2021 SICKLE & SHEAF ➻ Fall

THE MAGAZINE OF ALPHA GAMMA RHO AGRICULTURAL FRATERNITY ➻ FALL 2021

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

Firing up Recruitment AN INSIDE LOOK ON HOW CHAPTERS RECRUIT AND HAVE PIVOTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In Earnest

Why I Give:

“Equiping future members with keys to success” 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.

“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.”

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

YOUR PURPOSEFUL MISSION

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.

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.

Table of Contents

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2015 2021

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21 Sickle & Sheaf FALL 2021 | VOLUME 109 | ISSUE 2

Published continuously since 1910 COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER & EDITOR

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Madeline Mapes ASSISTANT EDITOR

Matt Olson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Grant Bargfrede, Loren Kruse, John Ruebush, Jeremy Zweiacker

Departments

BUSINESS MANAGER

AG RELE VANCE

2

News from the Home Office and the world of Greek-letter organizations

Rex Martin DESIGN & LAYOUT

Tria Designs, Inc. SUBMISSIONS FOR SICKLE & SHEAF

THE PILL ARS

5

Take note of these four numbers

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THE HARVEST

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Foundation Donors

Features

TR ANSITIONS

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Honoring those brothers who have departed

The Future of the Greek System

8

Cultivating the Recruitment Fire

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Q& AG R

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From dairy producer to spokesman to the world THE L AST PASS

alphagammarho.org/share-your-news madeline@alphagammarho.org

Sickle & Sheaf (ISSN 8750-6866) is published two times a year (Fall and Spring)

by Publications Office, 10101 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO. Members receive life subscriptions with payment of initiation fee. Non-Profit Standard postage paid at Bolingbrook, IL, and additional mailing office.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Sickle & Sheaf, 10101 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153-1366.

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Why Greek? Why AGR? FA L L 2021

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Julie MacSwain

A Renewed House, a New Housemom 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, 2

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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.

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Corporate Partners 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!

ELITE

GOLD

Honoring “Mom Voiles” 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!

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.”

SILVER

Bader Rutter College Fresh SPONSOR

PIC Want to see your company added to our list? Visit alphagammarho.org/corporatepartners for information on how to become a Corporate Partner.

FIND US. FRIEND US. FOLLOW US. @alphagammarhohq @alphagammarho Alpha Gamma Rho: Social/ Professional Ag, Food, Fiber, & Life Sci. Fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity FA L L 2021

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Resilience AGR LEADERS GATHER IN MILWAUKEE FOR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 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.

What is the AGR Leadership Conference?

Every other year, in-between years of Alpha Gamma Rho’s biennial National 4

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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.

Resilience: Recruitment 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.

Resilience: Fraternity 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. Resilience: In-Person 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.

The Pillars

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f ber o Num the rds awa nal io t Na nity r Frate d e iv e rec e t in h with al tern a r f r inte ity mun com st la e in th rs yea five

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.

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.

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.

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!

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Climbing the Ladder BROTHER TED PRIEBE'S EXPERIENES IN THE HOME OFFICE HONED HIS SKILLS

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 6

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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

AGRelevance

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

building relationships between companies and dealers.”

“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.”

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.”

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THE FUTURE OF THE GREEK SYSTEM IN THE SHADOW OF THE “ABOLISH GREEK LIFE” MOVEMENT, HOW CAN AGR JOIN ITS INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IN REFORM?

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 8

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periods of our country — fraternities have continued existing because they fill a need within young men.”

“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.”

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

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 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.

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

“Fraternity and sorority life is always changing to meet the needs of our student members, our alumni members.”

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 Above: Clark Brown, has come General Counsel for out of the the NIC, presented Anti-Sorority research conducted on the Greek System Activism was at the 2021 AGR recruitment Leadership reform. She Conference. 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.

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Firing Up REcruitm Recruitm AN INSIDE LOOK ON HOW CHAPTERS RECRUIT AND HAVE PIVOTED BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 10

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R

ecruitment 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.

p ment

KNOW THE RECRUITMENT LINGO 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.

TERMS WE DON’T USE ANYMORE 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.

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Firing Up Rec ruitment

University of Arizona ALPHA PI CHAPTER FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 20 ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 10 HOUSE CAPACITY: 14

A

t 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.

THE VALUE OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS 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

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type of event and an opportunity to build a friendship, which is an important foundation for beginning the membership process.

PEOPLE JOIN PEOPLE, NOT ORGANIZATIONS 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.

“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.”

“When we bring potential new members over, we make sure the VNR of Recruitment introduces them to the other brothers,” said Terry.

“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.

RECRUITMENT TIPS FROM ALPHA PI CHAPTER 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. 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.

Texas A&M University

BETA NU CHAPTER

bunch of outdated pictures, potential new members can tell. Updating pictures on the website helps us to stay relevant.”

FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 25 ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 7 HOUSE CAPACITY: NO HOUSE

O

n 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.

IMPROVED ONLINE PRESENCE 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

RECRUITMENT TIPS FROM BETA NU CHAPTER 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.

A PLAN FOR SUCCESS 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.

“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.

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University of Wisconsin-Madison

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IOTA CHAPTER

FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 39 ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 15 HOUSE CAPACITY: 39

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ota 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.

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 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.

TWO VNRs OF RECRUITMENT ARE BETTER THAN ONE 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

“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.” 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.”

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.

RECRUITMENT TIPS FROM IOTA CHAPTER 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.

FA L L 2021

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Firing Up Rec ruitment

Iowa State University ETA CHAPTER FALL 2021 RETURNING COLLEGIATE MEMBERS: 70 ANTICIPATED FALL 2021 RECRUITMENT CLASS: 25 HOUSE CAPACITY: 94

E

ta 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.

PRE-COLLEGE RECRUITMENT 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.

STRONG ALUMNI SUPPORT 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.

RECRUITMENT TIPS FROM ETA CHAPTER 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.

F

raternity 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.

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FALL 2021

The Harvest

Lifetime Giving Levels

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

EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE

ALPHA IOTAARKANSAS

Gregg Halverson Corey Martin

James Mitchell

ZETA-CORNELL

Greg Wickham

Donnie Smith

ETA-IOWA STATE

ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS

Doyle Jacklin

Sigmund Cornelius David Van Wert

ALPHA GAMMA-FLORIDA

THETA-MISSOURI

SIGMA-WASHINGTON STATE

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

ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE

Steve Ellis Robert Wheeler IOTA-WISCONSIN-MADISON

Karl Drye Russ Schuler OMICRON-KENTUCKY

Larry Lepper Phil Nichols ALPHA CHIWESTERN KENTUCKY

Jack Britt FRIEND OF AGR

Lillian Fobes Smoak Groves, Inc. Wedgworth Farms, Inc.

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

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The Harvest

Loyalty Fund For AGR: Giving For Our Purpose

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

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

Ian Burnett

ALPHA PSI-WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS

Bill Boehm

FALL 2021

Robert May

PI-OKLAHOMA STATE

Bernie Lester

ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE

Stephen Wagner

ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE

Robert Broeckelman Loren Goyen Randy Stoecker

Chuck Iager

RHO-COLORADO STATE

ALPHA KAPPA-TENNESSEEKNOXVILLE

Robert Prosser

TAU-MICHIGAN STATE

PHI-UC-DAVIS

Jim Howe Dan Johnson Arlen Wonderlich Grant Bargfrede

Bill Carriere Kip Herzog Ken McCorkle Gerry Rominger

IOTA-WISCONSINMADISON

CHI-CAL POLY

Rick Daluge Richard Holloway

ALPHA GAMMA-FLORIDA

Dale Elsener A.J. Jacques

ETA-IOWA STATE

Anthony Azevedo

ALPHA THETA-MARYLAND

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) Brett Bayston Clifford Beatty David Hollinrake Wilbur Nelson Lyle Orwig BETA-OHIO STATE

Kirby Barrick

John Cottingham SICKLE & SHEAF

NUNORTH CAROLINA STATE

William Graves Rodney Winkel

DELTA-PURDUE

18

KAPPA-NEBRASKA

Jim Cada Larry Holbein

Greg Wickham Oliver Williams

ALPHA-ILLINOIS

ALPHA SIGMA-FRESNO STATE

Bob Miller Bernie Staller Randy Torgerson

Doug Griffin David Parker Keith Welty EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Charlie Brown Sigmund Cornelius Tim Heiller Greg Nickerson David Van Wert

ETA-IOWA STATE

Jerome Graeser Larry Warren

Al Johnson Myron Johnsrud

Fred Bahrenburg Mike Borel

THETA-MISSOURI

KAPPA-NEBRASKA

Hal Cooper

The Harvest Larry Engelkemier

Loren Kruse

OMICRON-KENTUCKY

ALPHA THETAMARYLAND

Tom Waldrop

PI-OKLAHOMA STATE

Paul Weller

Gary Clark A.L. Hutson

ALPHA IOTA-ARKANSAS

RHOCOLORADO STATE

ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE

Rex Martin

David Ellicott Brian Field

Peter Markovich John Tarpley

PHI-UC-DAVIS

ALPHA PI-ARIZONA

Wayne Bartholomew CHI-CAL POLY

Jeffrey Sanders ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA

Paul Willis

ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE

Jim Driscoll

ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE

Robert Briggs Ronald Rayner

ALPHA RHO-VERMONT

Jim Carpenter Erwin Clark

ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS

Gerry Salzman

ALPHA UPSILONTENNESSEE-MARTIN

Robert Earnest

Donald Griffiths Keith Heikes

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

1904 Society: Young Alumni ($19.04 per month / $228.48 per year) ALPHA-ILLINOIS

Joseph Morrison GAMMA-PENN STATE

Michael Gleyze Dan Gleyze

ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA

Clark Futch

ALPHA ZETAKANAS STATE

Grant Bargfrede

Logan Britton JD Hagedorn Nathan Laudan William Longinaker Will Ohlde Brett Wilson

THETA-MISSOURI

ALPHA ETA-GEORGIA

EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Martin Peterson ETA-IOWA STATE

Jacob Thompson

Justin Brown

KAPPA-NEBRASKA

ALPHA LAMBDA-NEW MEXICO STATE

Alan Christensen Mitchell Fagan Eric Leisy Tanner Nelson Logan Peters Blake Ristine

LAMBDA-MINNESOTA

Thomas Schwarz

Tyler DuBry

ALPHA NUCONNECTICUT

Joshua Feliciano ALPHA RHO-VERMONT

Richard Brisson

OMICRON-KENTUCKY

ALPHA SIGMAFRESNO STATE

PI-OKLAHOMA STATE

ALPHA UPSILONTENNESSEE-MARTIN

Kimo Kimura Ben Willoughby

Carson Horn

PHI-UC-DAVIS

Bret Babbitt

ALPHA ALPHAWEST VRIGNIA

Nate Hoxter Paul Lentz

Matthew Borges Ronald Travers

ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS

Blaze Bergmann Benjamin Donnay Andrew Gathje Logan Huppert Bryce Kragness Travis Oliver

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

1904 Society: Collegiate ($19.04 per month / $228.48 per year) ALPHA-ILLINOIS

Austin Brockmann GAMMA-PENN STATE

Pat Fitzsimmons DELTA-PURDUE

Chase Creek

EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Lincoln Ostlie

ZETA-CORNELL

Sampson Alley Alan Henry ETA-IOWA STATE

Christian Atkinson

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

Nathan Behrends Andy Boschert Trey Boyle Cameron Boyle Larame Boysen Koby Boysen Tate Boysen Kabe Boysen

Zach Ayers Ben Maune

KAPPA-NEBRASKA

Eli Skalka

LAMBDA-MINNESOTA

Martyn Novacek XI-AUBURN

Matt Howell

Cody Bussert Skyler Dwyer Jacob Ellerbrock PI-OKLAHOMA STATE Peter Elwood Ronnie Brown Maxwell Emerson John Fausz Jon Erickson Ben Gross Luke Geist Grant McClure Cale Graeber Cooper Rogers Lucas Graff Traber Smithson Caleb Green Hunter Thomason Bryce Hering RHOZach Hines COLORADO STATE Lane Hischke Michael Doolittle Lee Huberty Eddie Ellis Reese Johnston TAU-MICHIGAN STATE Kevin Kitchen Logan Leen Dan Klinke Gage Lindner will Klinkner Nate Scovill Dawson Knutson Anaiah Legare PHI-UC-DAVIS Jacob Maier Matthew Lombardi Thomas Malzacher Nathan Scheinman Parker Massie John Simas Noah Massie CHI-CAL POLY Eli Newton Jiml Valov Ruard Otten OMEGAKal Randall NEW HAMPSHIRE Jake Roche Dominic Borrelli Russell Rogall ALPHA ALPHAStetson Rueth WEST VIRGINIA Andrew Scheller Corban Wiles Alec Schmidt ALPHA GAMMA-FLORIDA Andrew Seefeldt Nate Stein Tyler Herrington Nate Stepp Cameron Stake Gus Swenson ALPHA EPSILONWyatt Tesch LOUISIANA STATE Heath Tietz Chase Nevers Alex Toebes ALPHA ZETABrandon Wachter KANSAS STATE Kyle Wanous Brett Dick-Wolfe Nathan Welsh Kalen Richardson Colin Wussow ALPHA ETA-GEORGIA Eric Wuthrich Eddie Henderson Owen Zakrzewski Chase Williams OMICRON-KENTUCKY

Joseph Lucas

ALPHA OMEGAMURRAY STATE

ALPHA THETAMARYLAND

Austin Marburger

ALPHA IOTA-ARKANSAS

BETA GAMMAWISCONSINPLATTEVILLE

Jacob Hess Edward Reilly Zach Andrews Jake Shelton Caleb Swears

Jay Long

BETA ZETA-CLEMSON

Christopher Humbert

ALPHA PI-ARIZONA

Eben LeBerthon Brandon Martinez Chase Parks ALPHA SIGMAFRESNO STATE

BETA NU-TEXAS A&M

Drew Morton

BETA OMICRONWYOMING

Crawford Cooley Owen Hof

Luis Mendoza

ALPHA UPSILONTENNESSEE-MARTIN

Nicholas Dotson Dawson Moore

BETA RHO-NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Grant Anderson

BETA CHISTEPHEN F. AUSTIN

ALPHA PHISOUTH DAKOTA STATE

Zach Martin

ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS

Ryder Campbell

Ryan Peterson

Sam Androli Trevor Balthazor Lukas Bennett Cole Berra Noah Bestul John Birr Grant Burns

BETA PSIDELAWARE VALLEY

GAMMA DELTA-ABAC

Bradley Peterson GAMMA ZETAARKANSAS TECH

Cameron Grimes Gavin Jones Wyatt Petty FA L L 2021

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The Harvest

Heritage Club 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

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.

In Memory Of:

CHI-CAL POLY

Steven Gerdes Jim Ross Jim Zumwalt

Ole Meland

BETA-OHIO STATE

Vince McElligott

GAMMA-PENN STATE

ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE

Rick Carpenter

Jim Driscoll

ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE

David L. Call PhD

Levon C. Kirkeide

DELTA-PURDUE

by Michael C. Nolan

by John A Bollingberg

John L. Comer

Brian and Leigh Anne Maxwell

ALPHA BETAOREGON STATE

Kirby Barrick

Mike Jackson Ted Priebe Gene Swackhamer EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE

Jack Brown Al Johnson

ETA-IOWA STATE

JD Hagedorn Edwin Kerley Loren Kruse Warren Nichols Tim Rosenhagen Curtis Steenbock Doug Weyer ALPHA THETAMARYLAND

Fred Bahrenburg Mike Borel Gary Butson Bret Carter Scott Flynn Steve Hanson Robert Vasko David Van Wert Arlen Wonderlich

Paul Weller

ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE

Thomas White

ALPHA LAMBDANEW MEXICO STATE

Paul Gutierrez

ALPHA PI-ARIZONA

THETA-MISSOURI

Len Richardson

Zane Akins Lynn Fahrmeier Lowell Mohler Lowell Newsom Dan Prosser Bradley Starbuck

ALPHA RHO-VERMONT

Erwin Clark

Laurence Jost Don McFeeters

ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS

KAPPA-NEBRASKA

Jeff Warner

William Schilling Charlie Trauger

ALPHA PSI-WISCONSINRIVER FALLS

NU-NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Bill Boehm Phil Josephson

Tyler Warren

OMICRON-KENTUCKY

BETA DELTAILLINOIS STATE

David Case Glenn Stith

Don Bumphrey

PI-OKLAHOMA STATE

BETA ETAVIRGINIA TECH

James Ferrell

SIGMAWASHINGTON STATE

Doyle Jacklin

TAU-MICHIGAN STATE

Jay Poole

BETA TAUMISSISSIPPI STATE

Brad Garrison

John Welser PHI-UC-DAVIS

John Kidd Jeremy Turner

20

Memorial & Honorary Gifts

SICKLE & SHEAF

FALL 2021

James Anderson

Dr Gaines Hunt

by Scott D. Malmberg

by Robert E. Morgan

Bertram R. Berg

J. Brent Hurd

by John A. Bollingberg

by Officer Needed

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

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 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

Edward H. Ellis

by American Endowment Foundation

by Bud Doyle

Danny Thomas

by Marvin H. Flatt

Bill A. Harbeke

by Pi

by John Alban

by Bridget Bell

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

David Vowell

Transitions

Overcoming Financial and Cultural Adversity with Grit, Strength and AGR 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.

Support the Danny Thomas Endowment Fund 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.

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Transitions

In Memory of Our Great Brothers 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

Kansas State Gerald Goetsch, DVM, 1942 Steve Burgess, 1961 Bob Ames, 1964 H.L. Todd, 1957

Arkansas State Dale Morris, 1973 Thomas Franzen, 1973 Bill Brooks, III, 1973 John Muir, 1992

Kentucky Mahlon Wallace, 1965 Al Steele, 1966 Jerry Whitehouse, 1969 William Hedgecock, Jr., 1970 Ronald Johnston, 1958 Frank Schneider, 1956

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

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

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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

Q&AGR

Q&AGR THE AGR WHO MAKES ‘BIG RED’ GO AND GROW IN NEBRASKA 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.

“Leaders must think critically, analyze, then make the decision.”

What’s it like to lead a major university today?

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

their institutions to even greater success and impact.

What’s the future for animal protein?

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.

FA L L 2021

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The Last Pass

Why Greek?

Why AGR? (I WILL TELL YOU WHY!)

By Rex Martin 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 in college. 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.

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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.

84% of affiliated alumni said they would do it all over again!

To learn more the new Gallup survey on fraternity and sorority membership, visit the NIC website: bit.ly/3umySPE

Our Roots

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.

Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity 10101 N. Ambassador Drive Kansas City, MO 64153-1366

SAVE THE DATE

2022 National Convention / July 27-29 Hilton Milwaukee City Center; Milwaukee, WI

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.

Visit www.alphagammarho.org/events