FIRST PUBLISHED IN SICKLE & SHEAF ➻ SUMMER 2023
Starting from square one is never easy. Restarting from someone else’s square one can be even harder.
That is the challenge Alpha Beta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at Oregon State University faces. After five years, a century following its founding in 1924, Alpha Beta Chapter returned to Corvallis, Oregon, in 2023.
Alpha Beta Chapter Noble Ruler is Brother Trenton Lundy. It is a surprising role for a business administration major from Salem, Oregon. “When I got into Oregon State, I was not even considering joining a fraternity,” Brother Lundy said, “AGR is a Fraternity I did not know anything about when I started college.” Even though Lundy went into college and the Fraternity experience without prior knowledge, he has taken it in stride and is eager to be part of something unique at Oregon State by being part of a fraternity with “different morals than that of any other organization.” Brother Lundy also is proud to be associated with a fraternity that stands for excellence on campus and as a national organization.”
Helping Brother Lundy along the way is Adviser Jeremy Turner, a new comer to the Pacific Northwest. who moved to the region. Brother Turner is not an Oregon State graduate or even an Oregon native. Instead, he attended the University of California- Davis, where he joined the Phi Chapter and served as Noble Ruler, Adviser, and on the Phi Chapter Alumni Board. The Home Office called after he moved to Oregon, asking if he was interested in resuming the role of Adviser, but for Alpha Beta Chapter. “It wasn’t even really on my radar," Brother Turner said, "but it’s been an exceptional opportunity to be part of growing Alpha Gamma Rho through a local chapter,”
The challenges are not surprising to Brother Lundy, “We knew that recruitment would be difficult but are really trying our best to rebuild our chapter with as many quality members as we can.” That has been a big challenge for Alpha Gamma Rho chapters and other fraternities across the nation, but it is especially so for a chapter that has been inactive for some time. Through the demanding work of Brother Lundy, Brother Turner, members on campus and in the community, Alpha Beta Chapter has been fortunate to keep and revitalize connections. Brother Lundy said, “The networking opportunities have been pleasant surprises. Throughout the general industry, especially the agricultural industry, you would be incredibly surprised at how many leaders we connect with that are alumni or affiliated with the AGR Fraternity somehow.”
Having started from someone else's square one, Alpha Beta Chapter moves forward. The chapter leaders are fully prepared to continue the arduous work and rise to the challenge of increasing awareness of Alpha Gamma Rho across the campus to build membership, all the while continuing connections with valued alumni and supportive partners. “We want to represent our chapter to the best of our abilities,” Brother Lundy said. The Fraternity would also recognize Brother Brian Field and Jeff Heater for their leadership and dedication to Alpha Beta Chapter.
This group of men is eager to, “get Alpha Beta started back up and get it back to where it was at it’s prime,” according to Brother Lundy. Alpha Beta Chapter is ready To Make Better Men.
