Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
By Betty Young
207 786-2120
MSG Junior Director
The Junior Grange will finally meet Saturday, January 14 at Danville Jct Grange. We will practice the Ritual, take in a new member, choose officers, and learn about contests. We will plan for the rest of the spring then after lunch go our separate ways for another month. I hope to gain more members so if you have children or grandchildren between 5 and 14 encourage them to check us out. Besides monthly meetings, I hope to plan some fun things.
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By Betty Young
207 786-2120
MSG Junior Director
Hello fellow Grangers. My name is Betty Young, and I am the new Junior Grange Director.
I originally joined in 1974 during the state grange centennial and took six degrees in one day at the Augusta Armory. After my second daughter was born, I took a demit and rejoined in 1994 when she was old enough to join. I have held several different offices in Subordinate and Pomona and am currently Chaplain of Androscoggin Pomona. I was approached this summer about taking on Junior Director since the previous directors were stepping down. Initially, I was reluctant but was concerned that the program might not continue so at the state session I told Sherry I will try.
My daughter has four children the youngest just turned five and will join as soon as we can have a meeting in person. I am looking forward to encouraging our members to participate in the CWA contests and earning badges.
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Due to the weather forecast, the Junior Grange Meeting scheduled for this Saturday, December 17, 2023, has been canceled. Contact Junior Director Betty Young with any questions!
By Marilyn Stinson
207 380-3901
and Terry LaCombe Stevens,
207 356-2492
Co-directors
Maine State Junior Grange met in Lincolnville at Tranquility Grange in September. We started our day making Dog Chew Toys, which will be sold at State Grange to raise funds.
During the meeting Juniors decided on a price to charge for chews and they also decided to send the fair money to the National Grange Foundation this year.
McLaughlin’s Seafood Shack in Lincolnville hosted the Junior Grange for lunch. The Juniors played on the beach before returning to Tranquility for a sweet treat “Candy Bar” which was enjoyed by all. A parent explained that it was a “Candy Buffet” not the anticipated “Candy Bar” that they anticipated. They were able to fill bags with candy to enjoy at home.
The items that were usually judged at Campout were judged by Barbara Schwartz who also helped make the dog chews. The results will be announced at State Grange Session.
A fun time was had by all. Thank you to Tranquility Grange, Mclaughlin’s Seafood Shack (Ricky Mclaughlin) and all who participated for a fun day.
This is the time of year when we “clear out the old” and bring in the new. There are two key documents for most committees.
An annual report for the previous Grange year (October 2021- September 2022) summarizing the committee/department’s activities and accomplishments.
A program book for the next year (October 2022 – September 2023) with important information such as contest rules, important dates, and resource material for that committee/department.
We are in the process of receiving and posting these to the Program Books and Information Page. For the next several weeks, it is important to pay attention to dates! If you are looking for information about this year’s contests, forms, etc., you’ll want this year’s (2021-2022) Program Book. We leave the books on the site for exactly that purpose–some forms and information are potentially needed right up until State Session in October. If you are planning for next year, be sure to download the book for that year (2022-2023.
Annual reports should be of interest to all members–it’s your way to discover what has happened in the previous year in the department/committee. The information can be of particular interest to those who are delegates attending State Session. The annual reports are provided in the delegate packet as well as available to all members on the website.
Both annual reports and program books are being uploaded as received from directors and committee chairs. Note that some annual reports are not usually available until State Session due to the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2022. So far, we have annual reports from
Next year’s program books received so far include
Stay tuned! There’s certainly more to come! And don’t forget this:
By Marilyn Stinson
207 380-3901
and Terry LaCombe Stevens,
207 356-2492
Co-directors
It’s been a summer of historical events for the Juniors. They’ve been to Old Fort Western and cut wood for the fires, cooked as the colonists did, carded wool, and learned about feather beds as well as had a picnic and played on the playground in Augusta. Had craft times and fun times at MSG Headquarters. Then they visited The Knight House, which is the oldest house in Androscoggin County, and learned more about historical times, including kitchen tools and games from Revolutionary Days. The two boys, ages 12 and 13, played hopscotch and enjoyed each other’s company. Many thanks to Danville Junction for hosting their meeting in August.
Their crafts have been mostly judged and the stars going to BigE were sent for judging there. We still have their Sand Art crafts to be judged, which have been displayed at the three fair exhibits to earn money for their activities and donations. Their photos and drawings will be part of the State Lecturer’s contests in October.
Hopefully, there will be someone to continue exhibiting at the fairs next year. Marilyn is willing to help but is physically unable to continue the setup. They earned $341.00 at fairs near Marilyn – Pittston, Windsor, and Litchfield, and she has enjoyed promoting the Juniors, showing they are alive and involved. We need to find someone to set up more exhibits in other areas. Can you do it??? Marilyn will help with writing posters and emailing them to anyone able to print and display them.
They have practiced a song for their program after the banquet at State Session in Auburn and plan to get together at the hotel where the Co-directors are staying to go over last-minute stuff and use the pool. There will be a table to show what was exhibited at the fairs, and the kids can pick up whatever they’ve made at State Session.
Between now and then, they will meet for their “Grow Juniors” meeting at Tranquility Grange in Lincolnville Beach so the SW kids can meet with the NE kids in a central place.
Many thanks to the committee members who worked so diligently this year, and prayers for the ones who will be involved next year.
Let’s continue with the “Spring Challenge” meeting in the spring and the “Grow Juniors” meeting in the fall. All to help with the Junior Motto of “Improvement”
By Marilyn Stinson
207 380-3901
and Terry LaCombe Stevens,
207 356-2492
Co-directors
Maine State Junior Grange met at Enterprise Grange in July. The Juniors worked extremely hard on finishing the Big E Star Projects. Thank you to judges Kathy and Dianna for judging on such short notice. All the children did a fantastic job. The First Place Stars are John Coffin (ages 5-7), Reagan Crocket (ages 8-10), and Edith Coffin (ages 11-14). Their projects have been sent to Massachusetts for judging and will be displayed at the Big E.
Danville Junction Grange in Auburn, Maine, has agreed to host our meeting in August, and Tranquility Grange in Lincolnville, Maine, has agreed to host in September. If you have a child ages 5 to 14, contact Marilyn or Terry for details.
The meeting on August 20, 2022, is being held during the Great Falls Balloon Festival. The balloons take off early in the morning, and anyone can go watch that if they want, then go to Danville Grange by 10:00 am. Bring a picnic lunch. They will still be able to see some balloons during the day.
The meeting on September 24, 2022, is our ‘Grow Juniors’ Meeting, which is held closer to our northern Granges to encourage them to join with the Juniors from the southern part of the state. We will meet at Tranquility Grange at 10:00 am. We try to find a midway point each fall to include more Juniors taking part.
The October Meeting will be held in conjunction with State Session.
A reminder to any Granges who have taken in 1+ members. Please send names, birth dates, addresses, parent contacts, and emails to the Junior Directors so the kids can be included with the Junior Department and participate in the contests, etc., and Zoom meetings during the winter months.
Thank you to Marilyn and her helper William for winning $75 dollars at the Pittston Fair. She always finds something “Grange” to spend the winnings on.
If you are interested in joining our Junior Grange Committee or possibly being a Director, Please contact Master/President Sherry Harriman ASAP.
Due to a scheduling conflict, the April Spring Challenge Meeting will be held on April 9, 2022, at Enterprise Grange from 9 am until 2 pm. This is an “in-person” meeting! For more information, contact one of the Junior Directors.