Recognizing the 100th anniversary of FarmHouse Fraternity, Inc.

Madam Speaker, I rise and ask my colleagues in the House to support this resolution. In addition to the kind words that already have been mentioned, FarmHouse had a unique, but a humble, beginning in my home town of Columbia, Missouri.

Like many social organizations at the University of Missouri campus, there were few students back in 1905 to draw from for its members. Its purpose, its objective back then was really not clearly defined or understood. And so it attracted little attention. It was not the result of any sort of a crisis among ag students, but was rather the result of a need for recognition of a small and subordinate and specialized group in the area of higher education.

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture was established back in 1870 as part of the land grant system. A lot of my colleagues here still to this day defend mightily the land grant system. It was a small division of the ag school back in 1905 within the University of Missouri. There were less than 100 students. It was not really held in the same high regard or high esteem as the school of law or the school of medicine, and most of those students were all farm-reared boys.

But a rather close relationship developed among this group of 35, a lot of them attended the same class, everyone knew each other, and there developed among them this sense of camaraderie. So as an outgrowth of this fellowship and the friendships that were formed, there were three men, D. Howard Doane, Henry P. Rusk and Earl Rusk, who conceived this idea of forming an agricultural club in order to perpetuate this congenial association.

In fact, as history has it, at least as we tell it, they began to have this discussion on a Sunday afternoon at a YMCA Bible meeting. So it was desirable that they were going to make this group, and they proposed to rent a house and live together, and this was in the spring of 1905.

And from the diary of Mr. Doane comes the following record: ``At the close of my freshman year, there was organized a club of farmers, principally from the freshman class, to run a clubhouse to be known as the FarmHouse. When school opened in September, only seven of the group returned.''

I mentioned Mr. Doane and the two brothers Rusk, and the others that joined them were Robert F. Howard, Claude B. Hutchison, Henry H. Krusekopf, and Melvin E. Sherwin.

Back now to Mr. Doane's diary: ``They took the house on their hands and turned it into a regular rooming and boarding house. Those seven fellows were the best bunch that ever got together. During the whole year they managed the house without one single disagreeable incident.''

I am tempted to go into a parenthetical aside regarding this body, but I will choose not to do that. And then finally from Mr. Doane's diary: ``Many a night this dear old bunch assembled with gravest doubts assailing them and wondering if it was all worth while.''

Well, Mr. Doane, in the humble opinion of this FarmHouse alum, it was indeed worthwhile. Thirty chapters across the country, including Canada, with a list of notable alumni, including just a smattering of those: former Kansas Governor, John Carlin; George Beadle, who received a Noble Prize in medicine and genetics back in 1958; Pulitzer Prize winner Ezra George Thiem; and Hall of Fame athletes Ed Widseth from Minnesota and legendary Missouri Coach Don Faurot; 49 past national FFA officers; one former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; and entertainers Leroy Van Dyke, Michael Martin Murphey, and Pat Green.

More than 24,000 men have become members of FarmHouse Fraternity. And while the others do not necessarily hold a title, each has made his own mark within the community and the family in which they live, putting into action the FarmHouse motto: ``Builder of Men.''

I was honored to be invited to speak to an event back in Columbia, Missouri, over 530 participants, back in April of this year. And I would ask that this body, that the House of Representatives today recognize the 100th anniversary of FarmHouse Fraternity and commend the fraternity and its members for a century of service.

Miss McMORRIS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I stand in support of House Resolution 207, which recognizes the 100th anniversary of FarmHouse Fraternity, Incorporated. The organization was first founded by seven students from the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Currently, FarmHouse Fraternity has 24,000 members; and it continues to increase its membership on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada, notwithstanding the fact that today there are fewer farm families and fewer young men with the traditional agricultural background.

Farming issues today are much more complex than a century ago. In addition to concerns about the impact of drought and disease on crop production, farmers today must concern themselves with agricultural trade policies, competition from major foreign producers and exporters and agroterrorism.

While farming issues may have changed, the fraternity's objectives have remained constant. Today, just as in 1905, the fraternity still aims to promote good fellowship, encourage studiousness, and build character and integrity amongst its members.

I congratulate each of the members of FarmHouse Fraternity on their 100th anniversary and wish them continued success in the future.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss McMORRIS. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof).