Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
Our February 6th program was a Valentine card making party! Junior Granger and 2026 Miss Western Maine Jr. Teen Natalie shared some facts with us about the holiday before crafting cards as a group for the residents of Woodlands Senior Living in Farmington.
Big thanks to Girl Scout Troop #2096 for loaning their scissors, glue sticks, and markers!
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(North East Regional Lecturers Association)
Submitted by Dave Roberts, CT State Grange Lecturer
We held our 17th Connecticut State Grange Lecturers Roundup on Sunday, February 15. Our guest speaker was Larry Segall, referred to us by Chuck Strand, Executive Director of Rural Minds. Larry shared his expertise as a mental health care provider, helping attendees better understand mental health therapy, work to reduce its stigma, and learn about free services that support mental well-being. The discussion was informative, engaging, and timely.
Now is the time to register for the 2026 North East Region Lecturers Association (NELA) Conference, which will be held April 17–19, 2026, at the New York State Grange Headquarters, 100 Grange Place, Cortland, NY 13045. I am offering free transportation to and from the conference for any Connecticut State Grange members and their guests. Please contact me if you would like to attend and ride with us.
With our nation approaching its 250th anniversary, this year’s conference theme, “America 250,” will explore how Grange education, community engagement, and shared history continue to shape our local, regional, and national story. The conference will feature workshops, discussions, and fellowship designed to inspire and equip participants for the years ahead.
This event is open to everyone—not just Lecturers. Members, friends, and anyone interested in Grange education and programming are warmly encouraged to attend. The conference begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 17, and concludes by 11:00 AM on Sunday, April 19.
Affordable and Flexible Registration
Conference Registration: $20 per attendee
Saturday Lunch: Soups and sandwiches – $15
Celebration Dinner: Turkey buffet – $25
Attendees may pay for individual events or save $5 by registering for all three for a total of $55.
Whether you attend for one meal, one day, or the entire weekend, the 2026 NELA Conference offers a meaningful and affordable opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate. Our next conference won’t be held until 2028, so you won’t want to miss the 2026 NELA Conference.
Conference attendees will stay at the Quality Inn Cortland, located at 188 Clinton Avenue, Cortland, NY, conveniently next door to the New York State Grange Headquarters. To reserve your room for Friday and Saturday nights (April 17 and 18, checking out April 19), call 607-756-5622 and mention “Grange Conference.” Reservations must be made by April 1 to receive the reduced nightly rate of $110 plus tax, which includes a complimentary full breakfast both mornings.
We hope you’ll join us in Cortland this April as we reflect on America’s past—and look ahead to the next 250 years.
Reservation Form is available here.
For further assistance and information, please contact Melissa Baldwin, MSG Lecturer.
Submitted by Master Sherry
Once again, our fraternal family has lost another good member. Brother Darrell Huff, a former Executive Member of the Maine State Grange, passed away Sunday afternoon. The memorial service will be on Dec 29 at his church; details to come.
Please keep Betty and their family in your prayers.
Betty Huff
281 Gorham Rd
Scarborough, ME 04074
| An obituary for Darrell is available here. The memorial service is on Monday, December 29th, at the Scarborough Free Baptist Church, 55 Massey Road, at 10 am. |
Additionally, Nate Pennell, EC member is improving after his heart attack. Please keep him in your prayers also.
Nate Pennell
PO Box 505
Machias, ME 04654-0505
Sierra Beal, third-grade teacher at St. George School, sent an email to Larry Bailey, Master of Ocean View Grange:
…My students have absolutely loved their dictionaries! We use them multiple times a week to help with their learning. The generosity of you and the Grange makes a tremendous impact on the classroom and I am so thankful to be carrying on the Words for Thirds tradition... Thank you again!!
To which Larry replied:
I am so happy that you told me how the students are taking to the dictionaries. You have not only made my day but my year!!! Thanks so much. I am looking forward to the next class and thanks to you I am sure as heck gonna be there…
Visit the Maine Grange Resource Page to learn how your Grange can sponsor a project!
A short webatorial by Walter Boomsma
“Work that matters for people who care…”
Seth Godin
In a recent post, Seth Godin suggested we need a north star to provide a sense of direction and purpose, much like the literal North Star guides sailors and travelers. While he was writing about individuals, I was immediately struck by what a great practice this would be for Granges.
I recently asked someone what they knew about the Grange. After stumbling around a bit, they admitted, “practically nothing.” I was stuck with the challenge of deciding how much to share with her.
Perhaps in the future, a good answer would be “The Grange is an organization doing work that matters for people who care.” It’s tempting to edit this to “…for people who matter.” It’s catchy. But that might miss the point because an essential word for Grangers is “stewardship.” Sharing the work that matters gains power when we share it with people who care about it. That’s good stewardship.
Using the Words for Thirds Program as an example, it provides dictionaries to third graders as work that matters. We do so for people who care, and that includes students who want to learn (they care), teachers who enjoy and benefit from (care about) the resource we provide. Shall we go on?
Sometimes, simple works best. If you want to write a 500-word mission statement, go for it. If we’re considering a new project, a North Star will probably suffice. If you’re using this one, you just have to ask, “Are we doing work that matters for people who care?”
If people don’t seem to care about the Grange, we might do well to consider what the Grange cares about. What is our guiding star?
The Summer Public Suppers have started at the St. George Grange!! The second Saturday of each month now until October. The next supper is June 14th. The supper starts at 5 p.m. Lots of yummy homemade food, with family, friends, and neighbors. Adults $10.00, Kids $5.00 (under 10 yrs.)
Also, Summer Music Mondays started—every Monday night at the St. George Grange Hall. The fun starts at 7 pm- 9 pm. Come to listen, bring a musical instrument and join in, or sing along. All welcome, no charge, but they do accept donations.
The St. George Grange is located at 32 Wiley’s Corner Rd. St. George, ME 04860.
COME ON DOWN TO THE ST. GEORGE GRANGE!!
The trustees of the scholarship funds have developed an updated set of criteria, opening the application to any college student seeking assistance, and helping the trustees to decide who should receive scholarships. These criteria apply to both the Maine State Grange Educational Aid and the Howes Nurses’ Scholarship Fund.
A complete package, including the guidelines and application, is available on the website through the Scholarship Page and the Program Books and Information Page. The deadline for applying is September 15, 2025.
It is imperative to get the current application out to the college students in your area and make them aware of our scholarship’s availability. You can download and print the packet or just give them this link: 2025 MSG Educational Information.
Donations are always welcome! Make checks payable to Educational Aid and Howes Nurses’ Scholarship Funds. Include your Grange name and number and the amount(s) for each. Send to Nancy Farrington, Secretary/Treasurer, 317 Holman Day Road, Vassalboro ME 04989.
Go Fund Me link for the Vassalboro Grange repairs fund.
Here’s a summary of events in April!
Local Grange Leaders note! We will list and promote your event state-wide at no cost to you! Just submit your event details here, or email your flyer as an attachment to the webmaster.
While the Grange calls it “Words for Thirds,” many organizations and businesses are involved in The Dictionary Project. Heather Rank of the Fargo-Moorhead Rotary Club provided a wonderful video demonstrating their efforts. We think it’s great that a kid does the interviews! It gets a little noisy in places, so you may want to turn on closed captioning.
If your Grange is not involved in Words for Thirds, you miss a huge opportunity! There are so many benefits, and it’s fun! Check out our pages of resources to help. Let us know if you’re interested or have any questions. The third-graders in your community are waiting!