2005-2006 PA State Grange Youth Ambassadors

                        Brittany Schaeffer (left) and Philip Vonada

The PA State Grange Youth named their 2005-2006 Male and Female Youth Ambassadors this past weekend at their annual PA State Grange Youth Camp held at Camp Sylvan Hills in Howard, PA.

Brittany Schaeffer, 19, of Mertztown, PA was named as Female Youth Ambassador.  Brittany is a member of Pioneer Grange #1777 in Berks County where she holds the office of Gatekeeper/Greeter and is also the Assistant Junior Grange Leader.  Brittany is a hair stylist and one day would like to own her own salon and day spa.   She enjoys mini-golfing, bowling, going to movies and “hanging out with friends.”  Brittany hopes to be able to travel around the state as Youth Ambassador promoting Youth in the Grange.

This year’s Male Youth Ambassador is Philip Vonada, 16, from Spring Mills.  Philip is a Junior at Penns Valley Area High School where he is very active in Thespians, Student Council, Concert, Jazz and Marching Band and many other school related activities.  His hobbies include acting, reading, singing, photography and talking with friends.  Philip is presently the Youth Chairperson at Penns Valley Grange #158 in Centre County and is a Past State Junior Grange Prince.  He plans to go to college, major in something “English-y or Theater-y” and “go on to be important.”  Philip feels that more needs to be accomplished via the internet and television to promote the Grange.  He wants the Youth to feel more involved in the Grange.

The Alternate Female Youth Ambassador is Catherine Carberry of James Creek, PA.  Catherine is a member of Lincoln Grange #914 in Huntingdon County and is a sophomore at West Virginia University.

The Alternate Male Youth Ambassador is Jonathan Sattazahn of Hamburg, PA.  Jonathan is a member of Kutztown Grange #1836 in Berks County and is a junior at Hamburg Area High School.

Other members of this year’s court are Heather Lucas of Centre Hall, Centre County, and Martha Bollinger of Mertztown, Berks County.

The PA State Grange Youth (ages 14-25) attend an annual three-day Youth Camp at which time judges evaluate the participants throughout the day on Saturday through observation, individual interviews, an impromptu question before all campers and individual scoring on a Grange knowledge test.  This year’s judges were Amy Foster from Shavers Creek Grange #353 in Huntingdon County, Sue Irwin from Howard Grange #297 in Centre County and David Troutman from Shavers Creek range #353 in Huntingdon County, but now living in Lycoming County.

The PA State Grange Youth Ambassadors represent the Grange Youth throughout the year at various functions including the PA State Farm Show, Ag Progress Days, the Annual PA State Grange Family Festival and PA State Grange Session as well as at the National Grange Conference to be held this year in Columbus, Ohio.

The Grange is a family fraternal organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship.  The Grange includes members of all ages from their Junior Grangers (ages 5-14), Youth Members (ages 14-24), Young Adults (ages 21-35) and Regular Community (Local) members (age 14 and up).  The Grange represents approximately 16,000 Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth.  It is the oldest agricultural and rural organization of its kind in the United States. The National Grange (Patrons of Husbandry), representing about 300,000 members, began in 1867 and the PA State Grange was chartered in 1873.