Don’t underestimate the practice of goal setting. It is a prerequisite for happiness and success. Granges who make significant progress toward their goals are successful in their communities. These Granges thrive by meeting the needs of others and are growing in membership and activities.

If your Grange has not determined its goals for 2027, it is not too late to take a few minutes to discuss and determine your goals for the coming year. Set some time aside at your next meeting to work on setting the direction of your Grange.

Your State Grange leadership team is reviewing their goals. Everything we do at the State Grange Office, in our department programs, and in our State Grange activities should contribute toward reaching the goals we set early in the year. Every step we take and every move we make should contribute toward reaching our goals for the organization.

Here’s to another great year of Grange activities across our state!

Happy Fall, Grangers!

There is something special about autumn in Washington. The maples turn brilliant shades of red and gold, the morning air carries that familiar chill, and the smell of woodsmoke begins to drift through our communities. When football returns to the weekend agenda, I know the smell of apple pie and other fall treats coming from my wife’s kitchen will fill our home.

Across the state, farmers are bringing in the last of their harvests, orchards are busy finishing up with apples and pears, and families are settling into the rhythms of another changing season. Fall is a reminder that hard work eventually gives way to reflection, gratitude, and preparation for what comes next.

In Olympia, we are entering that same season of transition.
Ballots have been returned, and Washington voters have made their voices heard as we wait for the final results of the November 3 election. Many issues were decided on election night, from statewide initiatives involving income taxes to local county clerk races and everything in between. Some communities will welcome familiar faces back to the Legislature, while others will send new representatives to Olympia. Regardless of who won or which candidates we supported, the work ahead remains the same: finding practical solutions to the challenges facing our state and the people who call it home.

For the Grange, that work starts in our local communities.
The strength of our legislative program has always been its grassroots foundation. Our policies are not simply developed in the Capitol or written behind a desk in Olympia. They begin with conversations at Grange meetings, concerns raised by neighbors, and resolutions brought forward by members who understand firsthand what their communities need. That process is one of the things that makes the Grange unique, and it is a tradition worth protecting.

As we look toward the 2027 legislative session, there will be no shortage of issues demanding attention. Agriculture continues to face challenges ranging from labor and production costs to regulatory pressures and access to resources. Rural communities need reliable broadband, strong local economies, and infrastructure that supports the people who live and work there. Families are also feeling the effects of rising costs, and lawmakers will face difficult decisions about state spending and priorities.

These are not abstract policy debates for the people we represent. They affect whether a family farm can remain in operation, whether a small business can grow, and whether the next generation sees a future in rural Washington.

My job is to carry those perspectives into the legislative process, communicate the Grange’s adopted policies, and help ensure our members have a seat at the table when decisions are made. That work is most effective when legislators hear directly from the people those decisions affect. A conversation at a local Grange, a thoughtful email, or a visit with a lawmaker can make a real difference.

For Granges applying for capital grant funds this year, building those relationships is especially important. Inviting legislators to visit your Grange, see the need firsthand, and meet the members behind your grant application can help them understand why your project matters and strengthen your case for funding.

The coming months will bring opportunities to meet with legislators, refine our priorities, and prepare for another busy session. I encourage every Grange to review its legislative policies, discuss the issues that matter most locally, and consider how to make its community’s voice heard.

So enjoy the colors, share a meal with your neighbors, and take pride in the harvest of another year. The seasons will keep turning, and before long, we will be back in Olympia working on behalf of Washington’s rural communities and agricultural families.

Until then, thank you for all you do for the Grange and the communities we serve. I look forward to working with you in the year ahead!

Granges from across Washington State participated in nearly 70 fairs this year. Starting in April and ending in October, many of our Granges had displays, while others operated food concessions and/or assisted in the management of their fair.

Competitive Grange displays are a major component at two of our largest fairs, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup and the Central Washington Fair in Yakima. While each fair has their own judging criteria, generally the criteria includes the arrangement of the display based upon the design, originality, artistic effect, arrangement of fresh and preserved produce, and overall impact. Some fairs focus more on education and animation, while others focus on the quality and quantity of agricultural products on display.

Waller Road Grange was the double Grand champion this year at the Washington State Fair, placing first in both arrangement and overall exhibit. In the arrangement scoring, Meridian Grange placed second, Thurston County Pomona Grange placed third, Fruitland Grange placed fourth, and Elk Plain Grange placed fifth. In the overall exhibit judging, Fruitland Grange placed second, Thurston County Pomona Grange placed third, Humptulips Grange placed fourth, and Elk Plain Grange placed fifth. Other participating Granges were Collins, East Hill, McMillin, Ohop, and the Washington State Junior Grange.

Lower Naches Grange was the first place winner at the Central Washington State Fair, followed by Fruitvale Grange in second place, Selah Heights Grange in third place, Buena Grange in fourth place, and Terrace Heights Grange in fifth place. Selah Heights also received the award for best animation. Other participating Granges were Broadway, Yakima Valley Pomona, the Valley Granges, and the Washington State Junior Grange.

Granges spend hundreds, and possibly even thousands, of hours of work on their Grange displays for the various fairs across the state. This issue of The Grange News includes pictures submitted by the various Granges of their displays at this year’s fairs.

Grange Youth Members gathered at the Othello Fair on Friday, September 18 for the 4th Annual State Grange Livestock Judging Contest. This was the second year combining with the Othello Fair Livestock Committee in presenting our annual judging contest.

Grange members, from beginners up through adults, gathered near the Livestock Barns on Friday, September 18 to demonstrate their skills with and knowledge in a variety of livestock animal species. Grange members competed in this decision-making program by evaluating classes of beef, sheep, swine, and goats. Both market stock and breeding stock classes were included in this contest.

Later that day, the results of the contest were announced at the fair’s Livestock Awards Program. Medals were awarded to the top ten individuals in each age group, while banners were awarded to the highest scoring teams in the contest. The awards were sponsored by the Washington State Grange Foundation. The winners of this year’s contest were:

Thank you to the Othello Fair Board and Livestock Committee for allowing us to hold our contest in conjunction with their fair. We also owe a great deal of gratitude to the Grange members assisting with the contest: Brittney Pittman, Jennifer Webb, Brittany Gordon, Jamie Sackmann, and Daria Chappell.

Plans for the 2027 Livestock Judging Contest are currently underway. The date, time, and location will be announced in the near future.