Submitted by Linda Peth.

The Orcas Island Grange was represented by grange master Leslie Seaman and secretary Linda Peth at the 130th Washington State Grange Convention in Okanogan, Washington, June 26-29. The following are examples of the issues addressed during the four days of meetings:

Agriculture issues on conservation and ecology including supporting farmers’ innovations around climate change; restoring the Similkameen River in Eastern Washington; and breaching the four dams on the Snake River in Eastern Washington was rejected because farmers depend on these dams for water, and there are “unknown contaminates if dams are removed.” Attendees also agreed on the definition of “milk,” stating that products not produced from mammary glands of mammals cannot be labeled as milk; supported the federal government to negotiate a bilateral agreement with Japan that restores access and expands markets for American producers; and opposed expanding the Environmental Protection Administration’s definition of waters of the United States.

Grange members defeated a resolution to ban all single-use plastics because they include syringes and inoculations; recommended the Work Force Training and Education Coordination Board be equally distributed to rural areas as well as urban areas and federally fund all mandated education programs; supported any legislation that would tighten the unauthorized use of personal credit card information for fraudulent purposes; supported daylight saving time or standard time on a permanent basis year-round; supported valuing all property based on its current use as opposed to highest and best use valuation, open space, agricultural land and designated forest land taxation laws; and supported legislation that prohibits soliciting and panhandling in rest areas.