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Good DAY!

A quarterly publication of the National Grange Vol. 4, Issue 1 l Spring 2020

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Service, adaptation in time of crisis Sewing masks and 3-D printing personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals, a food pantry on a Grange Hall porch, meetings by teleconference to decide how to help our neighbors: the response to COVID-19 showed the best of our Order Photo by Greg Reynolds, E-Member, New Mexico

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 Grangeâ€™s website: www.nationalgrange.org/benefits

SHOP

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

FINANCE

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

TRAVEL

With discounts from Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels, Hertz, Dollar Car, and Thrifty rental car services, as well as other hotel and rental car businesses, 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

Good DAY! 8

NATIONAL NEWS & VIEWS

ESSAY: Rural students struggle with connectivity during crisis, concerns for falling behind ESSAY: Census impacts are far reaching National Grange produces PSA focused on rural response to 2020 Census National Grange welcomes new intern Conference room renovation complete at HQ First-in-the-Nation Primary Fly-In a success

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Quarterly Round-Up: A look at the actions taken on behalf of members, rural communities and agriculture this quarter RESOURCE: How to write good resolutions

FCC steps up to plate before, during COVID crisis to chip away at digital divide

FOUNDATION

New t-shirt with positive message, “We’re in this together” unveiled, proceeds to go to Granges affected by crisis

AROUND THE STATES

PERSPECTIVE: Rural Health Disparities & COVID

Virus not the first crisis rural healthcare faces, but may push it to breaking point Connectivity proves a challenge for members using telehealth for first time

Oregon Grange holds alternative seed swap

Granges provide variety of services, projects to help communities struggling with pandemic, including birthday parade for pre-Junior; National produces videos about making masks

Pennsylvania has more than 100 wooden quilt blocks installed at major state facility

Junior Ambassador issues challenge to all to rally around member diagnosed with virus

Ohio Juniors deliver books to children’s hospital

MEMBER NEWS, SUBMISSIONS & RECOGNITION

Institutional knowledge corralled into new Grange Resource Binder Charter, new members welcomed; milestones celebrated; past leaders memorialized RESOURCE: Grange Meeting Order of Business English | Spanish Side-by-Side translation

Daily web series brings information, entertainment - including virtual Grange talent show - to isolated members and friends New York Grange establishes little food pantry on porch at just the right time Shut ins rediscover Victory Gardens RULING: Master’s ruling on virtual meetings - attendance and voting (2016) Granges can provide feedback on use of technology for meetings to apply for future

American Flag is focus of new 5-star Passport with letter to Granges encouraging support

Iowa Caucuses prove why paper still essential AT&T partners with health-tech to take on opioid abuse

JUNIOR GRANGE

Junior Ambassadors do much to elevate Grange name, prepare for future

2020 Ag Week different, but priorities unchanged

Lecturer creates 6-member advisory committee Grange Partners with ‘Rural Matters’ podcast

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GRANGE YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

COLLABORATION: Youth, Juniors learn about government, take on role as advocate at first Washington DC Experience; attendees interviewed about rural connectivity Ambassadors, Young Couple discuss what it means to cultivate connections and how Grange has been a positive light in their lives

HOBBIES

SUBMISSION: Essay looks at life imagined

FOOD & RECIPES

Grange has deep connection with tangy early spring treat: rhubarb Master’s Recipe: Rhubarb Upside Down Cake

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LAST WORD

Now is time for Granges to provide fellowship, plan to throw open doors after social isolation comes to close

Good Day! Magazine is a quarterly publication of the National Grange. located at 1616 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20006. ISSN: 2688-6030. | All comments and questions can be directed to communications@nationalgrange.org

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE ®

www.nationalgrange.org

Staff

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

Officers William “Chip” Narvel, DE, National Steward

F. Philip Prelli, CT, Overseer Executive Committee Chair philip.prelli@snet.net

John Plank, IN, National Assistant Steward

Executive Committee Secretary master@orgrange.org Leroy Watson, NH, Executive Committee Member leroyawatson@nationalgrange.org Lynette Schaeffer, IL,

Executive Committee Member schaeffr@att.net Stephen Coye, NY,

Executive Committee Member & Grange Foundation Board Chair steve@nygrange.org Chris Hamp, WA,

National Lecturer lecturer@nationalgrange.org

Amanda Leigh Brozana Rios, Editor Communications & Development Director & Grange Foundation Associate communications@nationalgrange.org Loretta Washington, Subscription Manager Sales, Benefits, Programs & Membership Recognition Director lwashington@nationalgrange.org

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

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

Susan Noah, OR,

Betsy E. Huber, Publisher National Grange Master (President) & President, Grange Foundation betsy@nationalgrange.org

Stephanie Wilkins, Subscriptions Assistant IT Director swilkins@nationalgrange.org

Learn more at www.nationalgrange.org.

OUR

Karen Overstreet, TX, National Lady Assistant Steward

Burton Eller Legislative Director beller@nationalgrange.org Joe Stefenoni Membership & Leadership Development Director membership@nationalgrange.org Mandy Bostwick Youth Development Director youth@nationalgrange.org

Barbara Borderieux, FL, National Chaplain

Pete Pompper Community Service Director communityservice@nationalgrange.org

Sherry Harriman, ME, National Treasurer Judy Sherrod, TN, National Secretary Christopher Johnston, MI, National Gatekeeper

Heather Simon Intern intern@nationalgrange.org

Cindy Greer, CO, National Ceres

Mujo Mrkonjic Building Engineer

Kay Stiles, MD, National Pomona Welina Shufeldt, OK, National Flora

REMINDER As of November 2019, the National Grange has discontinued its toll-free number. Please direct all calls to our office at (202) 628-3507.

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE

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www.nationalgrange.org

Features YOUTH RISING

GRANGES RESPOND

Grange Youth and Junior members learned about government in action and took their issues to legislators as part of first Washington DC Experience

Across the country projects have proven the diversity of need, talent and passion of members can lead to amazing local outreach

FOLLOW THE BLOCKS

More than 100 wooden quilt blocks are now permanently installed at PA State Farm Show Complex to start conversation about rural culture

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

GOOD DAY!™ PRESS DATES 2020-21 Issue Due Date Hits Mailboxes Summer

May 15

July 1

Winter

November 1

January 1, 2021

Fall

Spring

August 1

February 1

September 1 April 1, 2021

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

Please contact Amanda Brozana Rios at communications@nationalgrange.org or by phone at (301) 943-1090 for details.

GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE ®

www.nationalgrange.org

Foundation fundraising shirt for sale to help Granges By Amanda Brozana Rios National Grange Communications & Development Director The National Grange Foundation launched a fundraising t-shirt in March with hopes to appeal to the masses – far outside the Grange – but with a goal of assisting those Granges who are impacted by the COVID crisis or are working in their communities to assist others, potentially to the financial detriment of the Grange. Such is the case with several Granges that have opened their Halls free-of-charge to other groups doing good work, or who have put together free food deliveries to local hospitals and more. These actions are what Granges are built to do, but sometimes come at a cost to perform. So too, Granges are missing out on events that often double as fundraisers or rental income while still doing things to help individuals in their community or the community as a whole. Joan Smith, Foundation Board President, said she hopes everyone will share the shirt information with friends and family. “The appeal is there,” Smith said. “The Grange name is on the shirt, but it’s a shirt for everyone who believes in the message: ‘We’re in this together.’ The shirts look great, they fit great, and they speak to so

ORDER Online at bit.ly/itt-shirt or by phone at (301) 943-1090; discounted bulk orders must be placed with Amanda STYLES Unisex Small-5XL; Womens Small-3XL; Youth S-XL; Onesies Newborn, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months PRICE Ranging from $12-$17.50 based on style and size. FREE U.S. SHIPPING

A red t-shirt with the message “We’re in this together” is being sold by the Grange Foundation as a fundraiser to help Granges continue the good work in their communities. The design is also available on women’s cut shirts, youth size shirts and onesies as pictured below.

many of us at this time with all kinds of professions and lifestyles referenced around the virus.” She said she hopes Grange members and others will buy a shirt as a gift for those who are essential workers as well as one for themselves to truly show unity at this time. “They’re out there, putting themselves at risk so we can get care or get food or gas or whatever,” Smith said. “They’re heroes, but we’re also part of the solution when we’re staying home and helping to flatten the curve. This shirt helps show that and I’m sure someone would find it a great gift to receive one and know you were thinking of them because there’s nothing we can do to thank them enough.” Beach Community Grange members in Virginia saw the shirt and felt that it sent the right message at this time, but wanted to make sure the entire community stood in solidarity. Melinda Hankins reached out to the Foundation to purchase a bulk of shirts that the Grange could sell as a fundraiser, piggybacking off the Foundation so that proceeds went to help both organizations. “Since our Grange is unable to have it’s April fundraiser bingo, which would have been to benefit the Foundation’s

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Youth and Junior programs, the shirts were a perfect opportunity. One to send the message to the Community that we truly are all in this together,” Hankins said. “Second, this will help the Grange Foundation and third, it allows our Grange to do more in the future. Truly a win all around.” Shirts are available for purchase at bit.ly/itt-shirt (case sensitive) and are shipped free within the U.S. They are red, 100% cotton, and come in sizes from newborn onesie to unisex 5XL, with youth and children’s sizes available, ranging from $12 to $17.50 based on size and style. Smith encouraged everyone to wear it when it comes in the mail and share photos with friends as well as the link so they can also buy a shirt. For discounted bulk orders, contact National Grange Communications and Development Director Amanda Brozana Rios at communications@nationalgrange. org or by phone at (301) 943-1090. Shirts may be personalized for a small additional fee with your Grange name or information on the back. You may also place your single-shirt order by phone with Brozana Rios.

Juniors deliver books to Ohio children’s hospital By Amanda Brozana Rios National Grange Communications & Development Director Stelvideo Junior Grange #216 recently donated and delivered about 300 all-new books to Dayton Children’s Hospital in a service project that came at just the right time. “We had no clue that coronavirus would become such a big situation, and had planned this service project long before the pandemic hit,” Junior Leader Susan Gunckle said. “Some of the kids at hospitals can’t access certain services right now or have fun activities that would normally be scheduled, so having books on hand gives those kids something to do while those services may be suspended.” The project came to Gunckle in September after she learned from a friend who works at the Children’s Hospital of a cart used to take books around to patients of nearly every room of the 178-bed facility every afternoon Monday through Friday when there are books available. Once told about the idea, the Juniors were in! While the culmination of the project was the delivery, much planning and work to raise money and purchase the books which ranged in age-orientation from baby to teens - went into the project. With the help of an online book sale through the Usborne Books company, called an “Usborne Books Party For A Purpose” the Junior Grange was able to tell many in their community and across the Grange world about their desire and had support from as far as Pennsylvania with an order placed by National Grange President Betsy Huber. “I couldn’t believe all the people who helped, people I wasn’t even sure who they were,” Gunckle said. Members of the Junior Grange also committed to personally purchasing two books each for the patients, and all reported that they felt good about the effort. By doing the Usborne fundraiser, the company agreed to donate back half of all sales over $250 for the group to buy additional books for the cause. Gunckle said individuals purchased

Photo by Timothy Clopp of Timothy Clopp Photography Stelvideo Junior Grangers and parents delivered about 300 books to the Dayton’s Children’s Hospital in March. books for themselves or others through the fundraiser as well as for the children at the hospital. Those sales added up to more than $1,200, and as promised were given about $640 in credit toward the purchase of Usborne Books. Other donations rolled in, including books from Amazon or other sources, purchased by individuals who heard about the project, as well as monetary donations from individuals, new books purchased and donated by Junior Grange members and new duplicate or triplicate books provided by a local library. In all, the group took about 300 new volumes to the hospital. “We had a nice big variety,” said Hinshaw, ““This is a nice lesson for our Juniors to learn that Grange is more than meetings, making crafts and going to the county fair and putting up the booth. Giving to others makes a difference.” Seven Juniors — Joey and Calen Clopp, Moxon and Haddie Gilpin, Jaden and Dessie Wolf and Madelyn Dillon — were part of the delivery, along with Darke County Junior Deputy Lynne Hinshaw, Junior Leader Susan Gunckle and Junior parents, Holly and Tim Clopp, Ashley Gilpin, Heidi Wolf and Sarah Loxley. Kelly Wills, director of volunteer resources at Dayton Children’s Hospital, took the group to the book closet on the lower floor of the hospital and showed them the supplies on hand. She told the group that all children at the hospital can take a book and keep it, and if

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they have siblings who are there visiting, they can get a book as well and keep it. Junior Granger Moxon Gilpin said he “liked to be at the hospital and helping other kids,”according to a report that appeared in the local newspaper, the Daily Advocate, about the initiative. “My favorite part was when we got to the hospital,” Junior Joey Clopp told reporter Linda Moody who was covering the story for the Daily Advocate. “I was really excited to donate the books. I’m glad we could do something to make their day better.” Afterwards, they held a pizza party for the Juniors and their families thanks to money donated by Ohio Granger Deb Hamilton, who specifically told the group to “save some for a pizza party for your Juniors - they deserve it!” Gunckle said. She said the group is already planning to do the project again next year. “This was fortunate timing and we’re so happy we were able to cultivate the spirit of giving in these Juniors that they’re carrying with them to think about what more they can do with all the current needs going on,” Gunckle said. In addition to this project, Stelvideo Juniors, along with Stelvideo Grange just recently bought, put labels in, and sent a letter home with all the students and donated dictionaries to all Arcanum thirdgraders. “Our Grange feels blessed and honored to be able to do these two big community service projects,” Hinshaw said.

The COVID-19 crisis is exposing the best and worst in humanity. For rural Americans, itâ€™s

also a chilling wake-up call about the state of

healthcare in our communities and a gap that must be closed as part of the rebuilding that will come when the virus is at bay.

PERSPECTIVE

Weâ€™re in this

together

(arenâ€™t we...?)

Inside

p. 54 - A look at rural health and care disparities before the COVID crisis and what must be addressed after p. 63 - Grange members report on telehealth use and outcomes in the land of low broadband p. 66 - Granges responded in variety of ways to meet needs

of their neighbors during the pandemic p. 70 - Pandemic helps some rediscover Victory Garden concept p. 73 - Together, apart: Granges find ways to Cultivate Connections in face of social isolation and stay-at-home orders

‘Exploding in our hands as we speak’ A look at rural health before, during and after COVID-19 By Amanda Brozana Rios National Grange Communication and Development Director The COVID-19 crisis has ripped the mask from our eyes and put on full display many areas of concern for the U.S. economy, worker and family. One issue that has reemerged, as a major crisis point for Americans, is the healthcare system – especially concerns with rural care. The flaws in the system are not new. Since long before the outbreak, the national conversation has focused on healthcare – the top issue for voters – with Medicare for All, Medicaid expansion, and the Affordable Care Act a consistent part of the national dialogue. But this crisis has done something more – it has brought the stark realities of everyday rural health disparities and the nearly decadelong trend of rural hospital closures front of mind for many who were blissfully unaware or happy to overlook the issues. This article is being written early in the battle against COVID-19, and by the time readers finish it, there will undoubtedly be new layers to the challenge we are facing. However, some of the underlying issues faced by rural Americans will persist, and may worsen. One thing is clear: as every part of the healthcare system sticks their hand in the pots of stimulus and recovery funds that will be made available, rural healthcare entities must come away with at least their fair share, or risk losing entirely the financial capacity to exist entirely. Where we started Access Let’s first examine the rural health landscape in early 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has for many years acknowledged that “rural Americans face numerous health disparities compared with their urban counterparts.” According to a 2017 Kaiser Family Foundation study, rural Americans face significant barriers to accessing care, including provider shortages, less early intervention and preventative care, recent closure of rural hospitals and long travel distances to providers. While about 20% of the U.S. lives in rural areas, only 11% of physicians practice in these areas. Rural Americans on average are older and sicker with higher rates of chronic disease, according to the National Rural Health Association. Additionally, rural Americans tend to be less physically active, have higher risk of unemployment and more frequently partake in high-risk behaviors such as traveling without seat belts or long-term activities with negative health outcomes, such as smoking. “We may never make rural America as healthy because of factors out of our control, such as the types of jobs done in rural communities that put people at higher risk for workplace injury, including farming, or the inability to provide competitive salaries and excellent research opportunities for specialists stationed in more remote healthcare facilities,” Dr. Erick Bourassa, professor of medicine at Mississippi

College said. “We can see some improvement, though, if rural individuals limit their risks and be conscious to live a more healthy lifestyle.” The overwhelming disparity between the number of providers per capita in rural areas (13.2 per 10,000 people) versus urban areas (31.2 per 10,000) is startling and shows just how unstable even the basic infrastructure of the rural health system is today. According to research by Xcenda, a healthcare consultancy focused on health outcomes and reimbursement, this shortage forces rural providers “to prioritize cases and patients given limited resources and time in the day to treat patients.” It feels as if a preventable death in a rural community would be the catalyst of a plot for a prime-time legal drama featuring attorneys seeking to right the wrongs of a broken system. Bourassa said some specialists that rural individuals struggle to access are actually those in common areas – like OB/GYNs and mental health professionals. “In the medical community, we know it’s not uncommon for some patients coming from rural areas to have to travel more than two hours to see doctors that the medical community recommends they see for annual or semi-annual preventive services or checkups.” For those that follow the guidelines, seeing a primary care physician, dentist and gynecologist as best practice recommends, this could mean taking several days off of work each year and spending hundreds of dollars in travel cost by personal vehicle or other transportation. “It definitely adds up in ways urban people – who often can leave their office building for a long lunch hour, walk a few blocks to a doctor and have a dental appointment or physical – would not see,” Bourassa said This means many rural physicians provide a much wider scope of services to their patients” than their urban counterparts, Xcenda research shows, noting that “it is not uncommon for primary care physicians in rural areas to act as their patients’ rheumatologists, cardiologists, or obstetricians.” For those facing sudden health crises like stroke or trauma, the reality is rural citizens will face greater than average medical response time and lengthy travel to sites of care. Affordability & Insurance In rural America, the struggle to afford healthcare is its own problem. Despite a decade that saw the uninsured number dramatically decrease and a rising hope among many that the days of such disparities among rural and urban Americans were coming to an end. In an NPR report, Robert J. Blendon, co-Director of the survey and professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said of the period after the Affordable Care Act was passed and many states expanded Medicaid eligibility, “At a time when we thought we had made major progress in reducing barriers to needed health care, the fact that one in four still

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face these barriers is an issue of national concern. Either it is still not affordable for them or the insurance they have doesn’t work — or they can’t get care from the health providers that are in their community.” A 2019 poll conducted as a joint venture between NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, provides a stark picture: more than a quarter of rural respondents said they could not get health care at some point in the last few years when they needed it, citing the cost, distance, lack of appointments at times they could make work and inability to find a provider who would take their insurance. Rural Americans also tend to be less affluent than their urban and suburban counterparts and less likely to be employed – often because of higher retirement or disability rates and greater seasonal employment than found in urban areas. But job shortages and mechanization or outsourcing of jobs without replacement also have led to higher rates of unemployment, significant in relation to healthcare because most Americans get their insurance through their employer. Rural employers, often small businesses, are less likely to offer coverage, according to a 2018 study published by the Rural Policy Research Institute. The coverage that is made available to rural employees tends to offer minimal benefits and/or higher than average out-of-pocket costs. As a result, more rural individuals have no or minimum health insurance coverage, a factor that makes them significantly less likely to seek preventative care and be seen only after health issues have become more severe. An unplanned $1,000 medical bill, for example, could derail an individual or family in rural America, or so was the response by more than 40% of respondents to a 2019 NPR/ RWJF/Harvard poll. Unfortunately, health insurance coverage is not the only barrier to care. Only 24% of rural residents with insurance, responded that they received necessary care – inhibited by distance to the provider, availability of appointments at certain times, transportation to specialists or doctors, money to cover co-pays and other fees related to service, including child-care, availability of provider who takes their insurance among other reasons. More than 10% of rural individuals are veterans versus less than 8% of urban individuals, allowing them to access Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits, in which about 57% are enrolled, according to the Department’s website, versus 37% of urban veterans. However, the distance many must travel for care is a barrier to access. According to a 2019 VA info sheet, veterans may travel up to 12 hours for procedures – even minimally invasive depending upon services offered at their CommunityBased Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) – that must be done at medical centers rather than clinics. Some of those procedures include laser removal of skin lesions, colonoscopies, some fairly common preventative gynecological procedures, even the removal of an ingrown toenails. Elderly veterans often use a combination of care strategies, seeking out VA medical services for some services and utilizing Medicare benefits at

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Life

A short story by Bradley Luberto

Member, Mayfield Grange #683, New York

The large harvest like moon signaled fall even if the equinox was still weeks away. Summer days were getting cooler, and it was almost hard to believe that only weeks ago a boy was sitting in a white farmhouse with a big porch. Up its stairs he sat at a desk before a window screen that bugs bounce against trying to get through, to the light from the lamp upon that desk. Outside the yellow sun had set behind endless acres of corn that stretch seemingly to the horizon and beyond. In the dark, crickets chip by the thousand, occasionally the splash of a fat bull frog was heard as he dove into a small creek that curved around an old apple tree not far from the farmhouse. A creek whose dampness slowly works it way through the soil towards the fieldstone foundation of the farmhouse making it just cool enough on the inside wall of the cellar, to store rows and rows of glass canning jars on a large wooden shelf. Some too old to eat stand there sealed with brittle rubbers rings under glass dome tops held in place by a wire snap. Too old to eat, but saved because they were the last, “put up” foods, canned by a grandmother who sleeps in a small grave yard also on the farm, enclosed by a rusting fence, and always too quickly over grown with weeds. Here lies a husband and wife, “Grandma and Grandpa” to most, “Mom and Dad” to others. And three children, all dead before their fifth birthday. A surprise to many that they would have risked having more, but eight would follow.

The boy sat at the desk with a book open wide, he reads of Roosevelt In Africa. A rifle hangs on the wall in his room, and in a dream like daze he looks at the old gun and imagines firing it at a changing lion, one shot, then two! But forgetting he’d have to set cap and ball at each shot as his grandfather did in a war that made a nation one again. The turn of a button brings a soft hum as a golden light alights a small dial, a whistle, a voice, a whistle and, “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. America and all the good ships at sea.” Another turn and a sleepy voice says, “Kiss me once and kiss me twice and kiss me once again, its been a long, long time,” as into the night the music fades. But now the nights were cold. The corn was gathered in stacks, the pumpkins too gathered and sold at a farm stand down by the road. Locals stopped to buy pumpkins that they could have grown if they had taken the time, while “city folk,” buy with amazement of size. A few more weeks and the small creek would be fringed with ice, the fat frog settled to its muddy bottom until Spring’s thaw. The squirrels had set in the apple tree, a large ball of a leafy nest on the highest and thinnest branches that seemed to dare the wind to blow it down. Soon snow would fall and the silent hiss that only falling snow can make, would cover each branch. A frozen land of white until one slender blade of green, weak seemingly, but strong and brave enough to lift specks of ice to look about saying, “Spring is here.”

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In spring, versatile rhubarb all the rage By Ann Olson Bercher President, Minnesota State Grange Certified Culinary Specialist As Grangers, we have very close ties to rhubarb, the harbinger of spring in Midwest Gardens, and the vegetable/ fruit that grows in most areas of the country. Oliver Kelley, one of the seven founders of the Grange, grew over an acre of rhubarb on his farm in Minnesota very early on. Living on the shores of the Mississippi River, there was transportation available to ship rhubarb up and down the Mississippi River between Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, and St. Anthony, Minnesota. And that is what Kelley did with his rhubarb crop in the late spring and early summer. Rhubarb, with its tangy, fresh flavor, relieved the wearied palettes of people who had been subsisting on potatoes, carrots, onions, dried beans and salted meats all winter. I was introduced to rhubarb when I was a student at Iowa State University living away from home, and off campus for the first time. I was renting a house with three other people and a lovely, elderly woman lived next door. She introduced me to the weird plant that was growing at the corner of the house and showed me her crop of three plants. Fortunately for me, she shared her delicious rhubarb pie recipe. She also had a fabulous muffin recipe and a jam that almost brought me to tears. Years following, I have grown to appreciate rhubarb as more than a sweet joy; it is an amazing vegetable with so much promise! Rhubarb, used today as a fruit, botanically is a vegetable. It is the startlingly tart and sour leaf stalks of a large herb, Rheum rhabarbarum. Native to temperate Eurasia, rhubarb became popular in early 19th century

England as one of the first fruit-like produce items to appear in the early spring. Easily grown, rhubarb is a herbaceous perennial plant that once grown, is almost impossible to kill. It is best grown from thick, short tuberous roots, sometimes called crowns. If you have a friend that has rhubarb plants, you may be able to split or quarter a plant and remove the roots to replant into your yard. Do this in early spring when the plants are first starting to emerge from the soil. If you donâ€™t have a friend willing to share, rhubarb crowns are available at most garden centers in early spring. There are over 100 varieties of Rhubarb, and they come in colors from pale pink, to brilliant red, to green streaked red, to red streaked green. Look for varieties such as Victoria, German Wine, Riverside Giant, Crimson Cherry. Ask your garden center professional for advice. Most of us adopt plants and we have no clue what variety they are. Plant your rhubarb in an area that gets full sun and drains well. Dig holes 4-5 inches deep and if you have more than one plant, place them at least three feet apart. Rhubarb can grow quite large, and

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you may want to consider this as not only a food plant, but a lovely addition to your back yard landscape. Plant the roots so they are 2 inches below the surface of the ground. If you have plants with stems, make sure all of the root portion is below ground. Water well after planting, and water anytime the soil begins to look dry. When seed stalks appear, and they are large bulbous looking things in the center top of the plant, remove them before they get too big. Seed stalks will start putting energy into seed production instead of leaf (and stalk) production, which is what you want. Sadly, you cannot harvest Rhubarb the first year after planting. You need to let your plant get stabilized and grow strong. Grow, baby, grow! The second year, you may begin harvesting stalks. They should be 12-18 inches long. Continue harvesting through the summer into late June, maybe even early July, depending on where you live. And the best test, of course, is the texture and the flavor of your rhubarb. If you have several plants, harvest equally from each plant leaving smaller stalks to continue to grow. When you harvest, you may cut the stem at the soil line with a sharp knife being careful not to cut into other stalks

THE LAST

Word

By Pete Pompper

National Grange Community Service Director I don’t want this article to be the to be the last word, but hopefully the first words as we think about how are Granges going to help when this pandemic is over and life returns to some type of normalcy. I truly believe that Grangers will be there helping their communities by opening our doors and greeting those who we have not been able to see during this crisis, whether it is Grange members, neighbors or friends. For parents, the school bus driver and teachers at your local schools. People need a sense of belonging and community in our daily lives. We have a need to feel we are part of a group and Granges can help fill that need. Granges throughout our history have been places of happiness and comfort in good times and bad, where individuals can feel safe and welcome even if it is your first time at a meeting or a dinner. As we say, “Welcome thrice welcome.” Where do we as Grangers fit into this “reawakening” of our communities? What can we do? My quick answer is a lot. It is up to you how much you want to do-- it can be as simple or involved as you wish it to be. You are only limited by your imagination and budget. During the National Grange Community Service and Activities live Zoom/Facebook event on March 28, Katie Squire (CSG Lecturer) made the comment that when all this is over we have the opportunity to hold some type of graduation event for

either High School or College seniors who graduated but due to the quarantines in place had their graduations canceled. Granges have the opportunity to invite those young folks to a meeting or dinner and make them feel special for what they accomplished. For some this is the biggest event in their life and they should have the opportunity to be honored for their accomplishments. Even if you just invite your local school students who graduated or Grangers’ family members, it is the little things that count in life. One person suggested a Grange could hold a prom for those students who had this opportunity taken away because of the necessary distancing orders put in place. If there is one thing Grangers like more than ice cream it is a Grange dance with ice cream. How much fun would that be -- a Grange square dance prom! I want to see pictures of that. I heard from a Grange that is inviting the local FFA members who received an award to a meeting to be honored because they did not get that recognition at their State Convention because it was canceled. What a great idea. That is a big honor that needs to be recognized. I hope Granges throughout this country will also take this idea and run with it and make your FFA students feel proud of what they have accomplished. Open your doors or work with your local community leaders and host a picnic or block party as a community-wide event.

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GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org

It doesn’t have to be a fancy event but a simple hot dog/hamburger roast with everyone bringing a covered dish. If you need to, take the tables from your Grange hall outside and have a picnic. Have games for the attendees young and old; if possible contact and work with your local nursing home/retirement community and invite them. They would probably have a great time being outside and visiting with the community. If your community has a town square or other type of park check to see if you can hold a community party there along with any other service organizations you work with. Have a special dinner to recognize all of the small local businesses who have supported your Grange over the years by either donating supplies or raffle items for your fund raisers. These businesses have supported not only the Granges but other community service type organizations in our communities for many years and some even over generations. Now is the time we need to support them and say thank you. I look forward to seeing what great ideas the Granges come up with. I truly believe we as Grangers will step up and help our communities “reawaken”. We need to truly grasp the Grange theme this year, “Grange Connections,” and help our communities and citizens reconnect. It is what we have been doing for over 150 years and have done it well. Be proud to be a Granger and let’s go out there and do what we do best.

Shape our childrenâ€™s future. Start with the 2020 Census. Young children experience new adventures each day, and little ones need all of the support they can get during these early years.

Responding to the 2020 Census is an easy, safe, and important way to help provide resources for children and their communities for the next 10 years. Everyone living in the United States is asked to complete a simple questionnaire every ten years that asks for basic information about the people who live or sleep in their home. Children under the age of five, however, are often missed. Young children who are missed in the census tend to live with large, extended families or with multiple families living under one roof. When newborn babies and children are not counted, support for programs such as health insurance, hospitals, childcare, food assistance, schools, and early childhood development is impacted. Responding to the census is easier than ever. You can complete the census questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail. And remember, just as you protect the children in your care, the U.S. Census Bureau protects your information. The Census Bureau is required by law to protect any personal information collected and keep it strictly confidential. All Census Bureau staff take a lifetime oath to protect your personal information and any violation of this oath comes with a penalty of up to $250,000 and/or up to five years in prison.

Start shaping their future by going to 2020CENSUS.GOV.