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Grange Youth Newsletter

October 2009 Issue
Youth to Shine in 2009: National Grange Youth Winners Announced

The National Grange Youth Department has selected the participants in several youth programs for the 2009 National Grange Session in Grand Rapids, MI next month. The youth represent a wide cross-section of backgrounds with one common element, the drive to lead the nation’s oldest agricultural, rural advocacy organization through the 21st century.

“This year, I am proud to note we have an elite of youth representing our organization,” said National Grange Youth Director Charlene Shupp Espenshade. “This very accomplished group of youth and young adults continue to play an active role in their local and state Granges. I look forward to working with this leadership class in Grand Rapids.”

Youth are selected for one of several programs including the Horizon Leadership Program, Legislative Experience and National Grange Youth Officer team. The Horizon Leadership Team is designed for youth and young couples who serve their state Grange as a Youth Ambassador or Young Couple. As the state Grange’s youth spokespersons, they will be recognized at the Evening of Excellence,
Friday, Nov. 20 at National Session.

 

Young Couple

In the young couple program are Matthew and Lynn Clark of New Hampshire.

Matthew and Lynn Clark (NH)
Matthew and Lynn Clark are from Surry, N.H and members of Prentice Hill #257. The Clarks first met at a Grange regional youth conference. They have two sons, Trevor and Seth. Both have served in leadership roles in their subordinate Grange including Master (president). Matt also is the state Grange chaplain and has served as the installing chaplain for the national officers. As the state Grange young couple, they have a goal to attend every active Grange in their state and assist in growing their state membership.
 
Youth Ambassadors

The State youth ambassadors are as follows:

Molly Welsh (KS)
Welsh, 16, is a junior at Washburn Rural High School. She is a varsity cheerleader, twirler, and color guard member. She also plays the flute in the pep band. A member of Pleasant View Grange #1459, she was selected as the state junior Grange princess in 2004. She is a sixth generation Grange member. The daughter of Dan and Becky Welsh of Topeka. She has one brother Ryan.

Christopher Szkutak (MA)
Szkutak has been noted as saying he was “born in a Grange Hall and never left.” Because of his family’s activities in the Grange, he has been Grange member since 2002. He is the grandson of Massachusetts State Master Floyd Murphy and Shirley Murphy. His parents are Robert and Diane Szkutak of Northbridge, Mass. Szkutak is a senior at Holly Cross with a double major of political science and mathematics. After graduation he hopes to get his doctorate in political science focusing on campaigns and elections. In his spare time, he tutors elementary school children. As ambassador, he has attended state youth department events and will represent the Northeastern Region with his winning regional speech at national session.
Allison Driskell (MI)
Hailing from Bancroft, Mich., Driskell is the daughter of Wayne and Jackie Driskell. She is a junior at Byron High School. She has lettered in cheerleading and soccer. A third-generation Grange member, she has been active in her Grange, assisting out with fundraisers and youth and junior Grange camps. At her subordinate Grange, Burns Grange #160, she was recently elected as Ceres.
Alissa Estes (NH)
Alissa Estes is a member of Somersworth Grange #264. The daughter of Ronda and Marty Estes, she is active in her state’s youth program, serving on the youth committee and as lady assistant steward. Offices held are subordinate steward and Master of her Pomona Grange. She is employed full time preschool teacher.
Levi Tomas Giardina (NC)
Levi Giardina is a freshman at Western Carolina University studying to become a forensic anthropologist. He is a lifetime Grange member, and in his spare time he enjoys football, soccer swimming and blacksmithing. Giardina started blacksmithing when given the opportunity to work with a blacksmith for five months. He is a member of the Mount Mitchell Grange serving as their membership director. At the state level, he has served on the youth committee and in several different youth offices.
Caroline Tart (NC)
Caroline Tart is a freshman at North Caroline Sate University majoring in agriculture education and communication. Her activities include both state Grange and FFA where she has served in multiple leadership positions for both. In her spare time, she enjoys attending concerts, playing volleyball, attending NC State football games and haning out with friends. Her parents are Sandra and Denny Tart of Goldsboro. She is a member of Grantham Grange #968. In the state Grange youth program, she is a member of the youth executive committee, leadership team, and planning committee for the winter youth conference and youth grange camp.
Myron Sinclair, Jr. (OH)
A member of Ledge Grange #2593, Myron Sinclair, Jr. is the son of Myron and Telisa Sinclair of Richmond Heights. In his Grange, he is the gatekeeper. He is a senior at Richmond Heights High School. His Grange activities include participating in the Ohio State Fair’s Grange events. Outside of Grange, he has enjoyed being a “big brother” to several foster children that have been placed with his family.
Melanie Fitch (OH)
Fitch is the 18-year-old daughter of Arden and Patricia Fitch of Greenwich, Ohio. She is a member of Olivesburg Grange #2641. A high school senior, she serves as the 2010 class secretary and the marching band president. A member of the Grange since 1996, she is proud to note she is a third generation Grange member. Outside of Grange his is a member of the 4-H, FFA, CRA, Grace Brethren Church and Farm Bureau. She also enjoys showing Percheron Draft Horses in driving, wagon, cart and halter classes.
Brandon Anglin (OR)
Hailing from White Eagle Grange #683 is Brandon Anglin of Pendleton, Ore. He is the son of Roger and Gail Wilson and is a senior at Pendleton High School. In Grange, he is the subordinate Grange overseer (vice president) and the state Grange youth assistant steward. Through his Grange, he has also helped with the Words for Thirds project, a service project to provide dictionaries for third grade students.
Braden Gourley (PA)
Braden Gourley is a junior at South Side High School where he is a member of the marching, concert, jazz and pep bands. He is also involved in student council, art club, world affairs, track and field, yearbook and ski club. He is the 17-year-old son of George and Barbara Gourley. They are members of Hookstown Grange #1980. At his local Grange his is a member of the subordinate finance committee. For the Beaver County Pomona he is the youth chairperson and assisted with the junior Grange actvities. He is a former Pennsylvania Junior State Grange Prince and has served as the assistant steward for the youth closing drill at last year’s state session.
Brittany Heltzel (PA)
Brittany Heltzel of Sewickley is a senior at Quaker Valley High School where she is a member of the orchestra, chorus, track team, National Honor Society and French Club. Her future plans include attending college to study math and/or history. She is a member of Mount Nebo Grange where she is the chair of the local youth committee and serves on the service and women’s activities committee. At the state level, she has served on the state youth officer team, participated in the public speaking contest and enjoys assisting with state Junior Grange activities when possible.
Tracie Miller (RI)
Tracie Miller is the daughter of Karen and Steven Miller of Fall River, Mass. She is a member of Kickemuit Grange of Warren, R.I. Her grange activies include chairing her subordinate Grange youth committee, and the Newport County Pomona youth committee. In addition to serving as the state youth ambassador, she is a member of the state youth committee. Starting her Grange career as a junior Grange member, she continues to assist with junior Grange activities.
 
Legislative Experience

Sarah Gearing (NY)
Sarah Gearing is a member of Brunswick Grange #1066. Her Grange activities include serving as the New York State Pomona, Columbia County Pomona Grange Master, and a member of the New York State Grange State Lecturer’s Committee.

As a member of the Legislative Experience program, Gearing will work with the National Grange Legislative Department and National Grange delegates as they deliberate this year’s proposed resolutions. Her hope is by serving in this program, she will learn “more about the legislative process. I hope to be able to teach and encourage others to write resolutions and to get involved in the legislative process.”
 
Youth Officer Team

Master: Joe Stefenoni (CA)
Stefenoni is a member of Sebastopol Grange #306, where he serves as their secretary. He is California State Grange Steward and serves as the State Grange Youth President.
Overseer: Carson Yost (OH)
A former Ohio State Grange Youth Ambassador, Yost is a member of Racine Grange #2606. He is the subordinate Grange Overseer, Pomona Grange assistant steward, and has served as the Ohio State Grange Youth Team overseer and steward.
Lecturer: Katie Stevens (NC)
Stevens is a member of Grantham Grange #968. She has been very active in her Pomona and State Grange youth departments, participating in multiple offices and committees since 2005. Her latest appointments include state youth lecturer and Pomona youth Master.
Chaplain: Heidi Henderson (NY)
Henderson is a member of Baldwinsville #1251. Her activities include serving as her subordinate Master and Pomona of her Pomona Grange. She is also the Pomona of the New York State grange. She has active in her State Grange Youth program, serving in several offices.
Asst. Steward: Camille Harrison (NC)
Harrison is a member of Westbrook Grange #1016. Her activities have include serving on the state youth executive committee and drill team leader in 2008, and the State youth team and state youth team in 2009.
Lady Asst. Steward: Jo Barringer (NY)
Barringer is a member of Stafford Grange #418. She is the Master of her subordinate Grange and has served in several offices in the state youth officer team.
Secretary: Alison Orton (NY)
Orton, a member of Standofrd Grange #808, has served a wide variety of roles and offices for her subordinate, Pomona and state youth program. She also has assisted at several different Grange events to support Grange and youth programs. 		Executive Committee:
Justephanie Chandler (OH)
Chandler A member of Ledge Grange #1048, she is its Master (president). She has also served on the State Grange Youth Committee of Ohio and is its former Master (president).
Executive Committee:
Olivia Suing (OR)
Suing is a member of Crow Grange in Oregon and has assisted with several activities in her local Grange. She is also the 2009-2010 Oregon State Grange Youth Ambassador. 		Executive Committee: Carrie Wade (IL)
Wade is a member of Hopewell Grange #1747 and serves as the lady assistant steward for her subordinate and Pomona Grange. She is also the Illinois State Grange Pomona.
Steward: Andrew Keiffer (PA)
A member of Marion Grange #1853, Keiffer has served in several offices in the subordinate and Berks County Pomona. At the March Pomona meeting, he served as the Youth Master. He has served on the Pennsylvania State Grange Youth Officer team for the past several years. This year, he was appointed by the State Master to the agriculture and environment committee. 		Treasurer: Tiffany Paul (OH)
A former Ohio State Grange Youth Ambassador, Paul is a member of Riverside Grange #1552. She has held several roles in her subordinate Grange. For the state youth department, she has been a member of the executive committee and secretary. She has also been a member of the Rose drill at her state Grange.
Ceres: Courtney Gray (NC)
Courtney Gray is a member of Southern Wake Grange #1295. She has participated in the State Grange Youth program this year as a member of the state drill team, state youth team and the state youth executive committee. 		Gatekeeper: Orrin Schnetzky (OR)
Schnetzky is a member of Tigard Grange #148. Locally he is the subordinate and Pomona assistant steward. At the state level, he is the state youth steward. He also will represent the Western Region at National session by presenting his winning speech from the regional conference.
Flora: Megan Taylor (NJ)
Megan Taylor is a member of Paradise Youth Grange in New Jersey, and is the secretary. She also serves on the New Jersey State Youth Department. 		Pomona: Hope Murphy (OH)
Hope Murphy is a member of Riverside Grange #1552. She has participated in several different offices include Pomona, lecturer, lady assistant steward, and Ceres. She has been a member of the Ohio State Grange Youth Opening team, serving this year at its lecturer.
Musician: Jennifer Nauss (PA)
Nauss is a member of Valley Grange #1360 and charter member of Penn State Grange #2105. She is the lecturer for Valley Grange and the York-Adams County Pomona Grange. In addition to helping to charter a collegiate Grange at Penn State University, she serves as their master. She is also the 2009-2010 Pennsylvania State Grange Youth Ambassador.