KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Big Valley Grange has honored Mrs. Virginia Sill, an active 90-year-old Grange member from Kelseyville, with a $200 donation in her name to the California Women in Agriculture (CWA) Lake County scholarship fund.

“Virginia is amazing. She keeps busy supporting the Grange including making delicious baked goods for the Christmas Craft Faire, selling jewelry at our June Rummage Sale and working at our First Sunday Breakfast. We are proud to honor Virginia in a way that helps young people in our community,” said Grange Secretary Joan Taylor.  

One of Sill’s more ambitious projects is hand peeling pears for the pear pie fundraiser at the Kelseyville Pear Festival.  

“When CWA first approached us five years ago about making 100 pies for the festival, there were only five active Grange members then, and four of us were dubious about taking on the project. Virginia, in her quiet way, talked us into it. And we did it! With the help of a few friends, a generous donation of pears from Adobe Creek Packing, and great mentoring from Margaret Eutenier, who began the CWA’s pie fundraiser some years before,” recalled Grange Treasurer Kathy Knickmeyer.

From there has grown a great partnership. This year, CWA and the Grange made 180 pies and 340 turnovers for the Pear Festival – and were sold out by 12:45 p.m.

It’s therefore fitting that the Grange recognizes Sills and the supportive friends at CWA with this donation to their scholarship fund.

So, come on by California Women in Agriculture’s booth at next year’s Pear Festival and treat yourself to a delicious pear dessert. Quite possibly those pears were hand peeled by 91-year-old dynamo, Virginia Sills.