Final 2010 PA State Grange Family Picnic

The third and final 2010 PA State Grange Family Picnic was held Sunday, August 29, 2010 at the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association Show at Williams Grove Park in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, PA. More than 25 Grange members from the south central area of Pennsylvania attended for good food, games and fellowship.

The festivities began shortly after Noon with a Blessing, followed with lots of great "covered dish" food. After the meal, Lizzie Bailey and Cindi Shaffer from Cumberland Valley Grange #2105 brought games and prizes along for both young and old.

The steam Engine Association provided a pavilion at no cost to the Grange in the hopes of making this an annual affair, similar to the Great Granger Picnics held at the park in the late 1800's.

2010 Ag Progress Days

Well the 2010 Ag Progress Days was a huge success for the PA State Grange! In three days we gave out over 1,000 "koozie" foam can coolers and 500+ balsa wood gliders! And with every can cooler, a Membership brochure was inside. So we know that we "got the Grange Word" out to many, many people in a very short time period.

Thanks very much to Lorena Baughman, Mike and Jennifer Adams and Sherri and Jenna Sattazahn who helped us out in the booth. Also thanks to the Centre County Corps who helped Melanie and Merle with the Family Activity quilt raffles and cookbook sales.

We are looking forward to seeing a lot of PA Grangers at this coming Sunday's PA State Grange Family Picnic at the Williams Grove Steam Engine Show. Picnic begins at noon. Bring a covered dish to share, your own place settings and something to drink.

Madison Grange #2107 Receives National Charter

PA State Grange President Betsy Huber presented the National Charter to Bob Stair, newly elected President of the new Madison Grange #2107 in Columbia County, PA. They held their meeting at the edge of the woods above Bob's mother's farmhouse. They normally meet the second Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m. in the Phillips' barn at 10 Phillips Road, Bloomsburg, PA.

President: Bob Stair
Program Director: Ruby Crane
Secretary: Diane Crane
Treasurer: Jewel Sullivan

Madison Grange #2107 organized June 13, 2010 with 13 charter members.

They have already begun a flower bulb fund raiser. Their next meeting will be held at Lake Tobias Wildlife Park on Sunday, September 12, 2010. They are planning to begin a Small Game Hunter Breakfast that they will serve on the morning of opening day of small game season in Pennsylvania.

For more information about Madison Grange #2107, contact Bob Stair at 570-204-0944.

August Grange Events

August is a fun month for the PA State Grange. We have three major events this month, two Family Picnics and Ag Progress Days.

The first PA State Grange Family Picnic for August will be held Sunday, August 15, 2010 at Knoebels Amusement Park, 391 Knoebels Blvd., Elysburg, PA 17824. The picnic begins at noon in Pavillion "T". This is a covered dish picnic so bring plenty of food to share with fellow Grangers. Knoebels Park is a "pay as you ride" park, so you can tour the park for free or ride all the rides you want and pay as you go.

Next on the calendar will be Ag Progress Days. Ag Progress Days (APD), is Pennsylvania's largest outdoor agricultural exposition and is always held during three days in August (17, 18 & 19th this year). Sponsored by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, the event is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Pa. Route 45. As usual, the PA State Grange will have an informational booth set up in the front of the Ag Choice Building at Main & W. 6th Street on the grounds. Stop in and see us and tell us you saw this on our blog and receive a free gift!

The second PA State Grange Family Picnic of August will be held on Sunday the 29th at the Williams Grove Steam Show, outside Mechanicsburg, PA. This picnic will also begin at noon and will be a covered dish affair. As you can see in the picture from last month's Family Picnic at Conneaut Lake Park, Grangers always eat well! We hope to see Grangers from far and wide at the picnic!

So don't miss the chance to stop in at one of the events this month.