June 2010 page 1

Iota Officer Team Attends Philadelphia Leadership Conference

The AGR Iota officer team traveled toPhiladelphia, Pa. on the weekend of Febru-ary 19 and 20 to attend the AGR Leader-ship Conference, “Six Degrees of Me: Live,Lead, Dream.” This year’s theme followedthe concept of the Six Degrees of Separa-tion Project, also known as the Human Web,with the idea that we are no more thansix steps away from any other person,and that all it takes is to improve ourskills to unlock these connections.

The Conference kicked off on Fridaywith a large group welcoming ceremo-ny, followed by the actual seminar por-tion of the conference. The three sem-inar options for Friday were “Visioneer-ing”, which focused on goal setting,“Are You Communicating”, focusingobviously on personal and inter-chap-ter communication skills, and “Down tothe Core”, discussing personal ethicsand decision making. We then endedthe day with a large group Risk Man-agement session where we broke intosmall groups and tackled how to handlevarious risk management situations.

We gathered again bright and earlySaturday morning for breakfast and a“Best Practices” activity incorporatedin where we were able to discuss sev-eral aspects of our respective Chapterwith members of other chapters. It wasa great opportunity to talk about some

of the programs we have, learn more aboutother chapters, and possibly take away somegood ideas from other chapters. Followingbreakfast, the Saturday seminars started up,with the themes being “It Began With aPlan” which concentrated on personal timemanagement skills, “Do You Measure Up”

which involved reflecting on your person-al management skills, such as responsibili-ty, self esteem, etc., and “The Day BeforeFacebook”, where communication and rela-tionship building were the focus.

The Conference’s sponsors, Monsanto,Bunge, and Pioneer, had representatives

speak during the meals about their com-pany and the opportunities availablethrough their companies.

Outside of the Conference, thegroup was able to visit some of Philadel-phia’s historical sites, including Inde-pendence Hall, the Liberty Bell, a VIPtour of the Phillies’ Citizen Bank Park,the Rocky statue at the Philadelphia ArtMuseum(with a race up the steps ofcourse), all while enjoying a few PhillyCheese Steaks throughout the stay. Spe-cial thanks to Brad Garrison for settingup the tour at Citizen Bank Park.

I’m confident that I can speak forthe entire team when I say that the tripwas a success. We learned a lot of newskills and ideas that we will be able tobring back and incorporate into the Iotachapter, while having a lot of fun bond-ing with not just our own Iota brothers,but also brothers from other chapters aswell.

Brother Derek Johnson #1501

A Look at the 2010 Competitive Edge

page 6

Founder’s DayPhotos & Highlights

page 7Iota Crescent • June 2010

2009 National AGR Honors recently awarded to the Iota Chapter

Gold Status for the top chapters

Highest Honor, Best Series, Chapter Crescent, National AGR

High Honor GROW Recruitment Excellence Award

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Alan Koepke #655 and his wife Mary, are enjoying partial retire-ment after 40+ years of expanding their Oconomowoc, Wis., areaKoepke Farms business. During his spare moments, Al can be foundin his basement continually building and enjoying his model exten-sive train setup. Al feels that AGR gave him the confidence to pur-sue a successful farming operation with his brother, Jim # 709, anda great group of lifetime friends while living at the AGR house.

Arne Peterson # 657 and his wife Judith are operating their Peter-son’s Dairy LLC, 500 cow dairy farm near Lena, Wis., along withtheir son, John. Arne’s hobby has been the building of his Sonex air-plane, which he hopes to fly with son Mark this summer. Some ofArne’s favorite memories of his AGR days include meeting Judy at

a beer supper, singing with the AGR Quartet, and his life-long friend-ships with Leonard Massie, Al Koepke, Dan Bindl, and Bob Luen-ing, among many others.

David Verhulst #659 is retired and lives with this wife Karen inBeaver Dam, Wis., and their winter place in Tellico Village, Tenn.Dave enjoys golfing, traveling and time with this family of threedaughters and eight grand children. He is proud to be associated witha group of fine AGR men and continues to stay in contact with sev-eral of them.

Adrian Massie #662 of Wadsworth, Ill., died December 2009 ofa massive coronary. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife,Anne, and family as he will be missed.

James McCaffree #674 and his wife, Ruthann, live in Universi-ty Place, Wash., where they operate a day care and have a few cowsfor a hobby. Jim started his career as a professor at Delaware Col-lege for 6 years, then 10 years operating a dairy in Pennsylvania andthe last 25 years as a district manager for Alta Genetics. He feels thatAGR helped his career as he learned to get along with a diversity ofpeople. He really enjoyed the beer suppers and all the fun of withliving a great bunch of guys at 1820 Summit Avenue.

David Maaske #687 and his wife, Maurene, are enjoying theirfamily of six children and spouses with eight grandchildren at theirSussex, Wis., home. Dave’s career included working for the Feder-al Reserve Bank-Chicago, Allis-Chalmers, Case-New Holland,Charleston-Orwig, StrateVation, M&I Bank and now with Align fsc,Inc. Dave feels that AGR provided direction and guidance early inhis college life to help him be successful. His favorite memoriesinclude attending the many parties with his future wife, Maurene.

Jim Bartel # 699 and his wife, Carolyn, enjoy living in Oshkosh,Wis. Jim’s career started as a Peace Corp Volunteer for 3 years in ElSalvador, then working 30 years as a UW Extension 4-H Youth Edu-cator. He is now semi-retired working as a Training Officer at UW-Oshkosh in the Center for Career Development and EmployabilityTraining and serves on several community boards, the Salvation Armyand the Winnebago County Literacy Council. Jim feels AGR helpedtrain him to work as a team member in achieving goals and havinggood times living at the Summit Avenue chapter house.

Chris Roe # 1099 lives in the Washington D.C. area and continuesto work on education and promoting hands-on learning, including work-ing with national 4-H and their focus on science in particular.

Tyler Wilkinson, #1440, was a part of the University of Wiscon-sin Law School’s first Mock Trial National Championship Team!The UW team was victorious against 224 mock trial teams in theAmerican Association for Justice competition. All of the teams devel-oped their arguments from the same medical malpractice case andcompeted in a simulated trial. UW knocked off law schools fromMarquette, Michigan State, NYU, Pepperdine, and Georgetown. Thisis hopefully the first of many mock trial national championships tocome for Wisconsin! Tyler is a past Noble Ruler of the Iota Chapterand in his first year of UW-Madison Law School.

As compiled by

Brothers Bill Hantke

and Corey Geiger

June 2010 page 2

Alpha Gamma Rho — Iota Chapter233 Lake Lawn Place Madison, WI 53703

Phone: (608) 257-3871 Fax: (608) 251-2159

Web site: www.uwagr.come-mail: agr@stdorg.wisc.edu

Undergraduate Chapter

Name, office phone

ERIC RONK, Noble Ruler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(920) 360-1853

COdy CARPENTER, VNR of Alumni Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 482-3622

KEvIN ZWIEG, VNR of Recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(262) 719-6438

PAUL MERKATORIs, VNR of Management and Operations . . . . . .(920) 362-4472

dAN BURGARdT, VNR of Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(920) 360-1853

AdAM GEORGE, VNR of Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 219-9625

JOsEPh JACOBsON, VNR of Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(920) 284-4526

BRANdON KRUsWICK, VNR of Membership Development . . . . . .(920) 495-9188

dEREK JOhNsON, VNR of Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(715) 781-4431

Active Chapter Advisors

TOM CRENshAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 263-4423

BRAd GARRIsON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(214) 533-4498

Alumni CorporationName, office phone

ROBERT hAGENOW, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(920) 992-3188

ALAN KOEPKE, Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(262) 569-1059

BILL hANTKE, Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 442-7294

2635 Arboretum Dr., Madison, WI 53713-1009

EvAN sChNAdT, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 295-1828

Education Foundation

Name, office phone

COREy GEIGER, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(920) 650-0294

JERRy WALLANdER, Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 827-6550

RICK dALUGE, Secretary-Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(608) 262-3127

5321 Fairway Drive, Madison, WI 53711

Crescent EditorCOREy GEIGER, editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(920) 650-0294

e-mail cgeiger@hoards.com

Key Iota contacts

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June 2010 page 3

On Monday, February 22 the Iota Chapter held its Spring Schol-

arship Banquet. This is a time we take to acknowledge our fellow

brothers who have achieved academically. These have put in the

extra effort and gone the extra mile to become better men. At this

banquet we invited Interim CALS Dean, Irwin Goldman, to come

and gave the keynote speech. His speech was motivating and it

spoke to the brothers sitting before him in a positive way. After

his amazing speech seven scholarships were awarded. Four schol-

arships went to a brother from every grade level who had the high-

est GPA of their class. This was the first time we had all four have

a 4.0 GPA. The other three were given to three brothers who dras-

tically improved their GPA by an average of .75 points. The rest of

the house has been asked to step up to the plate and work hard aca-

demically to be that person receiving a scholarship next semester.

A special thanks goes out to all of our alumni who make these

scholarships happen. Thank you.

- Brother Dan Burgardt #1526, VNR-Scholarship

Students with 4.0 GPAs - L to R: Interim CALS Dean Irwin Goldman,

Garret Germain, Joe Jacobson, Ryan Aschenbrenner, & Alex Newman

with Iota Educational Foundation Secretary-Treasurer Rick Daluge.

Most Improved GPA went to Brandon Kruswick, Andy Mulrooney, and

Derek Johnson, shown in the center. They are flanked by Interim CALS

Dean Irwin Goldman at the left and Iota Educational Foundation

Secretary-Treasurer Rick Daluge at the right.

scholarship Banquet FeaturesFour Brothers With 4.0 GPA Keeping Iota and AGR strong

We often take for granted our fraternity and the benefits we

derived from it when we were in college and the lifelong friends

we made in those formative years. We also sometimes forget that

our motto is “To Make Better Men” and as alumni we want our

fraternity to continue to meet that loft goal.

While the Iota of AGR Educational Foun-

dation needs and deserves our annual sup-

port for the awards, scholarships, and sup-

port for other educational needs of the chap-

ter, we also need our members to consider

deferred gifts in their will, through charita-

ble remainder trusts, and other vehicles that

make giving a planned activity.

There are now two ways you can plan a deferred gift to Iota

chapter. One is through our own AGR Educational Foundation of

Iota chapter ( note the correct entity name for a will) while a new

second opportunity is to make a gift through the UW Foundation

and designate Iota of AGR as one of the recipients of your gift or

will. We have established a fund for Scholarships at the UWF so

that those alumni who wish to be a part of a giving club through

the UW ( Bascom Hill Society, Deans Club) can still give part of

their estate gift or annual gift to AGR of Iota Chapter. Beth Wells

at the UWF can assist with gifts to our fund at the UWF, while

Rick Daluge is happy to work with deferred gifts made to the AGR

Educational Foundation of Iota Chapter.

Of course our National AGR Educational Foundation offers still

another place to support AGR, but not necessarily Iota chapter

unless so designated.

Often alumni don’t give because they believe a small gift might

not have impact. This is not true, as ten $40 gifts will fund one of

our 22 annual scholarships next year, so every gift is important.

We continue to offer an opportunity for alumni to sponsor a schol-

arship for the upcoming school year. These awards will be $400

each next year and comprise most improved GPA, Highest GPA

awards by class as well as the Outstanding class awards provided

at Founder’s Day each year. Currently, 5 of the 22 awards are spon-

sored by alumni or by initiate classes.

So let us keep our legacy strong, our men better, and our proud

fraternity well funded into the future. We hope you’ll stop by the

chapter house when you get to town and meet some members of

the chapter. Thanks again for your support and listed below are

members who have contributed to the Foundation since March 1.

— Rick Daluge, Iota Educational Secretary-Treasurer

Rinehart, Nathan

Miller, Sam

Koepke, Alan

Bruhn, Dale

Wallander, Jerry

Hintzmann, Arden

Mitchell, John

Peterson, Arne

Wallander, Jerry

Stauffacher, Ralph

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June 2010 page 4

As this year’s Vice Noble Ruler of Recruitment, I have been stay-

ing busy this past semester and have big plans for the fall semester as

well.

January started off with myself and three other brothers taking a trip

down to Kansas City for the January recruitment school at the home

office. It was a weekend full of fun, new faces and new recruitment

tools and strategies. Brother Adam Geiger, Brother DJ Ciancio and

Brother Jake Greshik joined me for the trip down there ,and it was

very much worthwhile.

Four new brothers were initiated early this spring: Brother Jules

Hatier, an agro-ecology graduate from France; Brother Jared Wendt,

a biochemistry major from Stoughton; Brother Dan Peterson, a dairy

science major from Baldwin; and Brother Jeremiah Shafer, an engi-

neering major from Hudson.

The months of February and March were spent largely in prepara-

tion for our annual Competitive Edge Scholarship competition. We

had 17 high school seniors in attendance this year, and as usual, the

day was full of questions, inquiries and overall interest in Alpha Gamma

Rho from the incoming students and their parents. I was thoroughly

impressed with most all of the scholarship applicants and was blown

away by the enthusiasm and interest in AGR of a few individuals. We

are continuing to stay in contact with those in attendance and invite

them to come for shadow days this spring and to stay at the house dur-

ing their summer orientation. We are setting ourselves up for another

successful fall 2010 recruitment class.

With the combination of a successful fall 2009 recruitment with 17

initiates, 4 initiates in spring and by finishing off with a successful

Competitive Edge program, the house is full for the 2010-2011 school

year. I am pursuing one more additional live-in to stay with the resi-

dent advisor in order to ease the budget for next year as well.

Looking ahead to fall, full force recruitment will proceed as usual,

as we continue to look for exceptional young men with connections

to the ag and life sciences industry and in every college and depart-

ment on this campus. We will be attending a brewer game, hosting

grillouts and other activities to get guys to see our beautiful house and

become interested and involved with Alpha Gamma Rho.

Lastly, I would like to ask all alumni to personally contact me with

any prospective members that you know of, and I would be happy to

inform them of the many friends, benefits and opportunities available

as a brother of Alpha Gamma Rho.

Kevin Zwieg, VNR Recruitment - Iota of UW Madison

262.719.6438

kevin.m.zwieg@gmail.com

Noble Ruler Report by Eric Ronk

Dear Brothers, I would like to take this opportunity to let you all know what we

have been up to and what we are looking at doing in 2010. Alpha

Gamma Rho continued its winning ways this past year, having won

Homecoming Week, Greek Week, and Humorology. During the past

year the Iota Chapter was one of only two fraternities on campus to

be named a Chapter of Excellence by the All Greek Council. This is the

sixth consecutive year Alpha Gamma Rho has been named a Chapter

of Excellence from the University of Wisconsin-Madison All Greek

Council. At the All Greek Awards this past March we were awarded for

the most outstanding New Member Education.

Some of our brothers also received individual recognition for their

efforts; Alex Newman was named the Most Outstanding Greek Man,

Adam Geiger was named the Most Spirited Greek Man, Jake Greshik

was named the Most Outstanding New Member, and Andy Mulrooney

was named the Outstanding Greek President. On the national level

Iota chapter was recognized as Gold Status for being one of the top

chapters in the country. We also received the Highest Honor for the

Best Series for the Chapter Crescent and High honor GROW Recruit-

ment Excellence Award.

This past fall we hosted our first annual Hawaiian Luau hog roast at

the chapter house. There were several fun Hawaiian-themed games,

including hula-hoop and limbo competitions. All the proceeds went to

the Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin, and AGR raised over $1,000

for our donation.

This year we have had the privilege to have two foreign exchange

students living in the house. Andries Olie was from the Netherlands

(fall semester) and Jules Hatier (spring semester) was from France.

These two new brothers have helped to diversify our chapter and

brought new world views to our members. Both Andries and Jules

have enjoyed getting to know their Iota brothers, and our members

have done their best to make their time here memorable. Their positive

experience here has led to some of our members applying to study

abroad, and hopefully many more will participate in the program.

This past January we held a Five Year Strategic Planning Session. This

was the first time it was held since 2002. We came up with some of

the top priorities that we need to work on as a chapter over the next

few years. From this session we determined that recruitment was our

most important goal in upcoming years and are looking to have 75

members by 2012.

Academically the house had an overall GPA of 3.00 for the fall

semester and is looking to improve upon this in the upcoming spring.

Our senior class has made academics a top priority as three of them

have been accepted to postgraduate programs next fall ranging from

Dental School to Physical Therapy and Medical School.

In February we had 10 members attend the 2010 Alpha Gamma Rho

National Leadership Conference in Philadelphia. During the confer-

ence our officer team developed new leadership skills through work-

shops and networked with other brothers from around the nation. One

of the highlights of the trip was a tour of Citizens Bank Park where

the Philadelphia Phillies play. Our advisor Brad Garrison was gracious

enough to help us get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run

a professional ball club with a personal tour of the clubhouse.

In the next year I would like to focus on improving professional

development by having more speakers and resume workshops at the

house. I would just like to thank everyone for your continuing support

of the Iota Chapter.

- Eric Ronk, Brother #1488

Recruitment: house Will Be Full This Fall

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June 2010 page 5

On March 17 to 19, one of Iota’s members, Andrew Hoffman,

had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to partake in the

2010 Consortium Ag Day Collegiate Leadership Summit. Col-

lege students from across the country were selected from the

national FFA, Agriculture Future of America, and the Ag Con-

sortium to travel to Washington D.C. to set up meetings with Con-

gressman from their respective states to advocate and lobby for

production agriculture.

Hoffman, who is a senior majoring in Soil Sciences, had the

opportunity to attend a brief speech and introduction by the Sec-

retary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and to also meet with four dif-

ferent Wisconsin Congress people’s staff members. Hoffman met

with staff members of Dave Obey, Tammy Baldwin, Steve Kagen,

and Ron Kind. Hoffman’s main topic of discussion was how

biotechnology and research will play a role in feeding, clothing,

and fueling a world population that will reach 9 billion people by

2040. Hoffman also talked about the dairy industry and its price

support programs.

Hoffman was one of four Alpha Gamma Rho participants from

various chapters to participate in the Ag Day Leadership Summit.

Participants stayed at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase,

Md., and took a night tour of Washington D.C. Hoffman con-

sidered the trip an extraordinary learning experience. Hoffman

explains, “It is a very exciting yet humbling experience to be able

to travel to Washington D.C. for the first time, sit in front of our

nation’s law makers, and then lobby for the face of agriculture.”

schuler scholars Named by CALs

The College of Agricultural & Life Sciences has selected Broth-

ers Andrew Mulrooney and Jacob Greshik as the recipients of the

2009-10 Russell Schuler Agribusiness Scholarships. Andrew is a

Senior who attended River Ridge High School in Patch Grove,

Wis. This is the 3rd year that he has received this scholarship. He

is majoring in Agricultural Business Management with a strong

academic record. His career objective is, "to work in Agricultur-

al Business Management in Wisconsin".

Jacob's father, Keith #1186 and grandfather, Joe #682 are both

Iota alumni. He is a new freshman from Fountain City, Wis., where

he graduated from Cochrane Fountain City High School with an

outstanding academic record. He will be majoring in Biological

Systems Engineering. His career goal is, "to attain an agricultur-

al engineering degree to improve systems in business and indus-

try."

Russ Schuler, Iota #680, funded this University of Wisconsin

Foundation Scholarship in 1996 for CALS students who are pur-

suing a degree in the agribusiness major or agricultural science

degree program – business concentration. Preference is given to

members of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Higher Edu-

cation Scholarship has been awarded to Brother Mitch Kappel-

man, a freshman dairy science major from the University of Wis-

consin – Madison. Mitch is a DCHA member and will receive a

$500 scholarship to be applied to his dairy science education.

Several years ago, Mitch purchased his own heifers. He is opti-

mistic about his future, as these animals have freshened and given

him seven more animals. He takes great pride and ownership in his

herd; he only shows the dairy cattle that he owns. Mitchell has

held a wide variety of responsibilities on the family farm, and he

says his goals are to “graduate from UW – Madison with high

honors, maintain a herd that excels in production, breed an All-

American and have a profound impact on the dairy industry by

staying active on all levels.”

Even at a young age, Mitchell understands the importance of

DCHA’s role in the industry. He values the strong network the

association provides as well as the ethical and business standards

DCHA has helped set. “In the future, I plan to be very involved with

dairy organizations on the local, state and national platforms,”

Mitchell says. DCHA’s Higher Education Scholarship helps solid-

ify the association’s commitment to supporting the future of the

dairy industry.

hoffman takes part in Ag dayLeadership Conference

Kappelman wins dChAscholarship

AGR Gathering during Farm Technology days

In Pierce County, Wisconsin

The brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho - Alpha Psi are planning

a get-together during Farm Technology Days this summer and

invite the brothers of Beta Gamma, Iota, and all AGR chapters

to attend. Last year about 135 AGRs and friends attended this

gathering at Crave Brothers Farm in Waterloo, WI. This year

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days will be held July 20-22 at

the Roger and Bev Peterson farm, south of River Falls. The

AGR gathering will be held at the Alpha Psi house in River

Falls which is about 3 miles from the Farm Technology grounds.

Who: All AGRs and their guests

Date: Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Time: 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Alpha Gamma Rho - Alpha Psi

1024 E. Cascade

River Falls, WI 54022

Food and beverage will be provided with a requested dona-

tion. Please spread the word to other AGRs who will be attend-

ing Farm Technology Days. To help us estimate food & bev-

erage, please RSVP to Joe Waldo, jwaldo@foragegenetics.com.

We look forward to seeing you……….Please mark your cal-

endar and make plans to attend now!

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June 2010 page 6

The Association of Women in Agriculture, in conjunction with Alpha Gamma Rho, recently held the annual Competitive Edge Con-

ference at UW-Madison’s Grainger Hall. Competitive Edge is an event geared toward high school seniors who have been accepted to

the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences; 28 recently admitted high school students attended the 2010 Competitive Edge.

The Competitive Edge event began with registration, scholarship interviews, and a CALS Student Organizations Fair. Eleven student

organizations were in attendance, including Forestry Club, Badger Dairy Club, National Agri-Marketing Association, Alpha Gamma

Rho, Association of Women in Agriculture, Babcock House, Saddle and Sirloin, Sigma Alpha, Col-

legiate FFA, Horticulture Club, and Pre-Vet Club.

The program began with a brief introduction by Competitive Edge coordinators, Spencer Moore

and Dana Erickson. Assistant Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Thomas Browne,

welcomed the students and parents to the Competitive Edge Conference and UW-Madison Cam-

pus. He encouraged both students and parents to make the most of the day by asking a lot of ques-

tions. Following Dean Browne, the Noble Ruler of Alpha Gamma Rho, Eric Ronk, and President of

the Association of Women in Agriculture, Stephanie Paull, said a few words to attendees. Dr. Daniel

Schaefer, Associate Dean of CALS, was the Keynote Speaker. He emphasized that CALS is a close

knit community in a very large university.

Following the Program, students attended two breakout sessions of their choice. Speakers includ-

ed Professor Ric Grummer (Dairy Science), Professor Tom Crenshaw (Animal Sciences), Dominique

Brossard (Life Sciences Communications), Dave Bonhoff (Biological Systems Engineering), Lynn

Maki (Veterinary School), Sara Rodock and Flavia Arana (Graduate Studies).

After the breakout sessions, the female attendees were invited to the Association of Women in Agriculture house for lunch, hosted by

AWA Secretary, Abbie Holig. During lunch, the AWA Competitive

Edge Scholarship recipient, Alissa Milonczyk, was announced.

Alissa is a senior this year at Stratford High School and is plan-

ning to major in Animal Science at UW-Madison. Following lunch,

tours of the house were given and then the students and parents

were divided for individual question and answer sessions. The event

successfully concluded shortly after 2:00 p.m.

For the male attendees and their parents, they were invited to

Alpha Gamma Rho for a luncheon, as well. Members of Alpha

Gamma Rho gave tours of the recently renovated house and gra-

ciously answered any questions the attendees or their parents had.

Members of AGR got more individual time to spend with atten-

dees, along with their parents. All in all, 17 attendees visited Alpha

Gamma Rho, and the day was viewed as an overall success.

AGR and AWA hold Competitive Edge on March 20

Iota Chapter scholarship Winners & Alumni sponsors

Outstanding Freshman - Mitchell Kappelman

Sponsored by Kenneth Kopp

Outstanding Sophomore - Joseph Jacobson

Sponsored by Skullplates Initiate Class

Outstanding Junior - Garret Germain

Sponsored by Bernie and Martha Staller

Outstanding Senior - Andrew Hoffman

Sponsored by the Ames & John Mitchell Family

Ham Bruhn Award - Kevin Zwieg

Sponsored by the AGR Educational Foundation

Dale Bruhn Award of Excellence - Peter Strassburg

Sponsored by Dale F. Bruhn

Noble Ruler Award - Andrew Mulrooney

Sponsored by Mike and Nancy Beilke

50th Anniversary Class of 1960 - Freshman Awards

Daniel Burgardt and Will Madsen

Presenters / Iota Educational Foundation – Rick Daluge & Oren Hammes

Group Photo – left to right: Jerry Wallander, Bret Gygi, Pete

Strassburg, Dan Burgardt, Kevin Zwieg, Garret Germain, Will

Madsen, Joe Jacobson, Andy Mulrooney, Pete Kappleman,

Marty & Bernie Staller, Rick Daluge

Associate Dean Dan Shafer

Keynote Speaker

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June 2010 page 7

10 Year / 2000 - Dan Kendall, Zach

Lieven, Bryan Kurth

20 Year / 1990 - Bob Satori, Dan Thiemke,

Dean Meyer, Paul Roidt, Mark Taylor

40 Year / 1970 - Ken

McKenzie

30 Year / 1980 - Martin Anderson, Dave Sattler, Matt

Lippert, Ross Heidemann, Dan Bird

50 Year / 1960 - Arden Hintzman, Cliff Gnatzig, Grant

Hartman, Ralph Stauffacher, Al Koepke, Arne Peterson,

Jerry Wallander

50+ Year - Ron Schuler, Bob Miller, Lowell Ahrens, Bob

Kalter, Len Massie, Bob Luening, Tom Hamilton, Rollie

Manthe, Paul Hartwig, Glen Thomsen

The memorable quote in the movie Field of Dreams is “If you build it, they will come”. The same can be said for our Iota AGR chap-

ter. As we “Build a Better Fraternity”, our alumni and undergraduates become more involved in our pursuit of excellence.

This year at our 2010 annual Founders Day meeting it was great to see more and more alumni becoming involved with our Corpo-

ration and Foundation Boards. As the brothers introduced themselves, each stated a proud past accomplishment and a goal for 2010. Our

Iota brothers should be very proud of the successes they have had in their careers.

Again this year the Association of Women in Agriculture ladies joined us at our evening banquet, which served over 250 people at

the Madison Concourse Hotel. We honored alumni brothers from our 50+, 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10 year initiate classes and presented sev-

eral scholarships that were given by Iota alumni brothers. Mark your calendar for next year’s March 26, 2011, Founders Day.

Fraternally,

Bill Hantke

Iota AGR’s Field of dreams

Register to view Iota AGR on the Web

If you would like to find out what is going on with the college chapter, go to the Iota website at uwagr.com. If you follow these six

easy steps you can learn a great deal about Iota’s current events and collegiate members.

1. Go to Iota website uwagr.com

2. On the right side of the screen click on the icon “Alumni Register Here”

3. Enter the required information fields

4. A password will be sent to your entered email address

5. Once registered you will be able to update profile that is given

6. This is a great way to get access to contact information of undergraduates and you also have access to a message board that

is only available to registered users of the site. The message board is a great location to share ideas and information among

both current and past AGR brothers. It can also be used to post available internships or jobs. All alumni are strongly encour-

aged to register, as we plan to begin using the website in an expanded role in the near future.

-Cody Carpenter, VNR Alumni Relations

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June 2010 page 8

Dr. Allen Schuetz is a retired researcher of reproductive systems.

He lives happily with his wife, Joan, in Baltimore Md. He has two

children, Justin and Kristin. He retired from JHU, School of Hygiene

and Public Health after 34 years of primarily laboratory research on

various aspects concerning the growth, differentiation (meiotic mat-

uration) and spawning or ovulation of the female germ cells(oocytes)

prior to and subsequent to fertilization. He studied reproduction in

pigs, amphibians and even humans and even helped a team of

researchers with in vitro studies.

Dr. Schuetz grew up on a dairy farm in Monroe Wis. He is the old-

est of five children and had many responsibilities helping with the

sheep, pigs, beef, and even some cheese making. He went to the

University of Wisconsin-Madison with the full intention to go on

into research. He got involved with AGR through his cousin and

a number of different classmates. Allen has fond memories of the

house as being a second home during his collegiate years. He

remembers how the values of hard work and dedication helped him

in college. These values of getting things done helped him to be

successful working in the UW-Hospital. The best part about AGR

he says was “the people — I will never forget my brothers.” It was

a meeting place, to conduct business but also to meet lifelong

friends.

He is still quite involved in his community as well as the scien-

tific community at large. Dr. Schuetz is very active in his church and

finds time to make trips to Washington as well. He continues to

conduct research on the gametogenic events in starfish gonads dur-

ing the summer at the Friday Harbor Laboratory north of Seattle.

He also tries to attend the meetings of the Society for the Study of

Reproduction (SSR) but is very busy tending to his 10 acres in Bal-

timore and getting back to Wisconsin for annual reunions. Dr.

Schuetz was able to be successful in his scientific field of study

because of his hard work and the contacts he made over the years.

He looks forward to watching his children become professionals

in their field and watching his grandchild grow up a little every

day.

- Jared Wendt #1542

Greetings, I am Brother Ryan Aschen-

brener, initiate #1538, and I inter-

viewed Brother Jerry Steiner about

his life at UW-Madison and how it

prepared him for his current position

working for Monsanto. Brother Stein-

er, initiate # 1011, graduated from

UW-Madison in 1982 and currently

lives in St. Louis, Mo. When asked

to reflect upon his years of college

and in Alpha Gamma Rho, he nos-

talgically mentioned that college was

the most enjoyable experience of his

life so far. Br. Steiner specifically remembers going to Badger

football games with fellow brothers and on one occasion having a

beer-chugging contest with Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, the athletic

director at the time. He also had a great time at Farmer’s Ball as

an AGR undergraduate.

Brother Steiner claims that UW-Madison prepared him by hav-

ing an overall “good education,” and that a large school helped him

to adapt to the diversity that accompanies today’s present world.

Becoming Iota Chapter’s Noble Ruler his senior year, Alpha Gamma

Rho taught Br. Steiner a lesson about leadership, an important skill

in the business world.

Brother Steiner’s 26-year long employment in Monsanto, the

country’s largest biotech company, started in Platteville but took

him to places such as Texas, Washington D.C., and even Belgium,

and he leads its division that deals with global, public, government,

and industry affairs. In short, he ensures that Monsanto’s geneti-

cally modified products meet stringent government standards.

Now living in St. Louis, Brother Steiner is married and has two

sons aged 12 and 14. He is proud of the fact that his older son is an

Eagle Scout at such a young age with his other son following close-

ly behind. He and his family are involved with the St. Louis Unit-

ed Methodist Church. During my interview with Jerry, he was a

very inviting brother who stressed the importance of a wholesome

college life, perhaps hinting that I, along with other AGR under-

grads, should have one as well.

Allen schuetz focused onreproductive research

In the picture back row, left to right, Allen, Joan, Kristin

(daughter), Tom (son-in-law), Justin (son); front row, left

to right, are two granddaughters, Riley and Grace. Inter-

estingly, the picture was taken last summer in Wisconsin

on Allen's family's farm.

Brother steiner Reflects Fondly on AGR Experience

Brother Jerry Steiner

Brother Roy haller PassesRoy William Haller, age 77, of Washington Island and Madison, died

on Wednesday, April 21, at his home on Washington Island.

He was born on December 19, 1932, in Kenosha, Wis., the son of

Roy and Clara (Mattern) Haller and grew up in, Kenosha. He attend-

ed the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning bachelors and mas-

ters degrees in Agriculture.

In June, 1955, he married Mary Carolyn McAleer, also of Kenosha.

Roy was employed by the University of Wisconsin School of Agri-

cultural and Life Sciences, as a professor and then Assistant Dean of

Student Affairs, providing support and guidance to students, until his

retirement in 1989.

He and Mary then moved to Washington Island in Door County,

where they have lived for the last 21 years. Roy was dearly loved by

the Island community and others who knew him for his generous and

kind nature and his willingness to help his friends and neighbors.

May_Crescent10:Jan/2005Å\Crescent 5/17/10 12:12 PM Page 8

Ralph Satuffacher is from Sun Prairie Wis. He is currently retired

but used to be a veterinarian for the Colleagues of Agriculture and

did that for 35 years. He got married in 1963 to his wife, and they

now have three children, a son who is 39, and two daughters who

are 42 and 68. He has two pets, a cat and a dog.

Ralph is now involved with church organizations such as being

on the council and being property chairman. UW- Madison and the

Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity has helped Ralph the most in being

more social and just being able to meet people and get out there to

be known.

One thing that AGR did to help this was to have beer suppers

with local sororities where they were forced into a social situation.

He says this helped him the most. One of his best memories was

when AGR used to have Hell Week and the big brother would get

to smack his little brother on his behind with their paddle. In turn

the little brother gets to then smack his big brother back. When he

got to smack his big brother someone had told Ralph that after-

wards his big brother went and said to someone that he would never

want to be hit by him again.

Another good memory is that he and a few brothers had a pact

where no matter how late they were up Saturday night or how hung-

over they were Sunday morning, they would still go to church in the

morning. Overall he said that being in AGR made him grow as a per-

son, but even though sometimes his studying was affected it was one

of the best experiences he ever had and should be something that

everyone should experience.

- Chad Clickner #1539

Arne Peterson is a 50-year initiate. Arne comes from northwest

Wisconsin and started out at UW-Madison in farm short course.

Arne decided to switch to the four-year university, and that is

where he joined AGR. Alpha Gamma Rho opened a lot of doors

for Arne, he met many professional people, made lifelong friends,

and he learned to socialize. Arne even met his wife at a dinner.

One of Arne’s fondest memories of AGR was being a part of the

AGR quartet. He had a lot of fun singing many different songs.

Besides AGR, Arne was involved in men’s glee club on campus.

Arne got his master’s degree at Penn State University where he

helped with some research on regulation of food intake in sheep

and rats. In 1973 Arne bought his farm, Peterson’s Dairy LLC. The

farm, located in Lena, Wis., has 500 cows and grows alfalfa.

Arne works with his son, who is a part owner of the farm. He

also is a member of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wiscon-

sin. Arne is glad that he joined AGR as he learned a lot and had

plenty of fun.

- Will Madsen #1527

sully scramble June 12

To benefit the American Cancer Society - In memory of Marilyn Sullivan, and all who have been affected by cancer.

The fifth annual Sully Scramble is being spearheaded by Brother Bill Sullivan, #1249, and his wife Shelly. The event will honor

the memory of Bill’s late mother, Marilyn Sullivan. It will be held on Saturday, June beginning with an 11 a.m., putting contest for

a new putter valued at over $100. It will be followed by a noon shotgun start. The event will be held at Autumn Ridge Golf Club, 1

Straight Drive, Valders, Wis.

$75/person includes an 18-hole "best-ball" tournament with carts and a cookout with free beer following the conclusion of golf.

Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. ($20/person if attending the cookout only.)

SURVIVOR and MEMORY Wall: If you would like to participate, please bring a photo of yourself or a loved one who has been

affected by cancer. We will provide note cards if you would like to share any stories.

RAFFLE: We are currently accepting any personal or employer donations. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated!

Please let family, friends, neighbors and co-workers know about this event. The more participants the better!

Please contact us with any questions. We hope to see you at the course!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Please RSVP to shellysullivan@new.rr.com, (920) 574-2988, or via the Sully Scramble Facebook page. Please include the names

of your foursome. If you do not have a foursome we will be glad to assign you to one.

June 2010 page 9

Ralph stauffacher sharesAGR Memories

Brother Peterson and sonMilk 500 Cows

May_Crescent10:Jan/2005Å\Crescent 5/17/10 12:12 PM Page 9

Alpha Gamma RhoIota Chapter

233 Lake Lawn PlaceMadison, Wisconsin 53703

“Return service Requested”

Iota AGR Chapter Events 2010 - 2011

August

12 - 14 National AGR Convention – St Louis, Mo.

28 Iota Corporation Board & Committee Meeting

October

9 Chapter House Homecoming Event

December

11 Iota Corporation Board & Committee Meeting

March

26 Iota Chapter Founders Day

IOTA Alumni E-MailRequest

We are increasing our e-mail newsletter

communication with our alumni. Current-

ly, we have about 600 alumni e-mail

addresses………thus we need our 400

remaining alumni to send their e-mail

address. It is an important part in helping

to “Build a Better Fraternity” and to pre-

serve the future.

My e-mail: behanke@att.net

Bill Hantke # 740

Alumni Secretary

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