Thank You To Our Retiring Team Members

By Tom Gwin
State Grange
Master/President

Teamwork is the process of working collaboratively with a group of people to achieve a specific goal. It involves the combined efforts of individual members who bring their unique knowledge and skills to the table. Effective teamwork in organizations, such as the Grange, relies on key components such as active listening and open communication, and ensures each person’s input contributes towards reaching the team’s goals.

To remain effective, teams evolve over time. Some people will leave the team, while new members will join the team. The final objective of each team may remain relatively consistent, but the methods, ideas, and tasks we use to accomplish those objectives may change. New team members will bring new ideas and energy to the team, working to create a renewed interest in the organization and the organization’s future.

In the last few months, several team members retired from their positions. Some moved on to new positions, while others are just taking a well-deserved break. Thank you to our retiring State Grange Officers:

➢ David Bryant, State Overseer / Vice President 2020-2025

➢ Leslie Wells, State Lecturer 2017-2025

➢ Jacob Gwin, State Steward 2020-2025

➢ Annie Scott, State Treasurer 2021-2025

➢ Butch Ogden, State Gatekeeper 2021-2025

➢Debbie Fisch, State Ceres 2021-2025

➢ Duane Hamp, State Executive Committee 2016-2025

➢Helen Berg, State Director of Family Living 2019-2025

We also have State Grange Department Directors who retired from their positions:

➢Claudine Mincks, Community Service Director

➢Heather Ferguson, Junior Grange Director

And finally, Grange deputies who are retiring:

➢Larry Auvil, Chelan/ Douglas County Deputy

➢Don Nilsson, Snohomish County Deputy

➢Chuck Prochaska, Island County Deputy

➢Mick Schwartz, Stevens County Deputy

Each of these Grange members is to be commended for their service as a part of the State Grange Leadership Team. Your efforts led us to renewed visibility in our legislative work, a net gain in State Grange membership for the past three years, and a renewed interest in Grange activities across the state.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS

The delegates to the State Grange Session elected officers to join our leadership team. Some are completely new officers, others are recycled, and a few have moved to new positions that will challenge their work in the Grange. A hardy welcome to our new officers:

➢Overseer/Vice President, Rusty Hunt, St. Andrews Grange;

➢ Lecturer, Claudine Mincks, Centerville Grange;

➢Steward, Tom Cullen, Buena Grange;

➢Treasurer, Denise McCartan, Black Lake Grange;

➢ Gatekeeper, Jarrod Gardner, McMillin Grange;

➢Ceres, Pam Mathews, South Union Grange;

➢ Executive Committee, David Bryant, Elk Plain Grange;

➢Director of Family Living, Debbie Fisch, Bee Hive Grange;

I suspect you will contribute liberally to the success of the State Grange over the next few years.

In the roles of Washington State Grange Department Directors, Leslie Wells (Tualco Grange) will be our new Community Service Director, while Jacob and Tessa Gwin (Humptulips Grange) will be the new Junior Grange Directors. Please review their columns in this issue to learn about them and their goals and objectives of the departments.

We also have new State Grange Deputies in a few areas. Emil Moilanen (Crescent Grange) has agreed to become the new Deputy in Clallam County; Andrea Wilbur (Elk Plain Grange) is the new Deputy in Pierce County; Janelle Lierman and Steve Dalton (both of Horseshoe Grange) will be taking on the Deputy role in both Snohomish and Island Counties. Welcome to the leadership team! The work of another day demands our attention. Let’s continue our strong work in every Grange. The deputies are my eyes and ears in the field. Please contact them with any questions or concerns you may have.

GRANGE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

An opportunity to learn about the deputy positions, state officer requirements, state committee memberships, and other leadership role is the Grange will be reviewed at the upcoming Grange Leadership Academy. This event will focus on providing information to those interested in serving as State Grange Officers, Deputies, Directors, Standing Committee Members, and/or team members for the various departments. Two sessions are set for the academy:

• Sunday, October 26 at the Moses Lake Grange Hall in Grant County, 12:30-4 p.m.

• Sunday, November 2 at the Collins Grange Hall in Pierce County, 12:30-4 p.m.

All Grange members are welcome to attend these meetings, as we continue working to identify upcoming and emerging leaders in our Granges to join the State Grange Leadership Team.

UPDATE ON 2026 STATE SESSION DATES

There is a slight alteration for our 2026 State Grange Session, to be held at the Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon. The session will open on the evening of Tuesday, June 23 and close on Saturday, June 27. Your State Grange Executive Committee will be working on the schedule. We will announce the tentative schedule this winter. The Grangers of the Northern District are busy making plans for our 2026 session.

Gearing Up For Legislative Activities

By Jesse Taylor
Legislative Lobbyist

In the political world this time of year is gear-up for the coming legislative activities. Policy meetings are happening across all industry sectors; revenue forecasts are becoming public and key legislators are holding public stakeholder meetings.

On September 23rd the latest revenue forecast was released by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The bad news that started earlier in the year continued to pile up. When combined with the June forecast decline, we have now seen an updated revenue decline of about $1.6 billion over the four-year outlook.

As a reminder, when the legislature passed the budget in April 2025, they were required to pass a budget that balances over a four-year revenue outlook. This latest revenue forecast shows an expected decrease of $412 million in the 2025-2027 biennium and a $477 million decline for the 2027-2029 biennium. This is bad news for our state and for taxpayers.

In order to meet the constitutional requirement of a balanced budget, lawmakers balanced the books on the backs of the largest tax increase in our state history; and when you balance a budget on projected revenue from new tax sources it’s often a risky proposition. Anytime you take more money out of the economy you can expect to see lower output. Our state collects tax revenue on output, not net profit, so when total economic activity declines, our state revenue declines as well.

There is one more forecast that will be made public ahead of the 2026 legislative session. Look for that to be made public on November 18th, 2025.

Capital Budget

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with numerous Granges across the state as we navigate the department of commerce and these local community project grants. Please continue to work with your DOC agent and complete the steps it takes to secure the dollars and finish the projects. We are working to complete $3 Million in grants across the state from the 2025 capital budget among over two dozen Granges.

Ballot Initiatives

You may be noticing signature gatherers around the state in front of grocery stores, fairs and farmers markets. There are two ballot initiatives being considered this year:

Initiative 1: Parental Rights in Education (IL26-001)

This initiative seeks to restore the original version of the “Parental Bill of Rights” established by Initiative 2081 in 2024, which lawmakers partially adopted but later amended through bills like SB 5181 and HB 1296. Those amendments limited school obligations for parental notifications and access to student records, particularly around sensitive topics like gender identity.

Changes:

• Lists basic specific rights for parents/guardians of public school students, including:

o Reviewing instructional materials and student records.

o Receiving notifications about certain school activities or changes in student information.

o Opting students out of specific assignments or activities.

• Repeals the 2025 legislative amendments that modified access to records and added exceptions to notifications.

Supporters argue it empowers parents and reverses “attacks” on family involvement in education. Critics, including Democrats, say the original 2081 went too far in potentially outing LGBTQ+ students without consent. If the Legislature doesn’t act favorably, it will go to voters in 2026.

Initiative 2: Fairness in Women’s Sports (IL26-638)

This measure aims to restrict participation in female-only interschool athletic activities, defining eligibility based on biological sex to “protect fairness” for girls’ sports. The intent of the policy is to prohibit males who self-identify as females from competing against females on female only competitions.

Changes:

• Prohibits students identified as “biologically male” from competing against or alongside female students in designated female-only events. The main target here is WIAA events.

• Requires verification via a healthcare provider’s statement confirming biological sex based on reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenous testosterone levels (from a physical exam, not event inspections).

• Applies to individual or team competitions; no outright bans on sports participation, but enforces sex-based separation.

Supporters, including affected female athletes, cite Title IX protections and claim it preserves opportunities for over 110,000 girls in Washington middle and high schools. Opponents argue it discriminates against transgender girls and could lead to invasive checks. Like the parental rights initiative, it would head to the 2026 ballot if not enacted by lawmakers.

Both of these initiatives must receive 324,516 valid signatures, with a deadline of January 2, 2026. Once that is completed the legislature can pass the policy into law or let them go to statewide ballot in the general election of 2026.

Please have a happy and safe autumn as the weather turns! Make pie, drink cider, stay warm around the fire and spend time with family!

By Grange News Staff

In a fierce competition, Fruitland Grange #999 and Ohop Grange #812 shared the first place awards for Grange displays at the 2025 Washington State Fair. Fruitland was the Grand Champion for the “arrangement” category, while Ohop was the Grand Champion for overall Grange display. Ten Granges created displays for this year’s fair.

The displays are judged on a wide range of criteria. The arrangement of the display is based upon the design, originality, artistic effect, arrangement of fresh and preserved produce, and overall impact. Each of the six judges scores the displays, with special emphasis from two judges with an artistic background. Fruitland was awarded first place for their arrangement, followed by Thurston County Pomona Grange in second place, Humptulips Grange in third place, Waller Road Grange in fourth place, and East Hill Grange in fifth place.

The items included in the display contribute the other 80% of the overall score. Agricultural products include grains and seeds is worth 20%, while livestock products (meats, dairy, poultry, honey, shellfish, etc.) contribute an additional 20%.

Horticultural products include fruits, berries, nursery stock, plants, forest products, and herbs. This section contributes 20%, while the vegetable category contributes the final 20%. Each display is required to have 50 items in each of the four categories.

Four judges, one for each category, scores their category based up quantity, variety, and quality. After judging is completed, fair officials tally the scores to determine the overall winners. Ohop Grange was the first place overall winner, followed by Elk Plain Grange in second place, Waller Road Grange in third place, Fruitland Grange in fourth place, and East Hill Grange in fifth place.

Other participating Granges in 2025 were Collings, McMillin, and Meridian.

Each of the ten exhibiting Grange spend hundreds, and possibly even thousands, of hours of work on their Grange displays at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. Each starts out with the same dimensions, approximately 8 feet wide and 10 feet deep. The slope of the displays is predetermined and remains the same each year. Grange members spend months creating designs, canning and dehydrating fresh produce, collecting seeds and cones, and gathering display items from their Grange members, neighbors, and friends.

Each Grange is responsible for their own design and builds a framework with their design prior to arriving at the fair. The Grange display building in Puyallup is usually ready for the Granges to start setting up one week prior to the fair. Most Granges will get their framework set up and the basic design in place 4-5 days before the fair. The last few days are spent gathering the fresh produce items and placing them into the display. It is a push to the finish to get everything into the display and have it arranged in an attractive manner.

The Washington State Fair, formerly known as the Western Washington Fair and the Puyallup Fair, was first held in 1900. Grange displays have been a part of the fair since its inception.

By Norm Manly

Members of the Manson Grange Youth Fairs program proudly participated in their third Chelan County Fair, and it was a tremendous success. Year after year, this program continues to grow, much like its counterparts in 4-H and FFA, with students making impressive strides in skill, confidence, and community involvement.

The Youth Fairs program welcomes participants ages 5 to 19, here in Manson, we focus on students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Our goal is to inspire younger members to continue their journey by joining the Manson or Chelan FFA programs in high school, both of which offer outstanding opportunities for leadership and growth.

Wednesday, September 3 marked a sizzling start to fair week at the Chelan County Fairgrounds.

The grounds buzzed with activity as animals underwent veterinary inspections before settling into their cages. Meanwhile, our dedicated youth worked hard to decorate their spaces, making sure their animals felt right at home.

Inside the Grange/4-H building, creativity was on full display. Exhibitors carefully arranged their booths and showcased an array of “still life” projects, each one reflecting hours of effort and pride. For many, especially first-time participants, the excitement was palpable, it was a day of new experiences and lasting memories.

As the sun dipped behind the hills, the evening wrapped up with a lively potluck shared alongside members of the Manson FFA. Good food, great company, and a sense of accomplishment made for the perfect close to day one. And just like that, the fair was officially underway.

Thursday morning kicked off bright and early for our swine exhibitors, with the barn opening at 5:00. Many kids had camped overnight, ready to hit the ground running. Pigs were washed, shaved, and prepped for judging at 9:00.

Throughout the day, Youth Fair participants took on barn duty with dedication, sweeping wood chips, refilling water buckets, and ensuring every animal was well cared for. Thanks to their efforts, the barn stayed in tip-top shape.

Judging events rolled out steadily: still life entries were evaluated at 11:00, poultry fitting and showing took place at 3:00, and rabbit showing wrapped up the schedule at 5:00. It was a full day of hard work and responsibility, but as evening fell, many of our crew headed to the carnival to unwind and enjoy the fun.

Over the span of three lively days, our Youth Fairs students immersed themselves in the full fair experience, connecting with fairgoers, staff, and fellow participants from 4-H and FFA. Each day was packed with hands-on activities, learning moments, and plenty of fun along the way.

Our young participants showcased their talents in Swine, Poultry, and Rabbit events, took part in Round Robin competition, and in both the Fur and Feather Auction and the Live Stock Auction. They also stepped up for Youth Demonstrations, Barn Duty, and even helped with Rodeo Cleanup, proving that community spirit and hard work go hand in hand.

At the September 15 meeting of the Manson Grange Youth Fairs, our incredible youth arrived with arms full of ribbons and awards from this year’s Fair, a proud reflection of their dedication, skill, and showmanship.

As Program Leader, I made sure each student knew just how proud we are of them. Their efforts didn’t go unnoticed, fairgoers and staff alike shared glowing feedback, praising our kids for being courteous, knowledgeable, and hard working. It’s a winning combination that speaks volumes about our youth’s character and commitment.

Five students earned Grand Champion titles in Showmanship: Malia for chickens, Eli for pigs, Max for both pigs and chickens, Ana for chickens, and Anya for rabbits. They were honored to lead the Rodeo Parade. In the Grange/4-H barn, our youth also shined in the still life category. Norah’s captivating Bee display drew plenty of attention, while the Banghart family’s Carnivorous Plant exhibit sparked curiosity and admiration. The artwork on display was equally impressive, with numerous First Place and Grand Prize winners showcasing their creativity and skill.

The Manson Grange is proud of the incredible growth of our Youth Fair program and the enthusiasm it continues to inspire. We’re building something special, thanks to the dedication of our families and youth.

Join us for our next meeting on October 20, which will include a community potluck. If your family is curious about getting involved, it’s a great opportunity to learn more, meet current members, and see what makes this program so rewarding.

Looking ahead to December, our youth will participate in two meaningful service projects: helping with a Toys for Tots event and spreading holiday cheer during our annual visit to Heritage Heights. New family sign-ups will take place at our January 19 meeting.

To learn more, visit www.mansongrange.com/general-1 or reach out to me directly at 509-293-0225.