FarmHouse - University of Nebraska

F armHouse alumni share a responsibility to uphold the fraternity's time-honored values, and Steve Grasz '81 is glad to do his part as a recently elected member of the International Executive Board. Steve shared his thoughts on board involvement and how FarmHouse helped him prepare for a fulfilling life beyond college. FRATERNAL PRIDE "I followed in the footsteps of my brother, Tracy Grasz '76," Steve said about joining FarmHouse. He made early memories with pledge class brothers and enjoyed mealtime traditions at the house every Monday night as well as productive chapter meetings throughout the years. "The chapter house at 3601 Apple Street was an oasis where I felt at home and was supported to achieve, lead, and dream big." Steve's membership propelled his personal growth as he became Nebraska Chapter president and was selected for the Innocents Society, along with receiving the Doane Award. An exceptional undergraduate experience paved the way for Steve to stay engaged with FarmHouse alongside his legal career. LAW AND LEADERSHIP An internship with Congresswoman Virginia Smith led to Steve working for her in Washington, D.C., after college. Steve's time in D.C. involved accompanying Smith to meetings with political figures like Vice President George H. W. Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker as well as drafting a provision for the farm bill and sitting on the floor of the House of Representatives for a joint session of Congress. Steve married his college sweetheart, Verlyne, and started law school once returning to Nebraska. He coordinated an attorney general campaign for Don Stenberg '67 and later became a litigation associate at Kutak Rock law firm. When Don won the next AG election, he selected Steve as chief deputy attorney general. After working in the state capital for nearly twelve years, Steve returned to legal practice at Husch Blackwell. He was recommended by Nebraska's senators and nominated by President Trump to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Steve was sworn into the position in January 2018, and he currently serves 22 million residents of the circuit while working under the United States Supreme Court. A FARMHOUSE FOCUS Despite a busy career, Steve has stayed true to his fraternal roots by serving as chapter advisor and seeing his son, Jackson Grasz '16, become a member of FarmHouse. His election to the International Executive Board was a humbling experience, but Steve is excited to accept new responsibilities for the brotherhood that shaped his life. "I am looking forward to working on implementing a strategic plan for growth while maintaining FarmHouse standards as set forth in our object and rituals," Steve said. He shares a duty to shape the fraternity's direction by engaging with active chapters and alumni associations to ensure proper leadership and programming for new generations of FarmHouse brothers. While the IEB faces challenges like the shrinking rural population and lower male college enrollment, Steve is confident in FarmHouse Fraternity's ability to provide a fulfilling experience that today's young men need more than ever. "We need to recruit only a small fraction of the top college men to double our size and achieve a more sustainable economic scale. By doing so, we can support long-term viability and high-level programming and training to help smaller chapters achieve sustainable membership numbers. The IEB can work to finalize and implement the strategic growth plan while being vigilant to ensure FarmHouse standards are not compromised." Steve is prepared to work hard to maintain FarmHouse's rich tradition of brotherhood. You can connect with him at grasz@cox.net. Steve GraSz '81 JoinS international executive Board Committed to the Brotherhood Alumni News "I look forward to working with FarmHouse brothers from across the country to ensure a bright future for the Builder of Men." Don I. Gard, Ph.D. '47 retired from LLY in 1989 and stayed in Greensfield, Ind. His wife, Beverly, was on Greenfield City Council from 1975-88 and the second state senator from 1988-2012. In 2012, they were both involved in local activities. Don's health is okay for his late 90s. Email: dongard26@gmail.com Paul G. Herman '58 lives in Rio Vista, Calif., in a 55-plus gated golf course-owned home that feels like a resort with many activities. He still works on wine grapes. Email: pgherm@aol.com Wayne C. Pfeiffer, Ph.D. '63 is writing a memoir of his career in international development. He resides in Guelph, Ontario. Gary L. Rima '74 lives in Terrell, Texas, but has spent most of the year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, after retiring a year ago. "Enjoying the beach and not missing the colder winter weather." Email: gary@rimafamily.net Mark R. Davidson '81 resides in Leawood, Kan., and teaches a financial management class to MBA students at the University of Missouri Kansas City. Email: markdavidsontri@gmail.com Matt J. Timm, M.D. '96 is a rural family physician in Pender, Neb. He spends his time raising four kids, traveling, and mowing his acreage. Email: matt.timm@pchne.org Dustin "Bubba" Penas '03 enjoys traveling, spending time at the lake, swimming, and watching his two boys play sports: football, basketball, and baseball. He resides in Papillion, Neb. Email: dpenas@hotmail.com NEBRASKA CHAPTER 3

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