Grange Today! Volume 3, Issue 20 - October 23, 2026 by National Grange

Volume 3 | Issue 20

October 23, 2026

A publication of the National Grange

Are you ready to Pave the Route to the Future? The countdown is on! In just a few short weeks, Grangers from across the country will gather in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, November 9-14, for the 160th Annual National Grange Convention, and you won’t want to miss a moment of it! This year’s Convention is shaping up to be an exciting week filled with opportunities to learn, connect, celebrate, and help shape the future of our organization. From engaging workshops and special guest speakers to a full schedule of Junior Grange activities, memorable experiences, and plenty of fun and fellowship, there’s something for Grangers of every age and interest. National Convention is more than an annual meeting. It’s where the Grange family comes together to share ideas, celebrate accomplishments, conduct the business of our organization, and strengthen the friendships and connections that make the Grange special. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a longtime Convention veteran, you’ll find new ideas, fresh inspiration, and plenty of reasons to be proud of the work Grangers are doing across the nation. And this year’s Convention offers exceptional value! Registration includes

daily breakfasts, the Welcome Dinner, Celebration Banquet, a Convention tour, engaging workshops, limited-edition Convention swag, and access to a full week of programming, activities, and special events. Attendees will also experience Oklahoma’s warm hospitality and help launch the year-long celebration of the National Grange’s 160th anniversary! Now is the time to make your plans! Hotel accommodations and special activities may fill quickly, and the registration deadline is fast approaching. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this milestone gathering as we celebrate our proud history and look ahead to the Grange’s next 160 years. Visit the National Grange Convention webpage to register, review the schedule, make hotel reservations, and stay up to date as any additional information is released. We can’t wait to welcome you to Broken Arrow in just over two weeks! Head to www.nationalgrange. org/160thconvention to learn more and register today. Please register by November 2. Learn more about this year’s Convention on pages 4 & 5.

In This Issue Are you ready to Pave the Route to the Future? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Authenticity cannot be Faked: Ethical Use of AI in your Grange . . . . . . . . . . 2 Members aged 18 or older asked to take a survey on the National Youth program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Fellowship Factor: Need a Ride? .................................3 Pave the “Route to the Future” at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 View from the Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Flag Retirement Ceremony: A Share Your Project’s Story Submission . . . . 8 Connecticut Elects New President . . . 9 Tired of the gym grind? Find your next fitness obsession outdoors . . . . . . . 10 Recipes from the Heartland . . . . . . . . . 11 Grange Member Benefit: AVIS/Budget Car Rentals . . . . . . . . 12 Grange Store: Guidelines for Grange Leaders . . . 12

Convention Countdown: 16 days Register by November 2!

Authenticity cannot be faked: Ethical Use of AI in your Grange by Philip J Vonada

National Grange Communications Director

Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become one of the biggest topics in communications, marketing, business, education, and just about every other part of daily life. New tools seem to appear every week, and many of them are impressive. They can help write emails, organize ideas, summarize notes, create graphics or video, brainstorm programs, and handle some of the routine work that can take up a lot of time. For Granges, especially those where a small group of volunteers is doing a great deal of work, these tools can be useful. AI can help someone get past the dreaded blank page when writing a newsletter article. It can suggest ideas for a community program, help draft a press release, create several versions of a social media post, or take one idea and help adapt it for different audiences. Used wisely, AI can save us time and help us communicate more effectively; we need to use it thoughtfully and ethically. The Grange has always been a people-first organization. Our work depends on relationships, local knowledge, trust, and the willingness of members to step up and serve. AI may be able to help us communicate that work, but it cannot replace the people doing it.

Is AI your new assistant? One of the best ways to think about AI is as an assistant. It can help generate ideas, suggest an outline, draft some possible wording, or offer a starting point when you are not sure where to begin. But the first thing AI creates should almost never be the final thing you publish. The problem comes when the draft becomes the finished product without much human involvement. AI does not know your Grange, your members, or your community. It does not know who stayed late to clean up after an event, why a particular service project mattered, or what made a new member feel welcome. Those are the details that make our stories worth telling, and really connect your communities to your Grange. A generic article about community service may be technically fine, but it will never be as meaningful as one that includes real names, real experiences, real quotes, and real outcomes. That is why anything generated with AI still needs a human editor. Someone needs to read it carefully, make sure it sounds like the Grange, add local details, and check that everything is true and factual. If AI wrote it, it is not finished yet.

An authentic and accurate Grange Accuracy is another reason to be cautious. AI “creates” based on patterns it accesses, and it can be very convincing - even when it is wrong. It may get a date wrong, invent a statistic, confuse two organizations, misattribute a quote, or give outdated information. Because the wording is often polished and confident, those mistakes can be harder to

catch than they would be in a rough draft written by a person. That means we need to check and correct names, dates, titles, locations, statistics, and other factual claims before anything is published. AI is not a source, and using it does not remove our responsibility to verify information. Ultimately, you – the Grange – are the keeper of the truth, and the responsible party if incorrect information is released. Inaccurate representation of your Grange’s work can damage your reputation and trust in the community. We need to think carefully about that trust. The Grange has spent over 150 years building a reputation around real people doing real work in real communities. We should not weaken that by using AI in ways that make it difficult to tell what is real and what is not. That is especially important with images, audio, and video. AI can now create very realistic photographs, voices, and videos, but realistic does not mean authentic. If your Grange did not hold an event, you should not create an image that makes it look like it did. If the people in an image are not Grange members, they should not be presented as though they are. Whenever possible, use the real photos. Show the real volunteers. Show the real hall, the real food drive, the real fair booth, the real Junior Grangers (with appropriate consent of guardians), and the real community members being served. Those images may not always look perfect, but they are ours. That matters. And the community should know and understand who you are. Because the Grange has plenty of real, legitimate stories to tell, and nearly every member has a camera (phone) in their pocket, there’s no need to manufacture them. And while AI can also make things like registrations or communications easier; we also need to use common sense when it comes to privacy. Member information, financial details, internal disagreements, health information, and other private matters should not be entered into public AI systems (that’s anything like Claude, Muse, ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini). Once again, the basic question is whether using the tool protects the trust people place in the Grange. Because “the cloud” is not always secure, any of this kind of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) can trace back to the individuals in your Grange, and may put you all at risk.

Protecting the Grange brand and trademark

The same care applies to our logo and brand. Official Grange logos or emblems should not be altered, redesigned, or run through AI tools to create new versions. The Grange has built and secured our brand over many years, and consistency matters. AI can help create materials around the Grange brand, but it should not be used to reinvent it. Official Grange logos can be placed on your posters after creation –

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continued on page 7

Members aged 18 or older asked to take a survey on the national youth program The National Grange has asked EvalNetwork, an independent program evaluation firm, to assess the national youth program: the contests, awards, leadership roles, and national convention activities that the National Grange offers members aged 13.5 to 25. The National Grange Executive Committee will use the results, together with interviews held this fall, in its decisions about the future of the program. As part of the assessment, EvalNetwork is surveying Grange members aged 18 or older, and people aged 18 or older who took part in Grange youth activities in the past. Answers are useful whether people are active now, less active than they were, or no longer involved.

The survey takes about 15 minutes for people aged 18 to 25, and about 8 to 9 minutes for everyone else, with about 2 minutes more for youth advisors and adult volunteers, and for parents and grandparents. Answers go directly to EvalNetwork and are confidential. The National Grange will receive combined results and selected written comments with identifying details removed, and reports will not identify any person or any state Grange. Please complete it by Sunday, November 1. Please answer only once. If you have already answered, through an email from EvalNetwork or a link from your state Grange, thank you; please do not answer again. State Grange presidents and state youth directors who completed the state leader survey are asked not to answer this one. To gain access to the survey, please email Communications Director Philip Vonada or your State Grange President. Questions about the survey may be sent to James Pann, Ph.D., EvalNetwork, at jpann@evalnetwork.com.

The Fellowship Factor

Need a ride? by Amanda Brozana

National Grange Membership & Leadership Development Director

By late October, many Grange meetings begin after sunset. Roads are darker, weather is less predictable and some members who drove confidently all summer may be less comfortable getting behind the wheel at night. They may never mention it. A longtime member who has always been independent may find it difficult to say, “I don’t drive after dark anymore.” A person recovering from surgery may assume missing a few meetings is easier than asking for help. A teenager may want to attend but have no ride. Someone’s car may be in the shop, or a household that once had two drivers may now have one. When people stop coming, it is easy to assume they are busy or losing interest. Before reaching that conclusion, ask whether transportation has become the problem. This is a good time for a Grange to check in privately with older members and others who may need help. “Now that it’s getting dark earlier, would you like a ride to the next meeting?” That question is easier to answer than, “Why haven’t you been coming?” A rideshare system does not have to become complicated. Ask which members would be willing to provide an occasional ride and note the general area each travels from. One person

can help connect drivers and passengers when needed. Keep requests private and make clear that accepting a ride is ordinary, not an inconvenience. Think beyond the business meeting. A ride may allow someone to attend the Christmas party, join a Grange outing, visit another hall or participate in a community event with the group. Use common sense. Drivers should be properly licensed and insured, and extra care is needed when transporting minors or anyone who requires physical assistance. For most members, though, this is simply one neighbor picking up another on the way. Losing the ability—or willingness—to drive at night should not mean losing contact with friends, activities and a Grange family. Before the next meeting, identify members who may appreciate a ride after dark, someone to follow them home, transportation to a special event or outing, or a private call asking what would make attendance easier. Don’t wait until someone has been missing for three months. Ask while the invitation still sounds like what it is: “We’d like you there.”

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Calling all Veterans: Join us for a Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Tulsa Join us on November 11 at 0700 hours for a special Wreath Laying Ceremony during the 160th National Grange Convention. Held in recognition of Veterans Day, this meaningful ceremony will honor the men and women who have served our nation in each of the six branches of the United States Armed Forces. Six wreaths will be laid, with each representing one branch of military service and the generations of Americans who have answered the call to

serve. All veterans attending the National Grange Convention are especially invited to take part in this ceremony. We are also seeking four to six volunteers to assist with the event. Veterans who would like to participate, as well as anyone interested in volunteering, are encouraged to contact Mark Gibbons at mark@retiresafe.org for additional information.

Help Shape the Future of National Grange Conventions The future of our National Grange Convention starts with YOU! Do you have experience in event planning, budgeting, member engagement, marketing, promotions, or program evaluation? Or do you have great ideas and a passion for creating meaningful experiences? The Convention Management Team (CMT) is looking for Grange members from across the country to help design not only this year’s convention in Broken Arrow, but the future of National Grange Conventions for years to come. If you’re ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you! Interested? Contact CMT Chairpersons Jody and Jodi Ann Cameron at convention@nationalgrange.org to learn more.

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National Grange Policy Updates & Issue News October 2026

Agriculture and Food

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Farmers to receive $8 billion for harvest and fuel relief The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $8 billion available for one-time payments this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs. Commodity-specific payment rates for Title I commodities (row crops) will be released in November and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency. Payment methodology for other eligible commodities will be announced at a later date.

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USDA announces regenerative agriculture assistance USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has increased financial assistance for the Regenerative Pilot Program from $700 million to $1 billion in fiscal year 2027. This increase will allow more producers to adopt conservation systems that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm resilience. Producers can apply through their local Natural Resources Conservation Service Center (NRCS). Pesticide labels to target spray drift and runoff The EPA is nearing the final stage of a multiyear effort to align agricultural chemical use with the Endangered Species Act. The effort centers on label instructions specific to the chemical, its use, and location. Build energy projects before seeking grants Farmers and local businesses seeking USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program grants for renewable and energyefficient projects will now have to build and operate them for a year before they can apply for grants. The agency pointed to confusion over what costs grants would cover; many past applicants built oversized projects for their businesses due to the USDA incentives, and the potential for the agency to choose projects based on actual rather than projected data as reasons for the change.

Animal Care USDA announces new era of companion animal welfare Secretary Rollins announced new standards to improve animal welfare, deploy new training and staffing to continuously monitor facilities under USDA jurisdiction, and build further public awareness to protect companion animals. Her actions will include: • Advancing updates to standards of care • Delivering breeder refresher notices • Deploying welfare watchdogs • Increasing Inspector General office staffing 6

Implementing compliance goals to remove repeat bad actors Strengthening inspector training Accelerating enforcement against bad actors Target unlicensed activity Add professionals to capacity build Build public awareness

Data Centers Rural America’s newest challenge The data center explosion has reached the rural landscape. So has the controversy. The huge colorless buildings full of computer servers require as much power as a small city. They also consume large amounts of water for cooling. People who live near data centers complain about the continuous excessive noise. Others contend that large data centers are incompatible with rural land use and the viewscape. But local governing bodies counter with promises of added employment and increases in property taxes, both of which benefit the local economy. We’ll hear lots more about data centers in rural and small-town America going forward. The challenge for residents is to get all the facts on the table before agreements are signed and construction begins, and “Know before you go,” as the old saying goes.

Health Care Grange pushes passage of Alzheimer’s bill The National Grange is strongly supporting the adoption of the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act (ASAP) H.R. 6130/S. 3267 during the final weeks before Congress adjourns for the session. The Act would allow Medicare to cover the screening test that diagnoses earlystage Alzheimer’s years before symptoms appear, which allows patients to seek mitigation therapy and gives families extra time to plan for the future. In general, rural America has fewer resources, fewer specialists, and fewer options. National Grange president Chris Hamp told members of Congress that, “Geography should never determine whether someone receives a diagnosis in time to benefit from treatment.” By the time many rural residents receive a diagnosis, they have already lost the critical window when Alzheimer’s can be anticipated, planned for, and made more manageable. Grange’s 340B rural drumbeat continues As Grange members saw in the last Grange Today! newsletter, the National Grange rolled out a major campaign

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to raise awareness of the loopholes in the 340B program that is taking a toll on rural hospitals and other safety-net providers. Large urban hospitals dual-register as rural providers by obtaining a rural facility designation or by treating a few rural patients. This allows them to obtain high-priced specialty drugs at a large discount from drug companies, then charge their urban patients the full price. These profits go toward operating expenses and other uses that enhance their financial bottom line. The cost of the 340B program has exploded from $6.6 billion in 2010 to over $100 billion in 2025. The Grange sent over 900 personal letters to every Senate and House candidate’s campaign nationwide, asking for their help to reform the 340B program if they are elected to the 120th Congress beginning in January. Media coverage of our efforts has been good. The drumbeat will continue through the first quarter of 2027 with special rural media coverage, surveys, and further contact with Congress.

Permitting Reform Grange supports permitting reform The National Grange joined a large group of agriculture, telecommunications, utility, road building, and other groups to urge Senate passage of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653) during the post-election lameduck session. The Act would overhaul federal environmental review and permitting timelines across statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and Federal Power Act. The bill focuses on enforceable deadlines for environmental reviews. It addresses the frustrations farmers, ranchers, cooperatives, agribusinesses, and broadband providers have experienced with open-ended reviews, which increase project uncertainty and costs while delaying the benefits to rural communities.

View From the Hill is written and compiled by

Burton Eller

National Grange Government Affairs Director beller@nationalgrange.org

Perspectives - on Growth “Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.” - Chinese proverb “Failure is not fatal, but failing to change might be.” - John Wooden, UCLA basketball coach “The investor of today does not profit from yesterday’s growth.” - Warren Buffet, American investor and philanthropist “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” - Oprah Winfrey, American media mogul, author, and activist “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” - John C. Maxwell, American pastor, author, and orator

Artificial Intelligence or by using free platforms like Canva or Adobe Express. The National Grange Communications Department is always happy to provide you with the correct, trademarked logos.

Use Technology as a Tool - not the final solution None of this means we should avoid AI. Like the telephone, fax machine, computer, email, social media, and countless other technologies that came before it, AI will become another tool organizations learn to use. It is already becoming part of many of the tools people use every day, and

it can absolutely help Granges work more efficiently. Used well, it saves time, generates ideas, and makes some communication or marketing tasks less intimidating. But we should never get so impressed by the technology that we forget what makes the Grange work in the first place. Before using something created with AI, take a minute to look at it as a Grange member, not just as a user of a new tool. Is it accurate? Does it sound like us? Does it reflect real people and real work? Has someone reviewed it? Would we be comfortable putting our name on it? If the answer is yes, then AI is probably www.nationalgrange.org

continued from page 2 doing exactly what it should be doing: helping us with the work, not replacing the people behind it. The Grange has adapted to plenty of new technologies over the years, and we will adapt to this one too. We can be curious about it, learn from it, and use it where it makes sense. AI can help organize our thoughts, save us time, and give us a place to begin. But the reputation, ideas, judgment, relationships, service, and stories that matter most will still come from people. And in the Grange, people have always been the point.

Flag Retirement Ceremony A “Share Your Project’s Story” submission by Randee Farmer & Bonnie Mitson McCann National Grange Community Service Co-Directors

Thank you to Penns Valley Grange #158, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, for submitting the electronic SHARE YOUR PROJECT'S STORY form located at https://www. nationalgrange.org/community-serviceprograms/. Details of their Grange’s project, Flag Retirement Ceremony, are shared below. It is our hope that by sharing a project’s story, details might be helpful suggestions to other Granges on future projects. Thank you and great work, Penns Valley Grange! Project Name: Flag Retirement Ceremony Grange: Penns Valley #158, Spring Mills, PA Grangers involved in project: 2 (3 hours each) and 3 (1 hour each); total of 5 (9 hours) Non-Grangers involved in project: 5 (1 hour each); total of 5 hours No funds were required A “Need” was Found: When we sold our Grange Hall in 2022, we found several old American falgs, including two 48-star flags. For several years, we kept the flags, hoping to find a place to dispose and retire of them properly. A “Project” was Started: Finally, we decided to host the proper retirement of flags, ourselves. We contacted our local American Legion post - Keystone Post 444 (Millheim) and asked them if they would join us at a meeting to hold a proper retirement ceremony. They agreed and joined us at our July meeting at a local picnic site with a fire pit that they could use to burn the flags.

Above: Using a fire pit at a local picnic site, more than a dozen American flags were properly retired, with the assistance of Keystone American Legion Post 444 (Millheim). Below: One of the Legion members who helped lead the ceremony. Inset: One of the two 48-star flags that were discovered when cleaning out the former Grange Hall. This flag was used to start the fire for the retirement ceremony. Photos provided

The “Project” Grows within the Community: We advertised the Flag Retirement to our community, and several Grange members brought additional flags to be retired. In all, more than a dozen flags were properly given their final rest. Thank yous to the Legion members who performed the ceremony, our members who brought flags to be retired, two of our Juniors (and their mom) who prepared many of the flags by folding them properly, and our community for their support. Editor’s note: Do you like this kind of content? If so, be sure to check out Good Day! magazine which includes a “Share Your Project’s Story” in every issue. Please also submit your story online to the National Grange Community Service Team - the more stories that are submitted, the more frequently we can feature them. We know we can feature a story in EVERY issue of Grange Today!.

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Connecticut elects new President At the 141st Annual Convention of the Connecticut State Grange, Theodore R. “Ted” Powell, III, was elected as the new President of the State Grange. Ted is a member of Coventry Grange #75, which he joined the Grange in 1996 alongside his daughter, who encouraged him to become involved in the organization. Since then, he has served in numerous leadership roles at both the local and State Grange levels. Within his local Grange, Ted has held the offices of Gatekeeper, Assistant Steward, Steward, and President. At the state level, he has been actively involved with the Connecticut State Grange Agriculture Committee for the past 16 years. His leadership journey has included serving as Assistant Steward, Steward, and Vice President before being elected

President of the Connecticut State Grange, a position he proudly holds today. Powell has served as a National Grange Delegate since 2023. For Ted, the Grange is truly a family tradition spanning generations. His daughter currently serves as the Connecticut State Grange Agriculture Director and Ceres, while his granddaughters, Chloe and Violet Donihee, serve on the State Youth Committee. His family’s Grange connections reach back even further, as his grandparents first met at a dance held at Groton Grange in Connecticut. Ted takes great pride in his family’s long-standing involvement in the Grange and in continuing its tradition of leadership, service, and fellowship.

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Theodore “Ted” Powell, III, a member of Coventry Grange #75 in Connecticut, has been elected President of the Connecticut State Grange.

Tired of the gym grind? Find your next fitness obsession outdoors Courtesy of BrandPoint

If the same old gym routine has gotten old, or you’ve let your membership lapse, consider a fresh new way to stay active: Go outside. Exercising outdoors can boost your physical and mental health, thanks to exposure to vitamin D via sunlight and reduced stress from spending time in nature. Another advantage is the wide variety of activities you can do to match your fitness level. You’ll enjoy fresh air and sunshine, the beauty of nature, and getting to know your neighborhood and neighbors a little better. Note: It’s always a good idea to see your doctor before beginning any exercise program, especially if you haven’t been active lately. Autumn is the perfect time for being outdoors, so here are some ideas to get you started.

The beauty of walking

Nothing beats walking for simplicity and effectiveness when it comes to supporting your well-being. Beyond a good, supportive pair of shoes, you don’t need special equipment, and you can just walk out your door and around your neighborhood. If you haven’t been exercising lately, start slowly and don’t walk faster or longer than is comfortable. Gradually increasing your pace and distance can boost your heart rate and improve your stamina. Maintain good posture while walking, with your head up and shoulders back. Keep walking interesting by changing up your route or inviting friends. Explore local parks or walking paths for even more variety. Want more challenge? Beyond picking up speed and extending your route, tackle some hills or stairs, pump your arms as you walk or wear a weighted vest. Stay safe: Bring a water bottle for longer walks, dress comfortably and use sunscreen to protect your skin. Avoid listening to loud music or noise-blocking headphones that can keep you from hearing potential hazards. Keep a fully charged phone with you, and tell someone where you’re going for extended treks.

Take it up a notch: Hiking and running

When you’re ready for more, consider hiking or running, depending on your fitness level and preferences. Hiking is all about exploring the natural environment, traversing trails through forests and other terrain including state or national parks. Hiking requires proper gear and safety measures like sturdier footwear, bringing plenty of water and snacks, and being prepared for everything from encounters with insects and wildlife to inclement weather. Stay safe: Research the park or terrain you’re visiting ahead of time, so you know what to bring. Follow park rules and stay on trails, make sure your phone is fully charged before leaving, and tell someone where you’re going - and/or hike with a buddy. Considering running? It’s a good idea to see your doctor to ensure you can handle this strenuous activity. Proper footwear is vital for protecting your feet and joints, as is staying on flat, even

surfaces. Gentle stretching before and after running can help prevent injury. Stay safe: Start slowly, stay hydrated and pay attention to your body’s signals. Walk as needed, and use rest days so your body can recover.

Be a team player

Miss playing sports you enjoyed as a kid? Always wanted to play one? Being on a team is a fantastic way to get outside, stay active and socialize. Good places to find a softball, baseball or soccer team include parks and rec centers and community education programs. They often have classes and leagues for beginners and/or older adults. You could try a popular outdoor game to play with a friend or two, like the current pickleball craze - or tennis, basketball, golf or ultimate Frisbee. Stay safe: Wear protective gear and sunscreen to protect your skin and scalp. Comfortable shoes, protective eyewear and weather-appropriate clothing is also recommended. Warm up and stretch before games to help avoid injury. Stay hydrated and cool down slowly to recover from exertion.

“Life is like a bicycle ...”

“... To stay balanced, you must keep moving,” or so the saying goes. Cycling is an effective, low-impact way to stay fit and enjoy being outside. If you don’t own a bicycle, many cities offer low-cost bike rentals. Some bike shops have rentals or sell refurbished bicycles. Explore biking trails in your area, and consider joining a local club or bike with a friend. Sites like Traillink.com can help you find trails for biking, hiking and running. Stay safe: Get your bike checked out and tuned up if it hasn’t been ridden for a while. Protect yourself by wearing a bike helmet, and refamiliarize yourself with rules of the road before heading out. You can find bicycle safety tips at NHTSA.gov/ road-safety/bicycle-safety. These are just a few ways to exercise in the great outdoors. Feeling adventurous? Explore other options like swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and more. There’s a whole world of fun activities out there waiting for you.

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The America’s 250th Grange Workgroup is celebrating our country’s 250th Anniversary by “throwing back” to some classic recipes from Grange cookbooks. Do you have favorite recipes that evoke the American spirit which you would like to see published again? Send them to Lew Gaskill at olgaskill@comcast.net. Please include which Grange cookbook your recipes come from. This week’s recipes are from Grange Favorites - 2012 New England Grange Building, West Springfield, Massachusetts

Howling Good Snack Mix 1/2 cup wild berries (red jellybeans) 1/2 cup owl rings (doughnut-shaped oat cereal) 1/2 cup colored flies (candy-coated chocolates) 1/2 cup butterfly wings (corn chips) 1/2 cup ants (raisins) 1/2 cup cobwebs (sweetened flaked coconut) 1/2 cup earthworms (chow mein noodles) 1/2 cup squirrels’ nuts (peanuts) 1/2 cup bat bones (mini pretzels) 1/2 cup birdseed (sunflower kernels)

Courtesy of Doris Johnson Old Lyme Grange #162, Connecticut

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, store in an airtight container. Makes 5 to 6 cups. Lew says this is a terrific treat to share on Halloween!

Father Demske’s Fresh Mushroom Soup 4 Tablespoons Butter 1 large onion, coarsely chopped 1 pound mushrooms, sliced 1 Tablespoon chicken bouillon granules dissolved in 3 cups hot water 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley 3 Tablespoons tomato paste 1 garlic clove, crushed 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup dry white wine (or non-alcoholic substitute) 1/2 cup each grated Jarlsberg, parmesan and cheddar cheese, mixed together

Courtesy of Linda Blas Hamburg Grange #1293, Rhode Island

Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté until almost tender. Add mushrooms and sauté briefly. Stir in dissolved bouillon, parsley, tomato paste, garlic and pepper. Increase heat and quickly bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add wine. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Note: Ladle hot soup into serving bowls and sprinkle with mixed cheeses. Serve immediately.

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Grange Member Benefit: Avis/Budget Car Rentals

Grange Store: AVIS Car Rentals: Grange members always receive up to 35% off your rental when you use AWD# B291044, plus enjoy additional offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade, or a free weekend day. With a complimentary membership in Avis Preferred®, you’ll travel better, save time and gain access to exclusive offers. Skip the counter and paperwork at many locations and go straight to your car. Visit avis.com/en/association/B291044 or call 1-800-331-1212 to make a reservation. Budget Car Rentals: Grange members always save up to 35% off Budget base rates with offer code (BCD) R198144, plus get other great offers like dollars off, a complimentary upgrade, or a free weekend day. Plus with a complimentary membership in Budget Fastbreak, enjoy our fastest, easiest rental experience! Visit budget.com/en/association/R198144 or call 1-800-527-0700 to make a reservation. Both Avis & Budget offer car rentals from the Tulsa International Airport - book now to reserve your car for the duration of your stay at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention!