FarmHouse - University of Nebraska

NEBRASKA CHAPTER 3 E ven before Grant Suddarth '16 attended UNL, he knew FarmHouse and agriculture were in his future. "My family heavily contributed to my love for agriculture and FarmHouse." His mother was a FarmHouse Little Sister, his uncle, Clark Pickrel '85, is a farmer, and his father works as a farm manager. Grant desired to own his own business but wasn't sure how it would all pan out. Attending the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute at the university hosted by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture sealed the deal. Deciding to join the Nebraska Chapter and attend UNL was an easy call for Grant. "Witnessing the years of tradition, the numerous members active with the house corporation, paired with the tradition of building men, demonstrated to me how the years in FarmHouse are so transformative," he shared. Grant recognizes the role FarmHouse played in shaping him into the man he is today. "FarmHouse guided me in my personal life, which has led me in my professional career." Grant feels indebted to the senior class who invested time in him his freshman year. "They cared about my well-being and I look up to them," he explained. "Their example of leadership spurred me to serve as vice president my sophomore and junior years. I was also able to see how much the alumni association was involved with the active chapter, including all the ways they volunteer their time and how quickly their efforts can be forgotten." Grant credits FarmHouse for playing a role in fulfilling his longtime dream of beginning a business venture on his own. After his freshman year of college, Grant worked as an intern and found his passion. While working for an agricultural appraisal office, he noticed the lack of technology available. He worked to bring new software advances into the industry, creating a more proficient process for users. From that avenue, Terrace Ag was born. The agricultural appraiser process takes certified general appraisers around 20 hours and 5-6 software platforms to complete. Grant and his team built an all- in-one software platform that cuts the appraisal process time in half, while still giving the appraiser ample flexibility. Grant reports he has just started selling the subscription software and is already onboarding a few customers, but he recognizes there is a long way to go with room for growth. "I see a lot of possibilities for Terrace Ag, but right now I want to perfect the current product before we really branch out," he said. Terrace Ag has been pushing through thanks to funding from state grants, university competitions, and support from family and friends. "We have been so blessed to have appraisers use our product and it has been a rewarding feeling to have people spend money on something we created!" Grant and his team are looking for angel investors as well as business mentors. Grant is honored to be a part of the Nebraska Chapter and the foundation built through his brotherhood. "I loved living at the house with 80- plus friends and all the random conversations had on a regular basis." When he's not working on Terrace Ag, Grant and a group of friends tour breweries and wineries all over Nebraska. Reach out to Grant at suddarth.grant@gmail.com. HIGH-TECH MEETS AGRICULTURE IN A NEW WAY Grant Suddarth '16 Creates Breakthrough Technology O ne year down and the new chapter house is still in great condition. The men were stellar as usual with grades and other activities, so it was an uneventful yet great year on the association board. Rest assured that there are board members starting new committees to make FarmHouse even better than it already is, which is also great news. I just got home from a small gathering of alumni from my area. We try to get a group together every month to socialize and catch up. It was a smaller group this time since life gets busy and some unfortunately couldn't make it. I recently attended a brotherhood weekend at another alumnus' cabin in Kansas. He invites many of us down every year to tell the same stories and reconnect. I was also in a group text recently with about 15 other brothers that discussed a brother's motorcycle trip from Wyoming back to his hometown. We all enjoyed seeing photos from the trip. Brothers from my era have a great bond. Like many alumni, we enjoy going to Husker away games with our wives, baseball games, etc. There's a reason that we set records in raising the amount of money for a new chapter house. The brotherhood is strong and lasting. I know there are many more eras that have the same camaraderie as mine. I encourage you to reach out to see if your class gets together. If not, start a monthly or annual gathering to reconnect or join ours. My son is a junior in the chapter now and is developing those same lifetime friendships. I've met many of his brothers and I believe Farmhouse is as strong as it has ever been. Many thanks to you all. I hope to see you all back in Lincoln this fall for Homecoming. Fraternally, Lincoln Williams '87 Nebraska FarmHouse Association lincoln@hoa-solutionsinc.com All Quiet on the FarmHouse Front Brotherhood Is Alive and Well within Nebraska Chapter

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