​At the August 29th monthly meeting of the Upper Ridge Community Council it was announced the Desable Guild had received a demand for the keys by noon the following day from an attorney representing the State Grange and the Desable Grange #762. With no insurance to cover a lengthy lawsuit and Guild members affected by the Camp Fire-the president of the Guild lost her home to the fire-

 it was decided by the Executive Board, they would hand the keys to State Treasurer, LIllian Booth, the following day. David Broderick, Executive member of the Bennett Valley Guild in Fort Bragg concurs with their decision.

Broderick stated, "There is no reason people who have gone through what they have should have to look at being sued over doing good works." In 2017 the Bennett Valley Guild had been served a similar notice. The board decided to ignore the request, the following day the Bennett Valley Guild along with each board member individually were served legal papers-they were being sued. In their situation, the Guild was financially in a position to take it on, in that they had insurance. The case has not been settled some two years later. They are not along.

David Zink of the Guild Legal Co-op mentioned since 2012, "the California superior court shows 1,957 filings, hundreds of hearings and lot of interested parties." Verifiable on the services.saccourt.ca.gov website under case number 2012-00130439. What is the bottom line on this battle? Zink summarizes, "Grangers like Lillian (Lillian Boothe, State Grange Secretary) believe the Grange always had control over local chaper properties, and that those properties were meant by Grangers to stay in the Grange-not in the community-forever. On our side, we don't see it in our own hall's meeting minutes and resolutions, and it is a shock to discover that the deal was changed long ago and far away in Washington, DC."

Politics, Personality and Power? Perhaps a mixture of all. While the war between the Guild and the Grange will not be settled for a very long time, there are community members undeterred and quite dedicated to see the goals of a locat community center for everyone. As Donna Yutzy stated on the night of the announcement, "we are resilient." 

The following time line is not inclusive of all events. Information courtesy of sources such as, National Grange, CA Secretary of State, Caselaw.findlaw and the frankpatron blog websites, copies of correspondence-National, State Grange, California State Guild and the DeSabla Guild.




  • 1867 National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was established
  • 1873 California state Grange first organized
  • 1950 Desabla Grange organizes
  • 1965 "Forward with the Grange" brochure "nearly 4000 at the 7000 subordinate units own their own "Hall"."
  • 1984 membership recruitment brochure published by national Grange "some 4000 subordinate granges own their Grainger Hall"
  • October 2009 Robert McFarland elected to his 1st term as the California State Grange Master/ President (By various accounts, McFarland seen as progressive-favoring non-GMO, organic farming)
  • December 7th 2009 McFarland enters into settlement agreement with Vista Grange allowing sale of property with 80% of the proceeds to be dispersed for public benefit purposes in the Vista area
  • 2010 section 4.5.7 of the bylaws of the national Grange power of the master of the national Grange to suspend or revoke the charter of state Grange limited to situations where the number of subordinate granges within the state Bell below 6
  • November 2010 amendment to national Grange is bylaws to expand the national Masters power to suspend or revoke the charter of the state Grange when the state Grange is working in violation of the law and usages of the order
  • October 10 2011 master of the national Grange Edward Luttrell ordered an investigation of McFarland based on allegations that McFarland had engaged in various instances of misconduct
  • October 14th 2011 McFarland was re elected to the position of Master/President
  • 2011 amendment to Section 4.5.7 bylaw voted on again; amendment passed and became part of the National Grange's 2012 Digest of Laws
  • January 2012 California State Grange's executive committee report to Luttrell found no violation of Grange law; A minority report was sent by 3 members (including Overseer/Vice President Martha Stefenoni) disagreeing with the conclusion
  • June 2012 McFarland was served 60 days suspension from his position with the California state Grange by the National Grange
  • August 2012 McFarland served another 60 day suspension from National Grange. Overseer Stefenoni was to act on his behalf; McFarland and majority executive committee refuse to acknowledge her authority
  • October 1st 2012 national Grange commences 1st filing against the suspended California State Grange and 4 members of the executive committee-The lawsuits begin
  • April 5th 2013 National Grange sends letter to McFarland revoking the charter of the California state Grange
  • November 8th 2013 McFarland and executive committee send letter to national Grange Indicating unanimous vote state Grange no longer affiliated with national Grange
  • February 21st 2014 National supports reorganization-new charter created with the state Of California-"The Grange of the State of California's Order of Patrons of Husbandry, Chartered" led by president master Ed Kamenski
  • May 15th 2015 National Grange announces support of Supreme Court Decision in favor of Monsanto in case versus soybean farmer
  • June 1st 2016 California Grange under McFarland amends Articles of incorporation name to California Guild
  • December 14th 2016 De Sabla Grange amends Corporation from De Sabla Grange to De Sabla Guild