U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s Fa r m H o u s e

FarmSteadWinter 2014

Alumni AssociationPresident’s ReportSeason Greetings, Hope all alumni family and friends enjoyed the holiday season. I spent Christmas in northern Illinois where my family enjoyed a white Christmas. And now in Central Illinois our area is getting hit with snow and artic cold conditions.

Sophomores Dane Hasselbring and Wil Cagley collect donations

outside of the luncheon.

Tornado RELIEF

The event, held in the ACES library, was well attended.

Members of Sigma Alpha help serve pulled pork, cole slaw, macaroni and

cheese, and baked beans to those in attendance.

The men of FarmHouse paired up with the ladies of Sigma

Alpha on Saturday, December 7th for a fund raising luncheon to benefit the victims of the tornados that devastated the state in late November. The luncheon was the most successful philanthropic event in recent memory that the house has hosted. Including donations from FarmHouse alums and local businesses, we raised around one thousand dollars to be distributed to tornado victims by the Illinois Red Cross. Thanks to those of you who donated and helped drive our success!

The fall 2013 semester on campus went quickly for the men living at 809 wrapping up just before Christmas. I am also proud to announce the house GPA was a 3.21/4 for the fall semester. The spring semester began in late January following a much needed break.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for making the annual Phone-a-Thon a success. It is donations and support from Alumni that keep 809 open and as rich in tradition as the days we called it home. Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy start to 2014.

- Andy Brantner ‘06/Champaign, IL

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FarmHouse Fraternity

This fall has been filled with many amazing

opportunities. One of the most memorable events of late has been the visit from two young men that served as agricultural ambassadors from Brazil. They stayed with us here at 809 while attending a few classes in the College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. While the week that they stayed at the house went quickly, it was an experience that will not soon be forgotten. During their time here, one of them celebrated a twenty-second birthday, so we hosted the ladies of Alpha Omicron Pi at the house, and then took our guests out for a night at the bars. Between attending University of Illinois classes, house socials, and getting to know the forty men currently in the house, our Brazilian friends had a fantastic time. We are always happy to open

BRAZILIAN BRAZILIAN BRAZILIAN

Have a story, announcement, death notice, address change or other news to share with your

fellow Brothers in the FarmStead?

Please submit your news and a JPEG picture to

Greg Niewold at gregniewold@gmail.com.

Have a story, announcement, death notice, address change or other news to share with your

fellow Brothers in the FarmStead?

Please submit your news and a JPEG picture to

Greg Niewold at gregniewold@gmail.com.

VISITVISITVISITVISITVISITVISITby Jake Ekstrand

Soy Ambassadors from Brazil with Jake Ekstrand (center).

Soy Ambassadors from Brazil with FarmHouse men.

Some other improvements to the house include the front lawn being leveled and reseeded. This

became necessary after the yard and part of the front walk was torn up to repair a sewer main in the basement last year. The yard was professionally worked at the beginning of the semester, and

then seeded by Nick Wherley (’99). Wherley spent many hours watering and tending to the front yard to make sure it was another handsome part of the house. Next spring, the grass will be ready to be cut and allow FarmHouse to remain an eye-catching corner stone to Lincoln and Pennsylvania avenues.

YARD UPGRADE

IL FH Association Financial ReportThe Illinois FarmHouse Association currently has a ledger balance of $98,679 in the general account as of 2/7/14. We use two separate accounts to accrue Capital Campaign funds: a money market account at Prairie State Bank had a ledger balance of $41,534.22 as of 2/7/14 and investments at Vanguard totaled $202,317 as of the quarterly statement on 12/31/13. The FY2013/14 Association budget will receive gross revenues of approximately $135,000 prior to any donations. The bulk of those funds will go towards operating and maintaining the chapter house at 809 West Pennsylvania. The top five largest budget items for the Association in this year’s budget account for 79% of the operating budget for the fiscal year. The top five FY2013/14 budget items are: • $40,000forcapitalmaintenance• $22,000forrealestatetaxes• $20,000forinsurance• $14,000investedintotheVanguard accounts for long-term capital projects • $10,000forinternetaccess/ maintenance/equipment. Fiscal year to date we have received approximately $13,790 in donations. Thank you to all those who are willing and able to contribute.

Neil Noland - October 30th, 2013

Eldon Russell Dilworth - December 18th, 2012

Rest In Peace

the doors of 809 to guests, and look forward to their next visit. Thank you to the alumni that made this opportunity possible!

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Builder of Men

Brothers, The position of Alumni Relations is an interesting one. Some responsibilities include helping organize the Phone-A-Thon, publicizing house events, and fielding questions from members in the house as well as alums. All of this is in an effort to bridge the gap between the men who live at FarmHouse and those who have lived at FarmHouse. This year has there is much to brag about, and you can surely be proud that you are FarmHouse alum.

This semester we have had a full social calendar. This has allowed us to build closer relationships with many sororities around campus. Some of our social events have included cookouts at the house, pre-games, and renting out bars for an evening out. Socials have been well attended and we hope to start next

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semester in similar fashion.

In addition to the success we have seen in our relationships with other houses, the relationships within the house are probably even stronger. Brotherhood events have been well attended, men are respectful even in disagreement, and nearly everyone shows up to eat together. It has been noted by most that the house is more united than it has been in many years, and we are enjoying the semester together.

Much of the strength of our numbers has come from this yearÕ s pledge class, which includes fourteen new members. With

Ò Progress shall mark our every stepÉÓ This line, taken from the FarmHouse objective, is commonly used to stress the accomplishments made by each man

individually. However, through my short time living in the house I have learned that this applies to much more than that. As a sophomore that just transferred to the University of Illinois, I have been living in the house for less than a semester and I have already seen progress being made all around our Fraternity. From brotherhood and fellowship, to campus and community involvement, to leadership and scholastic success, there has been progress made in every aspect of what we are here to accomplish. With it being my first semester here, it has been great to move onto campus and immediately have 40 friends to go to for help with any challenge I, or any of my pledge brothers, have faced while getting accustomed to life on campus. The group of men who currently live in the house have been a huge help to us by giving us advice and setting up programs to train us on how to get involved on campus while still meeting the high GPA

standard which FarmHouse is known for. The newly implemented organizational workshop and mandatory study hours have played a crucial part in helping us to get our feet on the ground.Throughout our pledge semester we have participated in numerous community service activities totaling up over 60 hours in the first 10 weeks of classes. We have also been encouraged to join at least two organizations of our choice on campus. Participating in these activities have helped us to grow our network of people outside of the house and uphold FarmHouseÕ s reputation of being an active group on campus and in the community.

The progressive steps that are being made at the University Of Illinois Chapter Of FarmHouse are excellent. Constant progression is being made in the men of the house, in the campus and community activities that the house takes part in, and in the house itself; but there is always more room for improvement. As pledge class of 2016 President I can speak for our entire class when I say that we are all excited to be a part of this outstanding Fraternity and even more excited to see the future of the house in the next few years. Fraternally, Darren Riskedal

in-house numbers currently at thirty-nine, the new members have done well to represent the values that our fraternity holds highly. Our goal for next fall is to have eighteen recruits, so if you know of any outstanding young men from your area please send them our way.

With a successful Phone-A-Thon wrapped up and the publication of this issue of the FarmStead, I end my tenure as Alumni Relations representative. I hope that you have had a chance to reconnect with members living in the house and that you enjoy sharing our successes. If you have any questions please feel free to stop by or call the house at 217-344-4069. If neither of these options work for you, you can also contact next yearÕ s Vice President of Alumni Relations, Michael Gill at megill2@illinois.edu. Best wishes and thank you for your continued support.

Fraternally, Chris Steppig

The Men of FarmHouse - 2013/14

FarmHouse FraternityILLINOIS CHAPTERFarmHouse FraternityP.O. Box 954Urbana, IL 61803

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U.S. PostagePAID

Paxton ILPermit No 8

FarmHouse FraternityFarmHouse Fraternity

THANK YOU!PHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON DONORSPHONE-A-THON 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Tom ArnsmanJ. Alden AshbaughBarry A AvesGerald L BachmanEdward K BakerAllen K BarclayWarren E BernerJames A BilyeuR David BittingKenneth R BolenRobert Perry BosshartChad E BradenRichard C BrantnerEric Alan BruckerDonald L CarlsonWayne A ClarkThomas M ConklinDaniel John DeuthJohn E DeuthBrian R Deverman

Todd K DittmerMichael J DorneyJames D DoughertyMax A DunsethThomas E DurbinNorman F EhlersBenjamin L EricksonMichael R FayheeJeffery L FehrenbacherRoger H GallupDavid A GoodellHarold D GuitherPhillip J HeisnerMatthew J HelmsRobert G HeltsleyRobert L HenningerHarley A HepnerWilliam L HollisTerrence J HolmGary J HuelsBrian L JohnsonByron E JonesThomas Richard KilmerChad S KindredRobert G Knief

Michael S KollmanRonald Lee LawferG Irvin LippJohn R LonglettChris B LovekampEthan LuthBrett E MadisonCharles William MayfieldBrian MewesRonald G MitchellRoger C MohrmanRobert F MulchGregory James NiewoldKevin L OlsonPaul W OlsonJohn PaxtonRonald E PeabodyRyan S PottsRobert L RandallKyle RichardsonStanley K RolfC Bennet RoodhouseGordon L RoppCharles W RuthRandy L Sims

Kent F SlaterJoseph W SpringerDavid N StilleRyan TateDon G TempleDean D UrickRyan D VanceRandall S VincentRolf E VogenBrian L WenzelWarren K WesselsJohn D WilkenJohn E. WilkenSteven R WiseJon R WolfRalph F ZieglerWilliam E. LeeVictor William RexroadeDaniel Raymond HettingerTyler Charles PostinChad Michael PilcherKirk Lee BuiltaBruce Patrick FrankRyan Simmons MillerRoss Daniel Wilken