Good Day! Fall 2018 [V2I3]

A quarterly publication of the National Grange

l Vol. 2, Issue 3 l Fall 2018

Good DAY!

™

CHALLENGES

AT EVERY TURN

Young, beginning farmers face barriers when entering man’s oldest profession

ONLY THE BEST FOR GRANGE MEMBERS

Quality, affordable, Medicare programs, Retirement planning tools, Lifetime income plans, more!

We’re American Senior Benefits (ASB) a nationwide insurance and financial services marketing company specializing in serving Social Security-eligible Americans.

Starting now we’re ready to serve Grange members and their families with personalized services and top-quality insurance and financial services products. Headquartered in Austin, TX and Kansas City, MO, we have regional and district offices across the U.S. And we’re one of the fastest- growing insurance sales organizations. Our specialties include: • Medicare Programs, including top-selling Medicare Supplements • Helping clients receive guaranteed Income for a Lifetime • Putting in place protection for your hard-earned assets (such as your home) Here’s something great — every plan is customized for you and you never pay a penny for our consultations!

Approved by State Granges The State Granges we are working with have endorsed our program. That means so much to us, and we hope that you, as a Granger, will take a look at what we have to offer! After all, the program was designed specifically for you.

Effective immediately, we’re proud to be associated the following State Granges: Connecticut, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Nebraska, Indiana and Iowa.

Other Granges are coming on-line fast. We hope to be providing services in every Grange State by the end of 2018. Urge your state leadership to contact us today to see how we can help you!

We believe this is going to be a long-standing relationship that will benefit Grangers every step of the way.

Get more information, free, without any obligation.

JUST CONTACT ME AT: Christopher L. Cleland, CFP® CELL: (860) 729-0804 or OFFICE: (860) 676-0260 ext.. 240 American Senior Benefits, 10 Waterside Drive, Suite 104, Farmington, CT 06032

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NATIONAL NEWS & VIEWS

National President suggests outreach to young, beginning farmers NEW SECTION: Feedback provides answers to readers’ questions on various organizational topics

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Data being collected on local involvement in food security awareness, outreach

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Junior/Juvenile BINGO New Passport teaches about U.S. Postal Service 2 Connecticut Juniors show off writing skills, pen winning essays

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JUNIOR GRANGE Junior Grange celebrates 130 year legacy in 2018

Master’s Recipe: Apple Carrot Squares

Members receiving recognition for years of service

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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OP-ED: What ag needs now is more labor Open Internet Change will advance rural broadband

GRANGE YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

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FOOD NEWS & RECIPES Abundance of fall treat, the apple, means adding to your cooking repertoire

Granges celebrating milestone anniversaries

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Past National Convention Chair remembered

Interesting things in store for upcoming Annual Session in Stowe, VT Grange Revival details, registration made available

MEMBER RECOGNITION

PROFILE: National Grange Youth Ambassador Jacob Gwin following in siblings’ footsteps Young father pens list of things he wants his daughter to know

CLASSIFIEDS

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New State President welcomed, long-time member congratulated and unique fundraising items from around the nation featured

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STATE & LOCAL GRANGE NEWS Maryland Grange hosts 12th Annual Dairy Family Appreciation Dinner + BONUS: Potluck Recipes

PERSPECTIVE: Barriers to Entry Several stories highlight issues related to the changing of the guard on American farms

HOBBIES Grange Radio host recalls early development of his radio hobby DIY: Recycled SelfWatering Planter

LAST WORD Concept of membership may require stretch of the imagination

Good Day!™ magazine wants to be a part of your business or Grange’s success. Ad space is available in upcoming issues at low rates for designed ads and classified ads related to Grange events, fundraisers, etc. Email National Grange Communications and Development Director Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios at communications@nationalgrange.org or call (202) 628-3507 ext. 102 or (301) 943-1090 for our ad rate sheet.

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Staff

MEET THE Publisher Betsy E. Huber National Grange Master (President) betsy@nationalgrange.org Editor Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios National Grange Communications & Development Director communications@nationalgrange.org

Subscriptions Assistant Stephanie Wilkins National Grange IT Director swilkins@nationalgrange.org

Subscription Manager Loretta Washington National Grange Sales, Benefits, Programs & Membership Recognition Director lwashington@nationalgrange.org

Copy Editor Stephanie Tiller National Grange Convention/Operations Director stiller@nationalgrange.org

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Burton Eller National Grange Legislative Director beller@nationalgrange.org Stewart Hughes National Grange Controller shughes@nationalgrange.org

Christine Hamp National Lecturer lecturer@nationalgrange.org

Charlene Shupp Espenshade National Grange Youth Leadership Development Director youth@nationalgrange.org

Pete Pompper National Community Service Director communityservice@nationalgrange.org

Samantha Wilkins National Junior Grange Development Director junior@nationalgrange.org

NATIONAL GRANGE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Mujo Mrkonjic Building Engineer

OUR

F. Philip Prelli, CT, Overseer philip.prelli@snet.net Leroy Watson, NH, Chairman

Officers

William “Chip” Narvel, DE, National Steward

leroyawatson@nationalgrange.org

John Plank, IN, National Assistant Steward

Lynette Schaeffer, IL, Secretary

Brenda Rousselle, VT, National Lady Assistant Steward

schaeffr@att.net

Barbara Borderieux, FL, National Chaplain

Duane Scott, WI

Dwight Baldwin, IO, National Treasurer

duanerscott@yahoo.com

Judy Sherrod, TN, National Secretary

Stephen Coye, NY

Christopher Johnston, MI, National Gatekeeper

steve@nygrange.org

Cindy Greer, CO, National Ceres Susan Noah, OR, National Pomona

ASSEMBLY OF DEMETER

Welina Shufeldt, OK, National Flora

Bruce Croucher, NY | Roger Bostwick, KS | James Owens, ME

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE

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www.nationalgrange.org

Features SWEET HARVEST

31 Headquarters’ Rooftop Hives Tapped for First Time

LINGERING EFFECTS

44 Army Veteran Pens Personal Tale of Health Scare to Highlight What Veterans Need to Know about Their Increased Vulnerability

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COMPETITIVE CAMARADERIE

Regional Conferences bring out Best in Youth, Juniors, Young at Heart throughout the Country

WHO WE ARE

®

The National Grange was founded as

areas of agriculture – including those who

a fraternal organization for farm families

just like to eat – and our local Granges

in 1867 – opening its doors to men and

provide millions of dollars and hours of

women equally from the start.

service to their neighbors annually.

From rural free delivery of mail to the

Each Grange operates as a grassroots

direct election of U.S. Senators by the

unit, taking on projects most appropriate

people, Grangers have influenced so many

for their communities and advocating

aspects of American life and culture.

based on their members’ beliefs.

Today we continue to advocate for rural Americans and those interested in all

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE ®

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Learn more at www.nationalgrange.org.

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

FINANCE

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

TRAVEL

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X

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

HEALTH

Our partnerships with Comfort Keepers, one of the top companies in the eldercare industry, Life Line, and the Medical Air Services Association, the oldest prepaid emergency transportation and screening organization, are sure to give you peace of mind about your health.

PHARMACY

We have multiple partnerships to help Grange members obtain discount pharmacy cards. CVS Caremark offers the RxSavings Plus Card. The U.S. Pharmacy Card is a free discount prescription card available to Grangers.

Last offer excludes members in NC. Also a partnership with National Affinity Services allows access to the public subsidized government marketplace.

INSURANCE

We have partnerships with United of Omaha Life Insurance Company and MetLife Home and Auto Insurance to give our members discounts on insurance rates and deals. We are proud to announce a new benefit partner, Clouse Insurance Agency.

State-based and property-based restrictions apply. Contact agency directly.

Excludes Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and North Carolina.

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

designed for We plan our layout so that many of our pages can be pulled out and either completed and returned or copied and given to members or friends.

Help us share the news of our Order and encourage people to get their own subscription to Good Day!

distribution

Complete & Return 8 17-18

Complete our Food Security Outreach & Programming Survey and return to HQ

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Grange Revival Individual Event Registration

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Grange Revival Lodging Reservation Form

Grange Member Benefits

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Junior Writing: Patriotism in the U.S

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2019 Grange Way Calendar Ad

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45 Things I want my Daughter to Know

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PSA: Rural Hunger (1/2 page)

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DIY: Self Waterer Recycled Craft

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Grange Mercantile Poster

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Apple Recipes

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2019 Grange Revival Save the Date

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PSA: Reduce Food Waste

Potluck Recipes: Calvert Grange, MD

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Membership Zoom Meeting Schedule

Junior/Juvenile Grange BINGO

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Grange Store @ Monroe Classic Sales

Copy & Hand Out/Post 6

37-38 71 72

Esto Perpetua: Appeal Letter

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Junior Grange Passport: U.S. Postal Service + Worksheet

Back

152nd Annual National Grange Convention Poster

WRITE FOR Good DAY!™ We want to encourage all of our

For Juniors, you may get your

talented fiction, poetry, nonfiction or

parent, guardian or another mentor or

org. There is no guarentee of publication

short skit writers, photographers and

adult’s assistance to write the piece, but

and all content should represent good

illustrators out there to share with the

we expect all those who assist to adhere

moral values and Grange ideals. No

Grange family their works!

to high ethical standards and allow the

pornographic or explicit language or

Junior’s work to be reflected without

photos will be accepted. There is no age

influence by the adult/older assistant.

restriction on any creative submission.

For

all

submissions,

the

work

must be your own original writing or photography.

to

communications@nationalgrange.

Submissions may be made via email

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE ®

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7

Esto Perpetua Ensure the

Grange future in 4 easy steps

Contribute to the National Grange Building Fund or Other Worthy Projects

With necessary repairs like the chiller unit, the National Grange is in need of your help. You can make a difference by donating directly to the National Grange. Donations to Grange Foundation help in many ways to strengthen our organization and ensure it truly lives on forever.

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

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

NATIONAL GRANGE

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

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

I am making a $_________ donation to National Grange.

$______ National Headquarters Building Fund

I am making a $_________ donation to Grange Foundation.

$______ Internship Program $______ Legal Protection Fund GRANGE FOUNDATION

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

$______ Endowment/General Fund

STEP 3. PROVIDE YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS. Check one. _____ I have enclosed checks made payable to National Grange and/or Grange Foundation. _____ I wish for my donation to be made via credit card.

(Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted) Name on card ___________________________________

$______ Junior Grange Fund $______ Grange Youth Fund $______ Community & Leadership Development Fund

Card Number ____________________________________ Expiration Date ________/_________ CVC __________

$______ American Arts and Culture Fund $______ Kelley Farm Fund

Signature _______________________________________

$______ Communication Fellows Program $______ Grange Radio Project

You may also go online to www.nationalgrange.org/give or call Amanda Brozana Rios (202) 628-3507 ext. 102 to make your contribution today.

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

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE

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MASTER’S CORNER Betsy E. Huber

Summer—what a glorious time of year!

I love to be out in the garden

challenges of weed control, pests and diseases.

A market for your crop is

playing in the dirt, watching the miracle

necessary, and logistics of getting that

of seeds growing into large plants and

crop to the market.

turning into food. I even love pulling weeds—my stress reliever!

In spite of the difficulties, many

It’s fun to

young people or refugees from the rat

greet my goats in the morning, watch the

race have a passion to enter a career

horses graze next door, listen to the cows

in agriculture. How do we encourage

mooing in the distance. I don’t have a

these beginners? Where can they turn

farm, but my roots are still deep in the

for information, advice, and financial

soil and the farm community.

assistance? This issue of Good Day!™

Farming seems like fun in the

examines the challenges and successes

summertime when the weather is nice.

of new and beginning farmers.

The

Most of the time you feel in control of

Grange has always supported agriculture

nature—if it’s too dry, there’s always the

and in today’s world we need to continue

hose or bucket to water the plants. Rarely

to assist and encourage all those who

there’s too much rain or wind, but it’s not

are willing and eager to work the land

a big problem for your garden. You may

providing food for us all.

think “It would be great to do this for a

Consider hosting a “young farmers”

living, to get paid for raising beautiful

or “new farmers” night or weekend.

vegetables or herbs for others.” But it’s

Invite extension agents and business

not that easy!

professionals, financial planners and

Making a living off of any size or type

insurance agents to be part of a fair to

of farm is hard work, with lots of stress

talk to people who may want to consider

and challenges. Not only is there much

starting their own farm or food business.

specialized knowledge to learn, but it

Make sure to support your local FFA and

takes a lot of money to get started, even

4-H, NJHA and other youth organizations

on a small scale. In my area farmland

that help to train the next generation of

can sell for more than $20,000 per acre.

America’s producers. Consider holding

Costs of equipment, seeds, fertilizers,

an appreciation night for farmers and

and labor add up quickly.

farm families in your area to come and

?

There are

potluck, like Calvert Grange in Rising Sun, Maryland, did recently for dairy farmers (you can read more about it on page 35).

And of course, don’t forget to uphold our legacy of being advocates of today and tomorrow’s farmers by lobbying for the Farm Bill, funding and programs for new farmers, ag labor legislation, farmto-school connections, whole milk in schools, and many other issues that can benefit those who produce our food.

And enjoy lots of local fresh fruit and produce this summer!

Master/President, National Grange

One of my fundamental goals as your National President is to be transparent and responsive.

In this issue, we’ve launched a section where you can submit questions and get answers on Grange concerns or observations. Some readers have submitted these notes over the past few months and answers can be helpful not just for them, but for everyone connected to the Order.

We hope you, too, wil send your queries for incusion. You can email me at betsy@nationalgrange. org or send them to 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006 ATTN: Good Day!

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From the desk of the AMANDA LEIGH BROZANA RIOS Just shy of 13 months after we said “I do,” Victor and I closed on our first home together.

We have both owned homes before, but this was our first “together home” though we both admit it’s not likely to be our “forever home.”

Without both very flexible bosses and the modern convenience of high-speed internet, we would have been unable to make this purchase and move on with our lives in a more traditional way - living without roommates (and getting truly used to knowing exactly who to blame for dishes being put away out of place and the laundry vent not being cleaned).

When we first started thinking about a home of our own, we knew a house even a townhouse or condo - in the D.C. marketplace was out-of-reach (many thanks to my mortgage-esque student loan payments each month).

Thanks to the types of jobs we have telecommuting - if approved by both of our employers - opened a world of homeownership possibilities as long as we were able to find broadband in the communities we were considering. More specifically, we had to find something affordable that was close enough to D.C. so I could commute a few days a month for necessary on-site activities.

As an only child for my father, and with my mom and stepfamily also within the county borders, our search immediately began in my hometown area: Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Affordable, close enough to D.C. and Victor’s family, picturesque in many areas, it would be nice to be home. However, when we began to search for homes serviced by a broadband provider, a majority of the county’s 783 square miles were immediately off the table.

Less than an hour north of our state

capital, broadband is still not a reality in the lives of much of our 144,000 residents.

Elected officials for the county often cry against braindrain, and have for two decades since I sat on a countywide taskforce that worked to envision what our community would need to thrive today.

They wonder why only some areas of the county continue to attract younger people home or to the area for the first time while many of our former coal towns remain gutted. The boom in these towns is in the opioid epidemic and blight, not business or vibrant living.

And I know the county I will always refer to as “home” is not alone.

With all the focus on broadband expansion from government, agencies and industries, millions in rural America are without any option for high speed internet.

In the often quoted 1989 movie, Field of Dreams, a skeptical Ray played by Kevin Costner hears a whisper from his cornfield saying, “If you build it, they will come.”

Maybe it’s time that ghost paid a visit to some of our rural counties.

If you build it, we will come (back).

We will ditch our four figure rent for three figure mortgages. Leave our cookie cutter coffee shops for the sit and sip cafe with local appeal.

Many of us will gladly trade much about the city and suburban life, and bring with us skills and talents that will make our communities richer - economically, socially and culturally - if given the opportunity.

There’s something so nice about being home, even if it’s just a feeling of home and not the actual place you grew up in. Small towns could be big winners.

Yet as a former small-town reporter, I know the constraints on local budgets.

I know there are consequences for every expenditure.

I’ve often thought that every local

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Editor politician must have a gambler’s heart and penchant for playing kick the can down the road. It’s not that they want to wait to make investments but that they must to keep their communities entact - their neighbors truly are taxed to the ends of their rope.

But adding a few new neighbors - kind of like the Grange’s call to add a few new members - can add to the bottom line.

And those new neighbors may have a bit deeper pockets if they transplanted from areas where higher salaries are normal or with more in-demand degrees. They may also have skills, connections and passions that will help local leaders in their call for the build out of broadband to their small communities or the investment in facilities that add to the quality of life for everyone in the area.

Today, we’ve moved in and started to make ourselves at home. In the next few weeks we’ll even welcome a new addition to our family - an exchange student from Germany who will stay with us for the 2018-19 school year. More on that in another issue.

Yet, the hunt for our new home had another lasting impact: it re-fueled my fire to advocate for broadband expansion because what if, one day, our new home is just not close enough? What if I need to be back in Schuylkill County and cannot reliably access the internet to work?

Earning a living and being able to take care of family matters should not be a choice I or anyone else from rural American should have to make.

A big thank you to everyone who has sent us warm wishes on the new house. And for anyone who wants to get in touch with me, I’m just as available as ever. Feel free to call (202) 599-1000 or email abrozana@nationalgrange.org or send snail mail to our new abode - 224 E. Orange St., Shippensburg, PA 17257.

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FEEDback ?:

“I think we should do an audit of our books at our local Grange. Our Master and Treasurer

aren’t interested and said it would cost money

to do it and there is no need. Are there any rules about this?”

- A Question of Cents in New York Every Grange is required to perform an annual audit of its financial records. If your Grange has purchased bonding insurance, which is also required, it will not cover you in case of a claim if your Grange has not conducted an annual audit. An audit protects those members handling Grange funds from accusations of wrongdoing. An audit of the secretary’s and treasurer’s accounts can be done by a committee of Grange members; you do not have to hire a CPA for this.

?:

“Our sashes are very tattered and old. Some

?:

we don’t even have anymore. I think it’s

important to have regalia to make it feel like

an important meeting and to give officers something they

“The Grange used to offer membership

free after 50 years of dues paying. What

happened to that? Wouldn’t that help with

our membership problem?”

can wear with pride. I remember my parents so carefully folding and putting sashes away when they served as

- Nickeled and Dimed in Ohio

Assistants at the same time. We’d stay late just so they

could make sure everything was treated properly. What can we do short of spending money we don’t have to replace

Golden Sheaf members are still exempt from National Grange dues if they received their Golden Sheaf

them?”

certificate prior to 2001. Delegates to the National Grange took away the exemption for members

- Shabby is not chic in Washington

reaching 50 years after 2001 because of budgetary

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Many State Granges have sets of regalia that have

issues. We have thousands of members who have

been returned by closing Granges that are still in

belonged for more than 50 years, so forgiving dues

very good condition. Contact your State Grange to

for them would make a huge impact on our budget.

ask if you could obtain a newer set of sashes for your

Community and State Granges are still able to exempt

Grange. Some State Presidents have also shared

members from dues if they choose to; however the

with the National Office and other State Granges

National dues of $14 per member per year is still due.

information about excess inventory, like sashes,

Dedicated Grange members who have kept their

manuals and implements that they have available, so

membership paid up for over 50 years are not likely to

your State Grange may have a lead even if they don’t

drop because of our minimum amount of dues if they

have their own supply.

have continued to pay for such a long time.

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

?:

“I’m a fairly new member - actually a boomerang. I was a member years ago when my

parents were active and I was young, but then moved and didn’t stay connected. After

moving back near home recently, I rejoined the Grange and have found that a lot of the

“older” members are very negative. They act as if new people should basically know everything already

- what way to turn, what the password is and how we get it, etc. etc. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of mentoring but there is a lot of picking that seems unfair and makes the experience not very pleasant.

I’ve thought about just coming to help at suppers and things rather than going to meetings.”

- Off on the wrong foot in Rhode Island

It’s sometimes hard, when you’ve been doing things in the same way for years, to accept new people with new ideas into your Grange. Many of us have grown up in the Grange and doing the ritual is second nature—we do it without even thinking about it.

One idea might be to play “musical offices.” Everyone take a different office for a meeting just to try it out. This puts most everyone on the same footing, doing a job they are not familiar with. An open discussion at a meeting about mentoring, expressing interest in learning everything there is to know about Grange, may encourage the longer-term members to talk about what each part of the ritual means. Use the Lecturer’s program to examine the Degrees or go through the opening ceremony step by step and demonstrate the proper procedures. This may make the longer members feel more pride in their Grange meeting and give them a desire to pass along the proper way to do things without judgment.

?:

“I’ve been interested to work with my Grandkids who live out of state, away from me and the Grange, on Junior projects. My daughter said she thinks some of their

friends might be interested if there were contests they could enter and things, but I don’t really know how to make this work. Suggestions?”

- Long Distance Grandma in Illinois

?:

“So many people love my recipes I

make from Grange cookbooks. I tell them and show them but the young

people just don’t want to have cookbooks or buy

them. We still have a bunch of State ones left

over from the last time we made one. The young people look up recipes on their phones instead.

Why don’t we put our recipes online?”

We are so glad you’re aware of the wide variety of contests and

- Thinking outside the recipe box in Maine

activities that these Junior-aged kids could find of interest! Until a Grange/Junior Grange could be chartered in their state, your

While we made all of our cookbooks available

grandchildren can always be carried under your Subordinate Grange

digitally, there is a CD available through the

as a 1+ member - even if you are not in the same state. Junior

Grange Supply Store of all the recipes found in

Members under the 1+ program can participate in all things Junior,

three out-of-print National Grange cookbooks

even when there are no other Juniors in their area as long as they

- the Bicentennial Year Cookbook, Family

have a mentor who is part of a Subordinate Grange that helps to

Cookbook from Country Kitchen, and the Glory

oversee their progress.

of Cooking. The CD is available for only $12

National programming includes several contests in the areas of

and proceeds go to the Grange’s Trademark

public speaking, Sign-A-Songs, art, writing, photography and more.

Protection Fund. Setting up a new website

The new National Junior Grange Passport Program also presents a wide variety of educational opportunities for any Junior-aged child with varying degrees of difficulty so you can find something

with recipes would be very costly, and would require we compete against already established sites and brands. While it’s not a “never will it

appropriate to them. And there is an annual Awareness Award

happen,” right now we are focused on other

focused on agricultural issue as well as the newly launched Pen Pal

member services that have been requested or

Program that offers Juniors the opportunity to connect with peers

are needed that are within our means. A huge

from across the nation. All information and materials are available on our website at nationaljuniorgrange.org and as always you can reach out to National Junior Grange Director Samantha Wilkins at

congrats and thank you, though, for thinking outside the box and talking positively about the

junior@nationalgrange.org for more answers or suggestions.

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Grange when sharing your cooking!

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That’s the

Grange

way

2019 Wall Calendar A Fundraiser of the Grange Foundation for the communications Intern program

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Pre-order yours for $20 (plus shippinG)

tiny.cc/GrangeCalendar19

We live in a

By Elizabeth Hiner Member, Florida Grange #306, CO My husband, Dean, and I live in a food desert.

Our home in rural Ignacio, Colorado, located equal distance between Durango, the town of Ignacio, and Bayfield, according to the USDA is located in an area where available food, such as fresh fruits and vegetables are more than a mile away in the city limits or ten miles away in rural areas or not readily accessible by walking, transit or automobile.

We are not alone. In fact, I’m sure many Grangers also live in food deserts.

And the problem – despite the number of organizations working to reduce hunger and increase nutritious food options available to individuals across the U.S. – is growing.

Statistics from the USDA between 2010 and 2015 for our area show that the size of the food desert here grew due to the influx of residents that live outside the city limits.

Who knew? I certainly did not, I just thought this was how it was when you lived in the country.

I have also lived in large cities – Denver and Dallas – and in small towns and a lot of them turned out to be food deserts as well.

In town, if you did not have a car, you walked to the store or took the bus.

When my kids were 9 and 11, we lived in North Bend, Oregon. We did not have a car and walked more than a mile for groceries, pulling our little red wagon. Not a bad trip going, we live on top of one hill and the store was on top of the next. Coming back was a trek, but we still had fun. The way the kids tell it,

food desert; do you?

it was uphill the whole way.

Now my husband and I live about 14 miles out of town and are on a limited budget.

Durango does have an Albertsons and two City Markets (Kroger’s) both of which are 14 and 15 miles respectively.

Bayfield has a small grocery store but is smaller than the big box stores in Durango, same for Ignacio, even though that store is a bit bigger. For most shopping Durango or Farmington, New Mexico, at 50 miles south – Sam’s and Safeway along with the stores mentioned above, are your only choices. Our closest large box grocery store is Wal-Mart at just over 10 miles, it takes 23 minutes by car and about three-and-a-half hours on foot. We do not have transit of any kind including taxis or app-based ride shares.

To conserve our gas as prices are inching ever higher, we do our marketing once a week to every 10 days. We generally go to at least two of the three stores to get the freshest produce at one and bulk goods at the other depending on the weekly specials.

Shopping can be an all-day affair really fun stuff, which is why my husband stays home if he can, patiently waiting for my arrival to carry it all into the house, and then disappear while I put it away.

The challenge here is that you cannot just run to the store if you forgot something or you need something for dinner.

But more concerning still is the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in our diet at times. When I buy produce, it’s hard because depending on the weather and temperature, they tend to spoil rapidly.

I find that I need to keep a larger stock of canned goods, and still run out of an ingredient I need for what I am fixing.

I have become over the years a great

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experimental cook. According to family, my spaghetti and stroganoff sauces are never the same.

Life in a food desert does not revolve around what the store carries, as they all have an abundance of fresh, frozen and dry goods; it is how easy it is for the individual to get to it and to get it home.

We have Grange members who live out of town with no transportation who rely on friends to shuttle them back and forth, and people like us who just cannot afford to run to town every day. For us, it is just business as usual for where we live and we have adapted to it fairly well… until I want chocolate and Dean says in a salty tone, “I am not going out for that!”

Knowing we live in a food desert wasn’t surprising, I guess, but did raise our awareness of others of our community who are affected so much more, like the elderly who cannot get out or those without a means of transportation at all.

For them this is a constant problem to get the food they need, as they have to depend on others or go without. Turns out for most of us living in food deserts, the food is there, it is getting to it that tends to be the issue.

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Survey data can tell story of Grange impact, may help capture grant funding

By Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios Knowledge is power.

And power is important when telling the story of the Grange today.

WIthout data, the National Grange falls behind our younger peers - who often have “checkbook donor” members rather than active, “boots-on-theground” folks doing the work that needs to be done to help their community - when seeking funding as well as partnership opporunities.

As such, many of the programs and outreach initiatives central to the Grange are overlooked or considered less significant.

We are unable to adequately show how our priorities are carried out and we cannot relay the details of the outreach from local Granges - the true strength of our organization.

At the same time, many other organizations that have sprung up to tackle one issue or another can pull information together quickly about how many members have engaged in what activities to the tune of how many dollars and hours.

Our structure has hindered our ability to do the same, so we rely on voluntary response to inquiries, anecdotes and composite sketches to try to tell potential funders, partners and the media just how important Grange outreach in its various forms is in small-town America.

On the following page, we have a survey that - if a large enough sample of responses are garnered - will allow us to better show the impact of the Grange in relation to food security and food literacy.

It will also show if our Granges lie in food deserts and how they become essential resources in those communities

with liimted access to affordable, nutritious and fresh foods.

If your Grange is planning an event, outreach or some other program related to food security, you may report it if it will occur before the end of December 2019.

“We know most of our Granges do some work in the area of food security,” National Grange President Betsy Huber said. “Participation by all of our Granges in this survey will help us put that work already being done into perspective.

Surveys capture what your Grange has done recently related to food security or food literacy, specifically within the last 2 years. The target date for surveys to be completed and returned is June 30, 2019.

Surveys should be returned to the National Grange office at 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006, ATTN: Survey.

How are your neighbors doing?

6.9 Million rural Americans live below the poverty line 15% OF Rural Households StrugglE with Food Security

GRANGE

values

This ad was produced by the National Grange as part of our public service announcement series. This ad may be replicated so long as the Grange Values logo appears.

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2017-2019

Survey of Grange Attitudes, Outreach and Programming Activities Related to Food Security and Food Literacy ® DEFINITIONS FOOD SECURITY - One of the most widely used definitions comes from the final report of the World Food Summit of 1996, which said food security exists “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.”

It is built on three pillars: · Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis. · Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. · Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation.

FOOD LITERACY - Understanding the impact of your food choices on your health, the environment, and our economy.

FOOD DESERT - According to the USDA, an area vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. (Food Desert Map link: tiny.cc/find-food-desert) LOW ACCESS COMMUNITY - An area with at least 500 people and/ or at least 33 percent of the census tract’s population residing more than one mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (for rural census tracts, the distance is more than 10 miles).

Please use definitions to the left to inform your answers.

Complete and return survey as soon as possible to National Grange, 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006 TARGET SUBMISSION DATE: JUNE 30, 2019 Grange Name _______________________________________ Grange #_____________ State _____________ Primary Zip Codes served: Primary: _____________ Additional: _____________

_____________

____________

For these questions, please answer on a scale of 1 to 4. 1 being “not at all important;” 2 “somewhat important;” 3 “important;” and 4 “our highest priority as a Grange.”

How important is food security for your Grange? ________ How important is food literacy for your Grange? ________ Prior to answering this survey, was your Grange aware if any of the top communities you serve are in whole or in part a food desert according to the USDA Economic Research Service? ____ Yes ____ No ALL BELOW YES OR NO QUESTIONS ARE FOR JANUARY 1, 2017 through (planned) DECEMBER 31, 2019.

Has your Grange held a Lecturer’s program or other program regarding food security?

_________

Has your Grange held a Lecturer’s program or other program regarding food literacy?

_________

Has your Grange held a Lecturer’s program or other program regarding food deserts ?

_________

Has your Grange held a food drive or done any community service involving collection or distribution of food for the food insecure in the communities you serve? _________ Has your Grange donated to any organization/program that helps those struggling with food security?

_________

Has your Grange directly advertised programming or free/reduced price food events to those who partcipate in food programs (WIC, SNAP, etc.) or receive food aid (food pantry, free and reduced lunch program)? _________ Has your Grange (or affiliated Junior Grange) offered programming/events specifically for children to encourage food security (ex. nutrition/healthy meal workshops, cooking classes, backyard gardening)? _________ Has your Grange advocated for municipal ordinances or directives that would create/allow more access to food via concepts like edible landscapes, backyard chickens, creation of community garden plots, or other ways in which people can increase their food security independently or through community-owned spaces? _________ Has your Grange hosted an event, open to the community, at which a free meal was served?

_________

Has your Grange hosted a low-cost meal event open to the community?

_________

Has your Grange held a community forum or been involved in or organized an event to engage leaders/legislators and/or the pubilc on an issue related to food security or food literacy?

_________

Please indicate if your Grange has held any type of program in any of these areas in the past 2 years.

Canning/Jarring/Food Preservation Couponing/Food Budget

Other related program (describe):

Other Food Related Home Economics Nutrition

Have you in the past 2 years organized and/or provided space for any of the following?

Ride Sharing for Food/Groceries Food Pantry

Community Farmers Market Community Garden

Please indicate if your Grange has held community forums or advocated on any of these areas in the past 2 years.

Increasing community availability of food access Improved water quality

Other related advocacy (describe):

Please write a short narrative about why these issues are of importance to your Grange?

Name of Submitter _________________________________________________________ Position held if applicable ____________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________________ Email ___________________________________________ How many members does your Grange have (optional)? _____________

What exactly is...

‘the Grange Way?

By Walter Boomsma

and energized? Are we exploring our

Member, Valley Grange #144, ME

traditions and the Grange Way of Life?

Most Grangers who’ve heard the ritual repeatedly will report having a favorite passage or two. While I find mine change and shift, this is a favorite time of year because I look forward to hearing one very important truth during the opening of the installation of officers.

“The Order of the Patrons of Husbandry is the only association whose teachings accompany its members in their daily pursuits. They form part of the farmer’s life. They do not call him from his work to put his mind upon any other subject but furnish recreation in his daily duties, and, by cheerful instruction lighten and elevate his labor.”

That deserves some exploration. We are hearing and saying “that’s the Grange Way” a lot this year, thanks to National Grange adopting it as a slogan or motto.

But what, exactly is the Grange Way? While it might be challenging to describe it in 500 words or less, I know where to find the answer–it lies in the what we call the ritual or, perhaps more accurately, the teachings of the Grange. Personally, I think there is really no one “Grange Way.” There are different Grange Ways that are linked together and have much in common.

Perhaps the question is as important as the answer. My personal favorite answer is found in the Grange Motto. The Grange Way is: in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things charity.

But when I think about “The Grange Way” and its many meanings, I’m led to two disturbing conclusions about our Order.

First, too often our teachings are neglected and we lose the connections between our teachings and our daily life.

considering spreading the Degrees over

One Grange I have spoken with is an extended period of time. Why? Because they think it would be great to have some discussion among new and experienced members after each degree to explore what the candidates have learned while reminding others of Grange Teaching. I think that’s awesome. We know it is time to deemphasize the secret aspects of the order. Yes, they did serve a positive purpose years ago but it’s time to come out from behind the password and secret work. We need to leave our halls to stand in our community next to our neighbors and “Grange” becomes a place we go once a month. And while there, too often we simply go through the motions, a very real hazard found when practicing ritual and maintaining tradition. Perhaps we need reminding of why we “go to Grange” so our daily labor is lightened and elevated.

I occasionally “scare” traditionalists by departing from the ritual—or more accurately, interrupting the language and flow of the ritual. For the good of the order, I want to know what we are doing as individuals and a Grange to “nurture hope?” We pledge to do that at least twice in every meeting, seems like we ought to give some thought to how we follow through. The Grange is about life; it is not merely about meetings.

My second concern closely relates to the first. I haven’t counted, but I think most Grangers would agree education and instruction are mentioned repeatedly throughout all ritual. Does our practice reflect that? Hosting a workshop about seed starting counts, but does every meeting we attend leave us challenged

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friends. The Grange Way has a lot to offer.

We have to discover the big opportunity to talk about that openly in ways that are exciting and relevant. Maybe it starts with, “The Grange and its teachings will accompany you in your daily pursuits…”

If we truly want to be relevant in today’s society, it’s time to follow our own teachings and discover how those teachings contribute to our daily lives. I am not a fan of elevator speeches because they become contrived. When I coach people to work with the media, we learn “sound bites.” Those are simple nuggets, ideally delivered in ten to fifteen seconds.

The reporter is hoping to hear passion and spontaneity, not a canned speech.

There may be millions of people, glued to their TVs, waiting for your answer. You’ve got fifteen seconds to tell them, what is “the Grange Way.” Reprinted with permission; this originally appeared as the June edition of the Exploring Traditions blog on the Maine State Grange website

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→

→

Mercantile 2018

→

→

Calling all crafters

→

Stitch · Paint · Quilt · Knit · Sew · Chisel · Stamp · Weave · Draw · Craft · Blow

→

Grange Foundation

→

The Grange Foundation Mercantile is seeking donations of high-quality handcrafted items (quilted items, embroidered items, hand-sewn aprons, doll clothes, handmade jewelry, baskets, etc.).

→

→

Donations may be hand-delivered to the 152nd Annual National Grange Convention or sent to the Grange Foundation.

If delivering to the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, in Stowe, Vermont, donations must be received by Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

→

→

Donations sent must be received by no later than November 1 at the National Grange Headquarters. Packages should be addressed GRANGE FOUNDATION, Attn: Mercantile, 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Once received, the items will be prepared for sale at the Mercantile and all profits will go to the Grange Foundation, a charitable 501(c)(3) organization.

All donations will receive a thank you letter from the Foundation.

→

Questions or inquiries?

Contact National Grange Lecturer Christine Hamp at

lecturer@nationalgrange.org or by phone at (509) 953-3533.

The

Grange

Foundation

Crochet · Spin · Bind · Sculpt · Forge · EmbroideR · Tat

Honoring

L egacy

THE BUILDERS OF OUR

GRANGE ANNIVERSARIES 125 YEAR GRANGES • Springwater Grange #263, OR • Uxbridge Grange #200, MA

100 YEAR GRANGES • Ada Grange #570, OR • Trexlertown Grange #1755, PA

MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARIES

If your Grange is celebrating 100, 125 or 150 years of service to your community, please contact Loretta Washington at the National Grange six weeks in advance of your celebration to receive a plaque and letter for $10, including shipping. The names of Granges celebrating 150 years will also be engraved on a perpetual plaque hung at the National Grange Headquarters.

80 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP Connecticut • Adella Buswell, Wallingford Grange #33 • Janet Mann, Wallingford Grange #33 Illinois • Theo Hildebrand, Flora Grange #1762 Maine • Phyllis Hunter, Benton Grange #458 New Hampshire • Arlene Weeks, Chichester Grange #132

New York • Dorothy Sprague, Ross Grange #305 • Frank Walker, Ross Grange #305 Ohio • Mildred Wilson, Goshen Grange #578 Pennsylvania • Robert Buckley, Hookstown Grange #1980 • Ruth Steeley, Plumsteadville Grange #1739 Washington • Andrew Smith, North Bellingham Grange #201

75 YEARS CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP Connecticut • Robert Burns, Beacon Valley Grange #103 • Arthur Crofts, North Stonington Community Grange #138 • Edmond McGowan, North Stonington Community Grange #138 • Carrol Miner, North Stonington Community Grange #138 • Inez Tomlinson, Wallingford Grange #33 • Emma Wall, Wallingford Grange #33 Illinois • Elsie Heidenreich, Broad Hollow Grange #1806 Maine • Harold Beisaw, North Jay Grange #10 • Gerald Foss, Danville Junction Grange #65 • Barbara Griffin, North Scarboro Grange #495 • Barbara Hutchinson, North Jay Grange #10 • Wilson Shores, Benton Grange # 458 Massachusetts • Thelma Gibbs, Laurel Grange #161 • Bernice Griffin, Laurel Grange #161 • Phyllis Hobson, Laurel Grange #161 • Norma Kellogg, Williamsburg Grange #225

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New Hampshire • Helen Adjutant, Rochester Grange #86 • Theodore Bailey, Chichester Grange #132 • Isabell Bartz, Concord Grange #322 • Virginia Chadwick, Crown Point Grange #65 • Clyde Currier, Blazing Star Grange #71 • Richard Currier, Blazing Star Grange #71 • Esther Grace, Blazing Star Grange #71 • Jane Gordon, Crown Point Grange #65 • Katherine Imbressea, Wingold Grange #308 • Beatrice MacDow, Rochester Grange #86 • Charles Watson, Chichester Grange #132 New York • John F. Greene, Stanford Grange #808 Ohio • Marjorie Whiteleather, Greeley Grange #1741 Oregon • Leland Haldorson, Central Grange #360 Rhode Island • Olive Luther, Kickemuit Grange #24 Pennsylvania • Ruth Hunsicker, Trexlertown Grange #1755 • Elsie Mae Meehan, California Grange #941 • Francis Watterson, Russellville Grange #91 Washington • John Hanson, Swauk Teanaway #984

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MEMBER RECOGNITION

50 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP California • Robert Geissler, Central Union #559 • Jim McGinnis, Central Union #559 Colorado • Thelma Green Fulton, Green Valley #441 Connecticut • Sophia Graus, Glastonbury #26 • Scott Bill Hirst, North Stonington Community #138 • Brian Rathbun, North Stonington Community #138 • Joseph Shaw, Glastonbury #26 Idaho • Lavelle Turner, Edgemere #355 Illinois • Jacqueline Brenner, Enterprise #1929 • Tom Ratcliffe, Flora #1762 • Kenneth Stewart, Enterprise #1929 • Terry Summer, Hopewell #1747 • Janet Woods, Enterprise #1929 • William Woods, Enterprise #1929 Massachusetts • Shirley Annis, Central Community #22 • Elizabeth Breau, Laurel #161 • Richard Chapman, Chesterfied #83 • Martha Emerson, Chesterfield #83 Maine • Brenda Candage, Golden Harvest #33 • Rose Dyke, Rumford #115 • Adrian Griffin, North Scarboro #495 • Galen Mayhew, Golden Harvest #33 Michigan • Marshall Bishop, Home #129 • Wilma Howe, Burns #160 • Marie Thelen, Burns #160 Minnesota • Kathleen Russel, Lake Hubert #735 North Carolina • Larry Barnes, Westbrook #1016 • Thomas Williams, Westbrook #1016

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New Hampshire • Keith Daughen, Blazing Star #71 • Alan Huntoon, Blazing Star #71 • Bernice Nowell, Blazing Star #71 • Errol Peters, Mt. Hope #77 • Gail Peters, Mt. Hope #77 • Dariel Peterson, Antrim #98 • Daniel Plourde, Pembroke #111 • Mary Plourde, Pembroke #111 • Oscar Plourde, Pembroke #111 • Paul Pouliot, Gilman #1 • Alice E. Tuck, Rochester #86 New Jersey • Irene Hartung, Moravian #187 • Richard Hartung, Moravian #187 • Elaine Lloyd, Hamilton #79 New York • Richard Chapman, Albright #440 • Allard E. Hawks, Stanford #808 • Margareta S. Hawks, Stanford #808 • Deborah Hendrickson, Fairport #467 • Thomas Hendrickson, Fairport #467 • Leon Oaks-Lee, Rose #1051 • Robert Oaks, Rose #1051 • Letitia Pickering, Fairport #467 • Elizabeth Rickett, Pleasant Valley #838 • Marcia Ver Straete, Newark #366 • Linda Tompkins, Rose #1051 Ohio • Nancy Althauser, Goshen #578 • Durenda Chappie, Staunton #2685 • Randy Crates, Goshen #578 • Clela DeLancey, Laurel #1678 • Mary Ebner, Pike #1669 • Judy Faulkner, Goshen #578 • Howard Graber, Union #1783 • Helen Hayes, Jefferson #1311 • Betty Holmstrom, Sheffield Star #1610 • Sarah Kaiser, Morgan #829 • Adrienne Marrison, Jefferson #1311 • Shirley Nettler, Laurel #1678 • Steven Pfeiffer, Goshen #578 • Mike Russell, Staunton #2685 • Sarah Sanor, Greeley #1741 • Jane Sherman, Goshen #578 • Ray Swigart, Staunton #2685

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Oregon • Evelyn Dickinson, Enterprise #489 • Richard L. Keller, Beavercreek #276 Pennsylvania • Laverne Balthaser, Shartlesville #1512 • James A. Dinsmore, Harveys-Aleppo #1444 • Barbara Grim, Pioneer #1777 • Willard Grim, Pioneer #1777 • Richard Mangel, Unionville #1971 • Virginia Mangel, Unionville #1971 • Marcia McKelvey, Harvyes-Aleppo #1444 • Marie Ann Oswald, Trexlertown #1755 • Cheryl Reppert, Pioneer #1777 • David Reppert, Pioneer #1777 Vermont • James Williams, Middle Branch #463 Washington • Bettie L. Dean, Tualco #284 • Roger Evans, Ralston #943 • Donald E. Germann, Washington #82 • Dale Hedrick, Colville Valley #249 • O. David Howard, Haynie #169 • Mildred Lansing, Clarkston Heights #982 • Ronald D. Madden, Washougal #69 • John M. Rhodes, Silver Creek Ethel #150 • Jerry Snyder, Ralston #943 • Dennis Wedam, Silver Creek Ethel #150 • James Wedam, Silver Creek Ethel #150 • Veronica A. Zumwalt-Richards, Washington #82 As of March 2017, shipping and handling (s/h) charges for Golden Sheaf and 75 Year membership awards increased to match all other Grange Supply Store s/h charges.

Golden Sheaf certificates and 75-Year Diamond Certificates are $10 each plus shipping & handling based on order total Order total up to $10: $4 s/h; $10.01-$19.99: $5 s/h; $20-$49.99: $7 s/h; $50-$74.99: $9 s/h; $75$99.99 : $10 s/h; $100-$124.99: $12 s/h; $125-$249.99: $15 s/h; $250+: $20 s/h.

MEMORIAL NOTICE LILA TOOKER 149th Annual National Grange Convention Coordinator Lila L. Tooker, 2015 National Grange Convention Regional Chairwoman, was born in Omaha and attended kindergarten through high school in Ralston. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL). She had a Regent’s Scholarship and enough other scholarships to completely cover her tuition.

She taught at Platteview High School until she was cut, due to the budget.

She attended UNL to obtain her Master’s Degree in Student Development. During

her internship, she developed and wrote the Transfer Handbook. She was a student advisor for the College of Nursing for 10+ years, worked in Administrations for 10+ years, and has been with the Pre-Vet Program for the last 6+ years. In all, she worked at UNL for about 30 years.

She started going to Husker football games with her parents when she was two years old and enjoyed sitting on a ledge beside their seats. She has been a great fan ever since.

Lila was a member of Elkhorn V. E. Grange # 393

(Elkhorn, NE). She assisted many of us on various projects, and had “connections” in government and the University of Nebraska that came in very useful when we needed program ideas or speakers.

We will miss her tremendously.

She had a wide range of friends around the world. We all miss her wisdom, expertise, and common sense.

Lila was preceded in death by her father Norman Tooker.

She is survived by her mother Phyllis Tooker, her brother Russ Tooker, and nephew Garrett Tooker.

Cards and condolences may be mailed to Phyllis Tooker,

7745

Park

Lane,

Ralston, NE 68127.

COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION! National Grange Annual Convention Journals of Proceedings (2013-2017) $5 each plus shipping

GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS 3 Cookie Cutter Set Shapes of flag, Grange Hall and Grange emblem, plus recipes. Great for baking or crafts. $10 for three sets, plus shipping

PLACE YOUR ORDER ONLINE AT GRANGESTORE.ORG

OR BY PHONE WITH LORETTA AT 866-4-GRANGE EXT. 109

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Grange Revival envisioned as leisurely, affordable

By Christine Hamp

throwback-style event

Remember when we used to have Grange picnics and other events that allowed for leisurely story-telling, sharing and games...

Well, the “remember when” is about to meet the present.

Next summer, July 23-28, 2019 to be exact, everyone – members and those who haven’t yet joined the Grange – will have the opportunity to embrace the days of old with a fun-filled week of laid back time spent with Grange brothers and sisters from across the country at the initial Grange Revival in Ozark, Arkansas. Come join us and make memories and friends that will last a lifetime.

While there are currently no Granges in Arkansas, the location was fairly deliberate.

“This is nearly a midway point for most of our members,” said Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios, of Pennsylvania, past National Lecturer and current National Grange Communications and Development Director. “Everyone will have to travel some, but that can be part of the fun. Pull out your favorite road trip activity, participate in a Grange Revival road trip scavenger hunt that we’ll put together...

Just get ready to have an experience we’ve been missing.”

Duane and I are already planning our journey – 2,000 miles each way – as well as recruiting road trip travel companions.

Let us know if you want to join the caravan or join us along the way. You can bet that our RV will be prepped and ready for a great adventure! There will be no road side attraction, historical point of interest, small town or natural wonder left undiscovered between Spokane and Ozark, Arkansas. I am already excited!

Stock Photo Grangers can look forward to a relaxed week of fraternal fun at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas, from July 23-28, 2019.

If someone from the East wants to make the journey just as fun for those coming from that side of the country, and lead a caravan, contact me!

For those of us who remember piling into the car or van with Grange friends and traveling to events, this is going to sound familiar. It was these drives and the events we were going to that helped shape our Grange experience and us. It is an experience I’m excited we’ll be able to share with a new generation of Grangers.

A similar event is held in Pennsylvania, started by National Grange President Betsy Huber during her time as State President in the early 2000s.

Called Family Festival, it is held each July on the Centre County Fairgrounds.

Members come and stay in RVs or 10’ x

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10’ canvas tents that the Centre County Pomona Grange owns for use at the Grange Encampment and Fair that turns 145 years old in 2019.

“It’s great for our members to have a chance to get together and do what they want, enjoy time with one another, show off their talents and learn new things like how to paint a barn quilt or make stained glass window hangers,” Huber said.

She said the cost of the long weekend is kept as low as possible and families can choose to bring their own snacks and food or eat meals – often for only a few dollars a person – that are prepared by camp volunteers. They can also find entertainment and informative workshops – but only if they want to.

“It’s your vacation, so you can do

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anything you want. If you want to spend your entire time with your family near your tent or RV, that’s up to you,” Huber said. “It’s just a good, family-friendly, relaxed way to see other Grange members and bond.”

Other organizers such as Roger and Melanie Bostwick, Kansas State Grange President and Grange Foundation Board member respectively, visited the site and have given it a thumbs up.

Mulberry Mountain includes a half-mile stretch of access to the Mulberry River for canoeing, inner-tubing or swimming as well as hiking trails, campfire pits, and more.

There are ponds for fishing and information will be provided to attendees about purchasing a fishing license. There is also an amphitheater that can be used for a Grange talent show and other performances. There will be activities for Juniors that they can choose to take part in, and games for youth and adults like volleyball, horseshoes, corn hole, giant Jenga and more.

“We’re trying to come up with lots of exciting things and are open to suggestions,” Melanie Bostwick said, encouraging those interested to contact the committee by email at grangerevival@gmail.com.

The Bostwicks have also been working to secure entertainment for the event and encourage people to put the event on their calendars and to consider sharing their talents and to bring their instruments.

“They can come and take out their guitar in the afternoon and sit on the amphitheater stage and just play and let people sing along,” Melanie said. “It’s relaxed and memorable.”

Others have been enlisted to provide food options to attendees.

The team is planning two dinners that will be part of the registration price, along with a t-shirt and access to all areas of the facility. They are also working with the venue to establish a Grange Canteen where food items will be available for attendees to purchase nearly at cost and be able to make their own meals, if they want. Each campsite and cabin has a camp grill, making it easy for families to make lunch near their tent, RV or cabin.

“It doesn’t cost much to buy a loaf

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of bread and some lunchmeat to make sandwiches,” said Jody Cameron of Connecticut. “Or you could bring it with you in your own cooler. We plan to have ice on site as well as charcoal.”

The registration fee is $70 per person for 36+ year old members who have not yet earned their Golden Sheaf; $60 per person for youth (14-35 years old) and Golden Sheaf members; $35 per Junior-aged child and $20 for all children 4 and under. The fee covers the two dinners – Friday and Saturday night – as well as an event t-shirt and access to facilities on the site including lakes and trails, all entertainment, games and other services for Grange Revival.

There may be a few additional activities with nominal charges for supplies such as a tie-dye t-shirt making workshop.

There are several different lodging options on-site including a limited number of cabins (with variable sleeping accommodations and rates), a limited number of RV, tent and car sites with electric and water hook ups (maximum 8 people per site; $60 for the week) and dry camp sites. Or attendees can book their own offsite accommodations.

For those who wish to stay in cabins, you must call or text me, Chris Hamp, at (509) 953-3533 to reserve your space. Make sure to identify the cabin of your choice as reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. A non-refundable 25 percent deposit is required by credit card or check at the time of reservation and the full amount must be paid for the cabin by February 1, 2019.

“We hope our younger, more ablebodied folks will consider using a campsite so our more experienced members can enjoy the Revival in cabins that are more appropriate for them, should they wish.

If you have an RV at your disposal, bring it. We don’t want anyone to feel ‘turned away’ from the event,” Brozana Rios said.

Those who wish to have a full-hookup RV or car and tent site must call or send registration forms to me at 16418 N Birdie Road, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026 with a 50 percent non-refundable deposit. Credit or debit cards can be used for deposits or

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Submitted by Mulberry Mountain The

amphitheatre

Mountain

will

be

at

Mulberry

used

for

entertainment throughout the Grange Revival event.

you may send a check, but do this as soon as possible because sites will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and when there are 80 reserved, there will only be dry camp sites remaining.

Dry campsites for RVs, cars or tents are only $10, which may be paid in advance or on site. RVs who dry camp but wish to have access to the dump site can pay $25.

Attendees who choose to dry camp or wish to stay at a local hotel can register for meals, activities or general attendance on site any day of the event – though we do encourage pre-registration.

“For $250 plus gas, a young couple with two Juniors could bring an RV or tent, have a water and electric hook up and enjoy a five-day long vacation with great Grange friends,” Brozana Rios said. We’ve worked to make this an affordable option for everyone, something that they can tell others about and show that Grange is more than just work or a building - it’s fun, it’s alive and they should be part!”

For those planning to fly to the Grange Revival, the committee will assign a point person to provide details about resources we can connect you to for lawn chairs, sleeping bags, and more.

There are bathroom facilities and shower-houses on site and you can access electrical outlets in some communal areas.

We look forward to joining you for a great week of fun and fellowship next July at the Grange Revival!

Grange

R ev iv a l Complete & return ASAP to: Christine Hamp, 16418 N Birdie Road, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026.

Call or text (509) 953-3533 to reserve cabins or full hook-up campsites in advance.

GRANGE REVIVAL 2019

REGISTRATION

_______ I am attending on my own, not as part of an established group _______ I am attending as part of an established group For group registrations: Please indicate the NAME of the responsible PARTY ORGANIZER who we should contact regarding event details and payment. _________________________________________________ You do not need to have all members of your party register at the same time or arrive/attend the event on all of the same days, but please be sure they know the name of their PARTY ORGANIZER to put on their registration forms so we can place families/groups together on site.

Bring your friends. You need not be a Grange member to attend.

REGISTRATION FEE PER PERSON (by age) Pre-Junior (0-4 yrs old): $20 Junior (5-13 yrs old): $35 Youth (14-35 yrs old): $60 Subordinate (36+ yrs old): $70 Golden Sheaf members: $60 Some activities at Grange Revival may be require certain safety gear/equipment rental or supply purchase for a small fee. A full schedule will be provided in early 2019 with fee information and additional options may be posted prior to or at the time of the event. If you have ideas for activities or questions, please email grangerevival@gmail.com.

LODGING FLAT RATES (one-time fee PER PARTY) Lodging reservation deposit is non-refundable.

Dry tent or car site $10 Dry RV w/ access to dump site $25 Hook-up RV, tent or car site*

$60 Cabins - Variable; see Lodging Registration *A max of 8 people are allowed per hookup site. No max for dry sites. ** Non-refundable 50% deposit due upon registration to hold spot for any hook-up camping sites and 25% non-refundable deposit for any cabins; first-come, first-served basis. Spots not paid in full by February 1, 2019 will be released to waitlist.

EVENT REGISTRATION Your Name _________________________________________________________________ Expected Shirt Size __________ Registration type: ______ Pre-Junior ______ Junior ______ Youth _______ Subordinate ______ Golden Sheaf Address _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________ How do you plan to get to Grange Revival? _____ Driving _____ Seeking Carpool _____ Flying _____ Other/Unsure What days do you plan to attend Grange Revival?

____ July 23 (arrive after 8 a.m.) ____ July 24 ____ July 25 ____ July 26 ____ July 27 ____ July 28 (leave by noon)

LODGING RESERVATION _____ Dry camping, no dump/hookups ($10 one time)

______ tent ______ car _____ RV

_____ Hook-up camping ($60 one time)

______ tent ______ car _____ RV

_____ Cabin Rental (one time rental fee, varies, see chart)

(Cabin name: __________________________________)

_____ Off-Property 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 Mulberry Mountain 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 in any part of the facility 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 will 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, of parent/guardian)

CABIN FLAT RATES (one-time fee for full event rental) You may choose to split the cost for this rental with attendees who stay in the cabin with you as you see fit.

You may work with another attendee or set of attendees to take the cabin rental for part of the week. Once the cabin is booked, you may choose how many and who to allow to sleep/use your cabin. We will not be responsible to assist you with finding cabin-mates or filling the cabin on days you may not be able to use it. B=bedroom; LR=Living room Dower House $1,250

B1: 1 King + 1 Full; B2: Twin

Annie’s Cabin $750

B1: 1 Queen

Barn Loft $1,125

B1: 1 Queen; B2: 2 Twins; laundry.

Outlook Cabin $1,750

B1: 1 Queen; B2: 1 Full; B3: 1 Full; LR: Sleeper Sofa

Star I Cabin

$1,000

B1: 1 Queen; LR: Sleeper Sofa

Star II Cabin $1,500

B1: 1 Queen + 1 Full; B2: 1 Full

Lakeside Cottage $1,350

Bedroom 1: 2 Full; Living Room: Full Sleeper Sofa

River Cabin $2,000

B1: 1 Queen; B2: 1 Queen + 1 Full; LR: Sleeper Sofa

_____________________ Date

PAYMENT (Group registrations and/or lodging reservations may be made in one payment for all/some attendees in the party. Please attach/enclose registration forms of all those who are covered by your payment.)

Registration(s) Indicate number of each. Subtotal $________________

_____ Pre-Junior (x$20) _____ Junior (x$35) _____ Youth (x$60) _____ Subordinate (x$70) _____ Golden Sheaf (x$60)

Lodging Subtotal $________________

_____ Pay in Full _____ Deposit only at this time (25% of cabin rate; 50% of hook-up rate; 100% dry rate)

TOTAL PAYMENT TODAY: $________________ All hook-up sites and cabins must be paid in full by February 1, 2019. ____ Pay by enclosing check/money order made out to Grange Revival ____ Please Bill me via PayPal. Send invoice to email (if different from above:) ____________________________________ ____ Please charge my credit card $_____________ (total registration fee+lodging deposit/fee)

Card # _______________________________________________________ Exp. Date ____________ CVC ____________

COMPLETE AND RETURN ASAP TO: Christine Hamp, 16418 N Birdie Road, Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026.

Call or text (509) 953-3533 to reserve cabins or full hook-up campsites in advance.

Fellowship awaits at national

By Stephanie Tiller The 152nd Annual National Grange Convention is quickly approaching!

Grangers from across the country will meet in Stowe, Vermont, at the beautiful Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa on November 1317, 2018. Located at 1746 Mountain Road in the heart of Stowe, the resort features a world-class spa with 30 treatment rooms and over 150 signature healing and anti-aging remedies for the mind, body and soul.

After a long day of policy work, book your appointment to be pampered.

The resort is offering discounted rates for all guests.

In the surrounding area there are many activities to consider, such as skiing, hiking, mountain bike-riding, golf and miniature golf, zip-line and tree top tours, foliage boat tours, fishing, driving tours, just to name a few.

If pampering isn’t your thing, maybe you’re up for some other adventure.

The resort offers hot-air balloon rides, on-property complimentary 9-hole golf and a beautiful and tranquil Zen Garden, located in the center of the property. If you need to refresh your mind, pop in for some quiet time. This garden is also the home to many herbs and vegetables used in season in the hotel’s kitchen.

The Northeast host region has exciting tours planned for this year.

On Thursday November 15 the General and Youth tour will visit the Vermont State House and the Vermont History Museum, with a final stop at The Cabot Creamery before heading back to the hotel. On Friday November 16, the Juniors will visit the Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center, along with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. The Evening of Excellence and Seventh Degree Conferral will be held at the beautiful and rustic Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, which is approximately 5.6 miles from the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa. As for the actual work of session, you may see something new. This year, a group of volunteer delegates will be trying a new approach to the resolutions process by going paperless. This pilot group will bring their own laptops to participate, and will offer insights into how we may be able to modernize our process and save money by reducing our dependence on paper.

“Last year the delegates adopted a resolution to study the possibility of a paperless convention,” said National Grange President Betsy Huber.

“We are inviting any interested delegates to do a test run this year using Microsoft Sharepoint, software that National Grange already owns. All you need is your laptop or tablet.”

While she is looking forward to this change, it’s something a bit simpler that is most exciting for Huber.

“An impromptu event we held last year – a fellowship dinner – was really well received and we have decided to hold it again as a Friendship Dinner on Tuesday,” Huber said. Tickets are available for $40. “After the

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YOUTH FUNDRAISER WILL BRING SNOW TO STOWE The snow will be falling inside the Stoweflake Resort during the 2018 National Grange Convention in Stowe, Vermont, for a good cause.

The National Grange Youth Department will soon begin to sell handcrafted, crocheted snowflakes that will be hung at the 152nd Convention location in honor of or memory of special people in Grangers’ lives.

For only $5 each, funds from the sale of the handcrafted flakes will support the National Grange Youth Team and the other Grange Youth participating in the National Grange Youth Officer Team, Legislative Experience and Horizon Leadership Program.

Anyone can order a snowflake and if they cannot attend the session, the flakes will be sent to the purchaser for an additional $2 or the purchaser can designate that they are donated to a local cause or sent home with someone attending the session who can deliver it to them.

To pre-order, email youth@ nationalgrange.org or see a National Youth supporter at your State Convention.

You may also purchase flakes on site.

If you wish to make crocheted snowflakes, please contact Youth Director Charlene Shupp Espenshade at youth@ nationalgrange.org or by phone at (717) 574-2223.

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

convention

29

opening of session, come spend some time relaxing with your Grange friends and family over dinner,” she said.

Other new additions include a free movie night on Tuesday at 10 p.m., featuring “The Sound of Music.” All are welcome to enjoy this favorite in the von Trappe family’s home town. On Friday night, there will be a free pool/pizza party for the first 100 people to sign up at the registration desk during convention.

Returning under a new name is the Grange Foundation Mercantile, previously called the Great American Quilt and Handicraft Expo. Hand-made items will be on sale, and members are encouraged to invite non-Grange friends and family to see

the amazing talent of Grangers and purchase items that may be unique gifts or lovely additions to the home. All proceeds will go to the Grange Foundation.

This year is the 130th birthday year for the Junior Grange, and the convention will cap off the Juniors’ online fundraiser – which you can take part in by visiting nationaljuniorgrange.org.

Please visit the National Grange website at www. nationalgrange.org to register for convention.

Early bird registration ($25) ends September 7th at 5 p.m. EST. Registration fee after then is $30.

We look forward to seeing you in Stowe!

BOOK YOUR ROOM Hotel reservations can be made by clicking on the hotel link on the National Grange website or by calling directly to the hotel. This option is open to general registrants.

Delegates, Officers and Youth must book their rooms through the Convention Director Stephanie Tiller by calling 202-628-3507, ext. 113 or emailing stiller@nationalgrange.org or by filling out a registration form.

If calling the hotel directly, please be sure to mention the National Grange room block and contracted rate of $119 per night + tax. Rooms must be booked by Oct. 5.

Rooted: Cultivating Community in the Vermont Grange goes inside the Grange to explore how it has worked to strengthen and preserve rural communities since 1867.

The documentary, which is about 50 minutes long, explores the social, economic, political, and agricultural effects the National Grange has had on Vermont’s rural communities for the past 150 years.

The film weaves archival images and oral histories with footage of modern-day Grange events to paint a comprehensive picture of the organization and the New Englanders it supports.

Get your copy at the 152nd Annual National Grange convention in Stowe or order by email at info@grangefoundation.org or by phone with Amanda at (301) 943-1090.

A limited number are available for $10 each, payable to the Grange Foundation.

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The

Grange

Foundation

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Sticky harvest from

By Allison Archambault On June 10, 2018, members of the Grange Headquarters Honeybee Team – Allison Archambault, Marion Le Bras, Hanna Pillion, and their mentor Toni Burnham, the DC Beekeepers Alliance president, had their inaugural honey collection, which netted about 25 pounds of the sweet stuff, exciting for the mostly first-time apiarists.

The Grange invited the beekeepers to place two 8-frame Langstroth colonies of bees on the 11th floor balcony of the historic headquarters building in the Spring of 2017, and Potomac Grange #1, Washington, D.C., serves as their fiscal sponsor.

At that time, several Grange members and staff also completed the beekeeping training course, including Joan C. Smith and Amanda Brozana Rios.

While this was the second year that the bees lived and worked alongside the Grange team, it was the first for a honey harvest.

This is because colonies are established with a small quantity of bees that must expand in population, build out their new hive, and store all the honey they need for their first winter in only their first few months on their own, so most beekeepers can only harvest starting in their second year.

Also, honey from only one hive was harvested because one of the two original hives contracted mites and did not survive its first winter.

The ladies suited up on the sunny afternoon and, armed with a smoker can, set out to relieve the bees of their excess.

“Opening the hive at first was terrifying, but now I’m used to seeing hundreds of bees flying around trying to stop the intruder (me),” Pillio said. “Over the past two years I’ve only been stung twice, and both times I end up feeling bad for the bee.”

“How fun to be able to practice our tiny bit of urban agriculture on the roof of

rooftop hives

Submitted Photo Beekeeper Hanna Pillion smokes one of the two hives on the National Grange roof prior to the harvest of honey in early June. the National Grange,” Archambault said.

DC Beekeeper Alliance President Toni Burnham said the harvest was “simply gorgeous: light and fragrant.”

“The honey was made up primarily of nectar that the bees foraged from the nearby trees of Lafayette Park and the White House,” Burnham said. “There is an unusual amount of really perfumey Linden nectar combined with two other tree sources prevalent in DC, Tulip Poplar, also in the park, and Black Locust.”

But the honey is probably best seen

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Jars of honey from the harvest were provided to Potomac Grange #1 and the National Grange. One will be available for auction at the 152nd Annual National Grange convention.

Submitted Photo

31

Hanna Pillion is

releasing the extracted honey into a stainless steel filter in a food safe bucket. The

bucket also has a gate or nozzle that allows the honey to flow

directly into bottles.

The filter removes

flakes of wax and large debris, like chunks of

pollen, before bottling.

Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo Pillion and Marion LaBras, members of the DC Beekeepers

Alliance, who tend to the hives on the National Grange roof, show off their harvest.

as a team effort, Burnham said.

“Of course, over 250,000 bees put their lives and work into those colonies over the past 14 months, but the Grange team of Allison, Marion and Hanna built their own skills up from never-helda-smoker to hive carpenters, bee wranglers, colony nutritionists, mite testers, and honey harvesters.”

Potomac Grange President Joan Smith said she hopes this effort

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can show that “agriculture is alive and well in a totally urban city.”

“There are 277 registered hives in the District of Columbia, on tops of homes, public buildings, backyards and other spaces, that are cared for by folks just like our Potomac Grange members who took the course and became beekeepers,” Smith said.

Burnham said the partnership between the National Grange and the DC Beekeepers Alliance has been wonderful.

“I have been impressed by the richness of this partnership — the other beekeepers have blown past all my expectations of normal first year beekeepers tending a hive away from home,” Burnham said.

The partnership has also helped the urban beekeeping community in the city in other ways as well.

“The Grange itself has become extremely important to the DC Beekeeping community,” Burnham said. “We meet in the building every month,” she said, welcoming anyone who is in the area to stop by to the open-to-the-public event. And our club now has a center of gravity which we lacked before.”

National Grange President Betsy Huber, who gave the final approval for the installation of the hives on the headquarters building roof last year, said the whole process has been a positive experience.

“This initiative by Potomac Grange shows that every Grange - large or small - can get involved in agriculture and become invested advocates,” National Grange President Betsy Huber said.

“Those with Halls and land especially can see the rewards of such a partnership as Potomac Grange and the National Grange has.”

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Summer

scholars tackle big tasks for Grange

In summer, Washington D.C. is abuzz - but not just at the monuments

or on the metro. 1616 H St,. NW, is often an place bursting at the seams with young talent and excitement as interns come to work with the National Grange staff on legislative issues, communications

projects,

historical

dives, members services and much more.

This summer was no different as the National staff has welcomed three young men to the crowded and hot 11th floor and set them on their course for 8 weeks as they took part in a program sponsored by the Fund for American Studies. The program offered students the opportunity to take classes at George Washington University and work with major associations or government entities.

Warren Socher, a history major from Beaumont, Texas, who attends Rhodes

Photo by Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios

College in Memphis, Tennessee, primarily spent his summer working for Legislative Director Burton Eller.

Interns, from left, facing forward, Warren Socher, Alexander Mostaghimi and Nouhad Melki II talk to Trademark Intern Nelson Drake after a staff meeting.

He lives on a small organic farm where he is from in Texas, and has worked there for several years landscaping, harvesting summer crops, including tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, green beans, as well as livestock hus-

influence that the organization has to

es. He hopes to pursue journalism in

help promote the interests of farmers

the field of pop culture/music/fashion,

through communication with other

and to eventually undertake a gradu-

members of the National Grange as

ate/Ph.D. program in Islamic studies.

well as represent our organization at

On his first day in the office, out-

hearings on agricultural issues pre-

side on the 11th floor terrace with

sented within the House and Senate

Legislative Director Burton Eller, Soch-

to support the interests of American

er became the first known sting victim

farmers, residents of rural areas in the

of our bees in their hives on our roof.

United States, and other agricultural-

He was a great sport about it, though

intern so he could learn about how

ists, so they can support themselves in

the accuracy of the bee was undeni-

government and FDA regulations/leg-

this rapidly changing and advancing

able - it struck the dead center of his

islation as well as other agencies affect

economy and society.”

forehead.

bandry with horses, cattle, and pigs.

He has also worked as a farrier for rural communities in East Texas.

Familiar with the issues that individual farmers face on a regular basis, he joined the National Grange as an

individual local farmers like him and

Socher is set to graduate in spring

Alex Mostaghimi, a political science

his family and others involved in the

2019. Socher’s research as a histo-

and economics double major from the

agricultural industry.

ry student focuses on Islamic history,

University of Connecticut, was excited

specifically on the medieval calipaht-

to delve into the deep world of politics

Socher said he hopes to “use the

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during his summer experience.

He was the lead on our research related to food security,

His interests primarily concern economics and how large

its definitions and the “actors” play a part on the local, na-

and small firms function, but he also has a fascination with

tional and international level in the fight against hunger and

macroeconomics in the past and present. He enjoys learn-

poor water quality.

ing about history, specifically relating the late 1700s and the founding of this nation.

34

Nouhad E. Melki II also worked with Eller and Brozana Rios in addition to studying at the Ronald Reagan Presiden-

Mostaghimi worked primarily with Communications and

tial Foundation and Institute. He is a triple major at Ander-

Development Director Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios and said

son University in Anderson, Indiana, where he studies politi-

he was most interested in getting a perspective on the in-

cal science, national security and journalism, while minoring

terconnectedness of government policy and local impact.

in law.

While he may not come from a rural background, Alex

Melki, who grew up in southwest Virginia, said he feels

sees the importance in paying attention to a group of peo-

it is his “civil duty to speak for rural Americans. After all, I

ple so often neglected in everyday society. He said he likes

grew up my whole life on the backroads, among the corn-

that the Grange and its initiatives have a visible impact on

fields and cattle farms — where the smell of maize and ma-

its members.

nure is all too familiar!” he said.

Alex hopes to expand his horizons and develop a stron-

He spent much of his time assisting with multimedia proj-

ger sympathy for those who grew up in a world much differ-

ects and put his writing and photo skills to work on several

ent than his own.

occasions.

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Dairy families feel the

By Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios

love

On a clear Friday night at the end of June, buggies and cars started to fill the parking lot of Calvert Grange in Rising Sun, Maryland.

The attendees - nearly 170 of them - came for an evening of fun, food and fellowship meant as a thank you for the area’s dairy farmers.

Those involved in the dairy industry need to find ways to keep their spirits up during this tough, long downturn with low prices and a changing business landscape, said Grange member Karen Cline.

Cline was part of a core group of members who hand-wrote and sent invitations for the event to dairy families around the area.

On

hand

was

National

Grange

Photo by Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios

President Betsy Huber, who brought with her words of thanks and encouragement for the farm families who gathered.

Huber told the crowd she had

The dairy farmers of Cecil County, Maryland, and their families were invite to Calvert Grange in Rising Sun, Maryland, for an evening filled with food and fun in late June.

grown up on a dairy and while her family no longer is in the business, she

members as well as other attendees,

interactions can mean to poeple,” Stiles

understands the toll these farmers face

many of which came to the table

said.

with each passing day of low prices and

barefoot and smiling. The Amish and

For Calvert Grange members, it was

long, hard labor.

Mennonite are well-established in this

a great opportunity to reconnect wiht

rural community, holding many of the

their neighbors and thank those who

active dairy farms.

put in the long hours on dairy farms by

Also at the event was Maryland State Grange President Alan Stiles and his wife, Kay. Stiles, a dairy farmer from the

The great number of children in

giving gifts - feed, seed, tools and more

neighboring county, said this Grange

the room filled it with laughter and

for the men of the farms; candles, pie

was hitting the right spot with an event

movement and for a while you could

plates, flowers, vases and more for the

like this.

almost forget the struggles faced by

women to enhance their homes.

“It’s tough, and a night like tonight

those in the dairy industry.

Each who came to the tables up front

is just a really good thing for the dairy

There was a trio of brothers, farmers

people to get together as a family and

still, that sang acapella a few songs to

with other families and smile and laugh,”

entertain the crowd and people outside

“It puts a face on who is giving you

Stiles said.

smoking pipes and playing cornhole for

fresh milk and who you’re giving a pat

the second annual event.

on the back,” Cline said. “it’s a great

The event boasted more than 40 potluck dishes brought by Grange

“You forget how much these type of

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

to pick their gifts were humbled and grateful.

feeling to know you’ve helped organize

35

something that they won’t forget, that they’ll want to come to again and that will help them know there are people who appreciate their labors.”

Dairy Princesses and runners up from neighboring Chester County, Pennsylvania, were also on hand to give a milk toast and greet those gathered.

Reporters from a local newspaper as well as one from the regional ag publication, Lancaster Farmer, attended the event and as a result were able to write not just about a potluck with a cause, but the challenges faced by those involved in the dairy industry and the communities feeling the effects.

“This was really a great event, what Granges should strive to do,” Huber said. “They not only reached out and performed a service in thanking

Photo by Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios

these farmers, but they also raised the public awareness of a really big issue that is taking its toll.”

The Meulenberg Brothers provided the entertainment for the second annual event, a big hit with those gathered.

The 12th

Annual Dairy

Family Dinner

netted Calvert Grange some great press

coverage both of the event

and the dairy crisis. This

article about the event

appeared on

the front page of Lancaster Farming the following week.

Photo by Betsy E. Huber

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

Pot LUCK

Here are recipes of some of the dishes served at the Dairy Farmer Appreciation Dinner at Calvert Grange #424, Maryland, for your enjoyment.

Maryland Cream of Crab Soup 1 lb. Maryland crab meat

1/4 tsp celery salt

1 vegetable bouillon cube

1/8 tsp pepper

1 c. boiling water

Salt as needed

1/4 c. chopped onion

1 qt. milk

1/4 c. butter

Few drops of hot sauce to taste

2 Tbsp. flour

Parsley flakes as garnish

Remove cartilage from crab meat. Dissolve bouillon cube in water.

In a 4-quart saucepan, cook onion in butter until tender. Blend in flour and seasonings. Add milk and bouillon gradually and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat spoon. Add crabmeat; heat, but do not boil. Salt as needed.

Garnish with parsley flakes before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Note: Soup improves upon standing as flavors get a chance to belnd. Let soup come to room temperature before refrigerating.

Reheat over very low heat, stirring often, until soup is hot but not to the boiling point.

Flying Farmer Chicken Salad Submitted by Bertie May, Calvert Grange member 6 cooked chicken breasts, cubed

6 c. cooked white rice

1 c. celery, diced

2 c. Miracle Whip

1 c. slivered almonds

1/2 can of concentrated frozen

2 15-oz. cans mandarin oranges

orange juice

2 20-oz. cans crushed pineapple

3 or 4 Tbsp vinegar

Bag of white or red grapes

3 or 4 Tbsp vegetable oil

(slice in half if large)

Salt as desired

As you are putting mixture together, add vinegar and oil to mixture early to marinate. It would be best to put this on the chicken. Prepare Miracle Whip and orange juice concentrate (thawed) together; set aside as “dressing.” Mix all other ingredients with marinated chicken, then mix dressing. Add salt as desired. Makes about 4 quarts.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn at Gift of Simplicity Blog

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Baked Potato

Casserole

Submitted by Barbie Stoltzfus, Elkton, Maryland

6 c. shredded potatoes

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 c. sour cream

1/2 c. milk

1 14 oz. can cream of celery soup

2 c. crushed cornflakes

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

1/4 c. butter melted

1 1/2 tsp. salt Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix potatoes, sour cream, soup, cheese, milk, salt and pepper. Spread evenly on the bottom of a 9”x13” cake pan. Mix crushed corn flakes and melted butter and spread on top of potato mix. Bake for 1 1/2 hours and serve.

Marshmallow Salad Eleanor M. Cline, Calvert Grange member 1/2 lb. marshmallows

2 tablespoons corn starch

1 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 c. heavy whipping cream

Scotch Bars

Submitted by Elaine England, Rising Sun, MD

2 c. flour

2 Tbsp. hot water

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 c. semi-sweet

2/3 c. butter

chocolate chips

2 c. firmly packed brown

1 c. chopped walnuts

sugar

(optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place butter in small sauce

Best made one day ahead. Drain pineapple juice into

pan over low heat. While butter melts, sift chocolate

saucepan and heat on low. Beat eggs lightly. Mix

chips, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt

cornstarch and sugar into eggs and pour mixture into

and set aside. Remove butter from heat and add

pineapple juice, stirring together until well-combined. The

sugar and water. Mix. Add egg and vanilla. Mix.

mixture will be thick. Let cool, then refrigerate overnight.

Add flour mixture a small amount at a time and

The next day, mix pineapple tidbits and dressing together,

mix well after each addition. Pour into a greased

then add marshmallows. Whip the heavy whipping cream,

9”x13” pan. Sprinkle chips and nuts (optional)

then combine with the marshmallow mixture. Refrigerate

overtop. Bake for 25-30 minutes being careful not

until ready to serve.

to overbake. Cool in pan.

Is your Grange hosting a community potluck? Gather the recipes and photos of the dishes as well as information about the event and submit it to communications@nationalgrange.org.

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What ag needs now is more

labor

Are giant farms and robots the future of food production in

By Burton Eller A version of this op-ed ran in The Hill in July Those of us living and working in rural and small town America have a message for our city cousins. We need workers and we need them now.

Whether we’re making maple syrup in Vermont, picking apples in Washington, harvesting grapes in California, milking cows in Wisconsin, processing peaches in Georgia, feeding pigs in Iowa, packing pickles in Michigan or trail-driving in Colorado, we need access to a dependable source of ag labor.

We’ve become increasingly dependent over the years on migrant labor, legal and illegal, to help run our farms, ranches, processing plants and service industries. Therein lies agriculture’s labor woes. Sourcing legal migrant labor is getting harder and harder for America’s food producers.

Why don’t we hire local workers from the community? We wish we could. Our neighbors don’t want to work under farm conditions for the prevailing pay scale. In fact, we are required to advertise and offer jobs to local residents before we can qualify to hire temporary migrant workers under the Labor Department’s H-2A program.

Agriculture employers have not experienced much success hiring local labor for many years. Unfortunately, most domestic workers don’t show up for the job, or when they do, they tend quit within a few days. Jobs in agriculture are physically demanding, conducted in all seasons and are often transitory.

The Department of Labor’s H-2A agriculture worker program is slow, burdensome, bureaucratic and bound with red tape. Stories are plentiful about crops rotting in the field

the United States?

If farmers and ranchers cannot get the labor they need to continue operating, their major options will be to sell or lease to a larger operation that solves its labor problems by mechanizing. Already robots are milking the cows on some giant dairy farms. Have you seen the finger-machines picking berries in the Pacific Northwest? Or the robotic weed-picker in the giant urban vegetable farm warehouse? If our urban and suburban neighbors want to preserve America’s small and midsize farm structure, help us pass ag worker legislation now.

Unfortunately, any immigration legislation is a steep climb.

Congress has been unable to agree on broad comprehensive immigration reform. Unfortunately, Congress has not been able to agree on much-needed narrow specific reform either.

Both sides of the aisle are proficient at holding targeted immigration proposals hostage as trading bait for political advantage with other immigration provisions. Yet both Democrats and Republicans proclaim the dire need for a legal, logical, effective guest worker system for agriculture.

Why can’t our policymakers on the Hill play bipartisan-nice long enough to pass an ag worker bill?

House Republican leaders have promised to have a bill on the House floor soon that addresses the farmers’ urgent needs for more workers. Agriculture is fearful this attempt too will end up as hostage to additional partisan political demands.

Members of Congress, is it possible, for just one day, to plow down politics and partisanship to give agriculture a way forward to do what it does best: produce safe and affordable food for all America and much of the world?

because migrant workers farmers are expecting are delayed by a glitch in the H-2A system. The White House has ordered the Department of Labor to make the H-2A program more responsive and efficient but growers haven’t seen measurable results yet.

The H-2A program was ill-designed for agriculture in the first place; it is not nimble and flexible enough to serve small farmers or to move large numbers of workers farm-to-farm quickly enough to meet harvest-time demands. A total program overhaul is needed specifically for agriculture to provide access to a stable, secure and legal guest worker program now and in the future. And, a provision that permits guest worker employment on year-round agricultural operations. And a way for undocumented guest workers to come out of the shadows, secure legal work status and continue the jobs they’ve become proficient doing.

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Burton Eller has been the Legislative Director at the National Grange since 2014 and previously worked at many agriculturally-based organizations, including the USDA and the Farm Service Agency

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Grange sees

open internet as important,

necessary step for broadband expansion

By Betsy E. Huber President, National Grange For 150 years, the National Grange

b e e n

has worked to ensure that Americans

under

INTERNET REGULATION TIMELINE

are able to benefit from advancements in communications technology. This is why we stand firm in our commitment to support an open internet for all Americans, especially those in rural and small town communities.

2002

2005

2010

MARCH14

JULY27

DECEMBER21

Broadband internet service is classified by FCC Chairman Powell as a Title I information service

In FCC v. Brand X, the Supreme Court upholds the FCC’s decision to define the internet as a Title I information service

The FCC formally adopts its “Open Internet Order,” which made net neutrality rules official FCC regulation

People in rural and underserved areas deserve the same broadband choices and speeds as those who live in suburban and urban communities.

Federal Internet policy must reflect the needs of every community.

Evidence shows that tighter federal “neutrality” regulation, like the rules the U.S. had from 2015 to 2017, slows the growth of broadband.

After the FCC approved broad neutrality regulations governing the internet in 2015, America’s broadband investment declined for two years – the only time in our history that broadband

investment

declined

outside of a recession.

In 2017, the Commission returned to a more reasonable approach and not surprisingly, investment in faster Internet

access

began

increasing

again.

Additionally, the 2015 “neutrality”

the purview of the FTC but the 2015 decision classified the internet as a utility, which opened the door to possible FCC involvement.

The debate of which agency should be responsible for consumer data privacy has continued along a parallel track to the investment debate.

websites:

Facebook,

Instagram,

Google, and others.

It is urgent that Congress recognize that the FCC’s unstable approach to Internet regulations has caused a curtailment in broadband deployment in rural America.

As

a

member

Broadband

of

the

Deployment

FCC’s

Advisory

decision inadvertently hurt internet

Sure enough, the past three years

Committee, I have spent countless

users by throwing federal privacy

have seen a continuous series of data

hours documenting economic and

protections into a limbo between two

breaches and misuse of consumer

social problems caused by lack of

federal agencies.

information involving many of the

broadband access.

Privacy protections had historically

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internet’s largest and most trusted

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Regulating

the

internet

like

a

“After the FCC approved broad neutrality regulations governing the internet in 2015, America’s broadband investment declined for two years – the only time in our history that broadband investment declined outside of a recession.”

2014

2015

2017

2018

NOVEMBER10

FEBRUARY26

DECEMBER14

JUNE11

President Obama urged adoption of tighter regulations on broadband service and stated his support for reclassifying broadband internet service as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, where the internet would be regulated like a utility

The FCC votes to reclassify the internet as a Title II public utility

The FCC votes to reverse regulated the internet as a public utility and restores its Title I approach to classifying the internet as an information service

FCC Chairman Pai’s “Restoring Internet Freedom Order” begins, effectively ending net neutrality and restoring a light-touch regulatory approach to broadband internet service

public utility inflicted higher costs, slower access, and

of new service and higher costs, according to a December

poorer service on consumers. By 2016, these heavy-handed

2017 news release by the FCC.

regulations had cost rural communities nearly $2.4 billion in annual broadband investment.

Chairman Pai’s 2017 “Restoring Internet Freedom Order”

removed

these

utility-style

regulations

and

reestablished the balance of ensuring internet freedom while also attracting private broadband investment and bringing a greater focus onto the question of which agency should own the responsibility for keeping online consumer data safe.

With network investment rebounding, the current rules should be allowed to continue until there is a need to change them. Under the FTC, consumers will continue to have substantial legal protections to navigate the online world safely.

Dating back to the Clinton Administration, there has been strong agreement on the benefits of a ‘light touch’ approach to federal Internet regulation that protected

For rural communities, this recent action is especially

Internet users while encouraging greater access. The

welcome. There was overwhelming evidence of harm from

National Grange urges Congress to continue on this

the 2015 order – problems that included slower deployment

successful path where everyone will benefit.

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41

FDA may soon step in to regulate,

plant-based milk, meat

inspect

By Burton Eller

The attention to plant-based foods development is amazing.

Not only is the quantity of new products staggering, so is the quality.

The growth of alternatives dovetails with another consumer trend: a rising demand

for

protein.

Plant-based

protein alternatives are fighting to wrestle market share from traditional meat and dairy products.

New product opportunities have corporations like Cargill and Tyson and billionaires like Bill Gates and Richard Branson investing in alternative product research.

The dairy industry has been fighting the food industry for years over the use of the term “milk” during the market expansion of plant -based almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk and more.

Even

though

the

federal

government has formal standards of identity definitions for food items that include the term “milk” as a product of a lactating animal, the FDA did not step in when petitioned by dairymen for many years.

Now, change may be on the horizon.

FDA

Commissioner

Gottlieb

has

indicated his agency will crack down on plant-based products being labeled with terms like “milk” or “yogurt.”

The

agency

will

solicit

public

comment before taking further steps to redefine the labeling rules.

Now the meat industry is faced with similar yet different challenges.

42

Soy and almond milk, some of the most popular plant-based milk alternatives, are taking more and more space on retailers shelves, and are now under seige by the dairy industry who is fighting their use of the word milk.

Several companies already have plant-based hamburger, sausage and hot dog alternatives on the market.

The meat industry did not challenge

the front row.

Several companies have successfully grown cell-cultured meat and sea food in the lab and are pushing for

the use of meat terms on alternative

commercial

plant-based food items. However, “lab

Foods made from animal cells grown

grown meat” is the latest food fight in

outside the animal are caught in

Washington and the meat industry is on

a regulatory turf war between the

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market

opportunities.

nation’s two food inspection agencies, the USDA and the

processors and FDA.

FDA. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has statutory inspection jurisdiction over beef, lamb, pork and poultry products and FDA regulates inspection of everything else including fish.

Both agencies have expressed interest in inspecting cultured food products.

However, USDA was not invited to participate which became a flash point of concern for the meat industry. Meat producers also bristled when lab-grown start -ups promised the potential for a “cleaner, greener and kinder model for meat production,” insinuating that traditional meat is not

FDA Commissioner Gottlieb issued a statement that under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA has “jurisdiction over food which includes articles used for food and articles used for components of any such articles.”

clean, animal agriculture is bad for the environment and farmers and ranchers are not concerned about the welfare of their animals.

USDA Secretary Perdue counters that “meat and poultry

Product terms aired by speakers at the FDA public

has been the sole purview of USDA and we would expect

meeting included “lab grown meat,” “in vitro meat,”

any product that expects to be labeled as meat would come

“cultured tissue,” “clean meat,” “cultured meat” and

under the same inspection criteria.”

The Federal Meat Inspection Act defines “meat” as the

“artificial meat.”

Consumer representatives testified that these emerging

muscle of any cattle, sheep, swine or goats, and “meat food product” as any article capable of use as human food which

food products should be clearly labeled so consumers

is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portion

can make informed decisions and distinguish them from

of the carcass thereof. These statutory definitions appear to

conventional meat.

give USDA jurisdiction over cultured meats.

FDA held a public meeting July 12, entitled “Foods Produced Using Animal Cell Technology” that attracted

The meat debate over which agency has oversight and inspection jurisdiction, what to call this product and how

speakers from lab-grown start -ups, consumer groups,

should it be labeled for consumers will continue to play out

farmer and rancher producer groups, meat scientists, meat

on the Washington stage for the foreseeable future.

Photo by Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios National Grange Lecturer Christine Hamp looks through a plat book for Carrabelle at the Frederick County Courthouse in early February 2018. A large

residential area with hundreds of smaller parcels is called the Kelley Plat. The

southern side is bordered by a railroad right of way labeled “not in use,” and the St. George Sound.

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43

Veterans health picture differs

Learn risks associated with service to hold providers accountable

By Maureen Elias Assistant Director of the Veterans Health Council of Vietnam Veterans of America “This is it. This is where my life ends,” rushed through my mind. “I’m only 40 years old and I am dying.”

Then panic set in.

“Oh my gosh! Who is going to raise my kids? How will my husband ever survive without me? And why didn’t I put better underwear on this morning” There I was, in the ER, working myself into a bit of a frenzy.

I felt as if my lungs had been filled with concrete instead of oxygen. Drawing in a breath took all the focus I had and caused radiating pain throughout my chest. I found myself taking short, shallow breaths, almost panting like a woman horribly failing in her Lamaze class, and mentally writing out my

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last will and testament.

“I leave to my daughter, my vintage My Little Pony set. To my son, my brand new Huffy street rider bicycle, which I know he covets. My husband gets my favorite pair of underwear, which I wish I had on right now, and the promise that I will haunt him until his dying day if he ever remarries” I kept watching the door and waiting for the administration officer to tell me insurance was not going to cover my visit.

You see, I was there against the advice of the 1-800 nurse hotline you call before going to the ER. When I had called and described my symptoms, the nurse casually said, “It’s probably just heartburn. Did you eat anything new or spicy?”

“Uh, no.”

“Oh, well. Just roll your window down and you will feel better, honey.”

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It was like getting advice from a well intentioned great aunt rather than a medical professional. But the pain did not go away and only got worse. So, into the ER I went.

At the ER, I was given an EKG. The EKG appeared to be within normal ranges.

The doctor didn’t seem all that concerned, and he began talking about sending me home.

I told him, “I am an Army veteran.”

He responded with, “Thank you for your service,” and limply shook my hand.

There was this awkward silence as I waited for him to say something more.

Only, there was no more. He just smiled and released my hand.

That’s when it hit me that like a surprisingly high amount of health care providers, this doctor may not know that, as a woman veteran, I am five times more likely to have heart disease.

So, I told him about my risk and highly recommended he run a few more tests.

He wisely decided to order an x-ray and CT scan.

Turned out, I had a horrible case of pneumonia.

Had I not mentioned my service and held my healthcare provider accountable,

I might have gone home and not only gotten sicker, but passed the disease onto my family.

I share this to demonstrate how important it is for veterans to know the healthcare risks associated with service and communicate with their healthcare providers about those risks.

Have you had a conversation with your healthcare providers about your military service?

Do they know you have served or are presently serving in the US military?

There is a very good chance they do not know the health risks that are associated with your military service beyond gunshot wounds and PTSD. According to a 2018 Rand study, only around 2% of doctors participated in any kind of military or veteran-centric training prior to setting up their practice. And until health care providers are mandated to be well versed in military and veterancentric healthcare, the burden currently falls on service members, veterans, and their families to inform their health care providers about their military service and any health issues that may be of concern.

The difference between health risks for civilians and military service members and veterans varies greatly.

For example, U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent volunteer panel of nongovernmental experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine who make recommendations based on reviews and assessments of research, recently released new recommendations on prostate cancer screening. Their most recent recommendation is that men over the age of 70 no longer be screened for prostate cancer because the patient is more at risk from the process of being screened than from the cancer itself.

The USPSTF recognized three major risk factors: age, race, and family history.

However, Vietnam veterans exposed

ABOVE: Maureen Elias

poses during her time in the Army.

RIGHT: The Elias family could have faced

serious consequences if Maureen had not informed a health

care provider that her veteran status puts

her at higher risk of

certain diseases during

an ER visit.

Submitted Photos

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to Agent Orange are more likely than their civilian counterparts to acquire prostate cancer, and the cancer is more likely to be a rapidly growing, aggressive form of cancer.

Healthcare

providers

generally

follow

the

recommendations of the USPSTF, so unless a veteran identifies their risk and why they may still need to be screened after the age of 70, the healthcare provider might risk missing the cancer, and possibly risk the loss of life of the veteran because the cancer was not caught in an early stage.

There are over 4.7 million rural veterans. These veterans face health care challenges that are unique to the rural veteran population. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health, compared to urban areas, rural communities tend to have higher rates of poverty, a higher number of elderly residents, poorer health among residents, and less available healthcare services. Rural communities also tend to have less housing, education, employment, and transportation options.

There is less access to broadband internet, higher rates of uninsurance, and greater geographic and distance barriers. These factors mean less access and services for rural veterans. This also means a greater chance of seeing a provider who is not well versed in military and veteran centric health, making it even more important for rural veterans to educate their providers about their health risks and environmental exposures.

Until university medical schools and colleges provide education courses on military and veteran-centric healthcare, the burden falls on us, service members, veterans, and our families to inform our health care providers about our service and what health concerns we might have due to our military service. It is also not safe to assume your VA Choice healthcare provider knows all of your healthcare risks as they are currently not mandated to have any military or veteran centric healthcare training.

There are four important pieces of information to share with your health care provider: a) What branch you served in; b) When you served; c) Where you served; and d) What your MOS (job) was in the service. The answers can provide a wealth of epidemiological information, particularly in the area of environmental exposures.

It is essential to your health that you begin and continue having conversations with your healthcare providers. Hold them accountable to know your health risks and environmental exposures you may have had during your military service. Educate them about those health risks, and you may end up saving your life and possibly that of your brother or sister in arms.

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LEARN, TEACH, SAVE There are some great websites out

there with information to educate yourself and share with your healthcare providers.

• Veteranshealth.net has information on

multiple generations of veteran health information.

• You can refer your healthcare

providers to the Office of Academic Affiliations webpage, which gives

informational questions to ask. Go to https://www.va.gov/oaa/pocketcard/ unique.asp

• The Department of Veterans Affairs website is rich with information on

veteran health, but it can be tricky to navigate.

• For exposure related health concerns, visit https://www.publichealth.

va.gov/exposures/health-concerns.asp

• For diseases and conditions, go to https://www.publichealth.va.gov/ diseases-conditions.asp

• For health and wellness, log onto

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/ health-wellness.asp

• A page specifically for providers on Military Exposures we recommend

is https://www.publichealth.va.gov/ exposures/providers/index.asp

• The American Academy of

Nursing recently developed and is

implementing an awareness campaign for healthcare providers called “Have you Ever Served?” Their webpage

(www.haveyoueverserved.com) has

information for health professionals and resources for veterans.

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Protect Essential Veterans’ Phone Services The Lifeline program was created by the Reagan Administration to provide low-income Americans with access to affordable phone services.

Lifeline Today:

1.3 MILLION VETERANS RELY ON LIFELINE 12% OF LIFELINE SUBSCRIBERS ARE VETERANS Lifeline connects veterans with opportunity and lifesaving resources, including: Jobs Healthcare & Emergency Services Education Suicide Prevention Resources Proposed changes in DC will damage the ability of low-income Americans – including 1.3 million veterans – to access essential phone services. If the proposed changes are enacted: • 8.3 million Americans will lose access to their current phone services • Up to 85% of Lifeline subscribers will be unable to afford phone services • Basic phone service costs will increase while service quality plummets • Veterans in need & other qualified Americans will be barred from the program

ACT NOW TO PROTECT VETERANS’ LIFELINE TO OPPORTUNITY Text VETERANS to 52886 or go to VETS.LIFELINEFACTS.COM

‘Ranch Days’ nets volunteer

By Amanda Brozana Rios A New Mexico rancher was honored in late June by the Grange Foundation and National Agriculture in the Classroom for her lifetime effort to educate students and teachers about animal agriculture.

Margaret “Margie” McKeen, of Glenwood, established the “McKeen Ranch Days,” the state’s largest and longest running agriculture event.

Each year, hundreds of students and dozens of teachers come from up to 200-plus miles away to learn about life on a ranch, including how to milk a cow, how to make butter and where honey comes from. They also get a more in-depth look at ranch operations and come to know why cattle are branded and dehorned, what nutrients cows’ stomachs absorb and what compartments of their stomachs look like.

“Margie McKeen is the perfect recipient for this year’s Agriculture Advocate Award,” National Grange President Betsy E. Huber said, noting that McKeen’s start began where many Grangers also begin their ag education journey – by visiting local K-12 schools during National Ag Day or Earth Day and conducting agriculture lessons.

“From her imagination sprung a program that has helped tens of thousands of students and families understand and appreciate agriculture. She has put a face to the producer and allowed children and adults alike to know the compassion for their animals and their craft. Not just the children, but all of agriculture has benefited from the work of amazing volunteer educators like Margie, and we are so proud to honor these amazing individuals for their work,” said Huber, who also serves as president of the Grange Foundation board.

After five years of bringing animals to the schools and routing students through 10 different agriculture education stations for Agriculture Day, McKeen realized she wanted to do more, so in 1998 McKeen took her volunteerism to a whole new level by creating ‘McKeen Ranch Days’ as a way to involve more schools.

Today, partners of McKeen Ranch Days include New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension and College of Agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, USDA Cotton Ginning Research, New Mexico Agriculture in the Classroom and the U.S. Forest Service.

McKeen’s legacy in the state is already far-reaching, so national honors were most certainly due, according to New Mexico Ag in the Classroom state contact Traci Curry.

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educator honors

Submitted Photo Margaret “Margie” McKeen of New Mexico was presented

the 2018 Agriculture Advocate of the Year Award at the annual National Ag in the Classroom conference in Maine on June 27. The award is sponsored each year by the Grange Foundation.

“The impact that Margie McKeen has had over the last 56 years as a 4-H volunteer with 12 to 14 students in her group and 25 years of planning ag days is too immense to calculate.

Her impact will be felt for generations and we already see many of the students she works with going into agricultural careers.

Margie McKeen is the truest ag advocate.”

McKeen collected her plaque and award from Grange Foundation Board Member Joan C. Smith.

Smith, who is also the President of Potomac Grange #1, Washington, D.C., said McKeen is a tremendous example of the caliber of nominees for the award each year.

“There are so many amazing people out there teaching

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Submitted Photo 2018 Ag Advocate of the Year Margie McKeen, center, walks through lessons about animal agriculture with those gathered for McKeen Ranch Days.

our youth about agriculture and our food system,” Smith said. “Yet even with this army of volunteers and educators who want people to understand where their food comes from, there is still quite a disconnect, which shows why it is important to continue to reward those coming up with ways to tell the story of agriculture and America’s farmers and ranchers.”

NAITCO President and Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Executive Director Willie Grenier also applauded McKeen’s selection as the Agriculture Advocate of the Year.

“National Agriculture in the Classroom and state Agriculture in the Classroom programs depend on volunteers like Margie McKeen to deliver agricultural literacy outreach to schools in their communities,” she said. “Agriculture in the Classroom’s strength lies in

Submitted Photo

its grassroots network of volunteers like Ms. McKeen who are passionate about spreading agricultural

McKeen rides with her dog across her ranch in preparation for McKeen Ranch Days.

literacy in schools.”

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Locked

PERSPECTIVE

52 53

When Desire Isn’t Enough

Young Farmers take to the Field

57 63

Expansion, Change Necessary for Transition

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Veterans Seek to Make Farm Dreams Reality

Young Farmers: In Their Words

out

Farms Jeopardized by Death Tax Plan Ahead Can’t Control What Happens from the Grave

60 61 62

When

desire isn’t enough

By Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios

For decades, the average age of the American farmer has been steadily on the rise. In 1982, the American farmer, on average, topped 50 for the first time. Today, according to the USDA, the average American farmer is just under 60 years old. Longevity plays a part, but the overwhelming reason for the graying of the American farmer is the various and sundry barriers to entry for first-time or young individuals who wish to make their lives on a farm or ranch.

As we await findings from the 2017 Agricultural Census, a stunning figure continues to echo from the 2012 census: from 2007 to 2012, the U.S. saw a 20% decline in “new farmers” – those who reported being on their farm for 10 years or less. The average, however, hides the full story of the volatility in the farm landscape, where some states like Arizona, California and Nebraska are showing just the opposite – a 20% or more increase in beginning farmers.

Factors like type of agricultural product produced, robust nature of farm-totable and local farm movements,

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cultural appreciation of those who farm, and availability of land through statesponsored programs are all part of the puzzle when it comes to building or tearing down barriers to entry for those who wish to make their living on the land.

Still, USDA’s Economic Research service tells us that about 100 million acres of farmland is expected to change ownership between 2015 and 2019.

For those young people especially who come from farm families, they often find themselves welcomed by an older generation who seeks to continue the legacy and fill a gap left by their parents generation who left the farm without looking back. The same census data that showed a huge drop in the number of new-to-the-farm individuals holding ownership stakes or decisionmaking roles on farms also reported a 2.2% increase in the same time period of farmers ages 25 to 34.

If these young people have not been scared off by the long hours of hard work necessary to make a go of it in farming, the economic reality may well dampen the spirits of newcomers who hail from the oftencalled “instant gratification generation.”

According to the USDA, “The farm is

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the place of residence for three fourths of principal operators, but it does not provide the majority of their household income.”

In all, about 82% of income earned by farm families comes from off-farm work, and less than half of all farms in the U.S. had positive net cash income from farm operations. Farmers often struggle to pay themselves for their hours of hard labor on their farms and ranches, leading 61% of principal operators to work off-farm at least some days in the year, and 40% to work off-farm full-time or for 200 or more days, according to the Agricultural census.

That off-farm income often helps those entering or expanding operations to secure financing or provide other stability to their families through health insurance or other benefits in addition to the more steady paycheck.

There are drawbacks, however, from so much need for work off the farm, not the least of which is the number of hours taken away from the farm operation that may help it grow into new markets or thrive in other ways.

Despite the barriers there are young people making a go of man’s oldest occupation. Here are a few of their stories.

Young farmers take to the

By Heidi Scott Josh and Sarai Orth joined the growing ranks of young people this year who traded their home in the city for the country. They purchased a little 1.5-acre farm north of Spokane, Washington.

Their choice to raise their children with an agricultural focus follows a growing national trend. According to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, the number of farmers under 35 years old is increasing for the second time this century.

The Orths have noticed they aren’t

alone. Sarai said, “Strangely, so many of our friends and family seem to also crave this lifestyle and have lots of input on what we could and should do here.”

This new wave of farmers is educated – 69% hold at least a bachelor’s degree as compared to 35% of all Americans under 35.

A majority are like the Orths – college graduates who were not raised in the country and have little agricultural background.

The appeal for them, like many of their counterparts, began with a desire

Submitted Photo Christian, left, and Italia Orth show off the rhubarb crop.

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field

for independence and freedom.

“I have, for a long time, craved a lifestyle that would get me out of the rat race and allow me to connect with the land where I live in a new and more meaningful way,” said Sarai, who had worked as a manager at a multimilliondollar nonprofit in Spokane prior to her move to the farm. “It’s not less work, but the work has more of a direct output for the input. You plant seeds, you tend them, and you reap the crop. You feed and care for animals and they produce eggs, milk, and meat for you.”

Josh – like a majority of farm operators - continues to work off-farm to support their growing family.

The Orth children, Italia, 7, Christian, 5, and Roman, 2, now spend their days home with their mother. They get up with the sun to collect eggs, plant their large garden, and explore their fields. Italia even dressed up like a pioneer for the first few weeks every time she went out to tend the chickens. The family has embraced their new lifestyle with enthusiasm.

However, in the short time they have lived there, they have faced a learning curve and are coming to terms with the sacrifices that come with farm life.

“Some things are intuitive, but sometimes I’m frustrated by being a novice. I look forward to gaining skills and knowledge through the years,” Sarai said. “We have to be more intentional with our time. We stay home more and have to be ok with that. The consideration of having animals beyond chickens will mean less freedom for travel as we have more to care for here.”

Sacrifices and Hard Work The sacrifices of farm life are not reserved for the novice. Skyler and Taylor

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Submitted Photo The Jensen family enjoys life on Coldwater Ranch. From left, Laney, Levi, McKay, Jody and Rachel sit atop a farm cart.

Jarman have also placed their desire for farm life above the desire to simply make money. Both have been raised on farms, and yet face enormous challenges as they make strategic decisions to pursue this lifestyle.

Skyler is a third generation rancher who grew up on a registered cow-calf operation in Ellensburg, Washington. At the age of 14, he started his own herd and grew it to 200 head.

Taylor grew up on a small, diversified farm in southern Colorado. From the time she was a toddler, she was showing livestock at the county fair. She began livestock judging in college, where she met Skyler, who was doing the same thing.

She graduated with degrees in Animal Science and International Agriculture.

Skyler also graduated in Animal Science.

After they married, they downsized their seedstock herd a bit as they began to plan for the future. They added some commercial cattle and recently expanded into pigs. They are raising their young children as the fourth generation to work the same land. Tommy (2.5 years), Boyd

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(19 months), and Jillyn (3 months) spend their days playing on the farm.

While this may seem like the picture perfect way for anyone wanting to be a rancher, the road has been anything but smooth for the Jarmans. They knew their shared dream of running a self-sufficient seedstock operation was not realistic in the short term, and looked for other ways to make a living in agriculture that would provide the means to build their dream.

Word came to them that a major turkey processing company was seeking new turkey growers who were willing to contract on a large scale. Skyler and Taylor eagerly got in touch with the company to find out how they could do that. As they got details and searched for properties with the right infrastructure, it became clear that the process was not going to be quick.

Willing to be patient and wanting to be careful with the assets they knew they’d soon need, they moved back to the Jarman family farm, where Skyler’s family still raised cattle. Skyler said, “We went through the lending process, researched how to build the infrastructure, and

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started looking for equipment.”

Life in agriculture is often a gamble.

Any day can bring high payout or high loss.

“There was never any certainty of it ever becoming a reality by the company, but there was an expectation,” Skylar said. “We had multiple conversations with multiple parties that always led us to believe that we would be able to move forward in six months. Then six more.

Then six more. It was always, ‘just wait for the next wave.’ But it never came.

The whole reason we waited was that it would have given us the ability to do what we really wanted to do, which was the cattle operation.

“It took so long that it got to the point where the turkey market really slowed down. The value of turkey dropped dramatically, and so plans of growth by the company eventually stopped completely.”

This stall in the market meant the Jarmans lost four years of potential growth for their own operation.

Skyler and Taylor continue to grapple daily with their dream of being selfsufficient on their own farm and the

reality of how to make that happen.

“The inputs, costs, and margins are such that it’s really, really difficult to be a full-time cattle operation, to use it as the main source of income,” Skylar said.

That’s where the pigs came in. The Jarmans were looking for ways to diversify, to find different ways to make the farm income their full source of revenue. Raising show and heritage pigs appeared to be a good way to hit a niche market in their area, a critical discovery as a producer.

“You have to either have a niche market or have the numbers. We don’t have the means to hit the numbers, but we can hit the niche market. Part of it is the switch in demand. We still raise a lot of show steers to support 4-H and FFA, but we saw a switch in demand from steers to pigs,” Taylor said. “This was an opportunity we knew we could capitalize on.”

“When I was in 4-H and showed steers, we had 140-160 steers every year and the same number with pigs. Now there are about 30 steers and 350 pigs

facilities of the family farm, so shipping has significantly reduced their margins because of higher market demand for their quality of cattle in other locations.

Taylor talked about other types of sacrifices many women make for the farm. Even though she and Skyler are equal partners, the work balance is tricky.

“I was farrowing for 32 hours straight, with multiple sows, when I was 9 months pregnant. On top of that, I was still doing all the chores on the place right up until I gave birth,” Taylor said. “Skyler works every day as a buyer for an export hay press, and then if he comes home and does chores every night, he won’t get to see the kids much. It is worth it for me to do the chores so our kids can spend time with their dad when I can. But now that I have a nursing baby, Skyler does most of the chores after work. This means he is gone from around 7 a.m. until about 8 or 9 p.m. every day.

“It also means I am by myself all day and the kids don’t get to see their dad

right now. Family time is usually taken up by chore time. This includes every weekend and every holiday. There are no vacations. No dinners out. The sacrifices are huge. In the long run though, we hope it’s going to be worth it. As they get older, these circumstances will change, especially as they grow old enough to help do chores. Family time will be chore time, which is even kind of the case now. We go out and do chores together sometimes, which is hard with such young kids. But we want to raise our kids a certain way so it’s worth the sacrifice.”

On easy days, chores on the Jarman farm take only a couple of hours with Skyler’s dad, Steve, helping them. But if it is breeding, calving, or farrowing season, it can take all day. For them, their biggest sacrifice has been giving up their ability to live on their own property.

It has been hard for them to know they are not completely independent yet, but they are thankful for the advantage of the Jarman family farm.

being shown at the fair. We realized we could get in on that,” Skylar said.

They invested in an 87’ X 16’ portable, automatic hog barn and imported some top-of-the-line pigs as breeders, even though this was a significant investment and risk with their assets.

“If you’re going to make it as a small producer, you have to have flexibility and agility,” Taylor said. “Some people just can’t keep up with trends. The production cycle of large operations makes it hard to be really flexible because it’s difficult to change rapidly when you have that many animals.”

The risk is high as they continue to look for opportunities to do things differently and better. They have four separate entities within their operation to diversify and hit separate niche markets: show pigs, heritage Berkshire pigs for culinary market, seedstock beef, and old-world Hereford seedstock. They are forced

Submitted Photo

to stay where they are geographically

Taylor Jarman, in this photo 9 months pregnant and carrying her oldest son,

because of the advantage in the shared

Tommy, sorts bulls for marketing pictures.

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“Our biggest resource is the fact that we share the operation with Skyler’s family,” Taylor said. “If you’re not taking over an existing operation or marrying in, it’s hard to do. Without the Jarmans, it would be next to impossible to do this.

We get a ton of help with the kids from the Jarmans, which is crucial. Steve helps with chores, breeding, and treating our stock, especially while Skyler is at work.”

Skyler’s mother and 87-year-old grandmother also help by watching the kids.

“We couldn’t do this without them.”

Challenges of Moving Into Ag Even very experienced ranchers are finding it hard to move into self-sufficiency.

McKay and Rachel Jensen have been raising their three children on the Coldwater Ranch in northern Utah, where McKay has been ranch manager for ten years. He graduated with a degree in animal science

and has a lifetime of experience in the ag world, as does his wife.

“We are trying to get to where we are self-employed and not rely on outside income, where we own the ground and cows, and work for ourselves,” McKay said. “The goal is to be self-sufficient.”

For now, his job at the ranch and his wife’s job as a school counselor pay the bills. This is common for young families in the ag world. Typical outside jobs include working for the state or county road departments, teaching school, working on other ranches like McKay, or other similar careers.

The Jensens feel fortunate that they got their start running their own stock on the ranch where he is employed which allowed them to purchase their land later on. Some operations won’t allow that option. In fact, it is quite hard to find places that permit personal livestock on company land.

Submitted Photo The Jarman Family pause for a family photo. Taylor, back left, sits with her

husband, Skyler, and holds their son, Tommy, while her husband holds Boyd.

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The Jensen’s dream is getting closer.

“I’m still paying on cows for another ten years, unless I can find a way to pay off early,” McKay said. “Once they are paid off, then we can be self-sufficient and self-employed. But we may continue to keep my wife’s income and benefits as a school counselor.”

It is hard to pay for insurance as a self-employed farmer or rancher, so most families have a similar arrangement.

They are fortunate in another way.

Coldwater Ranch allowed them to buy land and build their own home there.

The location allows McKay to work where he lives and not commute to another location to care for his herd. This is unusual as well.

“In the beef industry, it is hard to get in on the entry level unless you inherit or fall into it somehow. It takes too much capital to acquire equipment, pasture, and cows. The debt-load to carry it all makes it impossible to support a family.

Also, with real estate the way it is, it’s tough to just go in and buy land.”

One of the major hurdles is financial.

Small start-up farms take years and years to build up.

“If you inherited 250-300 cows, debt

free, you could live on that. But you can’t have that many cows and carry debt. It doesn’t pay enough to support yourself,” McKay said.

It is hard to secure a loan as a young farmer or rancher.

Big down payments are often required. Young people typically don’t have a lot of liquid assets, which is a disadvantage.

“Typically, an ag lender requires 20-30% as down payment.

I started out with 50 head, got them paid off, then added 100 more and we are working to pay them off. I used my cows as equity, so if I default on my loan, I lose all 100 cows. That’s the collateral to secure financing.”

Another challenge is the shortage of good locations to start farming.

“You can’t just start into ag wherever,” McKay said. “If I’m going to ranch, I’ve got to go where there’s good soil, good land, and good range. The same applies if you’re farming, or raising other livestock. You have to be aware of the local resources to support your industry. You’ve got to go to the type of country that will support what you want to do. This could mean relocating from a place where you are from. There are less and less chances to get into ag than there used to be as urban growth takes place.”

This also takes a toll on families. The logistics of living far from urban areas means fewer conveniences. Rural folks are not able to just run to town and grab things.

Rachel will go to their closest Walmart, 120 miles away, once a month and buy enough for weeks.

“If you run out, you’re out. You’ve got to plan ahead,” Rachel said. “When I go to the store, it’s a major affair. I have at

Submitted Photo Roman Orth practices for a day when he’ll participate more fully in farm life.

IN THEIR WORDS

“Projected farm income in 2019 is -$1,250. So when you got people you’re trying to convince to come into an industry and the industry average is a loss, it’s pretty challenging.”

Young farmers recently came to Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of themselves and their newto-farming peers as part of the National Young Farmer Coalition Fly-In. When asked what they see as some of the biggest barriers to entry for young/beginning farmers, here is what they had to say...

Selwyn Justice, Arizona orchard owner/operator

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least three carts full before I’m done.”

There are also risks in living remotely from medical response.

Ambulances sometimes have to drive great distances, so when accidents happen, as they always do on ranches and farms, there is a risk.

When their young son, Levi, fell and got dragged behind his horse, they had to call a life flight to get him to the closest hospital, roughly 150 miles away. And then they had to drive more than two hours before finding out how he was. Thankfully, Levi was okay, but it was a harrowing experience for the whole family.

Education is more limited as well.

Some people in remote places are forced to homeschool because public education is simply not available. When it is, schools are often so small they offer no sports or other extracurricular activities. The Jensens live in a rural school area that only offers kindergarten through 9th grade. Kids have to move away from home and live with other families if they want to complete 10th, 11th and 12th grade. Their oldest daughter, Jody (18), just graduated high school. Their second daughter, Laney (15), is starting her sophomore year, so she will be moving to a neighboring community this fall, and only come home on the weekends. That leaves just Levi (12) to help around the ranch and start seventh grade.

“People think that because we live so far out, that our lifestyle is slower. That’s insane,” Rachel said. “It takes three hours longer to do everything. We still go into basketball games and scouts and youth group activities. We do everything everyone else is doing, we just have to travel longer to do it.

“On top of that, we are living a pioneer life. We live so far out that we really have badland soil. You have to dig out rocks before you can plant trees and grass. We can’t afford to buy land where it’s easy. We can only afford to buy land where it’s cheap. You have to clear the land before you can do anything with it. The good areas, those places that were cleared before, those places are towns now. Now we are doing the clearing of

the land that hasn’t been settled. There is nothing ‘luxury’ about our life. Not a single thing. The wind blows all night long. The coyotes howl. Our home is alive with things.

“Everything out here is on steroids, the bugs, the weeds, and the wind. Everything is way, way worse. This is no man’s land. The weeds and bugs eat you! They devour everything. My sister has run marathons and competed in Iron Man triathlons.

She came out to help me garden one weekend and by the end of the first day, she said, ‘I have never been so tired in my whole life!’ But we choose it because we love it.”

The Rewards Why do the Jensens, the Jarmans, the Orths, and thousands of other young and beginning farmers continue to live this way, despite the challenges?

McKay said, “It’s the enjoyment of it.”

“I enjoy the work aspect. I enjoy the different seasons and what they bring in the environment. Even on those blizzard cold days, yeah, I’d love to be inside, but I’m doing what I want to be doing. I enjoy the freedom, which is hard for someone to understand who doesn’t do this. I don’t live by the clock. There’s no routine. There’s no time card. Sometimes I start at 5 a.m., sometimes at 7. Sometimes I am done by 2 p.m., sometimes by 10. Sure, you work hard and put in a lot of hours. There are no weekends, and it’s not like you get holiday pay. But if there’s a rodeo I want to enter, I can just go and do it. I like to rope. I like horses and cows. I enjoy being outside. Some people enjoy being inside, I couldn’t do that. Not now.”

His wife, Rachel sees other benefits to their lifestyle.

“I like that my kids know how to work really hard. For example, in the summer, sometimes they walk out the door at 7 a.m. and don’t walk back in again until 10 at night. They don’t get to sit and watch TV. Honestly they don’t even want to because they’re too tired!

“Why do I like it? I’m trying to figure that out. It’s some of the things you don’t see. We have way, way, way less drug and alcohol

“Access to water is a huge issue... On a bigger scale, access to land, and the land that I am managing and farming… I don’t own that. Most of the farmers that I know don’t own the land that they’re farming either.”

-Tiana Baca, urban educational farm in Albuquerque , NM

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Submitted Photo McKay Jensen, and his son,

Levi, rope a sick

calf to give it a

shot. They turn

the cows out

on the summer

range ground in

the spring after branding has

been complete.

problems. Sure, it exists everywhere, but we barely see it at all. There are no gangs whatsoever. The kids in the community know what everyone else’s priorities are.

They understand each other.

“I work an hour from where I live.

Those kids in the city, there are so many more problems that families have to deal with. Every night of the week, they run, run, run. I’m proud of my kids for being hard workers and being able to handle doing without. They don’t always have the nice things because we can’t just drive to town and get them. We know how to sacrifice. It’s a good, rewarding life.”

Taylor Jarman said her advice to other young people wanting to get into ranching and farming is “Good luck!”

“It’s hard,” Taylor said. “It’s been really trying, as a little family trying to get into this. It’s not worth it financially.

But income is not why we do it. We do it because we want to enjoy this lifestyle with our children. We are playing the long game on this one.”

Her husband, Skyler, agrees.

“We love the lifestyle. I love the way that it allows me to raise my family.

I’m passionate about it. I like the feeling and the challenge of growing

and building something.”

Sarai Orth said it’s the intangibles, too, that make it all worth it in the end.

“It forces an appreciation for the little things. Success is sweeter when you’ve had your hand in the process.

The graces of unexpected blessing are more poignant as well. Tending my own land feels like a window into Grace and gives me a deeper sense of satisfaction with the way that my time is spent. I feel confident that the time I spend working in my yard, garden, or with my animals is worthwhile for the environment, for our health, and for my soul.”

“We [Hopi] are what we call culturally based agriculture. Some of the problems that we face today are just trying to get more kids involved into their culture in general.

Farming is a way of life for us.”

- Michael Johnson, Hopi Nation

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Farms jeopardized by

By Warren Socher National Grange Intern The new tax laws, passed in the beginning of 2018, are claimed to be the most comprehensive reworking of the tax code in the last three decades.

With regards to farmers, several beneficial provisions have been passed that protect the interests of agriculturalists nationwide.

One improvement on the tax code which will seriously benefit generational farmers is the revision to the current law on estate/inheritance taxes, also commonly known as death taxes.

Historically, the Grange has remained firm in their opposition to these taxes, as they prevent farmers from passing on their farms and assets to future generations by imposing outlandishly encumbering taxes on the new estate owners after the previous owners have passed away.

“The Grange has long been an opponent of the estate tax,” thenNational Grange President Ed Luttrell said in 2013 after the Grange filed an amicus brief opposing the tax. “It does nothing but prevent the American dream from becoming a reality…Farmers and ranchers all over the country have worked their entire lives in order to leave their children something substantial that could be passed on to future generations and the inheritance tax does nothing but work to destroy that legacy.”

Before the new tax bill passed earlier this year, the maximum asset value for which one could receive an inheritance tax exemption was $5.49 million ($11.18 million for married couples) in 2017. With the new code, however, the cap was doubled from $5.49 million to $11.18 million, which would mean an exemption cap of roughly $22.4 million for married couples.

This seems like a lot of money that

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death tax

only the rich, and not the small farmer, could possibly want to protect.

That’s not always the case, though, says National Grange Legislative Director Burton Eller.

“For instance, your grandfather’s farm that was once $40 an acre could now be worth $5,000 an acre for agriculture production to $50,000 an acre near a growing metropolitan area. This means the 110-acre farm you’ve been plowing since you were too young to drive legally could trigger inheritance tax and you’re left with a hefty tax bill,” Eller said.

Under the new provisions, you would need at least a 224-acre farm at $50,000 per acre value to trigger the tax. These maximum exemption requirements might save a portion of those who would be at risk of losing a family farm after the previous title owner passed away, as the inheritors might not be able to pay off the massive fees. So, when one’s assets exceed the limit to receive exemptions, how brutal is

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the price tag that the government wants the new owners to pay? The previous estate tax law mandated a 40% tax on assets exceeding the exemption cap of $5.49 million. So, this means that a family member that comes into the possession of another relative’s farm has to essentially pay almost half the price of what the farm was worth to the federal government. So, this is why many people have to relinquish their right to their land due to exorbitant federal fees. The 40% tax is still in place, just with a little more leeway for those who qualify for exemptions.

Various groups, including the Grange, have worked to tell the story of family farmers hurt by the inheritance tax law that does not exempt working farms or land zoned or used for agriculture.

One such story, was shared by Clayton Leverett, a fifth generation farmer in Texas who faces two inheritance tax bills each year.

The cattleman from Texas is now coowner with his brother, of the family’s

ranch established by his great-great-grandfather around the same time as the National Grange.

Leverett, in his letter published on the Policy and Taxation Group’s website, told the devastating story directly.

From his great-great-grandfather, the land passed down to his children, then his children’s children, landing with Leverett’s grandmother in 1997 when she passed away and his father was left holding a tax bill of 38.5% of what the land’s production value was assessed at, minus a $1 million deduction.

“At the time, no one even knew the value of her estate because its value was in what it could produce, not what it could sell for,” Leverett wrote.

His father established a payment plan with the IRS, but just short of a decade later, he too was ailing and before a sufficient amount of time passed between setting up his estate plan and his passing, Clayton and his brother inherited the land. While mourning the loss of their father they came to terms with the fact they may also have to mourn the loss of their family farm or set up a second payment plan with the IRS. “For five generations my family has worked this land. Five generations have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into this land, this family business.

We have diligently paid our local, state, and federal income taxes. We have sowed into our local, state, and national economy. But because we’re now defined as wealthy according to someone else’s definition of the word, it will be next to impossible to preserve our family heritage for another generation.”

“We are now burdened with two estate tax payments every year. One for my grandmother’s estate (from 1997!), and one for my father’s estate,” Leverett wrote. “We will be making these payments for the next 15 years. So, not only are we trying to make a small family business in ranching profitable for ourselves, we are now trying to make it profitable for the IRS so that it doesn’t end up as federal land.”

Eller said he’s heard similar stories far too often.

“This affects all types of farms in all areas of the country,” Eller said. “That’s why it’s so critical that people take time to think about what they want and plan well in advance for the transition of assets.

Bring professionals - lawyers, financial planners, accountants - on board and let your families in on the details.”

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PLAN AHEAD Until the estate tax is repealed or provisions are

made for agricultural land or family farms, anyone

who wishes that their land pass from themselves to their beneficiaries without potential large inheritance

tax bills, needs to start talking to financial planners — sooner rather than later.

There are several possible ways to avoid losing one’s

estate, if done with proper planning.

An obvious method would be to sell assets to

subtract the amount one would have to pay or attempt

to get below the mark so one could get an exemption, however this is what most people are attempting to avoid in the first place.

A second, more viable option would be to establish a

Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Limited Partnership (LP).

These entities serve to help facilitate monetary gifts

from parents to children/grandchildren as well as other beneficiaries. What they do is reduce the value of one’s

assets in the eyes of the government so the beneficiaries might not have to pay as much estate taxation on an

inheritance. Therefore the donor gets more control over their assets which affords more protection from creditors.

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‘Can’t

control what happens... from your grave’

By Heidi Scott

We looked into our options and decided to

estate tax, so they bought the property

develop an LLC to keep the operation in the

before anyone died.

Kimberli Stine is close to retirement

family. We purchased part of the property,

They continued the lodging facility

from the Natural Resources Conservation

and set up some for spousal impoverishment.

with cabins. They also continue to raise

Service. She did not grow up on a farm,

This protects part of the assets for my mom.

chickens and sell eggs and graze cattle

nor was she planning to have a farm in her

When she dies, her assets will pay off what

on the property as their stepfather had

retirement. But situations in life often take

Medicaid used for him.”

done. The problem is that Kimberli lives in

us where we don’t expect.

Learning how to take over operations

Fort Worth, Texas. She has to help run a

Her mother married a man with a large

and keep assets in the family can be

business from 750 miles away. She does all

property in Nebraska. He has owned it

extremely frustrating. There are so many

the accounting, legal work, and marketing.

45 years, but age has required that he be

entities with authority within state and

Her advice to people who may find

moved into a nursing home. This event has

federal regulations. Kimberli and her

themselves in a similar situation is to find a

meant Kimberli and her brothers have had

brothers began to feel that people would

financial planner as soon as possible. “Get

to evaluate how to best support their mother

not answer their questions completely,

your estate planned. Make those hard

in her desire to stay there. Their assets were

giving only part of the information they

decisions early, so you don’t have to make

not set up in such a way to be able to pay

needed. “If we’d have known the whole

them when you are emotionally pulled or

for the nursing home out of their pockets, so

story, we would have bought the whole

when it’s too late. If there’s no planning,

they found themselves suddenly considering

property. But actually, it would have been

you lose. I know it’s hard, and you want to

becoming beginning farmers.

a lot easier to get them divorced. It’s hard

be fair. People have assets, and nobody

understanding

programs

wants to talk about when they die. But

for a long time. The way his assets were set

and what they mean and the paperwork

everybody dies. If you don’t talk about it in

up, it looked like they were going to lose the

associated with them. We learned too

advance, you leave a mess.”

place when he went into the nursing home.

late.” They knew they couldn’t afford the

Kimberli explained, “My stepdad was ill

the

different

They were fortunate to find a lawyer who could handle both sides, estate planning and estate inheritances. She was the one who suggested the LLC, which allows movement for three generations in Nebraska. The family can dictate who gets membership in LLC and manage transferring by percentages of membership.

With the ready availability of estate planners and tools, it would seem that this is not a reminder than needs to be given. And yet so many fail to put their affairs in order.

“My grandpa didn’t do anything because he was too afraid,” Kimberli said. “It destroyed the family when he died. His daughters thought two different things: one wanted money and the other wanted the family to

Submitted Photo Kimberli Stine never expected to be a farmer, but knows the value of estate planning after watching other relatives put off for too long getting their affairs in order and communicating their wishes to the family.

stay together. You can’t control what happens to your farm from the grave unless you write a will. There are estate taxes, unless you do the estate planning tied to the will... It is so much easier to deal with it when you have the time and can communicate what you want.”

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Submitted Photo Easton Sattazahn, 2 1/2, is part of the future generation of Sattazahns who is expected to benefit from the transition plan put in place for his family’s farm.

In effort to

transition dairy from one generation

to next, expansion, embracing changes necessary

By Charlene Shupp Espenshade Passing the farm down from a parent to the next generation is a dream for many family farms. Transitioning a family farm from one generation to the next can be a complicated process figuring out how to balance the goals of the senior generation with those of the next.

For one Grange family, tne Sattazahns of Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, constructing a new dairy barn was part of the plan as they began to transfer ownership, something that will chart a course for the next 20 years or more.

The Berks County family, members of Marion Grange #1853, started by organizing a transformation team through the Center for Dairy Excellence to define the next steps for the farm, which has been in Sattazahn hands since the 1930s.

Doug returned to the family farm after graduating from Penn State with a degree in animal science. His brother worked at another dairy farm for a few years before opting to join the family farm.

Doug said his time at Penn State broadened his view to how

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other farm families manage their farms. After the boys spent a couple of years working for their father, the discussion began on how to transition the farm.

Zahncroft Dairy LLC was formed in 2010 to transition from Dennis and Betsy Sattazahn to their twin sons, Doug and Dave, and their wives, Raechel and Katie.

“The greatest variables that families need to consider are the goals of each generation and all family members,” Doug said.

“This must be the foundation of the entire plan and sets the stage for ho the transition can take place. They influence the strategy for transfer of assets, transfer of management, division of roles and responsibilities.”

The brothers now oversee the cows and rent the property from their father, who manages the crops. Their successful transition is a credit to their parents, Doug said. “On our farm, our parents, Dennis and Betsy, have been willing to step aside and let my brother and me fulfill our dream of continuing the family dairy farm.”

The Sattazahns originally considered retrofitting their old barns, but the more they looked at them, the more sense construct a new barn.

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63

Photos by Raechel Sattazahn ABOVE: The barn going up at the Sattazahn farm

ushered in many changes.

LEFT: Doug Sattazahn works with the new

milking equipment on the family farm.

The top priorities for the new building were increasing cow comfort, dry matter

“The cows like it and the people like it,” Doug said.

intake and labor efficiency — and keeping

It’s now easier to move cows to the

a lid on cost. The barn has a six-row

milking parlor, and milking efficiency has

freestall and sand bedding, elements that

doubled.

the brothers liked at the farms they visited.

First-lactation

cows

are

housed

The transformation team changed to

separately from the older cows. There are

a profit team as the plan for the new barn

designated pens with special-needs and

came together.

freshening cows.

The team, which continues to exist,

The Sattazahns got approval from

includes the family members, Penn State

their dairy, Clover Farms, to expand their

Extension educators, and the farm’s

herd as part of the construction project.

accountant, nutritionist and lender.

Given the weak dairy market, Doug

The cattle were moved into the new facility about eight months ago.

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doubts he could have gotten permission to expand so easily today.

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“Although the industry is currently experiencing challenging economic times, there are opportunities for dairy farmers.

We continue our focus on providing a wholesome, quality product in a profitable manner, taking good care of our animals and the land while raising our families on the farm,” Doug said.

The herd has 230 cows, mostly Holsteins with a few Jerseys and Brown Swiss. The herd was expanded with purchased bred heifers. The farm averages 72 pounds of milk per cow per day on twice-a-day milking.

Outside of the farm, Raechel is the knowledge center director for AgChoice Farm Credit based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. She leads AgChoice’s AgBiz Master’s program which equips aspiring, new farmers with business and financial management skills through an interactive learning program.

“Doug, Dave and Katie were a part of the inaugural year of the AgBiz Masters Program in 2011,” Raechel said. “AgBiz Masters helped provide all of us with a solid background on key business principles needed to run a successful business.

The networking with other likeminded, progressive young farmers was also beneficial to building connections.”

Raechel has seen others go through program, which includes a series of classes and webinars led by David Kohl, Virginia Tech economics professor emeritus. The connections help young farmers know they are not alone. The classes help to build a successful farm foundation.

“Today’s farmers need a business mindset to ensure a successful future for their operations,” Raechel said. “AgBiz Masters teaches important business and financial concepts that are applicable to all farm operations, no matter what commodity or size.”

The Sattazahns are now settled into their new barn, they have not stopped looking to the future..

“We have been farming together for eight years and one thing I know. There is always room for improvement,” Dave said.

Photo by Lance Cheung, courtesy of USDA U.S. Marine Corps veteran Calvin Riggleman holds an oregano seedlings on Bigg Riggs farm in Hampshire County, West Virginia.

Riggleman, who served in Iraq, grew up with family farming roots tracing back to 1775 in the state.

His comrades-in-arms helped him figure out how to make the farm productive, transforming an orchard with roadside sales to a multidimensional farm with value-added food processing to make a wide range of condiments for sale online under the Homegrown by Heroes label.

Undaunted by hard work, veterans still left wanting to make farm

By Nouhad Melki II National Grange Intern “I didn’t want to be some disabled veteran waiting for a check...I wanted to contribute to my community,” said

dreams reality

Farm Credit Council and the Farmer

When he is not resting at home, he is in

Veteran Coalition, it was evident that

the field, riding his GPS guided tractor

veterans

have

that keeps him on course – an essential

gone into farming do more for their

like

Reynolds

who

tool he needs to cope with his cognitive

communities than just contributing to a

difficulties while navigating his land at

supply curve.

Reynolds Farms in Georgia.

Reynolds - one of the four featured

Despite that, he is among a large

veteran-farmer panelists, along with

number of farmers who have served in

four Members of Congress from relevant

the military and find themselves called

recent Homegrown By Heroes event

congressional committees to speak at

on to help their nation again – this time

in the Russell Senate Office Building in

the event - suffered a traumatic brain

with food security.

Washington, D.C.

injury during his tour of duty, and said

Mike Reynolds, a farmer and wounded U.S. Army veteran, who spoke at the

During the July 11 panel hosted by

he still struggles with lasting effects.

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The USDA is helping to spin this narrative.

65

Their website includes a section

even more in loans have been made

challenge especially for those without

on the initiative to engage veterans in

available specifically for veterans who

the stomach for gambling or chance.

agriculture, and reads, “Preparedness

are looking to get into farming. Even

Welder said during his testimony that

and defense are critical to America’s

with all of this focus, many veterans

his soybeans plummeted from $35 a

food and agriculture sectors and to

still run up against obstacles, including

pound to a gut-wrenching $12 a pound.

sustaining and growing rural America.

getting their credit in order to ensure

The downturn makes farming – which

That’s why the U.S. Department of

additional farm loans can be taken

already often is a job that is done

Agriculture is looking to military veterans

and taking time to train for the new

after the farmer has clocked out of

across the country to fill the roles that

adventure while life waits in the form of

their off-farm full-time job – almost an

keep America’s food supply safe and

bills and family obligations.

unsustainable reality.

secure, preserve and strengthen rural

Reynolds’ keen sense of humor and

The risk of all of these challenges

communities, and restore and conserve

jovial nature helped hammer home to

taking a fatal toll on these veteran

the environment.

those gathered at the event the serious

farmers was real, and did not go

message of need for access to credit for

unmentioned during the event.

“USDA wants to ensure that veterans looking to return home, or start a new

veterans-turned farmers.

Reynolds

noted

that

veterans,

career on a farm or in a rural community

For those like Army veteran Jed

already at very high risk for suicide, are

have the tools and opportunities you

Welder from Trinity Farms in Michigan,

put even more in the path of self-danger

need to succeed.”

who was also part of the panel, being

when they choose to farm – a profession

As part of this mission, the USDA

drawn back – especially to family

that tempts failure at every turn. It is

has invested heavily in recruitment and

enterprises – may make opening the

estimated that about 20 veterans a day

training for veterans who wish to make

door to farm-life easier, but the volatility

commit suicide and farmer by profession

their living in the agriculture sector.

of markets – especially as tariffs are

have the highest rates of suicide.

Tens of millions of dollars in grants and

being tossed across oceans – is a real

This, too, is an area where federal funds collide as different departments put cash behind programs and services for veterans and for farmers to get help before it’s too late.

All of these challenges, however may make those who have moved from military to farm even more proud of their work, and that continued commitment in a new fashion to national security is something they often want to show off on their products with a Homegrown By Heroes label.

During the event, leaders from the Farmer Veteran Coalition were proud to unveil a rebranding of the insignia, which now includes a servicewoman saluting at attention beside her male peers – a presentation well received by those in attendance.

U.S.

Photo by Nouhad E. Melki II

Air

Force

veteran

Tammy

Darbyshire’s eyes swelled with tears as

From left, veteran farmers Ryan Lankford, Tammy Darbyshire, Mike Reynolds

she took in the new design.

by Heroes label unveiled during a panel discussion at the Russell Senate Office

a huge step because this can help open

and Jed Welder stand next to a dispay of the newly redesigned Homegrown Building in Washington, D.C., in early July.

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“Whether your female or male, this is up doors for a veteran – whether female

Photo by Preston Keres, courtesy of USDA Thomas and Anita Roberson, both U.S. Army veterans, operate the Botanical Bites & Provisions in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The Robersons operate a 10-acre farm where they produce vegetables, fruit, honey and flowers. or not,” said Darbyshire, who was the only female veteran-

she said. “It didn’t matter. Your kids may have a ballgame; it

farmer on the panel.

didn’t matter… The biggest challenge for me was not being

She worked as security, guarding planes, but said she

able to drop everything we were doing and not being able

always had to work harder to prove to her male counterparts

to schedule things. I like things on a schedule and you could

that she could do the job and should be part of the team.

not do that with farming. If they’re talking about rain for the

Today, Darbyshire lives on her family farm in Hartford, Kansas, with her husband of 22 years and their two sons.

next two weeks and you have crops to get in, you got a crop to get in.”

Together they take care of their crops and cattle. Farming

Things you can’t control – from weather to commodity

plays into her sense of civic duty and accomplishment. She

prices – are some of the biggest challenges, she said, but still

believes with every crop she plants and harvests she continues

she hopes there is a future in farming for her sons and nieces.

her service to her country.

“I hope that they have the passion – which I know they do

In her new career she still sometimes faces an uphill battle

but they’re able – to strive, and they’re able to find someone

being seen as an equal part of the working farm couple, but

that can share that passion with them, so they can have that

that is not the biggest challenge. Instead, it was the more

partner that we have had in the past. That is my biggest hope.”

unfamiliar ones she faces because of farming that give her pause.

“Farming comes first and that’s one thing you had to learn,”

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Alexander Mostaghimi and Warren Socher, National Grange Interns, contributed to this story.

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67

marks 130 years

Junior Grange

By Amanda Leigh Brozana This year the Junior Grange looks back on its foundings as it celebrates 130 years of training children in everything from citizenship to agricultural best practices.

The

first

Juvenile

Grange

was

established in Texas in 1888 and at their state sesion that year, ritual work for these youngest members was adopted and forwarded onto delegates to the National Convention for review. The Committee on Ritual looked favorably upon the creation of this children’s Grange and recommended the National National

organization to train up our children

Lecturer work to establish a codified

to be good and productive citizens,”

“I remember Junior Grange allowing

Ritual for Juvenile Granges. Two years

said Wilkins, who also notes his pride

us to have a voice in our own organization

later, delegates to the 24th Annual

in hailing from the state where Juvenile

(voting), it allowed us to plan activities

Convention of the National Grange

Grange was founded.

that we wanted to participate in (fall

Executive

Committee

and

and make the organization their own.

adopted the Junior Grange ritual - whose

Juvenile Grange - renamed to Junior

carnivals), socialize with children from the

writing was credited in great part to

Grange in 1964 - was a foundational

community and develop independence

Past National Grange Master Jonathan

stepping stone for many Grange leaders

and individuality in a safe environment,”

Woodman of Michigan.

now serving at the Subordinate level and

said Karen Knight Overstreet a member

beyond.

of Alamo Grange #1446, Texas.

Years before Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and 4-H were founded, Grange leaders

“For those of us who started our

These are key elements that have

across the nation saw value in allowing

Grange journey wearing red tennis

not changed, Director Samantha Wilkins

children to gather, learn, determine

shoes, it is undeniable what the Junior

said, even though there has been

for themselves issues and projects of

Grange experience can do to open the

evolution within the organization.

importance and make a difference in

possibilities up for a child,” Director

their Grange and their communities.

Samanth Wilkins said. “From building

was introduced.

skills

meeting

knowledge about issues of citizenship,

Junior Grange Director Samantha Wilkins,

administration, and project planning, to

nature and conservation to Grange-

said he is a staunch supporter of the

the early introduction of new cultures

related subjects like membership and

entire organization because the Grange

and

American

ritualism, there were many badges a

understood how important it was to

Sign Language, Junior Grange is an

Junior could achieve over their years in

“include our children to become a bright

opportunity that builds character and

the program. Several also focused on

spot in America’s future, teaching them

whose affects are felt for a lifetime.”

developing Juniors’ talents and allowing

Glenn Wilkins, husband of National

about issues important to American values.”

It

in

public

languages

also

speaking,

such

hammered

as

home

the

In 1970, the Merit Badge program From activities and

them to explore new things to find

“We see that the children of today

expectation that Juniors do more than

are the future of tomorrow, and it

just follow the guidance of adults, but that

As the years went on, several new

was important to members of our

they have a voice in their participation

topics were added including “Save the

J

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

hidden skills.

69

Earth” and “Stop the Violence” in the 1990s, as well as Animal & Computer Science badges in 2014, but the cost

UNEARTHING FIGURES FROM OUR PAST

things in the Grange, somtimes it takes a little while for programs to take hold and be accepted universally. Even though

of badges increased and many Junior

Woodman

was

a

Michigan

native,

Granges opted to complete the work

that State Grange had not yet created

toward the badge but not offer the

Juvenile Granges, so instead Dora

badges themselves.

Stockman, who had been elected State

“Some children don’t want to wear

Lecturer in 1914 and was the editor of

lots of buttons and pins. There are many

the State Grange newsletter, established

children on the autism spectrum who are

“Four Leaf Clover Clubs.” These were the

very sensitive to the noise and distraction

predecessor to today’s 4-H, along with

the pins can create,” former National

several other clubs formed throughout

Junior Grange Director Lillian Booth said.

different states that focused on youth

Today, the badges themselves are

agriculture

being phased out in favor of a more

education

and

teaching

principles of civic responsibility.

modern and adaptable “Junior Grange

In the mid-1920s, active Grange

Passport” program, but the lessons

member Henry Groseclose was asked to

from these badges are the foundation

develop ritual and procedures for new

for most of the initial passports offered, including the one you will find in this issue on pages 72 through 74 about the U.S. Postal Service and the Grange.

DORA STOCKMAN

Future Farmers of Virginia clubs - the predecessor organization to today’s FFA.

Read more about her at: bit.ly/2uW2fKh

What he wrote was adopted later that year in Virginia and in 1928 during the

“We’re tyring to make sure we can keep things in line with the needs of our kids and our leaders, with learning expectations

and

standards

today

so that the program may be used

in

school curriculums or in addition, and to make sure whatever we have in place is exciting for the kids and cost-effective,” Samantha Wilkins said.

A Lasting Impression

formation of Future Farmers of America as the code for all clubs across the country.

Wilkins said.

“Imagine the influence. Imagine what you would have learned from working together on farms and then in Juvenile Grange as equals. It would be hard to vote against women having the right to vote if you’ve been voting and serving along side of them since you were 5 years old. Imagine how much that experience

While he was not an initial founder of the organization, Wib Justi, the first National Grange Youth Director, became active just four short years after the start of the National Junior Horticulture Association and helped steer it through his work in its leadership.

A History We Are Proud to Share

It was that foresight and progressive

did to help move the needle on public

Wilkins said it is her hope that a team

spirit of Grange leaders that has made

opinion and provide necessary votes to

or a single person would like to do more

Samantha proud to be affiliated with the

make sufferage a reality.”

research and do justice to the story of the

organization.

“Before scouting even existed, the Junior Grange was teaching young people values of citizenship, good moral

Junior Grange over the next many years,

A Legacy Beyond our Gates Grangers were part of the founding of several other youth organizations that

preparing for its 150th birthday in 2038.

“We want to have an impressive and comprehensive history of our children’s

character, hard work and engagement -

focus on positive values and agriculture

and it was doing it with boys and girls

knowledge

many

encouraging anyone interested in writing

together,” Samantha Wilkins said.

of which also struggled initially with

or editing a history of Junior Grange to

“People who would have just gotten

equality or inclusion of both genders but

contact her.

voting rights, who went through the

have come to follow in the footsteps of

earliest co-educational Juvenile Grange

the Grange.

or

engagement,

The idea to engage children in a club

group who made sufferage a reality,”

was not Texas’s alone, but like many

J

“Also, if you have Junior Grange history or information, start gathering it

experience, were probably part of the

70

leadership organization,” Wilkins said,

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

so we can put it together when we have a team in place,” Wilkins said.

Print and play at your next Grange meeting. Send to Junior/Juvenile Grange friends.

As you play, reflect on great memories and experiences you had as a Junior/Juvenile and think about how important it is that the next generation have those same opportunities.

Junior/Juvenile Grange BINGO Learned the Junior Pledge

Competed in a Junior/Juvenile Grange contest

Expressed my opinion in public/gave a public speech

Attended a State Grange Convention

Found a Grange mentor or older Junior/Juvenile to look up to

$1

$2

$5

$3

$4

Became familiar with how meetings were conducted

Developed a new Skill

Helped lead a Service or Outreach project

Performed a Drill

Own Junior or Juvenile Grange apparel

$4

$3

$5

$2

$1

Learned by writing an essay as part of a Junior/Juvenile activity

Earned a Junior/Juvenile Grange Badge or Passport Stamp

FREE SPACE

Communicated with someone using American Sign Langauge

Have a Junior or Juvenile Grange Pin/ Jewelry

$4

$3

$5

$2

Held a Junior or Juvenile Grange office

Learned to listen with an Felt empowered Learned respect open mind to by voting on a for the Flag someone with an motion opinion different from my own

Created a Fair Booth or Parade Float $1

Made a crafted item $2

$2

Displayed a Talent

$3

$4

$3

Made a friend I would not Attended Junior otherwise have or Juvenile Grange Camp met with Junior/ Juvenile Grange $4

$5

TOTAL ________

BONUS Any Postage Stamp +$2 Any Diaganal +$5 Any Straight

Sang from a Junior Grange songbook

$5

$1

BINGO! What was your Junior/Juvenile experience worth? Your BINGO may reveal a small part of the answer. Consider donating your “BINGO total� to the Grange Foundation - ATTN: Junior Grange Fund to help the next generation live, learn and grow through the Junior Grange.

Send your donation to Grange Foundation, 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006.

+$7 Whole Border +$13

4

Grange Adventures #7 | U.S. Postal System

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

NOTES ON STEPS/STAMP WORK

Junior Leader Signature __________________________

date approved my stamp on __________________________.

___________________________ Grange #_______)

(or, if a 1+ Junior member, my mentor is a member of

of _____________________ Junior Grange #______,

name My Junior Leader, ______________________________,

date I completed this passport on _____________________.

STAMP CERTIFICATION

GR A

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

Grange Adventures #7

U.S. Postal Service

LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion, Junior Grangers will be able to • show basic knowledge of the U.S. Postal System and its history as well as the U.S. Postal Museum • prepare a piece of mail to be sent through the postal system • define Rural Free Delivery and discuss the Grange’s part in helping to make access to the postal service equal for rural Americans • provide basic details about careers with the U.S. Postal Service

LEARNING OBJECTIVES The purpose of this passport is to educate Junior Grangers about the U.S. Postal System and the Grange’s role in Rural Free Delivery.

NECESSARY RESOURCES Internet access, writing implements, paper, markers, crayons or printer/paper, envelope and stamp

Designed to be completed sequentially as Juniors grow, with culmination after Junior member has achieved at least a third-grade reading level and has a basic understanding of internet research. To earn the stamp, all steps must be completed but need not be done in order.

AUDIENCE

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

DV E A ENT NG

ES UR

Step 1 On an envelope and on a postcard, practice writing the return address, delivery address and locating where a stamp should go Date Completed: ____________________________ Step 2 Send a letter and a postcard to a family member, friend or Pen Pal using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Date Completed: ____________________________ Step 3 Complete Junior Grange U.S. Postal Service worksheet Date Completed: ____________________________ Step 4 Write a thank you letter to your postal carrier and hand-deliver it or put it in your mailbox for them Date Completed: ____________________________

Step 5 Interview a postal worker or take a tour of your local post office to learn what careers are available with the USPS Date Completed: ____________________________

Grange Adventures #7 | U.S. Postal System

Date Completed: ____________________________

Favorite exhibit: ________________________________

Step 6 Visit the U.S. Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., or go to its website to research the museum. Explain what exhibit you most enjoyed or would most like to see in person and why.

2

Step 7 Learn about the different classes of domestic mail and their requirements – maximum and minimum size and weight and what types of things can be mailed in that class. Speak to your mentor about your new knowledge.

Date Completed: ____________________________

Step 8 Do your own research and/or watch the DVD called The Grange & Rural Free Delivery (available from the National Grange). Then, create some informational display/exhibit (a booth, tri-fold board, or any other presentation to inform the public that does not require you to be there to explain) about the Grange’s impact on the Postal Service through Rural Free Delivery. Display it at your Grange Hall or some other public place. Take a picture of the exhibit. (This may be done as a group project.)

3

Date Completed: ____________________________

PHOTO

OF

EXHIBIT

Grange Adventures #7 | U.S. Postal System

2 Connecticut Juniors win

By Sue Gray, Ekonk Community Grange #89, Connecticut Junior Grange undoubtably seeks to build involved citizens with patriotism as one of its core values.

So, when the Sterling Republican Town Committee in Connecticut chose “Patriotism in the United States,” as the topic for their annual essay contest it was almost too easy for two Ekonk Community Junior Grange members, including Master Lillian Sharpe.

All upper elementary grade students at Sterling Community School enter and essays are judged by outside readers.

Sharpe, a seventh-grader, along with eighth grader Connor Sebastian, who is also a Junior Grange member, took home top prize in their respective grades for their essays and were presented citations from the Sterling Board of Selectmen, the State General Assembly by State Senator Heather Somers, a framed certificate from the Sterling Republican Town Committee and a $5 cash prize.

Sharpe and Sebastian were also invited to read their essays at the annual

essay

contest

Submitted Photo Lillian Sharpe, left, and Connor Sebastian, right, stand with State Senator Heather

Somers before the 4th of July parade in Groton, Connecticut, recently, where they were honored as Kid Senators for their award-winning essays on patriotism.

Sterling Gathering for Patriotism and

the Grange,” Ekonk Community Grange

marched as “Kid Senators” in the Town

Master Russell Gray said. “To have two

of Groton 4th of July Parade with Somers.

good young people like this shows a

“We couldn’t be more proud of these

great promising future for our Grange

young people and that they are part of

and our community.”

How are you celebrating our big birthday?

Give now to the 1 to 130 Fundraiser?

For those of us who started our Grange journey in red tennis shoes, it is undeniable what the Junior/Juvenile experience can do to open up possibilities for a child.

You can make a difference in the lives of today’s children, just as someone did for you and your peers.

We cannot forget that we were blessed with the gift of the Grange and Junior Grange because

Make your secure donation by visiting to tiny.cc/1to130

of the support and sacrifices of those who came before us and to honor them, we must continue that support today.

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WINNING ESSAY

Patriotism in the United States

By Lillian Sharpe According to Webster’s Dictionary, patriotism means, “love

for the town, and members of the Board of Education, who will

for, or devotion to one’s country.” This means that you show

make the decisions for the school. Another way you can be a

support for your country. One way you can show patriotism is

good citizen is by volunteering. You can volunteer at animal

by learning the history of our country. Another way to show you

shelters, nursing homes, soup kitchens, Project Pin, and many

care is to vote and be a good citizen. You can also support the

other places in your community. For example, my Girl Scout

military and show respect for the flag.

Troop adopted the Senior Center in town and donated desserts

Knowing your country’s history can help show patriotism.

and vegetables for the table at the Town Hall. It is important to

One example of a war that we should learn about is the

volunteer so that you can help make a positive impact on your

Revolutionary War.

community. There are also ways to volunteer that help support

In the Revolutionary War, we fought

against England to get our independence. This is where the

our veterans.

term patriotism started. Without this war, we would not be the

Supporting the military is another way to show your patriotism.

United States of America. Another war that is important to know

You should support the United States military because they are

about is the Civil War. In this war, the North fought to bring the

the ones who keep us safe every day. In addition to this, you

South back into our country. Abraham Lincoln helped to bring

should always show respect during the Pledge of Allegiance

the states back together. There are also many facts to learn that

and when the flag is up or goes by. You can show respect by

are fun and enjoyable. One of my favorite history lessons to

putting your hand over your heart and saying the Pledge nicely.

learn about was when people from England came over to the

We need to realize that our independence doesn’t come free.

“New World.” This is one of my favorites because without those

People put their lives on the line to make our country free and

people we would be living in England. The colonists who came

keep us safe every day.

to this country helped to settle the modern day United States.

In conclusion, showing patriotism is important to me and

Knowing these facts, and many more, can help show patriotism

should be to you too. To me, it means many things. We should

and is also part of being a good citizen.

show respect by learning our country’s history. We should

Being a good citizen can show that you are patriotic. One

always be a good citizen, by voting and volunteering. Lastly,

way to be a good citizen is by voting for different things like the

we should always show support to our military and respect our

President, who will make the decisions for the country. You can

flag. These are all ways you can show love and devotion to our

also vote for your town Selectmen who will make the decisions

country.

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Regional conferences

By Charlene Shupp Espenshade

connect

Grangers

“Check out this map… maybe it has a clue… Wait, I found a word search… what about these letters?” Grangers had an hour to figure out how to crack the codes to get into a locked box in order to start their Grange meeting on time at each of the Grange regional conferences this summer.

A total of six conferences either as Grange Leaders or Youth conferences provided youth the chance to get a head start on their trivia challenge tests for their national contests. As Grangers worked in teams to figure out the answers, rifling through Grange history books, Grange manuals and trying lock combinations to find the next clue to complete the challenge, they had the opportunity to collect about 20 answers for the 2018 trivia challenge.

“It’s been fun to watch Grangers work together on the Escape room,” said Jacob Gwin, National Grange Youth Ambassador from Washington.

Photo courtesy of the National Grange Youth Facebook Page Participants at the Northeastern Regional conference works together to solve a Grange-focused Escape Room.

“Organizing workshops that encourage teamwork

and

interaction

places

Grangers on a level playing field as they have to solve the clues.”

National Grange President Betsy Huber said the escape room is a great, fun way to connect with our history and get all ages together.

“One of the best part of Grange is the opportunities to interact with people

Grangers distributed care packages

In Michigan, youth had the chance

filled with toiletries, a quilt of valor

to visited Malone’s Horse Farm and

mug rug, puzzle books and a hand

learned from the owner about her

written thank you note. As part of the

experiences of securing a loan and

community service project, Grangers

the establishment of her small horse

were asked to interview veterans for

farm and training business. Or course,

the Library of Congress’s veteran oral

Grangers loved the opportunity to visit

history project.

with one of her horses.

“The interview sheets provided an

Huber, who attended nearly all the

easy way to start a conversation with

regionals, said it was great to reconnect

the veterans,” Tessa Taft, National

with Grange family and wished more

youth

Grange Youth Ambassador from New

would come out for the event

together for several unique community

York, said. “These men and women

“Regionals are a time when our

service projects. At the Great Plains

were so inspiring as they shared

youth are especially proudly show

Leaders Conference, Grangers visited

their

joined,

off their skills and what they’ve been

the

experiences during their service and

learning as part of the Grange and it’s

how they rejoined civilian life.”

important that they feel connected to

from different backgrounds and age,” Huber said. “Not many organizations provide that opportunity anymore.”

Conferences

Veterans

brought

Administration

clinic

in Grand Island, Nebraska. There,

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childhood,

why

they

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77

Photo courtesy of the Nebraska State Grange Facebook Page Great Plains Regional Conference was well-attended with a wide range of ages. the rest of their Brothers and Sisters and

encouraged

journey,”

Huber

in said.

their

Grange

“Plus,

with

the variety of leadership workshops, service opportunities and fellowship time, everyone can get something out of attending one of these events.”

Conferences also allowed for plenty of youth fun, where youth competed in speech, Sign-a-Song and jeopardy contests. The Greatest Showman’s “This is Me” has proven to be a popular Sign-ASong selection across the regions as many youth have connected with the lyrics.

The Northeast Youth Conference culminates with the Drill competition on the closing day of the conference.

The conferences also give Grangers a chance to take in the sights of the host

Photo courtesy of the National Grange Youth Facebook Page

state. For the youth team, it provided insights and unique experiences.

“It’s been so amazing to see how each

Attendees at the Midwest Regional Conference visited a horse stable and learned about starting and running an agribusiness.

region puts its own touch on a regional conference,” said Outstanding Young Patron Jennifer Nauss of Pennsylvania.

North Carolina hosted the Southeastern Conference, bringing a dose of southern hospitality to its conference. Grange youth competed in Grange Jeopardy, joining

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the best of the other five regions for the

Olympia, Washington, showcasing the

national competition at the National

best of Washington. Grangers were

Session in November.

able to attend a variety of workshops

Wrapping Western

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up

Regionals

the was

experience, hosted

in

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for the youth, lecturers and junior departments.

National Grange Youth Ambassador

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Jacob Gwin

By Charlene Shupp Espenshade Grange has been a family affair for National Grange Youth Ambassador Jacob Gwin. It’s a tradition that has provided a strong foundation for other aspects of his life.

Gwin, a member of Humptulips Grange #730, is following in the footsteps of his brother Aaron and twin sister Kennedy. All three Gwin siblings earned the Super Junior Granger award, the Junior Grange’s top award.

He is also the third Gwin to serve as a National Grange Youth Ambassador. He and his sister also served as National Junior Ambassadors.

As time drew closer to the announcement of the 2017-18 National

Grange Youth Ambassadors, Jacob said his older brother texted him wishing him luck. He said he was very nervous up to the announcement, and when he heard his name, it was a shock. Then, the excitement set in as he joined his siblings in earning a unique opportunity to represent the youth department.

“We talked about it, it’s special,” he said about the opportunity. He’s enjoyed traveling to several regional conferences, attending National Ag Day in Washington, D.C. and looks forward to the National Grange Convention in Stowe, Vermont.

Gwin grew up in the Grange and remembers even as a Junior Granger

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Submitted Photo Jacob Gwin, left, follows his twin

sister, Kennedy Gwin, right, and their older brother Aaron Gwin as National Grange Youth Ambassador.

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being a part of something bigger.

“When we were all juniors, we would help host bingo and stuff like that,” Jacob said. “We would help with running things from the kitchen. It started with small things,” he said about their roles in their subordinate Grange, which grew from helping out with events to taking on greater responsibility as he moved from the Junior Grange to Grange membership.

“If you were a Junior, Youth, you were [an older] Granger. Everyone is equal.

That is what I appreciated about my Grange. No one treated us differently (because of our age). You had to work and prove yourself,” he said.

His Grange growth included attending other Grange events.

He grew up attending one of the Washington State Grange Junior Grange camps each summer, first as a camper, then as a counselor when he hit Youth age.

The relationships started at Junior camp encouraged him to start attending the Washington State Grange Session.

These events helped to build valuable relationships, something Gwin says, makes Grange special.

There’s a saying, “there’s no friend like a Grange friend,” and Gwin finds it to be true. Their lives might be on different paths, but when they gather together at a youth event, he said it’s like they never been apart, he said.

When life gets difficult that’s when Grange friends prove their worth, he said.

He knows this first hand after his father suffered a serious stroke the year he and Kennedy were seniors in high school.

“It changed everything,” Jacob said.

It challenged him to grow up and refocus his career goals – from his plan to enlist in the Marine Corps to his decision to enroll in college locally to stay close.

But what didn’t change was the support he got from Grange friends.

He said they were the first to contact him asking if the family was OK and if

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Photo by Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios 2017-18 National Grange Youth Ambassador Jacob Gwin, left, and National Grange Lecturer Christine Hamp, both of Washington, get some time to bond

over the experience of serving the organization while at the Mid Atlantic Grange Leaders Conference in Maryland this March. there was anything they could do, at the very least, they were thinking of him and his family.

him to that decision.

Gwin said Grange has opened doors and

provided

many

opportunities.

Today, he is looking forward to

From attending state sessions, regional

following in his father’s footsteps and

conferences and national sessions, he’s built

becoming a firefighter.

a friendship network that spans the nation.

Leadership

from

The highlight of his year is easy, he

Grange and the focus on serving others

said, was meeting Vice President Mike

are all part of the journey that has led

Pence at the National Ag Day event at

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experiences

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the U.S. Department of Agriculture Building. He remembered texting the photo to his family and their reactions of awe.

It’s the unique opportunities of serving as an Ambassador that Gwin said he hopes others will seek out.

He said the experiences provides a chance to promote Grange in their community and to travel across their state promoting Grange, but goes far beyond that, providing the opportunity to represent their state at the national contest.

“If you love your state and love being in Grange, take a chance,” Gwin said. “It’s not about winning nationals, it’s the exposure to the positive energy that is there.”

That energy can bolster your personal excitement for what can be accomplished in the Grange, he said.

“There is one thing I am most certainly thankful for,” he said of the skill he believes he learned most through being part of Grange. “It’s how to be charismatic. I don’t think I’d be the same without it.”

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The Gwins have

been motivators and inspiration to other youth

from the Western Region. Here,

Jacob Gwin, newly sashed as 2017-

18 National Youth

Ambassador, poses with friend and

fellow Grange Youth member Jaycee

Jett of Montana

during the 151st Annaul National

Grange Convention in Spoake,

Washington.

Submitted Photo

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INSIGHT

45 things I want my

By Vince Newman Pleasant View Grange #1459, Kansas

Daugther to know

1. You are loved no matter what.

22. Be a good sport.

2. You’re beautiful just the way you are.

23. Ask for help when you need it.

3. You are one of a kind! Don’t be afraid to stand out!

24. Beauty comes from within. Work on your inner beauty

4. Play hard but work harder. It will take you far in life.

5. Never lose your sense of wonder. Your curiosity for the

and your outer beauty will manifest itself.

25. I will teach you about cars and maintenance; pay attention. I’ll always help you if you ask but In case I can’t

world is inspiring.

be there, you will be able to handle it on your own.

6. You were born amazing!

7. We will disagree sometimes and we will both make

26. Ask questions. That’s how you learn!

mistakes. Know that your mom and I are always doing

27. I’ll be there for you even when you try to push me away.

what we think is best for you at the time.

28. Don’t change yourself for anyone!

8. You can accomplish big things by doing little things

29. Dr. Seuss said it best, “The more you read, the more

everyday. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go!”

9. You never lose...you either win or you learn.

10. It’s okay to make choices I don’t like. I’ll love you anyway.

Just make the right choices for you.

11. Don’t be afraid to fail. Learn from your failures.

30. Your smile is contagious. Don’t ever hide it.

Photo by Garrhet Sampson on Unsplash 31. Mistakes don’t define you...they are meant to guide you.

32. Learn to shoot a gun. I hope you’ll never be in the

12. I will always have your back no matter what.

position where you will have to but it’s better to know

13. Laugh! Laugh at yourself, laugh with others, just laugh

how and not need to than to need to and not know how.

a lot.

33. Be a helper - help around the house, help your friends, help people in need.

14. Take risks, but don’t be foolish.

15. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you can’t because you’re a girl. You absolutely can do anything you set your mind to.

16. Make your life better by making the lives of others around you better - you have for mom and I ever since you existed.

34. Don’t compare yourself to others.

35. Demand respect, but also give respect.

36. When you’re a part of a team, remember to be a team player. You are working together to get the job done.

37. The world can be a scary place; be realistic and know

17. Be kind, always. I see your kindness towards everyone now and I hope you never lose that. People will remember how you made them feel.

18. You’re not a princess so don’t expect things to be handed to you. You’re not Cinderella either so don’t allow yourself to be abused.

19. You’re never too old to need your parents. You’ll always be my baby.

20. I plan to embarrass you often. You’ll do it to your kids

how to protect yourself.

38. Constantly challenge yourself.

39. You can be anything you want to be!

40. You will always have my support.

41. Be proud of who you are and where you came from.

Never forget I’m proud of you!

42. I’m so lucky to be your dad!

43. I will always believe in you.

44. You will always be my little girl - no matter how old you are!

some day too.

45. I love you! Forever and always.

21. Don’t be afraid to dream big.

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Hooked from the start

By Bob Charbonneau

Member, Meridan Grange #29, Connecticut Back in the beginning of December, 2016, The Bob Charbonneau Show started on Grange Radio.

The idea for the show was to entertain listeners with a diversified collection of music, information and comedic readings or skits.

Today, the hour-long show can be heard four times a week, with a new show uploaded to GrangeRadio.org every week, starting to air on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. EST. The show is replayed on Saturday at 9 p.m. EST, Tuesday at 10 p.m. EST and Wednesday at 2 p.m. EST. In addition to the diverse selection of music played on the show, two Christmas radio plays and a number of skits were produced and aired on the show over its nearly year-and-a-half run. One such skit was the “Hillbilly Wedding.”

These radio plays and a few of the skits featured voice artists from the Grange and from friends of the show. Special holiday shows were also produced which included a two-hour “Halloween Madness” show and a Christmas show for the holidays.

Just recently, several important Public Service Announcements were recorded about the Wildfires which occurred in Upper California and information on how to get assistance.

Believe it or not, I am not a professional Disc Jockey or audio producer. My experience started 45 years ago. I’m also an active 46-year Grange member.

I have a friend, whose name is Tom. He’s the one who got me hooked on radio announcing. He had his own radio station in the basement of his parent’s house. His transmitter was a tenth-watt

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Submitted Photo Bob Charbonneau, who hosts a show on Grange Radio, got his start in radio more than 40 years ago thanks to a friend who got him hooked on announcing.

“Part 15” transmitter device. We lived a short walk away from each other in Shelburne, Vermont. Every Saturday I would go down and do a two hour show. He let me use his sizeable record collection to select from to air the live shows. Here’s a picture of me posing in front of the old mixing board before the Christmas of 1973. When Tom went to the University of Vermont, he was able to purchase a transistorized mixer

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board from WRUV-AM and some other improvements for his home radio station.

Other radio experiences over the next ten years included a high school apprenticeship at WRUV-AM located at the University of Vermont, and several years at WVMT-AM with a pre-recorded Sunday morning 15 minute Barbershop show (in connection with The Green Mountain Chorus).

At WRUV-AM, I also had a two hour radio show once a

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week during my high school semester in 1975. Once in the winter of 1975, our high school chorus took a tour of Philo Records near Vergennes, VT. This was a barn converted into a sizeable recording studio with a 32 channel mixer and an existing silo used as an echo chamber (unfortunately birds nesting in the silo in the summer would make the echo chamber inoperable). The owner of Philo Records gave us a tour of the studio. While he showed us a piece of analog reverb equipment, he gave us an insight on the advent of digital recording. For those who remember, eight-track tape and cassettes were the medium for playback and reel-to-reel recorders were the norm for recording from professional mixer equipment.

He remarked he was following the development of digital recording – he was excited with the possibility of the potential range of digitally recording music and sound manipulation, but he was wary of the probability of the misuse of this new medium with pirating of copyrighted material. Forty-three years later, digital recording is how I record my radio shows. As a side note, the computer program I use for my audio productions is free software.

I went off to pursue my own higher education endeavors, and Tom and I lost track of each other. He went off and worked at a local TV station in Vermont. At one point or another, he also worked as an announcer at one of the local AM radio stations. I was a Mechanical Engineer for years at Pratt & Whitney. Eventually, Tom and I got back together three years ago. Tom’s home radio station was now on the 2nd floor along with an expanded collection of equipment and transmitting on AM and FM. Since I had some time on my hands, he convinced me to get back into being a radio DJ again. I began by collecting several iOS devices: one to hold my music collection, another to hold my collection of sound clips and also substitute as a microphone. I found an inexpensive

Submitted Photo The Bob Charbonneau Show runs four times each week on Grange Radio

with the debut of each episode airing Thursday nights at 8 p.m.

two channel mixer and fed everything into a laptop with the free recording software, which Tom suggested.

I had some previous experience using Dropbox and suggested to Tom a way to send the completed shows to him each week. Over time, Tom gave me a Radio Shack DJ mixer board and better microphones. This greatly improved the sound quality of the hour-and-ahalf shows I was producing. After a year, I further improved my show with a Behringer mixer which also included a varying number of sound effects I could use during my holiday productions or onthe-fly during any of my shows. I could also connect turntables for playing 45s and LP records. I then had a versatile set of equipment to operate any type of radio program Tom and I came up with during the year.

Even from day one, I started to create a weekly playlist. Before recording each show, I would work up a new playlist.

Building a weekly playlist allowed me to create a spreadsheet (Excel), which allowed me to calculate show time, add

H

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researched information on each artist/ song as filler between sets along with song details. In retrospect, the common way to assemble music for a show forty years ago was to physically walk into the radio station’s library of 45s and LPs (331/3 RPM) to pick out enough selections for that show. I realized immediately that I didn’t have the luxury of looking at an LP back cover or 45 sleeve to have an interesting background available on an artist(s) or song selection. My research usually led me to “Wikipedia,” www. discogs.com and if desperate enough a search of the internet. I would usually spend three to four hours on that week’s playlist for an hour-and-a-half show.

Around the beginning of November 2016, I heard about the formation of Grange Radio. I had an idea for an hour long show on www.GrangeRadio.org . I had some prior dealings with Amanda Brozana before, so I contacted her and described to her the type of show I was offering to create. With the show premise accepted, I was in!

If there are those out there who are interested in volunteering to do your own weekly show on Grange Radio, it would be greatly encouraged. Even if it’s a 15 minute Podcast on Grange activity in your area; it only requires a good USB microphone and a computer with the right recording program. Do some research on what’s required to do a basic talk show or a full-blown music/talk show. A good place to start is “Pinterest.com.” Look under “Audio Recording Equipment,” as an example. I have a board with that name on Pinterest. I would also recommend acquiring additional computer storage space to save or backup your shows to.

After several years disc storage tends to diminish and should your disc storage fail, without being backed up, in most cases your data is irretrievable. I wish you luck in your endeavors. In anything you wish to accomplish – Practice! Practice! Practice!

Until you hear me on www.

GrangeRadio.com – “… have a great evening, and a fantastic week!”

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DIY:

Self-watering planter

By Ellen Wadsworth Pennsylvania State Grange Youth Director

What does one do when the green thumb of their entire family tree passes over them?

I have the black thumb in my family.

Artificial plants wilt and die under my care.

It is a known fact that if you leave the house plants in my care, they will not survive the week.

It is the struggle of to water or not to water. Thus imagine my excitement in finding easy and decorative self-watering planters that I can make myself.

TIP: There are many different items that can be used for this project so feel free to use your imagination.

If you are looking for a great recycled craft project for Junior Grangers or Youth, use an empty, clean 2-liter bottle and recycle old t-shirts by cutting them into wicking strips as illustrated here. Another popular container choice is a mason jar.

Looking for a more decorative planter? Use recycled mason jars as the water container. Fashion a holder for the growing material out of screening or use a stainless steel net pot, such as a tea filter basket.

Good luck and happy planting!

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Materials • A container to hold water • A container to hold the growing material • Screening, fabric or plastic wrap • A rope, strips of old t-shirt or other wick to transfer water to the plants • Rubber band • Seeds of your choice • Scissors

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1 Cut the bottle in half with scissors. The

top half will be your growing material container and the bottom half will be the water container.

2 Cut the wicking

3 Cut a small hole in

material in three 6”

the screening fabric

tie together about

into the hole.

to 7” lengths and 2” from one end.

and insert the wick

4

5

Take the screening

Turn this half

fabric with wick and

upside down and

2-liter bottle with the

soil or the growing

cover the top of the

knot end of the wick

material, spreading

secure the screening

in the soil.

inside the bottle, then

6

material around the top

out the wick ends

of the bottle with string

Plant your seeds and cover with more soil.

or a rubber band.

7

Note

Add water to the bottom half of the 2-liter bottle and insert the top half, with the soil and wick, neck down, into the base. The wick will draw water into the soil to keep it watered.

Add more water as you see the level draw down. Place planter in a sunny spot for best results.

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fill halfway with

This self-watering planter can also be used as a passive hydroponics planter by using a growing medium other than soil. Examples include gravel, sand, or expanded clay.

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Lo, the humble

By Elizabeth Hiner

apple

While Biblically speaking, apples may get a bad rap, these bulbous delights are one of the most favorite and popular fruits ever known, and one of the most diverse. Since at least 6500 B.C., humans have enjoyed apples. Researchers believe the first cultivated crops of apples, about 4,000 years ago, came out of the Middle East between the Caspian and the Black Sea. While the landscape of the Americas was dotted with crabapples, the first orchards of apples brought from Kazakhstan were planted in what is today the United States around 1640.

These fruits – a relative of the rose – became part of the early American landscape and identity. In the early 1800s, American colonial leaders enacted a law, which mandated that all homeowners plant an orchard of 50 trees the first year on the land.

The role of women – specifically a Quaker woman from North Carolina - can’t be overlooked in the popularity and spread of the apple in America. In 1790, Ann Jessop travelled to England to preach, but in her time there, sought out agricultural products that could be used in the newly founded United States. When she returned, she brought with her cuttings of 20 different varieties of cooking and eating apples that became

popular

throughout

several states including North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois and Indiana,

Ohio

and

Missouri.

Virginia today is sixth and North Carolina seventh among states for apple production, trailing Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California respectively. About a quarter of all U.S. grown apples are exported and are the second most valuable fruit, only surpassed by oranges and thus far Mexico has been the only country to impose tariffs on U.S. apples after trade relations became contentious in 2018.

Pomologists – apple scientists – will tell you that apple trees take four to five years to first produce fruit, and while there are apples grown in every state, the USDA reports that 36

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89

states produce apples for commercial resale.

Most growers espalier dwarf apple trees – training them to grow flat against

these health values to the tune of about 50 pounds of apple consumption per year.

Today more than 2,500 varieties of

a support or along a line to make picking

According to Department of Food

apples are grown throughout the U.S.,

a ground art rather than something done

Science at Cornell University, “In the

dotting the store and farmstand shelves

high up on ladders or picking buckets.

laboratory, apples have been found to

in reds, greens, yellows and even tinges

This method also helps to increase yield

have very strong antioxidant activity,

of orange, ranging in size from just

by weight per fruit on average.

inhibit cancer cell proliferation, decrease

larger than a cherry to about the size

While we know today the early

of a grapefruit. They are pressed into

Scandanavian hype of eternal youth

ciders, reduced down into butters, cut

via apple consumption is incorrect, the

for baking and of course, bitten into by

saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor

Don’t forget to celebrate the humble

people of all ages fresh from the tree or

away” seems to have some basis in

apple in October during National Apple

right off the refrigerator shelves (the best

reality. The high fiber content – about 20

Month. Maybe even use it as a reason to

way to keep apples for longer periods –

percent of the daily recommended value

try a new variety on your grocers’ shelves.

setting on counters at room temperature

according to nutritionists – in apples can

tends to encourage spoilage by way of

help improve digestion. But wait, there’s

the apple becoming mushy).

more – health benefits that is, especially

The average apple orchard has about

in the peel that holds about two-thirds of

50 acres of apple trees, and orchard

all the fruit’s beneficial nutrients. These

owners can tell you that apples require

great portable fruits can be an excellent

quite a bit of ag labor as most are still

snack alternative to chips or other sweets.

picked by hand in the fall. Advancements

Overall, apples are said to improve heart

in

excited

health, reduce inflammation, and help

some growers about the potential for

with weight management. Their natural

mechanized picking labor in the next

sugars can help boost energy and they

few years, a move that would replace

supply a great deal of antioxidants, which

immigrant laborers who growers struggle

some studies have linked to reduced risk

to find, place and keep employed legally.

of Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, some

Pickers are almost exclusively paid by

forms of cancer, and other ailments such

the bin harvested and the best can make

as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and

$200 a day or more according to a 2017

obesity.

robot

technology

has

report in The Seattle Times (Washington).

American’s are working their way to

lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol.”

Not too bad for one of the most widely available, easy-to-use fruits there are!

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

SUGGESTED READING “The Ghost Orchard: The Hidden History of the Apple in North America” by Helen Humphreys.

256 pages. Published by Harper Collins, 2017. $20.11 hardcover | $15.99 Kindle on smile.amazon.com (set your account to support Grange Foundation) A look at the history of the iconic apple from an award-winning storyteller - not just a text, but a book with emotion and insight in its look at agriculture, settlements and human relationships.

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RECIPES

Apple & Onion

Stuffing 10 Tbsp. butter, softened

1/4 c. applesauce

8 c. cubed, seasoned bread

1 egg, beaten

32 oz. chicken stock

1/2 tsp. thyme

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. rosemary

1 1/2 c. celery, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

3 large apples,* chopped, not

1 tsp. pepper

peeled Preheat oven to 400 F. Melt 1 stick of butter (8 oz.) in a pan on medium heat, then add celery and onions, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook about 4 minutes over medium heat, then add apples. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, then remove from heat and combine in a large bowl with stuffing mix. Add chicken stock then mix thoroughly. Allow to cool, then add beaten egg and mix again. Use the remaining 2 Tbsp. butter to lightly grease the inside 12 muffin tins, then add even amounts of stuffing mix to tins. Bake until crisp on top, about 12-15 minutes. *You can use any variety of apple, but if you want it to remain somewhat crisp and keep its shape, consider something like a fuji, honeycrisp or Cortland, or a Granny Smith, which will also add depth with a bit of tartness.

McIntosh is a good variety for a more sweet stuffing, but will lose their shape and get lost in the texture of the stuffing.

Savory Apple Chèvre Pinwheel Appetizers 2 c. apples diced small (braeburn or fuji are best)

Dice apples and cover with lemon juice, mix. In another bowl, mix granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Preheat oven to 400 F. Place parchment paper on large

8 oz. goat cheese, room temperature

cookie sheet and roll out puff pastry. In medium pan over medium heat, add brown

2 Tbsp. melted butter

sugar, other 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, brown sugar and apples and cook for about 5

1 tsp. lemon juice

minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Mix. On

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

a lightly floured surface, unroll the puff pastry then brush lightly with melted butter.

2 Tbsp. light brown sugar

Crumble goat cheese and sprinkle onto pastry. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mix over

1 tsp. cinnamon, halved

top then evenly spread apple mixture. Brush remaining butter over puffed pastry.

3 Tbsp. granulated sugar

Roll tightly from the long end the puff pastry then wrap and place in refrigerator for

1 puffed pastry sheet

15 minutes. Remove and cut into 1/2” thick slices, place onto baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.

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Master Recipe From the kitchen of Betsy E. Huber

Apple-Carrot Squares 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. ground cinnamon ¼ tsp. salt 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 1 ½ cups sugar

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 2 cups chopped, pared baking apples (about 12 oz.)

2 cups shredded carrot (3 large)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nuts in

bowl. Combine sugar, butter and vanilla in large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs; beat until fluffy. Stir in apple and

carrot by hand. Add dry ingredients; stir just to blend; mixture will be stiff. Scrape into prepared pan; spread level. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 325 degrees. Bake 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack at least 30 minutes. Cut into squares; top with ice cream.

Applesuace

Honey cake 1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 c. honey

3 c. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. chopped nuts

1 1/2 c. sweetened

2 tsp. soda

applesauce

Courtesy of Wendy at TheMondayBox.com

1 c. raisins

Grease 9”x13” cake pan and line bottom with waxed paper. Cream butter in mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in honey and applesauce. Add mixture of sifted dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes. Stir in nuts and raisins. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until cake tests done. Invert onto wire rack to cool; remove waxed paper. Dust with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Submitted by Nellie E. Pedersen, North Creek Valley Grange, Washington, that appeared in “The Glory of Cooking” cookbook, available in digital form on CD-Rom from the Grange Supply Store.

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It’s in your power.

Help reduce food Waste.

PLAN YOUR MENU & Make a Store List

Take a minute to think through your week - will you cook each day? Will there be a night for leftovers? What will be served with each meal? Planning helps to curb purchasing excess items that just become waste. With a list, you’re also less likely to impulse buy (saving money and the potential for items that will end up in your trash).

Check Your Recipes & Your Cupboards

Know how much of each item your recipes call for and see if you have something already on hand that you can use or substitute (you never know what a little tweak of ingredients may add to your beloved dishes). If you can, cross unnecessary items off your grocery list. You may also be able to avoid the dreaded half-used container by choosing a second recipe for the week that will allow you to use the rest of the product or buy a more appropriate size.

Be Selective at the Store

If you’re going to use produce right away, a bump or ding may be OK, and you may be the only one to see the product’s value and save it from becoming waste. But, if it is for use later in the week, that bruise may lead to rot and you’ll end up throwing it away. If you think you may not use all of the product or may not get to make the meal you’re planning, choose a product with an expiration date farther in the future.

Start with Small Helpings

You can always add more to your plate, but scraping uneaten food back to the communal bowl is definitely frowned upon and often finds its way to the garbage instead. You may even see an added benefit. If you have to choose to get more food, you’ll also have to assess if you are still hungry, and it could reduce overeating.

Share, Repurpose or Store

Have food left even after preparing lunch leftovers for your family? Consider packaging it as a dinner for an elderly neighbor or asking a coworker if they’d like a homecooked leftover option for lunch the next day. If you have an item left over from a meal already prepared, add it as another side option or find a way to incorporate it into a snack or other dish you’re making. Freeze or store food that won’t be eaten before it may spoil. Find ways to make the food you prepare find its way to where it should be - into someone’s diet, not someone’s trash.

Stick to your Meal Plan

If you purchased food for six dinners but decide to skip one, you may start down a slippery slope of letting food spoil.

Talk to Your household

Don’t stock up on items that no one will eat. Know what people in your household want and avoid purchasing perishable items at times when they won’t be used before they go bad.

GRANGE

values

This ad was produced by the National Grange as part of our public service announcement series. This ad may be replicated so long as the Grange Values logo appears.

Membership Matters Monthly Zoom Meetings Through Zoom teleconferencing, join National Grange President Betsy E. Huber and select staff, officers and other guests on the third Tuesday of each month in 2018 to talk about membership issues and share your successes, ask questions and focus on what it means to be a Grange and a Granger in our 150th year.

Zoom is available for your connected device or landline telephone.

Download the app at zoom.us or call in to participate.

Go to tiny.cc/1867 or call (669) 900-6833.

Use meeting ID 279 165 699 to log in.

Meeting as a Grange

Tuesday, August 21 @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Hosted by National Grange President Betsy E. Huber and National Grange Communications & Development Director Amanda Brozana Rios

Young and Willing

Tuesday, November 20 @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Hosted by National Grange Youth Ambassadors/ Young Patrons (2017-18; 2018-19) Youth leaders will talk about what excites them and how

Huber and Brozana Rios will talk about ways to identify

Granges can include youth in their programming, outreach and

options that may make new members feel welcome and allow

each Grange to think of new ways to talk to and about young

public spaces for meetings in your community and other

you to hold Grange meetings in a fashion more like that in

our manual. If you said you currently meet in a restaurant or a members’ home, this is a great meeting to attend.

Know Your Mission

Tuesday, September 18 @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Hosted by National Grange Lecturer Christine Hamp

decision-making. This interactive discussion will encourage potential members and those already in our Halls.

Cash in on Benefits

Tuesday, December 18 @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Hosted by National Grange Sales, Programs, Benefits & Membership Recognition Director Loretta Washington Washington will introduce new benefits, discuss

Hamp will join us to discuss mission statements for local

benefits of interest to members and offer ways you can

new fires. This is great for all Granges who have not yet

members’ bonds with the organization and entice new

Granges and how they can help focus a Grange and ignite adopted a mission statement or who do not have a fairly defined identity and outreach strategy.

Making Agriculture the Star

Tuesday, October 16 @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Hosted by National Grange Overseer Phil Prelli and National Grange President Betsy E. Huber Prelli and Huber will talk about how your Grange can

embrace our agricultural past and make food and farming part of our success today and in the future.

use benefits of Grange membership to strengthen current members to join.

A New Year, A New Way to Help

Tuesday, January 15 @ 8:30 p.m. Eastern Hosted by National Grange Community Service Director Pete Pompper Pompper will introduce great community service ideas

from Granges around the country and talk about how a

Grange can “get out of the slump” and take on a new project with new relevance to their community in 2019.

TARGETED CONVERSATIONS Don’t forget to fill out your Grange Health Survey (available at tiny.cc/GrangeHealth) to prepare for these conversations and know what conferences may be most important for your local Grange.

If you have suggestions for other Zoom conferences about membership or other issues, please contact Communications & Development Director Amanda Brozana Rios at communications@nationalgrange.org.

THE LAST Word

By Leroy Watson Chairman, National Grange Executive Committee As I write this essay, we have just completed

the

membership

has given us a chance to begin a

year

serious discussion about our various

ending on June 30, 2018. As our State

membership programs and the best

Granges go through the process of

ways to deploy resources to make these

reporting their membership numbers

programs successful.

to the National Grange, I don’t know

Without a National Membership

what those reports will tell us about

Director,

our

encourage,

overall

membership

standings.

the

responsibility

train

and

to

implement

I am, however, cautiously optimistic

successful membership drives has fallen

that we will see many positive results

to all of the members of your National

and examples of creative membership

Grange

recruitment strategies being employed

officers, directors and paid staff.

by

Junior,

Community,

leadership

team;

elected

Pomona

One great example of this are the

and State Granges across our great

membership conference calls that have

Fraternity. These year to year success

been held by National Master Betsy Huber

stories can give us both inspiration and

on the third Tuesday of every month.

concrete lessons on addressing the

These calls offer local and State

challenges of membership recruitment

Grange leaders direct communication

and retention that face our Order.

with not only the National Master, but

Over the past few years, because of the financial challenges that the National

many of our Department Directors as

well.

These

sessions

Director is that it allows us to step back and look at how that position was used in the past and consider how it could become an even more valuable tool for supporting local, county and state membership recruitment efforts.

For the past 17 years, the National

provide

Membership

Director’s

position

has

Grange has faced, your National Master

information

Grange

focused on the “Leadership/Membership”

and Executive Committee have made the

programs are not just a benefit to

training model, workshops and programs

difficult decision (affirmed by National

current members, but offer valuable

to help local Grange members approach

Grange

annual

resources for membership recruitment.

and recruit prospective new, regular

budgeting process) not to invest in a full

I strongly encourage any Grange leader

members for their community Grange.

time National Membership Director to

who is working on membership issues

These efforts are focused on recruiting

assist with training and education efforts

to participate in these calls and to share

full voting and participating members

that help local and State Granges.

their successes and observations about

who become active participants in our

how our Grange programs can enhance

programs and meetings.

Delegates

in

their

That decision does not mean that membership has fallen as a priority

on

how

our

our membership efforts.

This type of training is valuable,

Grange

Another opportunity that arises from

necessary and critical if we are to

leaders! To the contrary, this decision

not having a National Membership

continue to grow and thrive as a

for

your

elected

National

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community based organization.

“As shocking as it might seem to long time dedicated Grange members, not everyone we identify as a prospective member wants to attend meetings.”

But I

can’t help but wonder if there are other membership opportunities that we are not fully exploiting because we don’t train our members to seek them out or we do not structure our membership categories to meet the expectations of our current and future members in today’s society?

As shocking as it might seem to long time dedicated Grange members, not everyone we identify as a prospective member wants to attend meetings.

Let me give you a personal example.

For 40 years I have been a participant in the American free enterprise system that allows me to become a partial owner, and share in the financial success (or failure), of some of the best run businesses in the world, through the ownership of common stock.

Publicly traded US corporations are required to hold an annual stockholders’ meeting where the owners can attend and participate in governance decisions of their company.

Yet in 40 years of

being a partial owner, over time, in more than 100 publicly traded U.S. companies, I have never attended an annual stockholders’ meeting.

And I

actually enjoy going to meetings!

The reason that I have never attended one of these annual meetings (and the reason I believe that the vast majority of stock holders do not attend these meetings) is not because I believe these meetings are a waste of time. I actually think they serve a valuable purpose in our free market system.

It is because

my interest in owning shares of common stock in good companies is driven by my desire to share in the prosperity of those companies. I have no unmet need or expectation for social interactions with my fellow stockholders. As long as my company is doing well, I am happy. And if my company should falter, I sell the

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shares of stock I own and reinvest them in

local community Grange), Individual

another company with better prospects.

(regular),

Family,

Affiliate,

Pomona

So maybe we need to acknowledge

Individual (regular), Pomona Affiliate,

that not everyone who is willing to

State Grange (voting and non voting)

support and share in our success as an

National

organization, in our programs and in

Assembly of Demeter (voting and non

our services at the local, county state

voting), Associate (business), Supportive

and National level wants to do so by

(contracts between a business entity

attending meetings, especially right

and the National Grange to designate

away. Or, on the other hand, maybe we

the business’ customers as Grange

have a reservoir of dedicated community

members) and E-Membership (at large).

minded Grange members who would actually to

like

greater

participate

in

our

(voting

and

non

voting),

Yet during the last 17 years we

opportunities

have focused our National training and

governance

leadership outreach efforts on recruiting

processes that are not being adequately

one category of membership, Individual

encouraged and trained to increase their

(Regular) Community Grange members.

volunteer participation and the personal

It is clearly time to focus some thought

satisfaction they derive therefrom.

and attention on ways to enhance the

Luckily for us, National Grange

membership experiences for both our

leaders have looked at this situation

existing members and prospective, new

over many years and given us valuable

members as well.

tools and programs in the national Digest of Laws, that we can use, if we

What

might

these

membership

experiences look like?

so desire, to tailor the membership

For existing members, some of the

status of individual Grange members to

successful techniques we have used

the expectations they have from their

to recruit new members who have no

Grange membership.

knowledge or experience with Grange

I reviewed the National Grange Digest

might be used to help recruit existing

of Laws and counted fifteen different

Grange

potential

membership

members,

who

have

had

opportunities

positive and fulfilling experiences in our

that we offer to prospective and existing

Order, to participate even more through

members! These existing membership

recruitment efforts to join Pomona

categories

Grange and State Grange.

include:

Regular

Junior,

Junior 1+, Junior Honorary (for Junior

We could encourage greater use

parents not already affiliated with a

of affiliate memberships in Junior,

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Community and Pomona Granges for existing Grange

National Delegates last November at the 151st Annual Session

chapters that need additional fellowship and participation.

of the National Grange, where the delegates adopted, on first

We could use E-Memberships as a streamlined, transitional

vote, a comprehensive rewrite of the E-Membership program

membership for members voluntarily leaving their regular

to make it possible for the National Grange to offer additional

membership in one Grange that is less cumbersome and less

programs and services to E-Members, in exchange for a

bureaucratic than the traditional demit, but still allows us to

slightly higher annual membership fee. The second vote on

stay in contact and offer those members an opportunity to

this proposal will occur at the 152nd Annual Session in Stowe,

continue to participate on a limited basis in Grange programs

Vermont in November. If successful, this experience could let

or services.

us look at other membership categories, including Associate

We could step back and review, without preconception or

(business) memberships and even Pomona memberships to

judgment, how successful Granges and Grange programs have

try to find the right mix of membership products, services and

maintained a “virtuous cycle” of public outreach, program

programming opportunities to meet the expectations of our

participation, member services, membership recruitment and

current and future Brothers and Sisters.

added value to thousands of our fellow brothers and sisters

Because the best time to think about Grange membership

and, then, try to train other community Granges how to

is always right now, I would welcome any comments,

replicate those programs in their communities.

suggestions, ideas, observations, or concerns that you might

From the point of view of our governance structures, we can

have as this conversation moves forward in the weeks, months

review our existing membership categories, especially those

and years to come.

that currently lack significant participation, and try to determine

nationalgrange.org.

My email address is leroyawatson@

what we can do to change those membership programs to

Thank you for reading this essay and thank you for your

better meet the expectations of our society in the 21st Century.

commitment and dedication to the continued success of the

One attempt to look at this issue was brought forward to our

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Grange Classifieds Congrats & Kudos Congrats to 80-year Grange member George Turner, who was honored in the VJ Day Parade in Moosup, CT, in August.

George was a pilot in WWII for the U.S. Army Air Forces for three years and after his honorable discharge, returned home to marry the love of his life, Rita, and they had three children; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

- From Ekonk Community Grange, CT.

Announcements The National Grange has leads on potential new Granges to be chartered in Travelers Rest, SC, and Hilo, Hawaii. If you know anyone there or in the surrounding communities who may be interested in joining the Grange, please contact us at membership@nationalgrange.org or call or text (301) 943-1090.

Danae Zvarick, immediate past Pennsylvania State Grange Young Patron, and her husband, Gene, announced the good news recently: they are expecting a future Junior Granger in January. All the best Zvarick family and we can’t wait to “meet” your new addition.

YOUR AD HERE. Contact Amanda Brozana Rios at communications@nationalgrange.org or (301) 943-1090 (voice or text) to learn how you can put a classified ad in Good Day!™ starting at $1 per word!

New State Master Karen Overstreet was recently elected President of the Texas State Grange at their recent session.

Overstreet is the daughter of Archie and Barbara Knight.

She is following in her father’s footsteps as Master of the Texas State Grange, but holds the distinction of being the female elected to that position.

She joined Junior Grange in 1967 and today is a member of Alamo Grange, having participated in many activities at all levels of the Grange.

She and her husband of 34 years, Buddy, live on a small farm south of San Antonio and have three children: Carl, Leah and Karryn. Karen a retired teacher having spent 30 years educating special needs children.

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Fundraisers Maryland State Grange is selling Christmas ornaments as a fundraiser. Two colors available - blue and gold - each with the Grange logo. Contact Kay or Allen Stiles at 443-789-9934.

Florida State Grange is selling wooden Grange-emblem shaped Christmas ornaments. $3 each, plus shipping. Contact Barbara Borderieux at 941-729-8036 to purchase.