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The '''Grange''' (officially the '''National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry''') is an American organization of farmers that was founded by Oliver H. Kelley in 1867; it spread across the U.S. and Canada, and is still active.
The '''Grange''' (officially the '''National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry''') is an American organization of farmers that was founded by Oliver H. Kelley in 1867; it spread across the U.S. and Canada, and is still active.
[[File:Farm-orgs.jpg|thumb|310px|Membership in Grange and rival farm organizations, 1875-1960]] Grangers were modernizers who wanted to use modern science to make the farms more efficient and business-like. Its programs helped the farmer and the farm wife become up-to-date with technology and new methods. The used the county fair and state fair as an important agent of modernization, demonstrating to farmers the latest in agricultural equipment and techniques, in addition to providing political speeches from a great variety of persuasions, and different types of entertainment for every member of the family. It promoted rural schools and state agricultural colleges. When the agricultural colleges opened extension offices in most counties after 1917, the Grange was upstaged by the [[American Farm Bureau Federation]], which was closely linked with the extension service.
[[File:Farm-orgs.jpg|thumb|310px|Membership in Grange and rival farm organizations, 1875-1960. From Tontz (1964) p. 146]] Grangers were modernizers who wanted to use modern science to make the farms more efficient and business-like. Its programs helped the farmer and the farm wife become up-to-date with technology and new methods. The used the county fair and state fair as an important agent of modernization, demonstrating to farmers the latest in agricultural equipment and techniques, in addition to providing political speeches from a great variety of persuasions, and different types of entertainment for every member of the family. It promoted rural schools and state agricultural colleges. When the agricultural colleges opened extension offices in most counties after 1917, the Grange was upstaged by the [[American Farm Bureau Federation]], which was closely linked with the extension service.
[[File:Yeoman.jpg|thumb|300px|romantic image of hard-working, prosperous, independent yeoman farmer; from 1873 Grange poster]]
[[File:Yeoman.jpg|thumb|300px|romantic image of hard-working, prosperous, independent yeoman farmer; from 1873 Grange poster]]