The official opening of the 132^nd Annual PA State Grange Session took place at 1:00 PM Saturday, October 23, 2004 in the Wyndham Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel in Swatara Township.  State Grange President Betsy Huber opened the Session and introduced the Honored Guest, Terry Hunt, National Grange Vice-President, from the state of Washington.

After welcoming remarks from the co-chairs of the 132^nd Annual State Session Host Committee, Debra Campbell and Brian Ebersole, the Credentials Committee reported that there were 273 delegates and 483 total members in attendance.

President Huber then gave her annual report which included special Certificates of Appreciation presented to Wendy Kerschner and her two sons Casey and Conlan and Carl Meiss for their “extraordinary effort in Community Service Work in clean-up of tornado debris at the Brandt Farm September 4, 2004.”

The President’s report was followed by reports from the State Secretary, Sandra Witmer and State Treasurer, Anna May Nauss. 

The PA State Grange then got down to their business of reviewing proposed resolutions.  The Grange is a true “Grassroots” organization.  Local Granges (334 in PA) write and propose resolutions on various subjects that they feel the Pomona (County) and/or State Grange should become involved in.  These resolutions then go to the County level for approval and then to the State Grange Session for action by the local delegates.  Resolutions proposed by a local Grange can be sent on to the National Grange in Washington, D.C. for action at the national level.

Prior to the closing of the Session for the first day, nominations for all of the officers of the PA State Grange were made, with the elections scheduled for the Monday Session.  Saturday’s Session was closed by the PA State Grange Youth Officers.

This year’s PA State Grange Annual Session will continue through Tuesday, October 26, 2004.

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 14-35) and Regular Subordinate (Local) members (age 35 and up).

The Grange represents approximately 20,000 rural Pennsylvanians across the state.  It is the oldest agricultural organization of its kind in the United States. The National Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) began in 1867 and the PA State Grange was chartered in 1873.