P Purdue University Delta Crescent Spring 1999 Founder s Day a Gigantic Success In case you didn t know, Senator Richard G. Lugar was honored at this year's Founder's Day event. It was a tremendous evening. Many special guests were on hand that night and the list would take up a page. Lugar was awarded a plaque that read; "The men of Alpha Gamma Rho would like to recognize Senator Richard G. Lugar for his outstanding contributions to the field of agriculture. Presented to Senator Lugar on this seventeenth day of February nineteen hundred ninety-nine." Lugar was very honored to receive the award and was very gracious. As you can imagine Brad was very nervous presenting the award. However, He will be joining Lugar's Above: Two legends sharing a word Sen. Lugar and Brother Don Paarlberg. Right: Two legends posing for a picture Brother Earl Butz (l) and Don Paarlberg. Washington D.C. this summer as an office in Left: Sen. Lugar addresses the crowd. Below: Sen. Lugar shares a laugh with Brother Earl Butz (far right). Butz gave Lugar $1 to mention Butz s name in the opening of his speech. Here Lugar is giving back the dollar. Left: Brother Tony Hahn greets Sen. Lugar. intern. A big THANK YOU to the alumni who attended and made Founder's Day another huge success. Point of clarification, Senator Lugar was not inducted as an (continued page 2)
Spring 1999 Delta Crescent Page 2 (continued from page 1) honorary brother because he was already a member of Beta Theta Pi at Denison University in Ohio. AGR national's does not allow an already initiated brother of another fraternity become an honorary brother of AGR. We apologize for any confusion. Here is the article that appeared in the February 18, 1999 issue of the Journal & Courier written by Joe Gerrety. This article sums up what Senator Lugar spoke to AGR's about on that evening. These are times that try farmers' souls. And for a Purdue University agricultural audience looking for light at the end of a very dark tunnel, Sen. Richard Lugar wasn't carrying any lanterns Wednesday night. The straightshooting Hoosier, fresh from announcing plans to Above: Grand President and Delta Chapter Alumni, Gene Swackhamer, shares a few words with Sen. Lugar during the meal. run for an unprecedented fifth term in the Senate, told an audience of Alpha Gamma Rho agricultural fraternity members he still believes Freedom to Farm is the answer to feeding a world population expected to grow by one third in the next 50 years. Even if removing supply controls drives traditional farm families out of the business. "All I'm saying is that this is going Above: Brotherly love at its finest. Brothers Don (l) and Hoy Paarlberg share a Kodak moment. Left: President of Purdue University, Steve Beering, greets Sen. Lugar while Beering s wife Jane and Brother Jason Duncan (far right) look on. to be sort of a crunch of expectations of people who believe that in a way agriculture is an entitlement program that they are physically entitled by heritage, by tradition, to stay in Above: Brother Scott Ramsay greets former Sec. of Ag, Brother Earl Butz. Left: Brad Farrer, Alumni Relations, presents Sen. Lugar with an award for Lugar s contributions to the field of agriculture. the ball game come hell or high water," Lugar said. Dismal grain prices will be largely to blame for an expected drop in agricultural profits in the United States from 448 billion in 1998 to $42 billion in 1999. Lugar said profits could drop even more in 2000. "I never had the nerve to say to a group of these (continued page 3)
Spring 1999 Delta Crescent Page 3 (continued from page 2) people, 'Have you ever considered doing something else?'" Lugar said. Most would say no, but in reality most farm families already are relying on other forms of income to get by, he said. "There is a yearning to stay with the ag life, but figure pragmatically how you do that in these circumstances." Lugar, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, admitted he doesn't have the immediate answer. The "circumstances" include not only an oversupply of farm commodities worldwide, but significantly reduced demand caused largely by failing economies in Asia. Lugar said 40 percent of the Asian demand for agricultural products evaporated when that region's economies collapsed, and that accounted for a 10 percent to 11 percent drop in demand for American ag commodities. "People are eating less," he said. "It's not a lack of demand. It's a lack of money to pay for it. Their money isn't buying as much." Lugar also theorized that the oversupply issue might not change anytime soon because it could be product merely of increased efficiency of farmers worldwide. "It may be the word, in fact, can produce a whole lot more," he said. George Mears, an alumni member of Alpha Gamma Rho who makes his living from farming and providing services to other farmers, said the speech was depressing, but he said Lugar spoke truths many farmers have to face. "He didn't candy-coat the figures," Mears said. I'd rather hear it straight." Mears is in his mid-40s and helps his 70-year-old father farm near Delphi. He said much of what Lugar said could apply to him- older farmers are trying to draw a pension from their operations with their sons trying to figure out a way to make the same operations profitable. Add the uncertain effects of factors such as the devaluation of currency in Brazil, making Brazilian grain cheaper, and how the Y2K bug might affect marketing on Jan. 1, and it's a scary situation, Mears said. "If your ground is paid for, you'll get by if you don't do too many elaborate things, but the concern is for the younger farmer who has to cashrent. It's gonna take a lot of work to make it pencil out," Mears said. State Fair Dinner August 18, 1999 Indiana State Fair Farmer s Day Eat at 4:30 p.m. Homecoming October 16, 1999 Purdue vs. Michigan State University Hog Roast following the game The annual golf outing will be held on parents weekend this year. The date is set for Sunday September 19, 1999. Purdue plays Central Michigan at home. Please plan on attending. Parents and special guests are more than welcome to attend. Reservations can be sent to Brad Farrer. Contact Information: Brad Farrer 4691 N Co. Rd. 600 W Royal Center, IN 46978 219-643-9472
Spring 1999 Delta Crescent Page 4 Composite Reconstruction Update These classes composites are reconstructed. 1985-86 Mark Seest was Noble Ruler 1972-73 Dave Rodibaugh was Noble Ruler 1973-74 Max Rodibaugh was Noble Ruler 1982-83 Brose McVey was Noble Ruler 1950 Jack Rodibaugh's class These pictures need to be paid for and all I need is a donation from each class. The cost of each composite is as follows: 85-86 $147.00 72-73 $195.00 73-74 $171.00 82-83 $192.00 1950 $57.00 It is $3.00 per person on each composite. If you would like an 8X10 of your respective class they are free once the 16X20 composite is paid for. Also if you would like to see a certain composite reconstructed please contact Brad. Contact fellow pledge brothers or brothers in general to help collect the money. The money can be sent to Brad. Remember When For those of you that missed the chance to participate in the last Remember When Crescent now is your chance. Please submit articles of the memories you have from being an AGR. Also if you would like to submit some pictures from way back when, send them to Brad Farrer. The last Remember When was very interesting. Brad Farrer 4691 N CR 600 W Royal Center, IN 46978 CRESCENT PUBLISHING SERVICE This issue of the Delta Crescent was published through the Crescent Publishing Service (CPS). This is a special project of the AGR Home Office to assist chapters in improving communications with alumni. Chapters pay a small fee for the service, below the actual production cost, to encourage regular contact. This project is made possible by donations from alumni like you. Please consider contributing using the enclosed card.
Tell Us About Yourself The Purpose of the Crescent is to keep the Delta Alumni informed of the activities of the chapter. Even more important, we want to keep you, the alumni, informed about happenings with other alumni. Please fill out this form or write us a letter and send it with the enclosed card. We would be very happy to hear from you. Name Wife s Name Address Employer Occupation Address Home Phone Work Phone Your Pin # FAX Career Code Year Married Family Members Additional Information/Comments/etc. Refer to the following career codes used in the geographical section: CAREER CODES AB Agricultural Business/ Sales EN Engineering ME Medicine/ Health (other than AC Accounting EP Estate Planning / Trusts / Taxation Dentistry, Physician, Nursing, AD Advertising/ Public Relations ER Energy Resources (Oil, etc.) Pharmacology) AG Agriculture / Ranching ET Education-Teaching MF Manufacturing AP Arts-Performing / Creative FA Fisheries/ Aquatic Production MI Military AS Association Management FC Forest Conservation MS Merchandising / Sales / Marketing AU Architecture/ Urban Planning FO Foundations NU Nursing BA Business-Administrative FP Forest Production Harvester PH Physician Management FR Farming/Ranching PJ Publishing / Writing / journalism BE Business-Entrepreneur / Owner FS Foreign Service PM Physical Sciences/ Math BK Banking FT Forestry, Other PR Pharmacology BS Brokerage/Securities/Investments FV Finance/ Venture Capital RD Research/Development CC Construction/Contracting GA Gardener/Groundskeeper RE Real Estate CF Commercial Fisher GE Government-Elective RT Radio/TV/Film CL Clergy GN Government-Non-Elective SC Support Staff / Secretarial / Clerk CM Cosmetology FM Homemaker SK Skilled Artisan/ Technician CN Consulting HO Horticulture Specialist SR Sports/Recreation CO Counseling HT Hotel / Restaurant / Catering SS Social Services CP Computing/ Information Systems IN Insurance TT Transportation/Travel CV Civil Service JU Judiciary UT Utilities DE Dentistry LB Labor/ Human Relations VL Volunteer EA Education-Administration LM Library/Museum VT Veterinarian EC Economics LW Law WC Wildlife Conservation New Employment Assistance Program The Home Office of Alpha Gamma Rho has tracked employment information on alumni for several years so that it may be used in the National Directory published by Harris Publishing. Members are able to ask the Home Office for a listing of alumni nationwide who work for a specific company or a specific industry in a region of the country. The list of industry breakdowns is shown in the Tell Us About Yourself section of this Crescent. It is hoped that by sharing this information, brothers can get suggestions on what kind of interns and classes to pursue as they prepare themselves for the real world. This information is provided free for sorts of under 160 names by the Home Office. The information provided is only as good as what you have shared with the Home Office. We ask that you complete the Tell Us About Yourself section so that you might help a fellow brother in his employment search.
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity 10101 North Executive Hills Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64153-1395 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kansas City, MO Permit No. 4092 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Delta Crescent AGR New Member Recommendation In the spaces provided below, please list the names of prospective new members in your community or area that might attend Purdue. It would be helpful to tell them about your experiences in AGR. Let them know you are enthusiastic about the Fraternity. Remind them that we are a social/professional fraternity, stressing agriculture, scholarship, leadership, and a well-rounded program of campus and community activities, intramural sports, etc. Your efforts on this background information will help strengthen our new member program. Name Home Address Parent s Name(s) High School Activities Curriculum Recommended by Home Phone AGR Relatives Have you discussed joining with him? Date Please return to : VNR Recruitment 607 University St West Lafayette IN 47906