NAOMI FLETCHER, LECTURER
14685 25.75 Road
Rapid River, MI 49878
Tel: 906-399-2815
Naomi.fletcher54@gmail.com
MARCH/APRIL 2026 GRANGE NEWS
April – Environment, Conservation & Stewardship Project Sustenance Alignment: Sustainability & Stewardship • National Grange Month activities highlighting stewardship • Soil health, water conservation, and sustainable farming practices • Pollinators, habitats, and long term food production • Earth Day as a moment to connect conservation with food security -Connection: Sustainable environmental practices ensure long-term agricultural productivity and resilient communities.
As I write this, it is a balmy 18 degrees, with a windchill sitting at about 3. That means the wind speed is approximately 15 miles per hour. So the snow is blowing like a banshee, drifting across roads causing hazardous driving conditions. We’ve been getting snow and ice on and off now since early November. Way too early for this region. If you’ve seen pictures of trees heavily laden with snow, that’s
what my front yard looks like. Cold, blowing, freezing snow. The good part about it is the snow mobilers are having a great time, boosting the local economy, which is a great thing. Hope your winter isn’t as wicked as ours has been.
On to programming. The National Grange “Lecturer’s Department is intentionally returning to its educational roots. While contests and awards have played a role in the department’s history, the emphasis moving forward is on participation, engagement, and impact, rather than competition. Education may take many forms, such as guest speakers, workshops, demonstrations, discussions, hands-on activities, cultural programs, or collaborative learning experiences. All are equally valuable when they create opportunities for growth and understanding.” (From the National Grange website). In my articles, I will encourage you all to adopt the programs the National Grange is providing, and encourage your Grange
members to enter the MSG contests set forth in the Program Handbook.
My thinking is how best to recognize our efforts than exhibiting them at our Convention, much like we do in our local communities at county and state fairs. How best do we recognize excellence than through exhibition and competition? “May the best person win” probably shouldn’t be the slogan, but possibly “May the best exhibit teach others.” Sharing our knowledge and skills to others could be a form of competition. Doing our best to educate our community about who we are, what we do, and why we do “it”, whatever “it” looks like.
With that, here are the National Grange’s prompts to educate, include and promote not only Grange, but what the Grange supports. I hope you will share these with your membership throughout this next year.
March – Agricultural Literacy & Education Project Sustenance Alignment: Education & Awareness • Telling agriculture’s story as the foundation of food security • Ag Literacy Week activities tied to community education • Connecting agriculture to everyday life, nutrition, and sustainability • Helping the public understand where food comes from—and why it matters- Connection: Agricultural literacy builds informed communities capable of sustaining themselves.
April – Environment, Conservation & Stewardship Project Sustenance Alignment: Sustainability & Stewardship • National Grange Month activities highlighting stewardship • Soil health, water conservation, and sustainable farming practices • Pollinators, habitats, and long term food production • Earth Day as a moment to connect conservation with food security -Connection: Sustainable environmental practices ensure long-term agricultural productivity and resilient communities.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 GRANGE NEWS
Is it possible to overdose on Grange conferences and conventions? We attended the Mid-West Grange conference in July, California State Grange’s 150th Annual Session AND Michigan’s Annual Session in October, then two weeks later boarded a ship for the southern Caribbean for the National Grange session. A lot of Grange-ing for sure!! Saw a lot of friends and family, had some great fun everywhere, visited the beautiful coastal Redwood Forest, and visited the islands of Aruba, Bonair and Curacao. My favorite was Curacao. Clean, beautiful, welcoming, and lots of local art. I wish we had more time on Curacao.
I’m going to keep this short, because the Convention Booklet is a focus right now for me. New contests, more divisions to choose from, and some fun activities are coming your way! Check your Lecturer’s Bulletin for some new ideas for open discussion at your meetings, as well as some history to share. If you’re looking for interesting facts, look up History.com and search “this day in history”. You can pick a day and look up historical facts from around the world.
I’d like to encourage you all to enter as many categories as possible. And get your kids, grandkids, local schools, neighbors and friends to enter as well! The more the merrier! My challenge to you is to enter more categories than I will!
New contest this year is “Tell me a Story”. Writing prompts will be: 1. Travel 2. Family 3. Autobiography. Write a story about your travels, your family or your autobiography. Brag about yourself! I’m hoping to publish a booklet of recipes, stories and pictures over the next two years to share with membership.
Happy New Year!!!!
Is it possible to overdose on Grange conferences and conventions? We attended the Mid-West Grange conference in July, California State Grange’s 150th Annual Session AND Michigan’s Annual Session in October, then two weeks later boarded a ship for the southern Caribbean for the National Grange session. A lot of Grange-ing for sure!! Saw a lot of friends and family, had some great fun everywhere, visited the beautiful coastal Redwood Forest, and visited the islands of Aruba, Bonair and Curacao. My favorite was Curacao. Clean, beautiful, welcoming, and lots of local art. I wish we had more time on Curacao.
I’m going to keep this short, because the Convention Booklet is a focus right now for me. New contests, more divisions to choose from, and some fun activities are coming your way! Check your Lecturer’s Bulletin for some new ideas for open discussion at your meetings, as well as some history to share. If you’re looking for interesting facts, look up History.com and search “this day in history”. You can pick a day and look up historical facts from around the world.
I’d like to encourage you all to enter as many categories as possible. And get your kids, grandkids, local schools, neighbors and friends to enter as well! The more the merrier! My challenge to you is to enter more categories than I will!
New contest this year is “Tell me a Story”. Writing prompts will be: 1. Travel 2. Family 3. Autobiography. Write a story about your travels, your family or your autobiography. Brag about yourself! I’m hoping to publish a booklet of recipes, stories and pictures over the next two years to share with membership.
Happy New Year!!!!
