About Us

The Beginnings of Alpha Gamma Rho start in 1912 with the foundation of the Caduceus chapter at Cornell University. The founders were a close knit group of men dedicated to issues concerning agriculture. On December 19, 1914, Caduceus received a charter from Alpha Gamma Rho national and has Zeta Chapter ever since. The first AGR house sat at 409 Dryden Ave until 1916 when a new house was built at 203 Highland Ave, the present location of the house. Since 1914, Alpha Gamma Rho has been the home to over 1700 men. Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) is the national agricultural fraternity, with sixty two chapters across the United States. AGR boasts a rich tradition of close brotherhood, good times, and prides itself on its reputation of being a friendly fraternity. For over seventy years, Cornell's Zeta chapter has been the home for over 1800 members who have gone on to become leaders in many diverse fields. We feel that AGR is a close knit group of individuals because many of our brothers are closely associated with agriculture, which allows us to form incredibly strong bonds of friendship unparalleled in many fraternity experiences. However, a surprising number of our brothers are not from agricultural backgrounds, which contributes to our amazing diversity. Brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho are also extremely busy with organizations outside of the house such as philanthropies and community service, varsity and intramural sports, as well as the Cornell Inter-fraternity Council. Whether it means holding social events, or just hanging out together, we form friendships that last forever. In a place as big as Cornell University, it's nice to have a place to call home, a place where we call each other brothers and friends, and a place that makes our college years some of the most rewarding years of our lives. For us, we call this place Alpha Gamma Rho. Purpose: To Make Better Men, and through them a broader and better agriculture by surrounding members with influences tending to encourage individual endeavor, resourcefulness, and aggressive effort along lines making for the development of better mental, social, moral, and physical qualities; to promote a wider acquaintance and a broader outlook on the part of agricultural men through fellowship in a national organization that stands for the best social, mental, and moral development.