HR 5 — A Resolution designating September 18, 2025, and September 18, 2026, as "State Grange Day" in Pennsylvania and celebrating the Pennsylvania State Grange on its 152nd and 153rd anniversaries.

PRINTER'S NO.   35

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 5
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, KHAN, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, PIELLI, HILL-
        EVANS, CIRESI, MENTZER, SCHLOSSBERG, PICKETT, HOHENSTEIN,
        HARKINS, PASHINSKI AND FREEMAN, JANUARY 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
        JANUARY 10, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating September 18, 2025, and September 18, 2026, as
 2      "State Grange Day" in Pennsylvania and celebrating the
 3      Pennsylvania State Grange on its 152nd and 153rd
 4      anniversaries.
 5      WHEREAS, Founded after the Civil War in 1867, the Order of
 6   Patrons of Husbandry, commonly known as the Grange, was
 7   originally a fraternal order that encouraged families to band
 8   together to promote the economic and political well-being of the
 9   rural and agricultural communities; and
10      WHEREAS, Once established nationally, the Grange set out to
11   organize local chapters in communities across the states; and
12      WHEREAS, The idea of the Grange first came to Harrisburg on
13   April 3, 1868, however, it would be another three years until
14   this Commonwealth's first Grange would be established; and
15      WHEREAS, On March 4, 1871, Eagle Grange #1 in Clinton
16   Township, Lycoming County, this Commonwealth's first and still
17   active Grange, was organized by a group of local farmers, led by
18   Luke Eger, who had become concerned about the rising costs of
 1   farming in the post-Civil War economy; and
 2      WHEREAS, By 1873, the Grange movement really took hold in
 3   this Commonwealth and on September 18 of that year, a meeting
 4   was held in the City of Reading to organize the Pennsylvania
 5   State Grange; and
 6      WHEREAS, By the time the Pennsylvania State Grange was
 7   organized, a total of 25 local Grange chapters had been formed
 8   in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Crawford, Cumberland, Lancaster,
 9   Lebanon, Lycoming, Monroe and Montgomery Counties; and
10      WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has been among the largest
11   membership states and has always assumed leadership roles for
12   National Grange initiatives; and
13      WHEREAS, Particularly noteworthy and uniquely Pennsylvania
14   Grange projects include the building of the Grange Memorial Hall
15   girls' dormitory on the campus of The Pennsylvania State
16   University in 1928, the "Milk of Human Kindness," which provided
17   more than 40,000 gallons of milk to children in Europe after
18   World War II and the 1960s' "Goats for Guatemala" project; and
19      WHEREAS, The popular Pennsylvania State Grange cookbook was
20   first published in 1925 specifically to raise money for the
21   Grange Memorial Hall project and had new editions published in
22   1951, 1972, 1984, 1992, 1997 and 2010; and
23      WHEREAS, Over the years, the Grange has evolved from its
24   roots as a farmer's fraternity to a multifaceted community
25   service organization by actively advocating for rural and
26   agricultural issues, embodying the spirit of fellowship and
27   promoting education and community service; and
28      WHEREAS, Today, this Commonwealth is home to approximately
29   170 local Grange chapters and includes nearly 5,700 dedicated
30   members of all ages; and

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 1      WHEREAS, These individuals, juniors, youths, young adults and
 2   adults alike, tirelessly serve their communities, embody the
 3   core values of the Grange and exemplify the unity and
 4   perseverance that the founding members envisioned; and
 5      WHEREAS, The story of the Grange continues to enrich our past
 6   and shape our future as described in the Grange motto by
 7   encouraging unity of purpose, liberty of actions and charity of
 8   service; and
 9      WHEREAS, This year and next year mark the 152nd and 153rd
10   anniversaries of the Pennsylvania State Grange, a significant
11   milestone that deserves recognition and celebration; therefore
12   be it
13      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
14   September 18, 2025, and September 18, 2026, as "State Grange
15   Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
16      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate the
17   152nd and 153rd anniversaries of the Pennsylvania State Grange
18   and recognize the profound contributions of the Grange to this
19   Commonwealth.




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