“To give promise of service to his fellow man and to the world” is a key piece of The Object of our Fraternity. Through added trials and tribulations brought on over the past year, our fellow men have continued to give. Not only have our undergraduate brothers adapted to virtual classes, shortened semesters, the cancellation or postponement of extracurriculars, but they have dealt with loss and suffered through additional side effects of a global pandemic. Amongst those challenging experiences there has been positive outcomes. Our men have continued their commitment of hard work and promise of service, providing a light in the darkness to those around them. This section, Only in FH, is dedicated to the ways our men have continued acts of service during the pandemic. These stories feature our incredible undergraduate members. When forest fires ravaged the state of Oregon, our men risked their lives to stop them. Sammy Stevens (Iowa State 19) organized his chapter to lead storm and debris cleanup in Iowa. And, our South Dakota State Chapter raised more than $12,000 virtually for a local child fighting leukemia.
In addition to Only in FH, last fall, FarmHouse has launched a digital series: FarmHouse Focus. FarmHouse Focus will share videos from alumni, undergraduates and staff expanding on our values and current events. Follow our social media channels or be sure to update your contact information in your MyHerdBook account. @farmhousefraternity @farmhouse1905 FARMHOUSEFraternity
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More than 1.2 million acres burned in Oregon in 2020, according to the Oregon Department of Forestry. Five major fires burned 850,000 of the total 1.2 million acres and over 3,000 structures were destroyed. Fire season in Oregon starts in July and continues until winter rains arrive in late October. It was not until mid-August things started to get really busy for firefighters. Labor Day came and with it these fires made national headlines. There were five fires already burning or started burning the night of Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020). Each of the five fires burned for a period of one to three months. “Fire season started off relatively slowly until about mid-August when I was needed to respond as Initial Attack (IA) to a fire that threatened many homes,” said Patrick Brewer (Oregon State 20). “Upon arriving at this fire, four engines, holding six firefighters per engine, were told to protect a single home on a ridge. We worked all night long tirelessly to ensure the home’s safety and we were not finished until 9:30 a.m. the next morning. With another hour and a half drive back to my office, my shift finished at a total of 30 straight hours.” Patrick has been fighting fires since he was a sophomore at Oregon
