Alpha Gamma Rho - Penn State University

2 Gamma Crescent Nate Nourse '86 (Γ1235) Cultivates ΑΓΡ Principles in Professional Endeavors B orn into one of Massachusetts oldest farming families, it was only logical to decide at the age of 13 to have a career in agriculture. As a full- time summer employee, I learned what it takes to be a general laborer, crop protectant applicator, and irrigator before the end of high school. I was fortunate to be exposed to every job on the farm. I've raised the family beef since second grade and still keep a dozen Herefords as a hobby. As a Penn Stater, I started at Mont Alto campus. This is where I met my little brother, Raymond "Jock" Sheaffer Jr. '87 (Γ1251). Thanks to the encouragement of long-time berry plant customer Bill Yerkes '49 (Γ592), I rushed ΑΓΡ in the spring of '85. I pledged in the fall and was initiated in the spring of '86. I graduated with a degree in horticulture in '88. I was involved in the Hort Club, played intramural sports, and was kitchen steward. I was known to whip up a monster brunch with the help of my brothers every now and then. ΑΓΡ has played a large role in helping me build long-lasting relationships. My big brother, Lenny Valenti '84 (Γ1218), and I attend chapter meetings at least once a year at Homecoming or Founders' Day. I have been a sales director at Nourse Farms since 2003, working with my dad, Tim, and my mom, Mary. My two teenage sons help out, too, working full-time during the summer. We manage a full-time workforce of almost 100, who staff an office, lab, greenhouse, farm, and packing house operations. Located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, Nourse Farms is a premier grower of the best berry plants. The nursery has been producing dormant, bare-root plants for more than 80 years, serving commercial growers, wholesalers, and home gardeners throughout North America. Established in 1932 in Andover, Mass., by Roger Lewis, the nursery was sold to the Nourses in 1968 and moved to its present site in Whately, Mass. It's located in the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts, where we are blessed with very fertile, well-drained soils. The farming operations now encompass some 800 acres in the towns of Whately, Hatfield, Deerfield, Montague, and Northfield, Mass. A satellite nursery in Pasco, Wash., produces about half of our raspberry plants and all of our asparagus roots. Tim and Mary have always been forward thinkers, and in 1980 they created a state-of-the-art tissue culture laboratory and micro propagation facility at the farm. This was a bold step, allowing for all foundation material to be produced and virus tested onsite. The lab is currently one of a few private clean- plant centers in the U.S. In 1982, a customized cooling facility was built, which has allowed storage of dormant, bare-root plants in ideal conditions. In 1987, the second storage facility was built. 2009 brought a standalone lab, a third cooler, and half-acre gutter-connected greenhouse. What was once solely a strawberry nursery with annual sales less than 1 million plants has become a nationally recognized small-fruit nursery, producing raspberries, ribes, blueberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and horseradish, and we ship more than 30 million plants a year. "In the industry, I'm an active member and past president of the North American Strawberry Growers and North American Raspberry and Blackberry Associations. I'm on the executive boards for the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and National Berry Crop Initiative. This spring, I was invited to join United Fresh Produce Association's Government Relations Committee. In 2016, I will become chairman of the National Clean Plant Network- Berries, which is now a permanent part of the Farm Bill. Having the ability to give back to the industry has helped me realize ΑΓΡ's purpose of a broader and better agriculture. I am truly grateful to have lived a charmed life, being able to work with so many industry leaders, and being a part of the ΑΓΡ brotherhood. The foundation and principles of ΑΓΡ have helped me realize accomplishments that I never could have dreamed." Nate Nourse '86 (Γ1235) and his parents on their farm. Visit Us on the Web - CHAPTER WEBSITE agrgamma. chapterspot.com f CHAPTER FACEBOOK The Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity - Penn State, Gamma Chapter l CHAPTER TWITTER @AGRPennState l ONLINE GIVING http://agr.kintera.org/ annual Α Γ Ρ

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