Date: July 22, 2009
Contact: Carl Meiss
Public Relations Dir.
publicrelations@pagrange.org
Release: Immediate
RE: PA State Grange Young Couple of the Year
Named
Centre Hall--Julie and Dustin Kunkle from Berks
County have been named the 2009-2010 PA State Grange Young Couple of
the Year.
The Young Marrieds/Young Couples of the PA
State Grange held their annual weekend in conjunction with this
year's 6th Annual PA State Grange Family Festival held at the Centre
County Grange Fairgrounds JUly 16-19.
Dustin and Julie Kunkle take over from Christie
and Joel Straub from Mercer County who have served as the Young
Couple for the past two years.
The Kunkles are from Tilden Township where they
live with their 18 month-old son Connor Lee. They have been married
for 10 years and both are Lifetime Grange members from Shartlesville
Grange #1512. Julie has been a Granger for 13 years and Dustin
since he was 6 years old. Dustin works at Kantner's Tire Service in
Shoemakersville and Juile is a stay-at-home mom and student. Julie
enjoys reading and needle point and Dustin is a true Pittsburgh
Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fan who enjoys part-time farming with
his parents and sister as well as Grange activities. Dustin is a
past Master (Pres.), past Assistant Steward and presently serves as
Overseer (V.P.) of Shartlesville Grange #1512 as well as PA State
Grange Deputy for Berks County, while Julie is a past Lady Assistant
Steward at Shartlesville Grange #1512. Both are graduates of
Hamburg Area High School.
Couples competing for the honor of "Young
Couple" must have been Grange members for a minimum of two years and
neither partner may have reached their 35th birthday. Contestants
are judged on an interview, ambassadorship qualities and a written
test of Grange knowledge. The selected Young Couple helps to
promote and generate enthusiasm for the PA State Grange Youth
Department programs and contests. The Young Couple will also serve
on the State Grange Youth Committee for one year during their reign.