Earning top chapter awards is familiar territory for the brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at the University of Tennessee at Martin. AGR earned its fourth Maynard H. Coe Chapter Efficiency Award during the fraternity’s biennial national convention Aug. 1-3 in Sacramento, California.
The award recognizes chapters that have consistently maintained the highest level of operations during the past two years.
The Maynard H. Coe award is one of two biennial awards presented by the fraternity, while all other chapter awards are presented annually. The UT Martin chapter previously earned the Maynard Coe award in 1996-98, 2000-02, 2002-04 and was runner-up for the honor in 1998-2000.
The chapter received its charter April 20, 1963, and currently has 58 active members.
“Just knowing that the hard work that we’ve put in, into what we do as a chapter – what makes us different – it means a lot to be recognized nationally for that,” said Macon Barrow, AGR noble ruler (chapter president). Barrow is a senior studying agricultural engineering technology from Auburn, Kentucky, and is in his second year leading the chapter.
Alpha Gamma Rho also secured annual chapter and individual awards at the convention, including recognition for alumni engagement, communications, outstanding housemother – social and cultural development, and outstanding chapter alumni advisor. Mom (Jerrie) Conley has served as AGR housemother since 2011, and Russ Bragg, a 2002 UTM agriculture graduate, has served as chapter alumni advisor for two years.
In other convention news, Dr. Todd Winters, dean and professor of animal science, UT Martin College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and AGR chapter advisor, was elected during the convention for a six-year term to the AGR national board of directors. He was initiated in 1980 by the Washington State University AGR chapter.
The chapter has enjoyed consistent success through the years, but Barrow points to AGR’s beginnings for establishing high expectations for past, current and future members.
“It’s a lot of things I’d say, but we were founded on the principle that we wanted to be different than everybody else,” Barrow said. “We wanted to do things different, present ourselves in a social and professional manner, and I think that’s something that we strive to do through the various things that we involve ourselves with.”
Barrow will receive his undergraduate degree this May and will return home to pursue a career in land surveying and work on his family’s beef-cattle farm. In addition to his degree, he will leave college with valuable leadership skills and a sense of accomplishment being associated with one of the country’s best AGR chapters.
“I’ve been the president of AGR for the past two years now, so I’ve done this twice and I think just about every week presents itself with new challenges to be honest with you,” he said.
“ … I think that’s been the biggest thing for me is just working with people and learning to get things done.”
The complete list of chapter and individual awards announced during the convention included:
- Jerrie Conley, Housemother – Social and Cultural Development Award (highest honor),
- Continued Alumni Engagement Award (high honor – chapter),
- Russ Bragg, Outstanding Advisor Award (high honor – alumni),
- Macon Barrow, AGR Excellence Scholarship as one of the four top chapter members,
- Chapter Communications Award (high honor), and
- Gold Chapter Award for exceeding expectations for chapter excellence.
PHOTO: UT Martin’s Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity chapter received its fourth Maynard H. Coe Chapter Efficiency Award during the fraternity’s biennial national convention, Aug. 1-3, 2024, in Sacramento, California. The award recognizes chapters that have consistently maintained the highest level of operations during the past two years. Pictured at the convention during award presentations are (l-r): Dr. Todd Winters, AGR chapter advisor; Jackson Hughes, junior, agricultural business, Columbia; Macon Barrow, senior, agricultural engineering technology, Auburn, Kentucky; Rex Martin, Alpha Gamma Rho CEO; Jerrie Anne Conley, AGR housemother, Martin; Houston Batey, senior, agriculture, Milton; Riley Qualls, sophomore, agriculture, Cornersville; and Russ Bragg, chapter alumni advisor, Martin.
