Grange suffering steep decline in membership

The National Grange, the nation’s oldest farm and rural public-interest organization, has seen its active membership fall from 270,000 in 1991 to 70,000 in 2012, and nearly half the local chapters have shut down, dropping from about  3,900 to 2,000, Clarke Canfield reports for The Associated Press. Vicki Huff, master of the Maine State Grange, whose membership has dropped from 60,000 to 5,000, told Canfield that younger people aren't interested in joining. ‘To keep things going, you need new members. To get word out to the community, that’s sometimes difficult," she said. (AP photo by Robert Bukaty: The Grange hall in West Bath, Maine, is 110 years old) 

"The national group, officially called the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, was the first nationwide farm organization when it was founded in 1867, advocating for the causes of farmers," Canfield writes. "Local chapters, or granges, popped up across the country, their grange halls offering places where farmers could hold community events, meet neighbors, compare farm prices and band together for the good of the community." The group peaked in the 50s, but the popularity of television is blamed by some for the initial decline in membership. The article doesn't mention other likely reasons: fewer Americans are working in agriculture, and more rural residents are commuting, leaving less time for civic activities.

John Brigance, of the West Bath Seaside Grange in West Bath, Maine, told Canfield, ‘‘In this day and age, to get people away from their television and computers for five minutes is a challenge. It’s a challenge to show people it’s still relevant." (Read more)