On Friday I read in The Writer's Almanac that it was the date of the founding of The Grange. In line with this theme, here are a few Grange medals I found online.
-Editor
"It was on this date in 1867 that Oliver Hudson Kelley founded the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, also known as The Grange. It's the oldest national agricultural advocacy organization. Kelley was born in Boston in 1826, and moved to Itasca, Minnesota, to become a farmer when he was 23. After the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson sent him to the Southern states to report back on the condition of the farms there.
It was during this trip that Kelley began to think about a fraternal organization, similar to the Freemasons, that would work to improve conditions for farmers and bring the North and South back together in a common cause. So he formed the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry for this purpose, and his organization was unusual for the time in that it encouraged women and teenagers to participate. In fact, the charter required that four of the elected positions must be held by women. The Grange represented the interests of farmers in disputes with the railroads, it established free rural mail delivery, and it helped farmers improve their lives through research-based education. It also championed non-agricultural causes like temperance and women's suffrage."
There are many beautiful agricultural medals from around the world, including many state fair awards, but I figured there must be medals struck by or for the organization itself. I found the above Alabama State Grange Fair silver medal in a Google search, but had trouble navigating to the original web page. Below is one of the few other medals I found - a 1973 centennial medal for the New Hampshire State Grange. There must be more out there - can anyone send us images of other Grange medals?
-Editor
https://www.ebay.com/itm/C8506-N-H-STATE-GRANGE-BRONZE-MEDAL-CENTENNIAL-1973/372640340145
To read the complete article, see:
The Writer's Almanac for Friday, December 4, 2020
(https://www.garrisonkeillor.com/radio/twa-the-writers-almanac-for-december-4-2020/)
For more information, see:
National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grange_of_the_Order_ of_Patrons_of_Husbandry)
Wayne Homren, Editor
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