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Mar/Apr
2003
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As
Agriculture Changes, Teamwork and Technology Drives Mason-Dixon Farm to Success
and Self-Reliance | By
Rick Ottinger
As
a member of the Grange since 1951, Richard Waybright remembers the Grange as his
family's primary community activity during the early years of his marriage. "It
was our main social outlet," he said. "At least until we had our fourth child."
More than fifty
years later he still belongs to the Grange and helps oversee one of the most productive
and successful dairy farms in the world. The
Mason Dixon Farm produces 80,000 quarts of milk daily, designs and manufacturers
its own innovative equipment in line with its synergistic philosophy of agriculture,
and generates enough electricity to receive a monthly check from the local utility
company rather than a bill.
It
is one of the largest and most technologically advanced dairy farms in the world,
and functions as a "living
laboratory," according to Waybright, who along with his brother
Horace is the seventh generation of Waybrights to own and operate
what is now more than 3,000 acres of tillable farmland.
 |
| 1995
aerial view of farm shows the cluster of housing facilities and nearby feed storage
for the efficient management of the dairy herd. |
"My brother and
I now act as advisors and the eighth generation-our children-actually manage the
daily operations," said Waybright, who now spends much of his time as a consultant.
"The ninth generation is now in college preparing for eventual management." Mason
Dixon Farms is located officially in Gettysburg, Penn., but literally straddles
both sides of the Mason Dixon line. In 1784, the Waybright family bought 375 acres
of farming land from Richard Penn and their descendants have developed one of
agriculture's most notable success stories through teamwork and technology.
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President's
Message
By
Kermit W. Richardson, National President |
|  Ritual
In the document, "A Vision for the Grange" the Grange Strategic
Planning Force set forth the goals and the vision for the Grange in the new century.
The very last sentence states, "the Grange will be responsive to the member's
time, committed to membership growth, and designed for relevance and national
preeminence." This is clearly what our vision is, and the Grange ritual does have
its place because of its historical and timeless relevance.
The
first part of the ritual is used in enrolling the new members in the Grange organization
and making them part of that organization. Many people hear the word ritual and
think it might be endless, yet we now have a number of opportunities to make the
ritual a very meaningful experience in a shorter period of time. The welcoming
ceremony and obligation ceremony express the value of our organization and gives
new members a greater sense of belonging. The opening and closing of the Grange,
if done properly, is a very short method that sets the tone of the meeting.
The second part of the ritual I want to address is the first through the fifth
degrees-which I have suggested the State Granges assume responsibility for conferring.
But, I leave it to the states and local Granges to make its own decisions on how
to incorporate the degrees. Regardless of who takes on the honor, the language
of the ritual is tried and true and represents a beauty of the human character
and values that few organizations can even articulate, let alone claim as part
of its written history. The Grange proudly can. We
clearly know from the months of change, discussion and involvement that there
is an appreciation and interest in the ritual sometime after someone joins the
Grange. Normally it is not immediate and a person has to first become involved
in the activities of their Community Grange. A
short while ago I was talking with a member of a "traditional" Grange who said
to me "the Grange is making too many changes," but was at a loss when I asked
if he could be specific. Interestingly, another "traditional" Grange I am familiar
with confers the first four degrees twice a year and it constantly has a net gain
in membership and good attendance. It is successful with the changes it has made.
What then is the essence of the ritual of the Grange? The men and women who founded
the Grange in 1867 were interested in education, innovative rural technologies
and grassroots legislative advocacy. So, to me, ritual translates into learning,
order, respect and commitment to family, friends and neighbors.
I hope that this message has helped you to understand that we can retain the ritual
and its beauty. At the same time, we must accept the fact that this is a changing
world and people's interests are changing. Grange
Renewal Reminder
The National Grange recently sent out the Action
Grange II Renewal Applications to all State Masters with a return address and
fax number for local community Granges to complete and send back to the National
Grange office by Tuesday, April 1, 2003. If you are interested in the program,
and have not received an application, please contact Beverly
Mitchell at 1-888-447-2643 ext. 103, and the national office will fax you
one immediately. For
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