A HISTORY OF THE TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION AND CHAPTER

- From the Winter 1960 Issue of Pearls and Rubies.

    In the spring of 1955, Joseph Ackerman, ILL '26, was at the University of Tennessee on business for the Farm Foundation.  During this visit a friend, Dr. Willard P. Ranney, a member of the Dept. of Agriculture and Economics, arranged a meeting between Dr. Ackerman and Cuyler Dunbar, an outstanding senior in the College of Agriculture.  Cuyler Dunbar had heard of FarmHouse Fraternity and wanted to discuss with Dr. Ackerman the possibility of establishing a FarmHouse Chapter on the Tennessee Campus.  As a result of this conference, Mr. Dunbar was invited to attend the National Conclave at Missouri, held in September, 1956. However, due to a conflict in his school schedule he was unable to attend the Conclave.

    In October, 1956, Preston W. McDaniel, MO '36, then Secretary-Treasurer of FarmHouse Fraternity and Editor of The Pearls and Rubies was in Knoxville for an insurance meeting and he conferred with Professor Ranney and Dunbar.  At this conference it was learned from the National Directory that Dr. Louis J. Boyd, KY '53, who had recently joined the staff of the Dairy Dept. was a FarmHouse Alumnus from the Kentucky Chapter.  A meeting for some interested men was arranged with Mr. McDaniel.

    Mr. McDaniel, Prof. Ranney and Dr. Boyd met with Dunbar and four other students later that week to discuss the formation of a FarmHouse Club on the campus.  Cuyler Dunbar and Bill Pierce, who attended the first meeting with McDaniel, succeeded in interesting other students in the organization.  They talked with selected individuals and no publicity was given to the proposed Club.  Most of the early meetings were spent in acquainting the students with the aims and objectives of FarmHouse.

    A request fro permission to organize a FarmHouse Club was submitted to the Administrative Council of the University of Tennessee in November.  The men continued to meet regularly while the request to organize was under consideration by the Council.  Mr. James Skidmore, ILL '21, was the speaker for one of the meetings.  Mr. Skidmore, who was president of the J. Allen Smith Company in Knoxville, gave much encouragement to the men.

    On February 1, 1957, approval was granted to organize a FarmHouse Club.  On this date, Dr. Boyd appeared before the Administrative Council to answer questions regarding the organization.  The club was organized with nine charter members.  They were: Cuyler Dunbar, Ray Green, Alvin Newlin, William Pierce, Frank McCormick, Lewis S. Pipkin, Douglas Stamper, William Givan and Dr. Willard P. Ranney.

    On February 23 and 24, 1957. Dr. Dwight M. Seath, IA '27, FarmHouse Director, visited the Tennessee campus and brought greetings from the national organization.  He was accompanied by four Kentucky FarmHouse members.  The assistance of the Kentucky delegation was very beneficial to the Club as it began to function.

    On April 10-12, 1958, Mr. G.E. Middleton, ILL '19, President of FarmHouse Fraternity, paid a visit to the campus and the local club.  While in Knoxville, Mr. Middleton had conferences with Dean Dunford and Dean Peacock.  On Friday night , he met with all the members and several prospective members at the University Cafeteria for a dinner meeting, and gave a very helpful and inspiring talk on the objectives and purposes of FarmHouse.

    Mr. Middleton suggested that an association could be developed to aid in future growth of the Tennessee Club.  Dr. Claud L. Scroggs took the lead in preparing the Charter of Incorporation and ByLaws for the association.  The Charter was duly recorded with the Secretary of State in May, 1958, and the ByLaws were adopted.  Members selected as incorporators were Dr. Boyd and Mr. Skidmore to represent the alumni; Dr. Scroggs and Dr. Ranney to represent the advisors; and Lane Parkison, Larry Jones, and Luther Wilhelm to represent the active members.

    After much effort, Herbert Holt, Chairman of the Housing Commitee, reported that a house at 1520 Highland Avenue could be rented by the group as a Club House.  It was voted by the men to rent the house and move in September 15th, 1958.  Arrangements were made with the owner and ten members moved into the house in September.

    In October, 1958, two members from the Club attended the Biennial Conclave which met at Purdue University.  These two members were Lane Parkison, President of the Club at the time, and Myles Carpenter, Club Secretary.  They brought back many ideas that helped the Club to operate more smoothly.

    The organizational meeting of the association was held in October, 1958, when twenty five FarmHouse Club members and alumni met to elect a board of directors and officially  form the association.  Five directors were elected- two to serve for two year terms and three to serve one year terms.  This first board of directorrs consisted of: James Skidmore, ILL '26, President: Louis J. Boyd, KY '53, Secretary-Treasurer; William P. Ranney, Edward R. Buckner, and Lewis S. Pipkin.

    It was decided that the president  and the business manager of the chapter would hold offices of vice-president and assistant secretary-treasurer, respectively in accordance with the constitution.

   It was further decided that the annual meeting of the association would be held in Knoxville, TN, each fall at the time of Homecoming.

    Weekly meetings of the Club were held throughout the 1958-59 school year.  Regular attendance by all members was stressed.  One or more of the advisors was present at each of the meetings.

    During the last weekend in February, 1959, Dr. Truman Nodland, MIN '31, visited the Club. His suggestions and criticisms were most beneficial.  In addition, he outlined the procedure that should be followed in applying for a charter.  This was a great boost to Club morale.

    Several socials were held during the school year.  These included a hamburger fry, weiner roast and hay ride, skating party and a spaghetti supper.  Attendance at these socials was good.

    The need for new members was stressed during the year but a desire to keep the academic standards high made selection difficult. at the end of the year there were twenty two active members. Out of this group seven men graduated but several of them returned to graduate work and remained active.

    The orginal Club House at 1520 Highland Avenue remained to be leased, but future acquistion of another house was needed so that all FarmHouse members could live together.

    On November 7th, 1959, the long-hoped for day arrived.  Tennessee became the eighteenth chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity in an installation ceremony at 10:00 A.M. in the Epworth  Methodist Church on Highland Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The above article highlights the beginnings of our Fraternity at the UTK campus.  The men from this era provided the guidance and effort to form our fraternity.  To these men we extend our thanks and graditude not only as a chapter of Tennessee, but as FarmHouse Internationally.

www.farmhouse.org/history.htm