FarmHouse: Difference between revisions

{{AboutShort description|theNorth socialAmerican collegiate fraternity|the building|Farmhouse}}

|birthplace city = [[UniversityKansas ofCity, Missouri|Kansas City]]

|scope country = United States{{br}}Canada

| homepage = {{urlURL|http://www.farmhouse.org}}

'''FarmHouse''' ('''FH''') is a men's social [[Fraternities and sororities in North America|fraternity]] founded at the [[University of Missouri]] on April 15, 1905. It became a national organization in 1921. Today FarmHouse has 3334 active chapters and four associate chapters (formerly colonies) in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]].<ref name="FH Pledge">FarmHouse Fraternity New Membership Education Manual, published by FarmHouse International Fraternity, Inc.</ref>

FarmHouse was founded as a professional agriculture fraternity on April 15, 1905, by seven men at the University of Missouri, who had met at a [[YMCA]] bible study and had decided that they wanted to form a club. The seven founders were [[D. Howard Doane]], [[Robert F. Howard]], [[Claude B. Hutchison]], H.[[Henry H. Krusekopf]], Earl W. Rusk, [[Henry P. Rusk]], and [[Melvin E. Sherwin]]. D. Howard Doane conceived the basic ideas which led to FarmHouse, and is considered the father of the Fraternityfraternity.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://farmhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FH-Ritual-Book-2016-Edition-Print.pdf|title=Builder of Men Affirmation|website=FarmHouse Fraternity}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=STRENGTHENING OUR BRAND |url=https://farmhouse.org/about/brand/ |publisher=FarmHouse Fraternity |access-date=22 November 2022 |quote=Progress Shall Mark Our Every Step}}</ref>

The motto of FarmHouse is "Builders of Men".<ref name="FH Pledge" /> The fraternityname seeksFarmHouse tois buildan menacronym withstanding "Fourfoldfor Development"Faith, encouragingAmbition, growthReverence, inMorality, theHonesty, intellectualObedience, physicalUnity, social/moralService and spiritualExcellence. aspectsFarmHouse ofdoes theirnot lives.<refhave name="FHgreek letters and contrary to some rumors, does not have Pledge"secret" />greek letters.

To become a member of FarmHouse Fraternity, an undergraduate must be extended a bid, or offer of membership, by a chapter of the fraternity at their university. Chapters regularly host recruitment, or rush, events to get to know potential new members, in addition to inviting them over to dinner or a tour of the chapter facility. Every chapter has an officer in charge of recruitment in addition to the responsibility for all chapter members to identify and recruit new members who live by FarmHouse values.

New members are men who have accepted a bid extended to them by a chapter of the fraternity. New membership is officially conferred during the course of the Star Ceremony.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |date=2004 |title=Pearls & Rubies |url=http:/>/farmhouse.org/foundation/documents/2014%20Pearls%20&%20Rubies%20-%20Fall.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Pearls & Rubies |publisher=FarmHouse Fraternity |volume=109 |issue=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109225605/http://farmhouse.org/foundation/documents/2014%20Pearls%20&%20Rubies%20-%20Fall.pdf |archive-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> During the Star Ceremony new members are officially recognized by the chapter as brothers and are given their new member pin.<ref name=":0" /> The Star Ceremony is also considered to be the beginning of new member education.<ref name=":3" /> New member education is the period before initiation as a chapter member where new members learn about the history and values of the fraternity. New member education is led by an elected officer of the chapter known as the Director of New Member Education and lasts a maximum of twelve weeks.<ref name=":3" /> Once a new member completes new member education, he is considered for initiation as a chapter member.

Chapter members are men who have been initiated as a member of a chapter of the fraternity. Members are elected to membership by a vote of the chapter, commonly referred to as the initiation vote. This vote reflects the new member's completion of new member education and that they 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," as stated in the object.<ref name=":3" /> Membership is officially conferred during the Pearl Ceremony, where members are given the standard badge of the fraternity, pledge to uphold the principles and standards of the fraternity, and sign their name in the official chapter membership record, known as the Herd Book.<ref name=":0" />

Alumni members are men who have graduated from college or who have requested to leave the chapter prior to graduation but wish to maintain their membership in the fraternity. If a man wishes to obtain early alumni status prior to graduation, he may be granted it upon approval of the chapter, by two-thirds vote, and the International Executive Director.<ref name=":3" /> Alumni membership is officially conferred in the Ruby Ceremony and is considered to be the end of a member's chapter membership. Upon becoming an alumni member, the man automatically becomes a member of the alumni association affiliated with his previous chapter, and if he moves to another state, will have dual-affiliation with the alumni association within that state.<ref name=":0" />

Associate members are men who having demonstrated the qualities of a FarmHouse man, shown interest in the fraternity, and having not joined a social fraternity while in college or afterwards, are granted membership in the fraternity. Associate membership is granted by a local chapter, which the man automatically becomes an alumni member of. In cases where no chapter exists, an association may grant alumni membership with the approval of the international executive director.<ref name=":3" /> Associate members, just like chapter members, officially receive their membership through observing the Pearl Ceremony.<ref name=":0" />

Honorary membership is conferred to men of high character and great professional achievement who embody the ideals of a FarmHouse man. It is usually conferred during a Pearl Ceremony at a biennial conclave chaired by the International President.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://farmhouse.org/honorary-membership-nomination/|title=Honorary Membership Nomination|website=FARMHOUSE|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-18}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":3" /> Honorary members have the full rights of any alumni member of the fraternity.

== See also ==

*[[List of social fraternities and sororities]]