KEVIN YOUNG, DIRECTOR
60822 Creek Road
Niles, MI 49120
269-684-3870
kevin60822@sbcglobal.net
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 GRANGE NEWS
Class II: Flowers: A-Potted Herbs
Flowers: Plant in Unique Container
Welcome to the 151st Annual Convention of the Michigan State Grange!! It is hard to believe that it is time for yet another Michigan State Grange Session. Time sure goes by fast, where has 2024 gone!? I hope everyone has enjoyed my articles as at times I felt like I was just rambling on but at the time I was writing them it was what was on my mind. Agriculture in our Great State is a very important part of life and of the State Economy, and I feel honored to be the Director of the MSG Agriculture Department. It has been a very up and down year so far for Agriculture in our Country and it isn’t over yet. As our elected officials that represent us in Washington DC still work on the new Farm Bill, we need to be mindful of the items that they may add or delete from it. We need to use our voice to let our State representatives know before it is too late that farmers are still struggling and we need to support the farmers more than ever as they continue to feed our Country and the World. We the Grange, need to stand strong more than ever to let everyone know that the Grange is still alive and here to help our friends in Agriculture.
I look forward to seeing what entries will be in the Ag Department classes this year. It has been another strange growing season in 2024. I hope to continue to bring you information on this Department that has meant so much to our Great Organization when it was first founded! I hope everyone enjoys the State Session and their stay in Charlevoix!!!
Class I Vegetables:
Potatoes
Potatoes
Subordinate:
1st: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
2nd: Heather Hyatt-Mudd, Studley #1174
Winter Squash
Subordinate:
1st: Heather Hyatt-Mudd, Studley #1174
2nd: Dale Young, Community #1675
3rd: Lena Young, Community #1675
Class II: Flowers: A-Potted Herbs
Subordinate:
1st: Dale Moore, Burns #160
2nd: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
Flowers: Plant in Unique Container
Subordinate
1st: Arlene Douglas, Burns #160
2nd: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
3rd: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
Class III: Flowers—Bloom
Subordinate:
1st: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
2nd: Dale Moore, Burns #160
3rd: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
Class IV: Other Categories — decorated pumpkin
Subordinate:
1st.: Sharon Popler, Burns #160
2nd: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
3rd: Lena Young, Community #1675
Class IV: —Other Categories —decorated flower pot
Subordinate:
1st: Heather Hyatt-Mudd, Studley #1174
2nd: Peggy Johnston, Burns #160
3rd: Chris Johnston, Burns #160
BEST OF SHOW — AGRICULTURE
Heather Hyatt-Mudd, Studley #1174
AGRICULTURE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 GRANGE NEWS
Here is a good reason to plan early. Be sure to check out the Agriculture Department in the Program Book. I left the classes from 2024 in the program book for 2025. I know it is tough trying to get things to last until our State Session, but I try to have classes that the produce would still be good to enter. If our State Session was during the late Summer or early Fall months, we could do more classes to deal with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Remember that the class under Flowers: Bloom is any type of flower bloom and they are fresh not dried. Please be sure to keep the inserted Program Book for the 2025 State Session.
Keep an eye on the approval process of the new Farm Bill. It doesn’t just affect the Farmers etc, but it also affects anyone that receives the SNAP benefits as well. There are a lot of things in this 1,000+ page bill that Debbie Stabenow stands behind and is trying to get passed before the end of her term.
Also, be aware of the tariffs that the new Federal Administration is looking to add to all items from Mexico and Canada. The United States gets lots of PRODUCE from both countries but mostly from Mexico because that’s where all of the off season items come from when the United States is between growing seasons. The tariffs proposed will just raise the cost of food for all of our tables. Please be sure to let your Congressmen and Women know that it is not a good idea to make the residents of the USA pay any more than we already do to feed our families.
Here is hoping 2025 is another great Grange year for all and brings bounty to our Agriculture Neighbors and Friends!
Until later….
Happy New Year everyone! Wow, 2024 is in the books and 2025 has just started! Well, I am sure everyone is starting to think about Spring and winter is not even half over! I know it is important to have snow during the winter months as that helps to add moisture to our farm fields and helps to protect the winter wheat during the cold months. So far, we have had a little bit of snow in my area of Michigan which seems weird as it is Nov 30th as I sit writing this article. What snow we had earlier in November didn’t stay around long because the temperature wasn’t cold enough. Well at the end of November it is cold!! I hope this isn’t a sign of what winter is going to be like. I do not like cold weather where the high temperatures do not get over 32.
Yes, snow is a part of everyday life during winter in our community. And don’t we often wish we didn’t have to live with it, but we couldn’t live without it.
So, while you sit and look at the snow float from the sky, think about what you might want to plant in your gardens or yards this coming spring. Now is a great time to be looking through the seed catalogs and plant books for those special favorites you might want to plant and then share the crops with friends and neighbors.
Here is a good reason to plan early. Be sure to check out the Agriculture Department in the Program Book. I left the classes from 2024 in the program book for 2025. I know it is tough trying to get things to last until our State Session, but I try to have classes that the produce would still be good to enter. If our State Session was during the late Summer or early Fall months, we could do more classes to deal with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Remember that the class under Flowers: Bloom is any type of flower bloom and they are fresh not dried. Please be sure to keep the inserted Program Book for the 2025 State Session.
Keep an eye on the approval process of the new Farm Bill. It doesn’t just affect the Farmers etc, but it also affects anyone that receives the SNAP benefits as well. There are a lot of things in this 1,000+ page bill that Debbie Stabenow stands behind and is trying to get passed before the end of her term.
Also, be aware of the tariffs that the new Federal Administration is looking to add to all items from Mexico and Canada. The United States gets lots of PRODUCE from both countries but mostly from Mexico because that’s where all of the off season items come from when the United States is between growing seasons. The tariffs proposed will just raise the cost of food for all of our tables. Please be sure to let your Congressmen and Women know that it is not a good idea to make the residents of the USA pay any more than we already do to feed our families.
Well, that is all for now. I have to do a Quarterly Bulletin now as the Directives state that all Department Directors are required to do a quarterly bulletin. I am not sure what it will include each quarter but I will try to provide some good ideas, information or fun items for each quarter.
Here is hoping 2025 is another great Grange year for all and brings bounty to our Agriculture Neighbors and Friends!
Until later….
