Our Motto
In essentials; unity, In non-essentials; liberty, In all things; charity.
In essentials; unity, In non-essentials; liberty, In all things; charity.
Our Mission
The Pennsylvania State Grange supports the local Granges to help members grow as individuals, unify their communities and create opportunity through legislation and community service.
The Pennsylvania State Grange supports the local Granges to help members grow as individuals, unify their communities and create opportunity through legislation and community service.
Pennsylvania State Grange President Matthew Espenshade Elected to Penn State Board of Trustees
The Pennsylvania State Grange congratulates President Matt Espenshade on his recent election to serve on the Penn State Board of Trustees. On May 8, Espenshade, a seventh-generation dairy farmer from Lancaster County, was elected to serve his alma mater as a trustee representing the College of Agricultural Sciences. Espenshade graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in Dairy & Animal Science in 1995. He is the first sitting State Grange president to serve on the Board of Trustees since Sister Betsy Huber.
“I've always been impressed by how such a rather small window of time can have such an enduring impact on your life. I graduated from Penn State 30 years ago this May. Little did I know I would one day return to serve as a trustee of Penn State University. Thank you to all those who supported me during the election process, especially my Grange Brothers and Sisters and my fellow Farm Bureau members,” said Espenshade.
Espenshade operates Evergreen-Valley Farm alongside his father, Harvey, in Elizabethtown. They manage a 70-cow registered Holstein and Guernsey dairy herd and crop 250 acres, raising forages and corn. The farm has been owned and operated by the family since 1867. In addition to operating the family farm, he has served as the Pennsylvania State Grange president since 2022. Espenshade has been a passionate advocate for agriculture and has represented the Grange while speaking with legislators about key issues, served on the Lancaster County Blue Ribbon Commission for Agriculture, currently chairs the National Grange’s Conservation Committee and has served on the Elizabethtown FFA Chapter advisory board.
Espenshade will begin a three-year term of service on July 1, giving back to the university by sharing his experience in agriculture, organizational management, and business management.
The Pennsylvania State Grange congratulates President Matt Espenshade on his recent election to serve on the Penn State Board of Trustees. On May 8, Espenshade, a seventh-generation dairy farmer from Lancaster County, was elected to serve his alma mater as a trustee representing the College of Agricultural Sciences. Espenshade graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in Dairy & Animal Science in 1995. He is the first sitting State Grange president to serve on the Board of Trustees since Sister Betsy Huber.
“I've always been impressed by how such a rather small window of time can have such an enduring impact on your life. I graduated from Penn State 30 years ago this May. Little did I know I would one day return to serve as a trustee of Penn State University. Thank you to all those who supported me during the election process, especially my Grange Brothers and Sisters and my fellow Farm Bureau members,” said Espenshade.
Espenshade operates Evergreen-Valley Farm alongside his father, Harvey, in Elizabethtown. They manage a 70-cow registered Holstein and Guernsey dairy herd and crop 250 acres, raising forages and corn. The farm has been owned and operated by the family since 1867. In addition to operating the family farm, he has served as the Pennsylvania State Grange president since 2022. Espenshade has been a passionate advocate for agriculture and has represented the Grange while speaking with legislators about key issues, served on the Lancaster County Blue Ribbon Commission for Agriculture, currently chairs the National Grange’s Conservation Committee and has served on the Elizabethtown FFA Chapter advisory board.
Espenshade will begin a three-year term of service on July 1, giving back to the university by sharing his experience in agriculture, organizational management, and business management.
This event was CANCELLED for 2025.
Granger of the Year
During the 152nd State Session, the Pennsylvania State Grange recognized Bonnie Casselberry as the 2024 Pennsylvania State Grange Granger of the Year. This recognition is one of the highest honors bestowed by the Pennsylvania State Grange, and was announced during the All-Granger Banquet on Sunday evening, October 20.
“Bonnie is known across the state for her selflessness, as well as her dedication to her family, community and the Grange. We collectively congratulate her, and extend our gratitude for her faithful service,” said Matt Espenshade, President of the Pennsylvania State Grange.
Casselberry serves as the Liberty Grange #1780 Secretary. She is an Executive Committee member of the Lawrence County Pomona Grange, and has served as the Lawrence Junior Grange Leader, a program for Grange members between the ages of 5 and 14. “Bonnie Casselberry is an amazing daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and Granger. I am totally awed by Bonnie’s ability to get things done,” said Mary McMillin, a fellow member of Liberty Grange.
Bonnie has long been a dedicated Granger and advocate. She has spoken at public forums on critical Grange policy in regard to rapid and unchecked solar panel farm expansion. She has also been leading the effort to have the Liberty Grange Hall registered for tax exempt status, which is permitted by recent changes to the Pennsylvania fiscal code.
She has also been an avid fundraiser for Liberty Grange #1780, helping coordinate soup sales,
the annual Bunny brunch, and other events to support the community. Growing up active in the
Junior Grange herself, Bonnie led the effort to reestablish a County Junior Grange program, and
continues to be active today working with the Juniors.
Bonnie has been married for over 40 years to George Casselberry and they raised two sons
Georgie and Joe.
“Bonnie is known across the state for her selflessness, as well as her dedication to her family, community and the Grange. We collectively congratulate her, and extend our gratitude for her faithful service,” said Matt Espenshade, President of the Pennsylvania State Grange.
Casselberry serves as the Liberty Grange #1780 Secretary. She is an Executive Committee member of the Lawrence County Pomona Grange, and has served as the Lawrence Junior Grange Leader, a program for Grange members between the ages of 5 and 14. “Bonnie Casselberry is an amazing daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and Granger. I am totally awed by Bonnie’s ability to get things done,” said Mary McMillin, a fellow member of Liberty Grange.
Bonnie has long been a dedicated Granger and advocate. She has spoken at public forums on critical Grange policy in regard to rapid and unchecked solar panel farm expansion. She has also been leading the effort to have the Liberty Grange Hall registered for tax exempt status, which is permitted by recent changes to the Pennsylvania fiscal code.
She has also been an avid fundraiser for Liberty Grange #1780, helping coordinate soup sales,
the annual Bunny brunch, and other events to support the community. Growing up active in the
Junior Grange herself, Bonnie led the effort to reestablish a County Junior Grange program, and
continues to be active today working with the Juniors.
Bonnie has been married for over 40 years to George Casselberry and they raised two sons
Georgie and Joe.
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On Friday, October 19, Lindsey Mauldin, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Shapiro, was a
special guest speaker, who discussed state funding levels and the administration’s efforts to address the mental health issues and challenges in rural Pennsylvania. |