Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
Membership helps and information
I am in the ancestry of Charles Wilson Abbott, who was a janitor of #382, who lived on Oak Woods Rd. North Berwick, Me. This is all I remember of Charlie and his association with the Grange from my grandmother. I come to believe their involvement was sincerely devoted to the Grange. I would be enthusiastic to learn more, etc.
Ernest D. Houle
Do you love the Grange? Can you explain what’s great about being a member? It only takes a minute to click the button and tell the world!
Five candidates from three Granges enjoyed experiencing the Four Degrees on Sunday, April 26, 2026. While we don’t have all the specific names and numbers yet, we should thank Androscoggin Pomona for making the day happen and Manchester Grange for serving as host.
If we lacked quantity, we made up for it with quality. Quality not in the sense of a flawless delivery, but quality in the sense of “a good time was had by all.” It even seemed appropriate that the sun shone brightly on the backs of the harvest marchers.
I wish more people could hear the language of the degrees, it really is beautiful.
(Overheard)
With rare exception, most of those participating as officers relied on manuals or “cheat sheets.” Even those who have the language memorized are finding that the infrequency of Degree Days leads to forgetfulness. (Age has nothing to do with it, right?)
The ice cream store next to the Manchester Grange was nearly gridlocked as we experienced one of the warmest spring days this year. This led to speculation that ice cream, rather than apples, might be appropriate at the end of the Fourth Degree.
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
How is the Grange supposed to take in new membership and teach them the rituals and traditions when there are people out there disrespecting the use of a Grange Hall and the rituals of the Grange? First, the Grange is a non-partisan organization, meaning that if you hold discussions and debates, ALL parties must be involved. In a recent political ad, the name of the Grange appeared. This activity is a direct violation of the bylaws of the National Grange. It is an embarrassment to our membership and to the reputation of the Grange name. Many members have commented in shock at the direct violation of the bylaws.
Second, if you have not opened in full form for a Grange meeting, any business transactions and voting are void. Again, this is a violation of the bylaws. Grange is not just for a social group, but certain traditions and rituals MUST be followed. Many Granges in the past, and I suspect in the future also will be closed for disrespecting our traditions and rituals. This is not Grange.
Third, there are no such “associate memberships” in the Grange. These groups are actually “friends of the Grange” and are not recognized as members. They are not allowed to have a vote in any Grange, cannot take an office, and they cannot be part of your quorum. For example, if you have only six members and fifteen “friends of the Grange” present at a meeting, you are not allowed to conduct business. They have NO say in the decisions made by the Grange itself. It is good to have outside help for projects; however, the Grange members must make the decisions.
Fourth, any Grange is not “owned” or “operated” by any one person or clique. We have lost so many Granges because individuals want to control and dominate. So many hard feelings and disrespect for the Grange and its members are exhibited. All members have a say, and if it doesn’t turn out the way you want it, then so be it. Instead of getting up and leaving with a bitter taste in your mouth, remember that you are showing disrespect to your Grange and its members.
There are more examples that could be used; however, the above four examples are prime examples of why our membership and the number of Granges have dropped considerably. With many respectful and loyal members out there trying to build our numbers, there are also others who just don’t want to respect or care for others. They have their own objectives and goals, completely opposite of what the Grange stands for. We must rise and bring the good name of the Grange back so that we can continue to strive.
I am sorry to write about such negativity; however, it is a losing battle trying to bring in new members when such disrespect is being shown. How am I supposed to be doing my job as State Membership Director when there are supposed members working against me? I feel as if I am lying to prospective new members when I remain strictly positive, and when they encounter just the opposite, it comes back to me. Wake up all! If you love your Grange with its traditions and rituals, then defend them. Speak up to the disrespectful ones and say, “Enough!!” There is safety in numbers, but those numbers are decreasing. Help save our Grange!!!
The Androscoggin Pomona Grange Degree Day at Manchester Grange is fast approaching! If you have candidates attending, please let Norma Meserve know!
Also, remember that candidates should bring a completed application.
Manchester Grange is located at 953 Western Avenue in Manchester, Maine
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Sunday, April 26, at 1 pm at Manchester Grange should be on your calendar if you have new members who have not taken or have not seen the first four degrees. There are members who have been obligated for over a year now who have not seen the degrees. The obligation ceremony does not give the details of the lessons of the Grange, so it would be beneficial (and necessary) to observe the degrees. Last year was successful, and I am looking forward to meeting and greeting our new members.
Grange Month is in April and always gives us opportunities to increase our membership. Most Granges will be busy with events going on throughout the month. Chelsea Grange will again fill May baskets made by the elementary school on April 25 and given to the occupants of the Veterans’ Home. This is a very fun event for both the children and the members who fill the baskets. If your Grange does not have an event scheduled, feel free to contact a Grange that will be active and offer your services. Remember, we are all one big family and are there to help one another.
Ideas for Grange month (and for all year) include having an open house, giving membership awards, public suppers, visiting nursing homes, yard sales, bake sales, and the list goes on. Please advertise on the website so other Granges are aware of these events.
Keep attracting new members and send me more topics of interest to discuss in this column. Maybe we will call this Ask Rick. Send me a question, and I will answer it. Or send me suggestions, and I will include them in my column and reference the Grange that sent it (unless you want to be anonymous).
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Spring will be here soon, which means that Grange month in April is on our doorstep. Does your Grange have anything planned? If so, please let us all know by advertising on the Maine State Grange website. Over the years, our Granges have become more individualized and isolated from one another, even within their own Pomona. A Pomona meeting is where the Granges in your area meet once a month to keep contact between Granges strong. However, many of our Granges do not have their Fifth Degree and hardly ever see anyone from their area or a neighboring Grange. What has happened? Why are many not finishing their degrees? Are we encouraging them? What do our new members know about Grange other than what they see in their own Grange?
We need to start bringing back programs that bring others to our different Granges to interact and to have fun. Some of the programs we used to be the following:
Three-point meetings. This is where a Grange invites two other Granges for a night of fun. One Grange usually provides dinner, another, the program, and the third, the officers.
Green Sash and Pink Sash nights. This is when a Grange invites the members of its Pomona or the State Officers to take their offices for the evening while the host Grange provides the program.
Youth Nights. Sadly, with the lack of youth in our Granges today, these nights are almost non-existent. To the youth of different Granges, it was their night to shine and provide a program.
Ritualistic Night. When I was lecturer at my Grange years ago, this was my favorite program to present, so all members could learn or refresh their knowledge of rituals and traditions.
Agricultural Nights and Legislative Nights. There were also fun nights in which the program was based on Ag or legislative issues. Resolutions were conceived, and we also learned about planting, harvesting, and filled with skits, or having a speaker as part of the program.
Without the above programs, what do we have now? Do Granges still have programs that invite others? How are we to take in new members if we have nothing exciting or beneficial for them? We need to start interacting more with one another through our Grange meetings (Community, Pomona, and State) to grow and prosper. ALL OF US are responsible for keeping Grange alive, so ask this question at your next Grange meeting: What is our vision for the future?
Information gleaned from Good Day! ™ Magazine, January 2026
Fifty Years
To ensure anniversaries and new members are listed in Good Day!™ Magazine, send the information to Philip Vonada at pvonoda@nationalgrange.org.
By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
I will be attending the annual Agricultural Trade Show in Augusta this week to talk to people about grange and to try to get some new membership. Each year I attend, emblazed in my Grange attire, either wandering around talking to the vendors or seated at the Maine State Grange booth, enticing new membership and explaining what Grange has to offer. People from all over the state attend and check out the agricultural exhibits, eager to find new ideas or products to help with their gardens and food production. Events like these offer a great opportunity to add new membership. We have people sign up who are interested, and the list is passed to Granges based upon the geographical location of the person’s residence. Applications and other information are readily available.
By attending this event, I am achieving three things that are mentioned in my columns over the years as in the following:
Visibility, by letting yourself be shown and making yourself known.
Approaching others and having pleasant conversations about Grange.
Wearing clothing that proudly displays Grange emblems and creates conversations such as, “My parents (grandparents or myself) used to belong to Grange” and “Do Granges still exist?”
I encourage all members to attend any kind of event in their jurisdiction where there may be interest in Grange membership. There are so many people who have not heard of Grange, so get out there, make yourself visible, talk to others and wear Grange apparel!
Submitted by Sherry Harriman, MSG Master/President
Our Grange family has once again lost a lifelong member.
Sister Edith Cunningham of Oakland passed away December 31, 2025. She is a former Musician of the Maine State Grange.
Services will be held January 17, 2026, at the United Baptist Church in Oakland at 2:00 with a time of visiting after the service. Edith’s family would like to invite all to join them. If you can’t attend the service, please share a memory at edoakland@myfairpoint.net.
Obituary submitted by Mary Colson, Benton Grange #458
OAKLAND – On Dec. 31, 2025, Edith Sturtevant Kerr Cunningham, passed on from this life to meet and spend eternity with her Lord and Savior.
A forever resident of Oakland, she graduated from M.L.Williams High School, Coburn Classical Institute, was an alumnus of Colby College and graduated from Bliss College. She was a Grange Member for 87 years and a former Maine State Grange Musician.
Predeceased by both parents; and husband, Ted Kerr and husband, Alfred Cunningham; brother, Eugene Sturtevant.
Funeral service to be held Jan. 17 at 2 p.m., at the United Baptist Church, Oakland, followed by a gathering with everyone in the vestry for a time to share remembrances, old and new memories, and celebrate her 103 years of living