The Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, commonly known as,
The Grange, is a fraternal order founded in 1867 as a way
to unite the farmer as the United States recovered from four years of civil war. Originally conceived by Oliver Hudson Kelley, a freemason,
as he traveled through the war-torn South, it quickly caught on among a group
of friends and associates when he returned to Washington. As word of the Grange spread, it quickly came to be seen as an advocacy group for the farmer and all
of rural America. The Grange still exists today as a recognized leader in rural
and farm policy.
Courtesy John Carter
Early in its history Grange leaders realized that social interaction was especially important to rural residents. For nearly 130 years Grange halls have existed as community centers where residents gather for educational events, dances, potlucks, town meetings, political rallies and other meetings. Junior Grange, 4-H, FFA, scouting and Camp Fire groups have thrived because of Grange involvement and each year tens of thousands of Grange members participate in numerous community service projects.
From their Home page. Courtesy, Richard B. Weiss, Chief Operating Officer. Discover more about the grange
here.