FarmHouse - Purdue FarmHouse

Original FarmHouse circa 1910

Chapter History

   In the spring of 1949, the perennial feeling that there was a need for another agricultural fraternity at Purdue began to jell. Officers of the National Executive Board met with FarmHouse alumni on the Purdue Staff. No definite action was taken at this time, but in September of 1949, a group of agricultural students inspired by Charles Kyd, Missouri, a graduate student at Purdue, began the work of establishing a FarmHouse chapter. With the help of Henry Mayo, Minnesota, and Dr. George Fallkenburg, Illinois, this group of students met, elected officers and drew up a constitution which was approved by the University on February 17, 1950. Ed Hornback served as our first president and Van Holsapple was our first secretary. They were responsible for the development and acceptance of the first constitution, which was revised in the spring of 1954 and again in 1957.
   Our first pledge class was initiated on February 22, 1950. during the spring semester, with the help of our faculty advisors, the late O.M. Long and his assistant, Bil Yaw, a house was selected and leased for three years. In May of 1950, Professor W.T. Anderson (who took a very active interest in the young group) of the Animal Husbandry Staff was made an Associate Member. We moved into the house at 147 Sheetz Street in September 1950.
   On December 14, 1950 our young fraternity received a staggering blow. Fire broke out upstairs about noon in which enough damage was sustained that we had to move out for several months. By procuring University housing, we were able to stay together. By helping out with repairs, we were able to move back in early March. The beginning of the fall semester found everyone hurrying back to renew old acquaintances and to make new ones. We began to develop participation in Interfraternity sports and enlarge in the number and kind of social events. Long range plans for our national initiation were then started, everyone pitched in to help redecorate the inside of the house, locate housing facilities for our guests, plan the program and of course, find enough Installation Dance dates for the many visitors. On April 16, 1952, after proving our worthiness and our future capabilities, the Purdue Chapter was installed as the twelfth link in the chain of FarmHouse chapters.
   Tremendous advances were made in the next year. We expanded our participation in campus affairs, expanded our scope in activities, and increased the fellowship within our group. The next big step was the purchase of the property at 153 Sheetz Street. By doing summer remodeling, we were able to move into the house in September. Then in 1957, an addition connecting the two houses became a reality doubling the size of our living facilities.
   In the fall of 1958, the spring pledge class as well as the active chapter built the patio which served as the entrance to the house.
   In October, 1958, the 20th Biennial Conclave of FarmHouse was held on the Purdue Campus, with the Purdue Chapter as host.
   At the Biennial Conclave in 1968 at Idaho, Henry Mayo was given the Master Builder of Men award for his fine service to our fraternity.
   Desire for a new house was constantly present at the Sheetz Street houses. In 1957, a building fund was set up to finance a new house. However, it was 1965 before the first big bond drive took place. After that drive, the new house looked like more of a reality. On October3, 1966, groundbreaking took place. However, members were forced to live in other fraternities until the new house was completed. Many hardships were endured, such as not having hot water or other plumbing facilities when moving in took place. This new structure is truly an example of sacrifice of time, pleasures, and comforts.
   The Purdue Chapter hosted the National FarmHouse Conclave for the second time in 1974. Dan Webb was the conclave chairman. The Purdue Chapter won chapter achievement award in the areas of financial management, and individual activities.
   In 1976, 1978, and 1982 Purdue Chapter again won the Alumni Relations Award at Conclave. 1984 however, was one of our biggest wins yet as we walked away with the Alumni Relations, Brotherhood, and Chapter Unity, and the Scholarship and Chapter Achievement awards. In addition to this, the Purdue Chapter was also named as a Gold Star Chapter. At the 1986 Conclave, the Purdue received the Gold Star Chapter and was runner-up for the outstanding chapter. In 1992, Purdue Chapter won the Chapter Achievement, Community Service, and Philanthropy, Social Competence, Outstanding Chapter award, and the Spiritual Growth and Development Award.

Our National Founders

D. Howard "Daddy" Doane (1883-1984) was a true Renaissance man - a student, a teacher, a writer, a business man, a poet, a farmer, a public servant, a devout Christian. Most widely known as the founder and long-time Chairman of the Board of Doane Agricultural Services, which is the oldest and for decades was the largest farm management, appraisal and agricultural research organization in the United States. Among his many life accomplishments, Doane served on an agriculture task force appointed by President Herbert Hoover that was charged with reorganizing the US Department of Agriculture. He wrote four books and numerous articles for the leading agricultural journals and magazines. He provided leadership to dozens of civic and professional organizations throughout his lifetime. He received a B.S. in agriculture in 1908 and M.S. in agriculture in 1909 at the University of Missouri. He received three Honorary doctorates as well.

Robert F. Howard (1883-1963) spent the first 15 years of his professional career as an educator before owning and running a large beef cattle operation and commercial pecan farm in Texas for the better part of his life. Howard was a professor and chairman of the Department of Horticulture at the University of Nebraska from 1914-24 after teaching previously at the University of Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. He moved to Wharton, Texas, in 1924, where he ran a 2,000 acre ranch with cattle and thousands of pecan trees. He provided leadership to many local and statewide civic organizations and initiatives in Texas for the last 40 years of his life. Howard received his B.S. in agriculture from Missouri in 1908, a masters in 1912 while teaching at Nebraska.

Claude B. Hutchison (1885-1980) was an educator for more than 40 years of his life, teaching at the University of Missouri, Cornell University, University of California-Davis, University of Nevada and spent more than 20 years as a Vice President (1945-52) and Dean of Agriculture at the University of California - Berkeley (1930-52). For four years in the 1920s, he was the associate director of agricultural education for Europe. In 1946, he was the chairman of an agricultural mission trip to China by the US Department of Agriculture. He retired from instruction in 1954, serving his last two years as Dean of Agriculture at Nevada. And from 1955-63 he served as mayor of Berkeley, Calif. Hutchison received honorary degrees from Missouri, Sofia, Bulgaria and California.

Henry H. Krusekopf (1886-1979) was a leading expert on soils, spending 48 years as a professor and researcher in the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri. He received his B.S. in agriculture in 1908 and his masters in 1916 from Missouri. He did graduate work at Illinois in 1931-32. He was the author of numerous publications and journals on soil development and soil survey. "Krusey" was a member of a number of scientific, honorary and professional societies. He also consulted a number of federal and international agencies on agriculture, flood control, forestry and Indian land claims. In his spare time, Krusekopf owned and operated a farm in southeast Missouri.

Earl W. "Farmer" Rusk (1885-1968) spent most of his career as a farmer and farm manager, yet enjoyed a variety of other professional interests. He briefly taught an Animal Husbandry course and served in the Farm Loan department of a large insurance company. He was farm service director of two Chicago radio station for four years, was agricultural agent for a railroad, and was supervising salesman and farm service director for a rock phosphate company for 14 years. He raised hogs and cattle on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks before retiring in California. Farmer Rusk graduated from Missouri in 1909. His son, William D., was the first son of a FarmHouse man to be initiated into FarmHouse in 1933.

Henry P. Rusk (1884-1954) spent most of his professional career on staff at the University of Illinois, including the last 13 years of his career as Dean of the College of Agriculture. He received a B.S. in 1908 and M.S. in 1911, both from the University of Missouri. He served in the Department of Animal Husbandry at Illinois from 1910-1939. He was head of the department from 1922-1939. Among numerous accomplishments, he was the chair of President Hoover's commission on agriculture from 1948-1954. Rusk provided leadership to multiple national, state and local boards and organizations. He received honorary doctorates from three universities.

Melvin E. Sherwin (1881-1924) was head of the soils department at what is now called North Carolina State University when he died at age 42. After graduating with a B.S. in agriculture in 1908, he received an M.A. in agriculture from the University of California-Berkeley in 1909. He spent one year as an agronomy instructor at the University of Maine before he joined the staff at NC State in 1910.

The "Original Eight"

The eight founding members of the Purdue Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity.

President, Edgar C. Hornback: Animal Husbandry; Richland, IN

Secretary, Van W. Holsapple: Animal Husbandry; Orleans, IN

Pledge Captain, Roy C. Elrod: Animal Husbandry; Remington, IN

Martin T. Mohler: Animal Husbandry; Springport, IN

Clarence Voliva: Horticulture; Hillsboro, IN

Kenneth W. Brashaber: Ag Education; Bloomington, IN

Paul R. Burbrink: Ag Education; Seymour, IN

Albin D. Lengyel: Floriculture; East Chicago, IN

For more history...

click here to view historical chapter documents or click here to view our national history.