The Connecticut State Grange is proud to announce that Connecticut's Youth Drill Team has taken First Place honors at the National Grange Drill Team Competition held July 10 at the Northeastern Grange Youth Conference.

The Conference was held at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine from July 8 - 10.  Second and third place finishes go to Drill Teams from New Hampshire and New York respectively.

The Connecticut Youth Drill Team consists of members representing Quinebaug Pomona Grange, and Ekonk Community Grange, and include Chris Sebastian, Maria Angelone, Katie Hermonot, Shelley St. Jean, Jaimie Cameron, Clifford Gervais, J. Allen Cameron, and Katie Molodich. The Coaches are Connecticut State Grange President Jody Cameron, and Ekonk Community Grange member Mike Molodich.  The group ranges in age from 10 to 19 years old. This is the first time that members of this team have competed.

The Youth Drill Team hopes to compete again next year as Connecticut will be hosting the Northeastern Grange Youth Conference in July, 2012.

The Drill Team competition was scored on the following - precision/adaptability of cadence to music, choreography, degree of difficulty, execution of program, and attitude.  They are also judged on time for the length of the drill.  Drills were required to be 8 to 10 minutes in length.