In Earnest
Why I Give: “Support Starts With Commitment”
FOUNDATION DONOR: Gene Lemon
CHAPTER AND SCHOOL: Alpha, University of Illinois
LIFETIME GIVING LEVEL: Order of the Brotherhood
GENE LEMON WAS A VERY INVOLVED brother in Alpha Gamma Rho. He joined the Fraternity while studying Agricultural Economics at the University of Illinois, and continued his education by completing his law degree. His passion for the Fraternity and agriculture led to his work as a known leader in the industry and by representing the Fraternity at his highest and best. His list of accolades in the organization are many, but things he will always be known for include his service as General Counsel, Grand President, a leading founder of the Educational Foundation who later served as the Chairman, and a leader of a previous capital campaigns for AGR. In those roles, Gene constantly focused on our Fraternal Purpose of Making Better Men and through them a broader and better agriculture, with a concentration on leadership. Former Fraternity Chief Executive Officer, Phil
Josephson, said, “Gene was a humble servant for AGR. And yet he was a dynasty. He never shied away from any problem or challenge. He was one of the greatest volunteers in the entire Greek system.”.
Gene constantly focused on our Fraternal Purpose of Making Better Men and through them a broader and better agriculture, with a concentration on leadership
the type of ‘top’ leader that could inspire our brotherhood to embrace leadership training,” says Glenn Stith, Educational Foundation Chairman. Gene’s dreams of such an institute are finally coming to fruition. As a part of the new Capital Campaign centered around Local Chapter Excellence, a Top Leaders Institute has been implemented and will be rolled out annually on a regional basis for generations to come.
Gene’s vision was always to offer a “Top Leaders Institute,” where the executive teams of every chapter could gain the very best leadership skills. He felt by offering an experience for officers, every chapter would be made stronger. “Gene was
YOUR PURPOSEFUL MISSION
The Lemon family and a host of brothers whose lives were impacted by Gene have led the way since Gene’s passing to ensure his legacy leads on. By giving to the Local Chapter Excellence Capital Campaign, our brotherhood is assured the opportunity of a Top Leaders Institute. This initiative will continue shaping the future of our Fraternity, and you are invited to give to the Educational Foundation in honor of Gene to continue making a difference in the lives of our brothers.
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.
Departments
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Matt Olson
CONTRIBUTING
EDITORS
Grant Bargfrede, Brian Dreyer, Ken Gordon, Tommy Green, Jeremy Zweiacker
BUSINESS MANAGER
Rex Martin
DESIGN & LAYOUT
Tria Designs, Inc.
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Finding Your Forward with Alpha Gamma Rho
THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL CONVENTION, the fi rst largescale Alpha Gamma Rho in-person event in four years, brought more than 300 members, guests and speakers to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for brotherhood, education and fun.
WELCOME
The 67th National Convention kicked o with a Welcome from Past Grand President Bernie Staller, and it felt just like Convention is supposed to feel despite COVID-19 lingering. Brothers and guests were presented the State of the Fraternity and what the Fraternity has in store for the upcoming years. Grand President, Doug Gri n, along with CEO Rex Martin, illustrated that, despite any challenges, AGR continues to be a resilient Fraternity capable of achieving any goal it puts in its path.
NEW INITIATION
After the Vespers program, owner and founder of Culver’s Frozen Custard, Craig Culver, was initiated into Alpha Gamma Rho as the Distinguished Service Initiate. Culver addressed all attendees, where he stressed the importance of never settling for anything less than excellence. People defi ne culture with a focus on quality, “It’s not how many restaurants you have, its how many good restaurants you have … the same is true for Alpha Gamma Rho.”
That evening, the Fraternity celebrated the success of the fi rst day of Convention at the Milwaukee Public Museum where attendees had the opportunity to travel through historical Milwaukee, through Earth’s natural history and a variety of other exhibits.
BREAKOUT AND FIND YOUR FORWARD
The second day of National Convention began with brothers attending a breakout session of their choice hosted by a variety of alumni, sta and hand-picked professionals in their fi eld. Breakout sessions consisted of The Importance of Recruitment & Retention; Power, Confidence and Credibility in the Agriculture Field, Q&A with Your Grand President and Chief Executive O cer, and an Alumni Engagement Panel. Brothers then visited the Career Fair, where many got the opportunity to network with a variety of organizations and companies, hand out their resumes and fi nd jobs and internships. The announcement of the capital campaign was made on Thursday. Chief Development O cer, Carol Johnson, Educational Foundation Chairman, Glenn Stith, and others presented that the capital campaign raised $11,115,405 while it was in its silent phase. Local Chapter Excellence, which is funded by the capital campaign was also announced by the Director of Leadership & Education,
Amanda Horvat; and CEO Rex Martin. Horvat and Martin explained the success of a pilot program and of what lies in the next year’s Local Chapter Excellence. The day ended at the Harley Davidson Museum where attendees gathered to celebrate the success of the capital campaign and enjoy the history of Harley Davidson.
HONORING BROTHERHOOD
Brothers gathered for the third business session where multiple deserving individuals were elected to serve the Fraternity at the national level. Brothers Jim Borel and John Neimann were elected to serve as Directors on the National Board while Brother Brant Bigger was elected to serve on the Housing Resource Trust.
Attendees then spent part of the afternoon learning from another round of breakout sessions, which were Vault 101, Risk Management, Valuing Alpha Gamma Rho’s Ritual, Exemplary Leadership Practices, Chapter Standards of Excellence, and Engaging Your Alumni Base. After two rounds of breakout sessions, brothers wrapped up Convention
with a reception and the Hall of Fame Banquet where brothers, Bernie Staller and Tim Heiller were inducted into the Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame. The 2020 inductees, Jack Britt, A. L. Hutson and Glenn Stith were also honored due to the 2020 National Convention being held virtually. Brother Greg Nickerson was installed as Alpha Gamma Rho’s next Grand President and challenged all brothers to focus on the importance of valuing AGR’s past, celebrating its current achievements and setting a course guaranteed To Make Better Men for many years to come. The night consisted of fun, celebration and the Bid for Better Men auction, which, along with the silent auction, raised a record $109,157 for the Loyalty Fund for AGR.
The 2022 National Convention was a memorable experience that Alpha Gamma Rho hopes to carry over into the 2024 National Convention, which will be held in Sacramento, California.
Capital Campaign
NEW FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE, THE LOCAL CHAPTER EXCELLENCE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, RAISED OVER $11 MILLION
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity knows Making Better Men is rooted in the excellence of the chapter experience. In order for our chapters to have the best experience possible, which includes providing them with the best educational and leadership programs, a new capital campaign will become the focus of the Educational Foundation’s work.
This new fundraising initiative, The Local Chapter Excellence Capital campaign, was announced at the 67th National Convention this past July, revealing that The Educational Foundation had raised more than $11 million for the campaign. This campaign funds multiple programs for Local Chapter Excellence, including the Top Leaders Institute, sta development
at the Home O ce and a variety of other funds that benefit the brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho.
Chief Development O cer, Carol Johnson, along with the assistance of a dedicated group of alumni, and her team at The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho, raised $11,116,405 while the Local Chapter Excellence Capital Campaign was in its silent, or beginning stage.
“The silent phase started in December of 2020 and went through July of 2022. In just a year and a half, our capital campaign committee’s e orts raised $11,116,405, plus, there was money that was being realized as we were presenting that number at National Convention,” Carol said. “So our number has grown even more since the reveal.”
Carol explained that Alpha Gamma Rho members should be passionate about the Local Chapter Excellence Capital Campaign because of the important role each chapter plays in the personal and professional evolution of members, from recruiting members and growing them into engaged alumni who will continue to uphold and share the Promise and Values of Alpha Gamma Rho.
“We, at the Home O ce, are here to serve AGR chapters and I think as our culture continues to shift, we see the big picture — and we see the importance of leadership at local chapter levels,” Carol said.
CEO Rex Martin also knows the importance of the capital campaign and its e ect on chapters at the local level.
DONATE
To
donate to the Capital Campaign email Chief Development O cer Carol Johnson with this QR code.
Rex notes that the support the capital campaign has seen is outstanding, and he hopes this campaign will drive AGR to the next level, which is reaching Local Chapter Excellence.
“Alpha Gamma Rho’s brothers’ dedication is evident with this record-breaking campaign. The capital campaign will push our Fraternity to new heights in our leadership experience that will allow our chapters to achieve Local Chapter Excellence. I believe, whole heartedly that the capital campaign will help carry AGR to success for many years to come.” Carol shares passionate comments when speaking of this campaign, fraternal initiatives, and the brothers who are stepping in and serving as lead donors.
Brother Doyle Jacklin from Sigma Chapter at Washington State University was one of many brothers who donated during the silent phase of the capital campaign. Brother Jacklin, past Director and Chairman of The Educational Foundation Board, connected with current Foundation Chairman Glenn Stith, and past CEO, Phil Josephson, about the Local Chapter Excellence Capital Campaign through discussions with them, and previously with past Grand President, Gene Lemon.
One of the main focuses of the capital campaign is leadership, which is exactly why Brother Jacklin decided to donate his funds to the Top Leaders Institute Fund and the Phil Josephson Sta Development Fund. “I did donate a certain amount of money for both of them,” Brother Jacklin said. “and I am proud that I did because they both focus
on the leadership in di erent areas — the main purpose is to support the Purpose of AGR, and that’s to Make Better Men.”
Brother Doyle and many other members believe that Local Chapter Excellence is the future of Alpha Gamma Rho. Many other brothers donated to the capital campaign, including Brother Martin Peterson from Epsilon Chapter at North Dakota State University.
Brother Peterson, the Alumni President for Epsilon Chapter, also donated to the capital campaign, with similar hopes as Brother Jacklin. With his heart set on the new 13 Standards of Chapter Excellence, Brother Peterson is hopeful that Local Chapter Excellence will create a lasting impact on brothers and those that they meet.
“When somebody says, ‘I’m a member of Alpha Gamma Rho,’ that means something,” Brother Peterson said.
The Local Chapter Excellence Capital Campaign wouldn’t be able to accomplish
“We, at the Home Office, are here to serve our local chapters and I think as our culture
what it needs to with a sole focus on local chapters. The campaign also focuses on training sta and volunteers, as well as supporting scholarships that allow brothers from local chapters to attend world-class programming o ered by the National Fraternity.
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and The Educational Foundation both know that educating and strengthening our leadership does come with a cost. In order for chapters to participate in programs, for volunteers to receive training, funds within the capital campaign were created to supplement some of those costs.
The Chapter Excellence Scholarship Fund ensures that cost is not a barrier for brothers to attend these enhancing leadership opportunities. This fund covers travel, lodging and dining for those attending Top Leaders Institutes.
Brother Glenn Stith, Chairman of The Educational Foundation, was among the many team members who helped with the planning and creation of the capital campaign.
“The capital campaign is a pinnacle point in not only Alpha Gamma Rho’s history, as it is the largest capital campaign ever, but also is critical in securing AGR’s future. The ongoing leadership programming this campaign funds, will help ensure that ALL chapter teams have the training and development to achieve and sustain Local Chapter Excellence which is foundational
Three Chapters Celebrate 100 Years
Pi Chapter, at Oklahoma State University, the Tau Chapter of Michigan State University, and the Rho Chapter of Colorado State University recently celebrate 100 years of Making Better Men
PI CHAPTER OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Oklahoma State Univeristy, Pi Chapter, began planning for its 100 year celebration in July 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the chapter. The alumni association had recently held the AGR Ball and felt this event provided a natural progression to a centennial celebration. The celebration was planned for May 21-23, 2021 to correspond with the founding date of Pi Chapter on May 19th, 100 years earlier. However, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic that forced the shutdown of much of the world. In August of the same year, it was decided to postpone the event until May 20-22, 2022.
The centennial activities began on Friday May 20 with a golf scramble at the Lakeside Memorial Golf Course where 70 golfers participated in the outing. Later in the evening, AGRs gathered at The Farm, hailed as the birthplace of Red Dirt Music, for a night of good food, great conversation, and a renewal of brotherhood bonds. Brother John Allen played the guitar while others gathered around the bonfire to swap old stories long into the evening.
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the AGR Ball kicked off with a cocktail hour in the OSU ConocoPhillips Alumni Center, less than 50 feet away from the
second floor of Gunderson Hall where the members of the Sigma Alpha Club became the charter members of Pi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho. At 6:30 P.M. the doors opened to a green and gold-themed ballroom.
Guests each received a pint glass and wine glass adorned with the AGR coat of arms to commemorate the evening.
AGR brothers and uncle-nephew duo, Ken Root and Greg Root served as the masters of ceremonies for the evening and donned tuxedos with AGR green bow ties and cummerbunds. More than 300 Brothers, dates, and
guests were in attendance. Remarks were given by Gary Clark, Financial Vice President of the AGR National Board of Directors; Alpha Gamma Rho's CEO Rex Martin, and Dennis Christie, alumni president. Brother A.L. Hutson spoke to commemorate the accomplish-ments of the chapter over the past 100 years.
Homecoming at Oklahoma State carries many strong traditions, and a video was shown from Pi Chapter's early days of Lawn Deck displays featuring "the cow" into what it looks like today. A celebration of the women of AGR was held. Each date was given a pink rose while the room was serenaded by John Allen. Housemothers were recognized via a video with Ms. Debbie Strickland, a former Pi Chapter Housemother, and Ms. Karen Roper, current
Housemother, in attendance. Both ladies were presented plaques thanking them for their service. Linda Hutson,wife of A.L. Hutson, was recognized as the Centennial Sweetheart of Alpha Gamma Rho.
During the evening, many Pi Chapter brothers were recognized for their ongoing involvement with the chapter. In addition, Jeremy Zweiacker and Dr. Ross Love (longtime Pi Chapter Adviser and Zeta Chapter alumnus) were inducted into the Pi Chapter Hall of Fame for their selfless service to the chapter.
Notable guests in attendance in addition to those giving remarks include Dr. Thomas Coon, vice president and dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at OSU, AGR Home Office representatives, Grant Bargfrede, Senior Director of Operations and Carol Johnson, Chief Development Officer, Cody Lane, Regional Vice President of AGR, and Dr. Johnny Robinson, Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs at OSU. Additional video presentations were shared throughout the evening to commemorate the rich history of Pi Chapter.
An auction was held with Brothers Travis Schnaithman serving as the auctioneer and Dustin Tackett and Cody Lane serving as ringmen. The auction raised $30,000 for scholarships.
After the chapter’s initiation in 1921, the charter members' first formal event was a banquet at the Presbyterian Church Annex. In like fashion, AGR’s attending services after initiation at the Presbyterian Church served as a way to tie together generations of Brothers. Inviting Brothers and dates to service served as a fitting end to the celebration and the first 100 years of Pi Chapter.
The AGR Ball and Centennial Committee were composed of Dennis Christie, Brad Gungoll, Bray Haven, Greg Root, Cody White, and Jeremy Zweiacker. They were assisted by undergraduates Lincoln Muller, Ben Gross, Garrett Knowles, and Carson Mainka.
RHO CHAPTER OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
Since 1921, our chartering brothers sought out to not only provide our college with a premier agricultural fraternity, but also to have Rho Chapter stand as the premier fraternity on campus. Rho Chapter proudly announced to alumni that 101 years later, the ambition outlined by the chapter founders remains strong in Colorado.
In spring 2022, Rho Chapter celebrated its Centennial Celebration in Fort Collins on April 29 and 30 with more than 100 attending the celebration. Alumni from across the country came back to Ram Country to reconnect and celebrate this tremendous milestone in the history of our organization.
With the e orts of Brother Ron Cole, Brother Tyler Witter, and the others who serve on their alumni board, many events were held for returning brothers to enjoy that weekend to get AGR brothers back together. Rho Chaper's current membership had the pleasure to support the alumni board by hosting social events at the house, with of course the support and hospitality of its Housemother, Ms. Rita. To all who joined, thank you for coming to Fort Collins. It was great to celebrate with you, hear of past experiences and look to the future.
TAU CHAPTER OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
The Tau Chapter of Michigan State University celebrated its 100th anniversary of “Making Better Men” this past April. A combination of alumni and undergraduate members formed a joint committee to plan a Centennial Gala. The event was held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown East Lansing.
The event included guest speakers, Alpha Gamma Rho CEO Rex Martin, and Former Michigan Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus.
From brother Bill Bamber pin #695 initiated in 1960, to brother Kyle Rolfe pin #1686 who was initiated in 2022 a couple weeks before the event, brothers from many eras of Alpha Gamma Rho were able to share in their chapter’s long and fruitful history.
Congratulations to the Tau Chapter, we look forward to the next 100 years!
OmegaFi Transition
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity is constantly looking for ways to improve membership experiences on all levels, even in the every-day maintenance of chapter business such as paying dues and staying connected with the AGR Home O ce.
The National Fraternity partnered with OmegaFi, a fi nancial tech company that simplifi es operations for chapters, clubs, and groups with easy-to-use online tools to collect dues and rent, pay bills, and manage attendance, calendars, member communication and recruitment. In doing so, the Fraternity adopted their customized platforms, myAGR and Vault. Through myAGR, members can…
Update contact information
Access chapter o cer information
Report new members
Register for AGR events
Look up chapter members
View chapter and AGR calendar events
Access AGR resources
Pay your chapter bill
Link to AGRconnect
And much more!
Vault is an online fi nancial management tool that allows chapters to…
Build budgets and track expenses
Invoice members
Collect dues, rent and fees
Accept donations and raise money
Manage and pay bills
And more!
Chapters and members who need access to Vault must activate their myAGR account in order to do so. Those who can use Vault are Noble Rulers, VNR-Finances, VNR-Planning and Advisers, but all members will have access to myAGR and will need to activate their accounts as soon as possible.
Activate Your Account With These Steps:
1. Select Get Access at the top right of the OmegaFi home page.
2. Enter your email address and click SUBMIT.
3. If you already have an account, you'll receive an email with instructions to log in. If you don't have an account, you'll be prompted to complete a short form.
4. Complete all fields in the form with your information and click the CREATE ACCOUNT button.
5. Select MYOMEGAFI.
If you haven’t already activated your account, use the QR code above to get access to OmegaFi’s activation link. Follow the steps to activate your account. If you have questions or need help setting up your account, you can reach OmegaFi’s technology support at info@ omegafi.com or you can contact the Alpha Gamma Rho Home O ce at 816-891-9200 or at agr@alphagammarho.org
AGR is committed to o ering opportunities to connect for members and corporations in the dynamic global agriculture and food industries. Thank you to our Corporate Partners for support of our Purpose!
Bader Rutter
Want to see your company’s logo added to our list? Visit alphagammarho.org/corporatepartners for information on how to become a Corporate Partner.
Alpha Gamma Rho: Social/
Gamma Rho
ELITE
GOLD
SILVER
SPONSOR
Recruit
Number of chapters that will participate in the next round of Local Chapter Excellence.
Educate
Number of chapters that participated in the initial pilot Local Chapter Excellence program.
Number of donors it took to reach $11.1 million including the contributions during silent phase.
Initial amount raised for the AGR Capital Campaign.
AGR’s Local Chapter Excellence is a program built to help chapters set goals and strategize how to continue to Make Better Men and be the best chapter they can be. Local Chapter Excellence looks to expand its e orts from six chapters in the pilot program to 40 chapters across the nation.
Without AGR’s amazing membership, the capital campaign would not have been able to hit its silent phase goal of $11.1 million. Many brothers and their families dedicated their funds in a combined e ort to better all of AGR’s chapters.
The Local Chapter Excellence pilot program consisted of six chapters, which underwent training and assessment of their leadership. Assessment averages showed an increase in brother’s confidence and ability to be a leader and support their chapter.
The capital campaign, which supports the Local Chapter Excellence and others like the Top Leaders Institute, is a reflection of AGR’s members who continue to support the Fraternity’s e orts in growing a broader and better agriculture.
by Matt Olson
YOUR GUIDE TO ACHIEVING LOCAL CHAPTER EXCELLENCE
Make Better Men . It is a phrase we’re all familiar with as the opening line and guiding principle of AGR’s purpose statement. But what does it really mean to make better men?
The past two years have culminated in one spectacular announcement at the recent 2022 National AGR Convention—the introduction of a defi ned set of standards and new programming and resources to help each chapter achieve excellence.
Each chapter is di erent—some chapters are established, having celebrated their centennial anniversary, while some chapters are young having been chartered just recently. Some chapters are large with more than 100 collegiate members, while other chapters are small and seeking to grow. Some chapters are strong with many elements of success, and other chapters are in a building phase seeking the best way forward.
Alpha Gamma Rho introduces Local Chapter Excellence, a new initiative developed to evaluate chapters to help them make incremental improvements regardless of their age, size or stage of development. Local Chapter Excellence seeks to help all chapters achieve Fraternity standards and dream big as to what the pathway forward could be.
13 Standards. 1 Vision.
As a social-professional fraternity, we’re guided by the common vision of becoming the best we can be — achieving excellence in as many ways possible. The new Standards of Chapter Excellence provides defi nition and clarity around what it means for each chapter to be successful and rise to its fullest potential.
“We need to provide young men with the type of experience that will lead to Making Better Men ,” says Gary Clark, past Financial Vice President of AGR’s National Board of Directors. “About a year ago we formed a task force of people from various backgrounds to defi ne the objectives that we expect a chapter to achieve.”
The diverse task force brought key insights from a variety of perspectives including Chapter Advisers, Regional Vice Presidents, Home O ce Sta and past Educational Leadership Consultants and culminated in the development of 13 leading indicators of local chapter excellence:
• Chapter Organization: Building the framework, structure, discipline and orderliness of the chapter’s management to contribute to the chapter’s excellence
• Recruitment: Establishing a solid foundation for recruitment upon defi ned core values combined with measurable goals, strategic plans and qualifi ed recruiters
• Brotherhood: Programming and opportunities to develop each member and the chapter as a whole to strive to uphold the values of AGR
• Ritual: Sharing the essential experience of AGR Ritual in a meaningful manner consistent with the original intent and purpose that has guided the Fraternity for more than a century
• Scholarship: Striving for academic excellence both individually and as a chapter (while providing support for those who need assistance) rewarding those who attain academic success
• Financial Practices: Employing sound management of chapter
fi nances while emphasizing personal accountability, understanding of corporate
fi nancial practices and chapter
fi nancial stability.
• Civic Involvement: Engaging in the community through volunteer service, generosity, philanthropy and governance
• Alumni Engagement: Communicating and fostering relationships with alumni through a variety of communication vehicles, events and functions
• College/University Relations: Developing positive relationships with key campus contacts such as the O ce of Fraternity and Sorority Life, IFC and college of agriculture
• Public Relations: Presenting a positive image of AGR in the way that each chapter thinks, speaks, behaves and engages in all aspects of chapter and individual members’ decisions
• Campus Connections: Nurturing relationships with the college community to which each chapter owes its existence for no chapter can be stronger than the college or university at which it resides
• Activities + Risk: Managing chapter events and mitigating risk and holding each other accountable when needed
• Housing (when applicable): Providing pleasant and adequate housing, while encouraging healthful practices within our chapters
“We need to provide young men with the type of experience that will lead to Making Better Men .”
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS
“We went through three or four iterations to get to the outcome that we have now,” says Clark. “Once we arrived on the fi nal standards, we presented them to the National Fraternity Board who approved them and have been working with sta to develop the rollout plan for implementation with chapters.”
Under each standard, there are three levels — basic expectations, Green Chapter (exceeds expectations) and Gold Chapter (further exceeds expectations). Previously, Green Chapter and Gold Chapter have served as overall chapter recognition levels based on applications submitted for AGR's Fraternal Excellence awards; moving forward, these designations will also be also applied by individual standard to help chapters understand areas of excellence and areas of opportunity.
“We want to roll these out to guide chapters, their leadership and the individuals — the members, o cers and emerging leaders to be the very best we can be,” says Clark. “It will take chapters from wherever they are now and provide a roadmap to attain and maintain excellence.”
Communicating expectations is the first step in the quest for excellence —
education, training, resources and support are also a part of the equation.
Developing The Leaders Of Tomorrow
To support chapters in the pursuit of Local Chapter Excellence, AGR recognizes the need to equip our members with training, tools and resources to be individually excellent and to lead their respective chapters to excellence, too. That’s why AGR has invested in developing the Top Leaders Institute, in honor of Gene Lemon.
“We’re excited about this opportunity to provide new programming through the Top Leaders Institute,” says Amanda Horvat Ph.D., AGR Director of Leadership & Education. “We’re focusing on building leadership and teamwork skills, while developing competence and awareness in several areas for incoming chapter officers and, ultimately, future leaders of the agriculture industry.”
Horvat joined the AGR sta in 2021 and brings an abundance of experience from her time working in housing and residence life at several academic institutions and actively volunteering for several National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). She received her Ph.D. in educational leadership and research from Louisiana State University where she researched and wrote about the impact of formal sorority recruitment on development of e cacy for sorority women.
Top Leaders Institute strives to instill the foundation and basis for further leadership development. From Top Leaders Institute, AGR seeks to have each member meet fi ve key learning objectives:
“These key objectives help to foster individual leadership development and facilitate team building within o cer teams,” says Horvat. “When we bring chapters together for this Top Leaders Institute, they can also make connections to brainstorm and learn from each other, too.”
One of the core activities during the Top Leaders Institute is an assessment of Exemplary Leadership Practices researched and written by Kouzes & Posner.* The assessment is completed both by the individual as a selfevaluation and by peers as an observer-evaluation.
“When participants review the individual assessment results, we talk about how they exhibit each leadership practice as they are fi rst coming into their role as an o cer and how they can use the practices in an applied setting,” says Horvat. “Participants enjoyed and appreciated the experience of comparing their self-evaluation and observer-evaluation to see potential gaps in their self-awareness.”
A Successful Pilot Program
Early 2022 provided an opportunity for a pilot program with six chapters. The chapters that participated in the pilot program experienced the fi rst Top Leaders Institute and validated the program’s e ectiveness in improving individual leadership skills and chapter leadership e cacy.
1. Develop a stronger sense of team within the chapter leadership team
2. Synthesize personal leadership styles based on the Exemplary Leadership Practices Inventory
3. Recognize responsibilities of individual o cer positions
4. Employ strategic priorities throughout a term in o ce
5. Analyze ways to implement and meet Standards of Chapter Excellence
A survey following this year’s pilot demonstrates the e ectiveness of the program.
Top Leaders Institute will be hosted in four di erent regional locations this upcoming January. All chapter executive board members, Chapter Advisers, Housemothers, House Directors and alumni representatives from 40 chapters will be in attendance. Our goal is to o er this experience Fraternity-wide by 2024.
* KOUZES, JAMES M., AND BARRY Z. POSNER. THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE. 6TH ED., JOHN WILEY & SONS, 2017.
Resources Available Now
Waiting for Top Leaders Institute — whether in 2023 or 2025 — may seem like a long time to wait. Fortunately, chapters don’t need to wait for Top Leaders Institute to begin seeking local chapter excellence in consultation with your Educational Leadership Consultant.
In addition to reviewing the Standards of Chapter Excellence, AGR is excited to provide additional opportunities to help chapters improve and take our brotherhood to the next level including webinars and a podcast in addition to the numerous resources avail-
able through AGRconnect. The Round Up Podcast
New this fall is AGR’s very own podcast available on Spotify. So far, topics that are slated to be covered include careers in agriculture, life after college, professional development, campus issues, leadership, health and wellness, and relevant topics in the field of agriculture. Episodes will be released every other week.
ACCESSTHEROUND
PODCASTONSPOTIF
Top Leaders Institute Pilot Program E ectiveness Assessmen*
I FEEL THAT NATIONAL ALPHA GAMMA RHO SUPPORTS MY CHAPTER.
I BELIEVE IN MY ABILITY TO MAKE BETTER MEN.
I AM CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY TO LEAD CHANGE WITHIN MY CHAPTER.
I AM CONFIDENT IN MY LEADERSHIP TEAM.
I KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO STRATEGIZE PRIORITIES FOR THE CHAPTER.
I BELIEVE MY LEADERSHIP TEAM (COLLEGIATE AND ALUMNI) IS EFFECTIVE.
I AM AWARE OF MY LEADERSHIP STYLE.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.
I AM ABLE TO THINK CRITICALLY.
I AM KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE POSITION I WAS ELECTED TO.
I FEEL PREPARED FOR THE POSITION I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO.
I FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY SKILLS TO HELP THE CHAPTER.
Wednesday Webinars Series
The Wednesday Webinar Series features a monthly webinar topic with educational content to help chapters throughout the academic year. The fall’s schedule includes live webinars which can also be viewed as a recording in AGRconnect following the live air date. Topics to be covered this fall include a full review of our Standards for Chapter Excellence, hazing prevention and legal ramifi cations, mental health, o cer transitions, and diversity, equity and inclusion. All information on upcoming webinars, along with recordings, can be found online.
Educational Leadership Consultants (ELCs)
Sta at the AGR Home O ce are always available to help assist, guide, mentor and support you and your chapter. Our Educational Leadership Consultants are trained sta members who are available to our chapter o cers and Chapter Advisers throughout the year. Our Consultants will be working with the chapters they visit to support local chapter excellence. During their visits, they will be meeting with individual chapter
o cers to discuss our Standards of Chapter Excellence and help develop plans for chapters to meet and exceed all expectations.
Sample Documents
In AGRconnect
You might not have to reinvent the wheel — another chapter might have already helped develop something you’re looking for. Make sure to double-check
AGRconnect for:
• Recruitment plans
• Membership development plans
• Big Brother programs
• Points systems and accountability structures
• Academic/scholarship plans
• Grade contracts
• Scholarship awards
• Social programs
• Service and philanthropy event ideas
• Emergency and crisis procedures
• Contracts and lease agreements
• Budgets and fi nancial practices
The Fraternity is thrilled to be o ering enhanced resources to chapters as a way to kick o Local Chapter Excellence and invest in making better men. With this focus, AGR will be the premier home away from home for the nation’s future leaders of a broader and better agriculture.
The Harvest
This section is dedicated to recognizing accomplishments of Alpha Gamma Rho in the 2021 year.
We celebrate the progress of the entire Fraternity and the excellence of its chapters, collegians, alumni, Advisers, Housemother/House Directors, and all those who help advance our Purpose of Making Better Men .
The Harvest includes Fraternal Excellence Awards, scholarship recipients, major donors and more.
Whether you are a collegiate leader, an Adviser, or a generous donor, thank you for helping Alpha Gamma Rho pursue excellence.
AGR
Fraternal Excellence Awards
Green & Gold Chapters
All Alpha Gamma Rho Chapters have an opportunity to be recognized for their excellence. Chapters who achieve all of the requirements for four of the seven categories below will be recognized as a Green Chapter while Chapters who achieve all of the requirements for six of the seven categories below will be recognized as a Gold Chapter.
Academic Excellence
Lifelong Membership Development
Continued Alumni Engagement
Chapter Crescents
Recruitment Excellence
Communications
Living the Promise & Values
2022 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Bernie Staller, Iota, Wisconsin-Madison
Tim Heiller, Eta, Iowa State
GOLD CHAPTER
Eta, Iowa State Iota, Wisconsin-Madison
Kappa, Nebraska
Lambda, Minnesota
Omircon, Kentucky
Alpha Gamma, Florida
Alpha Zeta, Kansas State
Alpha Theta, Maryland
Alpha Kappa, Tennessee-Knoxville
Alpha Lambda, New Mexico State
Alpha Upsilon, Tennessee-Martin
Alpha Psi, Wisconsin–River Falls
Beta Gamma, Wisconsin-Platteville
GREEN CHAPTER
Nu, North Carolina State
Tau, Michigan State
Omega, New Hampshire
Alpha Tau, Western Illinois
The Harvest
Academic Excellence
Recognizes the top three chapters that have shown campus leadership in academics and established a strong academic program for their chapter.
HIGHEST HONOR
Lambda, Minnesota
HIGH HONOR
Eta, Iowa State
HONORABLE MENTION
Beta Gamma, WisconsinPlatteville
Continued Alumni Engagement
Recognizes the top three chapters who continually foster strong alumni involvement and leadership both on and o campus throughout the year.
HIGHEST HONOR
Alpha Psi, Wisconsin-River Falls
HIGH HONOR
Alpha Gamma, Florida
HONORABLE MENTION
Eta, Iowa State
Chapter Crescent: Single Issue
Recognizes the top three chapters who have compiled a Crescent that is visually appealing, free of grammatical errors, and is comprised of approximately 75% Alumni News and 25% undergraduate news.
HIGHEST HONOR
Eta, Iowa State
HIGH HONOR
Alpha Zeta, Kansas State
HONORABLE MENTION
Iota, Wisconsin-Madison
Chapter Crescent: Best Feature Story
Chapters who wish to apply for this award will submit the article as it appeared in their Chapter Crescent. A feature story can include, but is not limited to, making a di erence on campus or in the community, alumni accomplishments to the chapter or agricultural industry, chapter philanthropic events, etc.
HIGHEST HONOR
Kappa, Nebraska
HIGH HONOR
Lambda, Minnesota
HONORABLE MENTION
Eta, Iowa State
Communications
Recognizes chapters who are engaging alumni, potential new members and those outside of the fraternity through multiple online platforms. Chapters who are actively involved on their chapter website, e-newsletters, social media sites, and more are eligible.
HIGHEST HONOR
Lambda, Minnesota
HIGH HONOR
Kappa, Nebraska
HONORABLE MENTION
Alpha Zeta, Kansas State
Lifelong Membership Development
Recognizes the top three chapters that have implemented a program which encompasses continuous education and lifelong personal development in not only new members, but also successful re-engagement of alumni.
HIGHEST HONOR Eta, Iowa State
HIGH HONOR Lambda, Minnesota
HONORABLE MENTION Kappa, Nebraska
Recruitment Excellence
Recognizes top three chapters that have implemented an e ective, year round recruitment program.
HIGHEST HONOR
Eta, Iowa State
HIGH HONOR
Alpha Zeta, Kansas State
HONORABLE MENTION Kappa, Nebraska
Living the Promise & Values
Recognizes the top three chapters that enthusiastically embrace and uphold the Promise & Values, in turn continually presenting a positive image of Alpha Gamma Rho.
HIGHEST HONOR
Eta, Iowa State
HIGH HONOR
Kappa, Nebraska
HONORABLE MENTION
Alpha Gamma, Florida
Outstanding Community Service & Philanthropic E orts
Recognizes the top three chapters who are involved in their communities and promoting service through volunteerism and philanthropic e orts.
HIGHEST HONOR
Eta, Iowa State
HIGH HONOR
Alpha Gamma, Florida
HONORABLE MENTION
Alpha Lambda, New Mexico State
Housemothers/House Director Social &
Cultural
Development
Recognizes Housemothers/ House Directors that have developed and implemented programs and initiatives to improve the social development and/or cultural awareness of the brothers.
HIGHEST HONOR
Logan Yearsley
Alpha Lambda, Maryland
HIGH HONOR
Diane Pinneke
Eta, Iowa State
HONORABLE MENTION
Cindra Brandl
Kappa, Nebraska
Housemother/House Director Management
Recognizes the top three Housemothers/House Directors that consistently demonstrate superior management of the chapter facilities and the chapter as a whole.
HIGHEST HONOR
Diane Pinneke
Eta, Iowa State
HIGH HONOR
Logan Yearsley
Alpha Lambda, Maryland
HONORABLE MENTION
Teri Gustafson Lambda, Minnesota
Outstanding Undergraduates of the Year
Recognizes collegiate brothers who are excelling in their college career, both on campus and with the Fraternity. Criteria will be based on academic achievements, leadership and community involvement, and personal growth. A brother may only receive this honor once.
CAEL ALDERETE
Alpha Lambda, New Mexico State
ROBBIE SISTRUNK
Alpha Gamma, Florida
MATTHEW FISCHER
Alpha Psi, Wisconsin-River Falls
Committed Alumni Corporation
Recognizes chapters whose Alumni Corporation has demonstrated hard work and continued success for their chapter’s undergraduate membership.
HIGHEST HONOR
Alpha Zeta, Kansas State
HIGH HONOR
Eta, Iowa State
HONORABLE MENTION
Alpha Gamma, Florida
Outstanding Adviser
Recognizes three individuals who go above and beyond when it comes to engagement and assistance to their chapter, as well as being a living testament to the AGR Promise & Values. The Fraternity recognizes that the Chapter Advisers play an important role in helping chapters
Make Better Men.
HIGHEST HONOR
Dr. Ross Love Pi, Oklahoma State
HIGH HONOR
Steven Bensend
Alpha Psi, Wisconsin-River Falls
HONORABLE MENTION
Dr. Edward Franklin
Alpha Pi, Arizona
2022 Scholarship Recipients
The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho offers scholarships to the undergraduate brothers across the country. Criteria for eligibility for each scholarship differs, but is based on the individual’s pursuit of excellence in scholarship and leadership, and for his contributions to community and Fraternity. The deadline for all scholarship applications is April 30, 2023.
AGR EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
These awards are given to Collegiate Members who have displayed great potential and have achieved success in the areas of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, activities, and fraternal involvement.
> Sean Gierk, Epsilon, North Dakota State
> Tyler Hunt, Gamma Delta, ABAC
> Jay Long, Beta Gamma, Wisconsin-Platteville
> Zach Wynstra, Beta Gamma, Wisconsin-Platteville
The Harvest
Apply for The Educational Foundation’s Scholarships!
Applying for scholarships from The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho has never been easier! Undergraduate members can apply for over 10 available scholarships with just one online form. The “Educational Foundation Scholarship Application” can be found at www.alphagammarho.org/educational-foundation-scholarshipapplication. All applications should be submitted between March 1 and April 30 each year.
DAIRY SCHOLARSHIP
The Dairy Scholarship is made possible by brother Ole Meland, Past Grand President. The scholarship is made available to an undergraduate who is majoring in dairy science, dairy husbandry or animal science with a dairy option or emphasis.
> Matthew Fischer, Alpha Psi, Wisconsin-River Falls
DALE RUNNION SCHOLARSHIP
The Runnion Scholarship was created by Brother Runnion to help those with outstanding professional promise and with financial need. The scholarship is presented to an AGR Undergraduate who plans to pursue a career in agri-marketing, journalism, advertising or public relations.
> Tyler Herington, Alpha Gamma, Florida
GENE SWACKHAMER AG ECONOMICS/ AG BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP
This award is reserved for those who achieve a high level of excellence and is pursuing a major in agriculture economics, agribusiness, resource management, or other related areas.
> Justin Eddy, Theta, Missouri
HAROLD OLSON SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship recognizes an undergraduate brother who has achieved high levels of excellence in
scholarship, leadership, citizenship, brotherhood, activities, and service.
> Cutter Pohlman, Beta Xi, Texas Tech
J. WAYNE REHN SCHOLARSHIP
The J. Wayne Rehn AGR Animal Science Scholarship was established to encourage excellence in academics and awarded to a student enrolled in animal science studies. The award shall be made to a sophomore or junior member of Alpha Gamma Rho, who is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine or in animal science.
> Parker Triplett, Theta, Missouri
KIRBY BARRICK AGRICULTURE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
This award is intended for those who strive to help advance agriculture, perform at high level on their campus and is pursuing a major in agriculture education.
> No Recipient Given This Year
LINDLEY FINCH SCHOLARSHIP
The Educational Foundation awards one scholarship to an undergraduate who has true financial need and exhibits leadership and citizenship traits like Lindley Finch, who was instrumental in the establishment of The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho. These traits include individual endeavor, resourcefulness, aggressive effort, and a balanced lifestyle.
> James Chism, Eta, Iowa State
ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP
This award is reserved for those who are enrolled in a declared horticulture-related major, which may include entomology, environmental horticulture, floriculture, landscape gardening, landscape horticulture, ornamental horticulture, pest control, plant breeding, plant pathology, or other related areas.
> Benjamin Bondurant, Theta, Missouri
ROBERT L. OEHRTMAN SCHOLARSHIP
The recipient must have a GPA of 3.0 or better; be enrolled as a full time student, and be an individual who has held leadership positions within his community, in academics or in his religious affiliation in high school or in college. The scholarship is a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life to teaching and mentoring, building skills and making memories through important life lessons.
> Aaron Frey, Beta Gamma, Wisconsin-Platteville
UNDERGRADUATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Alumni committees evaluate the applicants for this award on the basis of six categories: scholarship, leadership, citizenship, brotherhood, activities, and fraternity involvement.
> Nathan Behrends, Eta, Iowa State
> Jakob Furnish, Omicron, Kentucky
Lifetime Giving Levels
The following Lifetime Giving Levels recognize brothers with cumulative lifetime giving of $10,000 or more to The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho as of December 31, 2021. Thank you for all your generous and continued support for AGR.
Founders’ Circle
$1,000,000 +
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
Friends of AGR
Adayana Inc.
Cathie Lemon
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-WisconsinMadison
Bill Hantke
Jerry Steiner
Nu-North Carolina
State
Samuel Davis
Omicron-Kentucky
Scott Brown
Glenn Stith
Pi-Oklahoma State
Gary Clark
Bradley Gungoll
Doug Jackson
Lee Larkin
Sigma-Washington State
Doyle Jacklin
Chi-Cal Poly
Ejnard Knudsen
Alpha GammaFlorida
N. Brooks
John Douthat
Bernie Lester
Ed Smoak
Alpha ZetaKansas State
Randy Stoecker
Doug Weyer
Alpha ChiWestern Kentucky
Jack Britt
Alpha PsiWisconsinRiver Falls
Bill Boehm
Friends 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
Richard Fitton*
Gamma-Penn State
Rick Carpenter
John Shearer
William Yerkes
Delta-Purdue
Dick Belcher
Sandy Belden
Tom Davis
Jake Ferris
Joseph Hasler
Ted Priebe
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-WisconsinMadison
Karl Drye
Russ Schuler
Omicron-Kentucky
Russell Gray
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
Rho-Colorado State
Brian Field
Phi-california-Davis
Gerry Rominger
Chi-Cal Poly
Ole Meland
Alpha BetaOregon State
Skye Krebs
Richard Ladd
Gary Nuss
Alpha GammaFlorida
Reggie Brown
Evander Conoley
Miller Couse
Dean Saunders
Ernest Sellers
Dale Zimmerman
Alpha DeltaMontana State
Jim Driscoll
Alpha ZetaKansas State
Samuel Hands
Loren Kruse
Mike Smith
Alpha Iota-Arkansas
James Mitchell
Alpha KappaTennessee-Knoxville
Donnie Smith
Alpha TauWestern Illinois
Larry Lepper
Phil Nichols
Alpha Psi-WisconsinRiver Falls
Phil Josephson
Friends of AGR
Lillian Fobes
Smoak Groves, Inc.
Wedgworth Farms, Inc.
Order of the Sheaf
$25,000 - $49,999
Alpha-Illinois
Ed Dollinger
David Hollinrake
Dave Maurer
Beta-Ohio State
David Ames
Daryl Deering
J. Stewart McCoy
Todd Pugh
Dug Radcliff
Dwight Steen
Gamma-Penn State
Matt Keil
Brian Sarris
Jon Schroer
James Valent
Delta-Purdue
John Burkhardt
John Cottingham
John Demerly
Leo Mann
Mark McKinney
David Parker
Patrick Scheetz
Epsilon-North Dakota State
Randall Aarestad
John Anderson
Keith Bjerke
Jack Brown
Allen Giese
Roger Kenner
Randy Reber
Peter Shockman
Michael Vipond
David Vipond
Ray York
Zeta-Cornell
Kevin Bartolotta
William Baskin
David Galton
William Lipinski
Ronald Pope
Charles Saul
Andy White
Eta-Iowa State
Fred Bahrenburg
Mike Borel
Greg Nickerson
Theta-Missouri
Zane Akins
Stephen Barr
Phillip Brown
Gary Frazier
Jerome Graeser
David Minnick
Paul Steele
Larry Warren
John Woodward
Iota-WisconsinMadison
John Cull
Cliff Gnatzig
Robert Kalter
Bob Miller
Kappa-Nebraska
William Schilling
Lambda-Minnesota
Leland Sundet
Nu-North Carolina State
Raymond Collier
Robert May
Tyler Warren
Pi-Oklahoma State
Jason Bradshaw
Dale Elsener
David Epperly
Kim Ford
Danny Grellner
Randy Grellner
Terry Hague
Robert Hodgen
Ladd Hudgins
Javen Moore
Rodney Orrell
Kent Prickett
Spencer Sewell
Gregory Shepherd
Terry Tippens
Richard Wuerflein
Tau-Michigan State
Frederick Addy
William Graves
Phi-California-Davis
Jeremy Turner
Chi-Cal Poly
Paul Weubbe
Alpha BetaOregon State
Marty Belshe
William Case
V. Kent Searles
Craig Ward
Jan Wepster
Alpha GammaFlorida
Sid Banack
Barry Bustillo
James Clinard
David Duda
Timothy Garman
Randall Hann
John Hooker
Peter Marovich
Benny McLean
Jeff Miller
Paul Myers
Jack Norris
Alpha DeltaMontana State
Taylor Brown
Lyle Hodgskiss
Jim Holzer
Ronald Ramsfield
Ken Walsh
Alpha EpsilonLouisiana State
Glenn Bryant
Alpha ZetaKansas State
Ben Brent
Nelson Galle
Todd Johnson
Robert Moore
Bill New
Dale Rodman
Steven Slusher
Wally Wolf
Alpha Iota-Arkansas
James Atkinson
Mark Waldrip
Alpha KappaTennessee-Knoxville
John Tarpley
Alpha NuConnecticut
George Staby
The Harvest
Alpha Rho-Vermont
Erwin Clark
Brian Markwell
Alpha SigmaFresno State
Ian Burnett
Gary Nelson
Alpha Tau-Western
Illinois
Gerry Salzman
Wayne Whipps
Rob Woodrow
Alpha Phi-South
Dakota State
Troy Johnson
Alpha Chi-Western Kentucky
Ernest Yates
Alpha Psi-WisconsinRiver Falls
David Kilpatrick
Jim Van Wychen
Jon Wangen
Beta EtaVirginia Tech
Gordon Thornhil
Friends of AGR
Andrew Ansted
Barbara Ansted
Beta Gamma Chapter
Ann Christian
Elise Donohue
Northwest Farm
Credit Services
Greg Oehrtman
Ramona M. Chance
Trust Account
Jean Rehn
Emily Rodibaugh
US Sugar
Order of the Sickle
$15,000 - $24,999
Alpha-Illinois
Brett Bayston
Joseph Bicknell
Mark Gossett
Wilbur Nelson
David Ruebush
Morris Smith
Jay Vroom
Jack Widholm
Beta-Ohio State
Peter Bowen
Joseph Crites
Derek Cunningham
Tom Denison
Jac Dill
Mike Estadt
Tim Geiger
Rob McClelland
George Ru
Brad Stair
Gamma-Penn State
Jerry Edwards
Delta-Purdue
Wayne Beehler
Hal Bowman
Bruce Brown
Gerald Nickel
Don Orr
Kirt Ramsay
Max Rodibaugh
Keith Welty
Epsilon-North
Dakota State
Mick Anderson
Frederick Haas
Russell Johnson
Merrill Johnson
Myron Johnsrud
Carl Larson
Tom Lilja
Zeta-Cornell
Mark Creighton
Timothy Dayka
John Mueller
John Noble
David Porter
Terry Savidge
Eta-Iowa State
Charlie Brown
Albert Duroe
Jim Howe
Ken Isley
Theta-Missouri
Jim McRoberts
Bill Williams
Iota-WisconsinMadison
Rick Daluge
Scott Kurzer
Samuel Miller
Bernie Staller
Randy Torgerson
Jim Zarndt
Kappa-Nebraska
Larry Engelkemier
Robert Raun
Lambda-Minnesota
Elden Lamprecht
Nu-North Carolina State
R. Kendall Hill
Omicron-Kentucky
John Woeste
Pi-Oklahoma State
William Elliott
Richard Grellner
Henry Heinrich
Clay Hutson
Robbye Jones
Dale Kunneman
Frank Miller
Ken Root
Jack Stuteville
Chi-Cal Poly
Paul Weubbe
SigmaWashington State
Nick Hein
Tau-Michigan State
Daniel Peabody
Phi-california-Davis
Pete Boyce
Donald Brock
Tom Watson
Dean Wheeler
Alpha Alpha-West
Virginia
William Black
Clark McKee
Alpha Beta-Oregon State
Bruce McKee
Alpha GammaFlorida
J. Wayne Beardsley
Brian Beasley
Roy Lundy
David Mann
John Polhill
Michael Pressley
Michael Shiver
John Smoak
Greg Steube
Elder Sumner
Derick Thomas
Charles Thomas
Jack Townsend
Paul Willis
Tim Yaeger
Alpha DeltaMontana State
Thomas Evans
Bret Lesh
LeRoy Luft
Edward Malesich
Bill Perry
Karl Ratzburg
Eugene Thayer
Harold Tutvedt
Alpha Zeta-Kansas State
Robert Broeckelman
Ty Brookover
Michael Doane
Jim Garrison
Donald Gri ths
Larry Jones
Virgil Lair
Thomas Miller
Warren Nichols
Brian Pelton
Alpha ThetaMaryland
Paul Weller
Alpha Iota-Arkansas
James Marrs
John Pendergrass
Greg Satterfi eld
Alpha NuConnecticut
William Leahey
Alpha Pi-Arizona
Martin Massengale
Alpha Rho-Vermont
Jim Carpenter
Laurence Jost
Don McFeeters
Hall Thompson
Alpha Sigma-Fresno State
Paul Toste
Michael Way
Alpha Tau-Western Illinois
Sid Kemmis
Darcy Kessler
Wayne Willems
Alpha UpsilonTennessee-Martin
Robert Earnest
Alpha Phi-South
Dakota State
Cal Willemssen
Alpha Psi-WisconsinRiver Falls
Dayton Hougaard
Carl Schaumberg
Dennis Tauchen
Joseph Waldo
Alpha Omega-Murray State
Arthur Green
Beta Zeta-Clemson
Chalmers Carr
Mike Freeman
Beta EtaVirginia Tech
Ronnie Green
Beta Nu-Texas A&M
Bill Lagrange
Friends of AGR
AGR Building Fund, Inc.
Alpha Delta Chapter
Doyle & Debbie Carlton
Williamson Cattle Company
Chico Alpha Gamma Rho Alumni
Educational Foundation of Christine Martindale
Ricky McNelley
June Schrupp
The Prudential Foundation
Order of the LAMP
$10,000 - $14,999
Alpha-Illinois
William Dimond
Ron Ness
Vince Reincke
Beta-Ohio State
Bill Beddow
Michael Bumgarner
Charles Cunnigan
Greg Flax
David Grim
Frank Hirsch
Dale Krukemyer
Donald Lamb
Bill Langel
Nathan Louiso
Joe Mesenburg
Jack Spitler
William Stinson
Gamma-Penn State
Carl Anderson
Richard Dempster
Glenn Moyer
Bill Nichol
Thomas Olliver
Delta-Purdue
Allen Buchanan
Doc Cottingham
Stephen Craig
Mark Durr
Eric Farrand
Doug Gri n
Verne Freeman*
Orville Redenbacher*
Joe Horstman
Tom McKinney
J. Michael Scheetz
Rick Senesac
James Stewart
Dan Strahl
Walter Waitt
Doug Wilhelm
Brian Wise
Don Wright
Marko Zaninovich
Epsilon-
North Dakota State
Joe Bata
Darby Bauer
Neal Bjornson
William Finley
Gary Gibbons
Bernie Goodman
Jared Hagert
James Hauge
Clint Kurtz
Andy Moquist
Joseph Ruli son
Howard Schmid
Donald Schwartz
Mark Sletten
Jason Wildung
Jarvis York
Zeta-Cornell
John Adams
Ronald Beck
Timothy Bostley
Sheldon Brown
Steven Call
David Call
Steven Chuhta
Philip Davis
Walter Henry
Michael Holloway
Brian Rapp
Stephen Riessen
Donald Seipt
David Tregaskis
Bill Wickham
Eta-Iowa State
Rob Dittmer
Tim Heiller
Dan Johnson
Arlen Wonderlich
Theta-Missouri
Keith Dunn
Bud Hertzog
Sidney Johnson
Curtis Long
Lowell Mohler
Lowell Newsom
Rado Popp
Doug Thomas
Iota-WisconsinMadison
Dale Bruhn
Jim Caldwell
Dale Emsho
Paul Hagen
Bob Hagenow
Paul Hartman
James Mickelson
Allan Schultz
Robert Schwert
Scott Vosters
Jerome Wallander
John Wilks
Kappa-Nebraska
Jim Cada
Larry Holbein
Gregory Mullins
Harold Burton*
Lambda-Minnesota
Neil Fruechte
Clarence Horsager
Nu-North
Carolina State
Carl Flemer
Robert Goins
Bolton Jones
Guy Jones
Omicron-Kentucky
Burgess Brown
Steve Hupman
Pi-Oklahoma State
Jim Buck
Paul Burrell
Dennis Christie
John Crawford
Charles Elliott
Charles Freeman
Michael Frickenschmidt
Greg Gungoll
Mike Hardin
Charles Jacques
Bradley Johnson
Sean Kouplen
Je rey Kubik
Bryan Mannering
Pi-Oklahoma State
Jim Buck
Paul Burrell
Dennis Christie
John Crawford
Charles Elliott
Charles Freeman
Michael Frickenschmidt
Greg Gungoll
Mike Hardin
Charles Jacques
Bradley Johnson
Sean Kouplen
Je rey Kubik
Bryan Mannering
Teddy Miller
Je Morris
Teddy Miller
Je Morris
Mason Mungle
Matt Panach
Lynn Reinschmiedt
Brady Sidwell
Ryan Trojan
Jerry White
Rho-Colorado State
Chuck Mason
Jay Wardell
Roy Wardell
Sigma-Washington State
Robert Felton
Bill Heinemann
Steve Swannack
Tau-Michigan State
Dave Willetts
Phi-California-Davis
Gary Cusumano
Kip Herzog
John Kidd
Chi-Cal Poly
Ron Carli
Psi-Maine
Lee Meserve
Alpha Alpha-West
Virginia
John Rotruck
Alpha Beta-Oregon State
Charles McElligott
Alpha Gamma-Florida
Gene Badger
Wilton Banack
Jimmy Cheek
Chuck Clemons
Je rey Cusson
Keith Davis
Bob Davis
Jamie Hayes
John Hoblick
Charles Miller
Paul Mott
Jody Phillips
Wayne Simmons
Richard Stratton
Philip Visali
John Williamson
Alpha DeltaMontana State
Donald Becker
Thomas Dedman
Bruce Ellis
Boyd Hardy
Don Herzog
Jack Holden
William Krutzfeldt
Shane Lester
Vern Luft
Steven Moodie
Phil Moodie
Bryan Ratzburg
Donald Sanders
Todd Tibbetts
Robert Tronstad
Stephen Wagner
Alpha Zeta-Kansas State
Kenneth Buchele
Chad Chase
Charles Cole
Bradley Foote
Scott Foote
Grant Harris
Keith Heikes
Roger Johnson
Aaron McKee
Casey Niemann
Jay Selanders
Keith Westervelt
Brent Wiedeman
Alpha Eta-Georgia
James Irvin
Alpha Theta-Maryland
Jim DeShazer
Chuck Iager
Richard Jackson
Alpha Iota-Arkansas
Frank Carter
Alpha KappaTennessee-Knoxville
Tracey Binkley
Peter Markovich
Thomas White
Donald Williams
Alpha Mu-Rutgers
Michael Mekenian
Alpha Nu-Connecticut
David Bennett
Alpha Xi-Arizona State
Craig Anderson
Alpha Pi-Arizona
Robert Briggs
Ronald Rayner
Alpha Tau-Western Illinois
Steven Greenfi eld
Mark Howard
Steven Ramp
Monty Teuscher
Alpha Chi-Western
Kentucky
David Buckingham
Pete Dotson
Buster Stewart
Alpha Psi-WisconsinRiver Falls
Steven Bensend
Lee Born
Kenneth Congdon
Phil George
Robert MacSwain
Thomas Morris
Wayne Weiland
Edward Whitman
Alpha OmegaMurray State
Bret Cude
Beta AlphaSouthern Illinois
Greg Webb
Beta EtaVirginia Tech
Jay Poole
Beta Theta-
Middle Tennessee
Jason Searles
Beta Kappa-Chico State
Lee Cole
Beta Sigma-Tarleton
Michael Keith
Cody Lane
Beta TauMississippi State
Brad Garrison
Beta Phi-Idaho
Philip Kaufman
Friends of AGR
American AgCredit/ CoBank
AGR House Association
Beta Alpha of AGR Alumni Assoc
Beta Theta Chapter
Gayle Cli ord
Elaine Crooke
Delta Chapter
Northeast Delta Dental
Polly Johns
Meredith Corporation
Foundation
Pfizer
Theta Chapter
Thorndike Barnhart
Memorial Scholarship Fund of Pickaway C
Jim & Anita Trojan
Unknown Donor
Barbara Wolfe
Beta Gamma-WisconsinPlatteville
Scott Laufenberg
Michael North
Beta Zeta-Clemson
Thad Boatwright
Woody Green
Ed Rish
Loyalty Fund For AGR: Giving For Our Purpose
The 2021 Loyalty Fund for AGR enables the Eductional Foundation to support programs for the National Fraternity including scholarships, Leadership Seminars, Recruitment Schools, Adviser Forums, Matching Funds and more. With the switch in our giving year from the fiscal year (July-June) to the calendar year (January-December), this means you still have the opportunity to make a gift to The Educational Foundation's Loyalty Fund.
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 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.
ALPHAILLINOIS
William Griffiths
Dave Maurer
David Schick
GAMMAPENN STATE
Jerry Edwards
DELTAPURDUE
Stephen Craig
Gene Swackhamer
Keith Welty
EPSILONNORTH DAKOTA STATE
Al Johnson
ZETACORNELL
Timothy Dayka
ETAIOWA STATE
Jim Borel
Rob Dittmer
Greg Nickerson
THETAMISSOURI
Stephen Barr
IOTAWISCONSIN-MADISON
Jerry Steiner
LAMBDAMINNESOTA
Clarence Horsager
Randall Sook
OMICRONKENTUCKY
Glenn Stith
PIOKLAHOMA STATE
Gary Clark Kim Ford
RHOCOLORADO STATE Brian Field
SIGMAWASHINGTON STATE
Doyle Jacklin
PHICALIFORNIA-DAVIS
Gerry Rominger
CHI-CAL POLY
Donald De Jong Ejnard Knudsen
ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE
Jim Driscoll
ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE
Peter Markovich
ALPHA SIGMAFRESNO STATE
Ian Burnett
ALPHA CHIWESTERN KENTUCKY
Pete Dotson
ALPHA PSIWISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS
Bill Boehm
BETA SIGMATARLETON
Michael Keith
FRIENDS OF AGR
Charles Perot
1904 Society: $1,904 – $4,999
All alumni can join this level by making a gift of $1,904-$4,999 per giving year to the Loyalty Fund for AGR.
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Brett Bayston
William Dimond
Ed Dollinger
Mark Gossett
David Hollinrake
Wilbur Nelson
Lyle Orwig
Jay Vroom
BETA-OHIO STATE
David Ames
Kirby Barrick
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Rick Carpenter
John Shearer
DELTA-PURDUE
Doug Griffin
Charles Whittington
ZETA-CORNELL
Matthew Budine
Sean Quinn
Gene Schurman
Donald Seipt
Oliver Williams
ALPHA PHI-SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Brad Blaha
ETA-IOWA STATE
Mike Borel
Charlie Brown
Sigmund Cornelius
Albert Duroe
Jim Howe
David Van Wert
Arlen Wonderlich
THETA-MISSOURI
Jerome Graeser
Larry Warren
Bill Williams
IOTA-WISCONSINMADISON
Rick Daluge
Dale Emshoff
Bernie Staller
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Jim Cada
Hal Cooper
Larry Engelkemier
LAMBDA-MINNESOTA
Charles Davis
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Tom Waldrop
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
A.L. Hutson
A.J. Jacques
Bradley Johnson
TAU-MICHIGAN STATE
Rodney Winkel
PHI-CALIFORNIADAVIS
Wayne Bartholomew
CHI-CAL POLY
Carter Pierce
Jeffrey Sanders
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Bernie Lester
ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE
Donald Sanders
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Donald Griffiths
Loren Kruse
ALPHA THETAMARYLAND
Paul Weller
ALPHA IOTAARKANSAS
Rex Martin
ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEEKNOXVILLE
Tracey Binkley
John Tarpley
ALPHA MU-RUTGERS
Michael Mekenian
ALPHA PI-ARIZONA
Robert Briggs
Ronald Rayner
ALPHA RHO-VERMONT
Jim Carpenter
ALPHA SIGMAFRESNO STATE
Michael Way
ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS
Darcy Kessler
ALPHA UPSILONTennessee-Martin
Robert Earnest
ALPHA PHI-SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Brad Blaha
ALPHA PSIWISCONSINRIVER FALLS Phil George Phil Josephson
ALPHA OMEGAMURRAY STATE
Dwight Armstrong Arthur Green
BETA ALPHASOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Greg Webb
BETA GAMMAWISCONSINPLATTEVILLE Duane Schaefer
BETA DELTAILLINOIS STATE Bruce Attig
BETA ZETA-CLEMSON Mike Freeman
BETA ETAVIRGINIA TECH Ronnie Green
BETA THETAMIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE Jason Searles
BETA KAPPACHICO STATE Lee Cole
Grand President Society: $1,000 – $1,903
2020-2021
Grand President’s Society membership is based on annual, undesignated contributions of $1,000-$1,903, specifically in response to Loyalty Fund for AGR solicitation. This listing recognizes brothers who are focused on a vision in support of educational programs that inspire young brother towards success.
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Phil Francis
Tom Hofer
Robert Pritchard
BETA-OHIO STATE
Jack Fisher
Myron Smith
GAMMA-PENN STATE
William Yerkes
DELTA-PURDUE
Wayne Beehler
John Cottingham
Tom Davis
Jake Ferris
EPSILON-NORTH
DAKOTA STATE
Donald Bahl
Jack Brown
ZETA-CORNELL
Mark Creighton
Andy White
ETA-IOWA STATE
Grant Bargfrede
David De Graff
Tim Heiller
THETA-MISSOURI
Brian Gittings
Ken Morrison
Daniel Shepard
IOTA-WISCONSINMADISON
Richard Holloway
Samuel Miller
Bob Miller
Robert Schwert
Randy Torgerson
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Larry Holbein
LAMBDA-MINNESOTA
Neil Fruechte
Bill Manwarren
NU-NORTH
CAROLINA STATE
Robert May
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Dale Elsener
Wayne Joyner
RHO-COLORADO STATE
David Ellicott
Michael Steppe
SIGMA-WASHINGTON STATE
Robert Felton
TAU-MICHIGAN STATE
Michael Cischke
John Nye
John Welser
PHI-CALIFORNIADAVIS
Gregory Cassel
Kip Herzog
David Smallhouse
Jeffery Weber
CHI-CAL POLY
David De Jong
ALPHA BETAOREGON STATE
Norm McKee
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Steven Hall
Robert Hunt
ALPHA DELTAMONTANA STATE
Stephen Wagner
ALPHA EPSILONLouisiana State
Ricky Guidry
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Robert Broeckelman
Loren Goyen
JD Hagedorn
Keith Heikes
Einar Johnson
Tony Renollet
Randy Stoecker
ALPHA THETAMARYLAND
Chuck Iager
ALPHA NUCONNECTICUT
David Bennett
ALPHA XIARIZONA STATE
Craig Anderson
ALPHA OMICRONUTAH STATE
Dale Carpenter
ALPHA RHOVERMONT
Erwin Clark
Don McFeeters
ALPHA TAUWESTERN ILLINOIS
Stephen Lage
Arlon Rahn
Gerry Salzman
ALPHA PSIWISCONSINRIVER FALLS
Craig Anderson
Dennis Tauchen
Edward Whitman
ALPHA OMEGAMURRAY STATE
Tony Dodson
BETA GAMMAWISCONSINPLATTEVILLE
Eric Olson
BETA DELTAILLINOIS STATE
Mark Thies
BETA ETAVIRGINIA TECH
Charles Otto
Jay Poole
FRIENDS OF AGR
Susan Barrick
1904 Society Young Alumni: $19.04 per month / $228.48 per year (minimum)
Young alumni (30 years or younger) can join this level by making a minimum contribution of $228.48 or $19.04/month to the Loyalty Fund for AGR.
ALPHA-ILLINOIS
Joseph Morrison
GAMMA-PENN STATE
Dan Gleyze
Michael Gleyze
EPSILON-NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Martin Peterson
THETA-MISSOURI
Zach Ayers
Mitch Richterkessing
IOTA-WISCONSINMADISON
Anthony Schmitz
KAPPA-NEBRASKA
Cody Kuester
Eric Leisy
Jared McKeever
Logan Peters
LAMBDA-MINNESOTA
Thomas Schwarz
OMICRON-KENTUCKY
Kimo Kimura
Ben Willoughby
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
Michael Albright
RHO-COLORADO STATE
Matt Slade
PHI-CALIFORNIADAVIS
Jasir Soomro
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Clark Futch
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Kurtis Clawson
Nathan Laudan
Brett Wilson
ALPHA LAMBDANEW MEXICO STATE
Tyler DuBry
Adam Mitchell
Jerry Tuttle
ALPHA PSIWISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS
Jon Erickson
Alek Keller-Betzold
BETA NU-TEXAS A&M
Preston De Jong
BETA RHONORTHWEST
MISSOURI STATE
Shaun Finnegan
BETA PHI-IDAHO
Riley Merrigan
Nick Winner
Dustin Winston
1904 Society Collegiate: $19.04 per year
Collegians can join this level by making a gift of $19.04 or more per giving year to the Loyalty Fund.
PI-OKLAHOMA STATE
John Fausz
ALPHA ALPHA-WEST VIRGINIA
Dylan Moyer
ALPHA GAMMAFLORIDA
Mathew Hudson
ALPHA EPSILONLOUISIANA STATE
Gage
Higginbotham
Nick Locascio
ALPHA ZETAKANSAS STATE
Noah Hansen
ALPHA KAPPATENNESSEEKNOXVILLE
Kenneth Barlow
ALPHA PSIWISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS
Matthew Fischer
Memorial & Honorary Gifts
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 –December 31, 2021.
IN MEMORY OF Ben Anderson by Ritchie J. Schaefer
James Anderson by Scott D. Malmberg
Bertram R. Berg by John A Bollingberg
Cale Boedeker by Clint L. Guier
Steven P Bush by Allan S. Jones
David L. Call PhD by Michael C. Nolan
Joseph Carpenter by Bolton W. Jones
John L. Comer by Dean Denhart by Douglas E. Drake by Kenneth L. Newcom
John “Lindley” Comer (i59) Comer 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
Jerry Estes by Hardin A. Hutsell
Gene & Maggie Hansen by Dayton W. Hougaard
William “Bill” A. Harbeke by Dale O. Anderson by Michael A. Anderson by Brant B. Bigger by Keith D. Bjerke by Carmen R. Erickson by Epsilon Chapter by William M. Finley by Gregory J. Halverson by Germaine Harbeke by James G. Hauge by Al Johnson by Russell B. Johnson by James R. Ostlie by Sharon Ring by Keith A. Rourke by Paul H. Skorheim
Richard R. Harp by Michael R. Harry
Dr Gaines Hunt by Robert E. Morgan Karson Janssen by Grant W. Bargfrede
Eddie D. Jernigan by James C. Nunn
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
Ross A. Peter by Cory A. Peter by Elizabeth Peter by Erin Peter
John R. Rehn by Allan S. Jones
Gary R. Sackmann by De Wayne F. Benedict by Susan Sackmann
Ned Sayre by Peter O. Bachmann
Danny Thomas 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 Center Place Horizontal Property Regime by Harry and Jo Leggett by Michele Mansell by Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty by Pi Chapter 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
John V. Nissly by John R. Claassen
Heritage Club
The Heritage Club honors brothers and friends of Alpha Gamma Rho who leave a legacy for the future of the Fraternity through specifi c gifts or bequests. Admittance is attained with planned gifts of $10,000 or more designated to The Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho between January 1, 2021 –December 31, 2021.
Alpha, Illinois
Steven Gerdes
Jim Ross
Jim Zumwalt
Beta-Ohio State
Kirby Barrick
Gamma-Penn State
Rick Carpenter
Ronald Dinus
William Miller
Delta-Purdue
Richard Feltner
Mike Jackson
Ted Priebe
Gene Swackhamer
Zeta-Cornell
Gregory Wickham
Epsilon-North Dakota State
Jack Brown
Thomas Gates
Al Johnson
Martin Peterson
Eta-Iowa State
Fred Bahrenburg
Mike Borel
Gary Butson
Bret Carter
Scott Flynn
Steve Hanson
Tim Heiller
David Van Wert
Robert Vasko
Arlen Wonderlich
Theta-Missouri
Zane Akins
Lynn Fahrmeier
Lowelll Mohler
Lowell Newsom
Dan Prosser
Brad Starbck
Iota-Wisconsin-Madison
James Zarndt
Kappa-Nebraska
Ronald Grapes
William Schilling
Charlie Trauger
Lambda-Minnesota
Adam Manwarren
Nu-North Carolina State
Tyler Warren
Omicron-Kentucky
David Case
Glenn Stith
Pi-Oklahoma State
James Ferrell
Pat Sewell
Sigma-Washington State
Doyle Jacklin
Rho-Colorado State
Karl Schafer
Tau-Michigan State
John Welser
Phi-UC-Davis
John Kidd
Jeremy Turner
Chi-Cal Poly
Ralph Grossi
Ole Meland
Alpha Beta-Oregon State
Vince McElligott
Alpha Gamma-Florida
John Bailey
Alpha Delta-Montana State
Jim Driscoll
Alpha Zeta-Kansas State
JD Hagedorn
Edwin Kerley
Loren Kruse
Warren Nichols
Tim Rosenhagen
Curtis Steenbock
Doug Weyer
Alpha Eta-Georgia
Dennis Clarke
Alpha Theta-Maryland
Paul Weller
Alpha Kappa-TennesseeKnoxville
Thomas White
Alpha LambdaNew Mexico State
Paul Gutierrez
Alpha Xi-Arizona State*
Craig Anderson
Alpha Pi-Arizona
Len Richardson
Alpha Rho-Vermont
Erwin Clark
Laurence Jost
Larry Myott
Don McFeeters
Alpha Tau-Western Illinois
Je Warner
Alpha Psi-Wisconsin-River Falls
Bill Boehm
Phil Josephson
Harland Schneider
Beta Delta-Illinois State
Don Bumphrey
Beta Eta-Virginia Tech
Jay Poole
Beta Tau-Mississippi State
Brad Garrison
Friend of AGR
Carol Johnson
If you have included the Educational Foundation in your will or estate plan, please notify the Home O ce. You will be recognized as a member of the Heritage Club, one whose legacy will Make Better Men
In Memory of Our Great Brothers
The following deaths were reported to the AGR Home Office between February 22, 2022 and September 15, 2022. The listing includes initiation year.
Arkansas
Bariola, Paul A. 1963
Boyer Jr., William P. 1959
Waters, Gaylon C. 1955
Arkansas State
Blocker, Marion Maurice 1974
Dunn, Walker Amos 1973
Hall, Frankie 1973
Auburn
Huggins, Joseph H. 1972
Kirkwood, Kenneth S. 1994
Mount, Parker Gray 1951
California
Paulson, John R. 1959
Cal Poly
Anderson, Robert L . 1982
Michaelis, Jeffery S . 1982
Wilson, Mark L. 1985
California State
Murphy, Timothy B. 1978
Jensen, Randy M. 1984
Keeley, Kevin M. 1986
Nuckols, Justin B. 1990
Parker, Micah A. 1989
Colorado State
Barber, William D. 1952
Constable, Ronald J. 1961
Crowell DVM, Wayne A. 1959
Denman, Donald E. 1959
Harfert, Darwin E. 1955
Hunewill, Stanley 1953
Keating, Delmer P. 1953
Keller, Chuck F. 1959
Kindsfater, Earl H. 1959
Kumor, Leon J. 1954
Leonard DVM, William H. 1956
Mott, Edward C. 1952
Neiss, Morton M. 1948
Palm, John W. 1955
Pierce, Edward W. 1959
Porter, C. John 1952
Rudolph, Larry W. 1950
Wasser, Allyn S. 1961
Connecticut
Hall Sr., Clyde H. 1960
Healey, David F. 1961
Cornell Adams, Gerald H. 1970
Cole, Luther K .1961
Reynolds, Philip R. 1957
Florida
Bevis, Robert H. 1977
Dodson, Robert K. 1947
Fredriksson, Winslow B. 1965
Hall, Gregory L. 1970
Lamar, George A. 1948
Lancaster Jr., Howell E. 1970
Norris, John C. 1953
Venable, James B. 1940
Watkins, William E. 1935
Georgia
Clinkscales, James L. 1991
Jordan, Randall L. 1973
Illinois
Gray, William J. 1958
Iowa State
Bahrenburg, Frederic R. 1949
Davis, Robert E. 1957
Drum DVM, Dale L. 1954
Gillmore, Kenneth R. 1955
Jacobson, Steven D.1972
Kansas State
Callahan, Harold D. 1947
Schierling, Nathan G. 1993
Woods, Jeffrey Alan 1980
Kentucky
Kash, Edgar T. 1952
Taylor, Frank Calhoun 1976
Louisiana State
Millican, Michael B. 1984
Maine-Orono
Bradstreet, Paul E. 1951
Gill, Raymond L 1940
Kelley, Ethan A. 1969
MarylandCollege Park
Johnson, Thomas L. 1957
Miller Sr., Robert Glenn 1947
Roche, George B. 1956
Scott, David W. 1955
Massachusetts Maybury, Edward A. 1958
Minnesota
Christofferson, David Carl 1965
Morris, John
Edward 1959
Pavek DVM, Edmund L. 1956
Schaefer, Robert John 1950
Stresemann, Reuben D. 1957
Missouri
Beattie, Billy P. 1952
Browne, William Pontiac 1978
Campbell, Derin E. 1989
Warren, John Scott 1991
Wilson, Garvin G. 1966
Montana State
Copley, Donald R. 1950
Graham, Samuel R. 1956
Patton, J. Gail 1955
Murray State
Gray, John W. 1971
Nebraska
Freed, Marion Roy 1954
Kimmerling, Max E. 1946
Olson, Dale Alvin 1951
New Hampshire
Finney II, M. Parker 1957
Gecheran, Thomas J.1967
Hubbard, John A. 1949
Larson, Carl A. 1942
Messer, Peter J. 1959
O'Brien, Eugene F. 1964
Stark Sr., Richard I. 1942
Thibodeau, Vernon J. 1962
Vachon, Francis T. 1969
Young, Paul 1988
New Mexico State
Mobley Jr., Thomas Noah 1957
North Carolina
Barwick, John H. 1957
Mitchell, James Edwin 1955
North Dakota State
Anderson, Clarence W. 1955
Anderson, Roger V. 1955
Helgaas, Maynard D. 1954
Knudson, Robert J. 1953
Meyer, Marvin C. 1951
Schnell, Robert D. 1949
Solberg, Clayton J. 1946
Stewart, Robert David 1951
Thomas, Joseph James 1959
Ohio State
Agle, John L. 1955
Burdge, Rabel
James 1958
Fairchild, Rodney 1965
Fritz, James F. 1951
Givens, Craig S. 1984
Langshaw, Thomas H. 1959
Stewart, Gary A. 1961
Thornton, Jack F. 1963
Oklahoma State
Baumann, Warren Elmo 1930
Bradshaw, Benjamin Jason 1988
Elsener, Wayne A. 1967
Reimer, Gerald R. 1956
Oregon State
Hagelstein, Fred 1949
Pennsylvania State
Arkwright, David H. 1961
Dempster, Richard B. 1957
Gettemy, Dean M. 1940
Gould, William D. 1958
Havens, Richard S 1956
Loy VMD, Edgar L. 1948
Palmer, William L. 1969
Rothbauer, Theodore C. 1941
Williams, John C. 1956
Wise, Wilmer Earl 1952
Purdue University
Anderson, Robert E. 1949
Bennett, Larry Gene 1962
Bond, Richard J. 1952
Ferris PhD, John N. 1948
Penrod, Walter Jay 1951
Rodibaugh, Max T. 1971
Shoemaker, William E. 1947
Rutgers Conklin, Everett G. 1952
South Dakota State
Fuehrer, Clyde Merle 1966
Rolling, Joseph J. 1964
Schrunk Jr., Robert R. 1969
Scofield, Jon O 1967
Wallman, Galan L. 1964
Tarleton State Luce, Bradley F. 1994
Tennessee
Parker, Johnny E. 1968
Stroud, Roy David 1963
Ballard, Billy R. 1956
Cook, William Dorris 1964
Finley, Gary E. 1972
Harrison, Charles T. 1952
Kemp, Kenneth W. 1962
Myers, Glen Ray 1963
Rorie III, Elvy 1980
Scarlett, Neal G. 1956
Thompson, James C. 1953
Utah State Creer, John W. 1959
Vermont
Foulkes, Peter H. 1965
Sharp Jr., Donald E. 1994
Washington State
Schoeff, John
Albert 1965
Wesselius, Alan 1961
Western Illinois
Bonnett, James F. 1964
Limkeman, Douglas Kent 1973
Vincent, Donald D. 1963
Western Kentucky Green, Leland Earl 2006
Wisconsin
Ausman, LaVerne 1991
Belluomini, Michael A. 1979
Morris, Glen A. 1965
Rinehart, Nathan H. 1960
Thompson, David Wallace 1950
Ver Voort, Meldon A. 1972
Jarvis, Joel R. 1972
Ratzburg, Robert E. 1972
Salesman, James E. 1972
Wilcox, Kenneth D. 1972
Wolter, John D. 1975
Damron, Walter
Stephen 1988
Q & AGR
Creating a Convention: How Mike Kawleski Organizes Success
If you ask any member of Alpha Gamma Rho what their favorite Fraternity event is, several are going to say the AGR National Convention. Year after year, brothers, spouses, and Housemothers from across the nation gather at one location to learn about the Fraternity and to forge connections within it. Of course, the event is more than just a gathering. With hundreds of attendees in one place, there are going to be complications. Parking, dining options, content availability, those are a few of the many issues that need to be solved to have a successful event. To accomplish this, there needs to be a team of individuals who have the skills and experience necessary to ensure the convention’s success, with one member leading the charge. This is where Mike Kawleski comes in.
Mike Kawleski is an alumnus of the Alpha Psi Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He later transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism. Since then, he had been greatly involved in his community and his fraternity, contributing to several National Conventions for Alpha Gamma Rho. His latest contribution is acting as Chairman for the 2022 Convention Advisory Team. Needless to say, this position has a lot of responsibility and will require someone who knows how to successfully organize an event of this scale. Fortunately, Mike Kawleski has some experience in this area.
How did you become the chairman of the Convention Advisory Team?
Well, there was no formal process for choosing the Advisory Team chair. We were just a bunch of brothers who got together from a number of chapters. Of course, the three Wisconsin chapters were well represented, but we had at least eight di erent chapters around the country whose alumni were involved with the advisory team. So, it starts with a really good advisory team and then it’s just kind of a process. Who might be appropriate to chair the group? Who has time to lead the group? So, I
basically raised my hand and volunteered for the role but, you know, success in any leadership role really depends on the team that you’re working with, and we had a great, great team.
What are the skills most necessary in running a Convention?
Organizing skills are important to make sure everything is planned. There’s a lot of behind the scenes planning that takes place for any event this size. I think we’re fortunate with AGR that we have a great Home O ce sta for working with the hotel, with the di erent meeting venues, transportation, and
those types of things. Any convention takes some funding and so one of the key skills is also fundraising. We rely on Corporate Sponsors since we’re a
“Success in any leadership role really depends on the team that you’re working with, and we had a great, great team.”
Fraternity; we’re a nonprofit organization. So, we rely on the generosity of partners. We seek supporters of the Fraternity who want to sponsor di erent portions of the Convention, whether it be a meal function, an evening event, the career fair or our auctions.
Looking back on your experience contributing to Conventions, which one are you most proud of?
Besides Milwaukee, I think the 1988 convention was a highlight for me and a number of other brothers from the three Wisconsin chapters, because we banded together to make the pitch at the previous National Convention that the next one should be in Wisconsin. And it was, in Green Bay. We were all a lot younger then and this experience was probably unique to most of us on the planning committee, but it was a successful Convention. Even though the three di erent chapters were not all that close to each other distance-wise, and this was before cell phones and email were widespread, we were able to band together and do that.
Great Chapters Make Great Brothers
generations to provide “worldclass” fraternity experience for our men. is is the largest investment ever made in Alpha Gamma Rho’s history. We are investing in our men at the chapter level. As our campaign, Co-
By Rex Martin
DON’T YOU LOVE IT WHEN a plan comes together?
Two years of planning, add Covid-19 challenges and then two more years of planning from our Convention Advisory Team and an amazing convention in Milwaukee was enjoyed by AGR brothers throughout the nation. Maybe you were there. If you attended, you participated in a large array of educational programs, saw Craig Culver, Chairman of Culver’s Frozen Custard, join our Fraternity, the election of new National Board members, and the induction of several brothers into our Hall of Fame. Also some fun events were scheduled; all of those Harleys’ were pretty cool!
Johnson, has been working hard to make it happen. What could compel our brothers to be so generous? It is a new concept called “Local Chapter Excellence.”
more assistance to you locally. It also is about learning from other chapters. is sharing will take place at a Top Leaders Institute in memory of Gene Lemon. e late Brother Lemon knew what the secret sauce was to encourage chapters and their members to perform at a high level. Over the next two years, we will be rolling out this Institute nationwide. And no brother will be le behind. ere are many options for people to donate to the Local Chapter Excellence Campaign including providing dollars that will help their chapter attend these Institutes. Money is being raised to provide additional sta support for chapters and training.
Through my travels and discussions with many brothers, both collegiate and alumni, I know we can do better.
We know what successful chapters look like.
• Recruit men aligned with AGR’s Purpose
• Train and transition your Executive Team
I want to thank our National Leaders, and sta along with a special word of thanks to our Convention Advisory Team for all of their hard work. I also want to thank all of our donors for a record-setting auction toward our annual Loyalty Fund. Speaking of funds, we also celebrate the public phase of our capital campaign. Your campaign has raised over $11 million toward a $15 million goal. is is by far the most your Educational Foundation has ever raised. We have had great leadership from our Campaign Committee led by Brother Donald Dejong and Brother Gary Clark. Our Chief Development O cer, Carol
• Active engage alumni
• Chapter Adviser(s) working hand and hand with our undergrads
• A Housemother or House Director — maybe both and you don’t need to have a house to have a Housemother.
When you mix all those ingredients together then magic happens. However, if you miss one or two ingredients, even Guy Fieri can’t make it a work of culinary art.
Our campaign focuses on leadership, communication, and most of all teamwork at the chapter level. It begins with more engagement and training. Tools such as webinars, podcasts, more chapter visits, and
rough my travels and discussions with many brothers, both collegiate and alumni, I know we can do better. Our collegiate brothers deserve the best opportunity to be successful in their careers and family. AGR provided that to so many of us, we must in turn do the same. e world keeps changing quickly and we must pivot to help manage that change. is program will help bridge the gap between
Chairman, Gary Clark has said to our committee, “Failure is not an Option.” We will succeed and in doing so secure this Fraternity’s future. I can’t wait to see this plan come together!
For more information and to discover how you can get involved, contact the Home Office by phone 816-891-9200; email agr@alphagammarho.org; or the web at www. alphagammarho.org.
Providing Leadership Training Opportunities Through the Years
AS ALPHA GAMMA RHO GREW AND developed from its inception in 1904 to the fl ourishing Fraternity it is today, it became evident that leadership training programs needed to be created to help its members be successful leaders in their chapters. While several variations of forums, conferences, and symposiums, in addition to the National Convention, have been used over the years to help collegiate and alumni members alike develop as individuals, AGR’s early leaders wanted an emphasis on training for o cers.
In May of 1936, the fi rst O cer Training School (OTS) was hosted by the Delta Chapter at Purdue University. The purpose of O cer Training Schools, or OTSs, was to bring elected chapter o cers together to learn more about their roles and how to be e ective leaders in their chapters. Regionally held in the spring, between three to five OTSs would be hosted by a chapter on their campus and in their chapter house. In addition, local and national alumni leaders were involved to help facilitate meaningful conversations. Over the years, O cer Training Schools continued to grow and evolve with the times in order to be a relevant resource to AGR’s chapter o cers. As new colonies were established and chapters installed, the audiences also grew at each OTS location. This also brought about a new era of local and national volunteer engagement as alumni leaders attended, facilitated, and coached new o cers about their positions. OTSs provided o cer training and readiness until 1986 when the Fraternity began to shift programming away from chapter facilities (because attendees outgrew the spaces in many instances) in favor of commercial hotel properties. It also gave AGR the opportunity to create a more profes-
sionalized program for the Fraternity’s expanding collegiate membership, and by 1988, the Leadership Seminar event we know today was created.
Over the years, O cer Training Schools continued to grow and evolve with the times in order to be a relevant resource to AGR’s chapter o cers.
Now, as Alpha Gamma Rho embarks on a major capital campaign focused on Chapter Excellence, the need to e ectively train, coach, and mentor our local chapter leaders is imperative for any chapter to succeed; Thus the Top
Leaders Institute in honor of Gene Lemon has been established. Through the Top Leaders Institute, chapter executive o cers, Chapter Advisers, alumni board representatives, and Housemothers/ House Directors can come together to learn from their peers, understand the expectations of the position they were selected to serve, strengthen their capacity for leadership, and work succinctly to set strategic priorities to achieve during their term in o ce.
Alpha Gamma Rho has come full circle in its e orts to provide educational, leadership and social opportunities for all brothers to take part in, ensuring the needs of our Fraternity are met through world-class programming e orts.
Updates on locations and registration are coming soon. Make sure to check your inboxes and stay in touch through social media at @alphagammarhohq.
Kansas City, MO
February 2-5, 2023
Reno, NV
February 9-12, 2023
Indianapolis, IN
February 16-19, 2023
Richmond, VA or Philadelphia, PA
February 23-26, 2023
2023 Leadership Seminars
Enhance your leadership skills and represent your chapter at the 2023 Leadership Seminars. Through Alpha Gamma Rho’s partnership with Sigma Alpha Sorority, we are able to provide our members with world-class leadership training. Hosted regionally, AGR and SA will host four in-person Leadership Seminars. If you see there is a Leadership Seminar in your area, come join us! By attending Leadership Seminars, members develop a strong sense of personal and professional growth. Brothers will have the opportunity to network with other young professionals from across the country and share in each others’ triumphs and challenges.
