The Connecticut State Grange is pleased to welcome Christine and Duane Hamp as the National Representatives to the 129th State Session to be held October 17-19 at the Holiday Inn in Norwich.  Christine currently serves as National Pomona and Duane is Master of the Washington State Grange.

Christine E. (Chris) Hamp, a fourth-generation Granger, was raised on a dairy farm homesteaded in 1882 by her great-grandfather in Monroe, Washington. Chris joined Tualco Junior Grange #341 in 1972 at the age of 5. In 1981 she joined Tualco Grange #284 and received all 7 degrees in just six months. Currently, Chris serves as Secretary at Five Mile Prairie Grange #905 in Spokane County where she is an affiliate member.

Of note, Chris was named the Washington State Outstanding Junior Granger in 1981, the Washington State Outstanding Young Granger in 1986, National Youth Ambassador in 1986 and Master of the National Youth Officer Team in 1996. She also served as the Washington State Grange Lady Assistant Steward from 1990-1995, as a Washington State Grange Special Deputy from 1999-2011 and as a member of the National Grange’s Strategic Planning Task Force, created at the 1999 National Convention.

Chris has earned a bachelor degree in Public Policy & Administration from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, a Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC and an associate degree of technical arts in Fire Command Administration from Edmonds Community College in Edmonds, Washington.

While Chris earned her first million picking raspberries, she is currently employed by Spokane County Fire District 9 as the District’s Administrative Services Director where she also serves as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and is a Certified Fire Investigator.

Duane J. Hamp, a native of Spokane Washington and a third generation Granger, was elected the 18th Master of the Washington State Grange in June 2011 and was reelected for a second term in June 2013. The Washington State Grange has approximately 15,000 members in 265 community Granges throughout all of the state’s 39 counties.

A 40+ year member, having joined Grange in 1970, Duane is a past Master of the Washington State Grange Youth Group, Valley Prairie Grange #827, Spokane County Pomona Grange #4, and Five Mile Prairie Grange #905. He was named the Washington State Grange Outstanding Young Granger in 1975. He served as the Washington State Grange Gatekeeper from 1983-1987, State Executive Committeeman from 2004-2009 and as State Overseer from 2009-2011.

Duane and his wife Christine are members of the Five Mile Prairie Grange #905 and Spokane County Pomona Grange #4. He has recently retired as the owner/operator of an automotive repair business.

Duane’s vision for the Grange includes building collaborative and sustainable relationships which work to strengthen both our Granges and the communities in which they belong. His focus for the Washington State Grange is to ensure that the values of Serve, Grow, Influence and Lead are built into every aspect of its organizational culture.

Chris and Duane live outside Spokane, Washington.