Frederick has new, only Junior Grange in Maryland

FREDERICK, Md. – On Thursday, Sept. 6, a new Junior Grange was formed in the state of Maryland. The Frederick County Junior Grange became the only Junior Grange in the state, a fact that Maryland State Grange Secretary and Co-organizer of the Frederick County Junior Grange, Donna Wiles, hoped to rectify.

“This is the only active Junior Grange we have had for probably close to 20 years. I felt there was a need as more and more children and grandchildren were attending Subordinate and Pomona Meetings,” Wiles said. “I suggested it to Dodie [Mullen] and she was all ready to get started.”

The timing was right for the new group to form, according to Wiles.“

We are hoping to get more children as members over the winter when they are not so involved with sports. We needed something to get them more involved in the Grange other than once a year serving on the Youth/Junior Officer team at State Session.”

Dodie Mullen is the other Co-founder of the Frederick County Junior Grange.

Mullen has been a Grange member since she was 5 years old.

She was a Junior Leader for a variety of Granges across western New York and later became the Junior Deputy for New York State, a post she held for 15 years before moving to Maryland.

She was excited to get the new Grange up and running and talked about what is going on with the Junior Grange.

“Frederick County Junior Grange began meeting in March of this year to begin informing the possible new members and parents about the Junior Grange,” Mullen said. “We have completed several craft projects that will be displayed at our Maryland State Grange session in October.”

Mullen said the group has already begun working.

“We have completed one community service project and will be doing another this Saturday at Frederick County Fair where the members will be helping to distribute coloring books and other items to the fair goers in the area of the community Grange displays,” Mullen said.

The new Junior Grange Master is Mike Selzer.

Selzer has been attending Grange meetings since he was a toddler.

Both Mullen and Stilles said Selzer is responsible, polite, tremendously friendly and willing to help out whenever he can.

The Maryland State Grange Session will be held Oct. 18 to 20 in Frederick, Md.B