FarmHouse - University of Nebraska

The Next Hundred Years of Building Men 100 nebraska Nebraska Chapter of FarmHouse P.O. Box 21881 Lincoln, NE 68542-1881 Address Service Requested K evin Meyer '85 was very aware of the impact FarmHouse had on his father, Rex Meyer '51, and his uncle, Wayne White '50. "I knew how important the experience and the brotherhood had been for them and hoped for something similar. I wanted to be surrounded by a group of like-minded people with the same core values when I went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln," he said. That decision put him on solid footing at the beginning of his freshman year, "I think I was able to take advantage of opportunities more easily because I adjusted to college life quickly with FarmHouse brothers as my support system," Kevin said. "Looking back, it really defined any level of success that I had in college, because I had this group of friends that supported and challenged me." Those connections, and that sense of brotherhood, went beyond just his pledge brothers; during events and visits to the chapter house, brothers and parents got to know each other. "When I lived overseas after college, a number of my pledge brothers would check in with my parents during the course of the year to see how they were doing. The friendships and the connections go farther than just the brothers; our entire families are also connected through FarmHouse," he remembered. The structure of fraternity life was also important to Kevin, because it mirrored what he would experience in his career. "In FarmHouse, you are with a group of quality people, any of whom could take a leadership role, so you learn how to respect individuals for the strengths that they have, and to recognize that everyone has something to offer. When you're working in the professional realm, the same thing applies, everyone has their own skills and contributions to make and it's your job as a leader to draw out people's strengths and help them maximize their contributions to the team," he said. Similarly, in reflecting back on his four years in the chapter house, he found that the best presidents weren't necessarily the straight A students. "They were just good solid people, who worked hard, respected everyone, and exuded a kind of trust everyone believed in. That was a good lesson. It wasn't just the 'book smarts' that helped people succeed, and that's the same way as in life. There's not just one skill that makes someone a leader. It's how the various skills come together," he said. Kevin wants other students to have the opportunity to experience the brotherhood, personal growth, and leadership experience that he did, which is why he has contributed to The Next Hundred Years of Building Men campaign. "It's a matter of loyalty and responsibility. Alumni before us contributed so that I could have the experience that I did, and now we need to do the same," he said. "Higher education is very competitive, and providing a modern living environment is an important part of it. If we want FarmHouse to continue to attract top students, we need to make sure the recruitment chairmen have the tools they need to recruit them," he emphasized. Kevin graduated with a bachelor's degree from the agricultural honors program, and later earned a master's degree in business administration, also from UNL. After a 25-year career in fundraising and alumni relations in higher education, Kevin stepped down to be a stay-at-home dad to his two children, Elsa (11) and Owen (8). "It's been a great transition for our family. We're glad that we took the step to do it," he said. Kevin and his wife, Denise, live in Lincoln, and spend most of their time keeping up with their school and activities. "When the time comes," Kevin said, "I want my kids to have a similar college experience to mine. I want them to be surrounded by individuals that will challenge and support them. No matter where they go to college, I hope there are alumni providing an environment for them to thrive in." You can connect with Kevin at kcm1966@hotmail.com. A Challenging and Supportive Brotherhood Kevin Meyer '85 Gives BacK to ensure the FarMhouse LeGacy Special Issue Look inside for photos from groundbreaking on April 22!

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