Lehigh-Northampton Pomona (County) Grange No. 68 has announced the Grange Award for Public Service was presented to David and Jean Adam of Orefield for their personal commitment and involvement as a servant of the people.

Their examples of unfailing readiness to render service and wholehearted support of the principles of our democratic system are sincerely appreciated by many.

The award was signed by National Grange President Christine Hamp and Lehigh-Northampton President Leonard Heim.

For more than 15 years this well-known couple has been busy teaching and preserving our Pennsylvania German language and cultures.

Starting in 2008, David became interested in entering the Liars Contest at the Kutztown Folk Festival.

Jean soon retired and also became involved.

They created a puppet and put on shows for children during the Folk Festival, as well as making a groundhog bean bag toss game.

Whenever someone attending the festival asked about speaking Pa. Dutch, they were referred to David and Jean.

Soon, the couple asked the festival to build on a front porch onto their booth, decorated as an early Pa. German homestead.

Two truckloads of furniture and antiques are hauled in to decorate the setting each year.

Students of their classes are also on hand to help out as needed.

As the interest of speaking the Pa. Dutch language grew, David and Jean decided they would like to start classes to educate anyone interested.

This year marks 10 years they have been offering these classes.

That first class had 25 students. Now the average is 40 per class.

One of their students is a 26-year-old young man, who has learned so much he now tells stories in the dialect.

Classes, offered for 13 weeks twice a year, always have music and singing in the dialect which makes learning so much fun.

At the end of each semester, the group holds a party with everyone bringing a Pa Dutch dish enjoyed by all.

All fees for the class are donated back to the church where they meet for hosting the classes.

David is also very active in the local Grundsau (groundhog) lodges.

He is currently President (Haaptmann) of Groundhog Lodge No. 16 on the Jordan.

Much fun is had at these events and is a wonderful break from the long winter nights.

As tradition has it, women were never allowed to attend these gatherings until recently.

Jean has the distinct honor of being the first woman to entertain at these events.

The Grange was treated to a program presented by David and Jean.

They made up skits and stories and everyone joined in singing, all in Pa. German dialect.

The room was filled with laughter and lots of smiles and certainly brightened everyone’s day!

This couple is so deserving of this award for all they give to their community and beyond.

Lehigh-Northampton Pomona Grange is comprised of the six Granges: Lehigh County, Central in Germansville, Schnecksville, Seipstown, Trexlertown and Northampton County: Harmony in Northampton and Star in Moorestown.