Building brotherhood and community at Minnesota FarmHouse

LI YAN TAN, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION, BA '25

Last week, University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham visited the Minnesota FarmHouse Fraternity at the St. Paul campus and held a meaningful conversation with representatives from the St. Paul Greek community composed of FarmHouse, Beta of Clovia, Lambda Delta Phi, Delta Theta Sigma and Alpha Gamma Rho.

The active members from the St. Paul Greek houses had the chance to engage with President Cunningham, ask important questions and showcase the unique community that thrives on the St. Paul campus. The President also highlighted upcoming capital projects and renewed the University’s commitment to reinvesting in the St. Paul campus. 

The St. Paul campus is often seen as a smaller community, and many believe that is part of its strength. Smaller communities create space for deeper connections and Greek life plays a big role in shaping those bonds. Greek life here includes three fraternities, including Delta Theta Sigma, FarmHouse and Alpha Gamma Rho, and two sororities, which include Beta of Clovia and Lambda Delta Phi. With CFANS rooted in food, agriculture and natural resources, these Greek houses carry strong agricultural traditions while creating lasting impact in the lives of their members.

Founded in 1905, FarmHouse Fraternity has a long history at St. Paul. The chapter focuses on promoting good fellowship, encouraging academic excellence and inspiring its members to pursue the best in their studies and in life. Today, FarmHouse remains committed to building a supportive brotherhood. Members of the Minnesota chapter share what makes their fraternity unique:

What makes FarmHouse stand out compared to other fraternities on campus?

FarmHouse stands apart through the community of brothers that it creates. During the school year, we gather around the dinner table for lunches and dinners prepared by our brothers. There, quality time is shared to grow our brotherhood. We are a community that cares for the individual, not just the wellness of the fraternity. We are a dry house that provides a quiet and clean environment to focus on your studies. The state of the house sets us apart as well. It is a new house built in 2017.

How does being part of FarmHouse support your members in their academic and career journeys?

Being a part of FarmHouse means you are connected to a group that cares about how you are doing in school. We have members in all colleges. So, regardless of your major, you can go to your brothers for help on an assignment or studying. We set academic goals as well and recognize strong grades with a steak dinner each semester. FarmHouse also has a great network of alumni. Active members have had the opportunity to shadow or be mentored by alumni in the industry. You may even talk to a FarmHouse alumnus during the CFANS career fair.

What opportunities for leadership and growth have you found through FarmHouse?

At the chapter level, FarmHouse offers many opportunities for leadership and growth. We have ten executive officer positions where members have the chance to lead the chapter, organize events, and more. There are other ways to learn responsibility and leadership with our appointed positions that are better suited as an introductory leadership position.

At the international level, FarmHouse Fraternity offers leadership conferences that are free for those who are accepted. There is the FarmHouse Leadership Institute, where executive officers attend to get training on their position and meet the other chapter officers from around the country. To Be and Become is offered to underclassmen who apply to grow their leadership skills, bettering themselves and the chapter. The Power of Seven is the most prestigious conference. It is an educational opportunity available for twelve of the best and brightest FarmHouse upperclassmen to network and learn from FarmHouse industry leaders in agriculture, business, real estate, technology, and law.

How do members build community and support one another?

At FarmHouse, we strengthen our bonds by having roommate pairings each semester, holding brotherhood events for the entire chapter to be involved, playing table tennis and foosball, golfing, working out, and hosting bible study together. We support one another by encouraging meaningful discussions around religion and spirituality. We also help each other academically by tutoring each other within the house.

What are your favorite parts about being a member of Minnesota FarmHouse?

Our favorite part of FarmHouse is the strong brotherhood we have. We credit this brotherhood to us being a dry house, so we plan things together that aren't centered around drinking. From golfing to playing DND together, we are always doing something together, brought together by FarmHouse and its values. FarmHouse also provides us with a smaller community feel that is safe and welcoming. We hold open ritual to the public, and there is no hazing within our new member process. Overall, we are a diverse group of those who hold similar values, and we want to see each other succeed.

Are there any traditions or events that hold special meaning for your chapter? 

Each year, we love to host our Crawfish Boil philanthropy event that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. On top of the crawfish boil, there are root beer floats and live music played by active FarmHouse members, FH alumni, or members of the St. Paul campus. It is rewarding to come together to support charity and hear live music at the same time.

Another great tradition is our Builder of Men Week. This is our initiation, where we kick off by having pizza and singing traditional songs. We have many events until the end of the week and we end with our initiation ceremony on Sunday morning.

On one of the last Mondays in December, the chapter hosts a Christmas dinner where we invite dates to enjoy a top-notch meal prepared by our alumni and a chef.

How do FarmHouse members engage with the broader University and Twin Cities community?

Throughout the year, we contribute to the area through hosting philanthropies that go to support NMDP and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We also hold ourselves to a high standard in giving back to the community. Each member is expected to do 20 hours of community service each semester. Some examples of this are, but not limited to, raking leaves and shoveling snow in our local community, packing food for Feed My Starving Children, and helping a church’s food distribution program. Our members also fill positions at the Minnesota State Fair with 4-H, FFA, and various food stands.

As students, we are constantly engaged with the rest of the Twin Cities campus. Our members are involved with and hold leadership positions and many other clubs around campus. We are involved in Homecoming and machy days with other Greek houses. We compete in Minnesota Royal each year.

Could you share a memorable story or experience that captures the impact of being in FarmHouse?

Every year, we play our rival fraternity, AGR, in football, basketball, and softball. It is a great feeling to be able to physically compete with your brothers alongside you. Though it has been a dry spell for FarmHouse recently, it is still a memorable time. After each game, we gather back at our house to sing Blood on Blood by Bon Jovi together, a fun reminder of the bonds we form during our time here.

For a CFANS student who might be interested in joining, what do you hope they gain from the experience? 

CFANS students can gain access to a huge network of connections that stems from any of the CFANS majors. They also gain an outstanding housing option that allows for easy commutes to and from classes. Further from that, you get to be in a group that is CFANS majority so with that students can continue to build further connections and a sense of community. FarmHouse gives them a group that focuses on our four pillars of physical, intellectual, social/moral, and spiritual, and fosters personal growth. FarmHouse members commonly grow friendships that last a lifetime.

Looking to the future, what is one goal or vision FarmHouse has for the chapter?

We are ready to expand our membership so that more people can have the unique FarmHouse experience. We plan to continue to build high-quality men into well-rounded members of their communities and world.

Reach out to President Aaron Lorenz at [email protected] or VP of Recruitment Nathaniel Clore at [email protected]. Follow Minnesota FarmHouse on Instagram and their website to learn more and get involved.