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Ceres (women's fraternity)

Ceres was an international women's fraternity focused on agriculture. It was created as a women's version of FarmHouse fraternity. Its first chapter was chartered at Colorado State University in 1984. The fraternity ceased operations in the fall of 2024. However, a chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville continues to operate as a local fraternity.

History

In 1978, the international board of FarmHouse fraternity proposed creating chapters for women.[3] At its 1980 international conclave, FarmHouse passed a proposal to establish women's 4-H clubs on select college campuses, including Colorado State University, University of Alberta and California State Polytechnic University, Pomoma.[3][4][5] FarmHouse also surveyed 4-H chapters and associations, finding that 65 percent were in support of the creation of a women's agricultural fraternity.[3]

A proposal for the “establishment of an agricultural-related women's sorority formed in the image of FarmHouse” was unanimously approved by conclave delegates on August 17, 1984.[3][1] A committee of 4-H men and women selected the name Ceres Fraternity for the separate women's fraternity.[3]

On October 12, 1985, Ceres chartered its first chapter at Colorado State University, initiating nineteen members.[6][1][4][5] This was followed by chapters at the University of Alberta and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1986.[6][1] The fraternity held its first biennial conclave in August 1986 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.[4] Joan Blackwelder became the first present of the fraternity's international board.[4]

The international office for FarmHouse provided staffing and programming support until 1994 when Ceres had grown to the point that it could hire a part-time executive director.[7][4] Its international office was at 690 Prisk Street in Belleville, Wisconsin.[8]

By 2000, Ceres had chartered fourteen chapters in the United States and Canada.[6][9] In September 2024, the national Ceres fraternity ceased its operations due to declining membership.[10] At this time, all chapters disbanded but had the option of continuing as local fraternities.[10] A chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville continues to operate as a local women's fraternity.[11]

Symbols

The organization was named Ceres after the Roman goddess of agriculture.[3][5] Ceres' motto was "Commitment to Build".[12][5] Its five attributes or pillars were commitment, agricultural orientation, leadership, scholarship, and fellowship.[13]

The fraternity's colors were violet and gold.[12][5] Its flower was the sterling silver rose.[12] Its jewels were the amethyst and pearl.[12] Its publication was The Rose and Scroll.

Chapters

In the following list, active chapters are in bold and inactive chapters in italics.[1][5][6][9][14]

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Alpha October 12, 1985 – before 2010 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Inactive [15]
Beta February 15, 1986 – 19xx ?; March 2007–20xx ? University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Inactive [16]
Gamma March 1, 1986 – before 2010 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, California Inactive [17]
Delta November 14, 1987 – before 2010 California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Inactive
Epsilon April 15, 1989 University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin Active
Zeta April 22, 1989 – before 2010 Montana State University Bozeman, Montana Inactive
Eta November 23, 1991 – September 15, 2024 South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota Inactive [10]
Theta March 19, 1994 – before 2017 North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota Inactive
Iota April 30, 1994 – before 2017 Illinois State University Normal, Illinois Inactive
Kappa April 27, 1996 – before 2010 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Inactive
Lambda November 23, 1996 – before 2010 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky Inactive [18]
Mu April 19, 1997 – before 2017 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Inactive
Nu April 26, 1997 – before 2017 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Inactive [19]
Xi September 16, 2000 – before 2017 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Inactive [20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. 1991. p. IV-87.
  2. ^ South Dakota State Ceres History
  3. ^ a b c d e f "The History of FarmHouse Fraternity: 1975-1984 Expansion a Priority of the Decade". FarmHouse Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2025-02-14 – via web.archive.org.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Ceres History". Ceres Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-02-14 – via web.archive.org.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Ceres Fraternity: Celebrating 25 Years of History" (PDF). Pearls & Rubies. 105 (1): 25. Spring 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2017 – via FarmHouse Fraternity.
  6. ^ a b c d William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 25 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  7. ^ "The History of Farmhouse Fraternity: 1985-1994 Farm Crisis Impacts FarmHouse". FarmHouse Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2025-02-14 – via web.archive.org.
  8. ^ "Contact". Ceres Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2025-02-14 – via web.archive.org.
  9. ^ a b "Chapters". Ceres Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-02-14 – via web.archive.org.
  10. ^ a b c "CERES women's fraternity disbands". The Collegian. 2024-09-18. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  11. ^ "CERES Women's Fraternity | PioneerLink". University of Wisconsin–Platteville. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d "Objective and Motto". UK Ceres. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  13. ^ "Attributes". UK Ceres. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  14. ^ Ceres Membership Handbook Ceres Fraternity, 2017.
  15. ^ Predecessor group was the FarmHouse Women's Club, formed in 1978; the women's fraternity (sorority) began operations in 1985 with the Alpha chapter at CSU.
  16. ^ Predecessor group was the FarmHouse Little Sisters.
  17. ^ Predecessor group was the FarmHouse Little Sisters.
  18. ^ Western Kentucky University Department of Agriculture Newsletter Spring 1997
  19. ^ University of Kentucky Ceres
  20. ^ Washington State University Ceres