Valley Grange #1360, Lewisberry, York County, was the host to 126 Grangers and Friends of the Grange last night for their annual Appreciation Dinner, held at the Mechanicsburg Club.

Valley Grange #1360 operates the milkshake booth at the All American Dairy Show, Keystone Livestock Exposition and the Farm Show in partnership with the Pennsylvania Dairyman’s Association as their major fund raisers each year.  The Farm Show alone requires about 20 people to work the main milkshake booth for 8 days from about 8 AM to 9 PM daily.  The grange and the Dairyman’s Association have been in partnership for the Farm Show since about 1953.

Valley Grange has about 100 members.  Therefore it is necessary to get additional help from outside the Grange to be able to man the milkshake booth.  Various organizations and individuals have worked in cooperation with Valley Grange for many years on this project.  This year, some of that help included the National Grange President, Bill Steel and State Grange President, Betsy Huber, to name a few.

Traditionally, the grange has hosted an Appreciation Dinner for all who help to make and serve the milkshakes.  In past years, the dinner has been held at the Grange hall outside of Lewisberry, York County.  This year, it was decided to hold the dinner at a location away from the Grange hall so that Grange members did not have to cook and clean for their own dinner.  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed an outstanding buffet dinner provided by the Mechanicsburg Club. 

The New Redeemed, a southern gospel music ministry from Dillsburg provided the entertainment.  The program was emceed by Brad Nauss, Chairman of the Milkshake Committee for Valley Grange.  Speakers included Dave Smith, Executive Director for the PA Dairyman’s Association and Carl Meiss, President of Valley Grange #1360.

The Grange is a family fraternal organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship.  It is the oldest agricultural organization of its kind in the United States.  There are approximately 340 Community Granges throughout the Commonwealth with a total membership of about 16,000.