Rainbow Grange sends delegates to convention

FALLBROOK — The California State Grange held its annual convention October 12-15 in Redding, CA. Each local and county Grange can send two delegates to the convention to vote on resolutions pertaining to Grange policies and positions on the state and national levels as well as the election of state officers. Nine members of Rainbow Valley Grange attended the convention, eight as delegates. Rainbow Valley Grange was represented by Master/President Kirby Hitt and his wife, Vicki. Vista Grange’s delegates were Master Hank Hitt and his wife, Heidi, who are affiliate members of Vista Grange. Master of San Marcos Grange Bill Hitt and his granddaughter Chelsea attended as delegates, both also affiliate members of that Grange. And representing San Diego County Pomona (county) Grange were Rainbow members Ed Komski and Suzy Moramarco. Member Nancy Moramarco also went to Redding along with her husband, Mario.

Besides the business part of convention, the State Grange also holds an exposition in which members statewide can display their talents by entering a variety of contests. Categories include arts and crafts, horticulture, creative writing, photography and home arts, including baking, food preservation, quilt making and other needlework. Ten adult and youth members, along with four junior members, from Rainbow Valley entered a variety of contests this year, the most that have participated in several years. Among awards won were Best of Show in textiles by Suzy Moramarco for a counted cross-stitch and Best of Show in Photography by Aspen Komski.

Another category in the Grange Expo is livestock. Grange Youth Fair team members enter project books in which they have recorded the care and training of their animals as well as their performance at the various fairs they entered this year. The project books are entered in different categories according to the kind of animal and the age level of the fair team member.

At the November meeting of Rainbow Valley Grange, Master Kirby Hitt and Fair Team Leader Ed Komski presented the awards won at convention by their team members. Missy Dunckel received a plaque for Senior Project Book and a silver belt buckle for Senior Breeding Project. SeaJay Bates received a plaque for Junior Project Book and a silver belt buckle for Junior All-Around Member. And Aspen Komski won silver belt buckles for Equestrian and Junior Small Livestock. Rainbow Valley’s Fair Team also won the Community Service Award and Ed Komski won Leader of the Year, both plaques being awarded for the effort that went into putting on the Show Season Opener Livestock competition in April.

More information on the fair team, the Grange and the next Show Season Opener can be found at http://www.grangeyft.com.