Pearls & Rubies
Year 104, No. 1 • The Magazine of FarmHouse Fraternity • Spring 2009
Educating the Next Class
FarmHouse celebrates the 10th Annual Leadership Academy
CONTENTS
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Pearls & Rubies
Conclave Highlights
2008 Master Builder of Men
Year 104, Number 1 • Spring 2009
Fraternity News: New Communications Efforts
Published by FarmHouse Fraternity, Inc. and the
FarmHouse Foundation; 7306 NW Tiffany Springs
Parkway, Suite 210, Kansas City, MO 64153-9908;
phone: (816) 891-9445; fax (816) 891-0838;
email: FHHQ@FarmHouse.org; www.FarmHouse.org
Fraternity News: Expansion & Ritual
FarmHouse Leadership Academy
FarmHouse Leadership Academy Donors
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
Bryce Freeman (IA ’93) – President; Garry Weston
(KY ’97) – Vice President; Brent Bible (PU ’93);
Cameron Dunlap (NM ’93); Shawn Eagleburger
(IA ’02); Tony Fiore (OH ’95) – ex-officio; Brian Hogue
(TAM ’05); Jeff Norris (TT ’89); Dale Pracht (KS ’92);
Kevin Goodman (TT ’06) – Undergraduate representative; Daniel Keeton (AR ’07) – Undergraduate
representative
The FarmHouse Foundation
Chapter Highlights
Alumni News
“
Obituaries
OUR MISSION
The object of our Fraternity is to promote good fellowship, to
encourage studiousness and to inspire its members in seeking the
best in their chosen lines of study, as well as in life. Progress shall
mark our every step; the spirit of congeniality shall reign at all times;
and every member shall be honest with himself as well as with his
brothers. Men elected to our membership are considered to be of
good moral character, to be high in scholarship, to have the capacity
for meeting and making friends, and to give promise of service to
their fellow men and to the world. To be and become such may at
times require a sacrifice of time, pleasures and comforts.
FH CALENDAR
”
July 4 – FarmHouse International Office Closed, Independence Day
August 7-9 – Tennessee Chapter 50th Anniversary Celebration,
Knoxville, Tenn.
September 1 – Foundation Scholarship application deadline
September 7 – FarmHouse International Office Closed, Labor Day
November 6-8 – FarmHouse International Board Meeting and
Foundation Board of Trustees Meeting, Denver, Colo.
If you would like a FarmHouse event (Founder’s Day, homecoming,
alumni event, etc.) added to our calendar, email Chad@FarmHouse.org.
FarmHouse is a member of...
2 Pearls & Rubies
FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Arthur Heggen (IA ’66) – Chairman; Ryan Downs
(NE ’88) – Chairman-elect; Gregory Bamford (CO ’67);
Matthew Calavan (OK ’84); Michael Fayhee (IL ’67);
Donald Ferguson (KS ’63); John Foltz (OH ’53) – ex
officio; James Herbert (TN ’61); James Lodoen (ND
’79); Gary Ludwig (IL ’64); Jeff Muchow (SD ’66);
James Tobin (IA ’76)
FARMHOUSE HEADQUARTERS STAFF
Chad Harris (IA ’98) – Fraternity executive director and
Pearls & Rubies editor; Allison Rickels – Foundation
executive director and Pearls and Rubies design editor;
Robert L. Off (CO ’64) – Foundation executive director
emeritus; Jordan Moore (OK ’05) – Leadership
consultant; Seth Zilverberg (SD ’02) – Leadership
consultant; Andrea Ward – Foundation annual giving and
communications coordinator; Lorie Widdice – Fraternity
office manager; Jo Berryman – Foundation administrative assistant; Brian McCann (MS ’95) – Webmaster
Pearls & Rubies (USPS 424-540) is an educational and alumni
publication published three times per year by FarmHouse Fraternity,
Inc. and The FarmHouse Foundation. Nonmember subscriptions are
available for $25 per year.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pearls & Rubies,
FarmHouse Fraternity, Inc., 7306 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway,
Suite 210, Kansas City, MO 64153-9908. Canadian return address:
Publications Mail Agreement #40043510, Station A; P.O. Box 54;
Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5. Email: FHHQ@FarmHouse.org
ABOUT OUR COVER: Delegates of the 2009 Leadership
Academy listen to a keynote address. FarmHouse is proud to
celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Leadership Academy.
Moore serves FarmHouse Fraternity
For the 2008-09 academic year, Jordan Moore
(OK ’05) served as the educational leadership
consultant with the International Office.
A May 2008 graduate of Oklahoma State
University, Moore majored in marketing and religious studies. Jordan served the Oklahoma State
chapter as vice president of recruitment, director
Jordan Moore
of new member education and social chair. He
was selected as the chapter’s Doane Award recipient for the
2007-08 school year. On campus, Jordan served as IFC external
vice president and was a member of Blue Key honor society,
Order of Omega and President’s Leadership Council.
As an educational leadership consultant, Jordan travels to
every FarmHouse chapter providing on-site consultation
support through one-to-one meetings with chapter officers,
campus officials, advisors and association members, in addition
to conducting chapter workshops on recruitment, risk management, member education and general fraternity development.
The educational leadership consultant role is an exciting and
unique employment opportunity available to recent graduates
interested in helping support FarmHouse growth through fulltime employment with the International office. Men interested
in applying or learning more should contact Chad Harris.
Harris earns CAE Designation
The American Society of Association
Executives has announced that Chad E. Harris
(IA ’98) has earned the Certified Association
Executive (CAE) credential. The CAE is the
highest professional credential in the association
industry. Less than five percent of association
professionals have earned the CAE.
To be designated as a CAE, an applicant must Chad Harris
have a minimum of three years experience in nonprofit
organization management, completed specialized professional
development, pass a stringent examination in association
management and pledge to uphold a code of ethics.
Approximately 3,500 association professional currently hold
the CAE credential, which was first awarded in 1961. The
American Society of Association Executives is an organization
of more than 22,000 association executives and industry
partners representing more than 11,000 organizations.
Fraternity Announces Creation of
New Emerging Talent Retreat
FarmHouse International
Fraternity is pleased to announce
the creation of a new educational
program for its first-year
undergraduate members, To Be and
Become…the Emerging Talent Retreat sponsored by Monsanto.
In making the announcement, Fraternity executive director
Chad Harris (IA ’98) stated, “The mission of To Be and Become
is to assist the young FarmHouse man in discovering his unique
individual talents early in his collegiate career, so that he may
build upon these skills to better himself, his chapter and his
academic and subsequent professional pursuits.”
The first new program created at the International level in
10 years, To Be and Become, is a three-day retreat set in an
outdoor learning environment geared toward men completing
the first year of their academic career.
The retreat was held May 19-21 outside Kansas City at Camp
Heartland in Parkville, Mo. on the bluffs above the Missouri
River. The camp facility provided a setting which enabled learning through activities comprised of outdoor adventure learning,
facilitated workshops and team building activities which
encompassed the four-fold mission of the Fraternity in developing men socially, physically, spiritually and scholastically.
“The idea of a unique educational program for our newest
FarmHouse brothers has been a dream for several years,”
commented Bryce Freeman (IA ’93), International President.
“Now thanks to the generosity of Monsanto, this dream is
becoming a reality.”
Andy Armbruster (KS ’96), field sales trainee lead with
Monsanto, said, “Monsanto is committed to developing future
leaders for the agriculture industry and future leaders for
communities across the United State. We see our partnership
with FarmHouse as a strategic approach to ensure the next
generation of decision makers and influencers is prepared to
solve challenges facing both U.S. and global agriculture.”
To Be and Become is specially designed for men completing
their first-year of college in spring 2009. Thanks to an educational sponsorship grant from Monsanto, one man from every
chapter and colony attended at no personal or chapter cost.
Murphy interns with International Office
Foundation receives prestigious
NICF Award of Distinction
Daniel Murphy (IA ’07) of the Iowa State
chapter has been selected as the 2009 summer
intern with the FarmHouse International Office.
Active in chapter and campus activities at
Iowa State, Murphy served as vice president of
finance and currently serves in the executive
cabinet of IFC. He is a junior majoring in finance
and Spanish and from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Last Dan Murphy
fall he studied abroad in Spain.
He will work with the staff to develop educational resources
including presentations, workshops and materials for use
during chapter visits as well as reviewing and updating chapter
support materials for the betterment of our brotherhood.
The FarmHouse Foundation is the recipient of a 2008 award
from the North American Interfraternity Conference
Foundation (NICF) for “Best Special Event.” The awards recognize successful programs and outstanding development techniques of Greek letter Foundations and only one award is given
for each category. The Awards of Distinction were given during
The Foundation Seminar in August 2008 in Indianapolis.
The FarmHouse Foundation was honored as “Best Special
Event” for its Power of 7 Seminar. The Power of 7 Seminar is a
first class think-tank on the Fraternity and the nation during a
weekend of brotherhood, lifelong learning and fellowship.
The Foundation Trustees and Staff are honored to be recognized by its interfraternal peers with this prestigious award.
spring 2009
3
CONCLAVE REVIEW
Deep in the Heart of FarmHouse
Over 225 brothers, alumni, undergraduates and friends of the Fraternity
gathered on the high plains of west Texas
in August for the 45th Biennial Conclave:
Deep in the Heart of FarmHouse.
Conclave was hosted by Texas Tech
University in Lubbock, Texas. The
International Fraternity’s biennial gathering is a blend of business and brotherhood, fraternity and fellowship, learning
and living the mission of the Fraternity.
Highlights of Conclave 2008 included:
• Builder of Men Affirmation
Initiative passed delegate approval and
adopted as the Fraternity’s new Ritual
(see page 11).• Adoption of the
Leukemia-Lymphoma Society (LLS)
as the Fraternity’s official philanthropy
(see page 9).
• L. Myles Carpenter (TN ’59),
Dwight D. Raab (PU ’80), Douglas D.
Sims (IL ’65) and John J. Toy
(NE ’77) were honored as Master
Builders (see page 6).
• Jack Haselbush (CO ’67) and Harold
Steele (IL ’41) received the 2007 and
2008 Philanthropy Laureate Award
from the FarmHouse Foundation.
• Curtis C. Griffith and Steve C.
Verett welcomed into the Fraternity as
Honorary Members (see page 7).
• Announcement of the Ruby Cup
and chapter programming awards
(see page 5).
A variety of educational programming
allowed undergraduate brothers to better
themselves and their chapters thanks to
the wisdom shared by brothers Rick
Barnes (TT ’82), Randy Anderson
(TT ’89) and Randy Rodgers (IL ’66),
discussing the topics of risk management,
life-balance and chapter recruitment.
Staff from the Texas Tech Career Services
Office facilitated a dynamic presentation
on StrengthsQuest.
Participants explored the agriculture
industry of the region with special tours
of the National Wind Power Museum,
cotton production with FiberMax, a
division of Bayer Crop Science and the
Texas Tech Fiber Stress Lab and Sorghum
Experiment station. Brothers also played
a round of golf at the award-winning
Texas Tech University Rawls Golf Course.
Friday evening, those assembled
experienced the rich history and heritage
of the ranching lifestyle at the National
Ranching Heritage Center, while enjoying a staple of west Texas, barbecued
brisket. The Center, a museum, historical
park and grounds were the perfect backdrop for an evening of brotherhood and
the Conclave Live Auction, supporting
the FarmHouse Foundation. To conclude
the evening, attendees gathered at the
Memorial Circle on the Texas Tech
campus for a moving and memorable
Vespers Service as the Fraternity honored
the legacy of brothers who had passed
since the last biennial gathering.
Thanks to the Texas Tech chapter and
association for assistance in planning and
hosting Conclave 2008. In particular
chapter advisor and Texas Tech founding
father and his wife, Randy (OK ’72) and
Amy Weaver; international board
member, Jeff Norris (TT ’89); chapter
president, Kevin Goodman (TT ’07);
association president, Jonathan Ziegner
(TT ’93); and tour coordinators, Bill
Bennett (OK ’49), Bruce Maunder
(NE ’53) and Dale Shaw (MI ’63).
Thank you also to the FarmHouse
Foundation for its support of the
educational programs at Conclave and to
corporate sponsor, Monsanto, who
supported the leadership and career
workshops.
Images of Conclave (top to bottom): Replica barn from the infamous Four Sixes Ranch on
the grounds of the National Ranching Heritage Museum; Bruce Cooley (PU ’07), left, and
Ben Effelson (IA ’07), right, face off in a round of group rock, paper, scissors; Andy Patton (KS ’07)
participates in the opening brotherhood activities on Wednesday evening; left to right, Wade Wilbur
(KS ’99), Master Builder Dwight (PU ’80) and Marcia Raab and Nick Guetterman (KS ’05) at the
Friday Night Out events; Craig Harris (IA ’65) raises the bids as auctioneer at the Conclave Live
Auction; International President, Bryce Freeman (IA ’93), left, and nominator, Randy Weaver
(OK ’72), welcome Steve Verett into the Fraternity as an Honorary Member.
4 Pearls & Rubies
Nebraska captures 2008 Ruby Cup
In a very competitive awards year, the Nebraska chapter was
named the outstanding chapter in the Green division and the
recipient of the 2008 Ruby Cup – the traveling trophy and the
highest chapter award within the International Fraternity.
The Nebraska Chapter placed first in six of 12 programming
categories and received a 99.5 percent score on the Award of
Excellence. Competing for the Ruby Cup from the Gold
division was the Troy Chapter, who placed first in 10 of 12
categories and scored 94.1 percent on the Award of Excellence.
After Award of Excellence and Chapter Programming awards
are scored, the International Board is charged with reviewing
each of the division winners’ entries and making the final
selection.
In 1956 the Fraternity began naming an outstanding chapter
biennially and in 1994 created the Ruby Cup to award to the
most outstanding chapter. While the Nebraska chapter has been
the recipient of the outstanding chapter recognition previously,
this marks the first time in the chapter’s history it is has
received the Ruby Cup.
Congratulations to the men of Troy and Nebraska for
carrying on the FarmHouse tradition of excellence.
Brothers of the Nebraska chapter receive the Ruby Cup and six
programming awards at Conclave 2008.
2007-2008 Chapter Programming Awards
Top 5 Green Chapters
1st – Nebraska
2nd – Kansas State
3rd – Auburn
4th – Oklahoma State
5th – Kentucky
New Member Recruitment
1st – Nebraska
2nd – Auburn & Kentucky (tie)
Community Service
1st – Auburn
2nd – Nebraska
3rd – Illinois & Kansas
State (tie)
Intellectual Development
1st – Nebraska
2nd – Kansas State
3rd – Auburn
Alumni Relations
1st – Nebraska, Kansas State &
Minnesota (tie)
Spiritual Development
1st – Nebraska & Kentucky (tie)
3rd – Kansas State
Financial Management
1st – Kansas State
2nd – Kentucky
3rd – Nebraska
Top 5 Gold Chapters
1st – Troy
2nd – South Dakota State
3rd – Texas A&M
4th – Alberta
5th – Arkansas
New Member Recruitment
1st – Troy
2nd – Mississippi State
3rd – South Dakota State
Community Service
1st – South Dakota State
2nd – Troy
3rd – Alberta & Illinois State (tie)
1st – Nebraska & Auburn (tie)
3rd – Kansas State
New Member Education
1st – Troy
2nd – Mississippi State
3rd – Tennessee
Risk Management
1st – Auburn
2nd – Kentucky
3rd – Illinois
Campus Involvement
1st – Kansas State
2nd – Nebraska
3rd – Oklahoma State
Risk Management
1st – Troy
2nd – Alberta
3rd – Tennessee
Total Member Education
1st – Nebraska
2nd – Kansas State
3rd – Kentucky
Physical Development
1st – Kansas State
2nd – Nebraska
3rd – Auburn
Total Member Education
1st – Troy
2nd – Illinois State
3rd – Western Kentucky
New Member Education
1st – Auburn
2nd – Nebraska
3rd – Kansas State
Social/Moral Development
Intellectual Development
1st – Troy
2nd – Mississippi State
3rd – Western Kentucky
Alumni Relations
1st – Troy
2nd – UW-Platteville
3rd – Illinois State
Spiritual Development
1st – Troy
2nd – Texas A&M
3rd – Illinois State
Financial Management
1st – Alberta
2nd – Arkansas
3rd – South Dakota State
Social/Moral Development
1st – Troy
2nd – Alberta
3rd – Texas A&M
Campus Involvement
1st – Troy
2nd – Alberta
3rd – Texas Tech
Physical Development
1st – Troy
2nd – Texas A&M
3rd – South Dakota State
spring 2009
5
Exemplary Alumni Honored as 2008
Four alumni of FarmHouse
International Fraternity received the
2008 Master Builder of Men Award,
the highest honor bestowed by the
International Fraternity. The biennium class included: L. Myles Carpenter
(TN ’59); Douglas D. Sims (IL ’65);
John J. Toy (NE ’77) and Dwight D.
Raab (PU ’80). The selected brothers
were honored during the Fraternity’s
45th Biennial Conclave, August 13-17,
2008, in Lubbock, Texas.
“These men embody the spirit of
FarmHouse,” said Bryce Freeman
(IA ’93), International President, in
announcing the 2008 recipients. “They
are men of the highest character, who
are living examples of what it means
to be a Builder of Men.”
Chad Harris (IA ’98), executive
director, added, “Our Fraternity would
not be where it is today without the
exemplary service of these brothers.
Their collective contributions are
countless in bettering our
brotherhood’s lasting legacy.”
The Master Builder of Men Award
was established in 1950 by the
International Executive Board. The
award is the highest honor given to an
alumni member from the
International Fraternity. It recognizes
and publicly acknowledges the
brother’s unselfish leadership and
service to his fellow men, both within
the Fraternity and beyond. Neither
position, nor wealth, nor occupation
enters into consideration for the
award, but simply his contributions in
helping others and living the values of
the Fraternity as a Builder of Men.
Since its creation, only 113 men have
received the honor of being named a
Master Builder.
6 Pearls & Rubies
L. Myles Carpenter (TN ’59)
A charter member of the Tennessee
chapter in 1959, Carpenter has been
involved with FarmHouse ever since.
After earning bachelor and master
degrees in agriculture and dairy science,
he pursued a doctorate at Mississippi
State University.
Upon his arrival to the campus, he
became an advisor to the FarmHouse
Club, assisting the group of men into
chapter formation and formal chartering
in 1964. “Dr. C” continued to serve as
advisor to the chapter until 1999 and was
instrumental in the fundraising for the
chapter’s current house facility.
Carpenter spent 30 years with the
Mississippi State University Extension
Service, first as a county agent and in
1977 he was named head of the
Extension dairy science program, a
position he held until his retirement in
1991. Through his leadership, the dairy
industry in Mississippi experienced
impressive growth due to the education
programs Dr. Carpenter implemented on
reproduction, production record keeping,
artificial insemination, mastitis detection
and disease prevention.
He exemplifies the promise of service
with the Starkville (Miss.) Chamber of
Commerce, the Oktibbeha County election commission board and his church.
Carpenter combines his love of golf and
his fundraising skills as chair of the local
annual American Heart Association and
Habitat for Humanity golf tournaments.
Carpenter and his wife, June, live in
Starkville, Miss., and have two grown
children and five grandchildren.
Dwight D. Raab (PU ’80)
The only man to serve three terms as
International President, Raab worked to
ensure that progress marked every step of
the Fraternity. Elected to the Board in
1998, Raab guided the development of its
first strategic plan, laying the groundwork for subsequent growth in membership and the expansion of the Fraternity’s
Leadership Academy and Regional
Leadership Conferences (RLC).
Raab has given his time and talents to
all levels of FarmHouse; first, as a chapter
member; to the International Fraternity
as president and two-term Board member; as volunteer and featured speaker at
Leadership Academy and RLCs; chair of
the Fraternity’s centennial celebration
and as a long-time leader with the Illinois
Association and Foundation Council.
Professionally, he has served since
1987 as an agricultural economist and
farm business analyst with the Illinois
Farm Business Management Association
(FBFM). Recently he was named the state
coordinator of FBFM, overseeing state
operations of the Association in cooperation with the University of Illinois. Raab
is active with the Center for Farm and
Rural Business Finance. He is a licensed
real estate salesperson and appraiser in
Illinois and is a member of the American
Society of Farm Managers and Rural
Appraisers.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, he grew
up in Indiana and graduated in 1983
from Purdue University with a degree in
agricultural economics. A marathon
runner, Raab and his wife, Marcia, have
three children and live in St. Joseph, Ill.
Master Builder of Men
Douglas D. Sims (IL ’65)
Sims served as the chief executive
officer from 1994 to 2006 of CoBank, a
member of the U.S. Farm Credit System,
the nation’s largest U.S. lender to agriculture. During his tenure with CoBank,
Sims grew the bank from a $9 billion
financial institution to a $34 billion internationally recognized cooperative bank.
He joined the Farm Credit System in
1969 and for the next 37 years served in
various leadership positions of influence.
Sims served as the chairman of
numerous professional and civic organizations including the National Council of
Farmer Cooperatives, the Finance
Governors of the World Economic
Forum, the University of Missouri
Institute of Cooperative Leadership, the
Dean’s Advisory Committee for Harvard’s
Kennedy School of Government and
Lutheran Family Services of Colorado.
Sims was a Trustee for The
FarmHouse Foundation from 1998 to
2004, serving as its chairman. He
received the Foundation’s Philanthropy
Laureate Award in 2006 and the Acorn
Award in 2005. He was a leader and
significant contributor to Campaign 2005
and was a member of the inaugural
Power of Seven Seminar in 2007.
A native of Liberty, Ill., he followed the
strong Sims family tradition of joining
FarmHouse at the University of Illinois,
enrolling at the campus in the fall of
1964. He graduated in 1968 with a degree
in agricultural economics.
Sims lives in Keystone, Colo., with his
wife, Nancy. They have two grown
children and three grandchildren.
John J. Toy (NE ’77)
Toy, a leader in sorghum genetics and
plant breeding research, is an agronomist
with the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA). Since 1992, his
work and research has focused on
developing methods for screening and
improving sorghum grain and forage
quality as a partnership with geneticists,
molecular biologists and plant
pathologists. His impact on sorghum
genetics research is unsurpassed – a
testament to his passion for learning and
his embodiment of the value of
scholarship. He is the co-author of 29
manuscripts and publications and is the
recipient of six USDA Certificates of
Merit for his outstanding professional
contributions. He is a member of the
American Society of Agronomy and the
Crop Science Society of America.
Toy is active in his community and
church, chairs the Waverly Park and
Recreation Board and has coached
soccer, basketball, baseball and football.
He serves on the Nebraska Association
board of directors, including a five-year
term as president. Under his leadership, a
long-range planning committee assessed
chapter housing needs resulting in a
major renovation of the chapter facility in
1994. He has been honored by the chapter for his continued service as the Darl
E. Snyder Award winner three times.
Raised in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Toy earned
his bachelor’s degree in agronomy and
agricultural economics and a master’s in
plant breeding and genetics. He resides in
Waverly, Neb., with his wife, Kristy, and
their son, Andrew.
Two west Texas agindustry leaders named
Honorary Members
The Fraternity is pleased to
welcome two accomplished men into
our brotherhood, Curtis C. Griffith
and Steve C. Verett as Honorary
Members.
“These men are leaders in their
industries, impacting the cotton,
grain, sorghum, trucking, banking,
manufacturing and commodity
industries. Both are admirable
additions and representative of
the values of our brotherhood,”
said Clay Enger (TT ’89) in a letter
recommending both men for
Honorary Membership.
Curtis Griffith is a farmer, banker,
cotton ginner, grain warehouseman,
business owner and community
leader. An agricultural economics
and law school graduate of Texas
Tech University, Curtis has given
back to Texas Tech in a variety of
ways including vice-chair of the
University’s Foundation. The chief
executive officer of City Bank, a
managing partner of Southwest Gins
of Texas and a principal owner of
Module Truck Systems, Curtis is a
major force in west Texas
agriculture. He is also an active
member of the Lubbock Symphony
and the Lubbock Chamber of
Commerce. Curtis and his wife,
Cynthia, have two children and
reside in Lubbock.
Steve Verrett, an eloquent
spokesman for agriculture in Texas,
is the executive vice president of
Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. and is
actively involved in a 3,500 acre
farming partnership. He is a
graduate of Texas Tech University. In
addition to his employment with the
Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. and the
Texas Food and Fiber Commission,
Steve has been a diligent leader
within the Lubbock community,
where he currently resides with his
wife, Patricia. They have three
children.
Griffith and Verett were honored
during the Fraternity’s 45th Beinnial
Conclave, in Lubbock, Texas.
spring 2009
7
FRATERNITY NEWS
New communication channels for FarmHouse
FarmHouse International is launching many new channels
of expanded communication for our undergraduate and alumni
members. Now updating your information is easy and with a
few clicks you can re-connect with fellow pledge class brothers
or other FarmHouse men living in your area. The Fraternity is
pleased to announce the release of an on-line, web-based
membership database.
In use by chapter officers the last two semesters for term and
initiation reports, now all members have access to the database.
Easy to use, it allows the opportunity to instantly update
contact records. Chapters and associations have the ability to
print labels and export lists for use in alumni mailings or
chapter communications. All other members can search to find
lost brothers or classmates and help to keep our records and
contact information as up-to-date as possible.
Please note that information is not to be used for private
commercial enterprises or personal gain. Previous requests
from alumni restricting their information will continue to be
honored in this new on-line database. Members violating access
rights and information will be restricted from site access.
In addition to the web-based membership database, below
are other communication and technology channels in use – all
in an effort to keep you connected to all things FarmHouse at
the chapter, regional association and International level or just
for fun and fraternal fellowship!
Inside FH – The e-newsletter full of important news
announcements and administrative updates relevant to
chapter officers, advisors, association leaders and
volunteers. Sent weekly during the academic year on
Thursday afternoon, archived editions are available
on-line at farmhouse.org/inside.htm.
The Gleaner – A monthly e-newsletter for all
undergraduate members and alumni with current e-mail
addresses on file with the International Office, The Gleaner
includes updates on chapter achievements, alumni news,
International programs and regional FH events.
Pearls & Rubies – The Fraternity’s printed magazine
will now come to your mailbox three times a year. Expect
the same quality articles, news and announcements, but
supplemented with an e-version of the magazine.
Expanded E-Communications – Watch your
inbox for special greetings and messages from the
International Fraternity and Foundation.
8 Pearls & Rubies
Tutorial: How to use the new FarmHouse database
1. Visit FarmHouse.org
and click on the “Update
Your Address/Info” icon
at the lower left corner
of the page.
2. You will be redirected
to the FarmHouse
membership page. Click
on “Create Account.”
3. Enter your member
number, which is your seven-digit ID number (found on your Pearls
& Rubies mailing label).
4. Enter your last name.
5. Create your username. We recommend that you use your e-mail
address as your username.
6. Enter password, which is defaulted as “farmhouse” (all lowercase).
7. Click “Create.”
8. Once you have created your account, create a new password. Click
on the “Info” tab, type in a new password in the password field and
click “Save.” Your password must be alpha-numeric with at least one
letter and one number and it must be between 6-12 characters.
9. You’re all set! Now you can update your contact information,
indicate your employer, record your education and family information
or search for FarmHouse brothers.
10. To log back into the database, visit farmhouse.org.
FarmHouse.org – Filled with many helpful resources,
the Fraternity’s web site will soon receive a facelift. Let the
International Office know what content and features are most
helpful and of interest to you. Share your thoughts by
e-mailing FHHQ@FarmHouse.org.
Facebook – The social network of social networking and
hub of on-line connection activity, FarmHouse is here too!
Search for “FarmHouse Fraternity” and become a fan or join
one of the many related groups promoting recruitment,
chapter events or International workshops.
LinkedIn – Network professionally with fellow FarmHouse
brothers. Under the groups, search for “FarmHouse
Fraternity” and link-up with FarmHouse!
YouTube Channel – Whether it is a chapter
recruitment video, Conclave 2010 promo, Master Builder
acceptance speech, Greek Sing finals or Homecoming skits –
you will find a variety of FarmHouse-related videos on the
FarmHouse YouTube Channel. Have a video to share? Post it
at youtube.com/user/farmhouse1905 today!
Purdue brother’s life inspires others to give
by Brent Bible (PU ’93)
John Romine
(PU ’05) was first
diagnosed with
Hodgkins’
Lymphoma while
a freshman at
Purdue University.
Although faced
with the illness and
treatments,
he continued to
John Romine
pursue his
education and take on leadership
responsibilities with FarmHouse.
John’s struggles inspired his fellow
house brothers to sponsor a “hair
auction” to help him defray mounting
healthcare costs. This first auction, where
brothers solicited money in return for
allowing their heads to be shaved, raised
about $2,000. Intended for his personal
use, John instead decided to have this
money sent to Riley Hospital, where he
received treatments. Truly a selfless act.
John battled his cancer into
remission. However, in late 2007 he was
re-diagnosed with the disease. Since
reoccurrences of the cancer are rare and
aggressive, he understood this was a
tougher fight. He immediately began
treatments again, which included a stem
cell transplant in January of 2008. Again,
his brothers at FarmHouse stood with
him in support, and decided to again
financially support him through another
hair auction. The money raised this time,
about $13,000, went to John in the form
of a scholarship to assist with his educational and medical expenses. His ability
to inspire and encourage
others during a time when he was
battling poor health was the inspiration
for these efforts to support him.
During the summer of 2008, John
asked the International Fraternity for an
opportunity to speak at the 2008 biennial
Conclave. He addressed approximately
250 FarmHouse members and alumni to
communicate this message on the
importance of the relationships he had
gained while at Purdue and as a member
of FarmHouse through his trials. He also
asked for the International Fraternity to
adopt the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society
(LLS) as its official philanthropy. This
action was taken by the voting delegates
at the Conclave closing business meeting.
Because of his efforts and vision,
FarmHouse members across the United
States and Canada have already raised
funds and enrolled as bone marrow
donors for the LLS.
John made the comment prior to
Conclave last summer that he felt God
had charged him with the duty of
communicating the message to others to
support LLS, and even if he was not able
to overcome his battle with the
disease, he could help someone else in
need of a marrow donor or provide
funding for further research.
In the fall semester of 2008, John
continued to build awareness of his
disease at Purdue and in Columbus, Ind.,
his hometown. Numerous bone marrow
drives were organized which resulted in
financial assistance and donor enrollments for the LLS.
John became increasingly ill waiting
for a marrow donor match and continued to fight a very aggressive form of
lymphoma. Despite his courage and the
medical staff efforts, John died on
Dec. 5, 2008, of complications from
the cancer.
Even in death, John continues to
inspire others to be passionate about
philanthropic causes. For his funeral, he
asked memorials be made to the Purdue
FarmHouse Foundation, LLS, the
Indiana Bone Marrow Donor program,
and his church.
Through the Purdue chapter’s local
John Romine (PU ’05), right, has his hair
shaved during the Purdue chapter’s 2006 Hair
Auction in support of John’s battle with
Hodgkins’ Lymphoma.
foundation, a scholarship is being organized in his honor to financially assist
future Purdue brothers with scholastic
needs. Additionally the Purdue Dance
Marathon has been re-organized to
support John’s philanthropic aspirations.
His call for support from his
International brothers did not fall on
deaf ears. The Arkansas chapter become
one of the first chapters to support the
LLS by organizing a dodge ball tournament resulting in a $500 donation. When
informed about this support shortly
before his death, John replied, “That’s
pretty cool.”
We hope his character and his commitment to our Promise of Service will
continue. John was a friend, a farmer, an
FFA American Degree holder, a member
of the Masons, a leader, a Boilermaker
and certainly a FarmHouse man.
Leukemia-Lymphoma Society Facts
• An estimated 895,000 Americans are living with leukemia and lymphoma. It is the
sixth most common cancer in the United States and cause of more deaths among
children and young adults than any other form of cancer.
• Leukemia and lymphoma originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissue as the result
of an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes malignant,
multiples and interferes with the production of healthy blood cells.
• Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in research –
leading to the advances in innovative new treatments including stem cell transplantation
and targeted therapy to kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
• LLS has 68 chapters in the United States and Canada which conduct life-enhancing
patient programs, special events and research outreach. To learn more, visit lls.org.
spring 2009
9
FRATERNITY NEWS
Alpha Tau Zeta approves affiliation
Historic Ohio State fraternity colonizes with FarmHouse
In a historic moment, the National
Board of Directors of Alpha Tau Zeta
(ATZ) fraternity approved that the
fraternity affiliate with FarmHouse
International Fraternity in May 2008,
following a count of returned alumni and
undergraduate ATZ member proxy
ballots. The question considered whether
the 111-year old chapter should merge
with FarmHouse.
The vote was the culmination of 18
months of discussions between ATZ and
FarmHouse about the merger issue.
The FarmHouse International Board
of Directors met in Columbus, Ohio, in
April 2008 for a final round of
negotiations with alumni and chapter
leaders before ballots were mailed to over
1,100 ATZ members.
Of the ballots returned, 93 percent
voted in favor that such action be taken.
This overwhelming support prompted
the National Board of Alpha Tau Zeta to
approve official affiliation and start the
process of becoming a chapter of
FarmHouse International Fraternity,
which took another step toward chapter
affiliation in October 2008 when ATZ
became an official colony of FarmHouse.
“This is a historic moment in the rich
histories of Alpha Tau Zeta and
FarmHouse. The Fraternity looks
forward to continuing the legacy of
excellence ATZ has established on the
Ohio State campus,” stated Bryce
Freeman (IA ’93),
International
Board President.
“On a personal
level, I am very
excited to now
call the men of
ATZ, who I’ve
come to know
and respect the
last several months, my brothers.”
On October 26, the colonization
ceremony took place at the Browning
Amphitheater next to Mirror Lake on the
OSU campus. Nearly 60 Alpha Tau Zeta
and FarmHouse men – consisting of new
members, chapter members, alumni and
friends, gathered for the momentous
occasion. Since being colonized, the men
have continued to aggressively work
toward the chapter chartering objectives,
increased membership, attended the FH
Leadership Academy and Regional
Leadership Conferences and visited
chapters of FarmHouse.
The International Fraternity extends
its sincere thanks to the many alumni,
volunteers, board members and friends
of both fraternal organizations who gave
countless time and talents to helping
steward this historic joint venture of our
proud brotherhoods. We welcome the
men of Alpha Tau Zeta into the
FarmHouse family and are pleased to
now call them brothers.
Fall 2008 membership at 10-year high
FarmHouse membership reached a 10-year high in fall 2008 – exceeding
membership projections of 1,300. With all chapters and colonies reporting figures,
FarmHouse undergraduate membership reached 1,363 men.
Of our 32 chapters and colonies, 27 (84.3%) are at or above spring 2008 reports
and 25 (78.1%) are at or above fall 2007 figures. Membership is up 5.5% from fall
2007 (1,284). The last time the Fraternity reported over 1,350 members was fall
2000 when 1,357 men were reported in membership.
The International Office commends chapters for their dedication to the recruitment and retention of men in our undergraduate chapters. Recruitment is the
lifeblood of our brotherhood. In recent years, within the fraternal movement there
has been a stronger emphasis on encouraging chapters to adopt a 365-day recruitment calendar – adoption and implementation of such by many of our chapters is
evident in the strong membership figures.
10 Pearls & Rubies
FarmHouse colonizes at
Virginia Tech University
FarmHouse International Fraternity
officially recognized the Virginia Tech
interest group as a FarmHouse colony
on November 16.
Attending and presiding over the
ceremony were Seth Zilverberg,
educational leadership consultant
and Chad Harris, executive director.
To-date over 40 men have affiliated
with the group and 29 were on hand
for the ceremony, in addition to several
friends, family members, FarmHouse
alumni and campus representatives.
The colony is off to a strong start,
having posted a 3.332 GPA in spring
2008 – the highest of any IFC
fraternity on the campus.
We are excited to continue to help
the colony grow and prosper this
summer and into the fall semester.
The International Board is working
to assist the chapter in securing
chapter housing and welcomes support
from alumni in the region or other
volunteer roles for the colony.
Additionally, alumni with prospective member referrals are encouraged
to contact the International Office.
Other Expansion Efforts
Tarleton State University in
Stephenville, Texas, is now home to a
FarmHouse interest group. Currently
19 men comprise the group, working
toward colony objectives this spring in
order to be officially recognized as a
FarmHouse colony in fall 2009.
Also beginning in fall 2009, the
Fraternity will begin expansion efforts
at the University of WisconsinMadison, with formal expansion and
colonization slated for spring 2010 –
returning to the campus 80 years after
the FarmHouse chapter closed.
We are seeking alumni volunteers,
on both campuses, to assist with
recruitment and prospective member
identification, serve as chapter advisors
or provide leads on faculty and staff
contacts who might be of assistance in
ensuring our expansion success.
Ever
striving
for
growth
Fraternity adopts new Ritual and Bylaws
A black crescent moon adorns the FarmHouse badge. Men
steeped in fraternal knowledge know this crescent signifies each
member’s commitment to ever-increasing growth and development. FarmHouse continued this rich tradition of growth by
adopting the Builder of Men Affirmation Initiative (BMAI) as
the Fraternity’s official ritual at the closing meeting of Conclave.
What Happened?
Conclave first adopted the BMAI in 2006 on a two-year trial
basis. International staff and Board members sought feedback
from chapter visits, surveys, Leadership Academy and Regional
Leadership Conferences, and minor edits were made to the
Ritual based on this feedback. With the new Ritual, terminology in the Bylaws needed an update to reflect the new rites of
membership and provide clarity. These Bylaw amendments
were then ratified by two-thirds of chapters and associations,
effective Dec. 7, 2008.
What’s New?
You may recognize parts of the BMAI, because it is built
upon previously established Ritual. The Ritual of Formal
Initiation, first established in 1962, remains largely the same,
and is now called the Pearls Ceremony. Likewise, the suggested
Pledging Ceremony of 1978 is the model for today’s Star
Ceremony, when new members receive their FH Shield Pin.
A meaningful ceremony marks the end of chapter membership and the beginning of alumni membership – the Rubies
Ceremony. In conferring alumni membership, the ceremony
challenges men to become “active alumni.” In a Fraternity
where chapter members were commonly referred to as “actives,”
this can become confusing. Who are the actives of FarmHouse?
Traditionally, the members in college were called actives and
we all understood this as a distinct group from alumni. The
members in college handled most of the Fraternity’s affairs and
thus “active” seemed fitting. Alumni members have always
played an important role in the Fraternity. And never has that
role been more crucial than right now. Guidance from alumni
who have wisdom and professional skills, leads to members
becoming actively engaged as alumni after graduation. In Ritual
and Bylaws, the terms “chapter members” and “alumnus member” avoid confusion since all classes of membership are called
to be active members.
Another class should also be active members: new members.
“New member” replaces the term “pledge” in the Ritual. We
pledge our loyalty to FarmHouse and it is true that men who
join us make a pledge. Notice that while a pledge is made, the
person is never a pledge. We invite young men to join our
fraternity as new members, because they possess the qualities
that FarmHouse men should. Do new member still have
something to prove? Yes, they must live the FarmHouse values,
and all of us who wear the FarmHouse badge must do the same.
Beyond categories of membership, the BMAI formalized and
standardized further affirmations of our brotherhood. The
new Ritual manual shares these
practices among chapters and
serves to bind us closer as brothers Internationally as well as
locally. The Ritual provides further affirmations recognizing
various honors and social advancement celebrations.
How Does It Affect Me?
Upon initiation (Pearls Ceremony), members receive a
shingle that affirms their lifelong membership in FarmHouse
Fraternity. The shingle resembles a diploma, and alumni often
display them near college memorabilia. While a diploma
records the fulfillment of all requirements for a degree, the
shingle certifies that a man met all requirements of joining
FarmHouse. The shingle, however, is much more a beginning
than an end. Those who hang shingles proudly should do so
not to be reminded of accomplishment, but to be humbled by
the sacrifices necessary to be and become a FarmHouse man.
When we hang a shingle, may we be reminded of our Ritual;
may all members strive daily to live out the principles contained
therein. In living the Ritual daily, FarmHouse men will find
themselves worthy to wear the badge, containing the crescent of
ever-increasing growth and development.
Glossary of Terms
Active Member: refers to the expectation that men of all classes
of membership live the Ritual of FarmHouse daily.
Alumnus Member: 1. one honored by the Rubies Ceremony
who continues to live the Ritual of FarmHouse; 2. one granted
alumni membership prior to adoption of the Rubies Ceremony
who continues to live the Ritual.
Chapter Member: one enrolled in post-secondary education
who has been honored by the Pearls Ceremony but is yet to be
honored by the Rubies Ceremony.
Crescent Ceremony: confers Imminent Membership and
ends new member education.
Imminent Member: a man who completed new member
education and waits for a satisfactory academic report prior to the
Pearls Ceremony.
New Member: any affiliated man who has been honored in the
Star Ceremony but is yet to be honored in the Pearls Ceremony
(formerly pledge).
Pearls Ceremony: confers Chapter Membership.
Pledge: 1. an action of dedication to the Fraternity; 2. the oath of
allegiance to the Fraternity (never describes the person making
the pledge).
Prospective Member: informal – any male eligible for
FarmHouse membership who has yet to experience the Ritual.
Rubies Ceremony: confers Alumni Membership.
Shield Ceremony: invitation to New Membership.
Star Ceremony: confers New Membership.
spring 2009
11
FarmHouse celebrates the
10th Annual Leadership Academy
FarmHouse International Fraternity, with the help of the
FarmHouse Foundation, works to remain committed to our
Fraternity’s mission of being Builders of Men. No one program
enables this more than the FarmHouse Leadership Academy
(FLA), which in 2009 celebrated its 10th year of developing and
training officers for the betterment of their own chapters.
What started as the weekend President’s Leadership
Conference in the early 1990s, today is a four-day institute
involving over 140 undergraduate brothers, alumni facilitators,
staff and volunteers, held annually in Kansas City. This year the
event was Jan. 8-11 and included four officer tracks – chapter
presidents, vice presidents of recruitment, directors of new
member education and the introduction of a new track this
year, directors of alumni relations.
Utilizing the StrengthsQuest curriculum as a basis of foundational knowledge, participants identified their strongest talents,
understanding how they can be applied to their respective
officer duties and applied in achieving chapter goals.
On Friday evening, Kansas City-area alumni joined attendees
for dinner with special remarks from the 2008 Outstanding
Chapter President Levi Welbourne (IL ’06) and a keynote
address from Randy Linville (KS ’73), president and CEO of
The Scoular Company. Linville is a former chairman of the
FarmHouse Foundation Board of Trustees and provided his
perspective on the leadership lessons needed in today’s global
economy and work force. Chapter recognition was also
provided for those participating in the FarmHouse Foundation’s
Undergraduate Challenge.
Following dinner, alumni attending hosted career
roundtables, along with FLA corporate sponsors Monsanto,
represented by Andy Armbruster (KS ’96), The Scoular
Company and Jill DeJong with the Consortium of Collegiate
Agricultural Organizations. The evening concluded with those
brothers assembled living our Ritual through the observation of
the Celebration of Life Ceremony from the Builder of Men
Affirmation Initiative, adopted at the 2008 Conclave. Sharing
thoughts and eulogizing those recently passed included
International Board member Jeff Norris (TT ’89) for young
alumni member, Drew Slater (TT ’03); International Board
Member Brent Bible (PU ’90) for undergraduate brother John
Romine (PU ’05); and Kentucky Chapter President, Ryan Mudd
(KY ’07) for house mother, June White. The moving and
memorable event allowed men to pay respects and honor the
legacy of these brothers and house mother who had a lasting
impact on the Fraternity.
Always dynamic and educational, skilled professional speaker
and fraternity expert Rick Barnes (TT ’82) presented the realities of risk management and staff members, Jordan Moore (OK
‘06), Seth Zilverberg (SD ’04) and International Board member,
Shawn Eagleburger (IA ’03) facilitated a session on recruitment
for all attendees – a new addition to the programming schedule.
The weekend also allowed for learning outside workshops
and educational sessions as brothers put the words of our
promise of service into action by completing three hours of
12 Pearls & Rubies
“
The Leadership Academy is a truly unique experience
that brings together all aspects of FarmHouse Fraternity.
It has instilled in me a rekindled appreciation of the
men of my chapter and it has exposed some areas in my
chapter where growth is possible.”
- J.P. Stambaugh (KS ’07), director of new member education
service with the City Union Mission and Hillcrest Transitional
Housing. Projects included helping with the Mission’s Thrift
Store and with construction projects at housing shelters for
Kansas City’s homeless. The lessons of service and sacrifice
continued on Saturday night with a visit to the National World
War I Museum and the Liberty Memorial, providing one-of-akind night views of the Kansas City skyline. The interactive
Museum is the only national museum dedicated to the history
and telling of World War I, sharing accounts and stories of
those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Concluding on Sunday, participants may have left tired from
the aggressive schedule of the Academy, but they also left
confident and energized in developing their respective chapters
and continuing the mission of being Builders of Men.
The International Fraternity is appreciative of those who
make the Leadership Academy possible – specifically, the
talented alumni volunteers who help facilitate officer track
sessions and workshops. In addition to those mentioned above,
brothers helping with FLA 2009 included: Bob Off (CO ’64),
Craig Harris (IA ’65), Cameron Dunlap (NM ’93) and Brian
Hogue (TAM ’05).
The International Fraternity also thanks sponsors Monsanto,
The Scoular Company and the Consortium of Collegiate
Agricultural Organizations, in addition to the alumni donors,
associations, local Foundation Councils and the FarmHouse
Foundation who provide the funding which makes the
Leadership Academy possible.
Welbourne Named 2008
Outstanding President
Men of FarmHouse are spirited not only for the Fraternity but for their
respective campuses – the men of Troy sing the Troy Fight Song during
the opening welcome activities.
The full schedule of the Leadership Academy did not allow men a chance
to call home, but they did have to hone their phone skills by cold-calling
prospective members during a recruitment workshop!
Words become action on Saturday afternoon as FarmHouse men
donated over 300 hours of service to the City Union Mission and Hillcrest
Transitional Housing of Kansas City.
Levi Welbourne (IL ’06) is the
2008 Outstanding Chapter President
of FarmHouse International
Fraternity. Welbourne, a senior from
Pittsfield, Ill., graduated in May 2009
with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and consumer economics with
an agribusiness markets and
management concentration.
During his term as president,
Welbourne faced difficult challenges Levi Welbourne
including managing chapter finances
and house occupancy after a larger number of senior men
chose to move out, while successfully keeping the men
involved with the chapter. After a decline in chapter
academic performance, he held men accountable in
enforcing the chapter’s academic policy. Welbourne also
made it a priority to enhance member involvement within
the chapter by encouraging participation in volunteer and
leadership roles of brothers on campus.
Welbourne served as an ag ambassador for the College
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences,
interned with the Office of International Affairs and
worked for the University of Illinois Foundation. In the
summer of 2008, he complete a field sales internship with
Monsanto – one of the most competitive and highly sought
internships by agriculture students today. Levi holds his
private pilots license with over 120 hours of flight time to
his name.
Master Builder Dwight Raab (PU ’80), Illinois
Foundation Council chair and nominator said, “Levi’s
servant-leadership sets the path that others follow and his
strong moral bearing lets him lead the chapter. Levi has
high expectations for every member of the chapter and he
has his quiet, but insistent way of letting chapter members
know that he expects as much of them as he does himself.”
Welbourne served many roles within the chapter including vice president of recruitment and vice president of
internal affairs before taking office as president.
At the International level he attended the 2008
Leadership Academy, served as the Illinois delegate to 2008
Conclave and was one of seven undergraduates chosen to
attend the Foundation’s 2008 Power of 7 Seminar.
In announcing Welbourne as the 2008 award recipient,
selection committee chair and International vice president,
Garry Weston (KY ’97) remarked, “We are pleased to
honor a truly deserving young man with this award. Levi
Welbourne represents the best of FarmHouse Fraternity.”
As the outstanding president, Welbourne attended the
2009 Leadership Academy and served as a guest facilitator
for the President’s track, in addition to providing a keynote
address to the participants. He also received a recognition
plaque and a $250 scholarship award.
spring 2009
13
FOUNDATION DONORS
Donors make largest Academy grant to date
As undergraduate leaders leave the
FarmHouse Leadership Academy motivated to
take their chapter to the next level, this fullyfunded conference wouldn’t be possible without
the generous support of the following alumni,
associations and foundation councils through
the FarmHouse Foundation.
Due to this generosity, the Foundation was
pleased to provide the International Fraternity a
grant of $65,000 for the Leadership Academy,
the largest the Foundation has given to this
conference to date. This support is vital and
invaluable to the future of FarmHouse chapters
and their members.
“Full-ride” scholarships for all chapter,
colony and interest group presidents
Roy (IA ’55) and Bobbi Reiman
(through the Reiman Leadership Fund)
Bob (IL ’51) and Lorna Keefer
(through the Keefer Leadership Fund)
“Full-ride” scholarships ($1,200)
for vice presidents of recruitment,
directors of alumni relations
and directors of new member education
Auburn Association
for the Auburn Chapter
Don Childears (CO ’69), James
Hendrix (CO ’72), Chris Lembcke
(CO ’67) and the Jack (CO ’67) &
Shirley Haselbush Fund
for the Colorado State Chapter
and chapters not otherwise sponsored
14 Pearls & Rubies
Idaho Foundation Council
for the Idaho Chapter
Missouri Association
for the Missouri Chapter
Robert Brandes (IL ’46),
Chris Lovekamp (IL ’75) and
the Elmer Olson (IL ’42) Fund
for the Illinois Chapter
Rick Grady (NE ’95),
Eric Maaske (NE ’93)
and the Messersmith Family Fund
for the Nebraska Chapter
and chapters not otherwise sponsored
Darrell Godfrey (IA ’73) and
Illinois State
Foundation Council
for the Illinois State Chapter
Kermit Coggshall (IA ’59) and
the Bob Dahlberg (IA ’48) and
Bob Skinner (IA ’47) Memorial Fund
for the Iowa State Chapter
John Schrader (KS ’63) and Kansas
State Foundation Council
for the Kansas State Chapter
and chapters not otherwise sponsored
Kentucky Foundation
for the Kentucky Chapter (half scholarship)
Michigan State
Foundation Council
for the Michigan State Chapter
Brian Larson (MN ’67), the Ben
Stangler (MN ’38) Leadership Fund
and the Eldon (MN ’47) &
June Tessman Leadership Fund
for the Minnesota Chapter
and chapters not otherwise sponsored
Daniel Fox (MS ’04)
for the Mississippi State Chapter (partial)
Robert & Lorna Keefer Fund
for the New Mexico State Chapter
North Dakota State Association
and Cal Messersmith (NE ’61) Fund
for the North Dakota State Chapter
Edward Granstaff (OK ’41) and the
Oklahoma State Association
for the Oklahoma State Chapter
Jay Lockhart (PU ’65), Purdue
Association and the Thomas
Ewbank (PU ’52) Leadership Fund
for the Purdue Chapter
and chapters not otherwise sponsored
Steve Devney (SD ’04), Jeff Muchow
(SD ’66) and South Dakota State
Foundation Council
for the South Dakota State Chapter
Bill Bennett (OK ’49), Dale Shaw
(MI ’63) and Heath Cheek (TT ’00)
in memory of Cliff Beights (TT ’03)
for the Texas Tech Chapter
Troy Association
for the Troy Chapter
Wayne Engstrom (WA ’60) and the
Gary Schneidmiller Fund (WA ’68)
for the Washington State Chapter
and for chapters not otherwise sponsored
Western Kentucky Association
And Western Kentucky
Foundation
for the Western Kentucky Chapter
(half scholarship)
Wyoming Association
for the Wyoming Colony
Frasier Family Leadership Fund
for a chapter not otherwise sponsored
Tobin Family Leadership Fund
for a chapter not otherwise sponsored
Ronald Vaske (SD ’87)
for a chapter not otherwise sponsored
Other generous contributors
($1 to $299)
Christopher Arnold (CO ’82)
Thomas Arnsman (IL ’75)
Harold Aycock (MS ’65)
James Bennett (IL ’53)
William Blain (ND ’81)
John Bloomfield (KS ’98)
George Bluhm (WA ’59)
Christopher Bradberry (AU ’81)
Kenneth Brashaber (PU ’52)
Wayne Brownlee (KS ’59)
Keith Byergo (MO ’48)
David Calderwood (ND ’75)
John Carlin (KS ’59)
Kenneth Cavanaugh (MI ’37)
John Crosiar (OR ’68)
Justin Cumming (CO ’82)
James Day (IL ’53)
Rollie Deering (CO ’65)
Brian Doernemann (NEC ’85)
Donald Dose (IA ’43)
Verne Erdman (IL ’41)
Corby Fichter (IA ’78)
William Flynn (IL ’58)
Joshua Fuller (OK ’00)
Ray Gard (NE ’50)
Nicholas Genzer (TT ’03)
Steve Grasz (NE ’81)
Dixon Harper (IA ’47)
Darren Havens (IL ’92)
Jonathan Hawley (PU ’98)
A.J. Haynes (TN ’05)
Steve Heimes (SD ’01)
Christian Hertneky (CO ’80)
Donald Heuermann (NE ’56)
Donald Hicks (NC ’79)
Matthew Hill (MN ’98)
Harold Hodson (IA ’59)
John Hogle (WA ’68)
Eric Holmquist (SD ’94)
Jeff Hood (ID ’87)
Dennis Hovelson (MN ’72)
Kenneth Howe (NC ’58)
“
Mark Lloyd (ID ’07), Ford Prather (NM ’06) and Lance Edwards (NM ’06) enjoy a break from the
Academy sessions.
The FarmHouse Leadership Academy is an event that every member
from every chapter should experience at least once. The skills learned are a
valuable resource that can’t be learned anywhere else.” - Alon Blakeney (MS ’07), chapter president
David Howell (MI ’62)
George Ihrke (MN ’61)
Andy Jacobitz (NE ’85)
Douglas Jergenson (IA ’70)
Paul Kassel (IA ’75)
Scott Keetle (NE ’93)
Dean Ketchum (MO ’51)
Lloyd Knight (ND ’58)
Ralph Knobel (NE ’52)
Parry Leavell (PU ’93)
Keith Lendt (SD ’93)
David Machacek (IA ’62)
James Martin (IL ’85)
Loys Mather (NE ’59)
William McVay (PU ’52)
Jason Medders (MS ’97)
Dennis Micko (SD ’66)
Cletus Mitchell (PU ’52)
Brett Moffitt (IA ’03)
Clare Monroe (MI ’36)
Brett Morrison (NE ’88)
Wayne Nierman (PU ’57)
Daniel Overton (CO ’83)
Daniel Pearson (MN ’73)
Shawn Pebley (NE ’94)
Sharad Phatak (MI ’62)
Roger Pine (KS ’58)
William Pitts (MI ’36)
Donald Plagge (KS ’49)
Roger Pray (IL ’66)
Kent Pridey (KS ’56)
Steven Pueppke (MI ’69)
Robert Rhoda (PU ’75)
John Riley (KS ’79)
Steven Robisky (ILS ’83)
C. Bennet Roodhouse (IL ’51)
John Scheidenhelm (IL ’50)
Delbert Scheider (IA ’48)
Walter Schmidt (NE ’54)
Lynwood Schrader (KY ’51)
Lawrence Schrader (KS ’60)
Gene Schreibeis (WY ’51)
James Schwartz (PU ’65)
Eugene Scott (NE ’53)
Callum Sears (AB ’03)
Michael Shane (IL ’95)
Jason Shiffermiller (NE ’92)
Dale Smith (NE ’36)
Peter Spike (MI ’60)
Alfons Steiner (WA ’71)
Joseph Stephens (MO ’93)
Willard Stowell (NE ’48)
Leon Sucht (KS ’56)
Eldon Tessman (MN ’47)
James Thomsen (IA ’48)
Lee Thurber (NE ’91)
Merton Tracy (IA ’42)
James Turner (NE ’54)
John Walradt (ID ’61)
Robert Weldon (CO ’54)
David Whetstone (KS ’86)
Brett White (NE ’86)
David Whitman (CO ’61)
Cary Wickstrom (CO ’83)
Robert Wiles (MI ’63)
Russell Withers (ID ’67)
Phyl Woodburn (NE ’74)
John Youngberg (MN ’67)
spring 2009
15
FOUNDATION DONORS
“
Enduring Acts of Generosity
by Bob off (CO ’64)
Foundation Executive Director Emeritus
Chris Lembcke (CO ’67) and his wife,
Vicki, have served and supported
FarmHouse nigh on to four decades.
My first recollection of their long
devotion to the Fraternity is when Chris
was elected to the International
Executive Board at the 1980 Conclave.
By then I think he had already served
several terms as an advisor to the
Colorado State Chapter and as president
of the Colorado FarmHouse Association.
During Chris’s first 4-year term on the
International Board (he served the full
eight years traditionally allowed), the
International Board warily began to
consider rejoining the National
Interfraternity Conference, which is now
known as the North-American
Interfraternity Conference (NIC), the
trade association that represents 72
men’s fraternities. Chris and I were
delegated by the Board to attend the
NIC’s annual meeting to see if it would
be worth the Fraternity’s limited
resources to become a member.
The NIC meeting that year was at the
Chase Plaza Hotel in St. Louis, Mo. The
Chase had once been one of the grand
hotels of St. Louis, but was decidedly
shop worn at the time. I think it was
probably the first experience for both of
us at a big city hotel. On our way to the
closing banquet, we got stuck in an
elevator full of men in tuxedos and
ladies in ball gowns. When the elevator
got moving again, we got off to find our
fellow passengers were on their way to
the same banquet, and that Chris and I
would be the only men there in blue
sport coats and khaki slacks!
We determined, however, that
FarmHouse could not afford to not be a
member of the NIC. Chris took the lead
and was successful in convincing the rest
of the Board. The NIC was then the
spokesman for the men’s fraternities to
higher education and the larger
community. Since then it has frequently
been seen as speaking for the wider
interfraternity world, often including the
women’s groups. In recent years, it has
16 Pearls & Rubies
“The Lembcke’s planned gift... will
be a lasting legacy of their generous
gifts of their time, talent and treasure
across the years!”
been the primary advocate with
Congress for making the entirety, not
just the so called “educational portion”,
of fraternity and sorority housing a
tax-deductible gift for the thousands of
generous Greek alumni who support the
hands-on, practical leadership,
management and interpersonal relations
training that can take place in the house
of a good fraternity chapter.
Chris and Vicki have always been big
picture people as further evidenced by
the leadership role they both played in
the Fraternity’s consideration of the role
of women in the organization in the
early 1980’s. Members of the Fraternity
during that era may recall that it was the
1984 Conclave which approved the
establishment of an agriculture-related
women’s fraternity which was spun off
as Ceres Fraternity in 1985 with the
chartering of the first chapter at
Colorado State. Both Vicki and Chris
served as advisors to the chapter in its
early years. The group has since closed,
but not for lack of every effort by the
Lembckes to save it.
At the 2006 Conclave, Chris was
honored as a Master Builder of Men –
the highest award the Fraternity bestows
on alumni members.
At a breakfast at that Conclave, Chris
and Vicki began to talk to me about their
desire to do something lasting for the
Chris & Vicki Lembcke
Fraternity in their estate plan. Little did
I know that this conversation would
grow and develop so that by January
2007 it would become the basis for The
Chris and Vicki Lembcke Chapter
Housing Fund which will be funded out
of their estate.
With their generous mid-six figure
planned gift, Chris and Vicki are again at
the cutting edge of what FarmHouse
International Fraternity & Foundation
needs to be doing to assure the future of
the Fraternity in the 21st Century:
providing significant grants and loans to
the local FarmHouse alumni associations
to help fund safe, comfortable and
affordable chapter housing.
The Lembcke’s planned gift matches
very well the long-term goals of the
Fraternity and Foundation and will be
a lasting legacy of their generous gifts
of their time, talent and treasure across
the years!
Leave Your Legacy with FarmHouse
Long-range estate and financial planning can enable you to make a substantial
contribution to a FarmHouse program or project of your choice in a manner
consistent with your overall charitable and personal commitments.
Some examples of planned gifts include bequests, insurance policies, charitable
remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities. The Foundation recognizes alumni
who have made such generous gifts as members of the FarmHouse Futures Fund.
If you would like more information on how you can follow Chris and Vicki’s
example, please contact Allison Rickels, executive director of The FarmHouse
Foundation, at allison@farmhouse.org,(800) 722-1905; or me at
bob@farmhouse.org, or leave me a voice mail at (816) 799-0817.
15 Alumni Join Top Honor Roll Clubs
The FarmHouse Foundation is pleased
and honored to welcome 15 new
members into the Foundation’s highest
giving societies.
Century Club
Accumulative gifts of $100,000 or more
Ronald Bergan (ND
’62) is CEO of Fargo
Assembly Company, a
leading manufacturer of
electrical wiring assemblies for construction,
agricultural equipment,
Ron Bergan
motorcycle, heavy truck
and emergency vehicle industries. Ron
and his wife, Mary Alice, have been particularly generous in supporting the construction of the new North Dakota State
chapter house. They live in Fargo, N.D.
William “Gene” Lloyd
(IA ’47), a veterinarian, is
founder, chairman and
CEO of Lloyd, Inc., a
manufacturer and
marketer of nutritional
supplements, pharmaceutical products and sterile Gene Lloyd
injections for both animals and humans,
located in Shenandoah, Iowa. He and his
wife, Linda, live in Fort Myers, Fla.
H.K. Wilson Club
Accumulative gifts of $25,000 to $49,999
Gregory Bamford
(CO ’67) is president of
Bamford Companies and
active in real estate
development in the
Phoenix metro area with
his two sons, under the
name Whitewing. Greg is Greg Bamford
a Foundation Trustee. He and his wife,
Trudy, live in Gilbert, Ariz.
Ryan Downs (NE ’88)
is senior vice president of
global customer service
and operations with eBay,
Inc. His responsibilities
include consumer and
merchant support, fraud
operations and other oper- Ryan Downs
ational functions for eBay’s ecommerce
division, eBay Marketplaces and PayPal.
Ryan serves as chairman-elect of the
Foundation. Ryan, his wife, Valerie, and
their family live in Springfield, Neb.
Michael Dykes
(KY ’74), DVM, is vice
president of government
affairs for Monsanto at
their Washington, D.C.
office. He, his wife, Donna
and their family reside in
Vienna, Va.
Michael
Don Ferguson (KS ’63) Dykes
is executive vice president
and chief financial officer
for EnergX. He has more
than 35 years of
experience in the nuclear
energy industry. Don is a
Foundation Trustee. He
and his wife, Signe, live in Don
Ferguson
Silverthorne, Colo. and
Chicago, Ill.
Mark Frasier (KS ’77) (not pictured) is
the business manager of Frasier Farms, a
44,000 acre family owned and operated
ranch, in Woodrow, Colo. He and his
wife live in Fort Morgan, Colo.
Elmer Graber (MI ’52)
is a retired veterinarian
and a commercial real
estate developer. He
established the Roseland
Animal Hospital,
practicing for 34 years
Elmer Graber
until retiring. He and
his wife, Fern, live in
South Bend, Ind.
Robin Osborn (OK ’75)
is a neuroradiologist and
president/owner of Crystal
Clear Imaging, an
outpatient radiology
center. He is a retired
captain in the U.S. Navy
Robin Osborn
and lives in Springfield,
Ohio, with his wife Crystl.
Dean Sims (IL ’37) is a
retired agriculture teacher
and farmer with Sims
Farms. He and his wife,
Mary Jane, live in Quincy,
Ill. Their son Doug
(IL ’65) was named a 2008
Master Builder.
Dean Sims
James Tobin (IA ’76) is vice president
of industry affairs for the Commercial
Acceptance Group with
Monsanto. Jim and his
wife, Gina, live in St.
Louis, Mo. His son Zach
(IA ’08) is a member of the
Iowa State Chapter. He is a
Foundation Trustee.
Jim Tobin
1905 Club
Accumulative gifts of $10,000 to $24,999
Matt Calavan (OK ’84)
is vice president and
general manager of Beaver
Toyota, one of the largest
automotive dealerships in
New Mexico. Matt is a
Foundation Trustee. He,
his wife Katie and family Matt Calavan
live in Santa Fe, N.M.
James Griffith
(MO ’91) is chapter
relations strategist for the
American Academy of
Family Physicians. He
previously served for 12
years as executive director
of FarmHouse Fraternity. Jim Griffith
Jim, his wife Barbara and
family live in Liberty, Mo.
David Hunter
(MO ’55) is owner and
operator of his 1,000 acre
family farm, established in
1810, in Louisiana, Mo.,
where he and his wife
David Hunter
Wanda live.
Randall Kemp
(OK ’82) is a family practitioner in Seminole, Okla.
and has been a doctor for
18 years. He, his wife
Susan and their family
reside in Seminole, Okla.
Lee Sandager (MN ’46) Randall Kemp
is retired from 32 years in
agriculture education and
20 years in international
agricultural development,
having worked in 24
countries around the
world. He and his wife,
Betty, of 60 years, live in
Lee Sandager
Marine on St. Croix, Minn.
spring 2009
17
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
Alberta
The chapter won the 2008 Trent
Bouchard hockey tournament and hosted
a pancake breakfast in conjunction with
the Ag Club’s “Bar None Bash” last
September.
Arkansas
The chapter was first in grades among
fraternities for the spring 2008 semester.
They won the University’s “Green
Greeks” competition by recycling an
average of 54 pounds per man for the
spring 2008 semester. They placed second place in Greek Sing and Greek Week.
In addition, they raised $500 for the
Leukemia-Lymphoma Society through a
newly created dodge ball tournament.
Ryan Siebenmorgen (’07) was selected
as the New Greek Council outstanding
member. Grant Hunt (’05) was recognized as the “big Greek man on campus”
runner up. Daniel Keeton (’08) was
named the department of animal science
outstanding student.
Auburn
The chapter won the all-sports trophy
for best overall campus sports team.
Three men were part of the Ten Most
Influential Seniors on campus. Over
3,000 people attend the chapter’s Third
Annual FarmHouse Rodeo Classic,
which raised $15,000 for Storybrook
Farms.
A fire sprinkler system was installed in
the chapter house last summer. The
chapter recruited 33 men for the fall 2008
new member class.
Guelph
The chapter has participated in several
service events including Trick-or-Eat,
Tractor Tug for Tots and adopt-a-highway. They also hosted an ice-fishing trip
and a Valentine’s Day formal with
Pi Beta Phi.
Idaho
During fall 2008 the chapter placed
third in homecoming, participated in the
campus-wide “Make a Difference Day”
and won the Greek Pride basketball
tournament.
Kris Vowell (’08) and Clark Gill (’08)
were awarded the National FFA
American Degree. Zach Arama (’07) was
re-elected to the ASUI Senate.
James Foltz (’07) is the head coach of
the Moscow High School swimming
teams whose women’s team took first
place and men’s team second at the state
competition.
Illinois
The chapter participated in the 30th
annual Urbana Sweet Corn Festival.
Members were able to get involved in all
parts of the sweet corn sales from shucking, boiling, buttering and serving.
Chapter Award of Excellence
In 1998, an objective application and program were created to better identify
the expectations of FarmHouse chapters. The program, called the Chapter Award
of Excellence, assesses chapters on their programming and operations in areas
such as scholarship, member education, recruitment, alumni relations and
finances. An annual form of certification, chapters receive a percentage score.
Chapters performing above 80 percent (Chapter Award of Achievement) and
90 percent (Chapter Award of Excellence) are listed below. Those scoring below
70 percent receive special consultations to address chapter health and operations.
2007-08 Chapter Award of Excellence Recipients
Auburn, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota State, Oklahoma State, Purdue, South Dakota State and Western Kentucky
2007-08 Chapter Award of Merit Recipients
Alberta, Arkansas, North Carolina State and Texas A&M
Most Improved Chapter – Minnesota
President’s Trophy – Iowa State
NIC Academic Achievement – Oklahoma State and Troy
18 Pearls & Rubies
Ohio State colonizes
The men of Alpha Tau Zeta became members
of the FarmHouse colony during the campus
celebration on Oct. 26, 2008. See full story on
page 10.
Iowa State
Daniel Fischer (’06) was the Iowa
State 2008-09 Government of the Student
Body president. During homecoming,
the chapter placed first in lawn display
and third overall. The chapter collected
7,912 pounds of food to benefit the
Mid-Iowa Community Action food bank.
Eight men served as Destination Iowa
State team leaders and two were Cyclone
Aide orientation leaders. The chapter
launched a new website last fall,
isufarmhouse.org.
Kansas State
The chapter had a spring 2008 GPA of
3.466 – the highest recorded of any
fraternity on the Kansas State campus.
Forty-nine men volunteered 98 hours
helping first-year Kansas State students
move into the residence hall last fall.
Andy Gigstad (’07), Kellen Begnoche
(’07) and Heath Vincent (’07) are serving
on the IFC executive team. Colin
Smothers (’06) and Nathan Spare (’05)
were selected for the Tau Beta Pi honor
society. Drew Goering (’07) is the Kansas
State FFA reporter. Michael Page (’06) is
the recipient of an undergraduate cancer
research award.
Kentucky
The Kentucky FarmHouse Association
is conducting a capital campaign
“Building for the Future” to raise funds to
build a new chapter house. They
announced on Sept. 13, 2008 that the
campaign had reached the $1 million
fundraising goal.
The chapter placed first in the campus
tug competition and the fall 2008 new
Philanthropy Work Day
The Mississippi State chapter donated their time
and talents during a work day at the Palmer
Home Ranch, a facility that provides outreach
and support for children with terminal illnesses.
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
The Michigan State chapter hosted a
philanthropy for Farm Safety 4 Just Kids during
a local pedal pull competition, raising $2,000
for the charity.
NDSU breaks ground for their new house
North Dakota State alumni leaders, chapter
officers and university representatives broke
ground for its new chapter house. The facility
will be completed by the fall 2009 semester.
member class placed first in intramurals.
Brandon Gilles (’09) is serving on
IFC. Drew Robinson (’09) is a College of
Agriculture ambassador. Bryan Bailey
(’09) is the president of the agronomy
club. Cameron Hamilton (’09), David
Jackson (’09) and Jeremy Preston (’09)
participated in the university’s freshman
leadership development program.
Mississippi State
The chapter donated their time and
talents during a work day at the Palmer
Home Ranch. The ranch helps provide
support and outreach to children with
terminal illnesses. The men helped work
on installing a new fence and repairing a
water line in showing the Fraternity’s
Promise of Service to their community.
Purdue
Eric Barnard (’05) was the president
of the Student Government Association
for the 2008-09 academic year. The
chapter was named the top on campus,
receiving the R.B. Stewart Award.
Michigan State
The chapter hosted the Building
Bridges Seminar for the Michigan State
Greek community to discuss issues and
challenges facing the Greek community.
Christian Benvin (’08) is the vice
president of external relations for the
MSU IFC. Greg Thon (’07) is the recipient of the 2008 president of the year
award, which he received at the MSU
Annual Greek Gala.
The men raised $2,000 for Farm Safety
4 Just Kids during a pedal pull
competition at the MSU Pavilion.
Nebraska
The fall 2008 new member class
included 29 men. Four chapter members
were tapped for Mortar Board and three
were inducted into the Innocents Society.
The chapter had a spring 2008 GPA of
3.434, first in the Greek community.
Minnesota
The chapter placed first overall in
homecoming 2008 and won the annual
Cup Game with Alpha Gamma Rho.
Missouri
The chapter was voted best philanthropy on campus for their event Rockin’
Against Multiple Sclerosis (RAMS).
During the year the men also raised
$5,000 through their philanthropy events
for the children of Coyote Hill.
The chapter hosted FH First Fridays,
where alumni in the Columbia-area have
a standing invitation to join the chapter
for lunch each Friday.
North Dakota State
The chapter held a ground breaking
ceremony during homecoming 2008 for
the new chapter house facility.
The chapter and men from SDSU
assisted with sandbagging efforts during
Fargo’s March 2009 flood.
Oklahoma State
The chapter placed third in homecoming, in addition to placing first in Harvest
Carnival and philanthropy and third in
Football Frenzy.
Homecoming court members included: Nathan Thompson (’08), Kyle Ensley
(’06) and Andrew Stroup (’04).
Yance Farney (’08), Andrew Henry
(’08), Justin Dvorak (’08) and Grant
Leatherwood (’08) were named OSU’s
Top Ten Freshmen.
The chapter earned a 3.44 GPA, marking the 74th time the chapter has won the
award in its 80 year history at OSU.
Tennessee
The chapter has four new members for
the spring 2009 class.
They are conducting a tractor raffle of
a 1951 John Deere Model G, thanks to
the donation of Dick Kruse (KS ’63).
Proceeds will be applied toward the
chapter building fund. The chapter’s 50th
anniversary celebration is planned for
August 7-9, 2009 in Knoxville.
Texas Tech
The chapter received the student
organization of the year award and had
the highest GPA, 3.2, on campus.
The chapter hosted two fundraising
events in the fall semester – phone book
delivery and a turkey hunt raffle, applying the proceeds to the chapter lodge
improvements. The chapter launched a
new website, techfarmhouse.org.
Troy
The chapter’s 3.06 GPA was first
among all fraternities on campus allowing the chapter to recapture the coveted
Grades Plaque for the 2008 year. The
men also won the 2008 all-sports trophy
for overall intramural winner.
Virginia Tech colony
Kent Williams (’08) was named
agriscience student of the year at the
2008 Virginia FFA state convention.
spring 2009
19
ALUMNI NEWS
Auburn
Carl Creasman (’86) is the author of a
new book, Success for Life, which tackles
issues facing high school and college
students as they transition into academic
and professional careers. Creasman is a
professor at Valencia Community College
in Orlando, Fla. a professional speaker
and life coach. He, his wife Kim and their
three children live in Winter Park, Fla.
Colorado State
P. Lynn Kennedy (’85) is the
co-author of a new book, Agricultural
Trade Policies in the New Millennium. He
is an Oxford University scholar and holds
the William H. Alexander Endowed
Professorship of International Trade and
Agribusiness in the department of
agricultural economics, College of
Agriculture, at Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge, La.
Michael J. Brownell (’81) received the
2009 Faculty of the Year Award for
Northeastern Junior College. A member
of the faculty since 1992, he is professor
of soils and agronomy in the college’s
agriculture department. He has worked
with several agriculture organizations
such as the Rocky Mountain Plain Food
and Agriculture Chemical Association
and the Colorado Farm Bureau. In
addition to teaching at the college, he
and his wife, Laurel are engaged in a
farming operation near Fleming, Colo.
Iowa State
Claude Gifford (’40) received the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Agricultural Editors Association. For
more than 20 years he served as
economics and farm policy editor of
Farm Journal and associated publications.
Gifford was co-author of the original
American Agricultural Editors’
Association code of ethics. In 1971,
Gifford began a 23-year career as director
of information for the USDA. From
Washington, D.C., he managed a communications operation with more than
1,300 specialists who published more
than 50 million copies of publications
annually. He retired in 1994 with senior
executive service status. Today, he resides
in Muscatine, Iowa.
Keith H. Remy (’52) was recognized
by the Greater Starkville Community
Development Partnership with the 2008
20 Pearls & Rubies
T.E. Veitch Community Service Award
for his dedication to community volunteerism for his efforts with Rotary,
Habitat for Humanity, MSU Tip-Off
Club, his church and the Lady Bulldogs
Booster Club. He is a former advisor to
the Mississippi State chapter and resides
in Starkville, Miss., with his wife, Ruth.
Jim P. Tobin (’76) is the 2008 recipient
of the National 4-H Council’s Gary L.
Davis Award. The award honors individuals who consistently demonstrate strong
leadership skills in advancing the 4-H
youth development movement. The
award also honors those who make a
positive impact on 4-H at the national
and state levels. Tobin, a 4-H alumnus of
Taylor County, Iowa, is the vice president
of industry affairs for Monsanto. He and
his wife, Gina, live in St. Louis, Mo.
Steven Lonergan (’85) received the
2008 Distinguished Teaching Award
from the American Meat Science
Association. This international award is
designed to recognize excellence in
teaching at undergraduate and graduate
levels. Lonergan just completed his term
as overall program chair for the 2008
Joint Annual Meeting of the American
Society of Animal Science and the
American Dairy Science Association.
Lonergan is a professor of animal science
in the College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences at Iowa State University. He and
his wife, Elisabeth, live in Ames, Iowa.
Jason Schulte (’93) is principal and
creative director of Office in San
Francisco. Since founding the company
in 2003, Schulte has created work for
brands like Adidas Golf, Apple, CocaCola, Levi’s and Target. In 2007, Fast
Company magazine featured him as one
of the ‘14 talents who are driving design
forward’. He received Iowa State
University’s College of Design 2008
Design Achievement Award. He lives in
San Francisco with his wife and business
partner Jill Robertson.
Paxton J. Williams (’97) was awarded
the 2008 Young Alumnus Award from
the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
at Iowa State. The award recognizes
alumni under the age of 40 who have
excelled in their professions and provided
service to their communities. Williams is
the executive director of the Carver
Birthplace District Association for the
George Washington Carver National
Monument in Diamond, Mo. Williams
was the keynote speaker at the November
2008 alumni dinner in Kansas City, held
in conjunction with the Fraternity and
Foundation board meetings.
Kansas State
Michael E. Dikeman (’63) is professor
of animal science and industry in the
College of Agriculture at Kansas State
University. He and his wife have a herd of
45 registered Simmentals, and he serves
on the executive committee of the
American Simmental Association.
Michigan State
Jim Gibson (’62) retired in July 2008
from the Wisconsin Technical College
System and moved to Mankato, Minn.,
with his wife, Kenna.
Vern Hartenburg (’68) is the
executive director of the Cleveland
Metroparks department, a role he
assumed in 1988. For his professional
contributions to parks, natural resources,
urban development and recreation, he
received the 2008 Pugsley Award from
the American Academy of Park and
Recreation Administration. He lives in
Westlake, Ohio.
Mississippi State
Will Gilmer (’99) was appointed to a
two-year term to the American Farm
Bureau Federation’s Young Farmer and
Rancher Committee. He resides in
Sulligent, Ala.
Oklahoma State
Yancy Wright (’98) is an international
marketing representative for the John
Deere Seeding Group, which focuses on
planters, air seeders and box drills at the
company’s headquarters in Moline, Ill.
South Dakota State
Gary Hansen (’72) was elected to the
City Council for Eagan, Minn., where he
lives with his wife, Kathy. Hansen is a risk
management officer with AgriBank in
St. Paul, Minn.
Sgt. Jackson Moeller (’00) was named
the Noncommissioned Officer of the
Year by the South Dakota Army National
Guard. This award is the top honor in the
noncommissioned officer corps within
the state’s Army National Guard.
Tennessee
Jim Ligon (’76) is farm manager for
the Research Farms of Tennessee Tech
University. He lives in Cookeville, Tenn.
John Litz (’80) is a state representative
in the Tennessee General Assembly for
District 10, Hamblen County in eastern
Tennessee.
Daniel Wilson (’02) is an agricultural
and natural resources agent in Wolfe
County, Ky.
Texas Tech
Norman Hopper (’78) received the
Honorary American FFA Degree during
the National FFA Convention in Oct.
2008. Hopper, who is associate dean for
academic and student programs for the
College of Agricultural Sciences and
Natural Resources at Texas Tech, received
the degree for his achievements in
advancing FFA and agricultural education.
Washington State
Gary Schneidmiller (’68) commissioned and donated Cougar Pride, an
11-foot bronze cougar statue, which was
installed outside Martin Stadium on the
Four Men Elected to
International Board
Conclave 2008 included one of the
most competitive races for the
International Board in recent history.
Elected to a four-year term were Brent
Bible (PU ’93), Shawn Eagleburger (IA
’02), Brian Hogue (TAM ’05) and Dale
Pracht (KS ’92). These men bring a
wealth of experience to the Fraternity’s
International leadership group – ranging
from association and advisor volunteers
to former staff members to outstanding
presidents to founding fathers.
Also, joining the International board
as an ex-officio member is Alpha Tau
Zeta alumni member from Ohio State,
Tony Fiore. Tony served as the president
of the National ATZ Board and helped
steward the merger discussions on behalf
of ATZ and FarmHouse.
Following the closing Conclave
business meeting, the Board convened to
re-elect Bryce Freeman (IA ’93) as
president Garry Weston (KY ’97) as
vice president.
Exciting employment opportunity with FH International
Position Summary
The International Office is seeking applicants for the Educational Leadership
Consultant (ELC) positions. The ELCs will assist in developing, implementing
and executing projects and programs that improve the health of chapters of
FarmHouse. The employee is charged with using independent judgment and
working to provide consultation, support and advice to FarmHouse chapters
and advisors throughout North America and is responsible for affecting the
internal and external growth of the organization. The educational leadership
consultant will conduct recruitment seminars, risk management workshops, total
member education programs, assess chapter management, utilize various communication channels to share information and resources with chapter members
and leadership and support the programs and conferences of the Fraternity.
Length of Employment
One-year appointment (July 2009-June 2010), with option for second year.
Benefits Package
$30,000 annual total package, which includes $20,000 annual base salary, plus
bonus for expansion results; an apartment in Kansas City; health insurance
coverage (90 percent paid by employer); mileage reimbursement for work-related
travel; meals provided while traveling; laptop; mobile stipend; and clothing/
luggage allowance.
Position Requirements
Bachelor’s degree; willingness to travel up to 90 percent of time (by air and
personal vehicle) including many night and weekend commitments; embodiment
of the values and ideals of FarmHouse; expected to re-locate to Kansas City, Mo.
Skills Desired
Creative problem-solving; strong communication skills; proven leadership
experience; facilitation/presentation skills; ability to adapt to a variety of
environments; establish trust and rapport with others; and marketing and
recruitment experience.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Chapter Support: Conduct targeted programming and/or consultation
visits to FarmHouse chapters, colonies and expansion groups annually (approx.
20 visits to chapters per year).
2. Expansion and Membership Growth: Develop top-down interest groups
and attract grassroots efforts to charter five new chapters by 2014. Provide
support to ensure at least 75 percent of all chapters have 30 or more members.
3. International Leadership Programming: Assist with FarmHouse
International leadership programs and provide leadership and organizational
programming to members to enhance professional, personal and fraternal growth
and development.
4. International Support: Complete special targeted projects as developed by
the Executive Director and FarmHouse International Board of Directors.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to e-mail a cover letter, resume and
contacts for three references to: Chad Harris, CAE, Executive Director;
email: chad@farmhouse.org; FarmHouse International Fraternity, 7306 NW
Tiffany Springs Parkway, Suite 210, Kansas City, MO 64153.
For full consideration, men interested should inform the International Office
and submit application materials no later than June 19, 2009.
spring 2009
21
IN MEMORY/OBITUARIES
The following are notices received by
the International Office between May 15,
2008 and Feb. 28, 2009.
Auburn
Charles B. Griffith (’74). He lived in
Electric, Ala. and died Sept. 10, 2008. No
other information available.
William Ellis (’76). He lived in Cary,
N.C. and died Nov. 3, 2008. No other
information available.
Colorado State
David E. Meyring (’62). He managed
the Meyring Livestock Co. and later
owned and operated Spicer ranches, raising commercial cattle, Percheron horses
and hay. He enjoyed team roping and
ranch rodeos and showed cattle for many
years at the National Western Livestock
Show in Denver. A member of numerous
civic and community organizations, he
died in a horse accident in Eaton, Colo.,
on Feb. 25, 2009. He was 67.
Doyle Souser (’71). He was employed
with Stockton Products. He died Sept. 12,
2008 in the Metrolink train crash in
Chatsworth, Calif.
Bernard J. Blach (’68). Blach had a
career in real estate specializing in land
and commercial investment properties,
in addition to several other business
ventures including manufacturing,
processing and exporting enterprises and
a car dealership. He served on the CSU
Alumni Board and was involved in
Rotary Club. He was a small airplane and
helicopter pilot. He died on May 19,
2008. He was 59.
Illinois
Wallace P. Mills (’32). He lived in St.
Joseph, Ill., and died Sept. 13, 2008. No
other information available.
Dale H. Sinclair (’42). He served in
World War II, earning two Purple Hearts,
two Silver Stars and a Bronze Star. He
owned and operated Sinclair Implement
in Martinsville, Ill., until his retirement
in 1990. He served as president of the
Illinois Retail Farm Equipment Dealers
Association and the National Farm and
Power Equipment Dealers Association.
He served on the school board, VFW,
American Legion and Lions Club. He
died Sept. 3, 2008.
John H. Bingham (’48). He lived in
McHenry, Ill., and died Sept. 27, 2008.
22 Pearls & Rubies
No other information available.
Donald J. Jensen (’50). He was a
retired veterinarian living in St. Louis,
Mo. No other information available.
Joseph S. Stevenson (’51). He served
two years in the U.S. Army during the
Korean War and earned a degree in
agricultural engineering. He spent his
career designing and building agricultural structures in central Illinois before
retiring and moving to Oregon in 2003.
He died April 29, 2008, at age 79.
Duane Schroeder (’57). His passion
for purebred Angus breeding began in
college working as a herdsman for the
DK Roth Angus Farm in Gibson City, Ill.
He later founded Countryside Realty in
Mundelein, Ill. He lived in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla. He died Oct. 13, 2008.
Howard C. Builta (’62). He was an
officer of the U.S. Army during the
Vietnam War and was awarded the
Bronze Star. His 40-year career was in the
development and management of
commercial real estate. He was past
president of the Chicago Board of
Realtors, the Building Owners and
Managers Association of Suburban
Chicago and the Realtor 40 Club. He was
also active in his church, Habitat for
Humanity, PADS, The Chicago Farmers
Club, the Northlight Theatre Company
and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
He lived in Palatine, Ill. He died June 1,
2008, at the age of 65.
David A. Crank (’69). He was a veterinarian with the Animal Clinic of Paxton
in Paxton, Ill. He died Nov. 3, 2008, at 58.
Alvie McCormick (’89). He died in
diving accident on June 1, 2008. He lived
in Campbell Hill, Ill. He was 39.
Kevin Busboom (’00). He lived in
Fairbury, Ill. and died on May 19, 2008.
He was 28. No other information
available.
Iowa State
Dean M. Huston (’43). He worked for
extension services in eastern Iowa in
farm management for sixty years and in
manufacturing and distribution of
plastics in O.A. Olson Manufacturing, a
family-owned business. He was past
president of the ISU Memorial Union
Board and served on the Ames City
Council for eight years in the 1970s. He
was active in his church, the Ames
Rotary Club and the Youth and Shelter
Services. He died in Ames, Iowa, on Oct.
26, 2008. He was 85.
George W. Lancaster (’48). He served
in the Navy in World War II at a rank of
Yeoman Second Class. After several years
in production agriculture, he started a
new career with Consumers Cooperative
Association, later Farmland Industries.
He retired in 1988 in Kansas City, Mo.,
and was active in his church and the
Service Corps of Retired Professional
Executives, He died May 7, 2008, at 84.
Bob Myers (’49). He was retired from
pharmaceutical sales and lived in
Whitehall, Ariz. He died Sept. 17, 2008.
James C. Hosch (’61). He worked as
Clayton County extension director for 43
years until his retirement in October
2006. He served as a member of both his
church and school boards, serving terms
as president of each. He lived in Elkader,
Iowa and died June 13, 2008. He was 66.
Kansas State
H. Frederick Dudte (’35). He graduated with a degree in agricultural administration and taught two years ofagricultural education before he returned to his
home town of Newton, Kan., where he
purchased a farm, operating a dairy and
raising cattle, sheep, wheat and milo from
1938 until his retirement in 1977. He
died Nov. 14, 2008 at age 94.
E. Dale Mustoe, Jr. (’37). He was a
retired postmaster with the U.S. Postal
Service and lived in Topeka, Kan. He
died Aug. 13, 2007.
Kentucky
Cecil C. Burnetter (’51). A resident of
Hendersonville, Tenn., he was a retired
Presbyterian minister. He died Aug. 26,
2008 at age 81.
Paul P. Appel (’80). He was a retired
faculty member from the College of
Agriculture at the University of Kentucky
and helped found the UK Agriculture
Alumni Association. He died in Georgia
on Aug. 26, 2008 at age 82.
June White, Kentucky chapter house
mother, died Dec. 19, 2008. She entered
the hospital in early December but continued to encourage the chapter members
in studying for finals. For five years, she
served as house mother and was the
owner of Sutherland Antiques & Picture
Framing. A woman of great class and
character, she had a powerful impact on
the lives of many Kentucky chapter and
alumni brothers.
Degree Mason for more than 50 years.
He died June 7, 2008, at the age of 87.
North Carolina State
W. Ray Murley (’58). He was a teacher
and researcher with North Carolina State
University. He lived in Blacksburg, Va.
He died Jan. 1, 2009 at the age of 90.
Nebraska
Russell D. Hughes (’29). Interested in
agriculture and athletics he pursued both
in college. In 1927, his 4-H dairy cattle
judging team won the national contest
and finished second in the international
competition and he was a middleweight
boxing champion in college. He worked
as a county extension agent for 37 years,
retiring in 1972. In retirement, he served
as a county and district court bailiff for
15 years. He was also the author of two
published books. He was active in his
church, a 50-year member of the
Fremont Masonic Lodge N. 15 A.F. &
A.M. and a life member of the Fremont
Rotary Club. He died in Fremont, Neb.,
on May 24, 2008. He was 99 years old.
William T. Wheeler (’40). His first
career was with the Boeing Company in
Seattle as a draftsman, before he returned
to Nebraska for further education and a
career with the Nebraska Department of
Economic Development as a trade specialist. He lived in Olympia, Wash., when
he died on Oct. 27, 2008, at the age of 86.
John R. Fitzgibbon (’41). A college
letter winner in basketball and baseball,
post-graduation Fitzgibbon had a
distinguished banking career. He served a
20-year tenure with the Iowa-Des Moines
National Bank (now Wells Fargo) as
president, chairman and CEO. He was a
co-founder of the Des Moines Civic
Center, Chamber of Commerce and the
Des Moines Development Committee.
He served the board of trustees to Drake
University, was a member of the Iowa
Board of Regents and served on the
corporate board of directors of Casey’s
General Store, Inc. He died March 2,
2008, in Des Moines, Iowa, at age 85.
Gene A. Gard (’47). He served in the
U.S. Army during World War II and
spent his career as a purebred Angus
breeder and irrigation farmer. He spent
29 years in retirement in McAllen, Texas.
At the time of his death on Oct. 26, 2008,
he lived in Dodge City, Kan. He was 84.
Michigan State
Theron E. Nivison (’36). A charter
member of the Michigan State chapter,
he was retired from the USDA. He lived
in Raleigh, N.C. He died June 20, 2008,
at the age of 94.
Dale R. Waldon (’51). He was a
retired research scientist and lived in
Fayetteville, Penn. He died Dec. 4, 2007,
at age 78.
John Jackman (’68). He had a 30-year
career on the faculty at Texas A&M
University’s department of entomology.
He was active with the Boy Scouts, the
Brazos Valley Master Gardener program
and the Brazos Valley Fly Fisherman’s
Club. He died Aug. 28, 2008.
Minnesota
Keith N. McFarland (’39). He served
in WWII, earning the Bronze Star. He
studied at the University of Edinburgh
and the University of Minnesota earning
advanced degrees and continued on the
faculty in a variety of administrative roles
for the next 44 years serving as the
director of instruction and later Dean of
the College of Home Economics for 20
years. He lived in the Twin Cities and
died Dec. 27, 2008, at the age of 87.
Daniel V. Webster (’53). His life’s
work involved teaching agriculture and
science to youth and adults, with recent
projects focusing on rural community
revitalization and energy production
from natural grasses. He and his wife,
Margaret, received the Farmer’s Voice
Award in 2007. He was a volunteer with
his church, Farmer’s Union, Aitkin
County DFL, 4-H, PTA and the Lakeside
Community Club. He lived in Tamarack,
Minn. He died on Feb. 9, 2009, at 74.
Missouri
Thomas C. White, Jr. (’40). After service in World War II, White returned to
his home community of Norborne, Mo.,
where he was a farmer and cattleman. He
was active in his church and a 32nd
Oklahoma State
Phillip C. Rawlins (’36). After
graduating from Oklahoma State, he was
commissioned in the U.S. Army and later
transferred to the U.S. Air Force. A
skilled pilot for 28 years, he piloted 17
different aircraft over the span of his
career. He received 17 medals including
the Presidential Unit Citation and the
Bronze Star. He retired in 1970, but
remained active earning his Master
Winemaker Certification and was
involved with the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis
Club, his church and many community
organizations. He lived in San Antonio,
Texas, and died Oct. 4, 2008, at age 91.
Jonathan Friend (’41) A retired
faculty member, he was one of the founding faculty of the College of Veterinary
Medicine at Oklahoma State University.
He resided in Stillwater, Okla., at the
time of his death on Nov. 14, 2008.
Orvin Hicks (’47). He lived in
Torrington, Wyo. He died Dec. 12, 2008.
No other information available.
Purdue
John Romine (’05). He died Dec. 5,
2008. See page 9 for details about his life.
Tennessee
Raymond L. Green (’59). He lived in
Winchester, Tenn. and passed away in
2007. No other information available.
Victor M. Kinamon (’67). He lived in
Seymour, Tenn. He died Dec. 18, 2007.
No other information available.
Texas Tech
Drew Slater (’03). He was tragically
shot in his home on Oct. 3, 2008, by a
disgruntled former employee of
Longfellow Ranch, which Slater
managed. Active as an undergraduate in
a variety of chapter and campus
activities, Slater lived in Fort Stockton,
Texas. He was 25.
We rely on our alumni to send us alumni
news and obituaries of brothers who have
passed away. So that we may properly record
the death of our brothers for our membership, please provide obituaries and/or
information about profession, date deceased
and age to FarmHouse Fraternity, 7306 NW
Tiffany Springs Parkway, Suite 210, Kansas
City, Mo. 64153. You may email notices to
fhhq@farmhouse.org or call (800) 722-1905.
Badges of deceased members may be
returned to the FarmHouse Foundation
at the discretion of the family. Badges are
passed on to a deserving member of the
deceased member’s chapter of initiation.
spring 2009
23
FarmHouse Fraternity
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 121
Dulles, VA
7306 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway, Suite 210
Kansas City, MO 64153-9908
Change Service Requested
Parents: While your son is in college, this
publication will be sent to his home address.
If he is no longer in college and not living at
home, please send us his new information.
You don’t have to be
a nuclear engineer to
make an estate gift.
But Don Ferguson (KS ’63) is and did.
A graduate of Kansas State in nuclear engineering with
advanced degrees in nuclear science from Kansas State,
the University of Birmingham and a PhD from MIT,
today Don is one of the world’s leading authorities in the
nuclear industry. He is executive vice president, CFO and
co-founder for EnergX, serving as a consultant to firms in
the defense and commercial nuclear industries, including
the cleanup of the Department of Energy’s Rocky Flats
Environmental Technology Site.
Some of the most powerful lessons he has learned he
credits to FarmHouse – lessons that have served him
well through some of the most exciting and challenging
periods of the nuclear energy industry.
A Foundation Trustee, Don and his wife, Signe, have
pledged a six figure planned gift which, when it comes
to fruition, will create an unrestricted endowment to
support the future and emerging needs of FarmHouse.
While we don’t expect all FarmHouse men to understand
nuclear science, we do hope all FarmHouse men
understand the importance of supporting FarmHouse.
Perhaps, like Don, you have named or are considering
naming the FarmHouse Foundation in your estate plans?
By informing us of your gift, or of major changes in an
already existing gift plan, we can help you achieve your
charitable goals, while “Building the Leaders of
Tomorrow.”
To discuss this or any type of gift, contact Allison Rickels
or Bob Off, of the Foundation staff.
Don (KS ’63) an
d Signe Ferguson
The FarmHouse Foundation
www.FarmHouse.org/Foundation