Every April, Grange chapters from the local to national level celebrate Grange Month. This month is an opportunity to highlight one of the most enduring institutions in rural America and recommit ourselves to the communities we have long served. For generations, the Grange has stood for fellowship, advocacy, and practical support for farm families and rural towns. That mission is just as important today, especially when it comes to health care.

Colorectal cancer is one of the greatest examples of why this matters. In Pennsylvania this year, an estimated 6,520 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 2,240 will die from the disease. Yet more than 25 percent of Pennsylvanians ages 45 to 75 are behind on colorectal cancer screenings, and when you’re talking about a cancer for which survival rates drop by nearly 80 percentage points when the disease is caught late, getting screened on time matters.

That is especially concerning for rural communities, where getting screened is often easier said than done. When care is farther away, when hospital closures are imminent, and when taking time off means lost work and lost income, preventive health care can slip down the priority list. In Pennsylvania, 34 percent of rural hospitals (17 facilities) are at risk of closure, including nine at immediate risk. That should concern everyone who cares about the future of rural communities.

The good news is that medical innovation is creating new ways to close some of these gaps. Guardant Health’s Shield test, the first and only FDA-approved blood test as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in adults 45 and older at average risk, is making it easier for more people to get screened with just a blood draw. That matters because for many people, especially in rural communities, a blood-based screening option is more manageable and more accessible than traditional methods.

The Grange has always understood that strong communities depend on looking out for one another. That means supporting agriculture, yes, but also supporting the health and well-being of the people behind it. Farmers and rural families deserve the same access to modern, preventive care as anyone else.

So, this Grange Month, let’s do more than celebrate the history of the Grange. Let’s honor its mission by standing up for the health of rural Pennsylvania. That means supporting local health care providers, investing in rural communities, and embracing innovations, like blood-based screening tests, that make preventive care easier to reach.

If we want rural Pennsylvania to remain strong, vibrant, and resilient, we have to make sure the people who sustain it can get the care they need.

Matt Espenshade is the President of the Pennsylvania State Grange.