Day 2: Newly elected Minnesota Master serving as honorary delegate
Among the new Delegates at the 153rd Annual Session of the National Grange is Ann Bercher, who was recently elected as President of the Minnesota State Grange. Bercher may be familiar to Session attendees, as she worked for 25 years at the Oliver Hudson Kelley Farm and the Minnesota Historical Society and was a Kelley Farm representative to National Session, and she also served as a Communication Fellow at the 2018 session.
Through her work at the Kelley Farm, Bercher joined the Sunbeam Grange #2 in Elk River, Minnesota in 2002. This year, she will serve as an honorary delegate to session, as she succeeds John Crippen, who is Chairperson of the Education & Health Committee.
As Minnesota State Grange President, Bercher’s motto is “we, not me,” emphasizing teamwork and communication as being key to a successful organization. She brings enthusiasm and energy to her office, and is full of ideas on how to help continue the growth of Minnesota Granges, particularly in currently underserved communities. She is especially excited to work with Troy Behnke, Minnesota State Grange’s Membership Director.
According to past President John Crippen, “Ann is exactly who the Minnesota Grange needs at this moment in time. She has a passion for increasing our viability through the creation of new Granges, and she is a wonderful ambassador to Grange members around the country. I am excited to see where we can go under her leadership.”
At this year’s session, Bercher states that she wants to grow her contacts and connections, to learn how Granges are different, and how Granges can make the most of those differences to utilize everyone’s strengths. When asked if she has anything else to add, Bercher notes that she is an avid gardener, and a classically trained chef through Le Cordon Bleu.
