Grange Co-op, a community partner for eighty-eight years, worked together with customers, members, and employees to donate over $175,000 to youth in agriculture. Of the $175,000 Grange Co-op donated over $75,000 to local 4-H and FFA organizations. “Grange Co-op works to fulfill the cooperative model of helping our community. It’s because of our great customers and members that we can help so many,” states Jason Wall, Marketing Manager. 

Grange Co-op is committed to helping build a foundation for our youth to succeed. Proudly supporting great organizations like 4-H and FFA which continue teaching students the work ethic and life experiences necessary for success. “With many schools transitioning away from vocational training, now more than ever, it is crucial we continue to support organizations that instill important skills into the next generation. We want to continue the legacy of our founding members, to always pursue supporting agriculture communities,” states Wall. 

Despite the challenges presented to them, students worked diligently during 2021 to ensure their project animals were ready for auction. “2021 was just as difficult as 2020 for students during the pandemic,” states Demetria Marical, Grange Co-op's Youth and Community Outreach Coordinator. “In addition to their schoolwork, chores, and other extracurricular activities, these students worked relentlessly on their projects, all the while combating the added stress and uncertainty of COVID-related challenges.” 

Grange Co-op is proud to support many of these students with the purchase of over $100,000 dollars in project animals in the communities served. “Many local records were broken at the 2021 auctions within Southern Oregon and Northern California. We were proud to be a part of those record-breaking numbers, helping reward students for their challenging work,” states Marical. “We look forward to helping students achieve their goals and navigate 2022. It is important for us to fulfill our purpose of helping our communities, customers and employees achieve more together.”

Of the $75,000 donated to youth in agriculture organizations, Grange Co-op donated $25,000 to Oregon FFA and $10,000 to California FFA. Grange Co-op also donated $10,000 each to Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Yuba-Sutter 4-H.