Grange delegates support farm, ranch traditions

Grange delegates support farm, ranch traditions

Oct. 7, 2000

By Janelle Holden
Journal Staff Writer

Not many agricultural events draw a crowd of men in Western wear sporting large pink sashes across their chest.

But at the Colorado State Grange convention, the sashes signify a Grange officer, and are worn with pride by even the burliest of men.

Durango was privy to a firsthand glimpse of the 127th annual Colorado State Grange Convention held this week at the Iron Horse Inn.

Grange is the only national farm fraternity. Its close to 300,000 members includes both adults and youths.

The fraternity was founded in 1867, by a Mason, Oliver Kelley, after his tour of farms in the aftermath of the Civil War. Since then the group has involved rural adults and youth in fraternal and political activities.

The word "grange" is derived from Old English, and means "farmhouse." The organization’s president is dubbed "master," after the traditional name for a farm owner. The vice president is called the "overseer," referring to a farm manager, and the officers are gatekeepers.

On Wednesday, delegates from across the state registered and entered art, photo, baking, and various other craft competitions for display.

The Women’s Activities group also held a bake sale that evening, and donated the proceeds to charity.

By press time Friday, the members had passed policies from the agriculture, ecology health, education, and welfare committees. They included:

Encouraging the state of Colorado to require the Department of Natural Resources and the Division of Wildlife to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado Department of Agriculture to determine whether an endangered-species listing is warranted before it is presented to the Colorado Legislature for final approval.
Opposing any special designations of federal lands that do not address the concerns of affected grazing permittees.
Supporting Colorado dams built by the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers.

In the past, Grange lobbied Congress successfully to regulate shipping prices for farming commodities shipped by rail across the country. National officer Jeanne Davies said Grange also initiated the co-op movement, and lobbied for nationwide rural mail delivery. The group’s headquarters are in Washington, D.C., near the White House.

Currently, the group is focusing on issues such as private property rights, rural education, and rural health.

"We’re seeing our property rights eroding across the country," Davies warned.

The group supports the right to farm because, as Davies puts it, "We’re always going to need food, and we cannot depend on foreign countries for food."

Davies, who is from Deer Trail, Colo., spoke to the convention on Thursday and stressed the need to further Grange causes and strengthen the state’s agricultural community.

" ‘A new century and a new grange.’ We have used that theme for the last two years," she said. "And by that we meant a grange that is keeping up with what is going on, because to be strong we need to keep track of our heritage."

She urged the delegates to continue their Grange activities.

"Colorado, I mean to tell you, is one of the best (states). You have never a lost an ounce of your appreciation for the Grange ritual. It looks so nice and it is very impressive," she stated.

The convention ends tonight after an evening talent contest.