Lecturer's Corner

The Grange Lecturer is 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.

If you have any questions regarding the programs and contests listed below, please contact the State Grange Lecturer or a member of the Lecturer’s Coordinating Committee:

Lecturer:

Deborah Goodrich (508-869-3146) - dkgood_99@hotmail.com

Committee Members:

Rebecca Ingram (781-760-2789) - ringram0922@comcast.net

Kristina Moffatt (978-399-9500) - kristina.e.tully@gmail.com

George E. Thomas, III (617-791-4950) - gthomas3brk@yahoo.com

Kathy Gibson (508-793-9524) - madeafactivities@hotmail.com

Jennifer Towler (413-896-3230) - jenniferrtowler@gmail.com

Honorary Members:

Susan Rotellini (978-663-6319) - susanrotellini@verizon.net

Janet Segur (508-886-2341) - jsegur55@gmail.com

Kristin Paulson (508-282-0769) - Kep4grange@gmail.com

Resources for Grange Lecturers:

Program Resources:

The State and National Granges provide program resources to help Grange Lecturers plan their programs. Download the State and National Program Resources information for topic and program planning ideas.

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. Download the State Grange’s Agriculture Education Planning and Resource document for ideas and tools to help plan your Grange’s program.

Additional Resources for Lecturers can be found in the Program Handbook.

Contest Information:

There Are Four Age Divisions For All Contests:

Adults: 26 years & up

Youth: 14 to 25 years

Juniors: 10 to 14 years as of January 1st of the contest year

Juniors: 5 to 9 years as of January 1st of the contest year

Photography Contest – (entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1st of the contest year)

There are six categories in the Photography Contest:

Patina (rust or aged)
Historical or Patriotic Landmarks
Barns or Barn Quilts
Working Animals
Triptych (3 part photo i.e. seasons fall, winter, spring or summer)
Clouds/Sky (i.e. storms, sunrise/sunsets etc.)

Criteria for judging:

Composition and arrangement
Interest
Presentation
Technique.

Prizes for first, second, and third place winners in each category will be cash and ribbons.

Participants do not have to be Grange members. This contest is also open to Juniors and will be judged in two divisions: Ages 5-9 and Ages 10-14 (as of January 1st).

Rules:

Only original, non-copyrighted prints are accepted for judging.
Photographer must select the category for their entry.
A photograph may be entered in only one category. Participants may enter all categories using different photographs.
Participants may only enter one photo per category.
Entries must have been taken between September 1st and August 31st of the contest year.
Print may be made by a commercial process but must have been taken by the entrant personally.
Nude photos, photos generated by computers, or computer enhanced photographs are NOT accepted.
Any photo editing must be noted on back of entry.
Simple mat board or firm backing is required for all photographs. (NO frames)
Size of entry, including matting or backing, must not be smaller than 5” x 5” or larger than 11” x 14”.
No labels, titles, or captions should be on the front of each entry.
A copy of the entry form below must be on back of each entry.

Art Contest – (entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1st of the contest year)

There are three categories:

Landscape
Flowers
Animals and/or People

in the following mediums:

Oils and Acrylics
Watercolors
Charcoal or Pencil Drawing
Pastels
Digital Art – process work required (i.e. screen shots)
Mixed Media

Artists may enter any or all of the three categories using the same medium.

Criteria for judging:

How well the artist used the medium selected
Craftsmanship and skill
Composition, presentation of subject
Originality
Theme and its treatment

Prizes for first, second, and third place winners in each category will be cash and ribbons. As with Photography Contest, there will only be two divisions of Junior exhibitors.

Rules:

This contest is open to both Grange members and non-members. Non-members must be sponsored by a Subordinate Grange.
All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor.
All entries must be completed between Sept. 1st and Aug. 31st of the contest year.
Age for Junior contestants will be as of January 1st.
Entries are judged according to the medium used.
Charcoal and pencil entries must have been treated for permanency to stop smudging.
Nude entries will not be accepted.
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.
All entries must be framed or have a firm backing, or be self-standing so that they can be displayed properly.
Computer enhancement of artwork and/or art generated by using computer printers is not permitted. Absolutely NO AI Generated art accepted.
A copy of the entry form below must be on the back of each entry or on the bottom.
Do not laminate.

Creative Writing Contest - (entries must be postmarked by Sept. 1st of the contest year)

All divisions are open to both Grange members and non-members who are sponsored by a Subordinate
Grange. Label the back of each entry with creator’s name, Grange or sponsoring-Grange, Junior age as of
January 1st (if applicable).

Poetry

The poem must have at least 4 lines in each stanza, with a minimum of 4 stanzas and a maximum of 8 stanzas. Criteria for judging: theme, creativity, composition.

2026 Topic – America the Beautiful
2027 Topic – To Be Announced

For Juniors: The poem must be a minimum of 8 lines and a maximum of 12 lines in length

2026 Topic – The American Flag
2027 Topic – To Be Announced

Essay

The prescribed page limits are no more than three 8 ½” x 11” pages, double-spaced. Criteria for judging:
depiction of theme, supporting details, organization, word choice.

2026 Topic – “How I plan on celebrating “America 250”
2027 Topic – To Be Announced

For Juniors: The prescribed page limit is a minimum of one 8 ½ by 11 page, double spaced.

2026 Topic – “What does it mean to me to celebrate the Nation’s 250th Birthday”
2027 Topic – To Be Announced

Create-a-Note Card

Size of cards will be no larger than 5½” x 8 ½”. One card per category per person. Must be made by
person submitting the card. Criteria for judging: Creativity, Composition, and Eye Appeal.

Categories:

Handmade (drawn by hand or painted and not commercially prepared)
Hand-stamped and/or decorated (cut and pasted with materials found in the home rather than commercially or craft store)

2026
- Patriotic
- Note to a Veteran
2027
- To Be Announced
- To Be Announced

For Juniors:

2026
- Invitation to a 250th Celebration
- Happy 250th Birthday
2027
- To Be Announced
- To Be Announced

Report Forms:

Grange Lecturers should file quarterly and reports to the State Lecturer which provide information about the programs and events happening in their Grange.