Minnesota State Grange

Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley and six associates established the National Grange (Order of the Patrons of Husbandry) in Washington, D.C., in 1867. Conceived as a social and educational organization for farmers, it was also involved in cooperation and politics. It described itself as a force for social betterment and as a spokesman for public affairs for the people of rural America.

The Grange is a secret and ritualistic fraternal society of farmers and others interested in agriculture. It is divided into a hierarchical structure of subordinate (local lodges), pomona (county or district bodies), state, and national organizations.

The first subordinate grange in Minnesota was established in 1868 at St. Paul. The Minnesota State Grange, the first state grange to be established in the United States, was organized in St. Paul in 1869 (a minimum of 15 subordinate granges were required before a state grange could be formed). Minnesota's first pomona grange was established in Mower County in 1912. By 1962 a total of 827 subordinate and 15 pomona lodges (not all then active) had been established in the state. In 1992 there were 9 active subordinate and 5 active pomona granges in Minnesota.

From the guide to the Grange records, 1868-1994 (bulk 1910-1966)., (Minnesota Historical Society)