Massachusetts State Grange
Lecturer's Department
The Grange Lecturer is the program director of their Grange. They are responsible for planning and presenting educational and entertaining programs during Grange meetings. This page contains information about Grange contests sponsored by the Lecturer’s Department and resources for Grange Lecturers.
Photography Contest
Entries must be delivered or mailed to the State Lecturer and postmarked by September 1st of the contest year.
There are six categories in the Photography Contest:
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Patina (rust or aged)
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Historical or Patriotic Landmarks
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Barns or Barn Quilts
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Working Animals
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Triptych (3 part photo i.e. seasons fall, winter, spring or summer)
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Clouds/Sky (i.e. storms, sunrise/sunsets etc.)
Criteria for judging
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Composition and arrangement
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Interest
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Presentation
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Technique.
Prizes for first, second, and third place winners in each category will be cash and ribbons.
Contest Information
There Are Four Age Divisions For All Contests. Participants do not have to be Grange members.
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Adults - 26 years & up
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Youth - 14 to 25 years
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Juniors 10 to 14 years as of January 1st of the contest year
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Juniors 5 to 9 years as of January 1st of the contest year
Rules
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Only original, non-copyrighted prints are accepted for judging.
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Photographer must select the category for their entry.
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A photograph may be entered in only one category. Participants may enter all categories using different photographs.
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Participants may only enter one photo per category.
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Entries must have been taken between September 1st and August 31st of the contest year.
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Print may be made by a commercial process but must have been taken by the entrant personally.
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Nude photos, photos generated by computers, or computer enhanced photographs are NOT accepted.
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Any photo editing must be noted on back of entry.
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Simple mat board or firm backing is required for all photographs. (NO frames)
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Size of entry, including matting or backing, must not be smaller than 5” x 5” or larger than 11” x 14”.
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No labels, titles, or captions should be on the front of each entry.
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A copy of the entry form below must be on back of each entry.
Art Contest
Entries must be delivered or mailed to the State Lecturer and postmarked by September 1st of the contest year.
There are three categories:
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Landscape
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Flowers
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Animals and/or People
in the following mediums:
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Oils and Acrylics
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Watercolors
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Charcoal or Pencil Drawing
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Pastels
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Digital Art – process work required (i.e. screen shots)
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Mixed Media
Artists may enter any or all of the three categories using the same medium.
Criteria for judging
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How well the artist used the medium selected
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Craftsmanship and skill
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Composition, presentation of subject
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Originality
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Theme and its treatment
Prizes for first, second, and third place winners in each category will be cash and ribbons.
Contest Information
There Are Four Age Divisions For All Contests. Participants do not have to be Grange members.
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Adults - 26 years & up
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Youth - 14 to 25 years
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Juniors 10 to 14 years as of January 1st of the contest year
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Juniors 5 to 9 years as of January 1st of the contest year
Rules
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This contest is open to both Grange members and non-members. Non-members must be sponsored by a Subordinate Grange.
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All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor.
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All entries must be completed between Sept. 1st and Aug. 31st of the contest year.
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Age for Junior contestants will be as of January 1st.
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Entries are judged according to the medium used.
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Charcoal and pencil entries must have been treated for permanency to stop smudging.
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Nude entries will not be accepted.
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Size for all classes: Artwork must not exceed 24” x 36” including the frame. There is no minimum size, as miniatures will be accepted in all categories.
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All entries must be framed or have a firm backing, or be self-standing so that they can be displayed properly.
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Computer enhancement of artwork and/or art generated by using computer printers is not permitted. Absolutely NO AI Generated art accepted.
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A copy of the entry form below must be on the back of each entry or on the bottom.
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Do not laminate.
Creative Writing Contest
Entries must be delivered or mailed to the State Lecturer and postmarked by September 1st of the contest year). Label the back of each entry with creator’s name, Grange or sponsoring Grange, and Junior age as of
January 1st (if applicable).
Contest Information
There Are Four Age Divisions For All Contests. Participants do not have to be Grange members. Non-members must be sponsored by a Community Grange.
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Adults - 26 years & up
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Youth - 14 to 25 years
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Juniors 10 to 14 years as of January 1st of the contest year
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Juniors 5 to 9 years as of January 1st of the contest year
Poetry
Criteria for judging: theme, creativity, composition.
For adults: The poem must have at least 4 lines in each stanza, with a minimum of 4 stanzas and a maximum of 8 stanzas.
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2027 Topic – To Be Announced
For Juniors: The poem must be a minimum of 8 lines and a maximum of 12 lines in length
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2027 Topic – To Be Announced
Essay
Criteria for judging: depiction of theme, supporting details, organization, word choice.
For adults: The prescribed page limits are no more than three 8 ½ by 11 inch pages, double-spaced.
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2027 Topic – To Be Announced
For Juniors: The prescribed page limit is a minimum of one 8 ½ by 11 inch page, double spaced.
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2027 Topic – To Be Announced
Create-a-Note Card
Size of cards will be no larger than 5½ by 8 ½ inches. One card per category per person. Must be made by the
person submitting the card.
Criteria for judging: Creativity, Composition, and Eye Appeal.
Categories:
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Handmade - drawn by hand or painted and not commercially prepared.
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Hand-stamped and/or decorated - cut and pasted with materials found in the home rather than commercially or craft store.
Adult themes:
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2027
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To Be Announced
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To Be Announced
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Junior themes:
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2027
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To Be Announced
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To Be Announced
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Resources for Grange Lecturers
The State and National Granges provide program resources to help Grange Lecturers plan their programs. Agriculture Education is a major focus of the Massachusetts State Grange. Local Granges are encouraged to hold programs to educate their local communities on topics such as home gardening and protecting pollinators.
Detailed resources can be found in the Program Handbook on the Member Resources page.
Report Forms
Grange Lecturers should file quarterly and annual reports to the State Lecturer which provide information about the programs and events happening in their Grange. Download the appropriate report form below.
Contact the Lecturer and Coordinating Committee
If you have any questions regarding the programs and contests listed on this page, please contact a member of the Committee: