By Christine Hamp, National Grange President
Welcome to State Session
By Christine Hamp, National Grange President
Category: National Grange Information
National Grange information, including National Convention.
Grange Today! 10-9-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- National Grange Challenges Congressional Candidates: Protect Rural Healthcare and Fix 340B
- Accepting Nominations for Foundation Advisory Board
- Grange Heirloom for October
- Attend the 160th National Grange Convention
- Fellowship Factor: Be Their Biggest Fans
- Michigan State Grange Participates in Local Fair
- Bag and Boob Babes Sew Day: A Share Your Project’s Story Submission
- Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
- Think Before You Click: Understanding Social Engineering Scams
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: Clouse Insurance
- Grange Store: Membership Pins
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Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Mill Stream Grange #574 Awarded Distinguished Grange Badge
The National Grange has identified Mill Stream Grange #574 as a 2026 Distinguished Grange.
The National Grange will recognize Mill Stream Grange along with 53 other Community, Pomona, and Junior Granges and four State Granges at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, this November, as well as at a special National Grange Honors Night on November 20th.
“Earning the title of Distinguished Grange is a powerful reflection of what the Grange can accomplish at the local level,” said National Grange President Christine Hamp. “It recognizes a Grange that is engaged, growing, serving its neighbors, developing leaders, and creating meaningful opportunities for members to make a difference. These Granges are not simply gathering for meetings. They are building stronger communities, welcoming people into the Grange family, and turning ideas into action. Their work represents the very best of who we are and shows the lasting impact a strong Grange can have.”
To be named a Distinguished Grange, Mill Stream Grange submitted a recap of activities, events, and other qualifying data from July 2025 through June 2026, which the National Grange then reviewed. Some of the projects and programs included establishing a Little Free Library, decorating Veterans’ graves, providing area third-graders with dictionaries as part of their “Words for Thirds” program, and crafting “heart cards” for the residents of Woodlands Senior Living in Farmington.
Master/President Jill Sampson tells us that much of the credit goes to Lecturer/Program Director Kristen Heck, who “worked really hard on it, and adds, “The Grange has always been about community and family. Our members and our neighbors gather, bond, and build a stronger, healthier community for ourselves and our children. We are excited and enjoy finding new ways to meet the changing needs of our community.”
The Mill Stream Grange Hall is located at 128 Town House Road in Vienna. Regular meetings are held the first and third Friday of every month at 7:00 pm, following a supper at 6 pm. Mill Stream Grange maintains a Facebook Group, or you can contact Secretary Laurena Cunningham at (207) 246-8534 for more information about meetings and upcoming events.
Grange Today! 9-11-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Nominees Sought for the Virtual Grange Hall of Fame
- Attend the 160th National Grange Convention
- Fellowship Factor: Are We Really Welcoming?
- Accepting Nominations for Foundation Advisory Board
- Grange Heirloom for September
- 25 years after 9/11, What Disasters Reveal About Americans’ Ability to Reconnect
- State Presidents: Are you in Action?
- Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
- Rural Minds Launches National Rural Youth Mental Wellness Program to Address Youth Suicide Crisis
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: Life Line Screening
- Grange Store: #GrangeStrong Socks
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Grange Today! 8-25-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Introducing the “Guide to Grassroots Advocacy”
- Reports and Contests Due Soon
- Accepting Nominations for Foundation Advisory Board
- The Fellowship Factor: Why Fraternity Still Matters
- Pave the “Route to the Future” at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention
- View from the Hill
- This National Immunization Awareness Month, Make a Plan to Stay Up to Date on Your Vaccines
- Great Easton Cleanup: A Share Your Project’s Story Submission
- That Payment Request Might Be Fake: What to Look for Before You Send Money
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: MemberDeals
- Grange Store: Grange Songbook Package
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Grange Today! 8-14-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Pave the “Route to the Future” at the 160th Annual Convention
- National Convention: All are Welcome!
- Accepting Nominations for Foundation Advisory Board
- New President Elected in Texas
- Welcome Indiana’s new President
- Grange Heirloom for August
- Burns Grange hosts local historian & author
- Eller joins panel on FDC proposal
- 2026 Quilt Day – for everyone! A Share Your Project’s Story Submission
- Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
- This National Immunization Awareness Month, Make a Plan to Stay Up to date on Your Vaccines
- August 15 is National Relaxation Day. Here’s How to Celebrate It
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: Pharmacy Savings
- Grange Store: Guidelines for Grange Leaders
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
National Grange Rep Announced
Barabara Foster will visit MSG Convention
Maine State Grange President Sherry Harriman recently announced that National Grange Pomona Barbara Foster will represent the National Grange at the Maine State Grange’s 152nd Annual Convention held in October. This is Barabara’s second visit.
Barbara Foster of Pennsboro, West Virginia, was elected as National Grange Pomona at the 157th Annual National Grange Convention in 2023. Barbara is the only daughter of Earlene & Jim Foster, former West Virginia State Grange President and National Grange Chaplain. She has three brothers. She was born in Tennessee, but grew up an “Air Force military brat” living in Delaware, South Carolina, Taiwan, and Japan before Jim retired and bought a farm in West Virginia, where they have lived for 49 years.
Barbara joined the Grange in 1985, and is a member of Oxford Community Grange #526 and Central State Pomona Grange. She has held several offices at the community, Pomona, and State levels. The Fosters were Grange Family of the Year in 2003.
Barbara is retired as a full-time teacher after 32 years, and a total of 44 years in education. She taught home economics and elementary students with learning disabilities. She is the former President (20+ years) of the West Virginia Professional Educators’ Association and works with the Doddridge County Community Education Outreach.
In addition to her other involvement, Barbara is a retired member of the Pennsboro Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, and a member of the Pt. Pleasant Baptist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the South Side Baptist Church, where she is the assistant treasurer. She enjoys sewing & quilting and reading, and lives with her two dogs. Max & Ellie, and three cats. Strips, Frisky, & Runt.
Calling All Granges
From National Grange
Who understands rural health care challenges better than the people living them every day?
We’re inviting community Granges to join a new nationwide project putting rural women’s experiences at the center of health research.
We’re looking for Grange women 50+ who are connected in their community and eager to make a difference. As a Community Health Champion, you’ll get training and support to lead conversations with rural women and share what matters most locally.
The Grange and the Community Health Champion will each receive a stipend for their participation. This project is not a research study, and any comments or experiences shared will remain anonymous.
Grange Today! 7-24-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Raising the Flag, Honoring the Future: Sammamish Valley Grange celebrates America250 with Flag Day Event
- NREA Partners with National Grange to Expand Collaboration Across Rural America
- Is Your Grange Ready to Make a Difference?
- Pave the “Route to the Future” at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention
- Statement from National Grange Regarding Monroe Classic, Inc.
- View from the Hill
- The Countdown is On: One Year Until Grange Revival 2027!
- Request Alzheimer’s materials for your local fairs
- Reports and Contests Due Soon
- Encouraging Creativity in the Age of AI
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Member Benefit: Clouse Insurance
- Grange Store: Good Day! July 2026
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.
Grange Today! 7-10-2026
Articles in this edition include:
- Calling All Granges: Help Give Rural Women a Voice in Health Research
- Manson Grange Honors Seeds of Service
- Grange Heirloom for July
- Seeking Advocacy Wins
- Publisher is going away… Now what?*
- Opportunities at the 160th Annual National Grange Convention
- Opinion: City Waste, Rural Soil: Discussing a Fair Share in Biosolids Planning
- New President Elected in Oregon
- Closing the Gap for Small Farm Labor
- Hamp Watch: Where is our National Grange President?
- Enter the “Best in Rural Writing” Contest
- Recipes from the Heartland
- Grange Store: Junior Grange Pins
- Grange Member Benefit: Lands’ End
*This refers to Microsoft Publisher. I’ll be addressing in my next Communications Column as well.
Click the button below to read and/or subscribe to Grange Today!
Note that all recent issues are available on the National Grange Website. To save server space, we only post the table of contents on the MSG Website.