Founder’s Day. These simple words register astounding amounts of memories that all seem to rush together like the Facebook “Look Back” videos. These words can mean something completely different based on the year, chapter, or gender of the organization.

Founder’s Day my freshman year did not mean the same thing as it did this past week. It changes based on the level of involvement with the chapter. And for the first time, I showed up to the event as a pseudo-alumnus. The perception is ridiculously different from the other side. All of the preparations, the voting on awards or dinner or tablecloths (maybe not so much for our chapter) or whatever, it wasn’t a part of the experience this time. This time it was about what Founder’s Day was meant for – honoring the legacy of an 108 year old tradition of brotherhood by strengthening the bonds forged with other members – regardless of age, occupation, or political leanings.

Freshman year, I was but a wee lad, a Delta member (or a pledge, whatever your term is). Whilst my older soon-to-be brothers regaled olden times and folklore of days past, my class of seven was tasked with menial servitude of preparations and the like. But after all of the formalities were over, I got to see something really special. I witnessed friendships that knew not the binds of time, but brothers from across the years.

I remember meeting one of my (now) idols, a man of extreme upstanding character and yet of humility as well. He exemplified the leadership and involvement that I saw myself potentially having down the road. I remember trying to impress him with my knowledge of the pledge manual and unfettering love for DTS and my brothers. I was intimidated and was not immediately accepted. Later, we would prove to not only be good friends, but also as two professionals working in the same field of digital media, where I received additional knowledge and insight as to how to market myself as a potential employee better.

We often talk about networking to the potential rushes as a selling point for our organizations. But it’s more than that. It always has been about those relationships that you form, especially the ones outside of the time you were an active member of the organization.

This past year has been pretty rough for me, but this isn’t my Tumblr account so I won’t go into it. But one thing that really struck me this year was how a guy that graduated three years before I even came to college and came to be one of my best friends. I remember sitting there drinking a beer with him after all of the formalities were done and talking about some of the issues I was having. This was a guy that I would have NEVER met in real life had it not been for DTS. A guy three years older than me that our only similar experience was being in DTS – at separate times, when things couldn’t be more different between the time frames. I also talked to a guy from the class of 95 about stuff and he talked to me like we had been pledge brothers.

The love and care that happens because of an organization like this is why I joined DTS, though I had no idea at the time. It still blows my mind that brothers, no matter the age difference, will always have each other’s backs. That’s what Founder’s Day means to me.

Well, that, and every guy coming back and sharing their stories of debauchery from when they were in college, and the hilarity that ensues while observing sophisticated adults act like they’re in college again. But yeah, brotherhood. That’s the main thing.

If our three founders from 1906 could see us now, I think they’d be surprised at what they saw. Not because agriculture (our main focus) has changed so much since then, or where the house has been and gone, but at the fact that the main reason that three friends came together – friendship and brotherhood – were still at the roots of our cause. I think that despite failures and setbacks over the years, something they started 108 years ago is still here, going strong, would put a smile on their faces. Oh and being the only agricultural fraternity to win Chapter of the Year ever doesn’t hurt either. We salute you, Samuel N. Kerr, Stanley B. Stowe, and Maxwell Corotius . Thank you. For though you could have never have known it, you’ve improved the life of a twenty something college kid forever 108 years later.