AGR Action October 2010 Outstanding Seniors present positive image of AGR For any organization, it is a proud moment when a member is recognized for his or her academic success, campus activities or exemplary community involvement. For three to be selected? That is an honor. Oklahoma State undergraduates Jared Crain, Tyler Powell and Travis Schnaithman were featured in the fall 2010 issue of STATE, The official magazine of Oklahoma State University. The Pi chapter members were named 2010 Outstanding Seniors. This award recognizes students who distinguish themselves through academic achievement; campus and community activities; academic, athletic or extracurricular honors or awards; scholarships and work ethic during their time at OSU. After reviewing their applications, the OSU Alumni Association Student Awards and Selection Committee met with the 45 Seniors of Significance who were honored in the fall of 2009 and selected 13 to receive this prestigious honor. The 2010 Outstanding Seniors were honored at a public banquet April 26 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Crain was initiated in 2007, Powell in 2006 and Schnaithman in 2005. Jared Crain Major: Plant and Soil Science Hometown: Woodward, Okla. Other activities: Oklahoma FFA Association vice president, 2006-2007; College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Ambassador, 2008-2009; Agronomy Club treasurer; Ag Council representative; CFFA member; Lew Wentz Scholar; Top 10 Freshman; Top 5 Senior, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Encounter Class V; and Outstanding Senior, American Society of Agronomy National Student Recognition Program. Plans after college: To begin research as a Fulbright Scholar in Mexico and then pursue a master s degree in plant and soil science at OSU. Tyler Powell Major: Agribusiness Hometown: Guthrie, Okla. Other activities: Student Government Association chair, Student Alumni Board Leadership Development Executive, Ag legislative intern, vice president of the Ag Student Association, Oklahoma Ag Leadership Encounter, Oklahoma FFA Alumni Leadership camp, assistant coordinator for Lights on Stillwater, video director of the Oklahoma FFA Convention, 2009 Homecoming King, Top 10 Freshman Man, Top 5 graduate of CASNR, President s Honor Roll and national finalist for the Farm Bureau Collegiate Meet. Plans after college: To pursue a master s of agriculture and then attend law school. Travis Schnaithman Major: Agribusiness Hometown: Garber, Okla. Other activities: Oklahoma State FFA president, Homecoming Steering chair, Student Government Association Supreme Court Justice, Oklahoma Agriculture Leadership Encounter, President s Leadership Council, Ag Student Association vice president and student spokesperson, Oklahoma FFA Alumni Camp, the National FFA s Star Farmer of America, Top 10 Freshman, CASNR Outstanding Senior and OSU Homecoming royalty. Plans after college: To become involved in production agriculture as a fifth-generation farmer. A look inside October s issue... Outstanding Seniors present positive image of AGR Chapter news Alumni news Dates to remember And more...
Chapter news Two Tarleton State undergraduates travel abroad On June 11, two brothers traveled to a completely different hemisphere in search of a broadened perspective of agriculture and some unforgettable memories. Beta Sigma undergraduates Garrett Briney and Tylan Long and 12 other students spent 24 days traveling in Brazil learning about a wide variety of topics ranging from agricultural education to sugarcane ethanol production. The students also learned much about Brazilian culture and saw some amazing attractions. As a part of Brother Briney s case study, the group toured several beef operations, large and small. They got hands-on field experience and observed different methods and practices. The most prevalent cattle breed in Brazil is the Nelore, a Bos indicus breed. This breed is similar to Brahman. Their meat is typically very lean and has a distinct flavor. The group also toured an extension research center, university and two native Brazilian reservations as a part of Brother Long s extension and education case study. The extension system faces many challenges to in coming years to keep up with growth in agriculture and the demands of those that farm for their dietary needs. Although the brothers primary objectives were to complete their case studies, they also experienced a variety of other events. They saw many cultural and natural wonders. They experienced Iguassu Falls from a helicopter, Blue Lake Cave, Sugarloaf Mountain and various other landmarks. While at Iguassu Falls, the group crossed into Argentina and Paraguay. While on the Paraguay and Brazil border, the brothers saw the world s largest hydroelectric dam. One of the dam s 24 turbines produces enough energy to provide 94 percent of Paraguay s electricity. While in Rio de Janeiro, the most awe inspiring landmark was Christ the Redeemer. The statue is located on top of a mountain so that is visible for all of Rio de Janeiro. The World Cup took place during the trip, and the group quickly learned that Beta Sigma brothers Garrett Briney and Tylan Long Brazilians love soccer. Whenever Brazil played, entire cities shut down to watch the game and celebrate. Our brothers also had several opportunities to interact and hang out with Brazilian agriculture students. Briney and Long have expressed that the experience was something that they would repeat. Both said they will encourage others to pursue similar opportunities. Long and Briney were initiated by Beta Sigma in 2008 and 2009, respectively. PHA ILLINOIS BETA OHIO STATE GAMMA PENNSYLVANIA STATE DELTA PURDUE EPSILON NORT KOTA STATE ZETA CORNELL ETA IOWA STATE THETA MISSOURI IOTA WISCONSIN-MADISON KAPP BRASKA LAMBDA MINNESOTA MU MASSACHUSETTS NU NORTH CAROLINA STATE XI AUBURN OMICRO NTUCKY PI OKLAHOMA STATE RHO COLORADO STATE SIGMA WASHINGTON STATE TAU MICHIGA ATE PHI CALIFORNIA-DAVIS RECONNECT CHI CAL POLY STATE-SLO PSI MAINE OMEGA NEW HAMPSHIRE ALPH PHA WEST VIRGINIA ALPHA BETA OREGON STATE ALPHA GAMMA FLORIDA ALPHA DELTA MONTAN ATE ALPHA EPSILON LOUISIANA STATE ALPHA ZETA KANSAS STATE ALPHA ETA GEORGIA ALPH ETA MARYLAND ALPHA IOTA ARKANSAS KAPPA TENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE ALPHA LAMBDA NE XICO STATE ALPHA MU RUTGERS WITH ALPHA ALPHA NU CONNECTICUT GAMMA ALPHA RHO. XI ARIZONA STATE ALPHA OM ON UTAH STATE ALPHA PI ARIZONA ALPHA RHO VERMONT ALPHA SIGMA CALIFORNIA STATE-FRE ALPHA TAU WESTERN ILLINOIS ALPHA UPSILON TENNESSEE-MARTIN ALPHA PHI SOUTH DAKOT LOADING... ATE ALPHA CHI WESTERN KENTUCKY ALPHA PSI WISCONSIN-RIVER FALLS ALPHA OMEGA MURRA ATE BETA ALPHA SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BETA BETA TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE BETA GAMMA WISCO -PLATTEVILLE BETA ALPHA DELTA GAMMA ILLINOIS RHO S STATE HOME OFFICE BETA EPSILON USES A NUMBER ARKANSAS OF SOCIAL STATE BETA ZETA CLE N BETA ETA VIRGINIA MEDIA POLY OUTLETS BETA TO THETA CONNECT MIDDLE YOU TENNESSEE WITH BROTHERS STATE FROM BETA COAST IOTA TRUMAN STAT TA KAPPA CALIFORNIA TO COAST STATE-CHICO AND TO UPDATE BETA LAMBDA YOU ON TEXAS THE NATIONAL A&M-COMMERCE FRATERNITY. BETA MU AUSTIN PEA ATE BETA NU TEXAS A&M BETA XI TEXAS TECH BETA OMICRON WYOMING BETA PI LOUISIANA TEC TA A RHO look NORTHWEST inside MISSOURI September s BETA SIGMA issue... TARLETON STATE BETA TAU MISSISSIPPI STATE BET SILON Clemson DELAWARE House Destroyed BETA by Fire PHI Chapter IDAHO News BETA Alumni CHI News STEPHEN And More... F. AUSTIN STATE BETA PSI DELAWAR LLEY BETA OMEGA MISSOURI STATE GAMMA ALPHA FLORIDA SOUTHERN FORT HAYS STAT LONY ABAC COLONY CHICAGO ALUMNI CHAPTER DALLAS/FT. WORTH ALUMNI CHAPTER GREE UNTAIN ALUMNI CHAPTER KANSAS CITY ALUMNI CHAPTER WASHINGTON DC ALUMNI CHAPTE
Chapter news North Dakota State Dedicates Successful House Project Epsilon Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at North Dakota State University will celebrate a successful four-year effort to renovate and expand their 80-year old chapter house at Homecoming Oct. 1 and 2. Founded in 1913, Epsilon Chapter-AGR is the oldest fraternity at the university and the fifth AGR chapter nationwide. A social and professional brotherhood, there are 68 Alpha Gamma Rho chapters in the US. Undergraduate members and alumni share career interests in the agriculture, food and fiber industries. Epsilon Chapter has nearly 950 living alumni. Code compliance, a boom in on- and off-campus housing, and changing student demographics were principal drivers for volunteer leaders to consider major changes in the AGR housing facility which had not undergone a major renovation since 1969. With the assistance of YHR Partners and targeted alumni input, chapter leadership moved to renovate and expand their historic chapter house located at 1303 N. University Drive in lieu of demolishing and rebuilding the facility or relocating to another site. In 2007 a $1.75 million alumni capital campaign was implemented to support construction, and to provide for undergraduate scholarships and the purchase of additional property for parking. With the overwhelming support of brothers, family and friends, the goal of $1.75 million was surpassed in 15 months. Above: NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani and Epsilon alumnus Rick Palmer. Bresciani spoke at afternoon dedication ceremonies which also featured the 29th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ed Schafer. Top right: Epsilon s flag welcomes visitors. Right: House Corp President Brant Bigger confers with recent AGR Hall of Fame inductee, Al Johnson. Over 40% of the brotherhood participated in the campaign effort. On a national average, sorority and fraternity campaigns typically are supported by only 14 to 25 percent of alumni. Gregg Halverson, a 1971 NDSU graduate and president of Black Gold Farms, one of the largest chip potato growers in the world, served as chairman of the Epsilon 2nd Century Campaign. The agriculture industry had changed with the times, and so had NDSU. Now it was AGR s turn. I was convinced we could make it happen because of the passion and leadership ability of our alumni. In total the campaign was supported by 125 volunteers and 371 donors. www.alphagammarho.org/agr-action NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani congratulated the chapter on its achievements. As the first national fraternity established at North Dakota Agricultural College now NDSU you have a well deserved tradition of excellence and the entire university is proud of you. Your members and alumni have distinguished themselves and this University with their accomplishments and achievements. David and Marlys Sunderland, 66, were major campaign contributors. The Sunderland family have been great supporters of NDSU and the Bison athletic program. Our NDSU sports teams are winners, said David. This produces a great sense of pride and confidence on the field, and quickly spreads throughout the campus and into the community... story continues on the website
Alumni news Alumnus joins Farmer, Lumpe + McClelland Advisory Board William (Bill) Boehm William (Bill) Boehm, Wisconsin- River Falls alumnus, joins Farmer, Lumpe + McClelland s advisory board. The FLM Advisory Board provides outside strategic counsel both for the agency s growing list of clients and its expanding staff. Members of this distinguished Board contribute to select client projects as well as convene throughout the year to offer strategic advice to the agency as it continues on its track as one of the fastest growing independent midwestern agencies. Not only is Bill an accomplished leader, economist, visionary and strategic planner, but also an enthusiastic advocate for rural America. It is such an honor for our agency to add Bill to our team, says Rob McClelland, FLM President. Perhaps at no other time in history has it been so important for our agricultural industry to understand consumer preferences. Bill s experience with one of the largest food retailers in the world will help our clients gain powerful insights, adds McClelland. Boehm retired from Kroger in 2008 as President of Kroger Manufacturing, a Division which includes 36 food processing plants operated by 8,000 associates and sales of $4.2 billion. Kroger is one of the world s largest retail companies with sales of approximately $70 billion. Tenn.-Knoxville alum oversees operations at Riverbend Tennessee-Knoxville alumnus Steve Bennett majored in Agricultural Business and now is the general manager for Riverbend Nurseries. Bennett oversees Riverbend operations at two locations in Middle Tennessee-Franklin and Thompson s Station. We re a very diverse nursery growing vegetables, herbs, annual color, perennials, containerized ornamental trees and shrubs and also field grown (balled and burlapped) material up to four-inch caliper, Bennett said. We also carry a full line of hardline items ranging from mulches, stone and patio pavers to commercial grade landscape tools and decorative pots. We try to be a one-stop shop for landscapers and garden centers to fill all of their needs. Bennett says he enjoys the multi-faceted nature of the nursery industry. His position allows him to work inside and outdoors, doing anything from weeding and pruning to traveling abroad trying to sell and look for new varieties of plants as well as find new innovative machines and ideas for doing things more effectively. Bennett was initiated by Alpha Kappa in 1980. www.alphagammarho.org/agr-action
Dates to remember Mark your calendars for these important dates Nov. 4-5, 2010: National Board Meeting Oklahoma City, Okla. Feb. 25-26, 2011: Indianapolis, Ind. Jan. 21-22, 2011: Recruitment School Kansas City, Mo. March 4-5, 2011: Baltimore, Md. Feb. 11-12, 2011: Feb. 18-19, 2011: Reno, Nev. Oklahoma City, Okla. March 18-19, 2011: Recruitment School Kansas City, Mo. Annual gifts are valuable beyond measure......they allow the Educational Foundation to respond quickly to the Fraternity s needs and opportunities. Support undergrads, like Kevin, by making your Annual Fund gift today. Put your investment to work faster by giving online at www.alphagammarho.org/donate or contact James Ferrell at james@alphagammarho.org. To the Alpha Gamma Rho Educational Foundation: Please accept my most sincere thanks for financing my Ham Bruhn Activity Award for Iota Chapter. It is an honor to serve the Iota Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho as VNR of Recruitment, and as always, I am thankful for everything I have received as a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, at the chapter and national levels. Sincerely, Kevin Zwieg TWO is always better than ONE When you contribute to the Alpha Gamma Rho Foundation, you could double the impact of your individual contribution if your employer has a matching gifts program. Talk with your company s human resources representative and join with your employer to increase the impact of your gift today. Your support makes a difference with Alpha Gamma Rho!