FarmHouse International Fraternity Builder of Men since 1905. ** For Immediate Release ** Contact: Chad E. Harris, CAE Executive Director chad@farmhouse.org (816) 891 9445 Four Distinguished FarmHouse Alumni Named Master Builder of Men Kansas City, Mo. June 15, 2012 FarmHouse International Fraternity is pleased to announce the selection of four outstanding alumni members of the organization to receive Fraternity s highest honor, the award and title of Master Builder of Men. They include: Maurice E. Johnson, Ph.D. (ID 57) of Moscow, Idaho; Dinus Briggs, Ph.D. (SD 66) of Las Cruces, N. M.; Terry Graham (OK 75) of Bryon, Okla.; and the Hon. Rick Berg (ND 78), of Fargo, N. D. Congratulations to these esteemed men of our Fraternity! In announcing the 2012 class of honorees, former International Vice President and Awards Committee chair, Garry Weston (KY 98), stated, The men selected represent all that FarmHouse Fraternity stands for. These brothers are men of character and have given unselfishly through their professional, personal, civic and charitable pursuits. They are truly role models for other FarmHouse men to follow, in giving so much of one s self to others and to our Fraternity. We are humbled by their accomplishments and celebrate their achievements. The Master Builder of Men Award is the highest honor the Fraternity may bestow an alumni member of FarmHouse. The award, created in 1950, recognizes and publicly acknowledges the member s unselfish leadership and service to his fellow men, both within the Fraternity and beyond. Neither position, nor wealth, nor occupation enters into consideration for the award, but simply his contributions in helping others and living the values of the Fraternity as a Builder of Men. A biographical profile on each of this year s recipients is provided below. FarmHouse International Headquarters * 7306 NW Tiffany Springs Parkway, Suite 210 * Kansas City, MO 64153 Phone (816) 891-9445 * Fax (816) 891-0838 * fhhq@farmhouse.org * www.farmhouse.org
A Master Builder of Men is a member of FarmHouse Fraternity who: possesses a continued interest in improving both the chapters and associations of the organization and is a leader in the Fraternity; demonstrates interest in young people by providing help and encouragement, allowing them to betterment themselves through further development and growth; embodies the Fraternity s principles in his daily actions; and is a gentleman and respected citizen of his own personal and/or professional community. These Master Builder of Men will be recognized in person during the Fraternity s 47 th Biennial Conclave, August 1 5, in Minneapolis, Minn. Terry Graham Opening Banquet, Thursday, August 2 Dinus Briggs Awards Breakfast, Friday, August 3 Maurice Johnson Leadership Lunch, Saturday, August 4 Rick Berg FarmHouse Foundation Alumni Dinner, Saturday August 4 Brothers, family and friends are invited to join FarmHouse members and the International Fraternity in their recognition events. More information about the 47 th Biennial Conclave schedule and registration information is available at www.farmhouse.org/conclave.htm. Nominations are sought continuously for men deserving of the title Master Builder of Men. These nominations are reviewed after April 1, of each biennial Conclave year. A committee appointed by the International President and comprised of men holding the title Master Builder of Men, review nomination materials and provide a recommendation to the International Executive Board of Director for final approval. More information about the award and the nomination process is available online at farmhouse.org. FarmHouse International Fraternity is a men s agriculturally related social fraternity on 35 campuses across North America. Founded in 1905 at the University of Missouri, the Fraternity works to build men physically, socially, spiritually and intellectually. The Fraternity consists of 1,500 undergraduate members and 29,000 lifetime initiates and maintains its International headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. More information about the International Fraternity is available online at www.farmhouse.org.
Maurice E. Johnson, Ph.D. (ID 57) Brother Johnson is a charter member of the Idaho chapter of FarmHouse when it was founded in 1957. Since that time he has remained committed to FarmHouse, the University of Idaho and the great State of Idaho. He has been a life long supporter of 4 H and Extension Youth Programs and served as the Idaho State 4 H Leader from 1960 to 1982, and received his doctorate in agricultural education from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1976. Johnson is emeritus professor of agricultural and extension education at the University of Idaho and served numerous leadership roles including extension professor, department chair and as special assistant to the Dean of the College of Family and Consumer Science. From 1953 68, Johnson served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves. Johnson has served as chapter advisor and association board since 1989, serving multiple terms as president and treasurer, and since its chartering has been an everpresent volunteer and lent support to the University of Idaho chapter of FarmHouse. For his service he has been recognized twice with the Darl S. Snyder Alumni Service Award, in 1988 and again in 1992, by the Idaho chapter. Today he remains very active with and an ambassador for the University of Idaho and the City of Moscow, with the Chamber of Commerce, Idaho Vandal Athletics and the Idaho Repertory Theatre, having served as both house manager and president of the Board. Johnson continues his commitment to 4 H and Extension Youth Programs and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) program s Foundation. For his life long service to 4 H he was inducted into the National 4 H Hall of Fame in 2002. He lives in Moscow, Idaho.
Dinus Briggs, Ph.D. (SD 66) Brother Briggs is a 1966 South Dakota State initiate and he helped found the New Mexico State chapter of FarmHouse in the 1980s. While a graduate and doctoral student at Iowa State University, he supported the local FarmHouse chapter before moving to New Mexico State University, becoming professor of animal science and a poultry breeding specialist. At New Mexico State, he served as advisor to the chapter following its chartering for 16 years. As advisor, Briggs often played the bad cop telling the chapter what it needed to hear and holding member standards high. This tough love approach garnered much respect from the members, while he remained a constant form of support whenever needed. The New Mexico State chapter recognized his service with the Darl S. Snyder Alumni Service Award in 1993. An avid horseman, Briggs is a coach to the NMSU equestrian team, member of the New Mexico Saddle Horse Association and the El Paso Riding Club and is proud owner of his 1905 Durant Dort buggy, which makes many parade appearances including the annual Sun Bowl Parade in El Paso. Briggs lives the FarmHouse promise of service through his involvement with the Rotary Club, having served as president of the local chapter and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary International Foundation in 1997. Briggs comes from a long line of FarmHouse men including an uncle, two cousins, and his father, Hilton Briggs (IA 33), was named a Master Builder in 1960. He and his wife, June, have two daughters and four grandchildren. They reside in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Terry G. Graham (OK 75) Brother Graham was instrumental in helping lead the campaign, planning and building of the Oklahoma State chapter s impressive new chapter house to be completed this summer. Graham excelled as a student at OSU, serving as president of Alpha Zeta, named LeCrone Outstanding Agriculture Graduate, was an undergraduate editor of Pearls & Rubies for the International Fraternity and was the chapter s recipient of the Doane Award in 1978. Graham received his master s in agricultural education and taught vocational agriculture before returning to his native homestead to manage the family farming operation and open his own accounting firm. With a strong background in finance, real estate and tax planning, Graham first became involved with the Oklahoma FarmHouse Association in 1990, providing guidance on improved budget planning and business operations for the chapter. Since then, Graham has been an active member of the Association and was instrumental in the construction of the new chapter house by working to acquire land for the house, raising funds and most importantly working with the university in a like kind exchange to secure the land needed for the house and money to start its construction. In addition to his service to FarmHouse, Graham is a member of the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association Leadership Council, former president and 16 year member of the Burlington School Board, member of the Board of Governors for Community Foundations of Oklahoma, FFA and 4 H volunteer and Deacon and treasurer of the Cherokee First Baptist Church. He and his wife, Cathy, have two daughters and live in Byron, Oklahoma.
Rick A. Berg (ND 78) Brother Berg is a United States Congressman representing North Dakota, former FarmHouse International President and former FarmHouse Foundation trustee. A lifelong North Dakotan, Berg has proudly served his state, first as a campus leader at North Dakota State University, within FarmHouse as the Doane Award winner and shortly after graduating with a degree in agricultural economics when he was elected at age 24 to the state House of Representatives. While in the legislature he served as Majority Leader and Speaker of the House, during which time the state experienced dramatic economic growth and an expansion of the state s agricultural and natural resources. Berg was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and is a co sponsor of the Collegiate Housing Infrastructure Act (CHIA). In addition to this public elected service, professionally Berg is co founder and co owner of Goldmark Schlossman Commercial Real Estate Services, the largest commercial real estate brokerage firm in North Dakota. His expertise in real estate was crucial in the planning, development and building of the North Dakota State chapter s new house in 2010. Berg served two terms to the Fraternity s International Executive Board from 1986 94, including two terms as President. During his time as president, he guided the International Fraternity through a period of rough years in the fraternal movement when nationally membership dropped 40% but FarmHouse remained steady in its membership and alumni support. Later Berg served as a Trustee to the FarmHouse Foundation (1994 2000) and was a generous donor to Campaign 2005. For his service to community and state, Berg received the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce s Great North Dakotan Award in 2009. He is a former member of the Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, and has been very supportive of the American Red Cross, YMCA, Fargo s Hope Lutheran Church, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and North Dakota State University and the local FarmHouse chapter. Berg lives in Fargo, North Dakota, with his wife Tracy, and they have one son, Jack.