What is the Grange?

Order of Patrons of Husbandry

The Grange, officially known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, is a fraternal organization with a rich history and a highly visible community presence in the United States.

Grass-roots Organization

The Grange is a perfect example of a grass-roots, bottom-up group. The backbone of the Grange is the more than 3,000 local “subordinate” or community Granges located in more than 30 states. These Granges offer a wide range of locally-oriented programs and activities for children, youth and adults. Each holds regular meetings where issues of community concern are discussed. They sponsor social events, contests and community service projects.

On the county or regional level these local Granges band together into units known as Pomona Granges, primarily for discussion of concerns affecting a larger territory. On the statewide level, Granges cooperate by supporting a State Grange organization that conducts lobbying and other activities on behalf of all members in the state.

The National Grange owns an office building a couple of blocks from the White House. National programs are headquartered there, and the lobbying staff is active on Capitol Hill. For more information, see www.nationalgrange.org.

Membership Benefits

Members joined the Grange for fellowship, community, leadership, and service.

The Grange was one of the first major national organizations, other than churches, to seek membership and involvement of everyone in the family. Grange members have an equal voice and an equal vote at meetings regardless of their age, sex or position within the organization. Children ages five through 14 are eligible to belong to a Junior Grange, whether or not they come from a Grange family.

The Oregon State Grange provides an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit through American Income Life/National Income Life at no cost to its members.

The National Grange provides these and other benefits for members:

For more information, see www.nationalgrange.org.

These brochures have more information:

Historical Summary

The Grange came into being in 1867 because of the vision of Oliver Hudson Kelley, a Minnesota farmer and activist. He had long held that farmers, because of their independent and scattered nature, needed a national organization to represent them like unions were beginning to do for industrial workers.

Farmers were at the mercy of merchants for needed farm supplies and for marketing their crops. Railroads and warehouse companies were taking advantage of farmers. Kelley and some of his friends organized the National Grange (officially known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry) as a fraternal group similar to the Masonic lodge. The early leaders were responsible for promoting cooperatives, which had the potential of helping farmers economically.

From its earliest day, Grange lobbying efforts were effective; they remain a primary Grange service to rural America. By championing education, dramatic improvements were made in rural schools. The birth of the Extension Service, Rural Free Delivery, and the Farm Credit System were largely due to Grange lobbying.

The Grange at all levels is strictly non-partisan and does not endorse candidates for public office nor contribute to their campaigns. At the national level, the Grange actively lobbies for causes in accord with organizational policy. All policy within the Grange originates at the local level. Thus the organization remains as one of America’s best examples of democratic, grass-roots activism.

The primary legislative objective of the Grange is to represent the views of rural residents and the agricultural community. These issues include transportation, farm programs, rural economic development, education, health and safety concerns, and many others. Each year the policies are summarized and published in booklet form.

Early in its history Grange leaders realized that social interaction was especially important to rural residents. For nearly 130 years Grange halls have existed as community centers where residents gather for educational events, town meetings, dances, potlucks, and entertainment. Junior Grange, 4-H, FFA, Boy Scout, Girl Scout and other youth groups have thrived because of Grange involvement. Each year tens of thousands Grange members give back to their community by participating in numerous service projects.

For Further Information

People, Pride and Progress: 125 Years of the Grange in America by David H. Howard (Washington, D.C.: National Grange, 1992). Hardback copies available through libraries or for $12 plus $3 for shipping/handling from the National Grange, 1616 H. St. NW, Washington, DC 20006. 

Knights of the Plow: Oliver H. Kelley and the Origins of the Grange in Republican Ideology by Thomas A Woods (Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1991). Available through most libraries or bookstores. [Note: The "Republican ideology" mentioned in the title is not the Republican Party.]

Women of the Grange: Mutuality and Sisterhood in Rural America, 1866-1920 by Donald B. Marti (New York: Greenwood Press, 1991). Available through most libraries or bookstores.

The Grange: Friend of the Farmer by Charles M. Gardner (Washington, D.C.: National Grange, 1949). Available through most libraries.