| AUGUST 20, 2014 -- Although Connecticut’s farming and agriculture communities are not as vibrant as they once were, Oxford’s chapter of a national agriculture advocacy group hopes to use its recently boosted numbers to create a greater sense of community in town.
“Now that Oxford no longer has a strong farming community, the function of the Grange is to provide a place to meet and gather and offer different programs,” said Maggie Buck, president of the Oxford Grange.
Originally founded in May 1928, Oxford Grange #194 recently gained 12 new members, bringing the number of active Grangers to about 20, according to Buck.
Buck said in the past the group has been hindered by misconceptions about the Grange, such as being outdated and irrelevant in modern times. Combined with a lapse in membership, Grange members worried they’d be at risk for losing their charter.
Now a new era has come and the group plans to be more active in town.
“Every community needs an identity and a place where people can interact,” Buck said. “The Grange provides a mechanism to meet people and a way to come together. I don’t think that’s an old-fashioned idea.”
The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was founded in 1867 as a fraternal organization dedicated to advancing agriculture, as well as promoting the needs of farmers in the country.
Buck said nowadays the Grange is not limited to agriculture-related programs, but that each Grange builds off the talents and interests of its individual members. For example, she said, the Oxford Grange hopes to host a variety of cultural arts programs, such as open mic nights and coffeehouse events geared toward area youth interested in the arts.
Still, they plan to stay true to the group’s agricultural roots by working to create an educational garden for students at Oxford Center School, which neighbors the Grange Hall.
Kathy Johnson, one of the Grange’s newest members, said the Grange is still vital to the greater Oxford community.
“There’s always been talk as the town has grown to keep it rural and as country feeling as possible,” Johnson said. “Being a member of the Grange is a way to do that and a way for newcomers to get that country feeling they came to town for. This is where the heartbeat is. This is what it’s about. It’s a very important organization.”
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