The Family Activities Committee, along with CT State Grange Lecturer Dave Roberts, will be hosting the CT State Grange Family Festival the first weekend in August - August 1, 2, 3 - at Hillstown Grange Hall, 617 Hills Street, East Hartford.

The event will feature contest judging for the Family Activities Department including the NE Region Needlework Contest, Baking, Crafts, contest judging, and more. For the Lecturer's Department, judging will include the Photo Contests. A Pancake Breakfast will be prepared by Hillstown Grange. There will also be a Tea Cup Auction.

Send an e-mail to Director Dawn Percoski at familyactivities@ctstategrange.org or Dave Roberts at lecturer@ctstategrange.org for more information

NOTE: Program Director/Lecturers can submit their monthly Lecturer Reports and their annual Honor Lecturer Program Report to the State Lecturer either electronically to lecturer@ctstategrange.org or or granbydavidroberts@gmail.com or via regular mail (P.O. Box 155, Riverton, CT 06065). 

PROGRAM GUIDELINES . . .

All programs should be up to 30 minutes in length as appropriate and include music, information, participation, inspiration and humor where possible. While all programs do not have to include all of these components, they are an essential part of a Lecturer/Program Director’s program.  ZOOM programs are also acceptable and should average at least 10 minutes in length and include quizzes and other numbers that will encourage everyone on the virtual meeting to actively participate.

2025/2026 LECTURER’S APPRECIATION AWARD . . .

DEADLINE: September 30th
CRITERIA for Community and Pomona Granges:

1. Be responsible for a suitable program at every meeting.
2. Programs should be as appropriate up to 30 minutes in length.
3. Cooperate with your Grange Committees.
4. Reports to the State Grange Lecturer/Program Director should be submitted in a timely manner.
5. Participate in at least one Connecticut State Grange Lecturers’ Roundtable.

2025/2026 HONOR LECTURER’S AWARD . . .

DEADLINE: September 30th
CRITERIA for Community and Pomona Granges:

• Meet the requirements for the Lecturer’s Appreciation Award listed above, plus participate in at least three additional contests or projects (Heirloom, Photo, Complete, “Honoring Our Elders,” “A Word from Home,” or “Initiate a New Program.”

• In addition, attend at least two or more Connecticut State Grange Lecturers’ Roundtables and submit a “Grange in Action” or “Distinguished Grange” nomination.

Finally, please invite me to visit your Community or Pomona Grange for extra brownie points!

National Grange initiated a five-year program to teach members and “potential members” about the ritual, history and beliefs of the Grange. This five-year program introduces one short lesson each month, corresponding with the Degree season, and launched in March 2022 with Year A (1st Degree – Spring). These brief lessons can be presented during your normal meeting in the “Conferring Degrees” or “Good of the Order” portion.  

All of the Heirloom Program materials are currently available at bit.ly/grangeheirloom - please utilize the materials as you see fit!  National Grange will continue adding to the folder as material is complete and ready to use. Items included are the yearly pamphlets, posters, social media posts, and some suggested activities that can be distributed and completed. It also includes a handy social media sharing guide that can be easily copied-and-pasted into your social media feeds.  

Heirloom Program lessons could provide a “jumping off” point for your newsletter/magazine articles, or you could ask another officer or committee chairperson/director to reflect on the lessons in their pieces.  Encourage your local Lecturers/Program Directors to use this information not to replace the Lecturer’s program, but as a supplement elsewhere in the meeting or create discussion points for potlucks or contests. Encourage your Lecturers to work with the other officers to find a place for use, and make it a quick, regular part of your Community Grange meetings.  

Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with me, or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges.  

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HEIRLOOM PROGRAM INFO

“HONORING OUR ELDERS” Program
(formerly Should Auld Acquaintance)

Assist a Convalescent, Nursing, or Rest Home at least four times yearly. This may involve programs, gifts, or any help the home requests. This should be done in the name of the Grange. If you are unsure whether or not you qualify, please submit your report and let us decide.

Deadline for report: September 30th.

Topics for the next two years are modeled after the National Grange Lecturer’s Creative Writing Program. The subject for 2025 is “The Grange is Important Today Because.” This program should be presented at your Grange. The program must be sent to the State Lecturer by September 30, 2025, to be considered.

• Complete details of the program must be included with your submission.
• Length: As appropriate, up to 45 minutes.

The subject for 2026 is “The Grange of the Future.” The program must be sent to the State Lecturer by September 30, 2026, to be considered.

The first prize will be $50, the second prize will be $30, and the third prize will be $20.

This contest is open to all Grangers (Junior, Youth, 1+ and Grange). Winning photos will be displayed at the CT State Grange Convention and then returned to their owners.

The four Adult photo categories are:

1. America the Beautiful
2. Agriculture/Farming
3. Say It With Flowers
4. Bridges

The four Junior, Youth, +1 photo categories are:

1. America the Beautiful
2. Agriculture/Farming
3. Animals/Pets
4. Water

Rules:

1. Only prints accepted.
2. Participants may enter all four categories, but are limited to one entry in each category.
3. Entries must have been taken by the participant between October 1, 2024 through the CT State Grange Family Festival.
4. No glass or frames are allowed on photos.
5. Print may be processed commercially, but it must have been taken by the entrant.
6. Size of photo/backing (if used): No smaller than 4”x6” or larger than 11”x14”.
7. Entrant’s name, contest category, Grange/Grange number, and phone number must be placed on the back of each entry. Please identify if the photo is for the Junior, Youth, +1 Contest.

PRIZES:

There will be prizes for Adults and "Junior, Youth, and 1+".

For each contest and category, the prizes are: $6 for First, $4 for Second, and $2 for Third.

2025 NATIONAL GRANGE VIRTUAL PHOTO CONTEST – 
Deadline: Sept. 1, 2025

National Grange Photo Rules

National Grange Photo Submission Form

Planning for the conference is underway, and information will be released as it is confirmed.  

Questions? Contact CT State Grange Lecturer Dave Roberts at either: lecturer@ctstategrange.org or Granbydavidroberts@gmail.com, or call Dave at 860-469-5067.

• 2016 Complete Program Winners

Previous Winners:

• 2015 Complete Program Winners

• 2014 Complete Program Winners

• 2013 Complete Program Winners

• 2012 Complete Program Winners

• 2010 Complete Program - First Place Winner - North Stonington Grange

• 2010 Complete Program - Second Place Winner - Beacon Valley Grange