Alpha Gamma Rho celebrates 50 years of brotherhood, service, and agriculture at Virginia Tech

After arriving at Virginia Tech as a “small town farm boy” in 1975, Tom Pridgen found an instant family at Alpha Gamma Rho – then a new agricultural fraternity housed in a stately farmhouse on six rolling acres near campus.

“I went to this huge school and was scared to death,” he said. “When I walked into that fraternity house, I felt like I was home.”

Almost five decades later, Parker Sheetz of Woodstock, Virginia, had a similar experience. 

“I wasn’t planning to join a fraternity,” he said. “I came to the house for a low country boil. Guys were cutting grass, playing basketball, and I just thought, 'I'm 100 percent going to do this.' Most of us are children of farmers, or have an agriculture background, and when we come here, it feels like home.”

In the 50 years since the Beta Eta chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) was founded as the first agriculture fraternity at Virginia Tech, many things have changed: Its 19th century house now includes central heat and air, livestock no longer freely roam the property, and the brothers come from more diverse majors – both in and outside of agriculture. 

But one thing remains constant – a brotherhood united by service, leadership, and a deep connection to agriculture.

“AGR is a family for life,” said Pridgen, who now serves as a chapter advisor to the fraternity. “It’s a network like no other.”

From May 30-31, that family will come together for Alpha Gamma Rho's 50th anniversary celebration in Blacksburg. Their goals are not only to celebrate a half century of brotherhood, but also to raise $100,000 to fund a new scholarship for Virginia Tech students. The weekend’s highlights will include an opening reception hosted by alumnus Jay Poole ’78; a luncheon, alumni panel, and live auction; and a barbecue at the Alpha Gamma Rho house.

“It’s a time to come back to celebrate, reengage, and plot a course forward for the next 50 years,” Pridgen said.

$1,000 and a dream

In 1972, several Virginia Tech faculty members with ties to Alpha Gamma Rho set out to start a chapter on campus. Gary Minish, a professor of animal and poultry sciences and fraternity alumnus from Iowa State University, led the effort.

“My involvement in AGR was probably the most significant leadership development experience of my life,” said Minish, now a professor emeritus. “I knew it would be transformative for Virginia Tech students.”

The group soon found a potential home for the new fraternity: a gray limestone farmhouse built in 1843 by one of Blacksburg’s earliest settlers, the Broce family. The house was full of charm — and in serious need of work. It lacked plumbing, heat, kitchen and dining facilities, and dedicated space for sleeping.

After scraping together a $1,000 down payment and getting faculty members to co-sign a $180,000 mortgage, the group purchased the property at 1503 Toms Creek Road.

Then the real work began. Forty-four students built a three-story addition, installed water and electrical systems, and converted the space into a functioning fraternity house – all while living in a construction zone.

“It was a learn-as-you-go experience,” said C. Gordon Thornhill Jr. ’75, the colony’s first leader, called a noble ruler. “Somehow, we all made it work. One guy was a carpenter, one was an electrician, one was a mechanic. We had the right group of people to get it done.”

On May 17, 1975, the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho was officially chartered.

The instrumental role of women

Throughout its 50-year history, women have played an essential role in shaping the fraternity’s community and culture. In the early years, female students known “Rho Mates” – also from agricultural backgrounds – were formally initiated and fully integrated into fraternity life.

“They were instrumental members of the fraternity,” Thornhill said. “They helped with house projects, rounded out coed intramural sports teams, decorated for events, supported our philanthropy work, and were a real part of the house.”

Rho Mate Lois Skeen '77 said membership in Alpha Gamma Rho offered a supportive environment for women - who were underrepresented in agriculture - to network with other students pursuing agricultural careers.

“We had a natural bond with the brothers as well as with each other because of our common background in agriculture,” Skeen said. “It was our presence that made it feel like a big farm family. Each pledge brother got assigned a Big Sister as well as a Big Brother. We developed close relationships, many of which have lasted 50 years.”

Alpha Gamma Rho also had a live-in house mother during those early years, a requirement from the national organization at the time. She provided oversight and a steady presence as the fraternity was getting established, helping to guide a house full of students learning how to live, lead, and work together.

Since 1992, women in agriculture at Virginia Tech have had a dedicated professional home in the Sigma Alpha, a sorority that fosters scholarship, leadership, service, and sisterhood while promoting the study of agriculture. Sigma Alpha and Alpha Gamma Rho frequently collaborate on events and share a commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Leadership, service, and brotherhood

Since its founding, the Beta Eta Chapter has prepared more than 800 students for life beyond college, through shared responsibility, leadership, and a deep connection to agriculture.

Today’s chapter is home to 34 brothers. While most are students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, they also hail from the College of Natural Resources and Environment, the College of Engineering, and the Pamplin College of Business. Together, they manage every aspect of the house — paying bills, home and grounds maintenance, buying and preparing meals, and organizing events — with an annual operating budget of over $300,000.

“It’s like running a small business,” said Sheetz, a junior majoring in wildlife conservation and the chapter’s current noble ruler. “It’s a crash course in adulting. You learn responsibility, communication, and leadership.”

Brothers are also highly involved around campus, serving in the Agronomy Club, Dairy Club, Block and Bridle, and as CALS Ambassadors, among other activities.

“The most rewarding thing for me has been watching the caliber of students who came through that house and what they’ve gone on to do,” Minish said. “Over the last 50 years, AGR has produced leaders in agriculture across the country — commissioners, university presidents, and some of the top breeders in the livestock industry. Our chapter has been a catalyst for helping students grow into leaders who represent Virginia Tech on a national stage.”

Another hallmark of Alpha Gamma Rho membership is service. Brothers regularly help local farmers with projects like clearing barns or harvesting pumpkins, and they assist neighbors with everything from tree removal to moving furniture. Philanthropy is woven into their calendar, with brothers logging hundreds of volunteer hours each year through campus events, local causes, and national nonprofits.

Their annual oyster roast and auction raises more than $50,000 for Ducks Unlimited, making the chapter one of the organization’s top fundraisers in Virginia. At Halloween, they invite the community to a haunted house and corn maze on the Alpha Gamma Rho property – with ticket proceeds going to Farm Rescue. 

The bond created at 1503 Toms Creek Road extends into a lifelong professional and friendship network. Alumni regularly hold get-togethers and return to campus to speak at chapter meetings, mentor students, socialize, and connect younger members with internships and job opportunities.

“I got my internship this summer through AGR,” Sheetz said. “If you’re a brother, there’s always someone you can call who will help you out.”

Investing in the future

The 50th anniversary celebration is more than a milestone — it’s a chance to strengthen Alpha Gamma Rho’s legacy and support future generations. The Beta Eta Alumni Board has pledged $100,000 to endow a scholarship for Virginia Tech students, including those with connections to the fraternity. More than $70,000 has already been raised and each ticket for the anniversary celebration includes a $5 contribution to the scholarship fund.

“This scholarship is a lasting reminder of what Beta Eta stands for,” said Steven Bowman ’02, the alumni board president. “It shows prospective students and families that AGR is about leadership, service, and connection — not just social life.”

For Colville Hutchinson ’85, who co-advises current fraternity members, the reunion offers a chance to celebrate and reinforce what makes Alpha Gamma Rho special: its enduring focus on shaping young leaders.

“Our motto is To Make Better Men,” he said. “Those four words are the foundation for everything we do — and they’ll still be there 50 years from now. It’s in our hearts.”

Join the celebration by contacting CALSAdvancement@vt.edu or visiting  https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/AGR50.