State Grange
Massachusetts
History
An Ever Growing Story
Today’s Grange provides an opportunity to serve by providing leadership for local community service projects. Examples of some projects include organizing a softball league, providing hearing testing, building a community center, sponsoring a community fair, staffing an after school child care program, conducting a candidate debate and organizing voter registration drives.
The Grange believes in leadership development and reaches out to all people in an effort to respond to real needs. It builds a better community by providing the services that people need to live better lives. In working together, the Grange is able to provide assistance when the government can’t and individuals alone aren’t strong enough. By working together the Grange builds community and people.
The Grange provides each member with a legislative voice at the local, state and national level. Members are part of a grassroots constituency enabling them to effectively express their views and influence legislative policy at the highest levels of government. The Grange is nonpartisan, but it vigorously encourages member participation in the political process.
The Grange is the nation’s oldest national agricultural organization, with grassroots units established in 3,600 local communities in 37 states. Its 300,000 members provide service to agriculture and rural areas on a wide variety of issues, including economic development, education, family endeavors, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable Rural America. It was formed in the years following the American Civil War to unite private citizens in improving the economic and social position of the nation’s farm population. Over the past 142 years, it has evolved to include non-farm rural families and communities.
The fellowship, recreation, and social activities in the Grange are developed with the family in mind – children and senior citizens alike are very welcome in the Grange. Competitions in music, art, public speaking, crafts, and a whole variety of other activities are an important part of every Grange’s agenda
Why Should You Join?
Open to everyone 14 years and older, The Massachusetts State Grange believes the more diverse the population the better. That is one thing we learned early on, as the more voices heard, the more questions asked, and the more people become involved the more things get done. Whether planning a community event, an educational retreat for youth, or a neighborhood cleanup, we have and will always encourage people to join in on the ground floor.
You can learn more about our association by joining a local Subordinate Grange near you.