Ceres (women's fraternity)

Last updated
Ceres
CeresWomensFraternityShield.jpg
FoundedOctober 12, 1985;39 years ago (1985-10-12)
Colorado State University
Type Social
AffiliationIndependent
StatusDefunct
EmphasisAgriculture
ScopeNorth America
MottoCommitment to Build
PillarsCommitment, Agricultural Orientation, Leadership, Scholarship, Fellowship
Colors  Violet and   Gold
FlowerSterling silver rose
Jewel Amethyst and Pearl
Patron Roman divinity Ceres
PublicationThe Rose and Scroll
Chapters1 active, 13 inactive
Headquarters690 Prisk Street
Belleville , Wisconsin 53508
United States
Website ceresfraternity.com
[1] [2]

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.

Contents

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]

NameCharteredInstitutionLocationStatusNotesReference
AlphaOctober 12, 1985 – before 2010 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Inactive [15]
BetaFebruary 15, 1986 – 19xx ?; March 2007–20xx ? University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaInactive [16]
GammaMarch 1, 1986 – before 2010 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, California Inactive [17]
DeltaNovember 14, 1987 – before 2010 California State University, Fresno Fresno, California Inactive
EpsilonApril 15, 1989 University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin Active
ZetaApril 22, 1989 – before 2010 Montana State University Bozeman, Montana Inactive
EtaNovember 23, 1991 – September 15, 2024 South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota Inactive [10]
ThetaMarch 19, 1994 – before 2017 North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota Inactive
IotaApril 30, 1994 – before 2017 Illinois State University Normal, Illinois Inactive
KappaApril 27, 1996 – before 2010 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico Inactive
LambdaNovember 23, 1996 – before 2010 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky Inactive [18]
MuApril 19, 1997 – before 2017 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Inactive
NuApril 26, 1997 – before 2017 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Inactive [19]
XiSeptember 16, 2000 – before 2017 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Inactive [20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. 1991. p. IV-87.
  2. ↑ South Dakota State Ceres History
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ceres History". Ceres Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-02-14– via web.archive.org.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 "Chapters". Ceres Fraternity. Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-02-14– via web.archive.org.
  10. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 4 "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
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