Grange Supply celebrates 80 years of serving farmers – and suburbanites, too

The Grange Supply incorporated in 1934 — it celebrates 80 years this year — but its history stretches back much farther.

The Grange Supply incorporated in 1934 — it celebrates 80 years this year — but its history stretches back much farther.

Truly, its origins can be traced back to the foundation of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, an agricultural advocacy fraternity begun by Oliver Hudson Kelley after the Civil War. Kelley, with Masons as guides, had traveled the post-war South as a clerk for the United States Bureau of Agriculture to determine how the Southern states might regain footing during Reconstruction. He discovered many farmers were hindered by outdated practices and isolation from markets. Kelley concluded a fraternal organization that could organize local Grange supply depots would best serve America’s farms.

As membership grew dramatically during the 1870s, Grange Supplies made leaps and bounds for rural communities. Among their accomplishments were rural mail delivery, improved roads and establishment of electrical power in farm country.

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Many local granges operated as member co-ops, which was the case for The Grange Mercantile Association, Issaquah’s grange that opened in 1915. The Mercantile sold hops, corn, hay and dairy cows.

But The Grange Supply as Issaquah knows it today counts the beginning of its anniversary to 1934, when it incorporated in the Renton area as a sparse diesel fuel supply depot. It wouldn’t relocate to Issaquah until 1943. Once there, it evolved into a robust agricultural supply co-op supplying area farmers.

In the decades leading to the modern day, the technology industry’s influence changed Issaquah from a Squak Valley farm town into a bustling bedroom community. But The Grange Supply continues to serve about 25,000 active customers from 5-acre “suburban farmers” seeking hay for their horses to picket fence dwellers seeking a new rawhide bone for the family dog.

“We’ve sort of morphed from an agricultural co-op to a retail co-op,” General Manager Michele Jacobs said. “Anybody can be a customer. You don’t have to be a member to be a customer.”

The Grange location, at 145 N.E. Gilman Blvd., contains the retail store, a fuel island, a small warehouse and a large warehouse — the latter currently under remodel to include office space and meeting space.

The Grange Supply continues to hold educational seminars for the community on subjects including composting, gardening and equine nutrition.

“We’re very tied into educating the community and being an active part of it,” Jacobs said.

The co-op will celebrate its anniversary on its grounds 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6. Attendees can grab free hot dogs and popcorn, win prizes and listen to Master Gardener Ciscoe Morris’ tips for growth.