| SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 -- On Sunday, August 2, Grangers from across Connecticut gathered at Hillstown Grange for another successful Connecticut State Grange Family Festival.
For many years, State Family Activities Committee Chair Dawn Percoski and I have enjoyed partnering to provide this annual event, offering Grange members of all ages an opportunity to come together for fellowship, fun, and friendly competition.
One of the highlights of the day was the Connecticut State Grange Lecturer’s 2026 Photography Contest. This year’s contest attracted more than 40 entries from both adults and youth, showcasing the remarkable creativity and artistic talents of our Grange members.
The Photography Contest remains one of the most popular Family Festival activities, encouraging members to explore the beauty of Connecticut, agriculture, flowers, patriotic themes, and everyday life through the lens of a camera. While only a few entries receive ribbons and prize money, every participant contributes to the contest’s success, and I sincerely thank everyone who entered.
First-place winners received $6, second-place winners $4, and third-place winners $2. Youth photographs will be displayed in the New England Grange Building during The Big E, and all winning photographs will be exhibited in the Break Room during the Connecticut State Grange Annual Conference in Norwich.
Please join me in congratulating our 2026 winners:
Adult Division
America the Beautiful
1- Ted Powell (Coventry)
2- Judy Doyle (Riverton)
3- Diane Calabro (Cheshire)
Agriculture/Farming
1- Michelle DeDominicis (Hillstown)
2- Angela DeDominicis (Hillstown)
3- Deb Hanlon (Taghhannuck)
Say It with Flowers
1- Judy Doyle (Riverton)
2- Violet Donihee (Coventry)
3- Michelle DeDominicis (Hillstown)
Bridges
1- Judy Doyle (Riverton)
2- David Calabro (Cheshire)
3- Michelle DeDominicis (Hillstown)
Jr., Youth, and 1+ Division
America the Beautiful
1- Richard Donihee (Coventry)
2- Maureen Donihee (Coventry)
Flowers
1- Maureen Donihee (Coventry)
Richard Donihee (Coventry)
Bridges
1- Richard Donihee (Coventry)
2- Maureen Donihee (Coventry)
Congratulations to all of our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. Your photographs not only captured beautiful images but also reflected the creativity, appreciation of nature, and community spirit that make the Grange such a special organization. Special thanks are extended to Dawn Percoski for her continued partnership in making the Family Festival a success year after year, to Hillstown Grange for hosting this year’s event, and to the many volunteers whose efforts made the day possible.
I look forward to seeing everyone’s creativity on display again next year. Until then, keep your cameras close—you never know when the perfect Grange photograph will present itself!
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