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FARMERS LODGE No. 168 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons
"CURRENT LODGE EVENTS 2009 - 2010"
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| ABOVE: MARCH 6, 2010 - 3rd Degree in bib overalls. 28 Masons from 12 unique lodges attended. |
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| JANUARY 30, 2010: 2 for 3 in Bibs event at Sigourney, Iowa. Over 60 Masons from 23 unique Iowa lodges attended. |
Theme for 2010: Masonry 2.1 - The Journey Continues
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| December 19, 2009: Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Degree Candidates at Farmers Lodge in Kinross. Iowa Past Grand Master 2007 Denny Zahrt attended to help with degree work, as did current Grand Senior Warden Wade Sheeler, Past Grand Musician Michael Langford, and members of Springville No 139, Canopy no 290 at Oxford, Mt. Calvary No 95, Newton No 59, Lyons No 93 and Gavel No 229. | December 3, 2009: Fellow Craft Candidate, a fourth generation member of Farmers Lodge. Iowa Past Grand Master 2009 Jack Butler attended to help with degree work. |
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| Two new entered apprentices: November 13, 2009. Attendees included Iowa Past Grand Master 2008 Donald Mosier and members of Webb Lodge No 182, Sigourney, Canopy Lodge 290, Oxford, Gavel Lodge No 229, Attica, Freemont Lodge No 616, Stanwood, and Trojan Lodge No 548, Marion. Candidates include a fourth generation Mason and both whose grandfathers achieved 50-year member status at Farmers Lodge. | October 2009: Iowa Celebrity and Farm Services Director for KWMT-AM 540 Fort Dodge, Iowa, Von Ketelsen visits Farmers Lodge No. 168 during a regular lodge meeting, and conducts an interview for his daily "Power Lunch" program which is broadcast across the State. Von is an active Iowa Mason who also attended Farmers Lodge to play his guitar during the degree work! |
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 September 26, 2009: The Amish Harvest Tour to Cure Cancer, Honoring the Courage of Seth Bailey. The members of Farmers Lodge # 168 took turns throughout the day in staffing the pit stop for riders on Highway 149 at the City Park in North English. This is an annual fundraiser for the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Seth Bailey was a junior at Iowa Mennonite High School and at 17 years old was surprised to learn that a sore leg turned into the diagnosis of soft tissue synovial sarcoma cancer. Seth's leg was amputated and he played varsity basketball with his prosthesis. The cancer turned to his lungs and chest, and he underwent a year of radiation and chemotherapy. His courage and determination led him to become an intern for the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2002, and he trained as a swimmer, hoping to compete in the Paralympics. Seth died in October 2003 after a courageous fight to live. |
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Bike riders were treated to watermelon, sports drinks, cookies and other snacks. Steve Hansen and Don Grimm of Williamsburg played the banjo and guitar to entertain the many riders who came through. The Amish Harvest Tour to Cure Cancer started at the Iowa Mennonite School and had two major "loops" or routes, which included stops at Kalona, Wellman and North English. |
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| New members and their mentors at One-day Class at Clinton Masonic Center, Clinton Iowa, April 18, 2009. In less than two years, Farmer's Lodge # 168 has more than doubled in size, proportionately making it the fastest growing lodge in the State! |
Installation of Officers - January 2009
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Iowa Grand Master Jack Butler welcomes new Farmers Lodge members to the fraternity.
 Lodge member's families helping with fundraising events and English Valleys Community Valentine's Day Dance set-up. |
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Farmers Lodge # 168
community work in February 2009 included a BBQ Dinner Fundraiser for English Valleys High School students,
and assisting with the set-up, serving, and table clean-up at the
Community Valentine's Day Dinner and Dance at the English Valleys
Community Center in North English. Lodge members continue to plan additional activities for the 2009 English Valleys Celebration, including fundraisers for EV scholarships, North English Celebration and other events
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Farmers Lodge sponsored the Rock'n Flames Band for North English Fun Days 2008. They also had a float in the annual celebration parade (below.) 50-year members and families were invited to ride the float.
| Farmers Lodge # 168
community work in February 2008 included a Chili and Soup Supper
Fundraiser for English Valleys High School students. The
free-will offering worked out to purchase exactly 168 books for English
Valleys students! Lodge members are planning activities for the 2008 English Valleys Celebration, including a band, barbeque, and fundraiser for the lodge and English Valleys History Center. |
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2008 Theme: Iowa Freemasonry - Engineer Our Future
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Left: Lodge artifact "rescue
mission" at the old lodge building in Kinross, the
Masonic brothers, family and friends pose for a group photo.
Right,
a lodge volunteer family member gives a general "thumbs-up" of satisfaction
at entrance to old lodge room on 2nd floor.
(See Full Story)
December 2007: Grand Lodge officers, visitors and members of Farmers Lodge # 168 meet at Christian Church in Kinross, Iowa. Keeping to its old traditions, # 168 is the only lodge in Iowa with a dress code of bib overalls. Hickory stripes are the standard, but denim is acceptable.
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Kinross lodge room - December 2007 |
Clinton, Iowa, June 2007 |
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English Valleys High School at Tri-County games, February 2008
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Video Documentary in Production: Our Farmers Lodge members who were Civil War heroes and veterans are being reenacted by the 24th Iowa Infantry, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, and Red Cedar Regulators. Sergeant Nicholas C. Messenger was a hero at Vicksburg and joined the lodge after returning home to Foote from the Civil War. Several early lodge members were volunteers of the 22nd and 28th Iowa Infantry.
Copyright 2010 - Farmers Lodge # 168 and English Valleys History Center, North English, IA
