WHO WE ARE
The object of Our Fraternity is to build the whole person, to effect bonds of sisterhood and to unify Ceres as a comprehensive entity. Ceres is committed to building qualities of leadership, to building meaningful fellowship, and to building a desire for scholastic achievement. Our commitment to Ceres is predicated on the values and ideals descriptive of a rural environment and offers life-long sisterhood to women with an appreciation of agriculture. Membership in Ceres may at times require the sacrifices of time, pleasures, and comforts.
The name Ceres comes from the name of the Roman goddess of agricultural fertility. Ceres comes from the word creare which means "to create". She is associated with the earth and work needed to raise crops and the bread produced from grain.
Every April, Ceres had a festival called Cerealia to celebrate growth. Torches were lit at her festival to represent the magic that protects crops.
For us, Ceres represents the historical importance of women in agriculture. The number of women involved in agriculture has increased over time. Ceres began as the "little sisters" program in Farmhouse Men's Fraternity. But, in 1984 Farmhouse's Little Sisters achieved a unanimous vote for a women's agricultural fraternity.
Our chapter folded in
On October 12, 1985, nineteen women initiated into the first Ceres International Women's Fraternity at Colorado State University. Soon after, the University of Alberta and California Poly-Pomona had Ceres agricultural fraternities as well!
Our initial chapter folded due to low numbers, but we rechartered in 2005 and became a chapter in 2007. One year after our 10 Year Anniversary, our numbers are at an all time high with 27 Active Members!
Ceres Has 5 Major Attributes!
1. Commitment - to each other and to agriculture
2. Agriculture - passion for our agricultural backgrounds
3. Leadership - we empower each other
4. Fellowship - Life long friendships
5. Scholarship - academic excellence
