Programs & Outreach
How Ravena Grange serves our community.
Community outreach
Each Grange chooses its own service projects. These are some of the ways Ravena Grange serves our neighbors.
Medical
Our members make items for people facing medical challenges:
- Walker & wheelchair bags – colorful bags to hold personal items for those who need both hands for mobility
- “Preemie” knit hats – warmth for premature babies
- Cancer care turbans
- Tummy pillows – for those recovering from abdominal surgery
- Mastectomy gown bags – to carry gowns needed for radiation treatments
Educational
A dictionary for every student entering third grade at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School since September 2005.
Social
We support the Albany County Foster Children's program with bags filled with personal items for children who are being relocated.
Community
Our hall is a designated emergency center for the Town of Coeymans.
Words for Thirds®
Every year the Ravena Grange and Ravena Junior Grange present dictionaries to the third graders at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School. January 2025 marked the twentieth year we have proudly sponsored this community service event.
To date, Ravena Grange has given more than 1,750 dictionaries to students at this school.
Ravena Junior Grange
Our Junior Grange is open to all children ages 5 to 14. Juniors take part in individual craft and personal development programs, leadership development and community service projects — and many prizes have been awarded to our junior members for their outstanding work.
2025 Weiss Award winners for the best Youth Exhibit at the Altamont Fair — the fourth year in a row!
Junior Grange leaders
Questions or want to sign up? Contact our Junior leaders:
Kimberly Sands
386-336-0816 (cell)
Ismay Payne
518-756-6551
Contests & programs
These programs are run by our Program Director (Lecturer), Jeff Ruso, 518-756-9636. Rules and deadlines are set each year by the New York State Grange — please call for the current year's details. Professionals are not eligible to enter.
Promoting the Grange in your community
Poster contest: Design a poster (no larger than 22"×28") promoting the Grange, and hang it where the public can see it.
Tri-fold brochure: Describe the mission of the Grange, your Grange's objectives, what your Grange does for your community, and a local contact for potential members.
Newspaper article: Write an article for the Empire State Granger and your local paper on the year's theme.
NYS Grange Talent Show
Any Community or Junior Grange member, or group of members, may perform. Categories: Instrumental (solo & group), Vocal (solo & group), and Skit/Variety. Acts are limited to 6 minutes. The show is typically held the last Saturday in April at State Grange Headquarters.
All performers receive a ribbon. The Community Grange Best of Show winner receives a cash prize and is invited to perform at the NYS Fair on Grange Day, at State Grange Session, and at the National Grange Talent Showcase.
Photography contest
Open to adult and junior members in three divisions: Community (adult), Juniors ages 5–9, and Juniors ages 10–14.
Categories include Grange Action in the Community, Agriculture, and Time Lapse (four 4"×6" photos of an action in different stages). Photos must be your own, taken during the current contest year, between 4"×6" and 11"×14" with a rigid backing (no frames). One entry per category.
Local winners advance to Pomona (county), then State competition, with certificates, ribbons and cash prizes at every level.
Art contest
Open to adult and junior members in the same three divisions as photography. Categories change each year and have included watercolor on sheet music, rock painting, and mixed media on canvas.
Each entry must be your original work completed during the contest year. No glass. One entry per category. Judging covers use of medium, craftsmanship, composition, presentation and originality.
Craft, handiwork & baking
Open to members and community members.
- Woodworking – any project up to 20"×24" (Subordinate and Junior)
- Quilting – wall hangings and full quilts, machine or hand quilted, plus a Junior division
- Needlework – afghans, doilies, plastic canvas, 3-piece baby sets, embroidery and stuffed toys
- Baking – an annual featured recipe contest
First-place needlework winners may be sent on to the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA.
Youth & sports
Youth members are encouraged to take part in every area — Family Activities, Junior Grange, the Lecturer's Program, Legislative and Sports — along with State Grange Youth Weekends and the Northeast Regional Youth Conference.
The New York State Grange sports program offers tournaments in bowling, dartball and golf.
Tri-County Fair Society
The Tri-County Fair Society, Inc. was incorporated in 1973 to coordinate the exhibits and activities of the Granges in Albany, Greene and Schenectady Counties in the Grange Exhibition Building at the annual Altamont Fair.
Officers are elected each year at the August meeting following the Fair. All Grange members in the Tri-County area may attend, participate, vote and hold office in the Society.
2025–26 officers
President: Vernon Starr, 518-567-4294
Vice President: Allyn Shaw, 518-966-8166
Secretary: Ellen Starr, 518-410-9767
Treasurer: Stephen C. Coye, 518-756-1118
Chaplains: Ismay Payne, 518-756-6551; Jacqueline Schrom, 518-810-6031
Building Superintendent: Stephen C. Coye
Asst. Superintendent: Lois Hayner, 518-399-9492