ALSO INSIDE: The Future of the Greek System
In the shadow of the “Abolish Greek Life” movement, how can AGR join its institutional partners in reform?
Why Greek? Why AGR?
New Gallup survey shows membership tied to development of career skills and post graduate wellbeing
AN INSIDE LOOK ON HOW CHAPTERS RECRUIT AND HAVE PIVOTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
THE MAGAZINE OF ALPHA GAMMA RHO AGRICULTURAL FRATERNITY ➻ FALL 2021
FOUNDATION DONOR: Donald and Cheri De Jong
CHAPTER AND SCHOOL: Chi (Cal Poly)
LIVETIME GIVING LEVEL: Founders' Circle
BROTHER DONALD DE JONG, HIS wife Cheri, and their three daughters, Ashley, Allison and Alexandra are all faithful members of the Greek community, which Brother De Jong says taught him life skills he could never get in a classroom.
In college, Brother De Jong was looking for a place to live and discovered that if he served as the Commissary House Manager for the Chi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, he could have free room and board. He decided to participate in formal recruitment and was initiated in 1985.
“That was what attracted me to AGR to start with, but then I discovered it’s a lot more than an affordable place to live and work,” Brother De Jong said.
Donald noted that while living in the chapter house, he learned about the various other parts of agriculture from growing cotton to raising cattle due to the wide range of interests the other members had in agriculture.
He also said he learned a variety of social skills as an AGR member,
to which he attributes his career accomplishments.
“I really believe it sets your inter-personal skills — how to work with people, how to get along with different personalities, different skill sets to achieve goals.” He said these kinds of skills are something all brothers need, which is why De Jong has been a loyal contributor and Educational Foundation Board Member.
he and his wife winning the 2021 Philanthropist of the Year award from the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE).
Educational Foundation Board Chairman, Glenn Stith, noted, “Donald De Jong truly does lead by example, and he has set the pace for Alpha Gamma Rho alumni across the country to participate in this transformational endeavor.”
Brother De Jong said it only made sense to give back to the organization which helped him grow into the man he is today. Brother De Jong hopes other AGR members will follow his lead in giving back and make donations as well.
After graduating, Brother De Jong said he felt a sense of responsibility to give back so younger generations of AGR brothers could have the same opportunities he had.
Brother De Jong’s loyalty to AGR after graduation is reflected in
While at Cal Poly, Brother De Jong met his wife Cheri, who is the CFO of their family dairy company. De Jong owns and operates Natural Prairie Dairy Farms, Northside Farms and Jersey Gold Dairy. All operations combined represent over 50,000 head of milking cows and replacement heifers, and close to 50,000 acres of farmland.
The mission of The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho is to drive Alpha Gamma Rho’s Purpose of Making Better Men . YOUR contributions support scholarships, leadership development training and experiences, opportunities to make life-long connections and more. Every gift to the Foundation, YOUR Foundation, is an investment in the future and makes an impact in the lives of worthy brothers. We thank you for entrusting YOUR Foundation with YOUR gift. Make a gift today at alphagammarho.org/donate.
“I really believe it sets your inter-personal skills — how to work with people, how to get along with different personalities, different skill sets to achieve goals.”
ALPHA PSI CHAPTER (WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS) POSITIONED TO ATTRACT THE NEXT GENERATION OF BROTHERS
THERE’S A SENSE OF RENEWAL ON CASCADE Avenue in River Falls, Wisconsin — home to Alpha Psi Chapter.
That spirit comes from two sources. First, an alumni fundraising campaign is helping make physical upgrades to the house, preparing it for the upcoming generation of brothers. Second, the presence of an important resident — a new Housemother — is helping make the house feel like a true college home.
With a fundraising campaign all set to launch earlier this year, needs suddenly accelerated when a planned roof replacement turned out to be more urgent than expected. Fortunately, Alpha Psi Chapter alumni rallied quickly and a new flat roof was installed at half the cost of what was originally estimated.
In just the first six months of the campaign,
the chapter is already more than halfway to its fundraising goal of $450,000. In addition to the roof, funds will go towards paying off the mortgage, making additional repairs and upgrades, and seeding an improvement fund to help keep the chapter house in shape for years to come.
One other key renovation will make a huge difference for the chapter — updates to the on-site Housemother’s apartment.
Its new resident is Julie MacSwain, who took over Housemother duties in September. While she’s moved to River Falls from Oregon, MacSwain is no stranger to Wisconsin, agriculture, or Alpha Gamma Rho. Growing up on a Wisconsin pork and beef farm, she earned a degree in Agricultural Education from Wisconsin-Platteville, where she was a
The Housemother role is the heart and soul of the chapter — part scholarship adviser, community relations manager, and career counselor, as well as a major influence on morale and social development.Julie MacSwain
After 24 years, Monica Voiles retired as Alpha Psi Chapter's Housemother this spring. An excerpt from a recent tribute in the Chapter Crescent reads:
“When she came to us in the fall of 1997, pin numbers of guys still in the chapter at the time were high 500’s to low 600’s. Today, we are in the 1180’s. This means roughly half of all our brothers have called her “Mom” as an undergrad… She is very highly respected across AGR by other Housemothers/Directors, and very deserving of every accolade she has amassed over her years.” Thank you, “Mom Voiles” for your commitment to Making Better Men!
AGR is committed to offering opportunities to connect for members and corporations in the dynamic global agriculture and food industries. Thank you to our Corporate Partners for your support of our Purpose!
former Little Sister at Beta Gamma Chapter. A long career in agriculture makes Julie uniquely positioned to relate to the men of Alpha Psi Chapter in her new role.
According to Noble Ruler, Nathan Welsh, the Housemother role is the heart and soul of the chapter — part scholarship adviser, community relations manager, and career counselor, as well as a major influence on morale and social development.
Put together, Julie’s presence, along with the improvements to the house, will prove to be a powerful force when recruiting new members.
“With fewer students going into agriculture, along with the rising cost of education and more housing options than ever, every recruiting advantage counts,” says Welsh. “An up-to-date house and amazing Housemom give us those advantages and make a huge difference.”
Bader Rutter College FreshSPONSOR
Want to see your company added to our list? Visit alphagammarho.org/corporatepartners for information on how to become a Corporate Partner.
@alphagammarhohq
@alphagammarho
Alpha Gamma Rho: Social/ Professional Ag, Food, Fiber, & Life Sci. Fraternity
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity
AGR'S NATIONAL LEADERS, THE National Board of Directors, The Educational Foundation Board, Collegiate Advisory Council, the Housing Resources Trust, Regional Vice Presidents, Home Office staff and others traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the 2021 AGR Leadership Conference, August 13-15. The theme of the Leadership Conference was “Resilience” as the National Fraternity and The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho, along with all members continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects across the nation.
Every other year, in-between years of Alpha Gamma Rho’s biennial National
Convention, a Leadership Conference is held for AGR’s National Leaders to gather and discuss the future of the Fraternity.
The 2021 Leadership Conference began Friday, August 13. The meeting quickly moved into its theme of “Resilience” as leaders from the Fraternity discussed where AGR stood as a fraternity and what the future of AGR might look like.
The first day of the Conference, AGR leaders participated in a presentation by Josh Orendi, co-founder, owner and Chief Business Development Officer of Phired Up, a company dedicated to helping fraternities and sororities grow. Orendi discussed how the pandemic has impacted the studentaged populous and how chapters can go about recruiting in a post-COVID world.
AGR’s Grand President, Doug Griffin, presented the State of the Fraternity as strong, despite any struggles brought about by the pandemic. His presentation displayed the resiliency of the National Fraternity.
CEO, Rex Martin; Senior Director of Operations, Grant Bargfrede; and Director of Leadership & Education, Amanda Horvat; discussed plans to improve Local Chapter Excellence so AGR can continue to Make Better Men.
Conference attendees ended the Leadership Conference with a River Cruise tour of Lake Michigan where attendees witnessed shoreline views of Milwaukee. Some of the sights included the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Daniel W. Hoan Memorial Bridge, named after one of the longest serving mayors of Milwaukee. This was the first in-person event hosted by AGR since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recruit
8
Number of new leaders serving in National Fraternity volunteer roles in 2021
Number of certified Phired Up recruiters Commit
172
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity has recruited volunteer leaders to aid its efforts in Making Better Men. Many of these leaders fill roles such as Regional Vice Presidents along with many others.
61
Number of AGRs who have attended North American Interfraternity Conference programming in the last five years
Recognize
14
Number of awards the National Fraternity received within the interfraternal community in the last five years
Phired Up is a company helping fraternities and sororities grow their membership. Phired Up also trains fraternity and sorority leaders to recruit new members, manage their recruitment process and retain members.
NIC hosts many programs on a variety of topics throughout the year that fraternity members can participate in. Several of our members have attended at least one program to grow their skills as a member of the Greek community.
The National Fraternity and many AGR brothers have received awards for various achievements over the years. We would like to congratulate all who have received awards from within the interfraternal community in the last five years!
IT WAS AT AGR WHERE BROTHER TED Priebe honed the skills he would need for a successful career as an award-winning agricultural marketing communicator. Brother Priebe, who has worked across the Midwestern United States at agencies like Miller Meester Advertising, the country’s largest agricultural advertising agency in the 1990’s, and Meyocks & Priebe Advertising, where he was an original founder and CEO, started his professional career at AGR in a basement and has been moving up ever since.
Brother Priebe was born and raised on an Indiana grain and livestock farm near Crawfordsville, just 49 miles northwest of Indianapolis. There, with his mom, dad and two younger brothers, he realized a love for agriculture and an interest in communications. After high school graduation, Brother Priebe enrolled at Purdue University. Purdue did not have an agriculture communications degree so he worked with the University to develop a
degree plan that made sense and would set him up for future success.
Brother Priebe moved into the dorms with his next-door neighbor. At the time, his roommate had been participating in formal recruitment for AGR and asked Priebe to accompany him. His dad’s best friend, an alumnus of AGR, heard Priebe visited the Fraternity and contacted the Delta Chapter to advise them to recruit Priebe. “I had been visiting other fraternities but did not have AGR on my list” said Brother Priebe. The chapter took the alumnus’ advice and Ted, and his roommate, decided to participate in formal recruitment where they both would be initiated into AGR.
Looking back on his AGR experience at Purdue, Brother Priebe recollects “it was the incredible guys within the chapter that made me want to join.” He did not yet know of the vast alumni network he would soon be a part of and how it would shape him in the years to come.
After graduation, Brother Priebe went to
work for the National Fraternity under Maynard Coe, AGR's second Executive Secretary.
“We officed in Maynard’s basement and new initiates were kept on index cards above the washer and dryer,” Priebe said.
Three months later he would be drafted to serve his country in Vietnam before being honorably discharged and going back to the Fraternity where he served as Editor of the SICKLE & SHEAF and Assistant Executive Secretary for three years.
It was while working for the Fraternity, Brother Priebe met AGRs across the country and was exposed to the depth and breadth that makes up agriculture in America. “I learned important lessons like how to build relationships between the field and the Home Office. It was a skill which translated well to
He gained experience in publishing when he was given the opportunity to grow the SICKLE & SHEAF, and he had the opportunity to work with chapters as they published their Chapter Crescents.
Brother Priebe also learned the art of “listening.” “I found that was key to my working in the Home Office with the chapters and then even more so as a national volunteer on so many projects. I have always tried to take that lesson and make ‘listening’ a key trait in trying to build my leadership style. In the agency and consulting business, sometimes that is, amazingly, not present.” It was experiences like these while working for the National Fraternity that would guide him as he set out on a successful career spanning six decades. While working for the National Fraternity, Brother Priebe had the opportunity to be involved with a number of chapters across the country. He helped colonize multiple chapters and was involved in several key moments of history with the National Fraternity. After leaving employment at the Home Office, Brother Priebe continued to give back and has served on numerous committees being heavily involved in the branding and communications for the Fraternity. He served on the National Board and then as Grand President from 1984 to 1986. In 2000 Brother Priebe was inducted into the AGR Hall of Fame. Brother Priebe is grateful for three things in his life — Family, Purdue and Alpha Gamma Rho. He would encourage new members of our Fraternity to “meet and network with alumni because we are a socialprofessional fraternity. You can make lifelong connections and may have the opportunity to meet and get to know other alumni from across the country you did not go to school with.” He further believes, “Just because you move away from the town where your university is, doesn’t mean you can’t connect. Get involved with the closest chapter to where you are living. You never know how the skills you learn serving AGR will lead to a successful future.”
“I learned important lessons like how to build relationships between the field and the Home Office. It was a skill which translated well to building relationships between companies and dealers.”
COLLEGE STUDENTS GATHERED on the main lawns of their universities and took to the streets. Some held up signs while others yelled out chants against a system that has been thriving since 1776 when the first fraternity was created. The “Abolish Greek Life” movement erupted during the summer of 2021, bringing to light issues regarding race, sexual misconduct and hazing.
Some sorority chapters across the U.S. saw the effects of the “Abolish Greek Life” movement, but North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) President and CEO, Judson Horras, explained proudly that less than five fraternity chapters closed as direct results of the “Abolish Greek Life” movements.
“It’s not going to happen,” Horras said about the abolition of Greek Life. “Fraternities have existed through world wars, civil wars, pandemics, depressions, conservative periods of our country, liberal
periods of our country — fraternities have continued existing because they fill a need within young men.”
NIC Governing Council has decided to focus on improving upon these issues through research, education and public policy.
NIC teamed up with Gallup to conduct research on the impact of fraternity and sorority life on young men and women who are initiated into a fraternity or sorority versus those who aren’t. The research proved graduates who were part of a fraternity or sorority were more likely to be thriving in their overall well-being, which includes five essential elements — purpose, social, financial, physical and community — compared to those who were not part of Greek Life.
Horras explained the issues “Abolish Greek Life” revolves around are of high importance and are being addressed by the NIC and the Interfraternity Council (IFC). He said the
Horras said this research, along with other research gathered by the NIC, helps gage what values fraternities bring to society, what are their challenges and how to address them, which the Conference plans to use to improve the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Fraternities have existed through world wars, civil wars, pandemics, depressions, conservative periods of our country, liberal periods of our country — fraternities have continued existing because they fill the need within young men.”IN THE SHADOW OF THE “ABOLISH GREEK LIFE ” MOVEMENT, HOW CAN AGR JOIN ITS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IN REFORM?
He said the NIC has also been advocating for stronger anti-hazing legislation at the state and federal levels, which would make it easier to hold individuals accountable for their actions. Educational programming has been put in place for IFC officers for a variety of topics, including sexual misconduct.
“In general, we share concerns around hazing, sexual misconduct and racism, so we agree those issues need to be addressed,” Horras said. “We fundamentally disagree that abolishing fraternities or canceling them will solve the problem.”
Horras noted fraternities and sororities want to be leaders in those areas and have a seat at the table to provide another perspective on how to solve these issues, not only in Greek Life, but in society.
NIC's General Counsel, Clark Brown, agrees Greek Life has a responsibility to demonstrate what fraternity and sorority life is really about — Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, anti-hazing and anti-sexual misconduct. Brown explained that media has often portrayed fraternity and sorority life as strictly social organizations who party all the time, and have no concern when it comes to academics, students’ overall health, or involvement with the community.
“Our story is often told for us and we have to do a better job at telling our own story,” Brown said.
He said he believes there will be a growing emphasis for the Greek System to remain relevant and an important part of students’ lives on college campuses.
Brown noted this may be difficult to do because fraternities and sororities are founded on traditions some people would rather not see change or go away. It is hard to find the balance between maintaining traditions, while evolving to keep up with an ever-changing world.
Brown said, in order to be relevant on campuses and in society, Greek organizations will have to start focusing more on things outside of social aspects of Greek Life. With this kind of focus, Brown hopes to see fraternities and sororities reflect successful students who are engaged not only in the classroom, but also in their communities.
“We have a big responsibility in securing our own future,” Brown said.
Dani Weatherford, CEO of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), also saw the "Abolish Greek Life" movement as an opportunity for improvement. She explained that NPC saw a variation of the "Abolish Greek Life" movement called Anti-Sorority Activism, which addresses diversity, equity and inclusion issues within Greek organizations. She said some of NPC’s chapters were affected by Anti-Sorority Activism, much like NIC, but on a larger scale than its male counterpart.
“There were individual members who resigned and there were some chapters across the country that closed,” Weatherford said. “Those are decisions handled by the individual members or organizations.”
Weatherford explained that every campus was affected by a form of the "Abolish Greek Life" movement, and sometimes different chapters on the same campus had their own set of concerns, and they often varied from campus-to-campus.
Due to these differences in concerns and NPC’s want to help their organizations, NPC began having
conversations with students, whether they were members of Greek organizations or not. NPC gathered various points of view on a variety of subjects students wanted to address through movement on their campus.
Despite the challenges brought about by the movements, Weatherford said NPC organizatyions came together and supported one another. She noted what was happening on one campus could be happening on other campuses, thus the organizations leaned on one another for advice and support during the different movements revolving around Greek Life.
Weatherford said one discussion that has come out of the Anti-Sorority Activism was recruitment reform. She said NPC discussed how to make recruitment more open and inclusive.
“Fraternity and sorority life is always changing to meet the needs of our student members and our alumni/ae members, so we’re always working to do better to improve — to make sure the sorority experience meets the needs of women.”
Fraternity and Sorority leaders are looking to use what they have learned from the "Abolish Greek Life" movement and its other forms to evaluate their processes and further improve them. Although the movements did have some effect on a few chapters in both NIC and NPC, the overall organizations stand strong, leaning on each other for advice and support just as their chapters do when they need it most.
“Fraternity and sorority life is always changing to meet the needs of our student members, our alumni members.”Above: Clark Brown, General Counsel for the NIC, presented research conducted on the Greek System at the 2021 AGR Leadership Conference.
AN INSIDE LOOK ON HOW CHAPTERS RECRUIT AND HAVE PIVOTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Recruitment is the lifeblood of the Fraternity. When done well, the organization grows stronger. But when recruitment is challenged, the very vitality of any organization can be shaken. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly changed the landscape of fraternity recruitment. And yet, our chapters and young men are extremely resilient and resourceful as they’ve worked through new ways of meeting, connecting and fostering relationships with potential new members.
Each chapter has a unique environment for recruitment— some are at land-grant universities or have large agriculture colleges with a sizeable recruitment pool while other chapters may be at smaller universities with specialized majors and more direct access to the whole of the student population. Likewise, each chapter’s size, resources, organization and culture also shape recruitment.
While all chapters had to adapt their recruitment practices, the following four chapters have each taken advantage of the pandemic to shift strategies and adjust how they go about recruitment.
This isn’t an exhaustive dictionary, but knowing these few words are important to understanding recruitment today.
f Names List: The list of potential new members that a chapter builds.
f Potential New Member: Any candidate the chapter engages with the intent of membership.
f Recruitment: The time period fraternities and sororities meet, and invite potential new members into their organization.
f Tabling: Any event designed to help build the names list is considered a tabling event; this usually includes student organization fairs and Greek Community organized events.
f Pledge: Alpha Gamma Rho abolished the pledge process in 1992 and replaced it with the Brotherhood Program which eliminated the waiting process; pledge was replaced with the term new member which places emphasis on the equity of all members.
f Rush: The idea of a rush process doesn’t embrace building relationships and getting to know one another; rush was replaced with the term recruitment which focuses on a longer duration process giving time for potential new members and the chapter to get to know each other.
FALL 2021 RETURNING
COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 20
ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 10
HOUSE CAPACITY: 14
At the University of Arizona, Alpha Pi Chapter might be like many other AGR chapters. The chapter participates in typical fall recruitment during the university-scheduled recruitment week, which helps the chapter develop its names list through tabling events. The brothers host get-togethers like casual football games, poker games and homecoming festivities.
One event that might be unique to Alpha Pi Chapter is their camping trip. Each fall, they take potential new members out for a camping trip so they can get off campus and spend quality time getting to know each other.
“We like to meet individual and have meaningful conversations with them,” said Corbin Hoffman, 2020 VNR of Recruitment for Alpha Pi Chapter. “We find that by bonding around a campfire, we can have deep and meaningful conversations such as talking about grades, paying for college and career dreams.”
Making good conversation is important to developing strong connections and ultimately a tight brotherhood. That’s why the brothers of Alpha Pi Chapter feel it is important to move past the awkward initial conversations that sometimes happen with potential new members.
“Don’t let the awkwardness prevent you from striking up a conversation,” said Derek Terry, 2021 VNR of Recruitment. “Talk to as many people as you can. We look for guys in boots in class, and we sit next to them and try to strike up a conversation. More often than not, it works out.”
These good conversations lead to invitations for the potential new members to come over for some
type of event and an opportunity to build a friendship, which is an important foundation for beginning the membership process.
Personal connections with the motto of “People join people, not organizations” is the first tenet of recruitment taught in the AGR Recruitment School presented in partnership with Phired Up, an organization helping fraternities and sororities recruit, retain and engage their members.
“It allows them to make new connections, and it frees up the VNR of Recruitment to have conversations with someone they haven’t met yet.”
Enlisting the whole chapter for help with recruitment is an important factor in successful recruitment programs. When the entire brotherhood is engaged and recruitment isn’t just on the officer, everyone is invested in achieving success.
f Make the first move. Be bold. Sit next to someone new and strike up a conversation. You have the advantage of being familiar with campus, and you can quickly move past the awkwardness of the conversation.
“When we bring potential new members over, we make sure the VNR of Recruitment introduces them to the other brothers,” said Terry.
f Be persistent. Potential new members are just starting out their college experience. They sometimes forget, and they sometimes need you to follow up with them. Keep reaching out and extending the invitation.
“We find that by bonding around a campfire, we can have deep and meaningful conversations such as talking about grades, paying for college and career dreams.”
bunch of outdated pictures, potential new members can tell. Updating pictures on the website helps us to stay relevant.”
Recruitment is one of the most critical functions of the chapter. Without it, there is no future. For the brothers of Beta Nu Chapter, planning the roadmap to success is the first step in achieving it.
FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 25
ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 7
HOUSE CAPACITY: NO HOUSE
On the Texas A&M University campus, the brothers of Beta Nu Chapter have been faced with substantial recruitment challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a “normal” year, they have university and Interfraternity Council (IFC) sponsored events, but the pandemic cancelled or shifted many of those events making it hard for Beta Nu Chapter to maintain their visibility on campus. Without opportunities the chapter is used to, they got creative and rethought ways of maintaining and raising their profile.
Truly ushering in a new era of recruitment, the brothers of Beta Nu Chapter
redoubled their outreach efforts by making sure their online presence represents them well. This means updating their website and engaging through social media.
“Social media is a big part of our strategy,” said Clayton Lopez, 2021 Noble Ruler for Beta Nu Chapter. “We use social media to foster interactions with both potential new members and our alumni who can provide us referrals.” Through social media, the brothers of Beta Nu Chapter have shared out their recruitment event schedule and show potential new members who they are.
“We’ve also been working with our alumni to help update our website,” said Lopez. “When you have a
f Elect The Right VNR of Recruitment. It shouldn’t be a popularity contest. Rather, make sure that the VNR of Recruitment has the right skills and the ability to coordinate chapter-wide recruitment efforst.
f Define the roadmap. Know where you need to go, and plan for it. You have control over what you do; do what makes the most impact.
“You need to make a game plan, a schedule and facilitate it,” said Lopez. “You don’t have to reinvent the plan each year, but it needs to be adapted each year.”
From identifying the recruitment goal to scheduling tabling opportunities, recruitment events, bid day and initiation, planning is essential. Planning for contingencies is also an important skill for any chapter.
“We have a large class of graduates this spring. We need to recruit a larger class to avoid the chapter taking a big hit next year,” said Lopez. “To make sure we get the numbers we need, we’re taking advantage of rolling recruitment where we recruit beyond the typical recruitment week and create additional opportunities to meet potential new members.”
Adding time onto the recruitment calendar has been essential for Beta Nu Chapter to get the numbers they need to maintain their chapter.
FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 39
ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 15
HOUSE CAPACITY: 39
Iota Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison combines pre-college recruitment with freshman recruitment to help sustain their efforts. Through a spring scholarship program for high school seniors that transitions into a fall recruitment schedule, Iota Chapter sees success in its recruitment program each year.
Each spring, the Iota Chapter Educational Foundation provides scholarships for high school seniors. As a part of the process, high school seniors interview with the Iota Chapter collegiate and alumni brothers to assess their applications.
“Competitive Edge Scholarships are definitely a key to meeting our goals,” said Massimo Rovella, one of two 2021 VNRs of Recruitment for Iota Chapter. “It helps to build connections when we get to meet students as they interview. We also help provide them resources so they have the ‘Competitive Edge’ when they get on campus.”
Prior to the pandemic, the program was hosted in person on campus with a tour that led to lunch at the chapter house. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Iota Chapter from hosting the event in person, so they’ve adapted to an online program.
“Transitioning to an online program has been very successful,” said Rovella. “In 2021, we were able to interview more applicants who lived outside of Wisconsin. Before, we could only interview students who drove to campus, but now we’ve opened the program to many more students.”
The 2021 Competitive Edge Scholarship Program had more than 40 applicants including international
students from four other countries on two other continents. The online program has expanded Iota Chapter’s recruitment reach in ways they didn’t anticipate.
Expanding the reach of their recruitment efforts works toward the second tenet of recruitment: you can’t recruit who you don’t know. Increasing a chapter’s reach and positioning members to see potential new members is important for growing a chapter’s names list.
In 2019, Iota Chapter made the change from having a lone VNR of Recruitment to a shared responsibility between two officers. The shift has more than doubled the capacity of the position by helping the chapter to recognize the synergistic team
The two-person model is not new but has taken time and discussion. Ultimately, the new model opens the opportunity for an underclassman to get involved and learn under the guidance of an upperclassman.
Under the two-person team, both officers also help to encourage the whole chapter to engage in recruitment. At the start of the semester, many brothers bring over new friends as organic relationships and a basis for easy recruitment.
f Leverage a scholarship. The cost of higher education continues to climb, and high school students are looking for any support they can find. If you can afford to help a student, doing so will pay dividends as you grow your names list and start building relationships with potential new members.
f Make recruitment a whole-chapter emphasis. When the whole chapter is involved, you can be more successful. One or two people cannot talk to everyone or find all of the potential new members. Potential new members can feel the excitement when the whole chapter is engaged.
effort needed for recruitment.
“Evolving our recruitment model was unquestionably the right decision,” said Rovella. “Together, we’re more diverse, and we bring different skill sets to the team. We can also form connections with different people based on our different interests and backgrounds.”
“Transitioning to an online program has been very successful ... we were able to interview more applicants who lived outside of Wisconsin. Before, we could only interview students who drove to campus.”
FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 70
ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 25
HOUSE CAPACITY: 94
Eta Chapter at Iowa State University has a strong foothold on their campus beginning long before students even arrive there. Not through a recruitment week, but rather through a combination of pre-college recruitment and alumni referrals, Eta Chapter fuels their recruitment program so they return each fall semester with a full new member class.
Prior to students arriving on campus, Eta Chapter has already met and recruited most, if not all, of its new members. Recruitment begins at the start of the calendar year with home visits and phone calls to high school juniors and seniors. Through these points of outreach, the brothers of Eta Chapter establish themselves as lifelines to the University for the potential new members.
“We don’t believe in ‘rush’ as a process. We invest hours to get to know potential new members rather than trying to fit it all in just one week,” said Trentin Moeller, 2021 VNR of Recruitment for Eta Chapter. “We’ve changed the mindset of our chapter
from ‘recruiting’ to ‘building relationships’ for these high schoolers.”
Home visits have been critical for Eta Chapter during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a smaller than usual names list, every visit is essential for developing relationships and articulating benefits of AGR. In fact, Eta Chapter may have set their own record for home visits with nearly 4,000 miles logged for travel so far in 2021 with more miles anticipated through the end of the fall semester.
“Parents get on board once we talk about AGR,” said Moeller. “We emphasize the study habits and professional development we instill. We also share the financial benefits of living in the chapter house compared to the University housing including the alumni support we have.”
All of this works toward overcoming the third tenets of recruitment: fraternities are scary. By building relationships and breaking down stereotypes of fraternities as party houses, the brothers of Eta Chapter help to give fraternities a new, better name.
Alumni support is also a key to Eta Chapter’s recruitment program. This shows up both in alumni referrals and financial support directed to recruitment.
f Be a resource. Reach out to your potential new members and make sure they know you’re there to help them with whatever they need. Whether it is figuring out which classes to take or how to get around campus, position yourself as the resource they call.
f Engage your alumni. Every alumni base has different connections, skills and resources. Figure out how they can help with recruitment. It may be financial support or referrals, or it may be something else entirely.
“Referrals have helped to overcome a smaller than usual names list during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Moeller. “Our alumni have such an affinity for AGR they refer their sons and young men they know through friends and clients.”
Another way alumni support shows is by helping to fund the budget for recruitment travel and meals. The alumni of Eta Chapter provide a matching budget to the chapter for mileage and meals as the collegiate brothers visit potential new members and their parents.
Fraternity recruitment can arguably be one of the toughest tasks for a chapter, but it all comes down to building relationships and friendships that turn into the bonds of brotherhood which last a lifetime. And as the landscape of college changes, recruitment will continue to evolve as well.
The following Lifetime Giving Levels recognize brothers with cumulative lifetime giving of $50,000 or more to The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho as of September 3, 2021. Thank you for all your generous and continued support for AGR.
Founders’ Circle
$1,000,000 – 4,999,999
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
A.J. Jacques
Malone Mitchell
CHI-CAL POLY
Donald De Jong
Order of the Brotherhood
$500,000 – $999,999
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Phil Francis
ALPHA THETA-MARYLAND
Edward Reilly
FRIEND OF AGR Adayana Inc.
Order of the Harvest
$100,000 – $499,999
BETA-OHIO STATE
Kirby Barrick
Dick Bere
James Berg
Thomas Timmer
DELTA-PURDUE
Joseph Coffey
Byram Dickes
Douglas Eckrote
Mike Jackson
Steven Newcom
Gene Swackhamer
EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Al Johnson
David Sunderland
ETA-IOWA STATE
Jim Borel
IOTA-WISCONSIN-MADISON
Bill Hantke
Jerry Steiner
NU-NORTH CAROLINA STATE
Samuel Davis
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Scott Brown
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Gary Clark
Bradley Gungoll
Doug Jackson
Lee Larkin
SIGMA-WASHINGTON STATE
Doyle Jacklin
ALPHA GAMMA-FLORIDA
N. Brooks
John Douthat
Bernie Lester
Ed Smoak
ALPHA ZETA-KANSAS STATE
Randy Stoecker
Doug Weyer
ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS
Bill Boehm
FRIEND OF AGR
Cathie Lemon
Norberta Modliszewski
Order of the Shield
$50,000 – $99,999
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Ed Foley
Gerald Gehlbach
Steven Gerdes
Larry Gerdes
Thad Kuhfuss
Jim Ross
David Schick
BETA-OHIO STATE
Bill Richards
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Rick Carpenter
John Shearer
William Yerkes
DELTA-PURDUE
Dick Belcher
Sandy Belden
Tom Davis
Jake Ferris
Joseph Hasler
EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Gregg Halverson
Corey Martin
ZETA-CORNELL
Greg Wickham
ETA-IOWA STATE
Sigmund Cornelius
David Van Wert
THETA-MISSOURI
Steve Ellis
Robert Wheeler
IOTA-WISCONSIN-MADISON
Karl Drye
Russ Schuler
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Russell Gray
Glenn Stith
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Ray Beck
Jeffrey Bode
Joe Hinz
A.L. Hutson
Paul Schulte
Scott Sewell
James Sigmon
K. Wayne Sizelove
Dennis Slagell
Paul Yauk
PHI-UC-DAVIS
Gerry Rominger
CHI-CAL POLY
Ole Meland
ALPHA BETAOREGON STATE
Skye Krebs
Richard Ladd
Gary Nuss
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Reggie Brown
Dean Saunders
Ernest Sellers
Dale Zimmerman
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Samuel Hands
Loren Kruse
Mike Smith
ALPHA IOTAARKANSAS
James Mitchell
ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE
Donnie Smith
ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS
Larry Lepper
Phil Nichols
ALPHA CHIWESTERN KENTUCKY
Jack Britt
FRIEND OF AGR
Lillian Fobes
Smoak Groves, Inc. Wedgworth Farms, Inc.
The 2021 Loyalty Fund for AGR enables the Educational Foundation to support programs for the National Fraternity including scholarships, Leadership Seminars, Recruitment Schools, Adviser Forums, Matching Funds and more.
Grand President Society $1,000 – $1,904
Four Pillars Society
$5,000 – $10,000
Four Pillars Society membership is based on annual undesignated contribution of $5,000 or more, specifically in response to the Loyalty Fund for AGR solicitation. This listing recognizes brothers who are focused on a vision in support of educational programs that inspire young brothers towards success.
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Thad Kuhfuss
Dave Maurer
David Schick
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Brian Hege
DELTA-PURDUE
Gene Swackhamer
ETA-IOWA STATE
Jim Borel
IOTA-WISCONSIN-MADISON
Jerry Steiner
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Glenn Stith
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Dennis Slagell
SIGMA-WASHINGTON STATE
Doyle Jacklin
CHI-CAL POLY
Donald De Jong
ALPHA SIGMA-FRESNO STATE
Ian Burnett
ALPHA PSI-WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS
Bill Boehm
2020-2021 Grand President’s Society membership is based on annual, undesignated contributions of $1,000-$1,903.99, specifically in response to the Loyalty Fund for AGR solicitation. This listing recognizes brothers who are focused on a vision in support of educational programs that inspire young brothers towards success.
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Ed Dollinger
BETA-OHIO STATE
David Ames
James Berg
Myron Smith
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Rick Carpenter
John Shearer
DELTA-PURDUE
Patrick Scheetz
EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Keith Bjerke
ZETA-CORNELL
Greg Wickham
Oliver Williams
ETA-IOWA STATE
Jim Howe
Dan Johnson
Arlen Wonderlich
Grant Bargfrede
IOTA-WISCONSINMADISON
Rick Daluge
Richard Holloway
Bob Miller
Bernie Staller
Randy Torgerson
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Jim Cada
Larry Holbein
NUNORTH CAROLINA STATE
Robert May
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Dale Elsener
A.J. Jacques
RHO-COLORADO STATE
Robert Prosser
TAU-MICHIGAN STATE
William Graves
Rodney Winkel
PHI-UC-DAVIS
Bill Carriere
Kip Herzog
Ken McCorkle
Gerry Rominger
CHI-CAL POLY
Anthony Azevedo
ALPHA GAMMA-FLORIDA
Bernie Lester
ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE
Stephen Wagner
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Robert Broeckelman
Loren Goyen
Randy Stoecker
ALPHA THETA-MARYLAND
Chuck Iager
ALPHA KAPPA-TENNESSEEKNOXVILLE
Tracey Binkley
ALPHA RHO-VERMONT
Laurence Jost
Don McFeeters
ALPHA OMEGA-MURRAY STATE
Dwight Armstrong
BETA DELTA-ILLINOIS STATE
Bruce Attig
BETA KAPPA-CHICO STATE
Lee Cole
THE 1904 SOCIETY RECOGNIZES DONORS AT THREE LEVELS:
1904 Society: Alumni - All alumni can join this level by making a gift of $1,904-$4,999 per calendar year to the Loyalty Fund for AGR.
1904 Society: Young Alumni - Young Alumni (30 years or younger) can join this level by making a gift of $19.04 per month (or $228.48 per calendar year) to the Loyalty Fund for AGR.
1904 Society: Collegiate - Collegians can join this level by making a gift of $19.04 or more per carlendar year to the Loyalty Fund for AGR.
1904 Society: Alumni ($1,904 – $5,000)
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Brett Bayston
Clifford Beatty
David Hollinrake
Wilbur Nelson
Lyle Orwig
BETA-OHIO STATE
Kirby Barrick
DELTA-PURDUE
John Cottingham
Doug Griffin
David Parker
Keith Welty
EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Al Johnson
Myron Johnsrud
ETA-IOWA STATE
Fred Bahrenburg
Mike Borel
Charlie Brown
Sigmund Cornelius
Tim Heiller
Greg Nickerson
David Van Wert
THETA-MISSOURI
Jerome Graeser
Larry Warren
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Hal Cooper
Larry Engelkemier
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Tom Waldrop
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Gary Clark
A.L. Hutson
RHOCOLORADO STATE
David Ellicott
Brian Field
PHI-UC-DAVIS
Wayne Bartholomew
CHI-CAL POLY
Jeffrey Sanders
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Paul Willis
ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE
Jim Driscoll
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Donald Griffiths
Keith Heikes
Loren Kruse
ALPHA THETAMARYLAND
Paul Weller
ALPHA IOTA-ARKANSAS
Rex Martin
ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE
Peter Markovich
John Tarpley
ALPHA PI-ARIZONA
Robert Briggs
Ronald Rayner
ALPHA RHO-VERMONT
Jim Carpenter
Erwin Clark
ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS
Gerry Salzman
ALPHA UPSILONTENNESSEE-MARTIN
Robert Earnest
1904 Society: Young Alumni ($19.04 per month / $228.48 per year)
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Joseph Morrison
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Michael Gleyze
Dan Gleyze
EPSILON-NORTH
DAKOTA STATE
Martin Peterson
ETA-IOWA STATE
Grant Bargfrede
THETA-MISSOURI
Jacob Thompson
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Alan Christensen
Mitchell Fagan
Eric Leisy
Tanner Nelson
Logan Peters
Blake Ristine
LAMBDA-MINNESOTA
Thomas Schwarz
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Kimo Kimura
Ben Willoughby
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Carson Horn
PHI-UC-DAVIS
Bret Babbitt
ALPHA ALPHAWEST VRIGNIA
Nate Hoxter
Paul Lentz
ALPHA PHI-SOUTH
DAKOTA STATE
Troy Johnson
ALPHA CHIWESTERN KENTUCKY
Ernest Yates
ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS
Phil George
Phil Josephson
ALPHA OMEGAMURRAY STATE
Arthur Green
BETA GAMMAWISCONSINPLATTEVILLE
Duane Schaefer
BETA ZETA-CLEMSON
Mike Freeman
BETA ETAVIRGINIA TECH
Ronnie Green
BETA THETAMIDDLE TENNESSEE
Jason Searles
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Clark Futch
ALPHA ZETAKANAS STATE
Logan Britton
JD Hagedorn
Nathan Laudan
William Longinaker
Will Ohlde
Brett Wilson
ALPHA ETA-GEORGIA
Justin Brown
ALPHA LAMBDA-NEW MEXICO STATE
Tyler DuBry
ALPHA NUCONNECTICUT
Joshua Feliciano
ALPHA RHO-VERMONT
Richard Brisson
ALPHA SIGMAFRESNO STATE
Matthew Borges
ALPHA UPSILONTENNESSEE-MARTIN
Ronald Travers
ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS
Blaze Bergmann
Benjamin Donnay
Andrew Gathje
Logan Huppert
Bryce Kragness
Travis Oliver
1904 Society: Collegiate ($19.04 per month / $228.48 per year)
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Austin Brockmann
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Pat Fitzsimmons
DELTA-PURDUE
Chase Creek
Ben Thompson
Jacob Timm
Ryan Trettel
Morgan Vetterkind
Eric Wachtendonk
BETA GAMMAWISCONSINPLATTEVILLE
Jordan Alf
Grant Kohlbauer
BETA ETAVIRGINIA TECH
Tyler Duty
Jacob Leonard
John Leonard
BETA KAPPACHICO STATE
Shane Young
BETA LAMBDAA&M-COMMERCE
Nathan Burt
BETA PHI-IDAHO
Seth Pratt
Nick Winner
Dustin Winston
BETA CHISTEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Jacob Spies
BETA PSIDELAWARE VALLEY
Ethan Arsenault
Jonathan Carey
SUNY COBLESKILLSUNY-COBLESKILL
Allen Graulich
Dawson Brader
Dayton Brugman
Bryce Bruns
Ross Cady
Josh Carlson
Jack Carter
Jim Chism
Spencer Collins
Spencer Cook
Hunter Crawford
Cal Daughton
Marcus Daughton
Andrew Dornbier
Brock Durflinger
Cole Eden
Tyler Eldridge
Hunter Field
Riley Ford
Landon Foster
Cody Gibson
James Griswold
Max Halstead
Tyler Hartman
Jake Hlas
Logan Hoffman
David Hora
Matthew Hougland
Connor Hultman
Bryce Kafton
Grant Kiefer
Parker Kliegl
Bryce Lafrenz
Cole Lauterbach
Zack Leist
Gus Leonard
Brian Lois
Kyle Lois
Devan Mann
Nathan Manternach
Ben McClain
Ryland McCormick
Cooper McDermott
Cody Mead
Ben Means
Kaleb Miller
Trentin Moeller
Nate Orban
Nathan Parchert
Cale Pellett
Samuel Peters
Clay Pfeifer
Nate Rea
Hans Riensche
Bryce Robison
Dalton Roling
Brett Schiele
Quinn Schmidt
Gabe Shultz
Colin Stark
Jake Sterle
Scott Stoll
Stuart Tiedemann
David Trumm
Joe Westlake
Tyler Whited
Isaac Wiley
Jack Wilson
Nathan Zumbach
THETA-MISSOURI
Zach Ayers
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Joseph Lucas
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Ronnie Brown
John Fausz
Ben Gross
Grant McClure
Cooper Rogers
Traber Smithson
Hunter Thomason
RHOCOLORADO STATE
Michael Doolittle
Eddie Ellis
TAU-MICHIGAN STATE
Logan Leen
Gage Lindner
Nate Scovill
PHI-UC-DAVIS
Matthew Lombardi
Nathan Scheinman
John Simas
CHI-CAL POLY
Jiml Valov
OMEGANEW HAMPSHIRE
Dominic Borrelli
ALPHA ALPHAWEST VIRGINIA
Corban Wiles
ALPHA GAMMA-FLORIDA
Tyler Herrington
Cameron Stake
ALPHA EPSILONLOUISIANA STATE
Chase Nevers
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Brett Dick-Wolfe
Kalen Richardson
ALPHA ETA-GEORGIA
Eddie Henderson
Chase Williams
ALPHA THETAMARYLAND
Jacob Hess
Edward Reilly
ALPHA IOTA-ARKANSAS
Zach Andrews
Jake Shelton
Caleb Swears
ALPHA PI-ARIZONA
Eben LeBerthon
Brandon Martinez
Chase Parks
ALPHA SIGMAFRESNO STATE
Luis Mendoza
ALPHA UPSILONTENNESSEE-MARTIN
Nicholas Dotson
Dawson Moore
ALPHA PHISOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Ryan Peterson
Cody Bussert
Skyler Dwyer
Jacob Ellerbrock
Peter Elwood
Maxwell Emerson
Jon Erickson
Luke Geist
Cale Graeber
Lucas Graff
Caleb Green
Bryce Hering
Zach Hines
Lane Hischke
Lee Huberty
Reese Johnston
Kevin Kitchen
Dan Klinke
will Klinkner
Dawson Knutson
Anaiah Legare
Jacob Maier
Thomas Malzacher
Parker Massie
Noah Massie
Eli Newton
Ruard Otten
Kal Randall
Jake Roche
Russell Rogall
Stetson Rueth
Andrew Scheller
Alec Schmidt
Andrew Seefeldt
Nate Stein
Nate Stepp
Gus Swenson
Wyatt Tesch
Heath Tietz
Alex Toebes
Brandon Wachter
Kyle Wanous
Nathan Welsh
Colin Wussow
Eric Wuthrich
Owen Zakrzewski
ALPHA OMEGAMURRAY STATE
Austin Marburger
BETA GAMMAWISCONSINPLATTEVILLE
Jay Long
BETA ZETA-CLEMSON
Christopher Humbert
BETA NU-TEXAS A&M
Drew Morton
BETA OMICRONWYOMING
Crawford Cooley
Owen Hof
BETA RHO-NORTHWEST MISSOURI
Grant Anderson
BETA CHISTEPHEN F. AUSTIN
Zach Martin
BETA PSIDELAWARE VALLEY
EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Lincoln Ostlie
ZETA-CORNELL
Sampson Alley
Alan Henry
ETA-IOWA STATE
Christian Atkinson
Nathan Behrends
Andy Boschert
Trey Boyle
Cameron Boyle
Larame Boysen
Koby Boysen
Tate Boysen
Kabe Boysen
Ben Maune
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Eli Skalka
LAMBDA-MINNESOTA
Martyn Novacek
XI-AUBURN
Matt Howell
ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS
Sam Androli
Trevor Balthazor
Lukas Bennett
Cole Berra
Noah Bestul
John Birr
Grant Burns
Ryder Campbell
GAMMA DELTA-ABAC
Bradley Peterson
GAMMA ZETAARKANSAS TECH
Cameron Grimes
Gavin Jones
Wyatt Petty
The Heritage Club honors brothers who leave a planned gift of $10,000 or more through specific gifts or bequests. If you have included the Educational Foundation in your will or estate plan, please let us know.
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Steven Gerdes
Jim Ross
Jim Zumwalt
BETA-OHIO STATE
Kirby Barrick
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Rick Carpenter
DELTA-PURDUE
Mike Jackson
Ted Priebe
Gene Swackhamer
EPSILON-NORTH
DAKOTA STATE
Jack Brown
Al Johnson
ETA-IOWA STATE
Fred Bahrenburg
Mike Borel
Gary Butson
Bret Carter
Scott Flynn
Steve Hanson
Robert Vasko
David Van Wert
Arlen Wonderlich
THETA-MISSOURI
Zane Akins
Lynn Fahrmeier
Lowell Mohler
Lowell Newsom
Dan Prosser
Bradley Starbuck
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
William Schilling
Charlie Trauger
NU-NORTH
CAROLINA STATE
Tyler Warren
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
David Case
Glenn Stith
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
James Ferrell
SIGMAWASHINGTON STATE
Doyle Jacklin
TAU-MICHIGAN STATE
John Welser
PHI-UC-DAVIS
John Kidd
Jeremy Turner
Memorial and Honorary Gifts may be made on behalf of any Alpha Gamma Rho brother and directed to any fund. The following listing recognizes the Alpha Gamma Rho brothers and friends who have given in honor of a brother or supporter between January 1, 2021, and September 3, 2021.
CHI-CAL POLY
Ole Meland
ALPHA BETAOREGON STATE
Vince McElligott
ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE
Jim Driscoll
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
JD Hagedorn
Edwin Kerley
Loren Kruse
Warren Nichols
Tim Rosenhagen
Curtis Steenbock
Doug Weyer
ALPHA THETAMARYLAND
Paul Weller
ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE
Thomas White
ALPHA LAMBDANEW MEXICO STATE
Paul Gutierrez
ALPHA PI-ARIZONA
Len Richardson
ALPHA RHO-VERMONT
Erwin Clark
Laurence Jost
Don McFeeters
ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS
Jeff Warner
ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS
Bill Boehm
Phil Josephson
BETA DELTAILLINOIS STATE
Don Bumphrey
BETA ETAVIRGINIA TECH
Jay Poole
BETA TAUMISSISSIPPI STATE
Brad Garrison
James Anderson by Scott D. Malmberg
Bertram R. Berg by John A. Bollingberg
David L. Call PhD by Michael C. Nolan
John L. Comer by Dean Denhart by Douglas E. Drake by Kenneth L. Newcom by L. Patrick Scheetz
Ken Dietz by Linda & Roger Erney by James N. Schneck by Heather & Doug Weck
Tim Dugger by Natalie & JR Thomas
Edward H. Ellis by Bud Doyle
Bill A. Harbeke by Epsilon by Dale O. Anderson by Michael A. Anderson by Brant B. Bigger by Keith D. Bjerke by Carmen R. Erickson by William M. Finley by Gregory J. Halverson by Germaine Harbeke by James G. Hauge by Al Johnson by Russell B. Johnson by Officer Needed by James R. Ostlie by Sharon Ring by Keith A. Rourke by Paul H. Skorheim
Dr Gaines Hunt by Robert E. Morgan
J. Brent Hurd by Officer Needed
Levon C. Kirkeide by John A Bollingberg
Brian and Leigh Anne Maxwell by Lindsey Holtzclaw by Sara Keys
Larry B. Myott by Donald J McFeeters
William W. Ortlieb by Andrew P. White
Gary R. Sackmann by Susan Sackmann
Michael E. Smith by American Endowment Foundation
Danny Thomas by Pi by John Alban by Bridget Bell
by Sammye Blevins by Joe and Barbara Boyd by Pat and Dana Caldarera by Gardner Family by Betty Jean Hill by JeanBeth Hill by Michele Mansell by Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty by Center Place
Horizontal Property Regime
by Harry and Jo Leggett by William Scarnato by Natalie & JR
Thomas by Kelly Truitt by Kelly Wewers by Thomas Ziesmann
Dennis G. Valstad by Ken Von Rueden
David Vowell by Marvin H. Flatt
A man of grit and strength was Brother Danny Thomas of Pi Chapter. After his passing January 23, 2021, Brother Thomas’ family established a scholarship in his name in hopes of helping a collegiate member who is working a minimum of 20 hours a week to put themselves through school.
AS THE SON OF TWO DAIRY FARMERS in 1934, Brother Thomas knew what it meant to work hard for what you had. He was born in Sweet Home, Arkansas, and was the first in his family to attend college. He started at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, but knew he wanted to study dairy science.
At the time, Oklahoma State University (OSU) was one of the top dairy science schools in the country and Brother Thomas had a cousin who lived there. He transferred in the spring of 1954 and joined Alpha Gamma Rho the same semester.
His first year at Oklahoma State was difficult for him, both academically and financially. Danny’s mother worked in a local school kitchen and drove a school bus to help put her son through college.
After his first year, Brother Thomas received a call inviting him back to OSU and AGR the next school year. He realized he would not be able to attend the next year because he couldn’t afford it. Brother Thomas went to the Pi Chapter Noble Ruler and told him he would not be returning to AGR or OSU because he could not pay for his room and board. The Noble Ruler thought about it and told Danny to come back next year and they would find a way for him to pay his fees.
The following school year, Brother Thomas worked in the Pi Chapter house kitchen doing dishes and helping out to pay for his dues for AGR. He also received help for his academic struggles as well.
“Fortunately, he had teachers there who would help him on Sunday nights,” Brother Thomas’ grandson, JR Thomas, said.
With a second chance at finishing his degree, Brother Thomas was able to continue as a member. The Housemother of Pi Chapter taught him, along with his brothers, how to act and dress properly, as well as how to dine in a formal setting, something that wasn’t taught to them growing up on rural farms.
After graduating with his degree, Brother Thomas tried to go back and work his family’s dairy farm, but in the 1950s and 1960s there was a transition to dairy parlors. Seeing the family farm wouldn’t last, Brother Thomas began working for Allied Chemicals as a salesman for cotton crop pesticides.
Eventually, Brother Thomas got married, but his wife’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the treatments began to grow expensive. Danny moved to a new career in real estate.
At the company he was working for, he was the only person from the country working there.
“He was made fun of … because he was a country boy — not a country club boy,” JR Thomas said.
Despite the adversity, Brother Thomas stepped up to the challenge and became the biggest salesman of his group. He would eventually go on to create one of the largest real estate firms in Arkansas.
After he retired, Brother Thomas bought a family farm and raised cattle as, what JR Thomas described, a hobby.
When Brother Thomas passed, JR Thomas and his family decided to create the Danny Thomas Endowment Fund, which provides aid to a Pi Chapter member who is working to put himself through college.
JR Thomas and his brother Dan have chipped into the fund, but must have $25,000 endowment. The family hopes their father’s AGR brothers will donate to this scholarship so the family and Brother Thomas may pay forward the kindness AGR showed him when he was a collegiate member.
To support AGR undergraduates please consider making a donation to 10101 N Ambassador Dr., Kansas City, Missouri, 64153. All checks should be made out to The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho and please put Danny Thomas Jr. Endowment Fund as the memo.
The following deaths were reported to the AGR Home Office between April 22, 2021 and September 3, 2021. The listing includes initiation year.
Arkansas
Henry Fuhrman, 1990
John Houston, II, 1956
Jon Standridge, USA (Ret.), 1957
Arkansas State
Dale Morris, 1973
Thomas Franzen, 1973
Bill Brooks, III, 1973
John Muir, 1992
Auburn
John Hawk, 1955
Neil Lowry, 1970
Austin Peay State
Jack Caldwell, 1903
Colorado State
Jerry Butner, 1951
John Mulnix, DVM, 1958
Herbert Snow, 1960
J. L. Hooper, 1950
Don Freeman, USAF (Ret.), 1950
Donald Black, 1977
Connecticut
David Nielsen, 1973
Vic Galgowski, 1942
Alexander Mozzer, MD, 1931
Cornell
Charles Riley, 1936
Bruce Porter, 1959
Dan Reed, 1971
Florida
Charles Combs, Jr., 1977
Georgia
Jack Buchanan, Sr., 1947
Robert Bledsoe, 1966
Illinois
Ronald McClelland, 1963
Iowa State
Jim Albright, 1952
Russell Kerr, 1942
Kansas State
Gerald Goetsch, DVM, 1942
Steve Burgess, 1961
Bob Ames, 1964
H.L. Todd, 1957
Kentucky
Mahlon Wallace, 1965
Al Steele, 1966
Jerry Whitehouse, 1969
William Hedgecock, Jr., 1970
Ronald Johnston, 1958
Frank Schneider, 1956
Louisiana State
William Maddie, 1981
Mark Johnson, 1982
Michael Sullivan, 1983
George McCoy, 1940
Maryland
Vernon Foster, 1937
James Brownell, 1938
Lee Adkins, 1940
Jim Moxley, Jr., 1949
William Smith, 1958
Paul Baker, 1968
Massachusetts
Arthur Dodge, 1951
John McKinley, 1953
Philip Belanger, 1954
Michigan State
Donald Frayer, 1951
Jim Graham, 1951
James Gleason, 1955
Paul Young, Jr., 1957
Jack Sneller, 1959
Minnesota
James Wempner, 1946
Richard Runck, 1957
Casey Clark, 1976
Em Lyman, 1946
Missouri
William Davidson, 1946
Wayne Hilgedick, 1967
Montana State
Donald Rose, 1948
Nebraska
Ron Grapes, 1961
William Jameson, 1956
New Hampshire
Carl Warren, 1937
David Wright, 1998
Bill Hepler, Ph.D., 1952
Courtney Allen, 1947
New Mexico State
Willie Ashby, 1951
North Carolina State
John Barber, Sr., 1948
James Foster, 1952
Robert Whitaker, 1959
North Dakota State
Marlowe Jensen, 1950
Gary Puppe, 1961
Bill Harbeke, 1966
Myron Senechal, 1965
Ohio State
James Finney, 1940
Hugh Wilson, 1956
Larry Stephenson, 1956
Jack Fishburn, 1953
Oklahoma State
Ronald Coulter, 1958
William Miller, 1967
Pete Frans, 1960
Ronald Schultz, USAF, 1954
Oregon State
Thomas Pranger, 1961
Bryan Peters, 1988
Bill Dentel, 1950
Penn State
Franklin Campbell, 1946
Penny Hallowell, Sr., 1948
Dave Stabler, 1951
Bill Thomas, 1956
Douglas Moorhead, 1954
John Fague, VMD, 1942
Carl Blair, 1964
Purdue
Edward Moser, 1932
Russell Hardin, 1940
Thomas Rhoads, 1965
Harold Power, 1948
South Dakota State
Roger Muller, 1966
Jim Anderson, 1972
Southern Illinois
Mike Brinning, 1985
Scott Chalmers, 1987
Tennessee-Knoxville
Richard Shadden, 1964
Charles Darnell, 1956
Bill Blazer, 1968
Robert Mauk, 1953
Tennessee-Martin
Larry Wade, 1963
Jim Cutlip, 1963
Wisconsin-Madison
John Mitchell, 1956
Duane Manthe, 1961
Jeff Hicken, 1917
Wisconsin-River Falls
Verl Verhulst, 1968
Gary Sackmann, 1968
Washington State
Eugene Forrester, 1947
Dick Johnson, 1968
Terry Brown, DVM, 1967
Tedd Nealey, 1967
West Virginia
George Ruth, 1949
Harold Ross, 1950
Glenn Musser, 1951
Michael Rubin, DVM, 1973
Michael Mertz, Jr., 1951
Western Illinois
Robert Dewey, 1974
Jeffrey Hartmann, 1979
Western Kentucky
Philip Amos, 1991
Ersley Amos, 1992
Daniel Givens, 1970
James Adams, 1966
Dr. Ronnie D. Green is Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) where he has overseen an enrollment of 25,000 students, and 6,000 faculty and staff since he was appointed in 2016. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from Virginia Tech where he was initiated into the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho in 1981. Green completed a Master of Science degree in animal science at Colorado State University. His doctorate program in animal breeding and genetics was completed jointly at UNL and the USDA-ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center.
Green has served on the animal science faculties of Texas Tech University and Colorado State University. He also has served as the national program leader for animal production research for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, and as the executive secretary of the White House’s interagency working group on animal genomics within the National Science and Technology Council. Prior to returning to UNL, he served as a global executive for Pfizer Animal Health’s animal genomics business.
Green is a past member of the AGR national Board of Directors. He and his wife Jane are the parents of four children and have one granddaughter.
What experiences did you enjoy as a youth?
I was raised on a farm near Fincastle, Virginia, which is in the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains. My family roots in that area go back to the 1700s. As an adult, I became the first person in my family to leave my home area in many generations. We ran about 200 beef cow-calf pairs. I was in 4-H and FFA, where I was a state officer, and loved showing beef cattle. I enrolled in animal science as a pre-vet student at Virginia Tech. I quickly figured out as a freshman being a veterinarian was not what I wanted to do after working for our local vet as an intern. I became more interested in
genetics in animal science and the rest is history.
How did your AGR experience begin?
My home county was the home to a number of men who went on to be AGRs. AGR was a leading fraternity at Virginia Tech, even though fraternities were fairly new to the University at that time. I enjoyed the great networking and brotherhood of men at Beta Eta Chapter. I happened to be there with many ag leaders on campus who have gone on to be accomplished leaders in many sectors of agriculture, both locally in Virginia and nationally. The brotherhood, learning from brothers and the sense of community were the key things that AGR instilled in
me. I grew as a leader, as a chapter officer on the executive council and as president of Block and Bridle, the largest and most active student organization on campus.
their institutions to even greater success and impact.
It is an interesting time to be leader in any capacity and that is certainly true in higher education, with many current unique challenges. Leadership abilities in all activities require a higher level of acumen to successfully move things forward. It is more important than ever before. Leaders must think critically, analyze and then make often highly challenging decisions to lead
In my career as an animal scientist, I worked in the high-tech area of animal genomics. Over all of those years, I never imagined another system or process replacing animal protein — especially beef. Now, rapid advancements have already been made in creating products that are alternative (or synthetic) protein substitutes. I’m not convinced animal protein will reduce as a food choice. I absolutely know real meat is the best source of protein, and a very wise and sustainable use of resources. Continued advancements in both livestock and alternative meat-like products — as well as marketing — will determine the choices consumers will make.
“Leaders must think critically, analyze, then make the decision.”
AS UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OPEN THEIR DOORS to a more “normal” fall, new students will look for opportunities to find their place on campus. For many men, they may think about Greek recruitment and becoming a fraternity brother. There are a lot of questions they may ask themselves. There are a lot of questions their Parents might also be asking. I know there has been plenty of negative news about being in a fraternity. It would only make sense you go into this decision with much forethought.
As you might have read earlier in the Sickle & Sheaf, recently one of the most comprehensive research studies ever conducted on Greek life, was just completed. Why Greek? This is what we found out:
Affiliated alumni had great experiences
h They were nearly four times as likely to have all six of the key support and experiential learning experiences (such as a mentor who encouraged them).
They felt more connected to their schools.
h Affiliated alumni are more likely to strongly agree their education was worth the cost and they are more likely to donate to their institution.
Affiliated alumni get great jobs.
h Over half had a job waiting when they graduated or within two months.
h Four in 10 say a member of their fraternity or sorority helped them find an internship or a job.
h Affiliated alumni are more satisfied with their lives .
We are five times more likely than non-affiliated alumni to rate our present lives a 10 on a 10-point scale.
Here is the polling number I like the most. 84% of affiliated alumni said they would do it all over again!
Why AGR? We know since 1904 we are Making Better Men
As I travel the country, I see the amazing strength of brotherhood among our collegiate members. It got them through a very difficult year. It will help them through future years. AGRs are leaders at their colleges. AGRs get the best internships and the best first jobs in many of their ag and agrelated sciences. Fraternity members have higher GPAs than unaffiliated students, and AGRs are usually near or at the top of fraternities in this category.
I know what a positive experience being an AGR was for me. It was a place to call home with brothers who had similar values. I also know what a difference it has made to me after college. I have worked with AGRs throughout my career. That network of brothers has never let me down and I am very grateful for it.
When I am together with AGRs who have had a long successful career, they still enjoy the bonds and the relationships that only an AGR brother knows. Why AGR? I can’t imagine not being an AGR. As we say, it is four years and a lifetime. I would not have it any other way.
To learn more the new Gallup survey on fraternity and sorority membership, visit the NIC website: bit.ly/3umySPE
84% of affiliated alumni said they would do it all over again!
BROTHER FRANK E. MULLEN IS known throughout Alpha Gamma Rho as one of the top broadcasters in the nation. After his time at Iowa State University, where he was part of Eta Chapter in 1920, he served as the Director of NBC’s Farm and Home Hour, the first national farm radio program to air. Brother Mullen is also known for serving as the Director and Later President of the North American Interfraternity Conference, formerly known as the National Interfraternity Council, when he was in office.
Because of his tireless work to advance the Greek experience, even during the 1920's and 1930's, Brother Mullen is responsible for
creating the National Interfraternity Conference Decalog of Fraternity Policy. This guiding document still found within the AGR Golden Crescent, laid out the founding principles for what we know today at the NIC.
Brother Mullen’s broadcasting career in TV and radio shines through in his speech given during World War II at the Annual Convention of Alpha Gamma Rho in 1942.
“This fraternity of ours has for its purpose the Making of Better Men We are unique in that our organization is a professional as well as a social fraternity. Two influences work continuously on Alpha Gamma Rho men to make them leaders — the
college influence which trains us in agriculture, and therefore gives us a head start on the untrained man; and the fraternal influence which operates to make us socially minded in our communities.”
His words speak for not only the era they were written for, but for all eras after him. Brother Mullen’s influence on AGR, including it receiving the national status it carries today, ripples through generations of AGR brothers.
Brother Mullen was inducted into AGR’s Hall of Fame in 1978 and was recognized as a Brother of the Century in 2004.
Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the now in-person National Convention and reconnect with brothers after a long awaited four years. The 2022 National Convention will maintain the theme used in the 2020 Virtual National Convention of Find Your Forward. It will be held in downtown Milwaukee near the River Walk, the Milwaukee Public Market and more!
Brothers will have the opportunity to network with other AGRs and agricultural businesses from across the country at the Career Fair. Witness the 2022 Hall of Fame inductions and explore the Milwaukee area.
We look forward to seeing you there! Save the date and start planning your trip to “The Other Coast.” Take advantage of National Convention and all of its opportunities to Find Your Forward in July 2022.
