First Ever Pomona Grange Summit

The PA State Grange in conjunction with London Grange #1492 in Mercer County, hosted the first ever National Grange Pomona Grange Summit this past weekend, September 24-26. We had 41 attendees from Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania plus Ed and Celia Luttrell (National Grange President and First Lady) from Oregon and Rusty Hunt (National Grange Membership/Leadership Director) from the state of Washington.

The entire Summit was held at London Grange #1492 and their members provided lunch and supper for everyone on Saturday. Workshops began at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening and were completed by 9:00 p.m. Saturday evening, followed by an ice cream social at a nearby restaurant.

The Summit included a review of "Chapter 7, Code of the Pomona Grange" of the "National Digest of Laws," followed by workshops on "Purpose of Pomona," "Pomona Survey Analysis," "Communication," "The Legislative Body of the Order," and "Strengthen and Aid the Community Grange."

Workshops were presented by Rusty Hunt, Ed Luttrell, Charlene Shupp-Espenshade (National Grange Youth/Junior Director) and Chris Szkutak (National Grange Youth Mentor).

The entire Summit was a huge success and all attendees took a lot of information back to their home State, Pomona and Community Granges.

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.

2010-2011 PA State Grange Young Couple Named

The 7th annual PA State Grange Family Festival held at the Centre County Grange Fairgrounds July 15-18 was the setting for the announcement of the new 2010-2011 PA State Grange Young Couple. Saturday evening, Barb and Derek Schroeder from Hamburg, Berks County were named the new 2010-2011 PA State Grange Young Couple.

Derek works for the Kutztown Area School District and is a member of Virginville Grange #1832. Barb is working to be a stay-at-home mom, awaiting their son, Jacob's birth in mid-August. She is a member of the Hamburg Grange #2103.

The Schroeders will work hand-in-hand with the PA State Grange Junior Princess and Prince, Jenna Sattazahn and Daniel Pratt, as well as the Youth Ambassadors, Jennifer Adams and Patrick Wadsworth, to promote the Grange and its many programs throughout the Commonwealth. They will attend events such as Ag Progress Days, PA State Grange Session, PA Farm Show and next year's National Grange Convention, in addition to many local, community Granges and fairs throughout the state.

2010-2011 PA State Grange Junior Princess and Prince Named

The new 2010-2011 PA State Grange Junior Princess and Prince are Jenna Satttazahn and Daniel Pratt.

They were named at the Junior Grange Camp Coronation on Friday, July 9, 2010 held at Camp Sylvan Hills, Howard, PA.

Jenna is from Womelsdorf and will be in the 9th grade at Conrad Weiser Middle School. She is a member of Marion Junior Grange #344 in Berks County.

Daniel is from Polk in Venango County where he will be going into the 10th grade at Franklin Area High School. Daniel is a member of the PA State Junior Grange.

Jenna and Daniel competed against six other campers for the positions of Junior Princess and Prince. The competition consists of a written Grange Knowledge test, an Impromptu Question before the entire camp and other judging throughout the camp week.