BUTLER TWP — For the first time in 25 years, Butler County hosted the Pennsylvania State Grange’s annual session last weekend, an event which mixed fellowship and fun with discussions on state and national policy affecting rural communities.

The grange is a fraternal family organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship.

About 300 delegates and guests from granges across the state assembled at the Days Inn to discuss and vote on organization policy. Resolutions approved at the state level advance to be voted upon at the National grange session.

“We discuss government issues, family issues, and the good of the order, which is what’s good for the grange itself,” said Nettie Martsolf, Butler County Master of Pomona Grange, which includes the four Butler County clubs: Jefferson, Unionville, Donegal and Royal (in Cooperstown).

The grange carries no political affiliations, preferring an “issue-based grassroots process” to reach out to legislators. In recent years, the grange lobbied successfully for more widespread rural broadband access and now is encouraging Congress to pass the 2012 Farm Bill, partly to assist farmers affected by this summer’s nationwide drought.

During a drive to Colorado this summer, Lonnie Brewster of Washington, Pa., Pomona Grange Master for Greene County’s four grange clubs, said he saw firsthand the devastation wrought by the drought.

“We saw, along the way, thousands of acres of corn that were dried up. We also saw farmers bringing cattle to feedlots (concentrated animal feeding operations), because they couldn’t feed them on the farms,” Brewster said.

Despite the need to conduct grange business, grangers also found time to enjoy one another’s company.

The Junior Grange hosted its annual Junior Jamboree in conjunction with the event, and contests for various items were held, ranging from baked goods and crafts to needlework and community awareness projects.

Virginia Mangel is a member of the Unionville Grange, but also serves as family activities director for the state grange and sits on the nine-person hosting committee for Butler County Pomona Grange.

“This is my tenth year,” she said while setting up contests submissions for judging.

“You have to have your mind on where things go, because you have so many classes and categories.”

About 15 to 20 judges, chosen locally for their skill in particular disciplines, arrived Saturday afternoon and spent about four hours examining various projects before deciding upon winners.

“I couldn’t judge a quilt if I had to,” laughed Mangel.

More than 30 years ago, Mangel and her husband also served as Young Couple for Pennsylvania Grange, whose task it is to speak at local grange clubs, community events and interact with legislators.

“What I learned years ago, these kids are learning now,” she said.

Youth play a large role in grange, as well, from the Young Couple chosen each year to youth and Junior Grange members, who also advocate and educate on behalf of the organization.

Hannah Leibensperger, 14, of Topton in Berks County and Joshua Mengel, 13, of Kutztown in Berks County serve as the Pennsylvania State Junior Grange Princess and Prince, respectively. They were appointed through a process of testing and interviews to stump on behalf of the organization throughout the year.

“We attend different open houses, the Family Festival, agricultural process days and some county fairs,” Leibensperger said.

“It’s a new experience and a new adventure. You always have a different theme and something different to do.”

The pair also attend a “royalty trip,” which takes them before legislators in Harrisburg, followed by a trip to Hershey Park. Mengel said meeting lawmakers does not intimidate him, but instead offers a unique opportunity both to talk about grange and listen to legislators’ ideas.

“It depends who I’m talking to,” he said, smiling.

“(Being in Junior Grange) definitely helps youth with their public speaking, and it’s a good atmosphere for young people to meet new friends and learn life lessons.”

Hardly a youth, Brewster of the Pomona Grange is, nonetheless, part of a new generation of grangers, just discovering what they can contribute to the rural community and what grange can offer its members.

“It’s fun and exciting for me. I’ve been a grange member for about two years. I went to last year’s state session (in Harrisburg) just to see what grange was all about, and I really liked it,” Brewster said.

“It’s a way to meet people from all walks of life. We have lots of members who are not farmers. I’m a retired university professor. The current state master is a retired police officer.”

Brewster said the greatest attraction to grange, for him, is its evolution into a total community service organization, rather than just a champion for the rural community.

He cited Greene County Grange clubs’ efforts to assist food banks there, collect eyeglasses for the needy, sponsor community meals and provide scholarships as examples of the grange’s community service.

“The list goes on and on,” Brewster said.

Furthermore, Brewster said grange is a great way for youth to develop talents and meet future business associates.

“I keep telling the young people with me that networking is important,” he said.

“And, when they are searching for a job, they will have the opportunity to impress others with their skills and knowledge (learned in grange).”

The convention ended Sunday with “A Night of Honors,” where grangers were recognized in categories like lecturers, deaf and community service, juniors and family activities.