Quad Cities (IA/IL) - October 14, 2024 - The National Grange, the United States’ oldest agricultural fraternity and rural service organization, will hold its 158th annual conference and legislative session at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf, Iowa, from November 12-16, 2024.  With over 400 elected officers, Delegates, and Grange members expected to attend, the annual convention serves to set and affirm national legislative policies for the organization. It is a major networking, educational, and social event for members nationwide.
  
While many events during the Convention are designed for members, several portions are open to the public. We invite everyone to visit the Grange Showcase in the Concourse and Iowa Room of the Convention Center, which will feature the work of the Midwest Host Region states, National Grange contest entries from around the country, and highlight the work the National Grange has completed, including partnerships with Rural Minds, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, as well as many others.
Other events during the convention include a Quilts of Valor presentation to local veterans on Wednesday, November 13; workshops on ideas, legislative efforts, and more for members; the Grange Honors Night on Friday, November 15; and the annual Grange Strong Banquet, highlighting a year of work for Rural America. 

During the Grange Honors night on Friday, November 15, the National Grange will present the National Teacher of the Year, Firefighter/EMS Worker of the Year, and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year awards, in addition to membership awards, contest awards, and announcing the new Youth Leadership Team for the 2024-2025 Grange year. 

With over 400 attendees expected, members will also have the opportunity to explore the region through curated experiences hosted by Visit Quad Cities, including visits to John Deere Davenport Works and the John Deere Pavilion, Cinnamon Ridge Farms, Lagomarcino’s Chocolates, Rock Island Arsenal, the Figge Art Museum, and other local attractions.

“We look forward to an exciting and productive convention on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi,” said National Grange President Christine E. Hamp. “The host committee has worked hard and has succeeded in creating a convention that highlights the region, educates our members, and provides plenty of time for fellowship and growth in the Grange. We are thrilled to celebrate what it means to be Grange Strong with members from across the country.”
 
The National Grange is the country’s largest and oldest agricultural and rural service fraternity, advocating for rural America. With more than 1,400 Community Granges and 140,000 members serving their hometowns, the Grange is a powerful community organization nationwide. 
For additional information on this convention, please visit http://www.nationalgrange.org/158thconvention.  

CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS (open to Press/Media) 

• November 11 – 5:30 pm – Welcome Reception – Remarks from President Christine E. Hamp, Region Chair Doug Baldwin, Mayor Robert Gallagher, and Visit Quad Cities President and CEO Dave Herrell
• November 12 – 11:00 am – National Grange President Christine E. Hamp’s External Address
  • 12:15 pm - Advocacy Luncheon - Speaker: Lukas Pietrzak, NTIA
• November 13 - 12:15 pm - Agriculture Luncheon - Speaker: To be confirmed
• November 13 - 7:30 pm - Grange Hall of Fame and Quilts of Valor Presentations
• November 15 - 7:30 pm - National Grange Recognition Night
• November 16 - 6:00 pm – Grange Strong Banquet 

GRANGE BACKGROUND
Founded in 1867, the Grange is a fraternal, nonpartisan organization with about 140,000 members across the nation in 1,400 local chapters. Open to anyone age 14 and older interested in agriculture, rural concerns, or bettering their community, the Grange never endorses candidates but works on issues made policy of the organization through a grassroots vetting process.
 
Grange members provide millions of hours of service and dollars in donations annually based on the needs identified in their local communities. From providing dictionaries to third-grade students often unserved or underserved by broadband internet, to hosting candidate forums to providing handmade caps for newborns, Grange members find ways to improve the lives of their neighbors both in service and through advocacy efforts.  

Learn more about the Grange and our grassroots policy and priority issues, the service of our nearly 140,000 members across the nation to improve the quality of life in their communities, and where you can find a Grange local to you by visiting www.nationalgrange.org. 
 This release is being sent on behalf of Philip Vonada, National Grange Communications Director. Please reach out to him directly for additional information or press inquiries.