MEMBERS
Awards & Recognition
As a Fraternity, we recognize the actions and efforts of our members and friends as they strive to leave a lasting, positive impact on their communities — locally and worldwide. At FarmHouse, we are known for high-achievement, and these are just some of the accomplishments within our organization we are able to highlight. Please join us in congratulating the recipients of these prestigious awards.
Master Builder
Nominations for the Master Builder of Men award are accepted on a rolling basis. Nominations for this award should include a biography of accomplishments and letters of recommendation. Materials should be submitted by Feb. 1 of a Conclave (even) year.
All nominations and related material should be submitted to via this online form. Physical nominations may also be mailed to FarmHouse Fraternity attention to the Awards Committee.
2026 Winners:
Terry Tobin (Iowa State 1976)
Gary Luth (Illinois 1969)
Jeremy Settles (New Mexico State 1994)
Eric Thurber (Nebraska 89)
In 1950, the Master Builder of Men Award was created by the International 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.
Claude B. Hutchison Award
Nominations for the Claude B. Hutchison Award for Meritorious Service are accepted on a rolling basis. Nominations for this award should include letters of recommendation and examples of service. Materials should be submitted by Feb. 1 of a Conclave (even) year.
All nominations and related material should be submitted via this online form. Physical nominations may also be mailed to FarmHouse Fraternity attention to the Awards Committee.
2026 Winners:
Duane Wolf (Iowa State 1989)
Bruce Frank (Illinois 2005)
Kevin Warneke (Nebraska 1982)
In 2018, the Fraternity recognized there was an opportunity to add an award for a much needed area – long tenure in volunteer service or completion of a significant period of volunteer service. The IEB gave considerable thought to what to name the award and settled on the Claude B. Hutchison Award for Meritorious Service. The naming seemed appropriate given brother Hutchison’s role as the Fraternity’s first board president, elected in 1917, serving eight years – the only president to do so. He was also a role model outside the Fraternity having served as the Dean of Agriculture at California Davis, as well as Nevada Reno, and was the mayor of Berkeley, Calif. after his academic career ended. This recognition is the Fraternity’s second highest recognition for an alumnus, second only to the Master Build of Men honor.
Honorary Members
Honorary membership in FarmHouse is extended by the FarmHouse International Executive 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 Executive Board and initiated at Conclave. All nominations and related material should be submitted via the online form by Feb. 1 of the Conclave year.
2024 Initiates:
Jake Atkinson (2024)
Mark Chaney (2024)
Barnes Interfraternalism Award
2025 & 2026 Winners: Jason Butler & John Christopher
The Barnes Award for Interfraternalism recognizes 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. All nominations and related material should be submitted via the online form by Feb. 1 of a Conclave (even) year.
Philanthropy Laureate
2026 Winners:
Ron Vaske (South Dakota State 1987)
Bob Knief (Illinois 1989)
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.
Robert L. Off Servant Leader Award
2025 & 2026 Winners: Dr. Roy Frederick (Nebraska 63) & Lloyd Bettis (Iowa State 67)
The FarmHouse Foundation Board of Trustees established the Robert L. Off Servant Leader Award as a means of recognizing individuals who have tirelessly contributed their time, leadership and resources in meaningful ways for the advancement of the FarmHouse Foundation. The award is named after Bob Off (Colorado 64) for his 44 years of dedicated professional service to FarmHouse and for the tremendous difference he has made on thousands of FarmHouse members during his tenure.
Chapter Based Awards
Annually, chapters may recognize outstanding individuals at the local level at Founders’ Day or other special events. These awards include the Darl Snyder Award for Outstanding Alumni Service, the Joan “Chad” Skinner Award recognizing the contributions of a female, the Doane Award for 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. More information regarding these awards can be found in the Builder of Men Affirmation, page 112-116. These awards are to be ordered through the International Headquarters.
Outstanding Advisor Award
Established in 2009, the Outstanding Advisor Award was first given in 2010 by the International Executive Board to Dr. Duane LeTourneau (Minnesota 1944), in recognition of his 53 years of service to the Idaho Chapter as an advisor, having served the chapter since day one. He helped establish the chapter when he arrived on the Moscow, Idaho campus in the mid-1950s as a young professor in the college of agriculture. He was the chapter’s Founding Father and was an ever-present figure in the chapter – as friend, brother, counselor and advisor. The late “Doc” 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. He passed away in 2013. 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.
Ruby Cup
2026 Winner: Iowa State
Chapters are recognized annually for their 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 who 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 upon the Excelsior Program and it is presented during the FarmHouse Leadership Institute.
Awards & Recognition
MEMBERS
Awards & Recognition
As a Fraternity, we recognize the actions and efforts of our members and friends as they strive to leave a lasting, positive impact on their communities — locally and worldwide. At FarmHouse, we are known for high-achievement, and these are just some of the accomplishments within our organization we are able to highlight. Please join us in congratulating the recipients of these prestigious awards.
Master Builder
Nominations for the Master Builder of Men award are accepted on a rolling basis. Nominations for this award should include a biography of accomplishments and letters of recommendation. Materials should be submitted by Feb. 1 of a Conclave (even) year.
All nominations and related material should be submitted to via this online form. Physical nominations may also be mailed to FarmHouse Fraternity attention to the Awards Committee.
2026 Winners:
Terry Tobin (Iowa State 1976)
Gary Luth (Illinois 1969)
Jeremy Settles (New Mexico State 1994)
Eric Thurber (Nebraska 89)
In 1950, the Master Builder of Men Award was created by the International 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.
Claude B. Hutchison Award
Nominations for the Claude B. Hutchison Award for Meritorious Service are accepted on a rolling basis. Nominations for this award should include letters of recommendation and examples of service. Materials should be submitted by Feb. 1 of a Conclave (even) year.
All nominations and related material should be submitted via this online form. Physical nominations may also be mailed to FarmHouse Fraternity attention to the Awards Committee.
2026 Winners:
Duane Wolf (Iowa State 1989)
Bruce Frank (Illinois 2005)
Kevin Warneke (Nebraska 1982)
In 2018, the Fraternity recognized there was an opportunity to add an award for a much needed area – long tenure in volunteer service or completion of a significant period of volunteer service. The IEB gave considerable thought to what to name the award and settled on the Claude B. Hutchison Award for Meritorious Service. The naming seemed appropriate given brother Hutchison’s role as the Fraternity’s first board president, elected in 1917, serving eight years – the only president to do so. He was also a role model outside the Fraternity having served as the Dean of Agriculture at California Davis, as well as Nevada Reno, and was the mayor of Berkeley, Calif. after his academic career ended. This recognition is the Fraternity’s second highest recognition for an alumnus, second only to the Master Build of Men honor.
Honorary Members
Honorary membership in FarmHouse is extended by the FarmHouse International Executive 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 Executive Board and initiated at Conclave. All nominations and related material should be submitted via the online form by Feb. 1 of the Conclave year.
2024 Initiates:
Jake Atkinson (2024)
Mark Chaney (2024)
Barnes Interfraternalism Award
2025 & 2026 Winners: Jason Butler & John Christopher
The Barnes Award for Interfraternalism recognizes 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. All nominations and related material should be submitted via the online form by Feb. 1 of a Conclave (even) year.
Philanthropy Laureate
2026 Winners:
Ron Vaske (South Dakota State 1987)
Bob Knief (Illinois 1989)
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.
Robert L. Off Servant Leader Award
2025 & 2026 Winners: Dr. Roy Frederick (Nebraska 63) & Lloyd Bettis (Iowa State 67)
The FarmHouse Foundation Board of Trustees established the Robert L. Off Servant Leader Award as a means of recognizing individuals who have tirelessly contributed their time, leadership and resources in meaningful ways for the advancement of the FarmHouse Foundation. The award is named after Bob Off (Colorado 64) for his 44 years of dedicated professional service to FarmHouse and for the tremendous difference he has made on thousands of FarmHouse members during his tenure.
Chapter Based Awards
Annually, chapters may recognize outstanding individuals at the local level at Founders’ Day or other special events. These awards include the Darl Snyder Award for Outstanding Alumni Service, the Joan “Chad” Skinner Award recognizing the contributions of a female, the Doane Award for 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. More information regarding these awards can be found in the Builder of Men Affirmation, page 112-116. These awards are to be ordered through the International Headquarters.
Outstanding Advisor Award
Established in 2009, the Outstanding Advisor Award was first given in 2010 by the International Executive Board to Dr. Duane LeTourneau (Minnesota 1944), in recognition of his 53 years of service to the Idaho Chapter as an advisor, having served the chapter since day one. He helped establish the chapter when he arrived on the Moscow, Idaho campus in the mid-1950s as a young professor in the college of agriculture. He was the chapter’s Founding Father and was an ever-present figure in the chapter – as friend, brother, counselor and advisor. The late “Doc” 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. He passed away in 2013. 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.
Ruby Cup
2026 Winner: Iowa State
Chapters are recognized annually for their 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 who 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 upon the Excelsior Program and it is presented during the FarmHouse Leadership Institute.
