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FarmHouse

FarmHouse Fraternity International, Inc. is an all-male international social fraternity founded at the University of Missouri on April 15th, 1905. It became a nationally recognized fraternity in 1921. FarmHouse is one of only a handful of fraternities not to adopt Greek letters. Today FarmHouse has 33 chapters/colonies in the United States and Canada.^[1]

History
Mission

Intellectual
Physical
Social/Moral
Spiritual
The Central Attributes
The Object

Famous alumni
List of Chapters
References

Web
Notes

History

FARMHOUSE was founded as a professional agriculture fraternity in 1905 by seven men at the University of Missouri.

A second chapter, founded independently of the Missouri chapter but sharing the same ideals, was founded at the University of Nebraska in 1911. After communication between the two groups, a third chapter was founded at the University of Illinois in 1918.^[2]

FarmHouse as a national organization became a reality early in 1921 when the Constitution and By-Laws were approved by each of the active houses, and they then gave up some of their individuality and became ?chapters? of the ?greater? FarmHouse. FarmHouse had taken on a new meaning.^[3]

FarmHouse joined the NIC as a junior member in 1944. Because of its size at the time, eight chapters, it was not considered eligible for full membership. With twelve chapters and three colonies, FarmHouse became a full-fledged member on March 25, 1953.^[4]

FarmHouse dropped out of the NIC from 1971 to 1981, as did many other national/international fraternities. Since rejoining, FarmHouse has been an active, supportive member of the NIC and its programs, and encourages its local colonies, chapters, and associations to be the same in their campus IFC's.^[1]

On April 20, 1974, the FarmHouse Club at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was installed as the University of Alberta FarmHouse Chapter, thereby making FarmHouse an International Fraternity.^[5]

Mission

The motto of FarmHouse is "Builders of Men". The fraternity seeks to build men with Fourfold Development, encouraging growth in the Intellectual, Physical, Social/Moral and Spiritual aspects of their lives.^[1]

Intellectual

Half of the chapters are typically within the top 20% of Greek chapters' average GPA on their respective campuses.^[1]

Physical

Participation in intramurals, tournaments and other competititons is a regular theme between chapters on different campuses. On the belief that a healthy body is important for a well-rounded man, FarmHouse places emphasis on physical activity.^[1]

Social/Moral

FarmHouse chapters are active within the Greek communities on their respective campuses. The International fraternity recommends hosting an event with each sorority on campus at least once per academic year.

FarmHouse has been a leader in alcohol-free housing, never having a policy that allowed alcohol in chapter facilities.^[1]

Spiritual

Many of the rituals in the pledging and activation ceremony cite Scripture. The Founders had deep faith and sought to build their faith as they built other bonds. The fraternity is certainly open to members of other faiths, but encourages a belief in 'something greater than oneself'.^[1]

The Central Attributes

The central attributes to the Fraternity are leadership, scholarship and fellowship.^[1]

The Object

The object, recited by members at every meeting, is:

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 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 fellowmen and to the world. To be and become such may at times require a sacrifice of time, pleasures and comforts.^[6]