Join Us As We “Celebrate Grange” At Our Upcoming Annual Session

By Tom Gwin
State Grange
Master/President

As we converge in Mount Vernon at the Skagit County Fairgrounds for our 137th Annual State Grange Session, all Grange members are invited to join us for all or a part of this years’ session.

The majority of our Grange activities will be right in the center of the fairgrounds:

• Building A will host the hospitality room

• Building B will include registration, community service, membership information, sales, and displays

• Building C will have the junior and youth displays and also serve as the junior and youth meeting rooms

• Building D will be the lecturer and family living displays

• Building F will host the family living lunch, Officer BBQ/Picnic, and the Celebration Banquest

• Pavilion/Building G will be the delegate body and workshops.

Between those areas is a grassy area for our Grange campers. Campers should enter the fairgrounds from Taylor Street on the south end of the grounds. Exit will be on the north end of the grounds. Please note there is a dog show on our convention’s closing weekend. We will not be able to enter the fairgrounds through Taylor Street on Friday and Saturday.

General parking for all Grange members will be through the entrance from South Walter Street on the west side of the fairgrounds. Parking will be in the Pavilion Parking Lot, just to the west of the Pavilion. We ask all Grange members to adhere to the entrance and parking guidelines as set forth by the fair staff.

We will “Celebrate Grange” with the official opening of the session on Wednesday, June 24. In addition to the delegate sessions, where one can see State Grange policy being developed, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate the hard work by our members. The work of our talented members will be on display throughout the week in the display rooms. Group efforts will be included in the display area with contest entries in Grange Hall Improvement, community service, and many others.

We are continuing with the display of youth educational posters and the public speaking contest. A note of interest for those considering the public speaking contest. We will accept video submissions of speeches for the competition this year. Read the information in the youth section of this issue and in the State Grange Program Handbook.

The Grange Membership Department is taking over the display of Grange promotional materials. We are looking for pamphlets/brochures, posters, shirts, hats, or any other items used by our Granges to promote their events. These items will be judged and cash prizes awarded to the top items in each class. Be sure to turn your items in at the Membership Sales Table in Building B.

Granges are reminded to turn in their one-page “Grange in Action” report. The reports consist of one page with the Grange name and state, accompanied by 3-5 photos of the Grange’s activities with captions. The activities must have taken place since September 1, 2025. The reports will be on display and then forwarded to the National Grange for recognition. This program is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the varied projects undertaken by Granges across our state.

Your state officers selected the themes for each day of the session. Officers, delegates, and members are encouraged to dress following the themes. This year’s themes are: Wednesday – Western Day; Thursday – Patriotic Day: Red, White, and Blue Attire; Friday – Junior Grange Red Tennis Shoes and Grange Attire Day; Saturday – Tropical Day.

The session will officially open on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Following the opening, we will move right into the business session. The Annual Memorial Service will be held at 2 pm in the afternoon session. We are planning a fun activity for Wednesday evening – stay tuned!

The business session will move into full swing and take much of Thursday and Friday. The session will include officer reports and the report and action on committee reports. The Quilts of Valor presentation will be on Friday at 10:45 a.m. The family living department will hold their annual luncheon on Thursday at 12 p.m., while the State Officers Picnic BBQ will be held that evening. Tickets are needed for both meals. Following the Picnic BBQ, the live auction will be held to support the various Grange departments.

The Saturday schedule has been revamped. The Youth and Juniors will open the session and present their programs to delegates at 8:30 a.m. Final business will follow that program. The morning session will end with the presentation of the Grange Leadership Award at 11:45 a.m. The fifth and sixth degrees of the order will be exemplified on Saturday afternoon, followed the Installation of officers and closing remarks. Our goal is to be adjourned at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Thank you to the Grange members of the Northern District (Island, King, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties) for outstanding work in putting the convention activities together for the benefit of all Grange members. Your efforts will allow us to join together to “Celebrate Grange” and will assist in preparing us for another exciting year of Grange activities.

2026 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

By Jesse Taylor
Legislative Lobbyist

The Washington State legislative session wrapped up on March 10th, ending the work of the 69th legislature. A total of 267 bills were passed in all, including a supplemental transportation, capital, and operating budget.

In versions of the session watch this year you were able to follow along with all of these bills as they made their way through the legislature, including our two bills which were both passed this year.

SB 5252- This bill was requested by Grange member Russ Weston and sponsored by Senator Shewmake of Whatcom county. The bill removes the acreage limit on the property tax exemption for nonprofit public assembly halls and meeting places including all grange halls. This eliminates that 1 acre cap on property tax exemptions. This bill becomes effective on June 11, 2026.

HB 2431 – This was a Grange request and sponsored by Rep. Shavers of the 10th legislative district. The bill increases the maximum annual limit for regularly scheduled fundraising activities for the nonprofit public assembly halls and meeting places property tax exemption from fifteen to fifty days per year. Thanks to Granger Steve Singhouse for testifying in support of this bill.

Income Tax & Budget

The legislature allowed for the first income tax in Washington State history by passing SB 6436. The bill labeled the “millionaires” tax is an across-the-board income tax with a standard deduction of $1 million. Legislative democrats estimate the income tax will bring in about $2.3 billion in new revenue for fiscal year 2029, which will add revenue to the coffers for the 2027-2031 four-year outlook.

As we look ahead, this new tax revenue will provide no new services for Washington State residents. If the 2027-2029 budget increases, year over year, at the LOWEST rate in the last ten years, we face a deficit of about $10 billion over the next four-year outlook. The income tax revenue equates to $2.3B (if no businesses or seven figure earners leave the state). So not only is that $2.3 Billion used to simply cover a chunk of the deficit, but that also still leaves lawmakers about $7 billion deficit to make up for. And that $7 billion deficit assumes zero spending growth for two years in 2027-2029.

Look for the standard deduction on this tax to be lowered in the very near future. The legislature has shown no appetite for cost savings, cutting waste or reducing government spending. State spending has increased a whopping 73% since 2017 and 103% increase in spending since 2015. No majority party lawmakers have signaled they plan to reduce spending in future budgets, so the math is simple. They will need to increase the amount of income-tax payers to keep up with their spending wishes. In the span of the last five biennium the state has added about 30,000 new employees, which is about a 27% increase in state employees; while the state population has grown about 12% in that time. In that same time K-12 Education spending has seen a 90% increase (increase of about $14 billion per budget), while student public school enrollment has fallen by about 50,000 students. So while case load has decreased by 3-5%, spending has increased by 90%.

The legislature is likely looking at a deficit of about $13 Billion after they spend every penny of the $2.3 billion income tax revenue the 2027-2029 operating budget. It will be interesting years ahead for sure.

Annual Convention

I look forward to seeing many of you in Mount Vernon this June as we celebrate the 137th year at the annual convention June 23-27th. I will giving presentations on the legislature, capital budget and fundraising and can’t wait to reconnect with Grangers from all across the state. See you soon!

Grange News Staff

Grange members from across Washington State will be meeting at the Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon for their state organization’s 137th annual convention, June 24-27. The convention returns to Skagit County for the first time since 2018.

The majority of those gathering at the convention site – the Skagit County Fairgrounds – are delegates elected to represent their local Granges. The bulk of their time will be spent in meetings, making decisions that will set the course of the organization for the coming year. Besides delegates, there are scores of volunteers who will have other responsibilities during the week, and many other members drive in to participate in special events, listen to guest speakers or simply to get together with old friends. It is anticipated that more than 500 people will either participate all week long or join in for at least a day or two.

Officiating at the business meetings will be State Grange President Tom Gwin of Humptulips Grange in Grays Harbor County.

Preparations for this year’s event have been under the direction of a district convention steering committee led by Debbie Riegel-Yates of Skagit County. She has been assisted by a host of volunteer sub-committee chairmen and committee members.

Prior to the official opening session on Wednesday, June 25, several activities will occupy delegates and others. All committees will meet prior to the session via Zoom to consider reports and resolutions submitted for delegate consideration. The committees will closely examine all resolutions referred to the convention by local community Granges. In some instances, the committees could draft additional resolutions. All those reports will be referred – with committee recommendations – to the delegate body for further debate during the session. The resolutions cover a wide variety of topics from internal organization matters to policy issues that will occupy the organization’s Olympia and Washington, DC, lobbyists in coming years.

The work of the convention will begin in earnest at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning when Gwin opens the session. Immediately after opening, the delegates will begin hearing reports from the various session committees. Following a short break, the delegates will begin their afternoon session with the Annual Memorial Service, recognizing Grangers who have passed on over the past year.

Young people (teens and above) will begin their convention activities on Wednesday morning, electing and installing their own slate of officers.

Gwin will give his annual address to the delegates on Thursday, June 25. His report will address both external and internal matters. The Family Living Department will hold their annual luncheon at noon, followed by additional sessions. Sixteen different committees will report to the delegates on a wide range of subjects. Thursday evening will feature a fun activity. State Grange officers will host a “Barbecue Picnic”. The picnic will be followed by a live action, which financially supports Grange departments in their work.

The business session will continue Friday. The delegates will consider additional committee reports and elect a member to the State Grange Executive Committee. The Quilts of Valor presentation of quilts to military veterans to end the morning session. The lunch break will feature the Junior Grange Ice Cream Social. Youth and Junior Members will also compete in their public speaking contests, with the winners receiving the honor of representing our state at the regional level. The delegates will continue their work through Friday afternoon.

The Friday evening activity will feature the Celebration Banquet. In addition to dinner, awards will be presented for both excellence and longevity of Grange work. The awards will include the presentation of 26 scholarships to Grange members from across the state. Granges will be recognized for their community service work, while the State Grange will recognize and outstanding Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter, Teacher, and Community Volunteer.

The business sessions will begin at the Youth and Juniors taking center stage to begin the day. Following the final items of business, the Grange Leadership Award, the highest honor bestowed by the State Grange, will be presented at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday.

The Grange’s Fifth Degree will be exemplified on Saturday at 2:00 p.m., followed by the conferral of the Grange’s Sixth Degree at 3:00 p.m. The final activity for the day will be the Installation of Officers for those elected earlier in the week. The session is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday.

There are many opportunities for fun and recreation at the convention. There is an ice cream social on Friday, youth tours and activities, banquets, workshops and, of course, the impressive Grange displays. Most members attending the convention for the first time are amazed at the large quantity and wide variety of handiwork submitted by Grangers and others across Washington state. Tables will be filled with samples of needlework, quilts, sewing, craft creations, works of art and photography. These displays are open to the public beginning Thursday afternoon. The displays are under the supervision of the state lecturer and the directors of family living, youth, junior Grange, and community service activities.

State Master Gwin urges all Grangers to consider spending at least one day at their state session. Members who live in the area are encouraged to attend any or all the events. They may also bring along their prospective member friends to the open sessions.

The Annual State Grange Session rotates to various locations around the state. The session will be in Yakima in 2027 and then in the Eastern District in 2028.

By Grange News Staff

Saving the old Stevenson Grange Hall is the foremost project of a new non-profit group called “Grace” (Grange Renovation and Community Engagement.) Stevenson Grange Hall was built over a century ago as a pioneer dance hall and was located where Rock Creek meets the Columbia River. Early-day carpenters and experienced retired boat builders used natural old-growth timber in its construction.

Multiple generations have grown up remembering the massive fir dance floor and clear span trusses used to eliminate obtrusive interior columns. With the completion of Bonneville Dam in late 1930s, the old building had to be moved to higher ground. Following the move to higher ground it became the Stevenson Grange Hall. For several years the Grange used the building as a venue for typical Grange activities such as community dinners, dances, weddings and various fair events. Jumping forward to 2026, the aging building sits forlorn and neglected in the Skamania County Fairgrounds parking lot.

Stevenson Downtown Association has partnered with Stevenson Grange as a non-profit fiscal sponsor. The “Save the Grange” group is currently soliciting community input on how the Grange building should be used if renovation is successful.

UPDATE: On Sunday afternoon April 19, the Grace Project group (Grange Restoration and Community Engagement) celebrated signing a 6-month lease with Skamania County. This lease provides the opportunity for a feasibility study on restoring the historic old Stevenson Grange Hall to see if restoring the building is a vaiable project to meet building codes. Alexis House in Stevenson prepared an artisan style luncheon for the signing event. Impressive support shown by the community turnout.

By Jacob Moore
jacob@chronline.com
The Chronicle
Centralia, WA
* Article reprinted with permission.

Lifelong Lewis County resident Irene Tripp celebrated 90 years as a Grange member this week, making her the longest serving Grange member in the state and possibly the only 90-year Grange member in state history.

Tripp celebrated the anniversary surrounded by family and many other Grange members at the South Creek Post Acute facility in Centralia Tuesday afternoon. Tripp, who was born to a family of lifelong Grangers, has been a member of the Newaukum Grange since she was a child. She has gone on to pass that tradition down to at least four generations, all Grangers, who celebrated the 90-year anniversary with her.

Washington State Grange President Tom Gwin, a 50-year Granger and member of the Humptulips Grange north of Hoquiam and Aberdeen, also made the trip to Centralia to award Tripp with an official certificate honoring her anniversary.

While Gwin says they can’t be 100% certain, he and the state Grange believe Tripp may be the first ever 90-year member in the history of the Washington State Grange, which was first founded in 1889, two months before Washington gained statehood.

“We think this is the first one ever in our state,” Gwin said. “I did four 80-years last year, but we’ve never had a 90.”

Maybe even more impressive is Tripp’s longevity. The longest Granger in the state is currently 102 and, according to her family, will turn 103 in August.

Tripp has been a member of the local Newaukum Grange all her life since she was born to parents Frank and Pearl Miller, who themselves were active Grange members and among the earliest members of the Newaukum Grange.

Frank was a well-regarded member of the Grange and received the Washington State Grange Leader of the Year Award in 1967, according to a recent state Grange proceeding. Tripp’s late nephew Wayne Miller is also well known in the community. He passed away in 2024 and was a highly regarded member of the State Grange, as well.

Miller and his wife Peggy were well known for leading and organizing Junior Grange Camps in the summers for the many children of Grange members. Miller served as Washington State Grange vice president and also for nearly 20 years as Junior Grange Director.

Tripp’s son Ted remains an active member of Newaukum Grange and recently celebrated 60 years as a Grange member. According to Tripp, roughly 80% of the family is involved in the Washington State Grange. Tripp’s great niece Jennifer Webb, who also attended the celebration, serves as a Washington State Grange deputy and has been a member of the Grange for 43 years.