About Alpha Zeta

Alpha Zeta is an honorary, professional society for students and industry professionals in the agriculture and natural resources fields. Founded in 1897 at Ohio State University, Alpha Zeta is the first and oldest collegiate society for agriculture. Today, Alpha Zeta has more than 125,000 alumni and more than 2,000 student members from chapters at 74 universities. Join Alpha Zeta or learn about Starting an Alpha Zeta Chapter on your campus.

Members include several former secretaries of agriculture; a Nobel Laureate; several U.S. Senators and Congressmen; prominent leaders throughout national, state and local government; CEOs of major agricultural companies; cutting edge researchers and more. The Centennial Honor Roll, named in 1997, recognizes many of Alpha Zeta's most respected alumni.

Differences between the Fraternity and Foundation

Fraternity of Alpha Zeta

When you pay alumni membership dues, you are supporting the operations of the Fraternity - member relations, chapter development, bookkeeping, database maintenance and other day-to-day functions. 

Without the support of dues-paying members, Alpha Zeta would not have been able to establish the California Eta Chapter at California State University in Chico, reactivate the California Epsilon Chapter at Fresno State, assist chapters with fund raising and other projects, operate the website, make phone calls or maintain the membership records. Dues help Alpha Zeta stay in contact with chapters, student members and alumni through the Website and newsletters. Dues also help develop and produce materials for chapters. Alumni dues keep the lights on and the phones ringing at the national office. When you join as an alumni member, you are supporting the traditions and future of the Fraternity of Alpha Zeta. 

Alpha Zeta Foundation

Whereas the Fraternity operates programs and administers the day-to-day business, the Foundation provides the funding for programs such as the National Alpha Zeta Scholars and leadership development programs.

The Alpha Zeta Foundation was established in 1984 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation dedicated to supporting the objectives of the Fraternity of Alpha Zeta. Gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible.The Foundation accepts donations (via check and credit card) and planned gifts of cash, stock, real estate, life insurance and annuities. It currently manages the Keith Scholarship Fund, named for James and Florence Keith, which is designated to assist Alpha Zeta members at Montana State University.