Reflecting On A Successful State Grange Convention

By Tom Gwin
State Grange
Master/President

The 133rd Annual Session of the Washington State Grange is now history!

We experienced another outstanding convention, filled with both work and excitement. We debated 31 resolutions and the recommendations of nine Standing Committees. Brother Duane Hamp was reelected and installed as a member of the State Grange Executive Committee. Contests were held and awards presented. There certainly was something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s convention.

There are many, many Grange members who contributed to the success of this year’s convention:

• The Convention Steering Committee, chaired by Carolyn Hojem with Scott Hackett as the vice chair, Jean Swift as the secretary, and Karen Jackson as the treasurer, and all of the other host committees….you did a good job of meeting the needs of the delegates. It was good to see representatives from several counties involved in the host duties.

• The staff of the Washington State Fair and Event Center in Puyallup were wonderful to work with. Their excellent facilities and professional staff are to be commended!

• To those who completed each of the details necessary for our success, including Progress Room Workers, deputies, officers, directors, and others, thank you for your part to make this a memorable convention.

• To the National Grange Representatives, Kay and Allen Stiles, thank you for your words of wisdom and guidance to the delegates. We know you had a long flight home and hope you will remember your time spent with us.

• To the delegates and committee chairs, congratulations on discussing each aspect of every resolution and recommendation. The in-depth discussion on each subject was astounding! All committees completed their work by the end of the first day.

• To the office staff, each of whom brings their own special talent and skill level to their job, your long hours and dedication to your jobs is truly remarkable.

• To the youth and juniors, who bring a lively can-do attitude that reminds many of us of our not too distant past.

Now that convention is over, we quickly turned our focus to the Grange Youth Fairs Program. Beginning August 4, we have ten fairs across the state that are allowing our Grange Youth and Juniors to showcase their projects, including livestock animals. Other fairs will have intricate Grange designs and still others will have Grange operated food concessions. Whatever role your Grange plays in the fair, I encourage you to do it well and to the best of your ability.

You may want to make plans now to attend the 134th Annual State Grange Session. We will be meeting at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake on June 21-24, 2023. The Grangers of the Central Washington are already making plans for our visit to their area.

Our award recipient was born the last of 3 children on a rural farm starting his love of Agriculture.

At the age of 14 he began his journey in the Grange following in his parents and brothers’ footsteps. The Grange he joined was built on land that his father and 4 other Grangers bought and donated to the Grange. An old Schoolhouse was moved across the street to become the Grange Hall. A dining hall and kitchen were later added in the 60s.

In his freshman year of high school he contracted polio which left his right arm useless. Thanks to a relentless PE coach who challenged and pushed him at every turn, and a Dr. who prescribed hand milking the cows each day, he fought and won his battle with polio. His first test of "Hope and Persevere".

After high school years filled with sports, friends and much shenanigans (now you know where his children get it) he graduated from high school in 1946. He went to work at a Weyerhaeuser camp near the Toutle River spending the week at camp and weekends at home.

December 1950 saw him drafted into the Army, traveling to Fort Lewis for basic training and shipped to Austria where he served with the 11th Battalion Artillery Division. In 1952 he returned to Fort Lewis and then home. He continued his commitment to the Army serving another 5 years in the Army Reserve.

Upon return to civilian life, he returned to work at Weyerhaeuser, this time in Longview, where he met and married his wife who at the time worked at Longview Fiber.

1954 was a big year for them as they got married in January, bought the farm he was raised on, and welcomed their first child late that year.

His dream was to be a dairy farmer and to that end he started acquiring registered Holsteins. He supplemented the growing farm business by working at PUD until such time as his dairy would be self- sufficient. His farming practices were being noticed and he participated in farm bureau meetings and Fair Contests. In 1960 he won the title of Hay King after entering his hay into the annual contest at the Southwest Washington Fair. His dairy was now on its way to becoming self-sustaining and close to being his full-time job. ...that was until an outbreak of Brucellosis, also known as Bangs Disease hit Lewis County and hit it hard. This man's farm was one of them. All animals had to be tested, infected animals destroyed. Barns cleaned, and whitewashed, inspected and approved before milk production could begin again. The USDA was heavily involved as Brucellosis is not only highly contagious among bovine but can be transmitted to humans. The farmer lost 1/2 his heard. A loss of over $2000 dollars. Farmers were compensated by the USDA for their loss. He received a check for $219. It was a dark time on the farm as he saw his dream buried. With a growing family, and the need to remain full time at PUD he continued dairy farming but now as a part time job. This was his second test of "Hope and Persevere".

He poured more time into Grange activities and was instrumental in reorganizing Hope Jr. Grange along with several families in the Evelina. Napavine and Winlock area. It didn't hurt that he volunteered to be Patron and brought 5 children in as members. In 1967 Hope Jr Grange exemplified opening and closing at the State Grange Convention held that year at Centralia Community College and did a Great job!

He and his wife were active at Junior, Subordinate, Pomona and State level and kept their children active too. Some of you might remember a photo taken by Ted Barry and printed in the Grange News showing our Award recipient as Pomona Assistant Steward, his oldest son as Subordinate Assistant Steward and one of his younger sons as Junior Assistant Steward. A trifecta!

Those of you familiar with Mayfield Junior Grange camp will be interested to know that he and his wife spent many volunteer hours along with many Grangers and neighbors clearing land, framing the lodge, pouring concrete, and painting buildings on land donated into a trust to become Mayfield Lake Youth Camp. Home to our own Mayfield Lake Jr. Grange Camp where he continued to volunteer into his mid 70's.

This while still adding to his family, serving on the School Board and Chairing the Board that built the new High School, Babe Ruth Coach and volunteering with FFA even after his kids were long gone from Mt. St. Helens High School.

In 1983 the last of his 9 children graduated from High School. After the ceremony the principal approached him and asked him. "I'm not sure what our school will do without the leadership of one of your kids being here. If any of the staff needed anything we knew we could ask one of them and it would get done. Run a meeting, Chair a committee, introduce a guest, MC an event. How did you do it?" This man smiled and replied, "I didn't. Grange did". Getting 9 children through High School and out on their own was his 3rd test of "Hope and Persevere".

With the kids gone he took on Special Deputy duties as Convention Deputy putting close to 150 thousand miles on his faithful Nissan pickup organizing sites, facilities, housing, and more to make our conventions run smoothly. A task he enjoyed for over a decade.

Still active and recognized this year as an 80-year member he can often be found at a Grange meeting, a potluck or playing pinochle.

Among his children and grandchildren you can find 2 past State Officers, 5 past Pomona Officers, 9 past Subordinate officers. 9 past Jr Officers, decades of Jr. Grange camping program as campers, counselors. Adult leaders and camp directors. He proudly boasts one of his grandsons a Youth Ambassador. And there are still more coming up and attending camp!

In case you hadn't already guessed, please help me give a warm welcome and Thank You to the 2022 Leadership award recipient, David Schaefer.

By GN Staff

Klickitat County Sheriff, Bob Songer was introduced as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year at the recent 133rd Washington State Grange Convention in Puyallup, WA. He has been in law enforcement for over 45 years, 18 of those years in law enforcement management. Prior to being elected County Sheriff he was employed as the Klickitat County Timber and Livestock Range Patrol Deputy. In that position he soon became familiar with our local Grange members and our local Timber and Livestock operators.

As rangeland deputy he soon realized it was impossible to adequately patrol 24/7 a county that stretches over 100 miles along the Columbia River and comprises 1904 square miles with only his allocated 13 deputies. So, one of his first endeavors as a new Sheriff was to form the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Posse. Although it is called a posse in reality it is a large rural neighborhood watch association. He now has over 130 additional eyes watching the county. With the formation of this group he also has access to several airplanes and pilots, all at no cost to the county.

He was instrumental in adding K9 Deputy “Profi” to the Deputy roster in 2020. Profi is a community sponsored police dog, meaning his care and training depends on local support. Goldendale Grange became a sponsor of “Profi” by donating for his ongoing care fund.

Drug trafficking through Klickitat County is a major challenge for his department with US Highway 97, a major drug entrance running through the heart of the County. His department and Profi are constantly working with other Government Agencies in the battle of controlling the flow of drugs across the Columbia River.

He is a crucial friend to the Grange and continually makes time to keep our membership updated on the activities of his department. His wife Fran is a Grange officer and active Grange member.