MIDDLEBORO — At the South Middleboro Grange annual agricultural fair, family traditions and values date back over 150 years.

The South Middleboro Grange was established in 1873 to unite farmers and families following the Civil War, said Louise Dery-Wells, a member of the Grange.

And some descendants of old Grange members are still attending the agricultural fair over 100 years later.

State representative Norman Orrall recently discovered documentation of his great-grandparents' grange memberships from 1899.

His family were dairy farmers and members of the Nemasket Grange.

“My grandfather and his brother made a deathbed promise to their father to be farmers,” explained Orrall.

“There’s not many people who remember the old way — it’s good to see new energy and new ways of thinking about the Grange,” he said.

Sisters Sofie Nicholson, 9, and 11-year-old Emma Senecal continued the Grange tradition and collected five first-place ribbons between the two of them at the agricultural fair on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Senecal won first place for all four of her floral arrangements and Nicholson won first for a drawing of a mushroom.

“Last year, Sofie was the first person in our family to submit anything to the fair,” explained their grandmother and recent Grange member Vera Hunter.

Dozens of families contributed to the fair with fruits, vegetables, flower arrangements and other agricultural products.

“If you think about local Granges, it’s about historical and cultural value,” said Alisha Bouchard, Massachusetts deputy commissioner of Agriculture. “They showcase what we can do with agriculture.”

“The string green beans are the largest I have ever seen – they look fantastic,” she added.

Best-in-show was awarded to a 13-foot sunflower, cultivated by Susan Shields of Lolans Farm in Middleboro. A dozen eggs of different color varieties won a special award from the State Grange and a collection of produce won a state award.

Lynne Mandile, a 27-year member of the Grange, brought in a selection of vegetables and baked goods, including three varieties of tomatoes, four varieties of pepper, zucchini bread and a few jars of jam.

As Judge Dave Anderson finalized winners, seven-year Grange member Dery-Wells told attendees that “the Grange works on building strong persons and strong families … they take care of their people.”

According to State Grange Lecturer Kristen Paulson, families are integral to the Grange and in the past, every family member had their own responsibilities and contributions.

“It’s not a family farm without everyone – you have to have the children, parents and grandparents,” said Paulson. “The whole family has a say in the Grange – it’s unique.”