The Pennsylvania State Grange will be hosting its First Annual PA Grange Family Festival beginning Thursday, July 22 through Sunday, July 25 at the Centre County Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA.

The Family Festival, based in part on the historic “Grangers Pic-nik” begun in 1874 by PA Grange Master Leonard Rhone, is an event planned to include the entire Grange “Family,” everyone from 8 to 80.  It will replace the long-time “Leadership School” sponsored by the State Grange every year. 

Where the Leadership School was intended to teach leadership skills to the officers and members of local Granges, the Family Festival has expanded to now include “Something for Everyone” in the Grange Family.  Attendees have the options of tent-camping, RV-ing or staying in a local motel throughout the Festival.  Workshops are being offered for all ages from a “Bike Safety Derby” for the youngsters under the age of 12 to “Money Management” for teens and young adults to “Identity Theft” presented by an area PA State Trooper for the adults.

Additional workshops will include “Birds of Prey,” Embracing a Successful Attitude,” “Road Rage,” and many more.  Craft workshops will also be presented on “Quilting” and “Blue Bird Houses.”  Tours will be available to the Penn State All-Sports Museum, Indian Caverns and Greenwood State Park.  The highlight of Saturday will be a Square Dance and Ice Cream Social in the evening.

The Festival begins at 4:00 pm Thursday with registration and continues until 11:00 am Sunday with a final workshop on “Groups” held after the Sunday Morning Worship Service.  It is open to Grange members and friends (non-members) of all ages.

The PA State Grange hopes that this First Annual PA Grange Family Festival will be the beginning of a long-standing tradition of events involving the entire Grange Family.

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. The National Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) began in 1867.