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While the Grange has grown to advocate for people all over the state, not just farmers, the organization remains true to its agricultural roots when seeking new or altered legislation and state assistance.
Some of the state Grange's big concerns lately are dairy farms and milk prices, expanding broadband statewide and opposing Sunday hunting, said Wayne Campbell, state Grange president, during the Lycoming County Pomona Grange's 66th legislative banquet Saturday in Warrensville.
The state Grange is opposed to Sunday hunting, a position adopted in 2005, Campbell said. At the time, the Grange proposed an alternative: Extend the season by one week, adding another Saturday.
"I will say, if nothing else, go out and vote and call your legislators and make your voices known," Campbell said. "I know for a fact -- I've had two legislators tell me, they've had enough constituents call and talk to them that they've switched their vote from for-Sunday-hunting to against-Sunday-hunting. You do make a difference."
The Grange is working with dairy farmers to express concerns with the state through a recent resolution which gave direction to the Budget and Finance Committee to travel statewide and interview farmers and others in agri-business, then report back to Harrisburg with ideas for how the government can help those in the industry.
"I was very pleased that they called us and said they would like to meet with us and hear what our ideas were," said Campbell, who was a dairy farmer up until the 1980s. "I contacted three different farmers, three different-sized operators, and they all came into the office to voice their opinions. One of the biggest things that we think we need to do is educate."
For many years, the public was told to drink skim or low-fat milk. Now, the emphasis is on drinking whole milk because it's healthier for bone development, he said.
"God created this earth a long time ago, and I think He did a pretty good job of it," Campbell said. "I'm still trying to figure out why we, as people, keep trying to mess it up."
In early 1981, Campbell said his farm received $14.50 per $100 for its milk. Last summer, farmers were getting $15.50 per $100 -- or less -- for their milk, he said.
And, while those running other businesses are able to set their prices, dairy farmers can't do the same, he said.
"When I travel throughout the state, I ask people, 'How many in this room are still making today what you made in 1981, and you're still doing the same job?'" Campbell said. "The only people who can put their hands up are dairy farmers. We, as farmers, are used to being told what to do and what we're going to be paid."
Agriculture remains the No. 1 industry in Pennsylvania, but less than 2 perent of the population nationwide are farmers, Campbell said. The average age of American farmers is 58, he said.
"Who's going to pick up the reigns?" he asked.
Another key focus for the state Grange is finding the funding to expand broadband internet access statewide.
Broadband is both a rural and urban issue. Even Philadelphia has zones where broadband access is poor, Campbell said.
Businesses will not settle in communities where credit card machines don't work and email can't be checked, he said.
"This is something that is going to affect each and every person in this room equally," he said.
An idea Campbell backs personally, although the state Grange has not taken a position, is to put a surcharge of 25 to 75 cent fee on phonelines statewide and pool the collections.
The state Grange continues to gather leaders to talk solutions and make change happen, including the governor putting about $35 million from the state Department of Transportation's funds toward improving broadband along highways in the northern tier, he said
"We do not endorse candidates, we back policy, so we can bring the Democrats and the Republicans to the table because we're not going to be biased," Campbell said. "We're going to tell them what we think. We get our point across."