812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 23, 2002 Betsy Huber Is First Woman To Head Pa. State Grange DEANN CARDARELLA Grange Specialist HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Betsy Huber of Lincoln University has been elected presi dent of the Pennsylvania State Grange. Huber, a member of Go shen Grange # 121 in Chester County, is the first woman to serve in the top position in the 130-year history of the state or ganization. Huber was elected during the 130th State Session of the Penn sylvania State Grange that met in Washington in October. Huber has been a longtime standing member of the Pennsyl vania State Grange with approxi mately 40 years of membership. As a young child, home was a dairy farm in Westtown, Chester County. Huber’s father, Ed Zug Jr., served as master for Goshen Grange # 121 following her birth. Her grandfather, Chester Sup plee, was treasurer of Goshen Grange and Chester County Po mona Grange for many years. “We had an active Junior Grange,” Huber said. “I am thankful for the experience and training I received there. “As a child, we always attend ed the Grange as a family. Then when my children were bom, the tradition continued. We always had them with us at meetings. Growing up in the Grange and then as a mother myself, I have always appreciated the opportu nity for family togetherness in an organization that truly works for Anything Goes (In Fashion) At York County Society Of Farm Women Convention MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Fanning Staff YORK (York Co.) Approxi mately 180 ladies, many of them decked out in colorful hats for the occasion, participated in the 63rd annual convention of the York County Society of Farm Women recently at the York Expo Center. The theme, “Anything Goes, — In Fashion,” reflected guest speaker Kelly Miller McKeown’s life’s work as a fashion designer. McKeown, York, who has de signed Olympic outfits for several countries, brought samples and pictures of her designs to show the audience. The day also included a busi ness session, with reports from county officers, and a program with not only McKeown but also Eighty-year-old Farm Women Society members recognised at the convention in cluded, from left, Ermil Neiman, Maomi Bupp, Martha Cunningham, Josephine Martin, Athena Beshore, and Mary Lantz. Betsy Huber the betterment of our community on a local, state and national level.” Upon accepting the top state position, Huber resigned as legis lative aide to Representative Art Hershey, a position she held for 10 years. While serving the 13th District, Huber was involved with many of the legislative activities of Rep. Hershey including the House of Representatives’ Agri cultural Committee and Environ mental Resource Committee. “Legislatively, the Pennsylva nia State Grange represents its members as well as the rural community on the state level,” state dairy princess Raechel Kil gore, Airville, and a poem read by Lois Manifold. Keith Weire, son of a Farm Women Society member, was the soloist for the afternoon. Weire was followed by Thomas Gibbs, Shiloh, a historian who shared several humorous and sentimental stories about the con tribution of women many of them farm women during the Civil War. Women replaced men in the teaching and nursing pro fession during the war, a change that has remained in place today, he said. Recipients of the food gather ing effort was the York County “Food Bank and the Food Pantry Clearing House. The ways and means commit tee gave a check to Access York, an organization dedicated to Huber said. “Throughout my ca reer with Rep. Hershey, I was grateful to have that Harrisburg connection on a day-to-day basis. My professional experience has helped prepare me to take the reigns for our organization.” Throughout her years at the Grange, Huber has served in many capacities. Early on, the Hubers were the Grange Young Couple. She is secretary of Go shen Grange and a member of the executive committee of her Pomona Grange. In 1978, she was elected the first female mas ter of Goshen Grange and was Pomona Master from 1994-96. Prior to State Master, Huber was State Overseer for six years. Previously, she served six years as State Pomona. From 1989-1992, she worked in the Harrisburg state office as office manager for past master William Ringler. On a national level, she was secretary to Mary Buffington when she was National Grange Director of Women’s Activities. Other accomplishments out- side the Grange include being ' - elected the first female supervisor of Upper Oxford Township in 1992. She will complete her sec* ond term in 2003. She is treasurer of the Chester County Associa tion of Township Officials and was recently appointed to the Resolutions-Legislative Commit tee of the State Association (PSATS). Living in the rural end of eliminating domestic violence, and to the York County, 4-ll Center. The 4-H Center is plan ning to put the money towards the construction of a building on York Expo grounds where live stock, dairy, and horse clinics could be conducted. The day also included a cell phone visit from state president Catherine Schott, Lebanon, who was unable to attend the meeting. The upcoming state conven tion will be conducted January 13 at the Radisson Camp Hill. Cost is $22 and registration be gins at 9:30 a.m. Call Treva Stiles at (717)235-1132 for more in formation. Group 12 won first place award for attendance, followed by Groups 15, 18, 31, and 34 in second place and Group 21 in third place. Chester County with over 4,500 acres in the township Ag Security Area, Huber was able to work to change a zoning ordinance to help preserve fertile farmland. Huber also served on the Chester County Water Resources Task Force where she helped to devel op the water resources compo nent of the county comprehensive plan approved in September 2002. “I am very proud to represent the members of the Pennsylvania State Grange as the State Mas ter,” said Huber. “But as I take on my new capacity of service to the Pennsylvania State Grange, I must first acknowledge my grati tude to William A. Steel, my predecessor,” Huber said. “In his six years of leadership and com mitment to our organization, be has made some wonderful changes and introduced us to new ideas including a presence on the World Wide Web. He wasn’t afraid to try new things and make changes. Our organiza tion is very grateful to the com mitment he showed during his six-year reign.” Quality legislative representa tion for Grange members and rural Pennsylvania has always been priority for fire organization. In addition, Huber said she would like to improve commu nications between the State Grange and local units. Member ship is another priority. “Of course I would like to in crease membership especially 100-year-old Edna Baughman, Dover, Group 4, a long time Farm Women Society member, waa honored at the convention by Treva Stiles. She celebrated her 100th birthday the end of September. York County officers include, from left, Hester Hem minger, Glen Rock, treasurer; Treva Stiles, Glen Rock, president; Ellen Hampton, Dillsburg, second vice presi dent; Doris Keeney, secretary, York; and Ha Strong, Mt. Wolf, first vice president. among the young-married-age group and work to publicize our activities more on a local and state level,” she said. “The Grange is a wonderful organiza tion open to all ages. Whether it is legislative interests, family fun or community service, the Grange has something for every one. We need to continue to get the word out so rural and urban communities are open to join the ranks of our membership.” As the first woman to serve in the top state leadership role for the Pennsylvania State Grange, Huber doesn’t necessarily feel she has entered a new frontier. “Since the 1800 s, v'omen have always been well accepted in our organization. To the best of my knowledge, I was file first woman to run in Pennsylvania. In fact, many other states have women as masters. Becoming the first woman isn’t an issue for me; however, doing my best for the organization is what counts.” Huber and her husband Henry have been married for 36 years. They are the parents of three children: Ellen Marie, wife of SSG David Wadsworth stationed in Baumholder, Germany; Peter, husband of Kim living in Mor gantown, Berks County; and An drew, husband of Jody, living in West Chester. The Hubers have seven grandchildren. In addition to Grange-related activities, Huber and her hus band are very active at Avondale Presbyterian Churchy where Huber is a member of the choir.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers