Poteet Grange

Poteet Grange. . , The Grange, also known as The Order of Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in the 1860s as a nonpartisan national organization comprised of farmers to establish economic independence, socialization and greater educational opportunities for families. Local farmers formed the Poteet Grange, No. 1576, on January 17, 1944. W.S. Parker served as President, Parker Rogers as Secretary and schoolteacher Adam Duncan as Program Chairman. Other charter members included T.J. Harr, Viola Kittinger and attorney Arnold Franklin. The grange quickly began serving their local community by helping farmers harvest crops and build barns, and by petitioning authorities to improve rural utility and service access. Grange masters have included Edgar Robertson, W.J. Parker and Arnold Franklin. , , In July 1948, discussions began to build a grange hall. That same year, Poteet Grange members sold strawberry shortcakes at the first annual Poteet Strawberry Festival, an enduring tradition. In the mid-1960s, grange meetings relocated to the Poteet Civic Center in the Poteet Fire Department building, and the juvenile grange met at the Woodmen of the World building. The group built a new facility in the mid-1980s and has fundraised to meet community needs, including cake walks, pancake suppers, concessions, farm implement auctions and parade floats. The grange has sponsored Poteet Fire Department, Poteet Public Library children's reading programs, Poteet Little League, American Heart Association fundraisers and several March of Dimes campaigns. For over 70 years, the Poteet grange has served the community.