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What is FarmHouse? || History of FarmHouse || Our Founding Fathers || The 4-Fold Building Process || The Central Attributes || Organization of FarmHouse || Honorary Members || Master Builders THE HISTORY OF FARMHOUSE FRATERNITY
1925-1934 Overcoming Challenges The period from 1925 to 1934 probably was the most difficult FarmHouse Fraternity has faced. It began with one of the chapters proposing a name change to Greek letters at the 1925 Conclave in Manhattan, Kansas. Two of the five chapters expressed some interest in such a change, but the other three emphatically opposed it. Some said the Fraternity was missing many good men because it did not bear a Greek-letter name. Others countered that many of the good men then in FarmHouse would not have joined a fraternity with Greek letters. Since the majority of delegates opposed such a change, the subject was dropped.
The Wisconsin-Madison Chapter continued to struggle with the name and soon decided to return its charter and withdraw from the national organization. Rather than widespread dissension, that decision brought the other FarmHouse chapters closer and developed an even stronger sense of brotherhood among FarmHouse men. Despite the organizational name debate and the Depression that followed the stock-market crash of 1929, the Fraternity prospered between 1925 and 1934. Three new chapters formed, and FarmHouse's standing in agriculture and campus leadership increased. Expansion to Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Minnesota
A year later, a FarmHouse chapter was installed at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) on May 12, 1928. Twenty-five men were initiated as charter members. The Oklahoma State Chapter also was founded on high scholastic ideals. From the day of chartering, the chapter was widely known and respected on campus—with brothers leading agricultural clubs, playing varsity sports, editing the campus newspaper, participating in student religious organizations, and dominating the Alpha Zeta agricultural honorary with 13 of the 14 members.
Effects of the Depression FarmHouse chapters certainly were not sheltered from the effects of the Depression. Several encountered severe financial problems as members struggled to pay their house bills and dues. There was a positive side to the Depression, however. Enrollment in agricultural colleges began to increase in the 1930s as many men turned to education to better their chances of finding suitable employment. |
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That didn't end the debate. In 1926, the FarmHouse National Executive Committee mailed a questionnaire to 786 alumni and undergraduates and 78 respected administrators at agricultural colleges. Of those who responded, 265 voted against a change and 129 favored one. 
After more than five years seeking to become a FarmHouse Chapter as the Lanthus Club, the Iowa State Chapter was chartered on January 22, 1927. From its days as a club, the chapter took its academics seriously, setting records for the highest grade-point average fraternities had seen at Iowa State University in the chapter's first two years. It also had many campus leaders, varsity athletes, and leaders in the agricultural college. All brothers were members of their departmental clubs. 
Another FarmHouse chapter emerged during the Depression. Like several of the earlier chapters, the Minnesota Chapter evolved from an agricultural club. The group operated secretly for the first few years before being chartered as a FarmHouse chapter in 1931. The charter class numbered 20 men—leaders in athletics, student government, and campus activities. 
