In 1923, Elmer Scheidenhelm (Illinois 1923)† joined FarmHouse. One hundred years later, his legacy continues to make an indelible impact on the Fraternity through his and his family’s vision and philanthropy. 

“Scheid,” as he was known to his friends, earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois, where he was initiated and stood out as an undergraduate leader of his chapter. He then served the Fraternity faithfully for more than 49 years.

Scheidenhelm completed graduate work at South Dakota State University followed by a master’s degree at Michigan State University, where he applied his knowledge to the dairy industry and then as a county extension agent and a dairy specialist for more than four decades.

Throughout his career, he was involved with FarmHouse at every campus of which he was a part of — Illinois, South Dakota State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers and Kentucky — serving as a chapter advisor or on association boards, and was always ready to help in any way.  

He served on the Fraternity’s national board of directors from 1937-46, as vice president for two years and president for four years. During this time, Scheidenhelm was one of the original incorporators of the National Fraternity and in 1940, was responsible for the establishment of Pearls & Rubies. Following his term as president, he served four years on the Fraternity’s national advisory council. 

In 1938, during his time on the Fraternity board, Scheidenhelm’s first wife, Thelma, passed away, leaving him a widower with his young son, John (Illinois 50)†.

Scheidenhelm then married Helen, and together they became generous FarmHouse supporters, taking chapters under their wing and providing guidance, support and financial assistance. 

Helen was heavily involved in FarmHouse alongside Scheidenhelm. Often called “one of the women behind FarmHouse,” she was known for being one of the best friends, most generous benefactors and staunchest supporters of the Fraternity during her lifetime. She contributed many long hours as secretary and advisor during Scheidenhelm’s term on the Fraternity’s national board, well before any paid staff were hired for the organization. She was the step-mother of John, mother to Sarah and Mary Sue, and mother-in-law of Gary Eilrich (Kansas State 61). She was a consummate volunteer for several organizations in the communities where they lived.

Her interest and support of the Fraternity spanned more than 50 years, dating back to when she first met “Daddy” Doane in 1939. 

She did everything from selecting furnishings for the Michigan State and Kentucky chapter houses, to providing flowers for alumni receptions and gatherings. After Scheidenhelm’s passing, for several years, Helen helped host an annual alumni event in Arizona.

The fall 1956 issue of Pearls & Rubies was the Golden Anniversary issue for the Fraternity and to celebrate its history and reflect on the future, several of the Fraternity’s leaders were asked to write special articles of interest. 

Scheidenhelm wrote on the topic, “Targets of Tomorrow” in which he stated, “Leadership training is a must. Chapter officers and association officers must be well informed to perform their jobs effectively. Outstanding achievement has marked the first 50 years of our existence as a Fraternity. No less than our best aim at the target, combining the elements of support of our national organization, the development of well trained men and a wholesome contribution to the national fraternity system, can be our goal for tomorrow.” 

Scheidenhelm was named a FarmHouse Master Builder of Men in 1958. After 40 years in agriculture extension work, he retired in 1967 and continued to stay involved in FarmHouse until his passing in October 1972. 

Two decades after Scheidenhelm’s speech, his idea of leadership training became a reality, when Helen, together with the Scheidenhelm family, friends and FH brothers, established a memorial fund in his name to support the development of a new regional leadership program. Their intention was to devote funds to improve the quality of education and brotherhood of FarmHouse Fraternity. 

The fund was the first named endowment for the Foundation in memory of an alumnus. The Scheidenhelm’s generosity put the Fraternity’s regional leadership conferences on a more secure basis which, at the time, was considered the most significant gift made to the Foundation in its more than 10 year existence.

As a result, the Scheidenhelm’s generosity sparked other endowments to be established by Illinois FarmHouse alumni and fellow board members. Today, the Foundation administers 194 named endowment funds.  

Ray Schooley (Kansas State 57), Foundation treasurer when the Fund was established, said at the 1974 Conclave, “This generous gift is accepted with grateful appreciation. Such use of the Fund is appropriate in view of  Mr. Scheidenhelm’s own strong leadership and service to the National Fraternity and several of its individual chapters. The Scheidenhelm family’s generosity has helped to turn the attention of the Foundation Board of Trustees to the challenges of determining what programs or projects are worthy to support by the FarmHouse Foundation. This challenge has received impetus from D. Howard “Daddy” Doane who has urged the Foundation and Fraternity to identify programs that will keep the principles and high ideals of FarmHouse alive among our members and those with which they come in contact.”

For the next 20 years, Helen continued to contribute stock and cash to grow their family’s endowment fund. Upon Helen’s passing in February 1992, the Foundation received another generous gift from her estate. Scheidenhelm’s son, John, continued to contribute to their family’s fund each year, following Helen’s passing. 

John followed his father’s legacy of supporting FarmHouse through his giving and volunteering, and would often share stories about the FarmHouse men and women he knew, many of whom he had known since childhood. John, like his father, celebrated 47 years in the dairy industry, and in September 2023, passed away. Since John’s passing, new memorial gifts have been given to their family’s leadership endowment fund.

Fifty years after its establishment, the Elmer C. Schneidenhelm Memorial Endowment Fund continues to keep FarmHouse principles alive by investing in student leaders through the Fraternity’s leadership programs. This includes funding for the former regional leadership conferences and now the FarmHouse Leadership Institute or Conclave. 

Last fiscal year, a grant of $5,348 was awarded to the Fraternity for undergraduate attendees to tour, learn and experience the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum during the 2022 Conclave. 

As said nearly 50 years ago by Schooley at the 1974 Conclave, this promise still rings true today, “Let me assure you it [this fund] will be used to better our aim at the target of leadership training Mr. Scheidenhelm described so well for us in 1956.” 

As we remember Scheidenhelm’s membership 100 years ago, the establishment of this “first of its kind” endowment 50 years later and John’s recent passing, we celebrate the incredible legacy of the Schneidenhelm family. 

Because of their legacy giving, FarmHouse leaders get to attend and learn at FarmHouse leadership programs. It’s as if the Scheidenhelms are still with us, each year for many FarmHouse young men!