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Nearly 200 grangers from rural communities across California will descend upon the Van Duzen River Grange in Carlotta next week for the 150th Annual State Grange Convention — a five-day event (Oct. 8-12) featuring business sessions and award ceremonies for grange delegates, agricultural workshops and tours of local businesses.  

“We want to show off what makes Humboldt special and what makes our little piece of Earth unique,” Ryann Petersen, president of the Van Duzen River Grange, told the Outpost in a recent phone interview. “A lot of the people coming have never been to Humboldt County or traveled this far north before, so we’ve set up some local agricultural tours and field trips … to show what a lot of people do and thrive on here in Humboldt.”

Image: California State Grange

Grangers will explore the salmon habitat with members of the Van Duzen Watershed Foundation, visit the historic one-room log school house on Child’s Ranch in Redcrest and tour several local businesses, including the Humboldt Redwood Company Lumber Mill in Scotia, Humboldt Distillery in Fortuna, Lotta Farms cannabis dispensary in Carlotta, College of the Redwoods’ educational farm in Shively and Chapman’s Gem & Mineral Shop in Fortuna.

Why host the convention way out in Carlotta? At last year’s State Grange Convention in Woodland, Petersen and Kathy Moley, secretary for the Humboldt Hill Grange, pitched the idea of holding the 150th annual event here in Humboldt, since the convention has only been held here twice before. The board of directors enthusiastically agreed.

“The work the [Van Duzen River Grange] has put into the hall has been so encouraging to see,” State Grange President and CEO Joseph Stefenoni told the Outpost. “In 150 years, this will be the third time we have met in Humboldt County. … We’re happy to see the grange active again and benefiting the community.”

Holding the State Grange Convention in Carlotta is especially significant because, just a few years ago, the Van Duzen River Grange was embroiled in a legal battle with the State Grange. It’s a long, messy history you can read all about here and here, but the short of it is, a rift between the California State Grange and National Grange led most of California’s local grange halls to separate from the organization. 

Between 2018 and 2020, several local halls, including the Van Duzen River Grange, had their charters revoked and legally changed their names from “grange” to “guild” or “community hall” in an effort to maintain local control of the properties, which led to a string of lawsuits. Ultimately, the Van Duzen River Guild, as it was called at the time, decided to rejoin the ranks and reestablish itself as a grange.

“We are very fortunate that that rift is behind us,” Stefenoni said, adding that all of Humboldt County’s granges are active again. “Van Duzen [River Grange] is an amazing success story, and it was actually Ryann [Petersen] who reached out to the State Grange and began the discussion in late 2023 of how to get the grange active again. By January 2024, we came together and held a community meeting to reorganize the grange, and I think 117 people signed up to be grange members that night.”

Since its charter was reestablished, locals have been working on repairs around the building, which got a fresh coat of paint and a brand new sign over the summer. 

“Our goal is to work towards getting more live music and events happening out here,” Petersen said. “Really, we’re just a group of passionate community members who are excited about using the space again. I’ll tell ya, two years ago, I did not see myself hosting the State Grange Convention, but it’s been really fun!”

Hosting the convention here in Humboldt means locals will have the opportunity to showcase some of what makes our community unique. All of the produce at the convention will be sourced from local farmers, Petersen said, adding that some fruits and vegetables will come from the grange’s very own community garden.

“We’ve also partnered with the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce to make sure our visitors know about local places,” Petersen continued. “If they don’t want to eat with us, there are great local restaurants they can check out. If the whole family comes up, but mom and dad are in meetings all day, we’ve made a list of cool places they can visit, whether it’s the Trinidad Lighthouse or Centerville Beach. We want to make sure that they get to experience as much of Humboldt County’s beauty as they can.

Moley added that the State Grange Convention gives local grangers an opportunity to “share this fine place we call home, with all its beauty and abundant agriculture.”

“Convention is a time and a place where Grangers put their hearts and souls together, pass resolutions and make policies which will shape the way we move forward for the next 150 years,” she said. “The Annual State Grange Convention was last held in Humboldt County in the mid-1970s. Many things have changed since then, and now, as it has been many times in the past, it is imperative that we gather as a community and work together towards shaping our future.”

The State Grange Convention will be held at the Van Duzen River Grange next week, Oct. 8-12. Registration has closed, but you can check out this year’s itinerary at this link.

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