Plains Grange honored for 75th anniversary

PLAINS – The Plains Grange #101 was visited by the State Master and President Scott Nicholson on Feb. 5 to help celebrate the Grange’s 75th anniversary.

According to Grange Master, Fred Cavill, the Plains Grange is the longest standing one to remain in Montana.

In Dec. 1937, sixty farmers and ranchers decided to choose Grange as an agricultural spokesman. Grange is the oldest agricultural organization in America and is very community involved. The Grange built their hall in September 1943 with mostly volunteer labor.

Currently the organization has 30 to 32 members but is looking for more volunteers. Recruitment is an ever-going process with the Grange who hosts recruitment suppers and luncheons. Some recruitment comes from one on one talks.

“My children and my children’s children, they’re too busy with other things to come to a Grange meeting, but that’s alright. Eventually a lot of the generations come around, their kids get grown, their life changes a little bit and we get them back,” said Cavill.

The Grange remains very involved with the community providing scholarships and helps provide a school store, which allows kids with supplies they need.

“We’re strong with 4H and we’re strong with the school,” said Cavill. “

Along with that, the Grange keeps their doors open for the community.

“We spend a lot of time trying to keep our hall open to the public,” said Cavill who stated the community hosts many organizational meetings within the hall.

The Grange will host a pesticide and herbicide recertification class on March 8, which is put on by the county extension office. The class will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and attendants will be provided with a chili lunch.