Awards & Recognition

In 1950, the Master Builder of Men Award was created by the National Executive Board as the highest honor that FarmHouse can bestow upon one of its alumni members. Neither position, wealth, nor occupation enter into consideration for the award but simply what he has done to help others

Honorary membership in FarmHouse is extended by the FarmHouse International Board to men who are outstanding in agriculture or its related sciences; fulfill the objectives and high standards of FarmHouse; and/or are a source of inspiration to his associates and acquaintances. A man nominated for Honorary Membership may not be a member of another social fraternity. Honorary members have full rights and privileges of membership. In distinguishing between associate and honorary members, associate members are selected and initiated at a local chapter/association level, while honorary members are selected by the International Board and initiated at Conclave.

The Barnes Award for Interfraternalism will recognize the service of volunteers, campus professionals, organizations or higher education administrators who support FarmHouse and advance the fraternal movement as a whole, for the betterment of the fraternity and sorority community.

The FarmHouse Foundation Board of Trustees established the Philanthropy Laureate Award in 1999. This distinguished designation for outstanding philanthropic support is the highest honor bestowed by the Foundation. The recipient(s) must have exhibited great philanthropic intent throughout his/her life and have some connection with FarmHouse as a brother, spouse, parent, relative, etc. Typically the recipient is an individual who has made financial and service contributions of significant dimension to the Foundation, individual FarmHouse chapters and/or society. Recipients may be chosen annually, but they generally will be announced and recognized at a biennial Conclave.

Annually chapters may recognize outstanding individuals at the local level at Founders’ Day or other special events. These include the Snyder Award for Oustanding Alumni Service, the Skinner Award recognizing the contributions of a female, the Doane Award to the chapter’s outstanding senior member and the Friend of FarmHouse Award recognizing the contributions of a non-member or organization affiliated with the chapter’s success. These awards are to be ordered through the International headquarters office.

Established in 2009, the Outstanding Advisor award was first given in 2010 by the International Fraternity to Dr. Duane LeTourneau (MN 44), in recognition of his 53 years of service to the Idaho Chapter as advisor, having served the chapter since day 1, as he helped establish the chapter when he arrived on the Moscow campus in the mid-1950s as a young professor in the College of Agriculture. He is the chapter’s Founding Father and since its chartering has been an ever-present figure in the chapter – as friend, brother, counselor and advisor. LeTourneau served on the Fraternity’s International Executive Board in the 1960s, including a term as Vice President and received the title Master Builder in 1966. The award is given to an advisor, regardless of FarmHouse affiliation, who has exhibited a”…sacrifice of time, pleasures, and comforts” for the betterment of FarmHouse Fraternity.

Chapters are recognized annually for outstanding work though the FarmHouse chapter awards competition. The Ruby Cup was designed in 1994 to recognize the overall outstanding chapter of the Fraternity. The chapter that captures The Ruby Cup gets a chance to display it in its chapter house for the year following selection. The chapter awards process is based around the Excelsior Program.