Stanford Grange remains active with 60th Annual Community Day planned

STANFORDVILLE — In an age when the generation gap seems to be stretched across a virtual chasm of the internet’s making, the Stanford Grange No. 808 is proof positive that education, cooperation and shared goals can build a sturdy bridge of respect between the ages.  

Ryan Orton, secretary of the Stanford Grange, proudly explained.

“Half of our officers in our Grange are youth under the age of 25,” he said. “They hold some of the major offices. Our vice president just turned 20 years old this month and was elected when he was 18. It shows the interest we have and the trust we have in our youth that we trust them to lead the organization. If the president can’t be there, a 20 year old is in charge.” 

The empowerment that the youth feel was on display at the August Dutchess County Fair at Rhinebeck, at the exhibit, “Grange Youth: Helping People and Changing Lives,” which took second place in the competition right behind the first-place Stanford Grange adult exhibit.  

In addition to displaying items that demonstrated the many activities of the group, a prominent poster explained, “Since 1867, the Grange has valued the opinions and voices of teenagers and young adults. While Grange members age 14 to 35 have the same voice and vote as the rest of the membership, Grange Youth have their own programs and activities to help their communities by supporting local food pantries, their classmates in school and hosting fundraisers like penny socials and community dinners.” 

Orton concurred and noted that in turn, the adult Grange sponsors “monthly game nights where kids can come to the Grange Hall, turn off their phones and play old-fashioned [card, board and role-playing games]. The only admission we charge is to bring a snack or a drink to share.” 

He added, “We’ve had upwards of 30 kids in the Grange Hall having a good time on a Friday night. We take pride in the fact that kids feel comfortable coming. They feel the Grange is a safe place to be.”  

It’s not surprising that the two programs intersect so easily as many members are introduced in school to the Grange. They learn it was started after the Civil War as a way of uniting farmers across the country, with one of the objectives being building a united front against the expansive railroad monopolies that controlled distribution of farm products.  

Orton, a Pine Plains eighth-grade social studies teacher, spends a day or two each year educating students about Grange history.  He sets up his classroom, “just like a Grange Hall” and has ceremonies with Masonic-like “secret knocks and handshakes” that were deigned to “keep railroaders out of Grange meetings” so members could plan anti-monopoly activities in secret. 

“We still have these today — obviously not try to keep anybody out, but to keep the ceremonies alive — just for tradition’s sake,” he said.

Orton noted, “anybody can join the Grange today. We still advocate for farmers and agriculture, but we also do what we can do to make our community a better place,” including advocating for better rural internet service in much the same way that Grange support led to rural electricity, postal service and schools buses.  

The 1946 Grange Hall, which provides a space for many activities, is “showing its age,” said Orton. But, he added, community members have stepped up. One member seated in a dim corner in the dining room came forward with a check and said, “Here, fix your lights.” 

That multi-age community spirit will be on display at the Grange sponsored 60th Annual Community Day, Saturday. Sept. 15, at the Grange Hall in Stanfordville. Teenagers from the Stissing Mountain High School Band, the Stissing Mountain Senior Class of 2019 and the Sophomore Class of 2020, and the Pine Plains FFA will take their places beside town adults to make the day a success. 

Among the adult groups will be the Stanford Garden Club; the acapella group, Cherished Memories; the Recreation Commission; United Church of Christ; the Rhinebeck Aerodrome;  the rock group, Bob & the Boys; the Stanford Business Association; the Stanford Historical Society; the Dutchess County Historical Society; the Attlebury School House Restoration; Kardash Onnig, Helen Hamada and Kara O’Neill; Stewart’s Shops; the Stanford Lions Club; the United Church of Christ; the Bangall United Methodist Church; the Bulls Head Oswego Quakers; the Bank of Millbrook; Stissing Theatre Guild; Pine Plains Federation of Educators; American Red Cross; and the Stanford Fire Company. 

For further information, contact Grange Secretary Ryan Orton at 845-868-7869 or rorton808@yahoo.com.