JEFFERSON TWP — The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry is a family fraternal organization dedicated to the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship.

Nettie Martsolf, Jefferson Grange master for the past 25 years and master at the county level for the past 15, said fellowship is what has kept her in Grange for more than 60 years.

"I joined the junior Grange when I was about 8 years old, then subordinate Grange at 14," said the retired beautician.

"It's a good family organization and, I've found across the state, once you meet someone, you're always a friend."

Leading the groups is no easy task, with dwindling membership and, well, the lack of any other prospective masters to step forward for either of her current positions.

"I don't feel I do anything extraordinary. I'm just a member and I do what I can," Martsolf said.

"We're going to keep it going as long as possible. If I'm going to be in something, I'm there to work."

The Jefferson Grange is almost as old as Grange itself. Grange was founded in 1873, and the Jefferson club chartered in 1907.

Martsolf has been in some leadership position or another for more than half of the group's existence.

She won state Granger of the Year honors in 1996 after helping organize the National Grange convention in Harrisburg in 1995.

"We worked about 10 years putting that one together," Martsolf said.

On a recent Friday, she was setting up a card party for Saturday night while planning the state Grange convention in October, which will be hosted in part by the Jefferson Grange at its hall on Bullcreek Road.

"At the time I joined, I wasn't involved in a lot of school activities. It was an outing for me," Martsolf said. "We did crafts, camped and had sleepovers. Life was church and Grange, pretty much."

At 14, she joined the Subordinate Grange and has been a member for 54 years.

"We do a lot of collecting, of canceled stamps, soup labels and tabs from pop cans," Martsolf said.

The stamps are donated to the Brethren Home in New Oxford, Adams County, an assisted living community where they separate the postmarked stamps and sell them to different companies to subsidize patient care and building upkeep. Last year, the Jefferson Grange collected a pickup truck-full of stamps. "We don't get just a few," she said.

The soda can pull tabs are sold for aluminum scrap. At the county convention in October, those funds are pooled and awarded to the host club to benefit programs for the deaf.

The Campbell's Soup labels are donated to schools for the Campbell's Labels for Education program.

Martsolf said Jefferson Grange's efforts also include making shirts for the American Cancer Society, which have holes to allow tubes or IVs. The group also makes preemie baby hats and booties for hospitals.

"We have some good members who, whatever we need done, they come and help do," she said. "I may spearhead it, but the members make it work."

As Grange master both at the club and county level, Martsolf said membership is the biggest challenge. Butler County used to have 21 clubs, but is down to just four. The Jefferson club is down to about 19 members after having almost 200 at one time.

Three of the Butler County clubs, including the Jefferson and Unionville Granges, pay their insurance and utility costs through card parties, hall rentals and banquets.

They also hope to attract visitors through the quilt-ike design clubs are painting on their buildings, which can be seen on both the Jefferson and Unionville clubs.

"We can hold our own, but there might come a time where we have to pinch pennies," Martsolf said.

On the county level, the Grange has a stand at the Big Butler Fair and the Butler Farm Show, plus a Grange building on the Farm Show property with drawings, a hospitality table, cookbook sale and a safety poster contest, depending on the event.

"We always say, invite your next-door neighbor," Martsolf said.

As a state organization, the Grange employs a legislative firm to monitor agricultural legislation. "As a club, we can draft resolutions for the state Grange, which then can be voted on and sent to the state or federal legislature," Martsolf said.

A Grange state officer for six years, Martsolf also has received a community service award through the Grange, as has her husband, Albert, a retired electrician. The couple have two sons and two grandchildren.

"We do good work in the community, but you have a family for life here," she said. "Younger people may be too involved with other things to take in something new, but Grange is worthwhile."

Jefferson Grange's meetings are open to the public and are held at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the hall, 211 Bullcreek Road.

For information, visit pastategrange.org on the Web.