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THE PILLARS
Recruit
840
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Number of Initiates in during 2020–2021 academic year
Commit
8
Number of Chapter Engagement Series meetings held virtually for Chapter O cers by Educational Leadership Consultants
Educate
171
Number of members who have enrolled to become Certifi ed PhiredUp Recruiters
Recognize
19
Total number of chapters recognized in the Fraternal Excellence Awards
In a school year not conducted virtually, initiation numbers typically look like: 20192020: 1,090 initiates. Despite a change in the way recruitment was conducted, chapters were able to initiate brothers for an overall growth of the Fraternity. Throughout these eight meetings, 85% of chapters participated monthly, engaging with Educational Leadership Consultants and National Leaders in topics covering recruitment, membership development, risk management, brotherhood and other relevant topics as they navigated their school year.
Alpha Gamma Rho has partnered with PhiredUp to educate our members about key industry trends through intentional, hands-on learning using a digital classroom where individuals can become Certifi ed PhiredUp Recruiters. We highly encourage any collegiate member or Chapter Adviser who is eager to assist in the chapter’s recruitment e orts, to complete the certifi cation through this interactive learning resource.
Be on the lookout for the 2021 Fraternal Excellence Awards to be announced in August!
Doug Griffin
Named Grand Named Grand President
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AS A FRATERNITY
by Shannon Kehoe
WHILE GROWING UP IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
on his family’s corn and soybean farm, Doug Gri n found his way into 4-H and FFA. Little did he know his involvement in these two premier youth organizations would lead him to fraternity life. Doug unexpectedly found the opportunity to combine his agricultural heritage, interest in the industry and a common bond with others in Alpha Gamma Rho.
Before attending Purdue University and majoring in agricultural engineering, Doug didn’t know about Alpha Gamma Rho and wasn’t looking to engage in fraternity life. But, when friends from his 4-H and FFA network introduced him to Delta Chapter brothers, the rest was history. He was initiated in 1987 as a rst generation Greek Life member in his family, and even while working for Caterpillar every other semester in a co-op engineering education program, bringing him in and out of the house and o campus or even out of state, Brother Gri n remained very connected with what was happening in his chapter. His dedication led him to becoming Noble Ruler of the Delta Chapter before graduating in 1990.
A er graduating from Purdue University, Brother Gri n’s career brought six relocations across the country in 10 years, and a strain on remaining connected with AGR. But a er settling near Atlanta, Georgia, the lifelong bonds created during his undergraduate years resurfaced and Brother Gri n found himself getting involved at the national level with strategic planning and Leadership Seminars.
In 2004, his reengagement brought recognition as he was awarded the Grand President’s Award, and was named a Brother of the Century. Each of these awards honors the values and ideals
Above: Brother Gri n in front of Delta Chapter (Purdue) House's fi replace. Photo provided by Doug Gri n.
of Alpha Gamma Rho, the success of brothers in their professional careers, and contributions made to agriculture and the Fraternity. Alpha Gamma Rho has changed Brother Gri n’s life, both professionally and personally. e Fraternity taught him key life skills, such as interpersonal communication and con ict management. “Not only was I more prepared to interact with people in many ways, there were also the connections and relationships with other AGRs around the country, that has proven to be valuable and has even taken me to my business today,” Brother Gri n recounted. Doug is a principle, and with eight others, owns the e Context Network. “With other fraternities you’ll have lifelong friends, but there’s not always a common connection with members from other chapters around the country, for us it’s agriculture.”
In 2016, he was elected to the National Board of Directors during the National Convention in Omaha, Nebraska, and has continued to dedicate time to the advancement of Alpha Gamma Rho. During the 2020 Virtual National Convention, Brother Gri n was elected to serve the Fraternity as Grand President for the coming two years. During his two-year term, there are four primary focuses the newly elected Grand President and National Board of Directors will be focusing on: leadership development, alumni engagement, recruitment and diversity.
Developing strong leaders within the Fraternity ensures brothers will become better
of Alpha Gamma men, and be well equipped to engage outside of
Rho, the success the Fraternity whether on their campus, in their of brothers in community or professionally a er graduation. their professional Alpha Gamma Rho works to create well rounded careers, and leaders, however there is always room for contributions made progress. to agriculture and Alumni engagement has proven to be one of the Fraternity. the key factors in a chapter’s success. e future
Alpha Gamma of AGR rides on the back of the alumni, not just
Rho has changed in donations, but also in the time put in at the
Brother Gri n’s life, chapter level. Consider how involved alumni both professionally are in recruitment and how engaged they are and personally. in setting good examples for young men. How e Fraternity alumni choose to be involved with chapters can taught him key shape the young men, and the National Board life skills, such hopes to provide tools for alumni to be engaged as interpersonal and work towards successful chapters. communication “As the world changes, we have to consider and con ict whether our recruitment practices have kept management. up,” Brother Gri n remarked during his rst “Not only was I more address to the Fraternity. e Fraternity and its prepared to interact chapters need to continue to look into out-ofwith people in many the-box ideas and leading e orts to continue to ways, there were recruit new members. also the connections Diversity amongst our members develops a better understanding of di erences that will carry into a professional atmosphere. “A diverse chapter will be a stronger chapter and Make Better Men,” Brother Gri n stated, noting we need to have a diverse level of membership. All four of these goals should be focused within chapters as they work towards being successful, well-rounded chapters. e Fraternity will work to coach, develop and train collegiate and alumni leaders to continue to progress forward. It is the goal of the National Board and Fraternity leaders to provide undergraduates with the tools they need to succeed, because ultimately the Fraternity is only as strong as its chapters. “Today, I believe there is more reason than ever for young men to learn critical life skills they’re not learning in other places, and AGR provides those opportunities,” Brother Gri n remarked when asked if the Purpose of Alpha Gamma Rho is still as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1904. e Fraternity should feel challenged to look beyond the news and focus on the excellent opportunities in front of us to grow and be stronger than ever.
2020 Hall of Fame Inductees
THE AGR HALL OF FAME IS TO HONOR
those Alpha Gamma Rho Brothers who have made outstanding contributions to the Fraternity, steadfast service in their professional work or exceptional service to mankind.
Selection guidelines strive to honor brothers who are true role models for all members. Contributions to the Fraternity are measured in many ways from chapter experiences and involvement regionally or nationally. Those selected exemplify the spirit and ideals of Alpha Gamma Rho as leaders in their industry, their communities and beyond.
Alpha Gamma Rho is proud of each of its brothers for achieving this level of recognition and looks forward to celebrating more brothers in years to come.
Jack Britt
WESTERN KENTUCKY
Born January 25, 1945, Dr. Jack Haiden Britt was initiated into the Alpha Chi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at Western Kentucky University on January 8, 1966. As an undergraduate, Brother Britt was on the Dairy Judging Team, was selected to the Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities, was the Sports Editor of the Western Kentucky yearbook, the Talisman, and Senior Class President in 1966. Brother Britt was elected Noble Ruler when the chapter became the fi rst fraternity to own and operate a chapter house on campus, he later served as Vice President of the Interfraternity Council and was selected as Outstanding Greek Man of Western Kentucky University. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Biology, Brother Britt went on to earn a Master of Science in Physiology, minoring in Animal Science and a Ph.D in Physiology with a minor in Biochemistry, both from North Carolina State University. Dr. Britt served as an advisor and mentor for students completing graduate degrees at Michigan State University or North Carolina State University and students at universities in Canada and Australia. The students he mentored have been highly successful, including one college president, three college deans, one international scientifi c director and several more with distinguished careers. Blackwell Britt & Associates LLC was founded by Brother Britt and he led e orts in recruiting executives for agriculture and veterinary medicine positions in higher education. He was a founding partner of Swine AI Publications with North Carolina State University faculty members to create technical handbooks for artifi cial insemination of swine. He’s provided farm consults for dairy and swine farms across the United States and the world. Brother Britt continued his involvement with Alpha Gamma Rho after his undergraduate experiences as an Adviser for Tau Chapter at Michigan State and Nu Chapter at North Carolina State, then as a member of the National Board of Directors and a Trustee of the Housing Resources Trust where he served as Chairman. While working at the University of Tennessee as a faculty member, Brother Britt regularly spoke to and recruited new members on both the Knoxville and Martin campuses. In 2004 he was named a Brother of the Century by Alpha Gamma Rho. Along with his late wife, Frances, he’s donated $100,000 to establish the Jack and Frances Britt Fund for Innovation and Learning in 2018, to provide valuable experiences for agriculture students to have outside of the classroom.
A.L. Hutson
OKLAHOMA STATE
Arthur L. (A.L.) Hutson was born in Elk City, Oklahoma, on January 4, 1948. In 1967, he was initiated into the Pi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at Oklahoma State University. As an undergraduate he was involved with Alpha Zeta, the Interfraternity Council, Aggie-X and with Phi Kappa Phi. He served the Pi Chapter as Assistant Treasurer and then Noble Ruler, before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics in 1971. Brother Hutson went on to earn a master’s degree in agricultural economics in 1973 from Oklahoma State University before beginning a career with Oklahoma Area Extension as an ag economics specialist with Oklahoma State University. His primary responsibilities included marketing and risk management, financial management and planning, farm and ranch record keeping, crop and livestock development and use, as well as estate planning. Brother Hutson worked diligently advising farmers and ranchers in risk management and in 1985 he spent every weeknight and many weekends working to save the farms and ranches in Oklahoma. A.L. Hutson was been recognized with a Distinguished Service award from OCES in 1996, the Farm & Ranch Management Program Award by OCES in 1995, Oklahoma State University Alumni Service Award in 1990 and Outstanding Field Staff by OCES in 1987. He’s been involved with the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and many other groups. As an Alpha Gamma Rho alumnus, Brother Hutson has served the Oklahoma Alumni Association of AGR on the Board of Directors for 24 years, nine of those as president, two as vice president and one year as secretary. He served as the chairman of the Pi Chapter Campaign of the Century, working to raise funds for the building of the chapter house. Pi Chapter has recognized A.L. with the Virgil Stratton Outstanding Alumni Award and has inducted him into the Pi Chapter Hall of Fame. Additionally, he has served the National Fraternity as a member on the Task Force for Alumni Authority on Expulsions and a variety of other committees. Brothers state that no other Pi Chapter alumnus has come close to contributing the combination of time, energy, resources and talent to Alpha Gamma Rho as Brother Hutson.
Glenn Stith
KENTUCKY
January 9, 1954, Glenn Allen Stith was born in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1972 he was initiated into the Omicron Chapter at the University of Kentucky (UK). During his time at Kentucky, Brother Stith was Vice President of the UK Student Government, a member of the Student Center Board, a UK Cheerleader, Lances Jr. Men Honorary, and Lamp and Cross Senior Men’s Honorary. In the Omicron Chapter, he served as the summer recruitment chairman in 1974 and then the Vice Noble Ruler–Recruitment from 1974-1975. In 1978, he earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky. In 1985 he graduated from Columbia University’s marketing management program and later he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Brother Stith worked for Monsanto for 35 years as vice president and general manager of Canadian Ag. Operations, vice president Strategic Accounts, vice president of U.S. Branded Business, president of Seminis Vegetable Seed division and vice president of Crop Protection division for North American & Northern Latin America. After retiring in 2010, he began working as a senior associate with The Context Network, and as the President of Top Hand Consulting, Inc. Glenn has been recognized with a Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa State FFA Association, has earned the Honorary American FFA Degree, the National FFA Organization Distinguished Service Award and the National FFA Foundation Outstanding Service Award. He also served the National FFA on the Foundation Sponsor Board and later as Chair, on the Foundation Individual Giving Council and later as Chair, and on the National FFA Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2013, Brother Stith was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Hall of Distinguished Alumni and in 2004, he was named a Brother of the Century Award recipient from Alpha Gamma Rho. As an alumnus, Brother Stith has served the Omicron Chapter as the co-chair for Omicron’s $3 million “Building for Better Men” housing campaign. He’s served the National Fraternity as an AGRconnect solicitor and coach, Chair of the St. Louis AGR National Convention fundraising committee, as a Board Member for The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho and most recently serves as Chairman of the Educational Foundation.
JUST TWO OF THE MANY FACES, STORIES AND JOURNEYS OF ALPHA GAMMA RHO BROTHERS
by Shannon Kehoe
WHEN STUDENTS GRADUATE from universities they put on the traditional regalia, adorned in chords and stoles commemorating their collegiate experiences. And many never look back. The path moving forward takes them towards a career, a family and beyond. However, for those who take part in Greek-letter organizations, the path forward frequently still involves those organizations that provided unique, individual experiences as a member of a collective brotherhood.
Alpha Gamma Rho bonds brothers in their passion and interest in agriculture, bringing those together who have had numerous previous experiences or none at all, before attending their chosen college or university. Not every AGR brother has a “typical” pathway to college and not every brother has had robust experiences outside of their town. AGR brothers are in pursuit of degrees in agriculture, business, biology and careers as lawyers, doctors, farmers and educators.
Two young alumni recounted their experiences as undergraduate brothers in their respective chapters, fondly remembering the ways their brothers provided comradery and support through two very di erent experiences on two ends of the country. These testimonials share the gripping impact Alpha Gamma Rho had on each of them as they navigated the collegiate landscape they initially did not intend on being a part of.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Brice Bonds
BRICE WAS RAISED BY HIS
mom, Lori and dad, Bill and was a triplet to his siblings, Barrett and Aubrey. He and his siblings came into the world 10 weeks premature, which resulted in Brice having Cerebral Palsy. His mom has worked in special education for over 30 years and his father, was a football coach and educator for 26 years, before passing away in 2009. Brice was raised in the small, agriculturally based town of Swainsboro, Georgia, and although his family did not have any direct ties to the industry, his fascination with it led to him joining the FFA in high school. Joining the FFA opened Brice’s eyes to the opportunities ahead of him in agriculture. He said, “I never thought it would be a career option for me, because of my disability, but my agriculture teacher encouraged me and showed me how I could make it a career.”
When it was time to determine where Brice’s college experience would be held, Brice knew he always wanted to attend the University of Georgia (UGA) and didn’t even consider anywhere else. In his senior year, he applied early to UGA and was deferred. The next day he took a chance and went to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), for their open campus day, mostly out of spite. “As soon as I got there, I had a feeling this is where I needed to be, because of how welcoming it was. I thought, ‘I’ll start here, then transfer.’” He had applied to ABAC prior to going for the visit, and while there the admissions team accepted him. And, despite his initial thoughts, ABAC was the perfect fi t and Brice stuck it out to receive his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from the college in 2019.
When Brice moved to campus in August 2015, he knew he wanted to get involved. Both of his parents were in Greek Life, and he knew the bonds his dad had with his brothers from a small college in South Carolina, bonds that extended to his mom after his father’s passing. So early on he saw the impact a fraternity can have. When the time came to begin seriously considering the options to join a Greek-letter organization, it was the people around him in his community of Swainsboro that put Alpha Gamma Rho on his radar. As a freshman, with intentions of transferring, Brice intended on waiting until he made the move from Tifton, Georgia, to Athens, Georgia, to go through recruitment, but at the last minute he decided to “check it out.” That fall, Brice was initiated into the Gamma Delta Chapter and credits the Fraternity with him staying at ABAC, saying, “It was a culture I couldn’t leave. It made my time, from the start, easier on campus.”
Being in Alpha Gamma Rho provided confi dence
Below: First turkey hunt with Chapter Brother Zebb Gri n.
Bottom: Showing a pig during the Sigma Alpha-Beta Nu Swine Showdown.
to Brice. At 18 and 19 years old he felt the most normal and accepted once he joined the Fraternity, and not just amongst his brothers, but also across campus. “I felt like there was fi nally nothing holding me back.”
Even beyond chapter activities, brothers provided new experiences to Brice. “My junior year, I told Miles Ward and Austin Byrd, ‘my birthday is coming up and I really want to to go deer hunting.’” Brice’s family was never one to hunt and it was something his friends had always done, but he never had the opportunity to join them. That year, they took him out and he shot his fi rst deer. Everyone from the chapter showed up to celebrate the achievement and were all excited. “It may seem like a small thing, but in that moment I could defi nitely tell there was so much more to brotherhood than just sitting in a chapter meeting.”
Brice says his time as an undergraduate in Alpha Gamma Rho allowed him to share a different perspective with his brothers around him. “In a way, I did have a different experience, because of the fact that I do have a disability, but it was not in a bad way.” He says he had a different perspective than most and was most commonly the only one with an obvious disability in the room, but it provided a good learning experience for everyone. To his brothers, he says, “Thanks for giving me a chance, accepting me and supporting me—pushing me out of comfort zone and making me a better person.”
Brice believes in the Greek life experience and says it’s all about fi nding the right fi t for you, and making the most out of it. But when it comes to recruiting, Brice says, “no matter how different someone might look, just treat everybody like somebody. Be kind.” With Alpha Gamma
Rho having a strong basis in agriculture, Brice believes it should be easier to diversify, because of the good people in the ag industry and
AGR being an extension of that. Since graduating from ABAC, Brice returns to the Gamma Delta Chapter to provide advice and insight, which he says is a strange feeling, as a young alumnus. He has recently graduated from Clemson University with a master’s degree in agricultural education.
He hopes to have a career with the University of
Georgia Extension and wants to work with people with disabilities in agriculture.
California State–Fresno
Luis Mendoza
BORN IN 1996, TO HIS MOTHER SERENA AND FATHER LUIS, LUIS
Mendoza found himself two generations removed from agriculture and would later fi nd himself as a fi rst-generation college student. Luis’ dad moved from Mexico to the United States and didn’t have the opportunity to attend college. Although his mom started at a junior college, she didn’t fi nish, so his parents really pushed him to attend and fi nish college.
Luis found interest in the agricultural community as he grew up in the small farming community of Denair, California,outside of Modesto, surrounded by cattle and almonds. In high school he joined the FFA but was minimally involved. His passion truly manifested from the environment he was in and family friends, who were the type of people Luis wanted to be associated with. However, when he started his studies at Modesto Junior College, he actually started as a fi re science major, with intentions of being a fi refi ghter. But, the ag teachers he encountered had such a strong impact, he switched his major to agribusiness within a week.
Luis started at a junior college out of high school because, initially, he did not have the proper requirements to attend a four year university, and it wasn’t something he initially wanted. However, when he started classes, he fell in love with learning. “I met professors who actually cared, and I
fell in love with higher education.” After earning his associate degree from Modesto Junior College, Luis made the decision to attend Fresno State University because of its convenience to home. “It’s in the heart of farming communities in the valley.” He recalls his professors at Fresno State were motivated and invested in his education, and provided a hands-on approach to learning about the industry.
Immediately after leaving Modesto Junior College In spring 2018, Luis started at Fresno State in the fall. The fi rst thing he did was go through the recruitment process for Alpha Gamma Rho. He knew he wanted to join Greek life, and AGR, as soon as possible because a childhood friend’s grandfather is an AGR, one of the fi rst 10 classes at Fresno State, Brother Rick Kindle. “He acted a lot like my grandfather and was a mentor to me. When he found out I was going to Fresno State, his fi rst words were ‘join AGR’.” Luis credits his mentor as someone who truly shaped him and allowed his growth professionally.
However, when Luis was initiated in the fall of 2018 into the Alpha Sigma Chapter, he was considered nontraditional as a transfer student and as a new brother at 22 years old. Despite the push and the initial confi dence, he was hesitant, knowing he was older. When he realized how many other brothers transferred as well, he became more comfortable and was able to really dive headfi rst into his involvement with the Chapter. He was involved with any type of activity, philanthropy and fundraising on and off campus. “You can ask an AGR anything and they’ll never say no. We really want to network across the country and be as involved as possible, which is why I joined the Collegiate Advisory Council (CAC).”
It was because of AGR that Luis felt at ease in his transition to Fresno State. It helped him get out of his comfort zone and become more involved elsewhere on campus as well as become more skilled professionally. “At junior college I was laid back and not involved in any clubs, but at Fresno State, once I joined AGR, my mindset changed completely. I had a whole group of guys who had my back, acting as hypemen. They’re your support system, no matter how far away from home you are, they become your home.”
During his time as an undergraduate, Luis witnessed brothers have high successes and great loss. Two brothers lost siblings and to him, it was incredible to see the support AGRs showed them.
AGR allowed Luis to take internships which eventually led to his career. The large group of men he was consistently spending time with led to him gaining skills in public speaking, leadership and even compassion. He believes his experience was so great because of the commitment he made to his brothers and the way he utilized his time. “For us, out here, everything seems like more of an open playing fi eld in the way of being a non-traditional student. So many brothers were fi rst-generation college students, of different ethnicities, belonged to different cultures and had different upbringing and relation to agriculture.”
Luis says to those considering Greek life, “It may be daunting at fi rst, coming into any group with anywhere from 20 to 100 members, but the experiences and relationships you gain will far outweigh anything else.” He encourages chapters to never overlook someone when recruiting. To ask them questions and make sure they have the opportunity to ask you questions.
Because of his experience in college, Luis’ younger sister, Yasmin is also planning to pursue a degree in agriculture. Luis is currently working as a sales representative for Syngenta, continuing to make connections with brothers across the country.
