Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
The American Legion Department of Maine’s High School Oratorical Scholarship Program will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2025 at Thomas College in Waterville. Interested students can begin preparations now for the contest.
The program’s purpose is to help high school students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. Other objectives of the contest are the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and preparation for the acceptance and discharge of civil duties as American citizens.
The scholarship program, held by the American Legion for nearly 80 years, is for those students who look for an academic challenge and the opportunity to win scholarship money for their education careers. For more information about the February event, visit the Maine American Legion’s website.
NOTE: Volunteers are needed to help with the program (judges, tabulators, room monitors, etc.). Those who are interested are to please call Department Headquarters at 207-873-3229.
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Please send us your ideas and thoughts!
The January Bulletin is now available for downloading. Recent issues of the Bulletin can be found on the Program Books and Information Page in the communications section.
Last week, the Scholarship Page was the fourth most visited page on the site! It is that time of year. If your Grange is offering a scholarship, please visit the page and make sure your information is correct. Send changes either by using the Submit Tab or send an email.
Our official release date is January 18, 2025 but you can check out the Words for Thirds Resource Pages here. We’ve got some surprises coming! Stay tuned!
One of my goals for this year is to post at least one reason to love the Grange each month in 2025. The easiest way for you to help make this happen is for you to fill out this simple form. You can answer more than once! Why do you love the Grange?
I supposedly have received a submission through a company called “ShareFile.” Since it’s requiring me to log in and create an account, I haven’t. There are a couple of reasons I’m suspicious. If you’re “Tara White” and trying to reach me, you’ll have to be a bit more direct!
The MSG Event Calendar for 2025 is still pretty bare at this point. Directors and Committee Chairs, please ensure your contest deadlines and events are listed! Granges, submit your programs and events! You are planning ahead, right?
“For in order that man may do well, whether in the works of the active life, or in those of the contemplative life, he needs the fellowship of friends.”
Thomas Aquinas
By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193
Happy 2025! Attending the 2025 Northeast Leaders Conference was very informative and educational. There are some changes being made to the Community Service Notebooks for this year.
Remember, only five pages total. Use both sides. Less pages is fine. Use both sides. Judging is on content, not appearance.
The National Grange Community Service Project is Conservation. More information, including ideas for projects, will be coming soon!
The National Grange is thrilled to announce Rebekah Hodgson as the new Junior Grange Director. A dedicated Jonesboro Grange #357 member in Jonesboro, Maine, Hodgson brings a deep appreciation of Grange values and a passion for community service to her new role. Rebekah’s journey with the Grange began with her grandparents, Helen and Edward Brooks, who
were active members of Robbinston Grange in Robbinston, Maine. Her own involvement took root about six years ago when she joined Jonesboro
Grange to help save it from closure, inspired by her father’s determination to preserve its legacy.
Since then, Rebekah has been an enthusiastic advocate for Grange activities, making her mark through projects like the Crush Cancer Lobster Crawl 5k, Candyland, the free 10,000 Easter Egg Hunt, and Grinch at the Grange.
Outside of her work with the Grange, Rebekah is a K3 preschool teacher and K4 preschool assistant, a Girl Scout leader, and a licensed commercial lobster
fisher—a skill she’s honed since age 10. She currently lives in Illinois with her husband Garrett, an active duty Coast Guard Chief, and their two children, Jase
(7) and Kennedy (5). Her family shares her passion for the outdoors and community engagement.
As Junior Grange Director, Rebekah has ambitious plans for the year ahead. She aims to foster stronger bonds between Junior and more senior members,
spark interest in new Junior Grange chapters, and deepen young members’ love for the Grange through creative, engaging programming. Inspired by her
connection to the ocean, she plans to incorporate aquatic-themed activities into Junior programming, especially at this year’s National Convention aboard
the Carnival Horizon.
Rebekah’s vision for the Junior department centers on empowering young members to be future leaders of the Grange. “Junior members are the voice
of tomorrow,” she said. “By utilizing their energy, passion, and eagerness to learn, they can create meaningful change and preserve the traditions
that connect us all.”
Her advice to those hoping to engage more young people in the Grange? “Find out what interests them and incorporate that into your Junior Grange! Show them the joy and sense of family that comes with being part of the Grange through welcoming, free events and fun-filled meetings.”
National Grange President Christine Hamp is confident that Hodgson’s creativity, leadership, and dedication will inspire the next generation of Grange members, ensuring the organization’s legacy continues to thrive.
“Rebekah’s engaging energy and excitement are exactly what we need to create meaningful experiences for our youngest members,” said Hamp. “I can’t wait to see the positive impact she and her team bring to our Junior Grange Program.”
Hodgson will be assisted by the Junior Advisory Team, consisting of Emily Hartsell (NC), Makayla Piers (RI), and Gayle Reyburn (PA). Email junior@nationalgrange.org for more information.
“The teachings of our order would make the farmer’s home the brightest and happiest place on earth.”
Lecturer to the Candidates during the Fourth Degree
That’s an ambitious promise. The previous sentence includes “…to make it not the home of the body only, but of the soul.” Wow. Without engaging in profound theology and philosophy, many traditions suggest that the soul is the non-material essence of a person or a living being. At least one source calls it “personhood.” So the Grange makes a big promise.
The lecturer promises that Grange teaching has the power to make our homes the “brightest and happiest place on earth.” Farmers who are close to nature have a distinct advantage on this point, but one does not need to be a farmer to love and learn from the lessons nature offers. But one does need to have the opportunity to pay attention. It’s not magic. Effort is required on the part of the teacher and the learner.
Unfortunately, degree days have become a diminishing opportunity. We could have a healthy discussion on that point, but let’s focus on the content of “the teachings of our order” and explore its delivery. I have suggested and lobbied for some creativity in making our teaching available. Would we not enjoy and benefit from some teaching that would make our members’ home the brightest and happiest place on earth for both our bodies and our souls?
The National Grange Heirloom Program is one attempt. In short, it offers snippets of various Grange Lessons (ritual and de-grees) monthly. Several Granges have taken to printing and hanging them on the walls of the Grange Hall. Another small step forward would be to make them available for members to hang in their homes or put them up with a magnet on the refrigerator.
One of the things to love about the Grange Way of Life is that it IS a way of life. It’s not a meeting we attend once a month or a building we go to occasionally. As we develop an understanding of it, it “fits” in many places. Remembering that we are a family organization, imagine what happens if we, as a family, adopted the slogan and a family slogan.
“In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.”
I’ll bet our homes would be happier if we discussed essentials and non-essentials with charity. But that’s just one example. Let’s not forget we have a tremendous opportunity to dig deeper into Grange teaching, both as individuals and as an order.
Since we’re talking about the lecturer, this could be a challenge for lecturers, but anyone can accept the challenge of making the teachings of the Grange readily available to members, old and new. One obvious possibility is to make a teaching part of eve-ry program. (Or start simply by using the Heirloom for the month.) Many people are familiar with devotional booklets offered by religious publishers. Following that example, can we offer something similar to members? Daily may be too ambitious, but perhaps a weekly or monthly quotation from what used to be called “the little blue book.” I have been lobbying for a simple form of “Grange Orientation” as a way of sharing some of the traditional teachings. Actually, it could take many forms. The key is that we preserve the traditional lessons of the Grange in a way that is useful and relevant in today’s society.
In our home, we have at least one discussion every month about “what are we taking to Grange (for potluck).” Let’s give some thought to what we will be bringing home. (And I’m not referring to potluck leftovers!) The Grange can help us make our home a brighter and happier place.
Any degree or ritual quotations are from the forty-seventh edition of the 2023 Subordinate Grange Manual or the most recent edition of the Pomona Grange Manual. The views and opinions expressed in “Exploring Traditions” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official doctrine and policy of the Grange. Information about the book “Exploring Traditions—Celebrating the Grange Way of Life” can be found at http://abbotvillagepress.com, on Mr. Boomsma’s Amazon Author Page, or by contacting the author.
By Walter Boomsma
207 343-1842
Communications Director
New Developments
You’re probably aware of our new resource page(s) for the Words for Thirds Program. We’ll officially release on January 18, 2025, but it is a work in progress. Some resources, such as label templates and sample press releases, have already been accessed and used. There are still a few things “coming soon,” including an interview with Mary French, Director of the Dictionary Project. In addition to making life easier for Granges participating in Words for Thirds, we are determined to get more Granges in-terested in the program. As most know, I have been directing Valley Grange’s program for close to twenty years and I’m excited and happy to work with and assist Granges who are interested!
I’ve recently been working with the AARP Fraud Watch Network to add another resource to the MSG Website. We’ll post a weekly Fraud Watch Alert on specific types of fraud and scams. These will serve a dual purpose. First, Grangers will have access to concise information for their use. Second, the information can be used in lecturer’s programs and as FHH reports. As a bonus, these posts will have buttons at the bottom, making it easy to share them on social media or by email. Links are also provided, giving access to an AARP speakers’ bureau.
(Speaking of scams, stay suspicious! I’ve personally been getting hit with a lot of phony emails that look like they are from companies like United Health Care, Bitdefender Support, PayPal, Delta Airlines, FedEx, etc. They often are identified as “FW” (forwarded) in the subject line. Most have an attachment (which I do not open) and an offer of something free. When in doubt, don’t!)
The underlying development for the Words for Thirds Resources and AARP Fraud Watch Alerts is a more structured editorial plan for the website. We want the site to be resource-rich, engaging, and useful. As a reminder, every member is a reporter and potential contributor. Submit your news and events, but don’t hesitate to go beyond that. If you’re a lecturer, consider submitting your program ideas and tips. Tell us about your Community Service activities or how your Grange is improving Family Health and Hearing. Thanks to several “reporters,” we’re now working on some information regarding Grange Hall insurance that will be shared soon. I can’t do these things alone. That’s one reason I’ve adopted the slogan, “We’re Grangers. We help each other.”
► FACT: In the past week, the most visited posts and pages were the Grange Directory, Program Books and Information, Words for Thirds Resource Page, and Grange Scholarships.
Webmaster’s note: The format of this column includes all of the Quill’s Endians participating at various times and in various ways! Phil writes this month’s column.
For Christmas, I was gifted a book of short stories about growing up on a farm in Maine. Short stories work well for me. My reading time is before bed. A conclusion every few pages is just right. The book was not outstanding, but relatable to life on a farm.
I was exposed to this type of living as a child, but only immersed in it for brief periods. I was a tourist to the real thing. There was no necessity to my being there, no responsibility to aid my growth or the farm and family.
With less than 2% of Americans involved in agriculture, this century will undoubtedly produce a lot fewer of these farm children. I hope that this changes. The stories in this book outline the constant work of a farm, and the necessity to be useful from an early age. Consequently, the children were needed, appreciated, and constantly learning as they worked alongside the adults. I’ve not met farm kids that are not capable trouble shooters, or fear new challenges or trades.
The book’s stories also touch on the times between the work. This particular farm boasted woods, fields, pond, creek, gravel pit, and junk piles of old equipment. Unstructured time, combined with these acres of assets, seems a pretty good recipe for childhood. The remnants of our children’s forts and kingdoms remain a great reminder of their imaginations. I’ve not yet met a bored farm kid.
So, make sure children are visiting farms: we need them to become enchanted, and to be the next generation of farmers. Farmers to feed us and to entertain us as they write about growing up on farms in Maine
Heather and Phil Retberg and their three children run Quill’s End Farm, a 105-acre property in Penobscot that they bought in 2004. They use rotational grazing on their fifteen open acres and are renovating thirty more acres from woods to pasture to increase grazing for their pigs, grass-fed cattle, lambs, laying hens, and goats. Heather is Vice President of Halcyon Grange #345 and writes a newsletter for their farm’s buying club of farmers in her area and has generously permitted us to share some of their columns with Grangers. Visit the Quill’s End Farm Facebook Page for more information.
By Sherry Harriman,
Maine State Grange President/Master
207 490-1029
There have been questions about the Degree Days and who can do them. Any Grange may confer all Four Degrees in one day, at any time during the year, but permission is required from the State Master beforehand. However, each Grange is entitled to confer the Degrees in their own Granges at their own convenience. To “confer degrees” means initiatory ceremonies giving instruction and information about the Grange. You may confer 1 or 2 degrees at one meeting, then confer 1 or 2 more at the next meeting, and so on until you complete all Four Degrees. (The word Degree refers to a level of the Grange and is based on the four seasons and agriculture. The first Four Degrees bring you into Subordinate or Community Grange membership.) The meeting must be open in full form for any balloting and conferral of any Degree. The candidates must be balloted on prior to the conferral of the degree. Following the Grange Manual. (2023 is the newest version but the Degrees in all the manuals are the same.) The Degrees are very impressive if done from memory, but this may not work for everyone. Have each officer read the part for the office where they are seated, marching candidates are encouraged but it can be done with everyone seated, follow the instructions as you go along. Everyone can participate in this manner and learn the lessons of the Degrees at the same time.
Have a safe winter. Check on your neighbors and give a hand wherever you can.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry is reaching out to businesses for help completing a survey. They intend to use the results to advocate for disaster aid to address weather-related challenges.
“In late December 2024, Congress allocated $220 million in disaster relief funds for New England states, in addition to Alaska, and Hawaii, to offset some of the losses experienced by agriculture and timber producers due to extreme weather events in 2023 and 2024. The USDA will determine how these funds are distributed, and Maine’s share will depend on estimated losses.”
The survey is described as entirely anonymous. For more information and to complete the survey:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/disaster/survey.shtml.
The deadline for completion is January 20, 2025.
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Have you made plans for the New Year for your Grange? Membership should be a top priority in achieving your goals for the year. Without members, we have no Grange. New ideas, new discussions, and new members are always needed. So, here is a list you and your Grange must consider:
BE ACTIVE. Plan events accordingly and remind members and nonmembers of your meeting times. Committees should be set up and working.
REACH OUT. Let the Community and town know what you are doing and request help from them to plan community events. Keep the community up-to-date with projects and offer assistance.
COMMUNICATION. Keep your members informed and practice your floorwork so that visitors will know that you are solid in tradition and rituals. Make a good impression. All members should know what is happening in your Grange. Maybe create a town newsletter or join a community newspaper.
LISTEN. Hear what your members and the Community have to say. Improvements are always needed from within or from outside of Grange. Write down their thoughts.
BE POSITIVE. Always make your meetings productive and inspirational to create enthusiasm. Talk highly of your Grange to nonmembers. Encourage them to join by being upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic.
NEW MEMBERSHIP. Create a membership committee or encourage all members to bring in new members. Make a contest to see who can bring in (and keep) the most new members during a period of time. Have fun in your quest for new members.
Make a plan to set goals for the upcoming year, incorporating the above references. Keep up the good work!
Please have a member read these columns at a regular or Pomona meeting so that ALL members will be informed. Reading these columns will spark some ideas to help with your membership drive.