Our History
Ceres Eta chapter was founded at South Dakota State University in 1991. Our Colors are violet and gold, our flower is the sterling silver rose, and our jewel is an amethyst.
The establishment of a women's chapter of the FarmHouse fraternity was first proposed to the International Board of FarmHouse in the spring of 1978.
On October 12, 1985, Ceres International Fraternity became a reality. On that date, nineteen women were initiated as chartering members of the Colorado State Chapter. They were the first members of the new agriculture-related women’s fraternity. This chartering culminated years of discussion and work by the members of FarmHouse International Fraternity and of women in agriculture.
Ceres is the Roman Goddess of agriculture, making the women of Ceres share a common bond of an appreciation of agriculture. Although agricultural orientation is a part of what we hold close to our hearts, the backgrounds and majors of our sisters vary greatly. Not everyone comes from a farming background and not everyone majors in it. But that common bond of appreciating what our farmers and ranchers do for us is strong.
Our Values
Ceres members strive to be the best that we can possibly be by following five attributes that make up the pillars of our foundation.
Five Pillars:
-Commitment
-Agricultural Orientation
-Leadership
-Fellowship
-Scholarship
Object
"The object of our Fraternity is to build the whole person, to effect bonds of sisterhood, and to unify Ceres as a comprehensive entity. Ceres is committed to building qualities of leadership, to building meaningful fellowship, and to building a desire for scholastic achievement. Our commitment to Ceres is predicated on the values and ideals descriptive of a rural environment and offers lifelong sisterhood to women with an appreciation of agriculture. Membership in Ceres may at times require the sacrifice of time, pleasures, and comforts."
Scholarship
The women of Ceres make scholarship a top priority. Study hours are required for the members of Ceres every week throughout the semester. In addition to the weekly study hours, we also require midterm grade reports around the middle of each semester to see how members are doing and helping those who may be struggling. We also host a Study Dinner once a month where members are able to meet at the chapter house for a potluck with time after dinner to study or get tutoring from sisters who have taken certain classes already.