Wisconsin State Grange

Convention hosted by our region in November. Looking for something to do in November? Come help out, learn more or just experience a great family organization!

Kicking off Grange month in a great way! Learning lessons of the degrees, fellowship and great food!

Celebrating National Grange's birthday with a state winter meeting. Great lessons from Duane and fun activity from Ronna. We even had a "new" junior Granger join us today. 😊

Hey Grangers!! We were just talking about this. Here are the 2023 results and the 2024 contest is now open.
https://www.facebook.com/share/pB4TTo81Ds29hMEC/?mibextid=xfxF2i

Wisconsin State Grange will gather for our annual meeting on Sept 22 and 23 at LaPrairie Grange Hall.

Happy Birthday National Grange!!

Honoring Grange History:
Happy Birthday to the National Grange!

On this day 155 years ago, the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (the Grange) was organized in Washington, D.C.

A monument recognizing the Grange's founding can be found near the corner of 4th St. NW and Madison Dr. NW on the National Mall. It is the only private monument on the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

Calling all Grangers! Join us for our annual State picnic on Sunday, July 24th at 11am at LaPrairie Grange Hall. Bring a dish to pass and drink. Fun for all!!

Thank you Ciera Ballmer from LaPrairie Grange for creating this cow on display at the Rock County Dairy Breakfast this morning.
***edit...it won second place voted on by attendees! 😁

Just a reminder that our virtual photo contest deadline is June 30th!
Open to ALL Grange members, with no requirements for pre-judging!

Enter at bit.ly/22grangephoto

Pete Pompper, National Grange Community Service Director, joins Jeff Ditzenberger on Tuesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET for Rural Minds’ latest Rural Mental Health Connections Webinar. Jeff will share his experience of attempting su***de and living with mental illness. Register: http://ow.ly/jNnv50JbAtx

On this day - April 16, 1868 - Oliver Hudson Kelley organized the first Subordinate (Community) Grange in the world in Chautauqua County, New York. Fredonia Grange No.1 , The First Grange remains an active Grange to this day!

Happy Anniversary, Fredonia Grange!

FUN FACT FRIDAY:
The Grange Introduced Agriculture to Public Schools

Remember back in elementary school or perhaps middle school when you planted and recorded the growth of bean sprouts or some such vegetation? This introduction to the science of plant growth is a direct result of Grange influences.

Full credit for the idea of teaching Agriculture in public schools can be laid upon the Patrons of Husbandry. November 29, 1878 to be precise, T.B. Harwell introduced the resolution at the National Grange Session in Richmond, Virginia.

Harwell, the Tennessee State Master, brought forth the resolution recommending to "have the study of the elementary principles of agriculture introduced into public schools by legislative enactment." The adoption of the resolution by National Grange, jump started an educational movement that was shortly after embraced by public schools across the nation.

It is important to note, that a year earlier, at the 1877 session, Oliver Hudson Kelley had first introduced the topic that would spark the resolution the following year. He discussed the idea at some length in his annual report as Secretary of National Grange. Clearly it made quite an impression judging by its quick adoption.

Kelley's report included the following excerpt:

"Teach Children to plant seeds and watch their growth. Flower pots can be in every window where the sun shines, both in city and country. Many a simple lesson in nature is easily taught and it is a singular fact that such lessons impressed upon the mind can never be erased."
(The Grange- Friend of the Farmer)

FUN FACT FRIDAY:
The First Grange Picnic Broke the Bank

In the early years of establishing the Patrons of Husbandry, the struggle for support and membership was real. There were several instances where the coffers of the Grange were depleted, but our founding fathers rallied, regrouped, and refused to give up on their dreams of a farming fraternity.

One such occasion would later be fondly recollected by Oliver Hudson Kelley as, "The First Grange Picnic." It occurred on his trip from Washington to Minnesota in 1868, as he traveled from state to state trying to grow support for our organization.

There was a bit of a layover if you will, his train to Prairie-du-Chien arriving on time at 7am, but the steam boat to St. Paul not arriving until 3pm.

In Kelley's own amusing recounting:
"I was hungry and it was evident that the Secretary of the National Grange must have breakfast. I examined the treasury and found the total cash assets to amount to twenty cents. The sum judiciously expended might sustain life until 3 pm."

At this point Kelley made his way into town, purchasing 10 cents worth of crackers, and 10 cents worth of cheese...and just like that, the National Grange was bankrupt!

He went back to the river landing, sat down on a dry goods crate, and with a pocket full of cheese, and the other stuffed with crackers, he enjoyed the "First Grange Picnic," along the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River.

For entertainment he read P.T. Barnum's Life, which he had with him for the journey. He recalled mulling over Barnum's assertion that, "If one will stick to any enterprise for five years, the foundation for success has been laid, and continued perseverance will bring its reward." Well, by this point Kelley had been at his mission for a month, and had traveled over 1,000 miles. He still found himself with 11 months, and 4 years ahead of him to match Barnum's timeline for success.

Looking back Kelley retold the story with great amusement, now standing on a firm foundation of a successful dream. However, he recalled that, flat broke, miles from success, and the coffers, such as they were, of the Grange being completely drained by a very modest "picnic," he saw nothing funny in it at the time.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and safe and prosperous New Year!

FUN FACT FRIDAY:
Rural Free Delivery (RFD) Monument stands as Testiment to Grange Efforts

In the town of Climax, Michigan a Monument stands as testimony to the supreme efforts of the National Grange to bring rural free mail service to the Nation. In November of 1919, during the 53rd annual session, a delegation of Patrons including Oliver Wilson, then National Master, held a rededication of the memorial.

The Monument was designed and constructed by J. H. Brown, known in Michigan as the "Father of R.F.D," inasmuch as the mail service in the state started from his farm. His hired man was the first appointed carrier. The monument contained 230 field stones, corresponding to the number of farmers who were served by three mail routes first started out of Climax.

One stone in the Monument holds the distinction of being the, "pork barrel stone," for President Henry Harrison and his family. It's original purpose was to keep choice slabs of pork submerged beneath brine for preservation and consumption while the family was in residence at the White House. The Harrison family, that later settled near Climax, donated the stone to hold pride of place in the Monument.

On the front of the monument stood a bronze tablet from the Michigan State Grange, commemorating the efforts of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry in establishing rural mail delivery in 1896, with the following inscription:
" The first Congressional appropriation to try the experiment of delivering mail to farmers homes was secured through the strenuous efforts of the National and State Granges in 1896. The amount was $40,000. This tablet erected by the Michigan State Grange in 1917."

Another fact connected to the monument that is of note, is that beginning with the opening day of the session of National Grange at Grand Rapids, William Andreson, president of the village of Climax, personally placed a flag upon the monument, and lowered it at dusk. He did so every day during the convention, as a symbol of respect to the National Grange, and in recognition of its part in the establishment of rural mail delivery.
(THE GRANGE- Friend of the Farmer 1867-1947)

In celebration of the National Grange's 154th birthday this month, here is another bit of Grange history!

In 1887, the National Grange secured the passage of The Hatch Act to fund research at state agricultural experiment stations.
Read more in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent article:
https://nifa.usda.gov/blog/pretend-be-time-traveler-day

Reorganization meeting of Rock- Walworth Pomona January 25th 6pm LaPrairie Grange Hall! 👏❤🙆‍♀️

Celebrating the birthday of the National Grange and Degree Day.😊

Members from La Prairie & Milton Grange at our State Degree Day today celebrating the 154th birthday!