FarmHouse (FH) is a men's social fraternity founded at the University of Missouri on April 15, 1905. It became a national organization in 1921. Today FarmHouse has 34 active chapters in the United States and Canada.
History
FarmHouse was founded as a professional agriculture fraternity on April 15, 1905, by seven men at the University of Missouri, who met at a YMCA bible study and decided they wanted to form a club. The seven founders were D. Howard Doane, Robert F. Howard, Claude B. Hutchison, Henry H. Krusekopf, Earl W. Rusk, Henry P. Rusk, and Melvin E. Sherwin. Doane conceived the basic ideas which led to FarmHouse and is considered the father of the fraternity.
<blockquote>Given their agricultural background and rural upbringing, the house in which they resided began to be referred to as the farmer's house, by other students in a derogatory or demeaning way. The men living in the house however felt the name was appropriate as they knew the farm home to be a welcoming place for people to gather, to enjoy each other’s fellowship, to share a meal together, after a hard day’s work. This same welcoming environment of a farm home could be offered on a college campus, for studious men majoring in agriculture who possessed a strong work ethic. And so the group proudly took on the name FARMHOUSE.</blockquote>
A second chapter was founded at the University of Nebraska in 1911, organized by founder Robert F. Howard. After communication between the two groups, a third chapter was founded at the University of Illinois in 1914. FarmHouse became a national organization in 1921 by approval of each of the active chapters. On April 20, 1974, the FarmHouse Club at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was the first chapter established outside the United States. With the establishment of the Alberta chapter, FarmHouse became an international fraternity.
FarmHouse joined the North American Interfraternity Conference 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. FarmHouse dropped out of the NIC from 1971 to 1981, as did many other national and international fraternities.
Mission and ritual
The mission of FarmHouse Fraternity is primarily prescribed within what is known as "The Object" of the fraternity:<blockquote>“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 fellow men and to the world. To be and become such may at times require a sacrifice of time, pleasures and comforts.”</blockquote>The object is recited by members at all chapter rituals and regular chapter meetings.
The motto of FarmHouse is "Builders of Men". During the Star Ceremony new members are officially recognized by the chapter as brothers and are given their new member pin. Honorary members may be nominated by unanimous vote of a chapter, association board, or a special committee on honorary membership appointed by the international president. Upon nomination, the candidate must be unanimously elected by the International Executive Board to receive honorary membership. The award was created by the National Executive board in 1950. The death prompted State Senator Adam Morfeld to introduce a Good Samaritan law providing limited immunity to underage students who call for help in alcohol-related emergencies.
In October 2021, the FarmHouse chapter at the University of Kentucky contacted campus police "regarding reports of an unresponsive student." The student, later identified as Thomas "Lofton" Hazelwood, was taken to UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was pronounced dead. A statement from the Fayette County Coroner said the 18-year-old's cause of death was "presumed alcohol toxicity." On December 22, 2021, the fraternity suspended the charter of the University of Kentucky chapter and issued a no-contact order prohibiting current members of the chapter from any contact with FarmHouse for a period of seven years.
See also
- List of social fraternities