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FIELD NOTES
Brothers of Eta Chapter at Iowa State University held their Agger Fries Philanthropy October 18, 2021. Brother Nathan Behrends, Noble Ruler at Eta Chapter, said the 2021 event had record attendance with roughly 620 people coming to get fried food from the chapter from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The chapter raised $3,850 to donate to the American Cancer Society selling fried Oreos, french fries, fried pickles, potato chips and fried cheese curds. He explained the event originally started in the 1980s when a prank war ensued between the Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho and the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity next door. One of the pranks was brothers from the Eta Chapter would steal potatoes from the neighboring fraternity and cook them. Eventually the prank evolved into a wildly popular philanthropy.
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Agronomy On Ice
A few Alpha Gamma Rho brothers participated and were involved with the annual Agronomy On Ice event in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, January 31 through February 2, 2022. Brothers Chris Kappes and Paul Schroden of Epsilon Chapter at North Dakota State University, as well as Brother Tim Hammerich of Phi Chapter at University of California-Davis, attended the event on ice along with several hundred other agriculture specialists and professionals for networking and fun. Despite temperatures well below freezing, roughly 60 ice houses full of participants gathered on the lake to mingle and ice fish together. Delicacies from Norwegian, Icelandic, German and Scandinavian cultures were shared among the groups, as well as cooked fish from Devil’s Lake. Students from various local colleges and universities made a trip to the lake to network with the professionals hanging out at the lake, some of whom left with job connections and internships. The event was anticipated to bring in anywhere between 700 and 1,000 people if it hadn’t been for the bad weather that started to roll in January 22 and continued to the beginning of the event on January 31.
BETA RHO
The Beta Rho Chapter at Northwest Missouri State University along with the School of Agricultural Sciences held a Celebrate Agriculture week. During the week of November 13-18, 2021, a variety of events were held by the School of Agriculture and various agriculture organizations on campus, including AGR. Events such as Sunday Night Football and Tailgate, an Agriculture Employer Networking Event, a game night and a canned food drive were some of the events hosted throughout the week. Previous Noble Ruler, Thomas Mick, said the chapter smoked barbecue for the event as well as participated in many of the events, including the networking event. The chapter also participated in the canned food drive where the brothers, along with other agriculture organization on campus, sat outside of the local Hy-Vee store handing out flyers and asking for donations to be given to The Ministry Center in Maryville, Missouri, home of Northwest Missouri State University.
ALPHA CHI
Western Kentucky University Tees Off Once Again
After a year of COVID-19 and not being able to meet in a common brotherhood bond, the Alpha Chi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at Western Kentucky University was once again able to take to the fairways and enjoy a day of brotherhood bonding. Alpha Chi Chapter held its annual Golf Scramble on July 10, 2021, at Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course located in Franklin, Kentucky. Over 100 golfers were in attendance. The teams were comprised of alumni, undergraduate members, potential recruits and Educational Leadership Consultant, Ben Willoughby. Some very special guests that day were Alpha Chi founding member Jamie Blewett and charter member Darwin Newton who were present for the scramble. $8,800 was raised and donated back to Alpha Chi Chapter to make improvements to the chapter house. The money raised was great, however the real value of the day came from the brotherhood on display. There were many memories to share, and lots of stories from back-in-the-day. After almost a year and half away from Alpha Chi Chapter due to the pandemic, the scramble gave all brothers and supporters a chance to come together to bond, share a meal, and reconnect in order to make a stronger brotherhood. Plans for this summer’s Golf Scramble are already underway.
BETA PHI University of Idaho Log-A-Thon for Philanthropy
Beta Phi Chapter at University of Idaho held their annual Log-A-Thon philanthropy event on October 2, 2021. The event helps raise funds for a scholarship in memory of a sister and girlfriend of brothers of the Beta Phi Chapter, as well as a college fund for a daughter of a late brother. Sometimes, the chapter will also allocate some of the funds raised to other local causes as the chapter sees fit.
To raise the funds, the brothers cut firewood and sell it to the local community. Afterwards, the chapter holds a logging sports competition for sororities and other organizations on campus. This competition consists of a variety of fun sports and activities for everyone. It includes an obstacle course, log rolling, ax throwing and cookie painting. In 2021, the chapter raised $6,000 that was split two ways between the scholarship and college fund.
ALPHA PSI University of Wisconsin—River Falls
Supporting UWRF Farm Bureau
Alpha Psi Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) provided music at a barn dance to support the UWRF Farm Bureau. Brother Justin Martin said the brothers had a great time DJing the event that raised funds for the local Farm Bureau. He said more than 100 people attended the event. Each person was asked to pay their way to get into the event or they could bring one non-perishable food item that would be donated to a local food pantry. Brother Martin said it was a great night of relaxed fun and dancing that also allowed them to support their local community.
ALPHA GAMMA University of Florida
Chapter Awarded for Oustanding Accomplishments
Several brothers, as well as the overall chapter, from Alpha Gamma Chapter at the University of Florida were recognized at the University of Florida Greek Awards Banquet. The chapter was awarded for the Outstanding Scholarship Program, Outstanding Philanthropy, Outstanding Virtual Program and the Greek Collaboration Award. Brother Robbie Sistrunk was awarded the Buddy McKay Greek Person of the Year award and the Chapter Adviser, Rob Hunt was recognized as the Advisor of the Year.
BETA OMICRON University of Wyoming
AGR Cooking for Students on Campus and Community with Philanthropy
Beta Omicron Chapter at the University of Wyoming teamed up with the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) to host a free barbecue for the campus during Homecoming week in October 2021. The chapter cooked food for the campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until the food supplies were exhausted.
The barbecue provided students an opportunity to feel welcomed on campus and bring about a sense of normalcy with the COVID-19 pandemic swarming the world. This event also allowed the Beta Omicron Chapter the chance to interact with the rest of the campus through food, philanthropy and school pride.
The event brought in roughly 400 people who were served by AGR brothers.
ALPHA TAU Western Illinois University
29th Annual Smokin’ Hog Outcome
The Alpha Tau Chapter at Western Illinois University held their 29th Annual Smokin’ Hog event October 30, after being postponed for a year due to COVID-19. This year, the chapter held an outdoors eating area for people to come and enjoy a meal, and they set up a drive thru, utilizing the driveway to their chapter house.
Brother Logan Arnold, VNR-Activities said the event went incredibly well. The event raised $25,000, which is $5,000 more than what they had hoped for at the last event, held before the pandemic, the chapter raised over $24,000. Brother Arnold said the chapter looks forward to their 30th Annual Smokin’ Hog event next year. They hope to hold a bigger event with other activities to celebrate three decades of Smokin’ Hog. ALPHA LAMBDA New Mexico State University
Philanthropy Collaboration
Alpha Lambda Chapter at New Mexico State University participated in various philanthropy events in collaboration with other fraternities and sororities on campus. One event was Chi Omega Sorority’s Make-AWish dodge ball competition, where the Alpha Lambda Chapter remained the undefeated champions at the 2021 games. The chapter also succeeded in achieving the most overall points for the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority’s philanthropy event. Brother Anthony Mowery received third place in the Alpha Xi Delta’s “Xi Pageant,” Brother Max Coppenbarger and Brother Armando Burciaga represented Alpha Lambda Chapter in the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity’s “Water-Dye Tournament” by placing third overall. The chapter looks forward to next year’s competitions for philanthropy in collaboration with other Greek organizations on campus.
LAMBDA CHAPTER
University of Minnesota Hoops for Hearts
After the sudden passing of Brother Karson Janssen of Lambda Chapter at the University of Minnesota in November 2021, his chapter brothers banded together with the Janssen family to honor Brother Janssen. The Janssen family established the Karson Janssen Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is supported by various fundraisers done surrounding Brother Janssen and his legacy. One of the fundraisers was the first ever Karson Janssen Memorial Hoops for Heart Project held February 18, 2022. The mission was a variety of things encompassing heart health and Brother Janssen’s life motto — be nice, be neat and be humble.
Brothers from Lambda Chapter helped raise funds for the memorial scholarship at the event. They shared that the event was a success in not only raising money, but spreading awareness about heart health and what happened to Brother Janssen. Lambda Chapter hopes plans to find a way to honor Brother Janssen within the chapter as well. Although gone, Brother Janssen is felt each day among the brothers as they strive to live out Karson’s motto in their daily lives.
GAMMA DELTA
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Brothers of Gamma Delta Chapter at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) on October 16, 2021, participated in the annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Tifton, Georgia. The walk was held at the college where the community could join a team to participate in the walk. Before the walk, Gamma Delta Chapter raised more than $6,960 as well as additional funds from barrel races they held during some of the home football games. Gamma Delta Noble Ruler Hunter Lawhon said the disease affected almost all of the brothers in the chapter in some way. Through donation and continual support, he hopes an eventual cure can be found for Alzheimer’s. Chrystal Bell, the Manager for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Tifton, said the Gamma Delta Chapter helped set up and breakdown the event, on top of walking in the day of the event with their donation, putting them at 121% of their goal, which was $33,000. “We’re so grateful for their support,” Bell said. “They are a great group to work with.” Bell said the brother’s fundraising team was 2nd out of 22 teams that raised funds for the walk. She also noted the Gamma Delta Chapter has participated in eight out of 10 walks the Alzheimer’s Association has hosted since 2012 in Tifton.
