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Youth are the Key to Our Future |
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By Molly Thompson, Program Assistant
As the saying goes “the youth
are the key to our future,” and this
sentiment is echoed throughout
the Grange. The National Grange
has always been a proponent of
working with and bettering our
young people. The Youth and
Junior departments have always
been a vital and active part of the
organization. You can ask any
Granger from a local member to
National Master Ed Luttrell and
the feelings on the Youth and Junior
programs will be the same.
“The Youth and Junior programs
are a key component to the family
aspect of the Grange, which is
always a priority, and we are still
committed to developing young
people into leaders in life, not just
the Grange” said Luttrell.
The beginnings of the Youth Department
can be traced to the
origins of the organization itself.
When the National Grange was
founded in 1867 anyone, male
or female, could join as a voting
member at the age of 14 of his
or her local Grange. The founders
believed that Youth as young
as 14 could and should be an active
and vital part of the organization.
This tenant still rings true
today. Anyone is still welcome to
join their local Grange at 14. The
National Youth Department was
founded in the 1940s by Wib Justi,
who served as the National Youth
Director until 1966. The first programs
involved Grange Youth interfacing
with the youth from other
organizations such as 4-H and
FFA. The primary goal of the program then as it is now is to instill
leadership skills into our Youth
that will permeate their lives. The
Junior Grange was designed to
foster the development of our
younger Grangers under the age
of 14 and ready them for membership
within their local Grange.
The Junior Grange just celebrated
its 120th birthday and has been an
active part of the organization for
nearly as long as the organization
has been around.
While the Youth programming has
evolved throughout the years, the
primary goals have remained intact.
Above all, the Youth Department
strives to develop leadership skills and provide an environment
for Youth to grow and feel connected
with their communities.
The programming that has been
available to youth was and is varied
and diverse and opportunities
are offered through State Granges
as well as the National Grange.
Bruce and Sharon Croucher
served as New York State Youth
Directors and National Youth Directors
in the late 70’s and 80’s
and are endless on their praise of
the Youth Department. The New
York State Grange hosted a Youth
Leadership School every summer
where Youth Grangers were enrolled
in a variety of classes over
six days ranging from leadership
training to ritualism. According to
Sharon Croucher “the experience
was an intense leadership training
and the kids put their whole
heart and soul into this leadership
school. When we look at our
Grange leaders across the state
they were members of either the
Youth Leadership School or the
Youth Department.”
The current Youth programming
offered by the National Grange
includes a wide array of activities
to fit the individual needs of Youth
Grangers and foster their growth
as individuals. “I am constantly
looking ahead to meet the needs
of the Youth and figure out what
we can do to build leadership
qualities and equip them with the
skills to deal with what life brings
them,” shares Charlene Shupp
Espenshade, National Grange
Youth Director. The programming
that the Youth Departments
offer can help fulfill those goals
whether it be gaining confidence
in front of an audience through
Sign-a-Song, acquiring the skills
necessary to work with the Delegate
body through the John
Trimble Youth Program, or learning to work with and lead groups through the mentoring program – the opportunities are endless.
Similarly, Joan Smith, Potomac
Grange #1 Master, has been
actively involved in the Junior
Camps in New Jersey for over 20 years. Joan grew up in the Junior
Grange and raised her children
in the Junior Grange. For her,
the Junior Grange and the Junior
Grange Camp was the only organization
and activity that offered
a shared experience for both
girls and boys. The opportunities
provided to her and countless
others through involvement with
Junior Grange are endless. Junior
Grange “instilled the belief in
community involvement, teaches
kids to become comfortable with
the opening and closing ceremonies,
teaches communication
skills with adults, peer acceptance,
offers lifelong friendships,
and offers opportunities abound
for personal growth.” Oliver Orton
served as the New York State
Junior Director for 19 years before holding his current position
of State Master and states that
“those years were the best part
of my Grange experience”. During
his tenure he offered involvement
through community service
projects, craft projects, and
teaching the kids the ritual. Of
the programs offered he is most
proud of the “Kids Helping Kids”
program where kids were given
an opportunity to find another kid
in their community and do something
nice for them, whether it
be making a craft for a child with
a broken arm or visiting a sick
child. Oliver offers up these musings,
“It’s an excellent program to
teach not only leadership, but citizenship
responsibilities too. The
kids learn how to run a business
meeting and basically learn to become
Grange members.”
Current National Junior Grange
programming offers up a variety
of ways to get kids involved with
their communities and Granges.
Every year the Junior Grange
has a new theme and this year’s
theme is No Child Left Inside. It is
imperative to implement healthy
lifestyles in our kids at an early
age and this program aims to
achieve that goal. Anne Kurburski,
National Grange Junior Director
says, “Getting outside will
lead to a healthy lifestyle.” Additionally,
new programs are being
offered, such as the Ambassador
program, which will showcase two
juniors who are exemplary in the
nation and honor them at the National
Convention. The goals of
the Junior Grange, according to
Anne, are to teach teamwork, instill
leadership qualities, and teach
kids to be goal oriented, among
others. “[By being involved in the
Junior Grange] they learn to work together as a group and discover what it’s like to have a meeting
and go through the decision making
process as a group. The Merit
badge program allows Juniors to
focus on specific skills and offers
an opportunity for them to set and
achieve goals,” said Anne.
While both the Junior and Youth
Departments offer a multitude of
opportunities for our young members,
it is important to remember
that these young people are a
resource to our organization and
that they too have much to offer.
These kids and young adults have
a huge skill set to offer your local,
Pomona, and State Granges. Do
you know of a Grange, perhaps
your own, that needs assistance
setting up your free website, creating
a posting on Craigslist, or
setting up a group page on Facebook?
The Youth members in your
Grange are very knowledgeable
about these subjects and would
be more than willing to pitch in a
hand. Is your Grange in need of
new ideas for fundraisers? Utilize
the Youth and Junior Grangers
because they are brimming with
creative solutions. Are you doing
a community service project that
needs strong bodies? Organize a
group of teens to help out. Just
recently, college students at the
University of Pennsylvania took
it upon themselves to organize
a Grange chapter on their campus
and they accomplished this
goal single-handedly. The ways in
which our Juniors and Youth can
be a valuable asset to our Granges
are endless if they are only given
a chance. Each and every one of
you is encouraged to find a way to
get the younger members of your
Grange more active and involved
because after all, they are the future
Grange leaders of tomorrow.
Both the Junior and Youth programs
offer a variety of options for
our young Grange members to get
involved with their communities
and Granges, foster their leadership
skills, and become better citizens.
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| Independence, Dependence and Teamwork |
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National President Ed Luttrell. |
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I’ve spent a lot of time this year
answering questions about Tyson
Foods and their attempt to use
our name. In fact, I’ve spent far
more time than I anticipated dealing
with questions, accusations,
assumptions, and concerned
members. This experience has
reinforced the principle of teamwork
as a key component to our
success.
Independence is a crucial part
of our American experience. We
grow up knowing that we have a
great deal of freedom to voice our
opinion, to pursue our interests
and to win success and recognition
as we view it. We hold up
people who overcome obstacles
to achieve success as heroes.
We view dependence as the opposite
and dread the times here we have little or no control and
others determine our fate.
Teamwork blends independence
and dependence together into
a stronger and better union. We
must acknowledge that we are
stronger together. Our combined
voices and our unified effort delivers
strength that no single individual
has. Teamwork lets each
individual do what they do best
and frees them from those things
that they are not good at.
As early Grange members chose
to take on the railroads, America’s
giant corporations, they did
so knowing that as individuals
they had little or no influence. Together
they understood that they
had power to influence legislatures
and politicians for the public
good. Each contributed what
skills they had for the Grange
cause and together changed the
face of America for the better.
In the 1950’s when a federal agency
decided to take our National
Grange headquarters, our members
rose up in one loud voice
and demanded that their elected
representatives in Congress stop
the action. It worked because of
the unity and teamwork of our
membership. We now are preparing
to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of our National Grange
headquarters building due to the
united efforts of our members at
that particular point of time.
Today, we are faced with a number
of companies wanting to take
141 years of Grange reputation,
good will, and achievement for
their own commercial profit. While
we are grateful to Tyson Foods
in recognizing our trademarked
name, others still want to own
our name for their own exclusive
commercial use.
We are independent. Each member
will contribute what skills, talents,
ideas, and resources that
they can. Some members will
supply ideas, others will be part of
our media efforts, and even more
will work in the background, doing
what they do best; to support and
magnify the efforts of our organization.
We are dependent. Yes, we are
dependent upon each other. None
of us are capable of carrying this
fight by ourselves. As individuals
without support from the Grange
team, we would likely lose, we
would have few options, and our
future would be bleak.
However, we are a team. Grange
members understand teamwork
and that our unique blend of independence
and dependence
strengthens us beyond the mere
sum of our parts. This year we
will work together in ways that we
haven’t in decades. This year we
will find new ideas and solutions
National President Ed Luttrell
that will aid us. We will get more
positive media attention, we will
raise more money, we will create
new opportunities, and we will be
stronger for it.
The companies that are trying
to take our trademarked name
for their own use are not really
the enemy. I ask that each member
realize that the farmers and
ranchers who supply them with
meat, milk, or even eggs, the employees
that work in their factories
and the companies and people
who buy their products are not the
problem. It is the management of
these companies who have the
wrong attitude. We want to open
our Grange doors to the farmers,
the workers, and the customers of
these companies and give them
the opportunity of Grange membership.
The opportunity of being
part of a great American team!
At the moment there are few companies
that can claim to be a beloved
American institution. Consider
the fact that if the Grange
was not respected and even loved
by some, would they still want our
name? This coming year will see
our members improving our ability
to work together as a great team.
The strength through the blending
of independence and dependence
is ours. Not only will we
win this fight to protect our name,
but we will also have new opportunities
to grow the Grange this
year. If each member and each
Grange faces this challenge with
optimism and courage, our future
is bright and full of hope.
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| Carol Evans is Just a Kid at Heart |
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 If you ask her, Carol Evans
will whole-heartedly admit that
she is a kid at heart. “I am still a
kid at heart and never intend to
grow up. I think it would be very
boring to grow up. I love doing the
stuff with the kids,” she enthuses.
From as far back as she can remember,
Carol has always enjoyed
being active and youthful.
Carol is a third generation Granger
and has been a member of
McIntosh Grange #1001 in Rockfort,
Washington for 40 years. Her
grandparents, parents, and all six
siblings have at one point been
members of McIntosh Grange.
Carol joined the Juvenile Grange,
later renamed Junior Grange,
when she was eight years old
and hasn’t looked back. Her time
in Junior Grange helped to shape
her into the Granger and person
she has become today. She looks
back on those days with fond
memories. Carol recounts, “going
to camp, holding an office, and
being able to memorize parts of
the ritual” as some of her fondest
memories from being a member
of her local Junior Grange.
When Carol was 16, she officially
became a Grange member and in
the subsequent 40 years has been
very active in the Grange at several
levels. She is a past Secretary and
past Master of McIntosh Grange,
as well as currently holding the positions
of Lecturer and Community
Service Chair. However, it is her
commitment to children that is her
true passion in the Grange.
In addition to her two current positions
at her subordinate Grange,
Carol is the Junior Grange Activities
Director for the Washington
State Grange. The Washington
State Junior Grange boasts six
different Junior Grange Camps in
which kids from all over the state
are encouraged to attend. She
holds the position of Director for
Camp Bear Claw, a volunteer position
she has held for 14 years.
Her love of camp stemmed from
her many years as a Junior Grange
camper, as well as her 22 years as
a camp counselor for 4-H.
One of Carol’s proudest accomplishments
for her Junior Grange Department is turning five of the
six Junior Grange Camps into
functioning Junior Granges. “One
of the things we did in Washington
was organizing five Junior Granges
in 2006 at camp. They meet
regularly during the camp session
and kids could come to camp and
become members of the Junior
Grange” Carol said. By organizing
Junior Granges at the camps,
it allowed kids to meet, and learn
about and perform the rituals just
like any functioning Junior Grange.
In fact, several Junior Grangers
became charter members of more
than one camp. One of her Junior
Grange campers, “Shawn Moynihan,
of East Hill Junior Grange,
became a charter member of 3
separate Junior Granges while attending
camp” Carol boasted.
As a past Junior Grange member
and Junior Director, she strongly
believes that kids involved with
Junior Grange are afforded tremendous
opportunities for growth
and fun. Being involved with the
Junior Grange, according to Carol,
gives kids “the ability to have
the interaction with so many different
kids in learning, playing,
having fun, and competition. But
it’s not about being the best. It’s
an organization where you can
enter competition and be rewarded
for a job well done.”
Carol’s passion for kids does not end with her. As the saying goes “the apple does not fall far from
the tree” and this rings true in her
family. Carol’s daughter, Lisa
Bowen, is not only a middle school
teacher, but also the Washington
State Grange Youth Activities Director.
When not busy with her
Grange activities, Carol is employed
as a Registered Nurse
in Intensive Care at Providence
Sacred Heart Medical Center in
Spokane, Washington. She has
also recently become a grandmother,
which she is intensely
happy about. Not surprisingly,
she can be found spending time
and playing with her granddaughter,
Addison, who, as Carol says,
is an “unofficial member of Washington
Junior Grange.”
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By Walter Boomsma
Lecturer/Director of Publicity
Valley Grange #144
Our local paper (The Piscataquis
Observer) does an
annual “Newspapers in Education”
supplement in which local
school students design advertisements
for local businesses.
In the past, most of the ads are
designed by “older kids.” Since
we at Valley Grange in Guilford
are always looking for connections
and synergies within our
community and schools, we decided
to try an experiment.
We agreed we’d participate in the
program but decided to give the
opportunity to second and third
graders at Guilford Primary School
because it’s one of the schools
where we give dictionaries. We
also do a “Bookworm” program
there with volunteers visiting the
schools twice a week to listen to
the kids read one-on-one. We
thought it would be fun to see what
the kids might come up with as a
way of promoting our organization.
The results were astounding.
 Julie Orton, the Principal of Guilford
Primary was immediately a
huge supporter and the Art Teacher,
Mrs. Daniels, grabbed the
project with gusto. We ended up
with nearly 90 advertisements to
choose from! In the interest of fairness,
we asked several local “advertising
experts” to serve as judges,
a task that proved extremely
difficult. Third grader Alyssa Pearl-Ross (work shown to the left) drew
one of the “winning ads.” Due to
the incredible response and several
unsolicited donations, the
Grange was able to select a second
grade winner as well. Second
grader second grader Ethan Worster
(work shown below) certainly
caught the association between
the Grange and reading!
 And this all took place before our “Maine Agriculture Day” activity
on March 19th which included
Grange Members visiting every
class (kindergarten through third
grade) to read some “facts about
farming” and have some fun with
the kids. The second graders got
to make and taste their own butter
with “Farmer Boomsma,” so
maybe next year’s ads will include
a cow and milk truck!
The Grange truly appreciates the
opportunities the Words for Thirds
program has provided to be a part
of our schools and share with
the children in our community.
We are now involved with three
school districts and provide
close to 200 dictionaries annually
and have many new found
little friends within our “home”
district. It’s great to show up and
the school and here the kids
say, “The Grange is here!”
| Why Every Community Needs a Grange TODAY |
By Jennifer Dugent,
Communications Director
In honor of Grange Month 2009,
the National Grange offered a
Grange Essay Contest that was
open to all current Grange members.
The subject of the essay was
“Why every community needs a
Grange TODAY.” Sara Beth A.R.
Kohut (PA) is the 1st place winner,
and will receive a plaque and
2 tickets to the Celebration Banquet
at the 2009 National Grange
Convention in Grand Rapids, MI.
Walter Boomsma (ME) came in
2nd Place, and Diane Bassette
Nelson (NY) came in 3rd. Mary
West and Hannah West both
received honorable mentions.
Thanks to all who participated!
1st Place:
Every community needs a
Grange today because every
community has needs and interests
that this versatile organization
can address, nurture
and advance. The Grange is the
only community organization
that provides leadership training,
advocacy, public service,
and a fraternal bond. Although
it remains rooted in agriculture,
today’s Grange offers something
of interest for everyone, regardless
of what type of community
one calls home.
The Grange developed as a
grass-roots, family, fraternal organization
that enabled farmers
to collectively advocate for their
rights, elevate their skills, and
share in fellowship. Since the
Grange was founded in 1867,
agriculture and the communities
of our nation have changed significantly;
so too has the Grange!
Yet even the traditional interests
of the Grange touch every community
today. Agriculture affects
us all because every community
needs food to eat, clothes to
wear, land to live on and cultivate,
minerals and energy for resources,
and jobs for workers.
Most Granges are located in rural
areas, but the Grange has
always had a metropolitan face
too. In fact, Oliver Hudson Kelley,
credited as the father of the
Grange, grew up in the city of
Boston, Massachusetts, before
moving west to become a farmer.
And it was in Washington,
D.C., where Kelley and the six
other Grange founders launched
the first local chapter, Potomac
Grange, which still meets in the
capital city. Hence, the Grange
can serve the interests of all
types of communities, especially
today as suburban sprawl progressively
blurs the line between
urban and rural life.
Although the Grange itself is nonpartisan,
the Grange can provide
every community a forum not
only to discuss issues relating to
legislation and policy, but also to
help shape them through advocacy.
Today, the collective voice
of 300,000 Grangers from 3,600
chapters in 37 states continues to
carry significant weight with public
and elected officials from the local
to the state and federal levels.
Now, more than ever, every
community has individuals and
families looking to connect with
their neighbors and serve their
community. Nothing forges connections
better than a fraternal
organization, in which members
see themselves as brothers and
sisters, regardless of age or status.
Fraternal rituals unite the
members of each local Grange,
while also creating a common
bond with Grangers across the
state and nation.
Every community has current
leaders who can improve, and
future leaders who will emerge,
if given the opportunity to develop
their skills. Every community
has talents of all ages who seek
a performance venue, and audience
members who enjoy a good
show. Every community needs a
place where people of all ages
can enjoy fellowship and learn
from each other. The Grange is
the unique organization that can
provide all that (and more) to every
community. Every community
can benefit from the Grange
and that is why every community
needs a Grange today!
Sara Beth A.R. Kohut
Russellville Grange #91, PA
2nd Place:
One of my greater pleasures in
life is attempting to explain the origins
and purpose of this organization
called “the Grange” to excited
third graders as part of our “Words
for Thirds” program. I start by attempting
to determine what they
already know and I’ll always remember
the young girl who waved
her hand enthusiastically and announced
“I was born there.”
It took a little thinking to realize
she’d heard me say “LaGrange” – one of the small, rural communities
here in Maine. Her answer
was certainly amusing, but
it was also insightful and telling.
Like the organization she was
learning about she was proud
of her roots and heritage. She
announced her connection and
kinship to LaGrange just as enthusiastically
as I announce my
connection to the Grange.
That sense of connection attracts
people to rural small-town America.
But even small towns are experiencing
a “social disconnect”
as things like regional school
systems and “social networking”
using the Internet change the
traditional model of community.
We now have cell phones, PDAs
and computers to stay “connected”
with people – in many cases
people we only rarely see and
certainly can’t touch.
But beneath all the communicating,
we still want to see people –
to touch and be touched – and to
feel a part of something. People
will claim their families are going
“in a million different directions”
but not really consider why. Some
of it has to be the search for connections
and belonging. One reason
every community needs a
Grange is that folks are searching
hard for a sense community and
geographic boundaries no longer
provide it. Being from “LaGrange”
is not enough. Being from “the
Grange” offers more.
The Grange, with its fundamental
principles and practices, is
one place the entire family can
not only be together, but also
feel a connection to other likeminded
people and families. The
rich heritage of the Grange as an
organization with shared values
and missions is relevant today.
One hundred years ago it was
about farmers coming together
and overcoming rural isolation.
Today it is about a larger and redefined
community but it is still
about coming together and overcoming
isolation.
In a 1986 study, psychologists
McMillan and Chavis identified
the four elements required for a
“sense of community”: 1) membership,
2) influence, 3) fulfillment
of needs, and 4) shared emotional
connection. An indepth study
isn’t required to see how an active
Grange contributes to those
elements and builds a sense of
community. From potluck suppers
to community service projects,
Grange members and friends
feel a sense of kinship and demonstrate
a cooperative spirit.
There are several important factors
that distinguish the Grange
from other civic and community
organizations. The family orientation
is one notable exception.
Grange families find occasions
when they don’t go in a million
directions. Another is the diversity
of programming and interests.
The Grange offers social, political,
economic, and educational
benefits to all. You can’t be born
there, but you can belong.
Walter Boomsma
Valley Grange #144, ME
3rd Place:
Leadership and Community
Service, for and by all ages,
are guiding principles for every
Grange organization. These
principles have not changed.
They are just as important today
as they have been for over
140 years. Every community,
whether large or small, needs
active citizens who are interested
in leading the community
and the organizations that make
up its people. Grange provides
the tools to train young and old
to become leaders and teaches
them the importance of being active
in their community.
All members of the local Grange
are encouraged to be involved
in the community through projects
which benefit the community.
There are as many Community
Service projects as there
are people and needs. Serving
a dinner, being an emergency
shelter, getting dictionaries into
the hands of school children,
these are only a few of the active
projects of Granges. Other members
help their local and area
community through the knitting
and crocheting of mittens, infant
hats, scarves, or making quilts
for emergency use. Granges encourage
younger members, and
whole families, to be involved in
assisting others through the shoe
box projects and other “Kids to
Kids” projects.
Historically, Granges have been
a social and educational gathering
place for families in the rural
communities. Granges helped
the farmers learn and share new
ideas on farming and community
matters. This learning was not
just a lecture, often a debate was
scheduled to hear both sides of an
issue. The Grange has assisted
the women of the community to
be involved outside their homes.
The spirit of growth, mind, body
and commitment as well as good
will to all has always been a part of Grange. Today is no different,
children with only one parent or
who are being raised by grandparents,
single adults, or older
couples, all are vital to their community
and to their Granges.
Grange teaches its members,
and visitors, about the needs of
the community and how they can
assist. As a social gathering place
ideas and needs are shared in
an open forum; nonmembers are
encouraged to participate in activities
and they are recognized
for their contributions.
Granges and communities need
leaders, people who can act and
react for the good of all. Through
its training workshops, lecturers’
programs, and regular work,
each member is encouraged
to learn to be a leader. A good
Grange, junior or community, will
assist each member to fulfill their
potential as leaders. The skills
learned in the meeting room
with friends and associates will
benefit the community as these
people, young and old, take part
in community activities whether it
is in government, other volunteer
activities or just as better citizens
who are informed and involved.
Today’s communities need the
support of committed Granges
and Grange members, and
Granges need the support of their
communities to be successful.
Diane Bassette Nelson
Interlaken Grange #160, NY
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