Awarded annually to Fraternity members 40 years old or younger, the Alpha Gamma Rho Grand President's Award recognizes individuals judged by a selection committee to have achieved remarkable professional success and made great contributions to agriculture, community, and Fraternity. It demonstrates an honorable recognition of an awardee's exceptional brotherhood, leadership, professionalism, and knowledge of his respective industry. Alpha Gamma Rho celebrates these young, emerging leaders in SICKLE & SHEAF and presents the awards at Leadership Seminars.
2025 Grand President’s Award Nominations are closed. We are now accepting nominations to be considered for 2026.
2024 Grand President's Awardees
BJ Brugman
Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
Brother B.J. Brugman was raised on a family farm near Royal, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business. As an undergraduate, BJ joined Eta Chapter and served in a variety of leadership positions including VNR–Alumni Relations and VNR–Membership Development. BJ’s leadership extended beyond the Fraternity through his involvement in numerous academic clubs and campus organizations.
Brother Brugman received a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and an MBA from Indiana University in 2016.
Upon graduation from Iowa State in 2012, he began a successful career in the animal health industry. Joining Elanco Animal Health, BJ quickly assumed significant responsibilities, managing Elanco’s largest strategic livestock customers in the United States, and ultimately spearheading the strategy for the top 200 global customers across various species.
Today, BJ serves as the founder and CEO of Distynct, a forward-thinking startup focused on enabling precision livestock farming.
BJ has continued to stay involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity beyond his collegiate years. He served as Chapter Adviser for Nu Chapter at NC State for two years and currently serves as Chapter Adviser for Eta Chapter at Iowa State.
Dipal Chaudhari
Alpha Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Brother Dipal Chaudhari of Alpha Kappa Chapter at Tennessee-Knoxville is a leader with sales and marketing experience working at Bayer Crop Science. He joined Bayer, previously known as Monsanto, after graduating from University of Tennessee– Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science degree in BioChemistry and Molecular Biology.
He began working with Monsanto in their Customer Operations group as a Customer Operations Specialist. After 18 months, he went to sales to become a sales trainee on the Missouri team. In spring of 2013, he moved back to St. Louis to join the DEKALB Asgrow Marketing team where he held multiple roles. Then transitioned back to commercial sales in the spring of 2016, where he currently leads a team of 11 Field Service Representatives as the Area Business Manager for DEKALB Asgrow in Southern Illinois. At the beginning of 2022, Dipal took on the responsibility of leading the DEKALB Asgrow Deltapine Brands for the US as the DEKALB Asgrow Deltapine Brand Lead. Dipal has a passion around relationship building, commercial business strategy, and helping develop others.
In Dipal’s personal time he enjoys spending time with his two boys and watching sports. Brother Dipal has two sons with his wife. He enjoys sports, his family and running.
Grant Bargfrede
Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
A native of Ankeny, Iowa, Grant Bargfrede was involved with 4-H from a local, state, and national level. Grant attended Iowa State University where he was initiated into the Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho in 2010.
Upon graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture, Grant went to work for FLM+. Later in 2014, he joined the AGR Home Office staff where he started as a Chapter Consultant and then served as the Director of Chapter Advancement. Today he continues to serve as its Senior Director of Operations where he is involved in many day-to-day operations of Alpha Gamma Rho. Grant has also been involved throughout the Interfraternal community as a member of the Fraternity Executives Association. Grant was instrumental in helping re-establish a Chief Operating Officers leadership cohort among many Inter/National Fraternity and Sorority Headquarters. This cohort is meant to bring other headquarters professionals together regularly to network while learning and growing together as professionals to help our respective Greek experiences.
Within the Kansas City community, Grant has been involved with the American Royal Association where he was selected to the Chairman’s Club, a young professionals group of the American Royal in 2016. From 2019 to 2022, Grant served on the Leadership team for the Club.
Jared Henderson
Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
Brother Jared Henderson has been involved with the agriculture industry his entire life. He was raised on his family’s fifth generation row crop and cattle farm in central Missouri, served as a Missouri FFA State Vice President and attended the University of Missouri, where he earned bachelor degrees in Agriculture Economics and Agriculture Education. He then went on to earn his Masters in Public Affairs from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs located at the University of Missouri.
During his time as a student, Jared was heavily involved with the Theta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, where he served as VNR–Alumni Relations, VNR–Planning and Noble Ruler.
After graduation Brother Henderson moved out to Washington, D.C. where he f irst started his career working for CropLife America. Since then, Jared has worked for three different Members of Congress in roles such as Legislative Assistant, Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Advisor. In these positions, his responsibilities have always included acting as the chief agriculture policy advisor for those members in addition to other policy area responsibilities and staff management roles.
Currently, Jared lives in Washington, DC where he enjoys traveling, checking out local food and drink scenes and when he can, getting back home to the family farm in Missouri.
Past Grand President’s Awardees
1991
• Taylor Brown, Alpha Delta Chapter, Montana State University
• Mike Jackson, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Jay Vroom Alpha, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
• Jim Zarndt, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin–Madison
1992
• Jack Kaltenberg, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Dwight Seegmiller, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Walt Whitcomb, Psi Chapter, University of Maine
1993
• Sam Brownback, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• John DeRuiter, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
• Frank Moore, Alpha Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
1994
• David Buckman, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
• John C. Cottingham, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Frederick McClure, Beta Nu Chapter, Texas A&M University
• Ole Meland, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
1995
• Tom Davis, Delta Chapter, University of Purdue
• Scott Moffitt, Omicron Chapter, University of Kentucky
• William C. Schilling, Kappa Chapter, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Jerry Weller, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
1996
• Terry Bass, Nu Chapter, North Carolina State University
• C. James Bode, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
• William C. Miller, Omicron Chapter, University of Kentucky
• Jay S. Poole, Beta Eta Chapter, Virginia Tech
1997
• Charles "Chuck" Clemons, Sr., Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
• Dave Parker, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Paul Schulte, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
1998
• David L. Bracht, Kappa Chapter, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Ed Jernigan, Beta Theta Chapter, Middle Tennessee State University
• Ted A. McKinney, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Michael Bret Thurmond, Alpha Eta Chapter, University of Georgia
1999
• Jay L. Ewald, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
• Brose A. McVey, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Brian Moeller, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
• Tony D. Williams, Beta Xi Chapter, Texas Tech University
2000
• Steven L. Stice, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Jeffrey L. Warner, Alpha Tau Chapter, Western Illinois University
2001
• Kraig Wagenecht, Alpha Tau Chapter, Western Illinois University
• Randall Little, Alpha Lambda Chapter, New Mexico State University
• Charles Woodside, Kappa Chapter, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
2002
• Dave E. Anderson, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• William Carriere, Phi Chapter, University of California–Davis
• Timothy Minert, Kappa Chapter, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• David A. Rold, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
2003
• Jeffrey D. Adkisson, CAE, Western Illinois University
• Russ Galle, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• Charles Hall, Alpha Kapa Chapter, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
• Rick Nagel, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
2004
• Merle G. Flowers, Xi Chapter, Auburn University
• Doug Griffin, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• David B. Reis, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
2005
• Daren Coppock, Alpha Beta Chapter, Oregon State University
• Doug Eckrote, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Anthony Haynes, Alpha Upsilon Chapter, University of Tennessee–Martin
• David McDonald, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
2006
• Bryce Kelly Sr., Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
• John L. Kruse, Alpha Phi Chapter, South Dakota State University
• Paul Weubbe, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
• Wayne Worthley, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
2007
• Paul Boettcher, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Todd D. Johnson, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• Shane C. Kitchen, Beta Tau Chapter, Mississippi State University
• Kevin Ochsner, Rho Chapter, Colorado State University
2008
• Tracey Binkley, Alpha Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
• Rich Engel, Phi Chapter, University of California–Davis
• Corey Geiger, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Bill Hayen, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
2009
• Michael Gomes, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
• Grady Roberts, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
• Michael Wainscott, Omicron Chapter, University of Kentucky
• Thomas White, Alpha Klappa Chapter, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
2010
• Daniel Foor, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Allen Lambright, East Texas State University
• Michael Revelle, Alpha Upsilon Chapter, University of Tennessee–Martin
• Jim Zumwalt, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
2011
• Raymond Hodge, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
• John Latham, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Tom Lilja, Epsilon Chapter, North Dakota State University
• Glenn Poxleitner, Beta Phi Chapter, University of Idaho
2012
• Michael Bosco, Beta Sigma Chapter, Tarleton State University
• John Demerly, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Steve Hanson, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Sean Kouplen, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
2013
• Cody Lane, Beta Sigma Chapter, Tarleton State University
• Devin Nunes, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
• Adam Putnam, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
• Jeffrey Rowe, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
2014
• Matt Fanta, Alpha Psi Chapter, University of Wisconsin–River Falls
• Jerry Gilliam, Alpha Omega Chapter, Murray State University
• Marc Paulson, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
• Peter Tomlinson, Alpha Nu Chapter, University of Connecticut
2015
• Lynn Becker, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
• C. Elliott Marsh, Jr., Alpha Eta Chapter, University of Georgia
• Jesse Singerhouse, Alpha Psi Chapter, University of Wisconsin–River Falls
• Jerrod Westfahl, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
2016
• Chad Dummermuth, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Joe Kelsay, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Thad Koenigsfeld, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
• Adam Manwarren, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
2017
• Jason Grady, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• Sam Watson, Alpha Eta Chapter, University of Georgia
• Will Wittler, Kappa Chapter, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Jeremy Zweiacker, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
2018
• Garrett Hawkins, Beta Omega Chapter, Missouri State University
• Jason Hart, Beta Zeta Chapter, Clemson University
• Kevin Heikes, Rho Chapter, Colorado State University
• Eric Halverson, Epsilon Chapter, North Dakota State University
2019
• Brant Bigger, Epsilon Chapter, North Dakota State University
• Brad Garrison, Beta Tau Chapter, Mississippi State University
• Matt Norman Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Dale Winger, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
2020
• Aaron Lower, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
• Eric Peterson, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
• Josh Roe, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• Brady Sidwell, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
2021
• Robert Elliott, Alpha Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
• Tim Hammerich, Phi Chapter, University of California–Davis
• Justin Sharpless, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
• Josh Wackler, Alpha Beta Chapter, Oregon State University
2022
• Todd Streinacher, Alpha Tau Chapter, Western Illinois University
• Seth Pratt, Beta Phi Chapter, University of Idaho
• Andy Fordice, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
• Chris Looney, Alpha Iota Chapter, University of Arkansas
2023
• Adam Geiger, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Bradley Starbuck, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
• Garrett Lister, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
• Dr. Trey Kellner, Kappa Chapter, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
