Washington State Grange News January 2015 Informing Grangers Since 1912 104Th Year No
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Washington State Grange News January 2015 Informing Grangers Since 1912 104th Year No. 1 The middle of winter is upon us, but a little snow doesn’t keep Grangers from serving their communities. Across the state your brothers and sisters are mak- ing sure the holiday season is bright for those less fortunate. (Photo by Ron Nichols, NRCS) Communications fellows tell Grange story from national convention The 148th Annual Session of the Na- the State Membership and Youth Director ondary education. She is the oldest of four years joined the subordinate Grange. She tional Grange featured many news-worthy for the Wisconsin State Grange. Her chil- girls. is a past Steward, Lady Assistant Steward, events. From setting the policy course for dren are also members at Milton Grange. “I joined the Grange at the age of 18 and Lecturer and Master. the next year to celebrating the accom- She is employed by Catholic Charities in since I have found it to be exactly what my She is a past Oregon Outstanding Young plishments of Granges and Grange mem- its Community Connections program and family was looking for,” Blasingame said Granger, National Female Young Agricul- bers, a team of Grangers was hard at work is the Lead Skills Trainer. on why she joined. “We actually were nev- turalist and was a member of the National documenting this year’s activity. She is very active as an adult leader for er asked to be Grange members, we asked a Youth Team. She has represented Oregon This year’s communication fellows team 4-H, FFA and National Junior Horticultural Grange member if we could attend a meet- at national public speaking and sign a song are Debbie Gegare of Wisconsin, Karie Association, or NJHA. In 4-H, she leads ing and they said only if you join and the contests. Blasingame of Illinois, Christopher Sz- the music and drama and food preserva- rest is history.” Ramm has associate degrees in ornamen- kutak of Massachusetts, Suzy Ramm of tion project. She is the county camp direc- Christopher Szkutak tal horticulture and landscape design and Oregon and Lindsay Schroeder of Pennsyl- tor. She coaches the FFA floriculture team. Christopher Szkutak, is a member of Ux- construction. After more than twenty years vania. With a passion for horticulture, she has bridge Grange, #200 in Massachusetts and working in the nursery industry selling This year’s fellows team is sponsored by continued her involvement with NJHA as the Oliver Hudson Kelley Grange # 834 plants both on the retail and wholesale lev- DCI Group. the National Co-Adviser and chairing a na- of Minnesota. From Northbridge, Mass. DCI is an independently-owned public tional NJHA contest. els, she returned to school, graduating from he is a fourth generation Grange member. Marylhurst University in June 2013 with a affairs organization. They work with a va- “Grange has given me the opportunity to He has a bachelor’s in political science riety of organizations to tackle policy and make a difference not only in my commu- bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary stud- and mathematics from College of the Holy ies with focuses in communications/public communication challenges. This organiza- nity but also my world, Gegare said. “I’m Cross and master’s degree in American tion has also had a long-standing relation- excited about the possibilities that Grange relations, history and photography. She politics and contemporary history from the is employed by the Oregon State Grange ship with the National Grange, supporting offers and look forward to continuing to School of Advanced Study, University of and is the editor of the by-monthly Oregon many different Grange programs. share my enthusiasm about our great orga- London. He is the Gatekeeper and Legis- State Grange Bulletin. She also serves on “There are so many different stories that nization with others.” lative Director of the Massachusetts State the state Grange communications team deserve to be covered this week. The com- Karie Blasingame Grange. He served as Massachusetts Youth munications fellows are essential in craft- Karie Blasingame is an 18-year member Ambassador from 2008-2009 and National and is a member of the state GROW Club ing the stories, taking photos and assisting of Prairie Grange #1832 in Boone County Grange Youth Mentor (Ambassador) from board. with the digital messaging of the National Ill. She is the secretary and the webmas- 2009-2010. Christopher received the Hero “My Grange experience has been price- Grange this week,” said Amanda Brozana, ter and publicity chair at Prairie Grange. of the Grange Award in 2011 for his work less in many respects, the friends I have this year’s communications fellows coordi- In Boone County Pomona Grange, Blas- with the National Grange Youth Depart- made, the opportunities for travel and most nator. ingame is the Lecturer. She also is the Il- ment. During the summer of 2012 he was recently the chance to put my education Additional information about each of the linois State Grange Lady Assistant as well appointed a National Grange Deputy and to work for an organization I believe in,” fellows is as follows: as Youth Director. sent to Arkansas where he helped to reor- Ramm said. “But I am most appreciative Debbie Gegare Blasingame is the deli department man- ganize Zion Oak Grange, #826 in Spring- for the skills I have developed in commu- Returning for her third year as a member ager at the local Walmart where she also dale. nicating my thoughts and ideas through of the fellows program is Debbie Gegare. serves on the donation committee. She is A committed “AGvocate” and certified Grange contests and activities. She has a daughter Lexi and son Cody. She a graduate of Northern Illinois University teacher he works as Technical Associate Lindsay Schroeder is the Overseer of Milton Grange #670 and with a bachelor’s degree in English sec- and Assistant to the director of Massachu- Lindsay Schroeder is the 2014-15 Penn- setts Agriculture in the Classroom, writ- sylvania State Grange Youth Ambassador February issue deadline – January 6 ing agriculturally accurate curriculum for and a member of Virginville Grange #1832. teachers to use in their classrooms while She is the daughter of Monte and Rebecca also promoting the organization through Schroeder. Her other Grange activities in- social media. clude Youth Committee Chairman and Ju- Suzy Ramm nior Leader for Virginville Grange. Schro- Suzy Ramm is a member of Springwa- eder is also the Berks County Pomona ter Grange #263 and Clackamas County Grange Flora. Pomona Grange #1 in Oregon. She has Schroeder is an avid photographer and been a subordinate Grange member for al- has entered several winning entries at lo- most 37 years. She was a charter member cal fairs and state Grange contests. At her of Parkdale Junior Grange and after five church, she is a Sunday school teacher. 2 WASHINGTON STATE GRANGE NEWS News from National Grange: ‘Cromnibus’ clears Congress The Senate late Saturday night approved datory reporting of greenhouse gas emis- A look back funding to keep most if the federal gov- sions from manure management systems ernment running through the fiscal year and prevents EPA from requiring producers ending September 30, 2015. The vote was to obtain greenhouse gas permits for live- 56-40 with 32 Democrats teaming up with stock (normal belching and flatulence). 24 Republicans to vote in favor of pas- • National Beef Checkoff: Directs the sage. The House approved the package last Secretary of Agriculture not to use funds Thursday by a slim bipartisan margin of to implement a duplicative national beef 219-206 then went home. checkoff program. The current checkoff Any major package of “must-pass” leg- was created by an Act of Congress in 1985; islation moving on the fast track through beef producers ratified the Act by referen- Congress traditionally becomes a “Christ- dum to collect one dollar per head at the mas tree” of policy riders, restrictions and time of sale for the collective good of beef instructions; this one is no different and it’s stuffed full of goodies. These “ornaments” products. That dollar doesn’t buy much are in effect for the duration of the legisla- advertising, market promotion or research tion, i.e. until Sept. 30. today. Beef interests appear unified in sup- Here are the key provisions of “Crom- port of an increase in the amount checked nibus” relating to agriculture and rural off. However, some agriculture and other America: groups are advocating major changes in the beef checkoff structure and governance. • School Lunch: Requires the federal Since all interested organizations and par- government to allow more flexibility for ties have not been able to agree on a path school districts to serve meals students ac- forward, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack tually eat and to help keep school districts has advocated establishing a parallel beef from losing money on their cafeteria op- checkoff under the 1996 Generic Com- erations. The School Nutrition Association modity Promotion, Research and Infor- which represents cafeteria directors pushed mation Act as a means to increase beef’s for this action because over 50 percent This photo was taken in April of 1980. The caption funding. His proposal would create two of school districts project costs to exceed beef checkoff programs operating simulta- reads, “A 75th anniversary celebration requires revenue by the end of the 2014-15 school neously which has drawn fierce opposition year. Plus more students are dropping from cattlemen. The 1996 Act also gives the efforts of many people such as these who school lunches than any time for the last 30 the government much more involvement years.