# Ceres (women's fraternity)

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.

## History

In 1978, the international board of FarmHouse fraternity proposed creating chapters for women. 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. FarmHouse also surveyed 4-H chapters and associations, finding that 65 percent were in support of the creation of a women's agricultural fraternity.
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. A committee of 4-H men and women selected the name Ceres Fraternity for the separate women's fraternity.
On October 12, 1985, Ceres chartered its first chapter at Colorado State University, initiating nineteen members. This was followed by chapters at the University of Alberta and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1986. The fraternity held its first biennial conclave in August 1986 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. Joan Blackwelder became the first present of the fraternity's international board.
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. Its international office was at 690 Prisk Street in Belleville, Wisconsin.
By 2000, Ceres had chartered fourteen chapters in the United States and Canada. In September 2024, the national Ceres fraternity ceased its operations due to declining membership. At this time, all chapters disbanded but had the option of continuing as local fraternities. A chapter at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville continues to operate as a local women's fraternity.

## Symbols

The organization was named Ceres after the Roman goddess of agriculture. Ceres' motto was "Commitment to Build". Its five attributes or pillars were commitment, agricultural orientation, leadership, scholarship, and fellowship.
The fraternity's colors were violet and gold. Its flower was the sterling silver rose. Its jewels were the amethyst and pearl. Its publication was The Rose and Scroll.

## Chapters

In the following list, active chapters are in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
| Name | Chartered | Institution | Location | Status |
| Alpha | October 12, 1985 – before 2010 | Colorado State University | Fort Collins, Colorado | Inactive |
| Beta | February 15, 1986 – 19xx ?; March 2007–20xx ? | University of Alberta | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Inactive |
| Gamma | March 1, 1986 – before 2010 | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona, California | Inactive |
| Delta | November 14, 1987 – before 2010 | California State University, Fresno | Fresno, California | Inactive |
| Epsilon | April 15, 1989 | University of Wisconsin–Platteville | Platteville, Wisconsin | Active |
| Zeta | April 22, 1989 – before 2010 | Montana State University | Bozeman, Montana | Inactive |
| Eta | November 23, 1991 – September 15, 2024 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, South Dakota | Inactive |
| Theta | March 19, 1994 – before 2017 | North Dakota State University | Fargo, North Dakota | Inactive |
| Iota | April 30, 1994 – before 2017 | Illinois State University | Normal, Illinois | Inactive |
| Kappa | April 27, 1996 – before 2010 | New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Inactive |
| Lambda | November 23, 1996 – before 2010 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Inactive |
| Mu | April 19, 1997 – before 2017 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, North Carolina | Inactive |
| Nu | April 26, 1997 – before 2017 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | Inactive |
| Xi | September 16, 2000 – before 2017 | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Inactive |