Time to get creative for Grange Spring contests

I think we can safely say it is Spring! Time once again for the Grange Spring Contests, sponsored by our Wahkiakum County Pomona Grange No. 25.

Since April is officially Grange Month we will be holding our contest next week April 18 at the Long Beach grange. The contest will take place in the upstairs area of the building with the doors open at 10 a.m.

Entries will be received between 10 a.m. and noon and judging will be from noon till 2 p.m. No items will be accepted for entry once judging has begun.

Following the judging, our contest workers will complete the necessary paperwork and apply the ribbons creating a display of all entries that Grange members and guests may view that evening. Long Beach Grange will host a pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a live auction of the contest entered baked goods and their regular business meeting. Please note that the funds received from the baked goods auction will go to the Pomona Grange to help pay expenses for the contest.

This is a Grange sponsored contest that is open to everyone. You do not need to be a grange member to enter.

A very special invitation is extended to all – young and old alike-to enter your special creations into a wide variety of our Family Living and Lecturers Departments contests. Our Junior contests are ages five to nine and 10 to 14.

We have made special arrangements for entries from the east end of the county, to be left with Sheran and Chuck Parker at the Skamokawa Grange hall on April 17 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Parkers will make sure your entries get to the contest in Long Beach the next morning. When you drop off your entry on Tuesday it will be necessary to have your entry in an appropriate container for transporting.

Please identify your item with your full name, address, and phone number. Entry forms for the proper contest will be prepared when your item arrives in Long Beach. Arrangements for the return of your item following the contest needs to be confirmed with the Parkers at the time of drop off. You may call the Parkers at 360-795-3782 if the Tuesday drop time does not work for you.

Now you want to know what to enter. For the specific requirements in each contest you may e-mail donnamoody@wwest.net.

The Family Living Department includes contests in the following:

• Canning includes fruits, vegetables, soft spreads, meat, poultry, seafood, pickles and vinegars.

• Cooked Candy - 13 pieces accompanied by copy of recipe in legal sized envelope.

• Baking includes breads, cakes cookies and bars, diabetic quick breads and cookies with copy of recipe in legal sized envelope.

Please understand that if your baked entry wins, we will be asking you to make that item again the end of June for our State Contest.

• Needlework – Sewing and Quilting covering everything within these categories.

Each of our contests has a class called "Other" which allows us to accommodate all entries.

Judging of these contests is done using the Danish point system. Blue Ribbon items which are selected by the judges as best in that class will also receive a purple ribbon which qualifies that item to be entered into our State Grange Contest taking place in Spokane the end of June at the State Grange Convention.

Items from our Pomona Contest will be transported to the State Grange Convention by either Chuck and Sheran Parker or Dave and Chris Schaefer.

Our Lecturer’s Department Contests include all arts and crafts, photography, paintings and drawings.

If you have created it chances are we have a group and class for it. You will need to e-mail donnamoody@wwest.net for the specific requirements in each contest.

Please accept our invitation to join this great opportunity to showcase your special talent. Cash prizes are awarded for contests winners on the State level. At the convention your item will compete with items in that class from throughout the State of Washington. Good luck!