1

TikTok/Reels Contest (Communications/Membership/Youth/Junior/Lecturer)

August 1

Distinguished Grange - State & Subordinate (Programs/Membership)

September 1

Ag Awareness Award Submissions (Juniors) Cape of Honor (Juniors) Creative Art Poster Contest (Juniors) Creative Writing Contest (Juniors) Distinguished Youth Program (Youth) Garden Design Contest (Lecturer) G.R.A.N.G.E. Youth Pillar Project (Youth) Grange in Action (Programs/Membership) Grange Advocacy in Action Award (Legislative) Grange Legacy Family (Programs/Membership) Horizon Leadership Ambassador/Young Patron (Youth) John Trimble Youth Legislative Experience (Youth) Junior Mentor Award (Youth) National Junior Grange Ambassador (Juniors) Publicity Item (Communications) Quilt Block Contest (Lecturer) State Junior Director Reports (Juniors) Virtual Photo Contest (Lecturer) Weather Watcher Challenge (Lecturer)

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

September 1 (continued)

Wib & June Justi Community Service Award (Youth) Youth Membership Recruitment Award (Youth/Membership) Youth Officer Council (Youth) Youth Officer T-Shirt Design (Youth)

October 1

Firefighter/LEO/Teacher of the Year (Community Service)

October 20

GROW Club Scholarship Applications (Youth)

November 1

Grange Baseball (Juniors & Youth^) Grange Ritual Contest (Youth) Parliamentary Procedure (Youth) Public Speaking (Juniors & Youth^) Sign-a-Song (Juniors & Youth^) ^

Winners advance from Regional competitions. Notify Samantha Wilkins, Junior Grange/ Youth Development Director, if you plan to compete at National Convention by November 1.

November 13*

Junior Grange Community Service (Juniors/Community Service) State Community Service Book Winners (Community Service)

*these are due to Pete Pompper, Community Service Director, by Monday morning at the National Grange Convention.

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Fire Sale and store updates

JEWELRY

Vintage Hall Dedication Plaques Designed in 1947, these wooden hand-carved

Member recognition pins are

plaques have felt backing. 11.5”x13”, with

available in 5-year increments

space to add an engraving for your Grange. Limited number available.

from 5 years through 80 years

Sold as-is. $25 each, including shipping. All Past Office (Master, Lecturer, Secretary, and Past Junior Master) pins, and various Degree charms and ties bars are on sale!

Sesquicentennial Challenge Coin 150th Anniversary 2.25” diameter coin, emblazoned with the “esto perpetua” logo. Was $25, now $15 plus shipping.

Prices vary.

People, Pride, and Progress

by David M. Howard This history book chronicles the impact of the Grange over the first 125 years of the organization. Was $12.00, now discounted to $6.00.

Own a part of history commemorating the National Grange’s Headquarters in Washington, DC. These limited-edition pins are sure to be collector items! Each pin includes a card with details about the Grange Building. Available in bulk at major discounts!

Kelley Farm Challenge Coin Celebrating the 2013 exemplification of the 1873 Degrees at the Kelley Farm. 2.25” brushed nickel coin. On sale: $15.00 + shipping

Lapel / Grange Officer sash pins Buy 3 or more for a discounted

Belt Buckle

price.

Solid pewter with antique finish, fits

Available: E, F, H, L, M, O, P, S

most standard belts. Buy 3 or more to receive a discount.

Note: Beginning May 1, the price of all years of service seals will increase to $5, plus $3 shipping, and all Golden Sheaf pins will increase to $25.00. To get the best deal, contact Loretta at lwashington@nationalgrange.org or call the number below before midnight on May 1.

Order at www.grangestore.org or call (202) 628-3507 ext. 109 GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE

32 ®

www.nationalgrange.org

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GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

Honoring THE BUILDERS OF OUR

GRANGE MILESTONES 150 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE ®

• Gardner Grange #68, Kansas • Keystone Grange #2, Pennsylvania

L egacy

125 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE • Fairdale Grange #1157, Pennsylvania

100 YEARS CONTINUOUS SERVICE • Hurricane Creek #608, Oregon

MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES 85 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP Connecticut • Minola Terwilleger, Senexet #40

80 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP

Connecticut • Robert Charbonneau, Cheshire #23 • Diann H. Spring, Winchester #74 Delaware • Edward L. Hazlett, Capital #18

Massachusetts • Marion Reynolds, Charlton #92

Illinois • Cindy Vogler, Broad Hollow #1806

Ohio • Betty Bair, Cove Spring #2414 • Amy Eidemiller, Cove Spring #2414 • Ray Monroe, Jefferson #1311

Maine • James Meserve, Chelsea #215 • Lynne Pomerleau, Excelsior #5 New Hampshire • Linda Riendeau, Joe English #53

Oregon • Oreta Wheeler, Jasper #532 Pennsylvania • Hope Kniss, Fleetwood #1839

New Jersey • Robert Belsta, Moravian #187

75 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP

New York • Paula L. Deblock, Hamptonburgh #950 • Jean Gallagher, Putnam Valley #841 • James U. Rogers, Stanford #808

Delaware • Grace Caulk Passmore, Smyrna #21 New York • Paul Bartoo, North Cameron #335 Ohio • Alice Davidson, Cove Spring #2414 • Mary Lee Smith, Bath #1331 Vermont • Doris Roberts, Upper Valley #581 Washington • Lucile Fogle, Waller Road #1111 • Gene L. Parris, Ten Mile #399

50 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP

Ohio • Ed Beeson, Cove Spring #2414 • Charlene Chema, Little Muskingum #2621 • Loretta Chiko, Olivesburg #2641 • Opal Dyer, Star #778 • Jim Faulder, Cove Spring #2414 • Patricia Fitch, Olivesburg #2641 • Frank Jokinen, Jefferson #1311 • Richard Macomber, Star #778 • Carol Mead, Jefferson #1311 • Robert Sherman, Eden #2550 • Virginia Sherman, Eden #2550 • Faye Steele, Olivesburg #3641 • Faith Weber, Bath #1331

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50 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP (CONT’D) Pennsylvania • Mona Bowmaster, Logan #109 • Janet Hartle, Logan #109 • Kenneth Hoch, Fleetwood #1839 • Nancy Reynolds, Eagle #1 • James Schuler, Fleetwood #1839 • Robert Sheaffer, Perry Valley #1804 • Lillian Wolfe, Bloomingdale #536

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Vermont • David Jewell, Lakeview #359 Washington • David Bekkevar, Sequim Prairie #1108 • Delbert Boyd, Sequim Prairie #1108 • Hazel L. Coburn, Sequim Prairie #1108 • Roy F. Dahlgren, South Lake Stevens #690 • Gary L. Elliott, Sequim Prairie #1108

Phillip T. Fillinger, Olalla #1125 Cheryl Gagnier, Waller Road #1111 Fred O. Grant, Sequim Prairie #1108 Keith Guenther, Greenwood Park #590 Donna Hergesheimer, Greenwood Park #590 Susan Hoerath, South Lake Stevens #690 Diane Ladenburg, Waller Road #1111 Colleen Larkoski, Diamond Lake #506 Phyllis Markinster, Rose Valley #953 Tom Mix, Sequim Prairie #1108 Weldon Moore, South Lake Stevens #690 Gary Prewitt, Williams Valley #452 Connie Riley, Mountain View #98 Mark Sawyer, Humptulips #730 Michael R. Schwartz, Greenwood Park #590 Marcia G. Taylor, South Lake Stevens #690 Gale Turton, Sequim Prairie #1108

Welcome New Members TO THE Grange Family Ada #570 (OR) • Louis Bernhardt • Tammy Ternholm

Beaver Homes #518 (OR) • Andrea Thompson • Melissa Watson

Addy #603 (WA) • Ellen Crnich • Abigail Lubina • Anthony Lubina • Cindi Lubina • Tristan Otter • Deon Richardson • Sara Richardson

Bellgrove #369 (ID) • Charles Doucette • Charlie Doucette • Stephanine Doucette • Jame Pinkerton

Aloha #733 (OR) • Joann Swanson • Ronnie Swanson Animas Valley #194 (CO) • Bob Gramera • Linda Gramera Antrim #98 (NH) • Charles “Tad” Fish • Sonnie Fish Azalea #786 (OR) • Kathleen Martin • Mark Scott Barberton #751 (WA) • John Barnes • Karen Stevens Barnes • Brandon Roberts and 1 Junior member Barnard #689 (MI) • Dan Dixon

Bethel #404 (WA) • Milissa Myers • Tim Buck Bethlehem #137 (NY) • Rachel Betancourt • Nick Fontanet Big Island #1 (HI) • Rena Ashmall • Sam De La Paz • Bill Gorman • Toni Gomes • Debora Guanzon • Paul Guanzon • Elizabeth Hiner • Ken T. Honma • Robert J. Hughes • Susan P. Hughes • Peggy Johnson • Mark L. Jones • Ken Kudo • Lori Pasco • Gayle Pavao • Tony Pavao • Philip G. Tigner • Mary K. Weber

Blanchard #440 (ID) • Katherine Hicks • Michael Hicks • Ben Horton • Christina Horton Blazing Star #71 (NH) • India Mazzucco Blue Spruce #574 (VT) • Sharon Loiselle • Nicole Yandow Boxborough #131 (MA) • Robin Laarold • Rebecca Neville Buell #637 (OR) • Darlene Brown • Chuck Rogers Calispel #500 (WA) • Gerald Pelland Camas Valley #521 (OR) • Adrianne Butler • Brenda Goin • Samantha Luscombe • Bernice McClellan • Kristi Moniz • Jodi Peck • Lori Ross • Diane Spain • Dora Standley Camas Valley #842 (WA) • Casey Cluphf • Russel Cluphf • Danny Flores

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• •

Makenzie Flores Lorena Simpson

Centerville #81 (WA) • Nadine Brack • Kimberly Jones Hall • Mary Huber • Chris Sattem • Susan Sattem Charlton #92 (MA) • James E. Howard Chestnut Ridge #1133 (PA) • Jacqueline Fordyce Chetco #765 (OR) • Christina Roberts Chichester #132 (NH) 2 Junior members Clarkes #261 (OR) • Carolyn Bremer Clarkston Heights #982 (WA) • Ray Collinswoth • Tony Schnirer • Richard Wiest Colburg-West Point #535 (OR) • Katie Brushett Columbia #267 (OR) • Rod Barker • Karen Croston • Katelyn Hale • Anders Meyer • Kelly Pixley • Sasha Swerdloff

NEW MEMBERS (CONT’D) Copake #935 (NY) • Signe Adam • Colleen Coyte • Sarene Shanus Corfu #142 (NY) • Lynn Wahl Corriher #627 (NC) • Freeman Mike Watt • Shannon Watt • Beverly Williams • Bob Williams Coventry #75 (CT) • Chloe Donihee Cowlitz Prairie #737 (WA) • Charles Rudorfer • Diana Rudorfer Crescent #1123 (WA) • David Baker • Robin Lea Baker • Andrew Finnegan • Ynez Finnegan • Richard Paine • Mardell Richmond Creswell #496 (OR) • Fran Lawson-Rothauge • Sue Montgomery Crow #450 (OR) 1 Junior member Deer Lagoon #842 (WA) • Hope Faye • Dean Guthrie • Donna Guthrie • David Tiller • Gayle Tiller • Patricia Stordahl Dry Creek #646 (WA) • Phillip Charles • Angela French • Selena Perry • Sandy Robinson and 2 Junior members

Eagle Valley #656 (OR) • Jake Brown • Riata Brown • Ramona (Joy) Cole • Charles Craven • Josie Craven • Kary Halley • Shane (Chuck) Halley • James (Gene) Landers • Lori Landers and 5 Junior members East Oakville #902 (WA) • Richard Espen • Suzanne Espen • Patricia Johnstone

East Wenatchee #1012 (WA) • Gus Schroeder • Jason Schroeder • Kelsey Schroeder and 1 Junior member Easton #196 (MA) • Judith Jackson • Michelle Kirk-Vinocoor • Joyce Tardito • Jeanette Tighe

Fargher Lake #853 (WA) • Abigail Baker • Ruby Baker • Jacob Bauder • Melissa Bauder • Sam Bauder • Tyler Boyse • Reagon Boyse • Sydney Boyse • Kaitlyn Cowger • Devra Cramer • Trevor Davis • Kolten Funk • Beckham Larsen • Adrionna McClellan

Amanda Retherford Brandon Retherford Hunter Running Hailey Russel Chelsey Sanders Kyle Sanders Hunter Shirley Joe Walker Patty Walker Dakota Yancey Devina Yancey Kyle Yancey Peyton Yancey Rochelle Yancey and 10 Junior members

Fern Prairie #866 (WA) • Jason Erickson

East Spokane #148 (WA) • Adam Christman

Eureka #46 (NY) • Aleasha Fuchs • Wyatt T. Fuchs

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Fertile Valley #1094 (WA) • Danae Cummins • Sherry Cummins • Alexandria Groce • Kathy Groce • Robert Groce • Diana Nixon Fords Prairie #33 (WA) • Alicia Marie Durham • Lavona Gusdal Fort Colville #533 (WA) • Kelly Chambers • Arthur Dolinger • Elain Shillam • Cleone Stephenson and 2 Junior members Fruitdale #379 (OR) • Gary Lovelace • Kim Samuelsen Fruitland #999 (WA) • Candita Carpenter Garden Home #407 (CO) • Shane Harlan Ginger Hill #1549 (PA) • Abby Flaugh • Ryan Flaugh

Girard #788 (PA) • Ed Owens Goldendale #49 (WA) • Amanda Balodis • Sara Bishop • Greg Watson Goldson #868 (OR) • Karen Reiden • Joe Turner • Theron Turner Goshen #561 (OR) • Elisabeth Barbour • Daniel Bray • Gabriella Bray Granby #5 (CT) • Rep. Mark Anderson • Kim Becker • Denise Canora • David Desiderato • Judy Doyle • Richard Greene • Lynn Guelzow • Denise Hannon • Philip Marshall • Jacqueline Martin • Klynn Matthews • Martha Miller • Julian Oliver • Walter Oliver • Cyrena Poitras • Joseph Poitras • Madeline Poitras • Joshua Poitras • Christopher Roy • Emilia Sales • Eric Sales • Todd Vibert • Chris Wright • Colin Wright Grantham #968 (NC) • Freeman Hardison • Travis Stafford Grays River #124 (WA) • Adelaide Wielenga

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! by emailing Philip Vonada at pvonada@nationalgrange.org or by calling (814) 404-7985. ®

NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE: MAY 31, 2023

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NEW MEMBERS (CONT’D) Green Bluff #300 (WA) • Jody Douglas • Shep Douglas • Linsey Scarlett

Greenfield #579 (OR) • Tanya Boerte • Miguel Calvillo • Jerry Carr • Wanda Carr • Mason Murphy • Tammy Ramsey • Viola Scott • Andrea Sutherland • Lori Whitbeck Happy Valley #322 (WA) • Sylvia E. Bernauer Harding #122 (OR) • Cassidy Horstman Harrison #422 (ID) • Christie Pfeiffer • Tony Pfeiffer • Dian Shelby Haynie #169 (WA) • Janel Black • Todd Black Hope #155 (WA) • Channing Holmes • Sherman Porter Humptiulips Junior #376 (WA) 7 Junior members Hurricane Creek #608 (OR) • Bruce Hanna • Jim Hicks • Dawn Tracy Hull • Dan Low • Kevin McBride • John Shull Illinois Valley #370 (OR) • Angela Franklin Inland #780 (WA) • Susie Distad • Julie Hampton • Jermiah McElfish • Lindsey McElfish • Mandy McElfish • Myah McElfish • Sylvia Storer • Willow Vaughn and 2 Junior members

Kellogg Marsh #136 (WA) • Linda Lou Iacona • David Pearce Kendrew #891 (NY) • Wayne Beldock King Hill #162 (ID) • Christie Acord • Morgan Anderson • Ray Bosh • Dorothy Drake • Joann Heath • Leland Hoagland • Mary Hoagland • Curtis Laib • Amy Sage • Mervin Shank • Tamara Shank • Andy Sherman • Kevin Sherman • Colleen Teevin Kinton #562 (OR) • Andy Haugen • Damon Koach • Rosetta Koach • Sarah Welch LaCenter #48 (WA) • Celestine Muhareb • Pearl Muhareb • Shadi Muhareb and 3 Junior members Lamson #588 (NY) • Hayley Deville • Maggie McGetrick • Owen McGetrick Left Hand #9 (CO) • Anthony Santelli Liberty #1780 (PA) • Chase Kosciuszko • Thelma Wilson Lincoln Creek #407 (WA) • Carl Johnstone Little Deschutes #939 (OR) • Caryl Bortner • Kelly McGraw • Margaret Vowell Little Muskingum #2621 (OH) • Kaitlyn Casseday • Kendrick Hooten

Jefferson #1311 (OH) • Russell Scott Hass • TheresaHass • Katie Jo Hass

Logan #109 (PA) • Delores Gibney • Diane Lomison • Celesta Powell • Mike Powell

Joe English #53 (NH) • Melissa Philippy

Long Beach #667 (WA) • Stacy Warner

Lummi Island #925 (WA) • Susan Baker • Serena Emerson • Ryan Marlow-Nakano • Jeff Nakano • Ken Swanson Marion #276 (WA) • William Wolf • Jenna Woodriff • Sarah Woodriff and 3 Junior members Marys River #685 (OR) • Gary Feuerstine • Leon Goebel • Terri Kolodziej • Laura McGuire • Mark McGuire McMinnville #31 (OR) • Natheniel Hitchcock • Jane McWilliams Meridian #265 (WA) • Andrew Garboden • Tricia Garboden • Michael Kelley • Matthew Richard • Tiffany Richard • Donna Rohde • Tom M. Rohde Mica Flats #436 (ID) • Beth Benoit • Ron Benoit • Chase Petrella • Lisa Rich Middlebury #192 (OH) • Jason Nuttall Middletown #684 (PA) • Charlie Bollinger • Craig Bollinger • Sheila Bollinger • Jesse Diaz • Megan Diaz • Scott Vogin Mile Branch #933 (OH) • Hailey Cross • Amilyah Lloyd Morgan #829 (OH) • Mary Miller Mount Allison #308 (CO) • Peggy Duggan Mountain Valley #79 (WA) • Jessica Crossley and 2 Junior members Mountain View #98 (WA) • Tammara Tippel

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Mt Vernon #453 (CA) • Vicki Barker • Casey Burbank • Stephanie Burbank • Carol Clark • Monty Clark • Karl Dederick • Hannah Dolcini • Don Freels • Charles Holbrook • Kelly Jackson • Delia Morales • Bernie Rivera • Stanford Sharrock • David Tullo • Clara Watkins Mt. Vernon #659 (OR) • Savanna Martin • Abbie Perrin • Matt Perrin and 2 Junior members Myrtle Creek #442 (OR) • Glen Vanderhoof Nampa Valley #131 (ID) • Daniel Magyars • Terry Raynor Netel #410 (OR) • Howard Graham • Barb Hassan • Ed Hassan New Bridge #789 (OR) • Debbie Saunders • Sierra Saunders • Sydney Saunders • Sally Stout New Market #362 (MD) • Dale Ponce • Hannah Ponce • Harmonie Ponce • Heather Ponce North Carolina State Grange Associate Members • Annette Adams • Philip Barnes • Donald Chambers • Dewayne Craft • Lillie Fie • Betina Gonzalez • Gary Holtzman • Ken Langston • Robert Langston • Robert (Bob) Medford • Dawn Olive • Jean Rogers • Patricia Rogers • Richard Rogers • Charles Roper • Lawrence Ross

NEW MEMBERS (CONT’D) • • • • • • •

Cathy Smart Donald Smart Tim Smart Darren Wade Karen Wade David Whisnant Robert Wood

North Creek Valley #769 (WA) • Joe Cantwell • Chris Wise Norwell #410 (MA) • Jeff Chandler • Priscilla Chandler • Peter Clark • Donna Cunio • Rick Cunio • Erica Curtin • Robert Curtin • Susan Curtin • David DeCosta • Jon Haskins • John Hornstra • Lauren Hornstra • Michelle McDonough • Danielle Merritt • Harry Merritt • Richard Merritt • David Osborne • Jeanne Quinlan • Fred St. Ours • Sharon St. Ours Ontelaunee #1617 (PA) • Wyatt Koller • Charles Orr • Matthew Reeser • Renee Reeser • Kevin Reichart

Pine Grove #115 (WA) • Cal Parvina • Glenna Parvin Pioneer #1777 (PA) • Ava Jenkins • Cadence Tempel

Progress #96 (PA) • Mary Lou Jurkowski • Shelie Rice • Joy Struble • Stephen Struble Prospect Point #1067 (WA) • Sierra Christenson and 1 Junior member

Ralston #943 (WA) • Zach Klein Rathdrum #351 (ID) • David Mundhenk Red Lion #1781 (PA) • John McCarty IV

Oroville #985 (WA) • Paul Buchard • Carla Scollick

Redmond #812 (OR) • Ed Barrus • Sandy Barrus

Pacific #413 (OR) • Mike Gadbois • Mochelle Gadbois

Reliance #58 (DE) • Alan Bradley • Jason Bradley

Paradise Valley #389 (ID) • Olivia Drake • Scooter Drake • Barbara Lecrenski • Bertie Pearce • Darci Price • Darrelyn Rose • Ramon Rose

Richland #1413 (PA) • Kim Hetzler

Pierstown #793 (NY) • Barbara Lindholm • Garet Livermore Pine Forest #632 (OR) • Judy Petullo

Rickreall #671 (OR) • Roberta Molina Ridgeview #1948 (PA) • Debbie Noble Riverton #169 (CT) • Steven Arba Roberts • John Johnson • Kathy Johnson Rockford #501 (OR) • Pam Larsen • Richard Withers

Rockwood #323 (OR) • Petr Puzur

Sequim Prairie #1108 (WA) • Cherise Feser • David Johnson

Rose Valley #953 (WA) • Leigh Ford • Floyd Hubsky • Michael Hubsky • Angela Matthews • Ann Sasso

Portneuf #229 (ID) • Thomas Vezina • Venna Vezina

Putman Valley #841 (NY) • Paul Bugbee • Robert Li

• •

Rome #226 (WA) • Rob McWilliams

Plumsteadville #1738 (PA) • Anita Duscher • Jesse Hallowell • Diane Reshetar • Richard Reshetar

Prosperity #315 (WA) • Katarina Amos

Rockingham #183 (NH) • Jessica Reith

Katie Sommers Kurt Sommers

Sharon #800 (WA) • Juliann Bailey Shavers Creek #353 (PA) • Karen Ewing • Michael Ewing • Jennifer Goshorn

Roxy Ann #792 (OR) • Anthony Wediman

Siletz Valley #558 (OR) • Catherine Crawford • Charles Noyes

Russellville #91 (PA) • Merle Reyburn

Silverton #748 (OR) • June Smith

San Juan Island #966 (WA) • Pam Alvarado • Osha Breeze • Timothy Clark • William Bruce Conway • Nancy Fusare • Kat Jong • Fred Keeler • William King • Manuel Medina Mendoza • Lutie Park • Leanna Paulsen • Shelley Roge • Douglas Schirmer • Kate Stone • Kirsten White

Skamokawa #425 (WA) • Aurora del Val • Laura Relethford • Ron Relethford • Rich Rowley • Ryan Smith

San Poil #684 (WA) • Heather Ogborn Santa Ynez Valley #644 (CA) • David Bemis • Alice Berg • Steven Berg • Joy Chamberlain • Randall Day • John Duncan • Carl Eriskson • Puck Eriskson • Jim Farnum • Michelle Hinnricks • Elizabeth P. Knowles • James Lohnas • Carey McKinnon • Gabrielle Robbins Schley #710 (NC) • Gene Deitz • Kay Deitz Scotts Mills #938 (OR) • Christiane Kraemer • Tom Kraemer

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Skyline #894 (OR) • Debi Cuddigan • Darcy Winslow • Mike Winslow • Marilyn Zornado South Auburn #1188 (PA) • Denise Delamarter • Frances Hirkey • Michele Hirkey South Bay #250 (WA) • Jack Zeiger South Middleboro #337 (MA) • Nikki Andrews • Vera Hunter Spray #940 (OR) • Teresa Belden • Joni Kabana • Alice Powell • Michael Powell Sterling #53 (MA) • Ayla DeCoste • Tyler Proteau Stevenson #121 (WA) • Kenneth Wieman • Linden Wieman • Paul Smith and 2 Junior members Stockbridge #295 (MA) • Andrew Hall Stony Point #1694 (PA) • Shaun Keck

NEW MEMBERS (CONT’D) • • •

Jocelyn Snyder Paula Snyder Amber White

Sunflower #162 (CO) • Arnell Galley* • Tom Galley* • Charl Lee Sauer • Sedalia Tire* *Associate Member Sunnyside #842 (OR) • Carol Bernhard • John Bernhard Swauk Teanaway #984 (WA) • Ladd Butler • Cheryl Iverson • Rob Iverson and 1 Junior member Taft Settlement #473 (NY) • Barbara Burgmeier Terrace Heights #586 (WA) • LeeAnn Mulhair • Dale Ohlde • Marilyn Ohlde • Cindy Olivas • Glenda Tjernberg • Steve Tjernberg The Valley #1048 (WA) • Jeff Swanson Thurston #853 (OR) • Barbi Buchanan • Brad Flesher • Hugh Smith • Tammy Wilkerson Tri Way #1096 (WA) • Thomas Corning Trout Lake #210 (WA) • Scott Dinger Twisp Valley #486 (WA) • Gwen Veron Tyler #610 (WA) • Blake Gerdes • Jean Gerdes • Tanner Gerdes

Violet Prairie #996 (WA) • Stephanie Swisher Walker #2007 (PA) • Peter Honchar Waller Road #1111 (WA) • Jim Bailey • Kimberly Dailey • Beverly Larkins • Lisa Markham • Meagan McDonald • Rhett Powers • Shona Powers • Pennie Saum • Dalene Smith • Erin Soper Wallingford #33 (CT) • William Barnes • David Bedell • Kathy Bergonzi • Jeanne Biafore • Katrina Buckley • Bruce Connell • Mary Ellen Connell • Bruce Conroy • Allison Diana • Vincent DiGioia • Stephen Fengler • Timothy Fengler, Sr. • Timothy Fengler, Jr. • Karen Hensley • Robin Hettrick • Aili McKeen • Scott Mowerson • Christopher Murray • Stacy Murray • Brian Naples • Melissa Naples • Luis Nobrega • Anne Marie Ortolan • Nicholas Rapuano • Nora Rightmer • Natalie Scott • Peter Whitman • Jason Zandri Walpole #125 (NH) • Diane Sherman • Karen Smith

Union #152 (PA) • Nevaeh Nelson • Nicholas Smith • Tasha Smith

Walton #1454 (NY) • Beth Conklin • Donald Conklin • Sammie Conklin

Upper Big Wood River #192 (ID) • Ivy Slike

Watson #1068 (PA) • Allyson Spencer

Valley #1360 (PA) • Nelson Boring • Matthew Ruppert • Jackson Wamsley

Whately #414 (MA) • Jane M. Banash

Willamette #52 (OR) • Lief McCurrach • Desirea Wurm Williamsburg #225 (MA) • Toni Boughton • Kara Burke • Thomas Cairnes • Terry Dawson • Vickie Drew • Osa Flory • Miana Hoyt Dawson • Resa Ike • Elizabeth Klarich • Sherrie Marti • Kevin McAllister • Susan McAllister • Ian Newton • Jean O’Neil • Dawn Pastermak • Joe Pastermak • Christina Richards • Kyra Richards • Nate Richards • Oscar Schiff • George See • Katie See • Debbie Senecal • Sylvia Snape • Kayla Solomon • Podge Thomas • Matthew Scott Wilhelm • Storm Zielenski Wolf Creek #596 (OR) • Barbara Weeks Woodland #178 (WA) • Mari Ripp • Erin Thoen

Welcome New Granges! The following Granges were newly chartered or reorganized since our last issue.

• Big Island #1 (HI) • Central California Pomona #28 (CA) • Mt. Vernon #453 (CA) • Santa Ynez Valley #644 (CA)

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Aloha to Hawaii’s first Grange by Elizabeth Hiner Senior Communication Fellow

and Amanda Brozana Rios National Grange Membership & Leadership Development Director For years, two states stood alone in Grange history - Hawaii and Utah. There had never been a chartered Grange in either state, but that changed when on January 14 outside of Hilo, 18 people signed a charter application to start a Grange on the “big island” of Hawaii. The successful establishment of Hawaii’s first Grange came both slowly and quickly, included several individuals with past affiliation with the Grange as well as a number of individuals who were being introduced to the organization for the first time, and a bit of luck in timing. Elizabeth Hiner, a Grange member from Colorado, had moved to Hawaii in late 2021. Along with the rest of her possessions, she took a love for the organization and desire to start a Grange somewhere near her. She had spoken to Grange Foundation Chairwoman Joan Smith, who also had connections with Hawaii, about the desire to bring the Grange to the Aloha State, and the two had gathered a list of reasons why a Grange in Hawaii would be a great addition to the state and the Grange as a whole. By November 2022, more people were coming to the conclusion: Hawaii needed a Grange. They reached out to National Grange Membership and Leadership Development Director Amanda Brozana Rios to get more information and within six weeks, an informational meeting was set. The group consisted mostly of individuals who had not previously heard of the Grange, but Brozana Rios was able to contact three other individuals who had been part of or were somehow connected with the Grange on the mainland. Peggy Johnson had been a member in Potomac Grange #1 for several years before moving to Hawaii; Sam de la Paz holds membership in Hessel Grange in California; and Deborah Guanzon often supported or attended Grange functions when in visiting family who are deeply involved in the Grange in Idaho, though she had not been a member herself. Each were in or nearby the Hilo/Hawaiian Paradise Park area where many of the new group members were located. Johnson immediately welcomed Brozana Rios to be her house guest should a meeting of the new group come to pass, and Brozana Rios said she felt the stars were aligning. “My brother and his family are stationed on Oahu with the Air Force. He and his wife had just welcomed my first nephew in December, and I decided it was time to go visit them like I had promised for several years. I had booked my own travel and was able to detour for a few days in order to hold the informational meeting,” Brozana Rios said. National Grange President Betsy Huber said “Despite a

budget crunch, Amanda felt it was worthwhile to take time out of her personal travel to make this dream of a Grange a reality. The true spirit of the Grange helped bring this to life.” Hiner, however, lived an island away on Maui, but wasn’t about to let that stop her from being a part of the new Grange. After being invited to stay with Johnson as well, she made travel arrangements in order to be part of the first meeting. Brozana Rios provided a brief overview of the Grange for the nearly 20 people gathered and held a Q&A period. She then asked those interested in joining to sign the charter application during a break and met with those who had specific questions. She noted if 13 or more of those gathered signed the application, the group could move forward with their first meeting where they would elect a few temporary officers and discuss a name for their new Grange using basic parliamentary procedure. The application filled up with 18 signatures and after the break, Brozana Rios opened the meeting with some familiar Grange language – “The hour of labor has arrived and the work of another day demands our attention” – and had one of the new members provide the opening prayer. She then performed the welcoming ceremony for the new members and congratulated them on making history for the Grange and the state. She asked for suggestions for a name for the new Grange and offered that the group could vote on a name that day or select their name within the next 30 days before submitting the final charter application paperwork and draft bylaws. They then elected a temporary slate of officers including President, Vice President, Lecturer/Program Director, Steward, Chaplain, Secretary, Treasurer and Greeter. Brozana Rios installed the new officers who used the manual to close the first

Amanda Brozana Rios (standing, center) performs the Grange Welcome Ceremony for the charter members of the Grange Photo provided

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Welina, Hawaii!

The officers and members of Big Island Grange #1 (HI) celebrate the creation of their new Grange. Photo provided meeting of the yet-to-be-named Grange. “On the heels of our first year of membership growth in decades, we are thrilled to be able to continue growing in an entirely new part of the country,” said Huber. “This new charter just shows that the Grange is making waves nationwide.” A second meeting was held on January 23, at which time a few officer shifts were made to the temporary group that would serve for three months to get the Grange “on its feet” and allow the group to better understand the roles of the officers and demands of the Grange. The group also discussed and narrowed options for the new Grange’s name, finally voting to be called Big Island Grange #1. In Grange tradition, a potluck dinner followed the meeting. Big Island Grange members expressed great interest in an organization that can serve the community, raise awareness

among its members and their neighbors The first officers elected and about personal and installed in Big Island Grange, the local sustainability, and can influence the first Grange ever chartered in the way others understand state of Hawaii, are: agriculture in Hawaii President - Sam de la Paz and Hawaii’s place in Vice President - Susan Hughes the national agricultural Program Director - Ken Honma landscape. They are Chaplain - Mark Jones considering a number Greeter - Deborah Guanzon of service projects Steward - Toni Gorman and programs to Treasurer - Peggy Johnson educate the members Secretary - Elizabeth Hiner and working to find a location to hold regular meetings. The leadership of Big Island Grange has established a Facebook page and website for the new Grange, has sent regular communications via email to its membership and sought out more information about expectations of their roles and desires of the membership. Since chartering, a second pocket of interest in starting a Grange has come about in Maui, and Hiner has been officially named by National President Betsy Huber as the deputy for Hawaii. Hiner and Brozana Rios are also working to cultivate interest in chartering a Grange in Oahu as well as the other islands of the state. If you know anyone living in Hawaii or stationed there for military service who may be interested in the Grange, please contact Brozana Rios at membership@ nationalgrange.org or by phone at 301-943-1090.

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MEMORIAL NOTICES MARGARET A. “PEG” (SPINKS) MAPLE Past First Lady, New Jersey State Grange Margaret

was a 4-H Leader, team mom for many of her chil-

Spinks

Maple,

dren’s athletic teams and was Lawrence HS Band

past

National

Parent President in 1984.

Delegate,

She and Jack were also very involved for over 40

known to her

years on both the local and National levels of the

friends

and

Grange, a fraternal organization advocating for sup-

family as Peg

port of community and agriculture. Most recently,

or Peggy Ann

she reconnected with many high school friends as

recently passed

she became an active member of the Princeton

away at the age

High School Class of 1951 Reunion committee.

of 90. She lived

After the kids grew up and left the house, Peg

most of her life in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and

re-entered the work force trying her hand at a few

passed away on December 25, 2022 after a battle

different things. She was a secretary for the Law-

with dementia.

renceville Water Company, a part-time worker for

Peggy was born in 1932 to Thomas R. Spinks and

the West Windsor Senior Center, and a florist for a

Catherine E. Burger in Princeton, NJ. She gradu-

private floral shop and the Shop-Rite grocery chain.

ated from Princeton High School and worked for

Other than her family, her passions included

a few years as a florist before marrying John U.

crafts of all kinds, especially knitting, needlework,

“Jack” Maple, of Lawrenceville.

sewing, gardening and floral arranging. She and

Shortly after marrying, they started their family

Jack enjoyed camping with their friends, traveling

having three children, Thomas (Joann), Alan (Pa-

the US and spending time at their little beach bun-

tricia) and Heather Schwartz (Kenneth). She very

galow in Seaside Park, NJ. Her favorite time of the

proudly bragged about being the grandmother

year was Christmas where she could show off her

to seven: Brittany Maple Discepola (Paul), Chris-

knack of decorating her home to look like a depart-

topher, Carlie, Chloe Maple, Tyler (Clara), Steven,

ment store during the holidays.

Caitlin Schwartz and great grandmother to five;

Peg was predeceased by her beloved husband,

Jack and Ellie Discepola, Caroline, Trenton and Sa-

John U. “Jack” Maple, past President of New Jer-

vannah Schwartz.

sey State Grange; her father, Thomas Spinks; her

After Thomas was born, Peg dedicated her life to being a stay-at-home mother but as the family got

mother, Catherine B. Shields; and her stepfather, William E. Shields.

involved in different activities, she volunteered her

She is survived by her brothers William Shields

time where needed. She spent time as a member

(Eileen) and Henry Shields (Lynn) as well as her three

of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, the

children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchil-

Lawrenceville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, Cub

dren and several nieces and nephews.

Scout Den Leader, volunteered with the Lawrence Little League and Princeton Legion baseball, she 42

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.act.alz.org.

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GRACE MARGARET (ARMSTRONG) MOODY Past First Lady, Kansas State Grange Lockers until 1968. Grace then

dren, ten great-grandchildren, 11

worked for the Sheriff’s Office,

nieces and 1 nephew, and a spe-

until she retired in 1980.

cial friend, Alice Ruth Smother-

Grace is preceded in death by

man, who faithfully volunteered

her parents in 1967 and 1979; her

at Good Samaritan to help her

husband in 1994; and all four of

play Bingo once every week.

her brothers, her sister, and seven nephews.

those at Good Samaritan for the

Grace was known to be a wonderful cook, especially pies, cinGrace

Margaret

Armstrong

Moody, past National Delegate, 107, passed away very early Wednesday morning, January 25, 2023. She was born January 29, 1915, to Charley and Pearl (Edgmand) Armstrong at home on the farm in Columbus, Kansas. Grace was the oldest daughter and second of 7 children. She graduated from Cherokee County Community High School in 1933 and began working at Farm Security Ad-

Also, a special thanks to all

namon rolls, and fried chicken. She also was a voracious reader. She read constantly until her eyes would no longer let her, then her daughter, Alice, took over the duty and read to her. She was also a marvelous quilter and made many beautiful quilts and quilted with members of the First Presbyterian Church of Olathe and the Kansas Grange Quilters. Grace was a member of the Grange for over 50 years and was most currently a member of Gardner Grange #68. Grace is a

ministration in Columbus, Where

former First Lady of the Kansas

she met her husband, Edward F.

State Grange, where she served

Moody.

with her husband Edward Moody

care given to our mother over the past 9 years. Grace was laid to rest at Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Missouri In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Grace’s memory to the Kansas State Grange at 10321 78th St., Ozawkie, KS 66070; or Olathe Hospice at 15310 S. Marion St., Olathe, KS 66061. Our deepest thoughts and sympathy go out to the entire family. Cards and condolences can be sent to: Alice & Michael Ficken 17163 S Killcreek Road

They were married on Janu-

from 1981-1982. Grace’s daugh-

Gardner, KS 66030

ary 31, 1942, and lived in Little

ter, Alice Ficken, is the current

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rock, AR, and Sharon, PA while

Overseer/Vice President of the

Ann & Keith Johnson

Ed served in the Army. After the

Kansas State Grange.

1616 Sunvale Drive Olathe, KS 66062

service, they lived in Phillips-

Grace is survived by her three

burg, KS; Brookings, South Da-

daughters, Ann (Keith) John-

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

kota; Smithville, MO; and finally

son, Olathe, KS; Charlene Prine,

Charlene Prine

in Olathe, KS, where they owned

Springfield, MO; Alice (Mike) Fick-

2943 W. Cardinal Street

and operated the Frigid Food

en, Gardner, KS; seven grandchil-

Springfield, MO 65810

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EUGENIA “JEANNIE” NADINE (WRIGHT) JEARY Past First Lady, Nebraska State Grange

Eugenia Nadine Jeary, Past National Delegate, was born December 13, 1926, in Utica, Nebraska to Wilbur Oliver and Lillie Addie (Shirley) Wright and passed away on February 3, 2023, in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 96 years, 1 month and 21 days. Jeannie was born on a farm near Utica, Nebraska, joining her sister Lucille and brother Thomas who were in 8th grade. The next Palm Sunday, she was baptized in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Utica. Her family moved to Utica when she was two years old, moving again when she was five to Goehner, where she attended school until she was fifteen when they moved to Seward. Jeannie joined the Seward Methodist Church in 1943. She started working at Jones National Bank and continued until she married Robert William Jeary on September 4, 1949. Jeannie started out like every baby girl, a child, a teenager, a business lady, a wife, a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. What she had not planned was what additional titles were to be added during the next 90 years. She thought she married a farmer, expecting to leave her job at the bank and move to a farm north of town to live happily ever after. Little did she know, God had other plans. Two years later she found herself married to a soldier, who by then was stationed overseas, so she was back in her old room at home and at her old job with the bank. Three more years down the road, she found herself married to a dairy man and was in the business of bottling milk for customers. A few short years later she woke up and was told she was married to a County Commissioner. Politics became front and center in her life. Next, she was a rural mail carrier’s wife, and later First Lady of the Nebraska State Grange, when her husband was elected State Master/President. While wearing all these hats she was still able to do her own things, such as teaching Sunday School for over 40 years, serving as superintendent at different times, President of the United Methodist Women twice, singing in the church choir, serving on many boards, trained and served as a Stephens Minister, 4-H, Campfire and Boy Scout leader. She was also President of Seward Ladies Bowling league, member

of Seward 4th of July committee, and a paraprofessional for over 30 years in the Seward School System, while raising 3 children, bottling milk, and driving grain trucks. Jeannie was a member of the United Methodist Church for over 70 years and a Nebraska State Grange member for over 60 years holding numerous State Offices. This explains, then, what she has on her refrigerator: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but rather skid in sideways chocolate in one hand and Pepsi in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out shouting Who-Hoo what a ride!” Yes, her body is well used up; it took lots of praying. God and his angels have been on duty 24-7, but you know what, she would do it all again in a heartbeat!!! She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert in 2007; parents, Wilbur and Lillie Wright; parentsin-law, Walter and Bonalyn Jeary; brothers, Clifford Wright, Thomas and wife, Bernece Wright; sister, Lucille and husband, Wilbur Hauder; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dale and Genevieve Batchelder; brother-in-law, Mel King. Jeannie is survived by her 3 children, Beth Eberspacher, Lincoln, Pamela (Rick) McConnell, Seward, and Clark (Nancy) Jeary, Ashland; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Virginia Jeary and Glema King; numerous nieces, nephews & friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of a wonderful life shared with Jeannie. Cards and condolences can be sent to: Pam McConnell 1961 294th Seward, NE 68434

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GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

Barley or Bust

from Farm to Tap in Pennsylvania

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Awww.nationalgrange.org fresh Old Hanna’s Town Ale is tapped at the All Saints Brewing Launch. Photo courtesy of Food21

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by Wendy West Hickey Media Advisor, Food21 of Pennsylvania Alcohol... it’s only human Almost as soon as humans became sentient beings, they began learning how to make alcohol. While it may have been discovered by accident, as early as 10 million years ago, homo sapiens found that rotten fruit had a bit of a “kick.” Pottery shards dating to the seventh millennium BCE have shown that deliberate fermentation probably originated in China, where rice, honey and fruit were fermented into an alcoholic beverage. Wine was fermented around the Black Sea in 6,000 BCE and peoples in Mesopotamia brewed beer in 3,000 BCE -- around the same time that Greeks and Romans were also discovering wine. In the Americas, Aztecs made pulque from the agave plant and the Incas brewed a corn beer called chicha. But perhaps the biggest boon to the history of alcohol was the development of traditional agriculture. Farming made sustained brewing and distilling possible by creating a ready supply of sugars and starches that could be transformed to palatable and intoxicating drinks. Around 1,000 CE, fermentation developed further with wheat, rice, rye, oats, barley, corn, and sorghum. By 500 CE, Europeans were drinking mead, grogs, fruit wines and beer made of wheat and barley. Fast forward to today Today’s global alcoholic drink market is valued in the tens of billions of dollars. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, beer and spirit makers were largely regional affairs with many family-owned breweries and distilleries. By the end of Prohibition, the market was driven by a number of large-scale, multinational players. But increasingly, consumer choice and

entrepreneurship have given rise to the craft beer and boutique distillery markets. According to the Brewers Association, the craft brewing industry contributed more than $76.3 billion to the economy in 2021, creating nearly half a million jobs. And the burgeoning craft spirits market is valued at over $13 billion and growing quickly. Pennsylvania is second only to California in the U.S. craft beer economy. There are 486 licensed breweries, contributing $5.4 billion to the state’s economy. The growth in the industry has been astounding. According to Adam Harris, Executive Director of the Brewers of PA, “Beer as a segment has remained a strong component of the total alcohol market and we like to think that is because we are putting out fresh and unique beers every day. Our organization has grown from the couple dozen members who founded the BOP in 2010 to well over 200. We also have over 100 associate members who provide services like insurance and sell brewers products such as malt, hops, barley, and brewing equipment.” “Whenever possible,” Harris continues, “I know our brewers prefer to use local ingredients – though some malts necessarily come from Europe for certain beers.”

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Buy Fresh, Buy Local The rise of craft brewing predated the growth of the U.S. trend toward “buying local,” and its acceleration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting deep shifts in consumer demographics, the push to sell has been replaced by the demand to buy. Two surveys taken by RetailWire showed that 56% of respondents were buying more locally sourced products during the lockdown and that 84% of them planned to continue doing so long-term. “That’s one of the things that the pandemic really exposed,” said Joe Bute, President of Food21, “what happens when you depend on a global supply chain – which everybody thought was very resilient and robust. It turns out it was fragile and very easy to break apart.” Over time, farmers have responded to the “buy local” trend by producing organic crops. Still others have participated in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), providing fresh produce and other consumables directly to local residents and bypassing large retailers and grocers throughout the growing season in exchange for an initial cash investment. In 2020, the USDA estimated that there were over 7,000 farms

participating in CSA, accounting for $226 million in directto-consumer sales. In Pennsylvania, Penn State Extension estimated that between 30-50,000 consumers have embraced these buy-local opportunities. But for craft brewers in Pennsylvania, local ingredients are hard to find. Most of the world’s malted barley export comes from Australia, closely followed by France, Ukraine, Russia, and Canada. Montana, North Dakota, and Idaho grow the most US barley used in malt (which is then exported to Canada for processing), and often brewers obtain malted barley from Canada and Germany. “The war in Ukraine has severely limited barley exports,” Bute pointed out, “and has impacted the breweries throughout Europe.” So, are local beers really… local? Are craft brewers interested in making them so – enough, for example, to encourage PA farmers to add hops or barley into their annual crop rotations? This was the question that Food21 of Pennsylvania sought to answer. The Food21 model Food21 of Pennsylvania created its Value Center in 2020. The Value Center focuses on developing local food value chains that increase the viability and impact of regional food systems – from farmer to processor to packager to distributor to retailer to consumer. An effective food value chain produces measurable benefits for all participants in ways that reduce risk while increasing the certainty of success, resilience, and viability. “There are many moving parts in a successful local food value chain,” Bute explained. “Consumer demand and supply chain responses are essential factors in our model, and Food21 serves as the link between all value chain participants.” The first project launched out of the Value Center was Farm to Tap. In less than 18 months, a fully functioning local food value chain was developed that grew, processed and turned locally produced barley and malt into micro-brewed beer. “Since we first released our 2018 report, Building a Resilient and Sustainable Food Economy,” said Bute, “we have sought to improve the financial sustainability of our region’s family farms. The Farm to Tap initiative was launched in Westmoreland County to demonstrate the power of connecting local farms’ productive capacity to one of the fastest growing industries in our region – craft brewing. This is mutually beneficial to all links in the regional craft beer value chain.”

And by the summer of 2021, local micro-breweries were producing “cold ones” for an appreciative market and every stakeholder in the value chain, including farmers, benefited! The Farm to Tap Pilot Food21’s Malt Barley Pilot Project (Farm to Tap) grew out of a meeting with Dan Conway, cofounder of Great Lakes Brewing in Cleveland. When asked about using locally sourced ingredients in his beer, Mr. Conway joked that the only thing “local” about Great Lakes Beer was the water, citing the scarcity of locally produced hops and malt. Dan stated that if he had to choose between those two ingredients, he would choose locally produced malt. Food21 doesn’t look to “push” a solution, but rather to get the market to demand it. So, its next step was to visit seven local craft brewers and contact an additional eight brewers to gauge interest in locally sourced hops and malt. This informal survey of local craft breweries revealed interest in both ingredients; however, a majority (12) preferred barley. This informed Food21’s decision to pursue locally grown barley and revealed the existence of a “pull through” demand. In marketing parlance, “pull through” indicates that the consumer of a particular product is seeking more of it; in this case, local brewers are seeking local malt. Food21 then went about gauging the viability of growing malt barley in southwestern Pennsylvania. Exchanges with Penn State University and Ohio State University Agriculture Extension employees, as well as five area farmers, suggested that barley would be less complicated than hops, a trellising plant, to incorporate into existing regional growing regimens (primarily grain). Vince Mangini, Food21 Value Center Manager, concluded that there was an opportunity to support both farmers and brewers in the region by supporting the creation of a malt barley value chain, and initiated an examination of the barley/malt/craft beer value chain to determine how this could best be accomplished. It starts with seed The Food21 pilot project got off to an inauspicious start. Procuring commodity crop seed (that is, seed for corn, soybean, oats and wheat) is relatively easy. Buying barley for malting purposes is not, and not all barley is malting-quality barley, which requires larger, plumper grains. Informal discussions with experienced malt barley growers should have been a harbinger for our impending difficulties. These farmers advised us that malt barley seed orders should be placed many months in advance.

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“After placing an order roughly three months before the planting season, the seed company called to inform us that the variety we chose could not be guaranteed to germinate, as the company’s tests resulted in less than a 95% germination rate,” explained Mangini. “We called another seed company and were able to purchase 1,900 pounds of Odyssey Barley Seed.” On to cultivation It did not take much effort to find two farmers willing to plant malt barley for Food21’s Farm to Tap Project, since Mangini had personal relationships with several of his fellow farmers in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Because the Food21 team was eager to get started as soon as possible, the Farm to Tap pilot comprised two 25acre test plots of spring barley planted in March and April of 2020. Food21 used the certified Odyssey Barley Seed it had purchased and tasked these two farms with growing the barley. The first farmer was Fred Slezak, a certified crop advisor and the owner of Lone Maple Ag Services. “We had grown barley in the past,” Slezak explained. “One advantage in planting barley is that its season rotates well with soybeans. It promotes soil health in no-till farming by increasing the organic matter in the soil. It’s not used a lot, but what I like about it is that it is a great cover crop, retains the soil and has a monetary value.” Slezak‘s family has been farming for over 100 years, and he manages over 2,000 acres of cropland. The second farm participating in the pilot was Heinnickel Farms. The Heinnickel family farm primarily is a beef farm; they raise commodity crops such as corn, soybeans, and oats, as well. Their total operation also covers roughly 2,000 acres. “Barley is great for crop rotation. The government is really after us about that,” Heinnickel agreed. “Another

advantage is that we can plant barley as a cover crop and it’s also a cash crop.” The two farmers agreed to oversee the entire process from seedbed preparation through harvesting. As part of Food21’s agreement with the two farms, they could also sell the straw to help recoup some of their costs. The results of the cultivation were mixed. Weather played a significant role in harvest amounts. Though the two planting sites were less than five miles apart, rainfall timing and amounts differed greatly. The Lone Maple site never quite got enough rain and underperformed expectations, delivering about 18 bushels of barley per acre with a crop that averaged 20 inches in height. (Experienced spring barley farmers told Food21 that 40 bushels per acre would be a good crop.) The barley from this site was used for animal feed. Keeping in mind the below-average rainfall, the Heinnickel plot fared better. This crop was obviously more robust and healthier in appearance.

These observations proved to be prescient as the average per bushel yield came in at 38 and met all malt barley testing specifications. “Not a world record,” said Mangini, “but satisfactory nonetheless.” The malting process Barley must be processed to become malt, undergoing a series of enzyme-creating steps involving steeping, sprouting, drying and sometimes roasting. The businesses charged with this task are called malt houses. The only malt house in southwestern Pennsylvania is CNC Malting Company in Fenelton, just outside of Butler, Pennsylvania. The owners of the facility, Brenden and Oana Carroll, were very accommodating, providing extensive background information and direction. “Malt is the soul of beer,” Brendan said. “There is a unique flavor that comes with it. Hops is like the spice, but malt is the flavor base.” Brendan had considered opening a brewery himself and found that Pennsylvania malt simply didn’t exist, so he opened

Fred Slezak planting his fall barley crop at Lone Maple Farm. Photo courtesy of Food21

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A sampling of malts from CNC Malt in Fenelton, PA. Photo courtesy of Food21

CNC malt to fill that niche. He stressed the importance of personal contact with growers and brewers. “It’s all relationships,” he said. “Deals we are making now have been years in the making.” “We were in constant contact,” added Mangini, “and when it was time to transport our barley, they were waiting for the delivery.” Craft brewery partners Before embarking on the pilot, Food21 had productive discussions with 16 prospective end users: Great Lakes Brewing, Straub Beer, All Saints Brewing, North Country Brewing, Four Seasons Brewing, Devout Brewing, Helltown Brewing, Southern Tier Brewing, Penn Brewery, Yellow Bridge Brewing, Four Points Brewing, Mindful Brewing, Troegs Brewery, Stoney’s Beer, White Valley Distillery and City Brewery in Latrobe. All were receptive with varying degrees of interest to consider the use of local malt. As Farm to Tap progressed, ten breweries either committed to purchasing malt or entertained experimenting with a batch of local malt. On April 17, 2021, All Saints Brewing introduced Old Hanna’s Town Ale, produced through the Farm to Tap endeavor. Says Jeff Guidos, Founder and Brewer at All Saints, “Our motto is ‘fresh, pure and local,’ and we take pride in making local craft beers. But some of the components we use to make our beers here in Greensburg are not locally sourced.” Guidos typically relies on German and other European companies for his malt. “Through Farm to Tap, we formed local partnerships to develop Old Hanna’s Town Ale. In fact, the farm where much of the barley was grown is next to our brewery and CNC Malting Company, our malting partner, is about an hour from here. It doesn’t get any more local than that!” Later in April, Monday’s Brewing Company in Peters Township, PA, and Recon Brewing in Butler offered their customers Bradford’s Reserve and PA Pride, respectively,

both produced through the Farm to Tap project. In another local twist, All Saints also produced “St. Bart’s Festiv-ale” in July 2021, to be served at the century-old Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival, hosted by St. Bartholomew church in Crabtree, PA. Crabtree is just a stone’s throw away from both All Saints Brewing and Heinnickel Farms. “I drank some of the beer and it was pretty darn good,” declared Heinnickel, a parish member. “People were very receptive to it. The grain came from us, and it was locally processed and brewed.” “We ended up selling out,” Mangini recalled, “six kegs in two nights.” It should be noted that even though the bigger breweries (Great Lakes, Troegs, and City Brewery) did not participate in the Farm to Tap project initially, they seem to have a genuine interest in locally raised malt. Overall, the local craft brewers were very receptive to the possibility of incorporating local grains into their brewing recipes. Lessons learned From a practical point of view, the 2020 growing season for Food21’s Farm to Tap project was an ideal learning environment. “We experienced growing both acceptable and unacceptable malting barley,” said Mangini. “The barley that did not meet malt house standards led us to find alternative uses for it.” “Weather plays an important role,” added Fred Slezak. “Barley is very weather-dependent.” In fact, wet weather is the primary factor that leads to excessive disease and potential pre-harvest sprout, which damages the grain, hindering germination and proper malting. “It’s tricky,” explained Mangini. “If barley starts to sprout you need to stop it. Also, barley can grow a fungus –

The first cold beers from the Farm to Tap pilot were enjoyed in April of 2021. Photo courtesy of Food21

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Pictured from left to right at the Farm to Tap kick-off: Rick Terrien, Food21 Venture Center Manager; Joe Bute, Food21 President; Brendan Carroll, CNC Malt Co-founder; Vince Mangini, Food21 Value Center Manager; Alquin Heinnickel, Heinnickel Farms Owner; Jeff Guidos, All Saints Brewing Founder and Brewer. Photo courtesy of Food21

vomitoxin – that passes through during the malting process and can actually cause sickness when the beer is consumed. We added two sprays of fungicide to prevent this.” “The fungicide is crucial in our region,” Slezak agreed. “It’s a costly application, but it adds to the value of the crop if applied at the proper time. If you’re going to grow malting barley, you have to go for broke.” “Farmers are in a tight market, so everything is about cost,” Alquin Heinnickel concurred. “The cost of growing malting barley is a lot more because you have to complete some extra steps that aren’t needed for feed grade barley. Fungicide needs to be sprayed twice, and that costs almost $100 per acre over the two applications. You have to be very careful with it, because malters may not want the product if it hasn’t been sprayed. It must meet the malter’s specs. The fungicide may increase the crop yield only a little bit, but I do think you get a nicer, plumper grain out of it.” Although the weather is out of the farmers’ control, possessing some built-in insurance is something for which one can plan. Having the ability to feed or sell grain for

livestock is one way to make sure the crop will be used. This is why malting barley production may appeal more to farms that also have livestock enterprises. “For us, because we are raising cattle, it can go into our feed lot if it doesn’t sell,” Heinnickel went on. “Barley has about 80% of the feed value of corn, so we feed it in the summer.” Unfortunately, the animal feed is also the market that pays the least. Luckily, Fred Slezak is an experienced grain dealer. He was able to quickly find a buyer for the crop that did not meet malting house standards. “We were fortunate that the commodity grain prices were increasing over this period,” said Mangini, “which helped to recoup some of our expenses.” The bottom line “Farming is nerve wracking,” stated Mangini. “Our goal all along has been to make sure that everyone is making money in every step of the value chain, including the farmer. Crop yield minus expenses is how we figured the profits.” Food21 averaged the costs from both 25-acre plots to get a per-acre cultivation and harvest cost of $358.36. According to the experience of consulting commodity growers, expectations under normal circumstances would be a yield of 80 bushel per acre for winter barley. “We cannot get that kind of yield out of spring barley,” Heinnickel explained. “Fall barley yields better.” As illustrated in the chart below, the simple math for a 25-acre plot would be based on an average yield per acre of 80 bushels. Multiplied by 25 acres at $7.00 per bushel, $14,000 in income could be expected, with an additional estimated straw income of $3,000. At an average cost per acre of $358.36, 25 acres would cost $8,959, yielding a potential winter barley profit of $8,041. “Will we all be growing barley and wealthy? No,” said Slezak. “But it helps to have an additional market and there’s insurance in having a diversity of crops. I always say, there’s money to be made in agriculture if you’re willing to work your butt off. ”

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On to next steps The Food21 pilot was judged a success. The launch of Old Hanna’s Town Ale at All Saints Brewing was a welcome social event following pandemic seclusion and garnered some positive local press coverage. Also, the beer was delicious! But was this enough to expand the value chain to include additional farmers and brewers? In fact, could a Pennsylvaniagrown malted barley become a soughtafter commodity under a brand name, taking the idea to the next level? Harking back to the “pull through” marketing concept, Food21 commissioned a more extensive, professionally-conducted survey of 100 regional craft brewers and distillers to analyze their malt purchasing behaviors. Overall, brewers had high interest in unique specialty malts. 22% were already purchasing some local malt

and more than half had established relationships with local malt houses. Nearly 60% actively purchased local malt simply because it was local. Some of the influencing factors they listed included a reduction of carbon footprint, an opportunity to support local growers and overall consistency in product. “Consistency and quality of ingredients were of the utmost importance to those surveyed,” said Megan Seastedt, Brewer/Owner and Food21 Consultant, who designed and conducted the survey. “I also found that brewers really valued the relationships they had with suppliers. Relationships build trust and create a connection between the final product and the ingredients that go into it. As a brewer, being able to turn to a supplier to ask a question and trust that they will have an answer, or at least be able guide you toward an answer, is paramount. Sustainability was

In search of local grains By Mark Meyer,

Co-Founder, Wigle Whiskey, Pittsburgh, PA We decided that Wigle would use local, organic grains as much as possible in its distilling process. We initially attempted to use a Pennsylvania grain broker, but we found this broker to be unreliable. We decided we needed to build relationships directly with local and regional farmers who then could realize the additional value by not having to pay a broker for its services. Our universe of farmers was limited since we were using only organic grains. In addition, we were looking for rye which was not grown as a cash crop by many farmers. Wheat and corn were more readily available. We found farmers by calling organic certification organizations, milling operators and others. Once we connected with some farmers, they would give us leads on other farmers who might be interested. We found two farmers who were growing rye as a cover crop and were willing to plant different varieties for us. A constant problem was determining the amount of grain that we needed. We had to make our best estimates, and the farmers had to trust that we would buy the grain that they would grow. We never once signed a contract with a farmer. All of our arrangements were informal agreements based upon mutual trust. We were fortunate to find one farmer who had a somewhat larger farm,

mentioned heavily, also. Interestingly, the closer the brewer was to a rural area, the more important that was.” Considering the apparent demand and the scarcity of local malt, Food21 concluded that having more of it in the marketplace could provide a solid opportunity for all parties in the value chain. “The research confirmed what we thought,” said Mangini. “Craft brewers continued to express interest in local malt.” Timing is everything In a fortunate coincidence, in October of 2022, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the award of $1.78 million in state grants to promote the development of Pennsylvania’s beer and wine industries. Food21 was a recipient of funds to support the launch of Allegheny Mountain Malt: Food21’s Farm to Tap program seeks to increase the use of Pennsylvania-grown barley

and he was able to help us out when our needs exceeded our estimates. There were two farmers who were thinking of restarting their family farms and reached out to us to see if we would be willing to buy their grains. Once we committed to purchasing, they made the huge leap to jump back into farming. All of the farms we worked with were small, family-owned farms. One of our continual challenges was to try to estimate our needs and match that with the farms’ expected yields. We needed to have multiple sources for our grains because sometimes a farm’s crop would fail due to weather or other reasons. Initially, arranging shipment of grain from the small farms proved to be challenging. Wigle Whiskey, located in Pittsburgh’s iconic strip district, produces inventive, high-quality fermented and distilled products. The company is a strong believer in investing in its communities to support the agricultural, social and economic systems of which it is a part. It devotes significant resources to innovation and makes each of its dozens of regionally inspired spirits from scratch with organic ingredients. The company’s cofounder, Meredith Meyer Grelli, now an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, also served as a founding member of the Food21 board of directors. Wigle spent approximately $240,000 on grain in 2022.

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The fall 2022 barley crop peeks through the first snow.

Photo courtesy of Food21

in the state’s craft beer industry by demonstrating the value to growers, processors and brewers. Food21 will also establish Allegheny Mountain Malt, a new line of locally raised and sustainably grown malt. The goals of the grant for 2023 were clearly stated in the Food21 proposal: • Triple grower participation • Double total acres cultivated • Double total yield produced • Double total beer produced from locally sourced barley • Secure commitments from larger brewers • Expand geographic reach As of this writing, Food21 is well on the way to achieving the goals. “Things are proceeding well,” said Mangini. “We planted in the fall of 2022, so we have 100 acres of

barley in the ground at six different farms. We expect to harvest in May or June of 2023. Fingers crossed… we are expecting to yield 80 bushels per acre, so a total of 8,000 bushels. Our partnership with CNC Malt will continue, and we should produce around 360,000 pounds of Allegheny Mountain Malt from this harvest!” Food21 is finalizing an agreement to provide exclusive purchasing access to Allegheny Mountain Malt with a regional flour distributor, Zilka & Co. of Belle Vernon and Allentown, PA. Zilka already carries malt and is excited about the prospect of a local offering. The company has hired a dedicated salesperson to call on breweries, who started his job in March 2023. “A large distributor like Zilka will help us spread the word,” said Mangini. “As far as relationships with larger brewers,” he continued, “I’ve been talking to Helltown, Iron City, and Giant Eagle.” Giant Eagle, Inc., has expressed interest in producing four seasonal beers with local malt for its Market District stores. “At Giant Eagle, we have a unique passion for supporting local producers and purveyors as we work together to enrich the communities we collectively serve,” said Roy

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King, Giant Eagle’s Senior Category Merchant for Beer. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with strong Pennsylvania partner organizations like Food21 and Pittsburgh Brewing Company to create a truly hometown beer, one brewed by a local brewery using locally sourced barley and made available at your local supermarket. We look forward to highlighting our region in a meaningful and enjoyable way as we share this hometown beer with our guests.” Food21 farm programs Food21 is justifiably proud of what the Farm to Tap pilot program accomplished. “With a team of experts – from agronomy and agriculture to malting and marketing to the vibrant craft brewing community,” said Mangini, “this project demonstrated what others have talked about but have not done. We are leveraging our region’s assets, both human and economic, in sustainable ways. This demonstrates the power of the value chain concept.” Together with Food21 board member Rita Resick of Laurel Valley Farms in Somerset, PA, former board member Greg Phillips of the Westmoreland Conservation District

and senior board advisor David Sanchez of the University of Pittsburgh, the Food21 Value Center team is underway with two additional value chain efforts. The Farm to Energy project has formed partnerships with 18 dairy farmers across three Pennsylvania counties to provide manure for centralized anaerobic digestion, capturing the methane and selling it back to a local gas company. Agriculture is the second-highest industrial producer of methane, equating to 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Not only does Farm to Energy have an environmental impact, but farmers in the project can expect to eventually share nearly $1 million in annual profits from the venture. In Farm to Fork, Food21 has signed a memo of understanding with Keystone Farm Future of Lancaster, PA, to establish a partnership expanding opportunities for farmers to transition to producing beef. As this value chain grows, Pennsylvania agriculture will claim a greater share in the local beef market, while strengthening family farms. “The most secure place in business is to control your supply

chain. Our Keystone Farm Future model allows supermarkets to have surety of supply and clear line-ofsight across their supply chain, while giving consumers a locally grown, high-quality beef product,” said Larisa Miller, CEO of Keystone Farm Future. “After the last two years of supply chain disruptions, we believe that building a resilient means of bringing local and regional food to market is essential,” added Food21 President Joe Bute. “We believe that partnerships like this are key to the mission of the Food21 Value Center, rounding out our triad of farm projects to include value chains serving growers, dairy farmers and beef producers.” Additional information on these projects can be found under the Value Center tab at www.food21.org, as well as further information on value chains and services provided by Food21 around feasibility planning, market analysis, stakeholder assessment, business planning, financing and implementation of value chain projects. Or, email Vince Mangini at vince@food21.org.

ABOUT FOOD21

As everyone knows, farmers love hats! Photo courtesy of Food21

Founded in 2018, Food21 of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) located in Pittsburgh, PA. Through market driven solutions and strategies, Food21 serves as a catalyst for the expansion of the regional food and agricultural economy in the Western Atlantic Food Shed. Its mission includes promoting economic development, environmental and financial sustainability, health and well-being and broad-based partnerships. Food21 serves as a platform for social impact innovation across the food system and demonstrates fresh solutions to longstanding problems. For more information visit www.food21.org.

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As biopharmaceutical researchers keep searching for breakthrough cures they don’t have to look far for inspiration. In this new era of medicine, where breakthroughs are transforming prevention and treatment options, PhRMA is committed to fixing America’s health care system the right way.

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GRANGE ADVOCACY ADVERTORIAL

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“Be Kind” An interview with Tiffany Ferguson of Waterford, N.Y., a homeschool elementary teacher, as told to Jackie Schrom, Bethlehem Grange #137, Selkirk, New York.

Children’s Café in Albany. “Many children and families will

We turned our nightly ritual into putting smiles on faces.

year.

My son, four years old, and I love to get into our pajamas

benefit from this donation,” said the director when the pajamas and books were dropped off. Our goal is to continue a “Be Kind” project a few times a

and snuggle down for reading time. It is one of our favorite activities to do together! Wanting to give others the same opportunity to make memories that many people at times take for granted, we engaged in our “Be Kind” project. We decided to collect like-new and new pajamas and children’s books from friends and family. Five weeks later, we had collected forty pairs of pajamas and a plethora of books. We were able to donate to three organizations. Our hope is that it put smiles on many people’s hearts and faces; and perhaps start a reading snuggle time tradition for them as well. One organization we gave to was Bethlehem Grange #137 in Selkirk, New York, who, in turn, gave to the South End

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Nevada’s Grange Livestock Youth filled with determination By Carolynn Chamlee 2022 Communication Fellow Battle Born Stockton Well Grange #29 (NV) The 2023 Livestock show year is in full swing for Nevada’s Junior and Youth members. Livestock Market Youth show Market animals and sell them at various shows, while others have breeding programs that run all year long. Some youth will attend fifteen or more shows between February and the end of October. Market Classes include Steer, Swine, Lamb, Goat, Poultry, and Rabbit. Breeding Classes include Breeding Beef, Dairy Cows, Breeding Swine, Breeding Sheep, Breeding Ram, Breeding Doe, Breeding Buck, Breeding Poultry, Breeding Rabbits, Cavies, and Dairy Goats. Nevada Granges also have Youth members who show at Horse Shows, Horse Judging, and Hippology. With so many breeds, species, and a variety of Youth heading into the show ring, it’s time to let them share their stories, advice, and favorite shows. Name: Lina Baughn Level: Junior Project: Turkeys/Poultry Years in project: 2 I have had a love for poultry since I was big enough to walk. This is my fourth year doing poultry, but first-year Junior. This is my second year showing and raising turkeys. I want everyone to learn that heritage turkeys are slow to grow and smaller, but taste way better and are of better quality than broad-breasted birds. I also participate in and show meat rabbits, dairy goats, breeder turkeys, meat turkeys, show chickens, archery, sewing, and public speaking. I’m going to participate in 10 or more shows this year. Name: Laurin Chamlee Level: Intermediate Project: Breeding Rabbits, Havana Years in project: 3 in Grange but I’ve been raising them for 8 years total When you start, make sure you have all the needed equipment. Items like brushes, nail clippers, food, cages, water, and food

dishes. When you choose a rabbit, pick one that will suit your showing needs. Havanas are small, compact, and friendly which makes them good first-time rabbits. I plan to keep breeding our rabbits to raise and show them. I would like to work towards winning a Best in Show one day with my rabbits. I also participate in Horse, Goats, Horse Judging, Hippology, Archery, Show Circle Critters, and Public Speaking. I will be attending twelve or more shows this year with all of my projects. I will be attending five shows for my rabbits this year. Bishop Mule Days is my favorite show overall, but my favorite rabbit show is the Cavy Cuddles and Bunny Love show my Grange put on with High Desert Grange.

judges to my youth group leaders. The show is held in the summertime so I can bring in heavy-weight steers that haven’t been pushed on grain throughout the winter. I also show and sell market goats and show dairy goats, breeding beef, and breeding goats in their appropriate classes. I enjoy showing livestock and I always have since I started. Animals are a big part of my life and I can’t wait to see where the world of showing will take me. I would not be the person I am today without all the time I have spent on my projects. Name: Richie Gomez Level: Senior Project: Breeding Sheep Years in project: 5 My advice for youth starting would be to do some livestock judging if possible. This will help in selecting your lamb. Bond with your lamb - this will help handle your lamb, and practice. The one thing I would change about my current project is height and get them to brace better. I will be participating in at least 5 shows. NJLS is the more competitive and I liked

Name: Caitlyn Dock Level: Senior Project: Market Beef Years in Project: 3 My project is market beef. I have shown this species for three years under the High Desert Grange and Churchill County FFA chapter. Market beef projects are one of the hardest to complete. The length of the whole project for me is nine months. There are countless hours of halter breaking, walking, feeding, work days, weigh-ins, and jackpots. My favorite part is the showmanship classes. Sometimes I have taken first, other times, the judge does not place me. Every judge has always given me some guidance that I use later on. Showmanship is the time when I get to show all of the hard work I have put into my animal. I will be attending many shows this year with a beef project including Churchill County Junior Livestock Show and Sale and Silver State Youth Livestock Show. Silver State has been my favorite for many Caitlyn Dock shows her Market Beef. reasons. The people are always Photo provided so willing to help, from the

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the Minden/Gardnerville show because it was more relaxed. I also show market turkeys and have placed grand champion three times for my turkeys. Name: Taylee Homan Level: Intermediate Project: Dairy Goats Years in project: 2 This is my second year having dairy goats. I have learned how to properly care for, feed, and show my goats. I have bred my goats and have worked with my family during kidding time. It is very rewarding to raise a goat from birth and then teach them how to show and do tricks. I am looking forward to this year’s shows and hope to do at least ten shows this year. My favorite show last year was both Silver State and Nevada Taylee Homan shows off her Ag Fair. They were both very Dairy Goat’s ribbons. fun and I learned so much. I Photo provided would tell other kids that want to show goats just to remember to smile at the judge. Name: Tylee Homan Level: Intermediate Project: Horse Years in Project: 2 I enjoy the horse project very much. I love my horse, Bear. I have learned so much about Bear and how to work together for shows. I have learned to be responsible and care for Bear’s needs daily. I have learned what types of feed she needs and what special treats she likes. Being involved in this project has helped me learn confidence in riding and being in front of people. Anyone who enjoys horses would like this and it is easy to get started. I am hoping to do more shows this year. I hope to do at least 5 or 6 shows this year. I participate in Shooting Sports as well. My favorite show last year was at the Nevada Ag Fair. I would tell anyone who is showing for the first time to be confident and have fun. Name: Marley Ogan Level: Senior Project: Market Rabbit Years in project: 3 I would like people to know I raise rabbits for many reasons. I sell live rabbits to the United States Marine Corps for winter survival training and to a guy who feeds his wolves. I also raise

rabbits for meat for my family and for other kids to show. The best part of my project is watching the rabbits grow and the husbandry. It’s fun to see all the different colors you can breed for. My long-term goals are to learn how to show rabbits better. I have never shown a rabbit but have sold pens of rabbits for other Grange kids to show. I have learned a lot about what the requirements are but look forward to learning more about how to show a market rabbit. I will be participating in 3 shows this year. My favorite is the NJLS. The other projects I am participating in this year are market goat, market turkey, market chicken and I hope to show a dairy cow next year. Name: Kadence Ortiz Level: Senior Project: Dairy Goats Years in project: 3 I like raising goats. They all have their personalities and are very funny. I also really like competing at livestock shows. I wanted to find a way for the dairy goats to pay for themselves, so they were more affordable. You cannot sell raw goat’s milk in Nevada, so we make soap and sell that instead. We also participate in the milk test program where we submit milk samples each month and our does can earn stars. I have three does that have earned their milk stars. I am hoping to do some Jackpots before the Nevada Junior Livestock Show (NJLS). I am also going to try to go to a show sanctioned by The Miniature Goat Registry (TMGR) and the Miniature Dairy Goat Association (MDGA) so that I can get my does some more legs. Legs are when the goat wins a Grand Championship at a sanctioned show. Three of my dairy goats have a leg each. Find a mentor and ask questions. This will help to get a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into. Also, a rule of thumb for goats, if water or a three-year-old can get out most likely a goat can too. In addition to Dairy Goats, I participate in Breeding Meat Goats, Breeding Poultry, Market Poultry, Archery, Air Pistol, and Air Rifles. Name: Lila Mae Montero Rodrigues Level: Intermediate Project: Cavies Years in project: 3 I got started with my project because my mom helps rescue cavies and we just started showing them. I plan on showing at the Churchill County livestock show and any nearby shows for cavies, rabbits, and goats. This year, I have shown at the Cavy Cuddles and Bunny Love show and I am going to show at the Washoe County Leader’s Show show in March. My favorite show has been the Fernley Community Rabbit and Cavy show.

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Name: Dimizio Starks Level: Intermediate Project: Hippology Years in project: 2 I like learning about horses and horse gear. I would tell anyone wanting to participate in this project to stay confident and to not second guess themselves. I’d like to win a belt buckle for the daily high score in a Hippology Contest. I will be showing at one show this year and my favorite is the Nevada Agriculture Fair. I also participate in Soccer, Horse project, Shooting Sports, and Goat projects.

Lila Mae Montero Rodrigues poses with her Best In Show cavy at the Silver State Youth Livestock Show. Photo provided

Name: Conner Simerson Level: Intermediate Project: Breeding Market Goats Years in project: 3 The best part about my project is getting to see the baby goats being born. This year, I will be doing two shows: NJLS and Nevada Ag Fair. I like them both for different reasons - NJLS because it’s inside and there are vending machines, while Nevada Ag Fair is outside and has a demolition derby. My goals this year are to grow my herd. I have one goat with babies on the way, and hopefully, she has does. I also want to show my goats in the market classes. I also show turkeys. Name: Derek Simerson Level: Junior Project: Breeding Market Goats Years in project: 2 I love to snuggle my baby goats, it’s the best part of the project. I have one doe who just had two bucks. I will be attending two shows this year: NJLS and Nevada Ag Fair. Nevada Ag Fair is my favorite show because I can hang out with my friends. My goal for my project this year is to show a market goat that is a kid of my doe. I also want to grow my herd. I will be showing turkeys as well this year.

Name: Mater Starks Level: Junior Project: Hippology Years in project: 2 This project is a lot of fun. My advice is to stay focused. I’d like to win a buckle in this contest one day. I will be showing in one show, the Nevada Agricultural Fair. I also participate in Soccer, Goat Project, and the Poultry Project. Name: Sabella Thompson Level: Intermediate Project: Market Sheep Years in project: 1 I got my start with sheep because I heard about people showing sheep and wondered how different they would be from goats, decided to find out. My goals this year are to do well with my lamb and get at least one ribbon. The best part of my project is just being friends with my animals, and some of the competitive aspects of showing. This year I will be showing a market turkey for NJLS, a market rabbit, a market goat, and a chicken in showmanship for Nevada Ag Fair.

at a time, can be the most effective way to keep you and your livestock healthy and safe. I have shown every species in Round Robin, but when it comes to owning them, I’ve only owned and sold goats, chickens, and turkeys. I will hopefully be attending the Churchill County Show in Fallon, NJLS in Reno, Nevada Ag Fair in Gardnerville, and Silver State in Yerington. I will also be attending small jackpots around Nevada throughout the show year. At the end of the show season, I may even be traveling to California with one of my mentors to show in the big ABGA shows. I am normally part of a horse group called Fallon Horseman’s Association. However, this year I am unfortunately unable to attend the shows they will be putting on because my goat shows are on the same weekend. There are many ways to support Grange Youth in the show ring. Cheer them on, Sponsor one of your local shows, attend an auction and buy your meat from a Grange Youth member, or simply ask them about their project to learn more. However you choose to support the future leaders of agriculture, make an impact for them today and into tomorrow. You can learn more about the National Grange Youth Fair program by visiting https://www.nationalgrange. org/grange-youth-fair-program. The Youth Fair program is currently active in Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, but any child can participate through an active Grange.

Name: Rachial Wempner Level: Senior Project: Market Goats Years in project: 3 Raising goats and livestock, in general, is not the easiest thing in the world. With these animals, you have to take time and adequate measures for the health and safety of your livestock. One thing about my project that is a must-do is keeping up with clean and fresh facilities. Doing this daily, even a little bit

The mission and purpose of the Grange Youth Fair Program is to provide an opportunity for young Grange members to participate in an educational setting designed to increase confidence; strengthen character; and teach the importance of self-discipline. The program encourages learning opportunities involving all generations; working with voluntary adult leaders, and exhibiting the results of the projects at Fairs and Exhibitions.

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Announcing the winners of the inaugural Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest By Chea Parton Founder, Literacy in Place I started the Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest because, as a working-class rural kid, I grew up believing that you could only be a published author if you were from New York City, L.A., or Chicago. I read a lot and noticed that’s where all of the presses were located and that the authors on the dust jackets were almost always from a city. Even more than that, almost all the stories I read were set in urban or suburban places. And the rural stories I did read, like E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web seemed ridiculous to me because they didn’t get it right – no farmer is going to spare a pig because of a spelling spider because that’s money out of her pocket and she needs that to feed her family. But we didn’t talk about that when we read it. Reading tells us what kind of stories are possible. It tells us what kind of lives can and should be represented in literature, so I grew up knowing that my reality wasn’t worth reading about or knowing about because it didn’t exist in a real way in the books that were available to me. Getting a book that’s attractive and marketing by publishing industry standards is hard as it is, so trying to get a rural book published (especially one that doesn’t stereotype or

poke fun at rural people) is even harder, which I imagine discourages a lot of rural people from writing rural stories. Which is why I started the Rural Teen Writing Contest. I want rural young folks to know that their rural stories matter. And I want to show them that by making space for them to write their stories and to be recognized and honored for doing it well. I want them to know that there are people in the world who both want and need to hear those stories. So, this year we held the inaugural Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest. Rural young folks across the country, including over a dozen from my home state of Indiana, sent in entries depicting various aspects of rural life, culture, and community. The theme was Rural Pasts, Presents, and Futures and students in grades 9-12 sent in fiction and nonfiction pieces that were considered by award-winning authors Veeda Bybee (Rural Voices) and J.R. Jamison (Hillbilly Queer). The guest judges followed the criteria used by the Whippoorwill Book Award for Rural YA Literature to evaluate students’ submissions and noted that there were many strong entries. From those entries, they selected the winner, Allison Strange of Lawndale, NC for “Fate for a Cat” (published here as well as on the Literacy In Place website); the runner-up Kevin Evilsizer of Franklin Township, IN for “Heart Strings”; and

honorable mention went to Luke Urban of Franklin Township, IN for “Roof Top Farmer”. All of their stories can be found on the Literacy In Place website. The next contest is already in the works, and I’m hoping to see even more rural teen writers submit their work. This year’s theme is: Eat, Dance, and Be Rural: Celebrating Diverse Rural Cultures. We invite all genres written by students in grades 9-12. This year’s guest judges include Kalynn Bayron (This Poison Heart), Pedro Hoffmeister (Too Shattered for Mending), and Terena Elizabeth Bell (Tell Me What You See). Prizes include a virtual class visit from Monica Roe and class set of her Cyblis-nominated book, Air as well as publication on Literacy In Place and guest spots on Reading Rural YAL. More information can be found on the Literacy In Place website contest page (https:// literacyinplace.com/inaugural-literacy-inplace-writing-contest). The submission portal will open July 1, 2023 and close December 1, 2023 with winners being announced in February of 2024. I hope you’ll encourage the rural teen writers in your life to submit their stories. I can’t wait to read them! Reach out to readingrural@gmail. com with questions and follow @ readingrural on Twitter, @dr_chea_parton on Instagram, and Literacy In Place on Facebook for contest updates as well as other rural teaching resources and news.

Fate for a Cat by Allison Strange Lawndale, NC

2022 Winner | Rural Teen Writing Contest Of course, no one can promise that your leaves will stay green and the frost doesn’t devastate your harvest. Of course, this is only speculation; fate has a grip on us that even the heartiest sun cannot unshackle. Eden learned this fast when her strawberries met their end on a cold December morning. Ever since she hated winter, she had no control over Gaia’s – Mother Nature’s – decisions. The cold would be enough to freeze springs and brooks, almost enough to freeze Eden’s heart.

“Don’t give me that look. You’re the one who decided to leave the barn.” Eden said, fastening a harness on an old brown and white cow. The cow huffed at Eden and slowly followed Eden as she tugged and basically dragged her back to the barn. She took the harness off and smiled at the cow. She snorted at Eden and turned away. “What? I’m not letting you go back outside silly.”

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Eden stepped towards the cow and suddenly stopped when she heard a hiss. “It’s November, you snakes usually go and hide around this time. Usually not in my barn because you saw what happened to that ugly black snake last time he got in here.” Eden laughed and looked around but no snakes were in sight. “Hm.” she stepped forward again and the hissing came back, “Oh? Are you under this pile? Best find a new hiding place before I get ya. I need new snakeskin for my-” Her rambling quickly got interrupted by a cat jumping from the ceiling in front of her. She screamed and fell backward. Slowly she raised up and met eyes with the Mainecoon. “A-ah, an, uh, kitty. Um, cats don’t usually find themselves around here. Especially near my house.” Eden reached her hand out to the cat and it jumped back. “Well, you’re lost but I’m not taking you in ya’ know that?” It meowed at her and licked its leg. “I felt like that was sass. Hmm, it was deserved. I am being a bit mean.” Eden stood up and picked up the cat. “I’ll take ya’ to Anne’s house and see if she recognizes you.” The cat meowed back in response. Eden held the cat closer to her chest as she walked down to Anne’s home. Anne was a 60-year-old baker who was known for her pies in the town next to their little 4-person neighborhood. It was hardly a neighborhood, maybe someone would talk to their neighbor once a month but it wasn’t unusual to be stuck with your wit and perhaps your spouse or an old dog. Eden had none of those, she had a cow but that was about it. She calls the cow “Mary-Belle” and no matter how much money a man could give her she would not let go of Mary-Belle. Anne knew everyone in this rural area, she even knew the animals. Eden knocked on Anne’s door and prayed she was home today. After 2 minutes there was still no answer, Eden looked down at the cat and back up at the door. She knocked more aggressively this time and looked through the window. “Anne! It’s me, Eden! Come out, I got to ask you something!” Eden waited but she got no response. Eden walked away from the home and down the dirt road, she looked at the cat and he meowed back at her. “Well, I’ll take you home. Maybe you’ll like my old smelly cottage. But I don’t think I have anything to feed you.” Eden walked down her driveway and opened the door. She sat down with the cat on the couch. She sighed, grabbed some yarn, and waved a string in front of her. The cat came over and meowed at the string, he tugged on it a bit and fell backwards. “You’re so funny!” she laughed then her smile faded. “I can’t name you though, I’ll get too attached. Maybe I’ll find you an owner who will be able to take care of you. “ The cat gave her a sad and soft meow. She tilted her head at him and sighed, she didn’t want to admit the cuteness got to her. She knew she couldn’t handle another mouth to feed. A girl and a cow were already too much. Her crops died too fast

and the stores were too far away to buy cat food every time she needed it. She went to wash her dishes and saw the little cat jump on the counter and paw at each dish she put in the dish rack. She laughed at him and patted his head. He jumped on her and climbed on her shoulder. “I’ve never seen a cat want to climb on a human! I’m not a tree you know?” He meowed back at her. “Hm, I think I’m going to call you Oranges!” He hissed at her. “No? What about Toby?” He meowed. “Toby it is,” she frowned “But you’re not my cat. I don’t think you are anyone’s cat, are you?” He broke his gaze with her. “Poor kitty. Fine, I’ll try to get a way to the store to get you everything you need to be a new family member – how does that sound?” He pawed at her and purred. “Maybe I can try to get a job at Joey’s shop. Let’s hope Mary-Belle likes her new brother, then!” Eden hugged Toby close to her.

Author Bio: Allison Strange is a junior at Burns High School in Lawndale, NC and writer of horror and gothic fiction. “Fate for a Cat” is her first “rural heartfelt” story. Her Cat Roxy was the inspiration for her story. Of winning, Strange said, “winning this contest was more than a shock” to her and that she hopes her win “can set an example for anyone else like [her] and show others you can do so much more than what you think you can do”.

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STATE OF THE HEART U.S. gets a near-failing grade in new analysis measuring the impact of cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. — and deaths are rising despite the availability of new treatments and better approaches to care. A new analysis, State of the Heart: Cardiovascular Disease Impact and Outlook in the United States, compared current death rates from heart disease and stroke to expert-recommended goals and found the nation received a D, and more than half of states received a D or F. The analysis, which aimed to quantify the enormous burden of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors at the national and state levels, also found that underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, women, and rural Americans, face disproportionately poor cardiovascular outcomes. As organizations working to advance cardiovascular health and the interests of medically underserved communities, the Foundation of the National Lipid Association and the National Medical Association’s Take Health to Heart initiative seeks to reverse these alarming trends. Visit TakeHealthtoHeart.org to learn more about the impact of cardiovascular disease in your state and policy solutions that can help stop the rise in cardiovascular deaths.

Cardiovascular Disease Impact and Outlook in the United States

A B C D F F

Learn more about the impact of ADVERTORIAL GRANGE ADVOCACY cardiovascular disease in your state.

CONNECTING AMERICA’S HEARTLAND “The Nex-Tech team’s passion is to make life better for our friends and neighbors, our customers, by giving them access to high-speed, high-tech services that some city-dwellers only dream about.” JIMMY TODD, CEO AND GENERAL MANAGER, NEX-TECH

ncorporated as a cooperative in 1951 to provide better telephone service for the rural areas of northwest Kansas, Nex-Tech now serves more than 60 communities across Kansas. The technologies may have changed over the years, but today Nex-Tech continues to deliver innovative connectivity solutions— high-speed internet broadband over a fiber optic network that rivals those in big cities. Nex-Tech’s commitment to its customers goes beyond investing in innovative technologies. They also support their community through a variety of scholarships for area graduates, and their Economic

Development Department serves as a liaison between individuals, local businesses, and area organizations interested in improving the economic climate of northwest Kansas. Thank you, Jimmy, the Nex-Tech team, and all of our nation’s broadband providers, for connecting America’s heartland to today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s dreams. Learn more at USTelecom.org

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AGRITOURISM FEATURE

Great Plains offer more than corn and grains By Elizabeth Hiner Senior Communication Fellow We are off to see some of the Great Plains States, which will include Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. (We will hit the Dakotas on our next “trip.”) As we finished in New Mexico, I thought we could start in the great state of Texas, famous for oil and beef. Here are some interesting stops I found along the way. Our first stop is at the Royalty Pecan Farms, just because I love pecans. This is a family-owned farm that offers tours of the farm on the first Saturday of the month, a farm store, and an event venue in Caldwell, Texas. They are a sustainable farm that grows and harvests pecans. Their blog has recipes and updates on upcoming farm activities and events. The farm store sells a variety of goods ranging from pies and breads to unique pecan coffee and honey. This could be the place to shop for the ingredients for my mom’s potica. Our next stop is Manor, Texas, just east of Austin to visit Crowe’s Nest Farm, a working farm and animal rescue. They are dedicated to fostering public appreciation, wise stewardship, and knowledge of the Texas agricultural and wildlife resources.

Looking to visit some rescued farm animals? Stop by Crowe’s Nest Farm in Manor, Texas. Photo from gbarm.com

Crowe’s Nest offers school tours, teacher resources, virtual tours, and workshops in addition to a visit to the farm. The Farm includes educational exhibits geared toward youth and their families. • The Big Red Barn is home to reptiles and amphibians and includes other educational exhibits and a classroom. • The Tiny Farm is home to miniature ponies, chickens, goats, pigs, and hooved youngsters requiring extra human care. • The Dairy Barn is equipped with a working milking machine for live demonstrations. • Walking paths lead visitors to all the domestic livestock and wildlife areas, pastures, and enclosures. • Free guided hayrides take visitors to the outer pastures to see the bison. • Children’s story and fairytale-themed flower, vegetable, and herb gardens cover the grounds of the main farm visitor area. • The Birdwood Trail invites visitors to walk and enjoy nature and a trickling stream and gardens along the way. The farm is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM, depending on the weather. Next, we are off to the Jersey Barnyard, a working dairy west of Houston in southcentral Texas, nestled in the rolling hills. This farm has been in the Frerich family for four generations, and they welcome visitors to learn all about farming and agriculture. Come relax on the porch, roam the farm, pet the animals, enjoy the countryside, and have some ice cream while you spend a day on the farm. After four generations, the members of the Frerich family have milked the cows over 47,500 times in the 65 years the farm has been in existence. The family also has 750 acres, which are used for pastures and hay. They understand that many people never get to see where milk comes from, and are happy

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to have visitors come share a “dairy fun” day on the farm. Family tours are available seven days a week, with guided tours that happen several times a day, where you will stop to visit and feed the goats, ducks, rabbits, and chickens. Then, you are off on a hayride to the dairy to see the jersey cows and - if you like - you can bottle-feed a calf or try your hand at milking. Self-guided tours are offered during store hours and do not include the hayride trip to the dairy barn. Our last stop before moving on to Oklahoma is the TX-Ture Farm, where they are “farming for the senses,” located just north of Dallas. They offer a wide variety of activities for children and adults. For kids aged 8-16, they offer a day camp, which includes: Alpaca and general farm education; Hands-on alpaca observations, handling, and cuddling; Meeting the Komondor guardian dogs; Daily chores: feed, water, maintenance; Fiber fun projects like wet felted soap, needle-felt bird nesting balls, or “Pom-Pom-Kom” (make a Komondor guardian dog); Lunch! Kids will grill their own hotdogs and s’mores over a firepit. Water and soft drink provided; Keepsake photos. For those 15 years and up, you can take one of two soap-making classes - Castille Soap from the Castille region in Spain, with a touch of lavender essential oil to produce a soap with a luxurious creamy lather and aroma, as well as learning how to color and create twirls; or Buttermilk & Oatmeal, creating a moisturizing soap that gently exfoliates, while learning how to successfully incorporate fresh milk products in soap. This includes a soapmaking overview & guided instruction, all materials & tools provided, including an apron and protective gear, reusable silicone soap mold (a $15 value), make & take 1-1/2 pounds of soap (6-8 bars), and, for those 21 and older, a complimentary lavender prosecco and snack board. Other activities at TX-Ture include

alpaca yoga, alpaca scarf felting, walk-a-paca and Paca Pints, and feeding the alpacas. You can also stroll the lavender field and Christmas trees, enjoy a craft beer, wine, lavender prosecco, or lavender beer while you feast on a meal from a local food partner, and Barnyard games are available for both adults and kids. Be sure to check online for all the farmer’s markets, I know Dallas has a good one, plus there are multiple wineries and ranches around the state. Texas has approximately 75 different official agritourism destinations for you to choose from. Now, we are off to Oklahoma which has around twenty destinations to choose from. You will find the requisite farmer’s markets, wineries, and dude ranches here; however, I found a couple of gems. The first is the statewide Jelly-Making Trails, which gives you a plethora of farms to choose from throughout the state. The trails are divided by region and have 2 to 12 farms depending on which of the six regions you choose. You can check out these trails at www.oklahomaagritourism.com/trails/jelly-making-trails. Many of these sites offer more than jelly, and allow you to pick the fruit. Some are wineries, while ranches and offer a variety of things to do like horseback riding, fishing, milking, and much more. You can find whatever tickles your fancy. The Livesay Peach Orchard is the largest peach orchard in the state of Oklahoma at 140 acres (about twice the area of a large shopping mall) used for peach trees, 10 acres (about half the area of Chicago’s Millennium Park) for apples, and the rest used for pumpkins and melons. The orchard offers you-pick produce in the fall months, and they offer school tours and event space for groups. During their open season, they offer a maze, hayrides and

The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm brings the mid-1800s to life with the stagecoach tours. Photo courtesy of National Park Service

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The Forest Tea Party is a fun feature at the Blue River Forest Experience in Overland Park, Kansas. Photo courtesy of Blue River Forest Experience a kids’ play area, among other things. In conjunction with the Lions Club, they sponsor the Porter Peach Festival. The 54th Porter Peach Festival will be held July 13- 15, 2023 in Porter, Oklahoma. You will be able to enjoy the parade, featuring the Peach Pageant royalty and anything peachrelated. There will be games and a possible 5K run for the athletic group. You will be able to check out the history of the peach in Oklahoma and try new and unique peach products. Finally, we are heading north into Kansas and Nebraska. First up is Kansas, and our first stop is the Blue River Forest Experience, which is an educational destination and not a true agritourism spot. You can learn about nature, but also about the indigenous peoples of this area. Blue River Forest Experience’s (BRFE) goal is “to cultivate awareness, appreciation, and devotion to nature, ourselves, and others.” BRFE is located at the headwaters of the Blue River in Overland Park, Kansas. Their programs aim to empower people and communities to better themselves through a variety of naturebased programs and enriching experiences. The offerings, including weeklong camps for children and adult programs, provide visitors of all ages with opportunities to experience and connect with nature and the outdoors. You can enjoy a once-amonth Forest Tea Party from April through September, or edible plant walks from March through August. There are more day programs depending on the time of year, such as drum making. In Olathe, Kansas, I found the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. This is either the last or one of the last original working stagecoach stops on the Santa Fe Trail. The farm was purchased in 1857, started taking in travelers the next year, and was wellestablished by 1864. Today you can tour the farm which, like the Oliver Hudson Kelley Farm in Minnesota, is a living history site. You can take a ride on one of the two stagecoaches, and tour the heritage barn, grounds, and heritage house on select Saturdays. This farm is open year-round with seasonally-appropriate programming,

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If exotic animals are of interest to you, our next stop at the Hedrick’s Bed and Breakfast is the place for you. At the Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm, you can take an hour tour where you can learn about the animals they have and get “up close and personal” with the giraffe and feed and pet the kangaroos. You can also enjoy camel rides for kids of all ages with pony rides for small children (under 60 pounds). The farm has animals from nearly every continent including kangaroos, camels, and peacocks, along with animals found on a “normal” farm, such as chickens and goats. After playing with the animals, you can enjoy your stay at the bed and breakfast. Nebraska is the final state on this tour. There are five unique farmers’ markets that are recommended for travelers. They are as follows: 1. 18th Street Farmers Market in Scottsbluff. Sure, you can browse local beef, produce, and eggs at this June-toSeptember market, but locals know it as the place to grab breakfast, then seek out samples of salsa and other specialties created for periodic cooking competitions. 2. Alma Farmers Market in Alma. Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, farmers and artisans sell fresh produce and handmade goods, from jelly to delicious bakery items, on downtown Alma’s Main Street. 3. Kuper Farms Country Market in Norfolk. This indoor farmers market looks like an old-fashioned country store. Inside, discover organic produce, local meat and dairy products, and artisanal breads and decadent pies created by area bakers. 4. North Platte Farmers’ Market in North Platte. Stock up on goat milk soap, rustic

Hedrick’s Bed & Breakfast and Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm offer old-school stays and allows visits with animals from all over the world. Photo via Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm on Facebook jams, and other locally made goods at this June-to-October market. Locals swear by the market’s ready-to-eat foods, too, from savory barbecue to sweet cinnamon rolls. 5. Omaha Farmers Market in Omaha. The roots of this market date back almost 100 years. From May to mid-October, shop for fresh produce and flowers, and keep an eye out for special evening and holiday markets. Our final location is the Three Brothers Vineyard, named after the Wach brothers – Hermann Julius, Friedrich Wilhelm, and Otto Rudolph. Hermann and Friedrich, were born in Worms, Russia in 1879 and 1884 respectively, while Otto was born in Hayes County, Nebraska in 1889. The vineyard is run by descendants Gary and Ricky Sue Wach in scenic southwestern Nebraska. Would you think of Nebraska when you think of grapes? I know I didn’t – I thought of corn and wheat. However, Nebraska has a booming vineyard and wine industry.

Three Brothers Vineyard started as a hobby in 2002 as a distraction from everyday life. The Wachs planted three varieties on just under an acre to map the amount of work it was going to take. The vineyard, now considerably larger, stands on more than five acres that include a small orchard. You can take a tour of the vineyard and production area or visit with the winemaker, join them on the patio and witness the spectacular sunset, or join them for their monthly dinners. The vineyard is now home to ten varieties which include both reds and whites. They are: Frontenac, Landot 4511, Marechal Foch, Rougeon (reds), Brianna, Frontenac Gris, Vignoles, Seyval Blanc, Traminette and LaCrosse (whites). This is a good place to end our tour with a sunset, a glass of wine and good company. We will pick up the Dakotas, along with Minnesota and Wisconsin next time. Cheers! And see you soon.

• Support some of the locations mentioned in this article: •

• Royalty Pecan Farms - www.royaltypecans.com

• Porter Peach Festival - www.porterpeachfestivals.com

• Crowe’s Nest Farms - www.crowesnestfarm.org

• Blue River Forest Experience -

• The Jersey Barnyard - www.texasjersey.com

www.blueriverforestexperience.org

• TX-Ture Farm - www.tx-ture.farm

• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop - www.mahaffie.org

• Oklahoma Jelly-Making Trails -

www.oklahomaagritourism.com/trails/jelly-making-trails

• Livesay Peach Orchard - www.livesayorchards.com •

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• Hedrick Bed & Breakfast and Exotic Animal Farm www.hedricks.com

• Three Brothers Vineyard - www.3brothersvineyard.com

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NOTES FROM A SMALL TOWN

Some animal observations By Christopher Dean

Massachusetts Grange Member

I’m not a lifetime Grange member; I only joined after getting married, so I’ve never lived on or near a farm, and none of my ancestors did either, going back at least five generations. In fact, I’ve lived all my life in Boston’s inner suburbs, so aside from pets, I’ve had basically only a suburban person’s experience with animals. In the fourth grade, my brother and I got two gerbils, which lived blameless lives in an old aquarium; they had a wheel that they’d run on sometimes. As pets go, they weren’t great, they were small and kind of boring, actually. They were skittish and one of them had a mean streak. After they had babies (and ate all of them), they went to a new home. What followed soon after was hamsters, they were as small as gerbils, but softer, they ate the same

food, exercised on the same wheel, and they kept to themselves. Mostly my brother and I just looked at them. We’d take them out of their aquarium sometimes, but they clearly didn’t like being handled. We had several over the course of a few years. If one died, it would be replaced, always by a new hamster that was exactly like the one we’d just lost. We never really bonded with them. After the last one died, we started getting cats, which were much more interesting pets, but I moved out and went to college and never had a cat of my own, though I lived with roommates who had cats and the cats were always pretty cool. I’m a cat person - they resonate with me, and cats usually like me, which is a point of pride. When we moved to Rockport, we discovered that we had ambitious neighbors who decided they were going to raise chickens so that their daughters could help with their care and feeding. It was a way to teach

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them about reverence for life and responsibility. The girls love the chickens, treat them as pets, and are committed to the values their parents are trying to teach them. The chickens themselves are pretty quiet, they keep to themselves. They are allowed to roam freely, and they eat the grubs in our garden. Sometimes the neighbors give us some eggs, which are absolutely delicious, and the neighbors can tell us which chicken laid which eggs. All well and good. Across the street lives another small flock of chickens, with a difference; they have amongst them a rooster. The rooster is very “vocal,” and he likes to crow beginning at around 4:00 in the morning and will continue to do so at unpredictable intervals until around lunchtime, give or take. I work from home, and I hear him all morning, and I mean all morning. He’s a charmless creature: he struts around, raising a ruckus when he’s in the mood. His call is an ugly near-scream with an undertone of fingernails being dragged across a blackboard while an old Chevrolet is getting its paint job keyed. Awful. The sound is so loud that, because of the neighborhood acoustics, I honestly thought there were two roosters in the neighborhood. But no, it’s only one. I wouldn’t mind if a coyote ate him and that’s not an idle threat. I’ve thought about doing it myself. As to coyotes, we have them in Rockport and they’re now living in every county in Massachusetts. They mostly keep to themselves. They live in the woods that cover the whole center of the island. I’ve walked in those woods and never seen them, but I’ve heard them at night.

the beach; it just swooped down across my head, and I could feel the beat of its wings as it tried to get some lift. I wasn’t scared by it, but it sure startled me. Seagulls aren’t the kind of animals you want to irritate - they’re mean and they’re greedy. If you try to make it clear to them that you want them somewhere else, they even swear at you. I mean it, they lift up their wings and they caw and you just know they’re cussing you out. There are rabbits on the lawn of the Baptist church, which get fed by tourists. They’re cute and placid, but mostly they keep to themselves. I’ve seen them a few times during the summer at the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings. Once, I was getting out of the car after a night at the

People always comment on them, but nobody is offended

movies and there came a terrifying bout of yipping and

by them or the fact that they’re around. I have a cousin who

howling, they sounded like they were right over in the next

keeps one as a pet and it’s allowed free reign of the house.

yard. The hair on my neck tingled, in a physical response

Farm animals though? I’ve never known any. They seem

to an ancient threat that our ancestors had to respond to

nice enough. I know that people take to horses, cows, and

instinctively. I high-tailed it right into the house, I was not

pigs, though less so to individual goats and sheep. Horses

going to stick around to see what happened. A couple

are always popular with at least one girl in every classroom,

of days later there were reports of a small pack of about

so much so that it’s even a right of passage for schoolgirls. I

a half-dozen coyotes walking through backyards only two

walk on Sundays with a woman, who loves horseback riding

blocks over from our house. They were captured on a

and she can’t say enough good about it.

security camera, which someone in town installed to keep track of animals like coyotes; a top-of-the-line carnivore is one that you want to keep an eye on. Their proximity to humans will make them bolder and eventually, they’ll start causing trouble. Last winter, when we were shoveling out after a snowstorm, a coyote just walked right up the middle of Main Street, like it owned the joint, as bold as you please, in broad daylight. We were stunned. The world is changing. I’ve also seen a fox running through the underbrush with a chicken that it had looted from a yard, and I’ve seen foxes just sort of hanging out, adding some local color. I’ve noticed raccoons lurking around trash bins, clearly up to no good. They think they’ve got us fooled but we always know

Working farm animals seem to be “too big” and archaic

what their agenda is. And being a seacoast town, there are

(I mean, really, oxen?) to a person who prefers cats, and they

rats among the pilings down at the harbor docks. No one

have huge hoofs, which can crush bones and wreak other

talks about them since we hardly ever see them. I’ve actually

kinds of havoc. Cows and sheep are famous for their lack of

seen many more rats in Boston, in the alleys in the swanky

intelligence, pigs are famous for filth (a slander, I know), but

Back Bay neighborhood.

none of them has ever taken a shine to me, so I’ve never felt

Around Rockport we have, of course, LOTS of seagulls,

the need to know them better. Maybe I’m missing out on

looking sleek and self-important, pretty much everywhere I

some sort of experience that will lead to personal growth,

go. They concentrate on French fries, but they’ll eat almost

but I’ll take my chances. I’m not going to befriend a goat

everything. The town dump is full of plastic bags that the

at this age.

gulls have ripped open to get at food scraps. And they’re getting bolder as well. I was once buzzed by a seagull at

H & L

Anyway, those are some of my observations about animals.

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

take it from Life on the Homestead... Let’s the beginning By Suzann Gilliland Peterson High Desert Grange #22, Nevada Unless one is born into a homesteading family, homesteading is a lifestyle choice. Like all choices, the choice to homestead has consequences, both positive and… not-so-positive. Trading a life of relative comfort for one of relative hardship is a bit baffling. Swapping the gym for the shovel is definitely unfathomable. Exchanging time spent with friends for time spent with plants and animals is downright bizarre. And yet, people do it, and they do it for a variety of reasons. Sacrificing established habits for fresh and challenging opportunities opens the door to new friendships and a plethora of explorations into living in greater harmony with nature. Growing a vegetable or herb garden can be done anywhere with relative ease. Should you wish to add raising animals, catching fish, preserving food, selling homemade items, offering animal and/or plant therapy, or any other activity that promotes self-sustainability, then homesteading is something you may want to consider. Homesteading is a self-sufficient lifestyle, one of subsistence agriculture on land owned or rented to support a household. It includes the preservation of home-grown food and livestock. Items made at home such as textiles, garments, and craft work for household use or sale on a small scale may also be part of homesteading. There has been an increase in the number of people who are pursuing agricultural-related activities. One January evening, I

asked Amanda Brozana-Rios, Leadership/Membership Director of the National Grange, why she thinks membership in the National Grange picked up in 2022. “… all fraternal organizations and many other organizations like ours have been in decline since the 1950s,” she said. “People have become busier and less connected to one another through organizations structured with meetings and service. The pandemic, though, may have helped people see what a blessing being part of an organization like the Grange is, an organization that provides so much to its members – friendship, a sense of belonging, an organized group serving others, a place where they can bring their passion to bear and be part of the change they’d like to see.” Not too long ago, I was told that on the roads leading north and east of my town was a line of cars and campers belonging to people who were looking to lay down roots in the desert. They were escaping the pandemic, the high cost of inflation, and the high crime rate related to city living. They came to become homesteaders. Unfortunately, they had no idea what they were doing and ended up trading one headache for another. Ideally, the decision to homestead should be made after determining your goals and researching where and how you can reach those goals. Here I’ve suggested things to consider when thinking about what it takes to create a homestead. Many of these suggestions come from personal experience, observations, communications with homesteaders, and posts on my favorite Facebook pages: “Raising Chickens 101,” “Beginners Homesteading Guide,” “Small Farm, Sustainability & Homestead Living,” and “Homestead Living.” Goals Why do you want to homestead and what are your goals in homesteading? Many people want out of the fast-paced city existence and seek to live in closer harmony with the natural rhythms of life. Others seek the challenge of creating a home entirely of their own making and living within its means. Some pursue the art of husbandry as a means to teach future generations. More than a few crave the opportunity to be connected to one another on a more intimate level, sharing knowledge, working together, and being of service with others of like mind. There are a variety of reasons to homestead and all are as unique as the homesteader. Knowing why you want to homestead and what goals you seek to achieve is the very important first step. It will keep you focused and within the realms of reality and practicality.

Homesteading has been on the rise since the early 2000s, particularly among millennials. For many, the Covid pandemic caused people to want to return to a “simpler” and “more authentic” life. But it isn’t an easy road and requires a lot of planning, and homesteading is certainly not a life that all people can live.

H & L

Location There are many places in the United States conducive to homesteading. The key question is which one is going to support your goals. Here are a number of things to consider about location: • Laws - Laws vary from place to place. What is true for your area

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may not be true for another. -Knowing federal, state, county, and city laws will help you decide if a location meets your goals. • Taxes - Taxes differ by locale. Federal taxes are a given. Some states have no income tax. What percentage of your income would you pay in state and local taxes and what do these taxes fund? Are there any tax breaks for agricultural pursuits? • Building Codes - What are the building codes in the area? If you seek to buy property with a home on it, in what condition is the home? If you wish to build, find out where contractors and construction companies are located. • Weather - How many seasons does the location have? What is the average temperature of each season? Is the area humid, dry, or a combination of both? What is the average number of sunny days, average rainfall/snowfall, and average number of windy days? What is the wind pattern in the area? This will affect where you plant gardens and trees, and position your house, garage, barn, animal enclosures, sheds, and other out buildings. • Elevation - Will the elevation support your goals? • Type of Soil - What type of soil do the property and surrounding area have? Will you have access to inexpensive yet high-quality soil amendments if needed? • Water Quality - If you want a property with a well, what is the quality of the water? Having the water tested is a good idea. How old is the well? How deep is it? What is the average depth of the wells in the area? What is the local protocol for well water use during storms or emergencies? Are there restrictions on what animals, vegetables, and fruits can be grown and sold on a property with a well? • Road Quality - If you will be doing a lot of driving, take a look at the quality of the roads in the area. Wear and tear on your car means spending money that you might want to put to other uses. • Supplies and Equipment - Are there local businesses that will supply your equipment, tools, building materials, and feed needs? How much will you be able to buy locally and how much will you need to buy/order outside the community? Be sure

to check whether there are tax breaks for purchasing agricultural equipment such as tractors or machinery, and breaks for purchasing plants/ trees that will be used for agricultural purposes. Trees used for soil retention and/or windbreaks may also qualify. Check with state nurseries about vegetation tax breaks for soil enhancement. • B u t c h e r i n g Regulations - If you want to butcher your own animals, check the state, county, and city laws to see if there are animal butchering regulations in the area. • Animal and Vegetation Restrictions There may be local/state/ county laws regarding the Are you thinking about starting? Consider reading number and/or types of Small-Scale Homesteading by Stephanie Thurow & Michelle animals you are allowed Bruhn for a simple, factual look at homesteading. Photo courtesy of Simon & Schuster to raise and plants you are allowed to grow. Be sure to check this out. selling homemade items, produce, eggs, or • Types of Pests - What type of garden meat to the local populace, are there avenues pests and animal predators are common to (like farmers markets or co-ops) for you to do the area? Knowing this will give you insight so or will you have to create them? Should into how to secure any animal enclosures you you need or wish to bring in an income other build, which plants will do well, and which than that provided by the sale of homestead bugs to look for inside your house and on your items and food, are there job opportunities in property. the surrounding area? This is not too much of • Schools - If your desire is to have your a problem if you are working remotely from children attend school outside your home, home. what schools are available and how far from • Political Climate - If politics are the homestead are the schools? important to you, find out the political lay of • Medical Facilities - If there is a medical the land. Do your values coincide with those issue with someone in your family, how close/ of the community? If not, consider looking far will you be from immediate medical help? elsewhere. • Supportive Neighbors - Introduce yourself to neighbors in the area. Do you think Your envisioned homestead is within reach. they would be willing to support your efforts? It may take time, years perhaps, but good • Friendliness of the Community - things come to those who wait. Remember Ask yourself if the community reflects your why you want to homestead. Keep your goals personal values and if you think it would help in focus and consider doing some (or all) of you meet your goals. What can you offer the the things I’ve suggested. Necessity is the community? mother of invention. And preparation is the • Income Opportunities - If you envision foundation of success.

H & L

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s n i a r G d n a r areG By Ann Olson Bercher

Lecturer, National Grange President, State Grange of Minnesota Certified Culinary Specialist

I am writing this article at the very end of February at the end of several very snowy days. While I had advanced warning of the “snowmaggedon,” I already had many wonderful ingredients in my refrigerator, freezer, and pantry to challenge my cooking fancy during the selfimposed shut-in. I am currently baking a lovely loaf of Whole Grain Soda Bread and the aroma in my home is making me almost delirious with joy. I can’t wait to cut into that loaf, toss a slice in the toaster, and slather the crispy wafer with butter and jam. People have been eating grains, the seeds of grasses, for thousands of years. Einkorn and emmer, ancient ancestors of wheat, were harvested and consumed in western Asia about 75,000 years ago. Many millennia later, humans began cultivating grain plots. Grain silos were discovered in Jordan dating back 11,000 years. The oldest known rice paddy dates back to 8,000 years ago. Humans then ate grains much the same way we do today; they made flour and baked bread from wheat, rice was steamed, and oats were mashed with water to make oatmeal. The beauty of grains is that they are available year-round at our grocery store or food co-op. I admit I rely on my food co-op for a few of these grains as they are not what you would call “mainstream,” but I also need to say that these grains are so amazing for health, texture, and flavor, so I can’t understand why they aren’t readily available in regular grocery stores.

We are told we need to eat more whole grains, so here is the lowdown on “Whole Grains.” Beginning with the basics, grains are seeds. A whole grain includes all parts of the grain kernel, which includes the bran germ and endosperm. The bran is the fibrous seed husk or outer layer of cereal grains such as wheat, rye, and oats. The bran is rich in B vitamins and other minerals. The germ is the reproductive part of the kernel and is rich in a variety of nutrients such as healthy fats, vitamin E, B vitamins, and antioxidants. The endosperm is the largest component of the kernel and consists of starchy carbs. In most cases, white flours are mostly made from endosperm. There are many benefits gained from eating more whole grains. First, whole grains are tasty, filling, and versatile for many uses and are good for you. They can be used in salads, added to soups, can be a great component to side dishes and entrees, and they are most often delightful elements of many baked goods. Whole grains help to lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, improve gut health, and boost energy levels. They contain more fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals than refined grains. Cooking whole grains is similar to cooking rice or pasta. Put the grain in a pot of water or broth, bring to a boil, then simmer until the water is absorbed as you do when cooking rice. Alternatively, place grains in boiling water, boil until tender and drain off the excess liquid. This method works great with brown rice, farro, and wheat berries. There are some other shortcuts. If you soak grains in water for a few hours then cook, the cooking time will be shorter; if you bring some grains to a boil then remove from the heat and let soak overnight, they will also cook faster. Grains can be cooked in large batches, then kept

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in the refrigerator for a few days. Remove the desired amount you wish to use, add a little additional liquid, and reheat. You can also use these grains in salads or add them to soups. Some grains need to be cooked a little before using them in baked goods, while others do not. See the Whole Grains Council for a great cooking guide. https://wholegrainscouncil.org/sites/default/files/ atoms/files/WGC-CookingWholeGrains_0.pdf You will find whole grains at your supermarket in the baking aisle as well as in the breakfast cereal aisle. I have also had great success at my local food co-op. The advantage of the food co-op is that I can buy many whole grains in bulk, so it is easy to try smaller amounts of some of those grains I am not familiar with. For any you cannot find in either place, the online option is always available. There are many grains to discover. The Whole Grains Council website has a nice list including descriptions and suggestions for usage. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorite grains. I am a huge fan of whole wheat for anything and everything. I prefer very grainy whole-wheat bread, wholewheat pasta, whole-wheat tortillas, and whole-wheat rice. I enjoy the nuttier flavor and the chewier texture. There are also semi-processed varieties like bulgur, which has been parboiled and roughly crushed, couscous, which is coarsely ground semolina wheat, and farro. Farro is a wheat product that is usually sold as semipearled, which means part of the bran has been removed. If you find it not pearled, it will require soaking overnight before cooking and will still probably take longer to cook. It has a nice, chewy texture and is great in soups and risotto, or in salads. Buckwheat has also become a favorite. It makes a great granola, which then can be used in many applications. Toss some into your pancake batter or on yogurt with added

fresh fruit. Toss some into bread, muffin, or cookie recipes. Use as a crumble topping on pies, vegetable gratins, or mac and cheese. I’ve even eaten it on top of ice cream. It helps make the sweets a little healthier. Buckwheat is not the same as wheat and is naturally gluten-free. It is intensely earthy in flavor. My newest favorite is Kernza. This is a perennial grain developed by the Land Institute with help from the University of Minnesota as an eco-friendly alternative to annual wheat. I have found this grain in whole grain and flour form at my local food co-op. You can find it online at Perrenial-Pantry.com. I have used it in pancakes and crackers, and I even used it to replace over half of the all-purpose flour in a pie-crust recipe. It has a lovely nutty flavor, and the pie I made with the Kernza crust was out of this world! Oats are a favorite but I don’t think we appreciate the various forms enough. First are rolled oats, where whole grains are steamed and pressed flat with steel rollers. This shortens the cooking time for us at home. There are three types of rolled oats: Oldfashioned, which are flaked after rolling and make great oatmeal, are good for baking with, and have the most texture. Quick-cooking oats are cooked, dried, then cut and rolled thin. Instant oats are cooked and dried before being cut and rolled thin. These have the least amount of texture and can get mushy. These are the oats in the little instant packages where the other ingredients added make them a little less healthy. Steel cut oats aren’t rolled, but are instead cut into coarse nubs looking more like rice. They take longer to cook than rolled oats and have much more texture and “bite” to them. They work great in soup or stew and of course, meatloaf! Oats are gluten-free, but sometimes oats come through facilities that may contaminate them with gluten.

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Read the labels on packages carefully. Quinoa is a delicately flavored grain that cooks quickly and is ideal for salads, pilafs, and grain bowls. It is also gluten-free and has more protein than most other grains. Millet is another gluten-free grain that works great in salads, as a side dish, and filling for stuffed vegetables. Corn is another grain that we can find in multiple forms. Using fresh or frozen corn kernels is a great way to include whole grains into your diet. Corn meal is another matter. Once dried and ground, you have grits; grind it finer and you get cornmeal. Using stone-ground cornmeal is absolutely the best meal for cornbread in my opinion. I would be remiss if I did not mention wild rice. It has

Whole Grain

Soda Bread

makes 1 large loaf

become a cultivated crop in Minnesota and California and is used in all sorts of wonderful applications alone or in pilaf, soup, stew, and stuffing. I must add, however, that the best wild rice is grown naturally in rivers and lakes in Minnesota and is worth the price. Wild rice is also glutenfree. Select one or two of the grains mentioned and experiment with them. Try adding grains to any favorite recipe or replace a portion of all-purpose flour with whole wheat. The following recipes include many of these grains, plus a few others in smaller amounts, such as amaranth and flaxseed.

¼ cup millet ¼ cup quinoa 2 tablespoons amaranth 1 cup old fashioned oats, plus more for topping 2 ¼ cups buttermilk, divided plus more for brushing the loaf 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 cups whole-wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour 2 tablespoons flaxseed 1 tablespoon salt 2 teaspoon baking soda ¼ cup sunflower seeds, plus more for topping 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch dice 3 tablespoons maple syrup

1. In a small bowl, mix together millet, quinoa, 1 cup oats, 1 cup buttermilk and ½ cup water. Cover and let sit 8 – 12 hours. (Alternatively, bring ingredients to a simmer in over low heat, remove from heat and let sit until thick, about 2 hours.) 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly oil an 8” diameter cake pan. 3. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, flaxseed, salt, baking soda and ¼ cup sunflower seeds together in a large bowl. 4. Work in the butter with your fingers until the largest pieces are pea-sized. 5. Make a well in the center of the mixture and add maple syrup, oat mixture and remaining 1 ¼ cups of buttermilk and vegetable oil. Mix together until dough is combined, smooth and still a bit sticky. 6. Form dough into a ball and place in prepared cake pan. 7. Brush with buttermilk and top with oats and sunflower seeds. Cut a large X into the top and bake until golden brown and the center temperature reads 190 degrees (use an instant-read thermometer), between 55 and 70 minutes. Let cool in pan.

This makes a dense loaf that is delicious slathered with butter, toasted with jam or diced and toasted in the oven to make croutons.

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President’s Recipe

Pancakes

Kernza

makes 10-12 pancakes

shared by President Betsy E. Huber

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (or half unbleached and half kernza flour) 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon maple sugar ½ tablespoon salt 1 cup whole milk 1 cup whole milk yogurt 2 eggs ½ cup cooked Kernza grain (or use farro, wheat berries or barley, cooked.) Vegetable oil for the skillet.

Quinoa Salad

with Sweet Potatoes and Apples

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Serves 10-12

1 1/2 cups quinoa Salt 1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch dice Freshly ground pepper 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 large Granny Smith apples, cut into 1/2-inch dice 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 8 packed cups baby greens, such as arugula or kale (about 6 ounces)

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the quinoa and toast over moderate heat, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add 3 cups of water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer the quinoa for 16 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff the quinoa, spread it out on a baking sheet and refrigerate until it is chilled, about 20 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, on a baking sheet, toss the sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 25 minutes, stirring once, until golden and softened. Let cool. 3. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 6 tablespoons of olive oil with the vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Add the quinoa, sweet potatoes, apples, parsley, onion and greens and toss well. Serve right away.

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, maple sugar and salt in a medium bowl. 2. Stir in the milk, yogurt and eggs to make a thick batter. (Do not over stir.) 3. Stir in cooked kernza (or other grains) and mix well. 4. Oil a skillet over medium high heat. 5. Pour ¼ cup of batter per pancake on skillet or griddle. 6. Cook until bubbles form on top, then flop the pancake and continue cooking until the bottom side is golden brown. 7. Serve with jam, fresh fruit and/or maple syrup.

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Farro Salad 6 cups cooked farro (follow package directions using 3 cups dried) ½ cup + 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 pound cremini mushrooms, diced 1 medium leek, diced (½ cup) 2 medium cloves of garlic, thinly sliced 1 tsp thyme leaves (or oregano) minced Salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, divided 2 cucumbers, sliced into ¼ inch triangles (1 cup) ½ cup flat leaf parsley, minced (or cilantro) ¼ cup minced chives Aleppo pepper or paprika for garnish

with Leeks and Mushrooms

serves 4-6 generously

1. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until it shimmers. 2. Add mushrooms and cook until tender and water has evaporated, 5 minutes. 3. Add leek, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the leek is tender, 4 minutes. 4. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in ¼ cup apple cider vinegar. Let stand for 15 minutes. 5. Add farro and cucumbers to mushroom mix. Toss to combine. 6. Stir in remaining 6 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, parsley/cilantro and chives. Toss to combine. Adjust seasonings. 7. Serve in bowls and sprinkle with aleppo pepper or paprika.

Granola

Buckwheat

2 cups raw buckwheat groats* 1 cup shredded coconut ½ cup almonds, chopped ½ cup pecans, chopped ¼ cup pepitas 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 1 tablespoon maple syrup

makes 4 cups

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, combine buckwheat groats, coconut, almonds, pecans and pepitas. 3. Drizzle with coconut oil and maple syrup and toss to combine. 4. Spread mixture evenly over the parchment lined baking sheet. 5. Bake for 30 minutes, tossing once halfway through. 6. Let cool and store in an airtight container. *Buckwheat groats are the hearty hulled seed of the buckwheat plant.

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No-Bake

Oats, Macadamia Nut and White Chocolate

makes 2 dozen cookies

¾ cup creamy almond butter (or peanut butter) 1 cup white chocolate chips, divided 1 cup quick cooking oats ¾ cup dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup + 1 tablespoon macadamia nuts, chopped and divided (or unsalted pistachios) ½ teaspoon vegetable oil

1. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper. 2. Heat almond butter with ¾ cup white chocolate chips in a double boiler or medium heat proof bowl set over a pot of boiling water. 3. Heat while stirring occasionally until the mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from heat. 4. Add oats, cranberries, salt and ½ cup of chopped macadamia nuts. Stir gently to combine.

5. Spoon mixture by tablespoons onto the parchment lined tray. Gently press to flatten slightly. Chill until set, 10 minutes. 6. Heat oil and remaining ¼ cup white chocolate chips (as in step 2 &3). 7. Drizzle cooled cookies with melted chocolate and top with the remaining macadamia nuts. Chill until set, 5 minutes. 8. Store in an airtight container and keep chilled.

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THE LAST

Word

By Jesse Bussard Executive Director, North American Craft Maltsters Guild When people outside the craft beverage industry ask me about craft malt, I often use phrases like “grain to glass” or “farm to tap” to describe the role malting plays in bridging the gap between the farm and craft beer and spirits producers. Malting as both a process and trade has been an essential link between agriculture and brewing for eons. Some of the earliest written references to malt and beer can be found on Sumerian clay tablets dating back to the Uruk period during the fourth millennium (40003001 BC). Later tablets from around 1800 BC described how to make malt and beer in the “Hymn of Ninkasi,” a love song to the Mesopotamian goddess of beer and brewing. According to the Hymn, malt was such a valuable commodity, dogs guarded it. So what is malt? It all starts with the grain. Grains like barley (most common), wheat, rye, and spelt, among others, and even gluten-free, pseudo-grains like quinoa, millet, and buckwheat can be malted. Grains go through a process aptly called malting where they are steeped, germinated, and then dried, later used for brewing and distilling. As of 2022, there were an estimated 122 total malting operations in the United States. Among those, about 45% were reported as small, independently-owned-andoperated craft malthouses with active membership in the North American Craft Maltsters Guild. In the colonial, pre-industrial US, traditionally brewers sourced their grain directly from farmers in their area with a large number of those brewers also malting grain onsite. This was also largely the way things were for malting and brewing operations in pre-colonial

Europe. Around the Civil War (1861-1865) a shift to mechanization, specialization, and consolidation started to occur in the US. Small maltsters were squeezed out by industrialscale malt operations better able to meet the needs of larger breweries. Ultimately though, it would be the Temperance Movement and subsequent Prohibition Era (1920-1933) that forever changed the makeup of the U.S. malting industry. Small, independent breweries and consecutively the small, independent maltsters that existed to serve their needs were wiped out when alcohol production and consumption were banned during the period. Today, most malt is made in large commercial establishments like Rahr Maltings, one of the nation’s largest producers. Their Shakopee, MN production facility produces a reported 460,000 metric tons of malt per year. In contrast, a craft malthouse by the Guild’s definition produces between 5 and 10,000 metric tons annually. The craft malting industry began in the mid-2000s when the first few small, local, independent malthouses began to open in the United States and Canada. By the early 2010s, more craft malthouses were coming online spurred by the growth of craft breweries. While a much younger organization, the Guild’s origins are similar to that of the National Grange. A truly grassroots movement, the first craft maltsters who spearheaded the industry’s early days found themselves fielding calls from fellow start-ups from around the nation and the globe. The idea of forming a guild was developed as a way to further the craft and disseminate

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information about techniques and best practices. The North American Craft Maltsters Guild was officially established during the summer of 2013. The Guild’s mission: promote and sustain the tradition of craft malting in North America, provide services and resources to the Association’s members, and uphold the highest quality and safety standards for Craft Maltsters. Over the past decade, our industry and membership have grown immensely from just eight founding board members in 2013 to nearly 70 Member Malthouses across the US and Canada today. Additionally, another 500+ individuals from across the supply chain - farmers, brewers, distillers, academic researchers, plant breeders, industry suppliers, and developing businesses - now call our organization a resource for craft malting education, quality, excellence, and advocacy. Alongside malthouse numbers, overall production has increased tremendously, especially in recent years. Craft malt production rose by an impressive 60 percent since 2019, according to a survey conducted by the Guild last year. In 2022, craft malthouses produced an estimated 24.7 million pounds of malt, up from 15.1 million pounds three years ago. Craft malthouses play an important role in supporting local agricultural economies, sourcing at least 50% or

more of their grains locally from a 500-mile radius of their malthouse. This scope promotes the development of strong local grain economies. Along with sourcing grains locally, craft maltsters maintain independent ownership by a 76% or greater majority in their operations. Craft malt customers enjoy the many benefits of working with like-minded small businesses and smaller batch sizes have opened the door to enhanced experimentation potential and unique collaborations between maltsters and brewers and distillers. With ongoing supply chain issues, rising input costs, and more frequent devastating climatic events, craft malt exists as a potential pathway to relocalize a major raw ingredient in the craft beverage supply chain and build resiliency in local agricultural communities in the face of these adversaries. Over the past ten years, craft maltsters have proven to be resourceful, inventive individuals, and as current events continue to unfold, they are wellpositioned to cultivate the shift back to localization. The industry is coming of age, and the Guild’s centering on the ideals of community, collaboration, and education to hold craft malt to the highest standards has been a foundational part of that happening.

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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 MemberDeals, ODP Business Solutions, Lenovo, and UPS Savings.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

HEALTH

PHARMACY

INSURANCE

With discounts from Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels, Worldwide Hotel, and Avis and Budget rental car services, as well as RV accommodations with Harvest Hosts, these exclusive Grange benefits are sure to help you when planning your next vacation. Our partnerships with Life Line, Hear in America, Start Hearing, Comfort Keepers, and eHealth Medicare are sure to give you peace of mind about your health. 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.

We have partnerships with Member Options, United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, AFLAC, Farmers Insurance, and pet insurance through Nationwide to give our members discounts on insurance rates and deals. Clouse Insurance Agency can help find the coverage you need to protect your Grange Halls. 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