Patrons of Husbandry – a website dedicated to the Granges located in Maine
We have someone looking for a wedding shower venue (just the hall, no services within 30 minutes of Brunswick on October 14, 2o23. If your Grange is interested, let me know and I’ll put you in touch.
This is also a reminder to please check your voicemail and email regularly if you are a roster contact–and reply!
I know you didn’t want to be reminded… maybe I should change the headline to, “It’s not just for Christmas anymore!” Back in 2021, I put together a video that was a bit of a retrospective look at Granges around the state during the previous year and a holiday wish. We (MSG) have a YouTube Channel where we host a few videos–most are resources for Grangers. This makes it possible to “embed” these videos on the website. Just recently, this comment on the video was posted:
Congrats from a Granger in Michigan on an excellent presentation. I’m a 54 year member who has real appreciation for our history. Your video does a great job relating our heritage and still presents today’s Grange in a positive light. To my Maine Grange Brothers and Sisters keep up the good work.
Tom Smith
Tom’s comment demonstrates several things–including the fact that things on the Internet stick around forever. That’s good news and bad news. But it also demonstrates that good work gets recognized. Sometimes, it may take a while!
I first joined the Grange while on active duty in the Marines in Pennsylvania in 1986. My parents were quite active members back home in Maine. I loved going to the Grange fairs and suppers growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. During those decades, the Grange was still vibrant and active in Maine. The Granges in Pennsylvania are still quite active. Though I lived away for many years I maintained my Grange membership all these years. After I retired and returned to Maine I was able to participate in the Grange actively and enjoyed the Pomona and State Degree Initiations. Though our Grange closed and we had to join another Grange I am NOT discouraged. Some Granges are failing. However, others have taken on an inspiring resilience. I am eager to lend my abilities to help our Grange grow. What I love the most about the Grange is the friendliness and companionship that are meetings offer, as well as the social participation in those awesome potluck suppers. I believe the Grange can make a turn-around and once again become a beacon for social interaction and progress that so many will find attractive.
Barry E. Tracy
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!
This flyer/poster is available for downloading from the Program Books and Information Page–or use this direct link! Print and post or hand it out to your members!
At a recent meeting, the following were recognized for their years of service:Â
By Walter Boomsma,
MSG Communications Director
207 343-1842
Communication Shorts are brief (short) but important items posted for your information and use. Send us your ideas and thoughts!
The September Bulletin is complete and available. Remember, you can always find recent issues of the Bulletin on the Program Books and Information Page.
This is yet another reminder that we love seeing your events listed on the MSG Website! We make a post of your event and add it to the MSG Website Calendar! Once they are posted, it’s easy for anyone to share them on Facebook. This is especially important when planning Officer Installations and Degree Days. We give those higher priority so other Granges have the opportunity to participate.
I’ve recently had several contacts requesting “more information” as a result of phone calls not being returned and emails not being answered. These are often from people trying to reach local Granges with questions about hall use or events. Please check your voicemail and email regularly and respond within a reasonable period of time. You can choose whether this is a nudge or a nag.
Looking for forms or other items necessary to keep your Grange running with the correct procedures? Some are available from State Headquarters. Contact MSG Secretary Sharon Morton with your questions and to see what is available. Secretary Supplies are also available from National Grange.
Rory Feek of Plain Values Magazine recently wrote an article on gardening and included a photo of his daughter’s “rolling garden.” It’s a child-sized “box” on wheels with child-sized “tools” kept on a port or deck. What a great idea! A Grange could make some as a fundraiser… provide a version for senior citizens… put your thinking caps on!
It’s not too early to start planning your annual Christmas Fair. Don’t forget to include in your plans submitting the information to the website! Use the tab on the site or send an email!
This is a great time to start planning your programs and events for the next Grange Year. Please submit the information for posting on the MSG Website Calendar.
“If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important – and you do that by being genuine and humble.”
Nelson Mandela
The world wants to hear about it! Fill out the simple I Love the Grange Form… it only takes a couple of minutes! Thanks to all who have shared so far!
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.
Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the “leave a comment” link at the left and share your comment with us!
For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.
By Betty Young
MSG Junior Director
The Junior Grange exhibited at four fairs this year: Pittston, Topsham, Windsor, and Litchfield. As the only Junior Grange, we got first place. However, the score sheet from Windham gave us 590 out of a possible 600. With positive comments on being welcoming, showing Grange as fun and giving a good understanding of what the Grange can offer. We were not able to do Grange Camp but will come to the State Session and plan to bring a group to the National Convention. Remember that as a State Junior Grange, we accept any child or grandchild of a Grange member. We also participate in the Plus One. So, if you know of any eligible child between 5 and 14, please let me know.
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By Rick Grotton,
Membership Committee Director
207 582-5915
Sometimes it is fun (and challenging) to make a phrase out of a word. This would be a great Lecturer’s program by the way. An acronym for the word “MEMBERSHIP” comes to mind. I thought of one, but I’m sure there are many more. Can you make one? Mine is “May Each Member Be Excited, Respected, So Happily Involved Patrons”. Sounds silly, eh? Not if you can get your point across. New and seasoned members need to be excited and involved to keep the Grange working. They need to be respected for their diligent labor and faithful service. No matter what Grangers do, they do out of love and respect for their communities and their Grange. We are loyal subjects, willing to take on most offices, tasks or committees in order to achieve the desired results. That is a true Granger.
Others will notice and will commend you for your accomplishments. Community will notice the difference and applaud the Grange and its members. Some will want to join and be a part of your successes. Welcome them into your hall, respect their ideas, embrace their involvement and certainly your Grange will grow.
As Lecturers are taught about “RIME” (recreation, inspiration, music, and education), membership has its own version of RIME (respect, involvement, mentoring, and excitement). Four little words with a ton of worth for you and your Grange. We need to teach our new members about our history, rituals, traditions and symbolisms. Education is vital and the new member will be intrigued by what the Grange stands for. Our Grange has been asked to contribute a column in the community’s quarterly newsletter. The first column concentrated on a brief history of the Grange, what we do, and our schedule of events. What better publicity can you get for free?
We can blame a lot of things on why our memberships are declining and our Granges are closing. This negativity does NOTHING to solve the issue. We must take the bull by the horns, so to say, and do something positive to reverse the trend. Action is needed, not words. Look at the acronym above. That is what is needed to help our Grangers grow. Why not try some new things? You have much to gain instead of a lot to lose!
Webmaster’s note: The format of this column has changed a bit, with all of the Quill’s Endians participating at various times and in various ways! This month’s column is written by Phil.
There are seasons when everything seems to break down. In nature, in societies, and with equipment, stressed systems eventually give. So it has been with equipment at Quill’s End this year. Being beings of few means, we rely more on our resource and sagacity during such seasons. This, too, has fallen short this summer. Our tractor (1989), which already displayed uncommon character, has sat idle at far too regular intervals waiting for proper attention.
We have taken our cues and are refining our mechanical skills, such as they are, to meet the moment. Animal husbandry, as we practice it, does not require daily usage of steel, diesel, and hydraulics, but they do come in handy to move, crush, turn, spread, mow, and transfer when needed. As the season wears on, the need for a working machine, having oft been broken when needed, becomes more pressing. It occurs to me that machinery only goes awry while you are using it, whereas the opposite applies to living beings. The inanimate objects in our lives can only display character when in use; living beings can display character even while at rest.
Astrid was born on a cold November day 5 years ago. A daughter of Teeter and Freddy, she was immediately destined for incomparable character. Marked by a white star on her forehead, her name was her destiny as well. I had to save writing about her for last, as the words to describe her are more complicated.
A magnet for human attention, Astrid is usually the first in any given paddock to approach. She demands attention and gets it as her coloring, health, and shiny coat endear even the most inexperienced bovine observer to her. Oh, but it doesn’t stop there. She loves proper attention, and scorns being slighted. She can come to the barn in a mood for perceived slights, discomfort, or…nothing at all. She will refuse to be milked until such efforts are made to mollify her and assure her of most favored status.
Having her is a pleasure as her personality brims over and spills out when interacting. Her health and vigor makes you think you know what you are doing. She is a one of a kind that you’re OK with, as a barn full of Astrids would probably be unmanageable. There is only so much farmer to go around.
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.