It is important to review the many years of work that went into making Ceres Fraternity a reality. It is also important to recognize that Ceres was developing at two levels, at a local level and at an international level.

The establishment of a women's chapter of the fraternity was first proposed to the International Board of FarmHouse in the spring of 1978. This proposal was brought to the International Executive Board by Board Member Roy Wilson, PU '71, and former Assistant Executive Director, David Morford, IA '73.
At the 1978 Conclave, a "Blue Ribbon" role of Women's Study Committee was authorized by the International Executive Board. This committee was made up of Roy Wilson Chairman; Donna Long, member of Oklahoma State FarmHouse Chapter Sisters Group; Steve Thomas, Kentucky FarmHouse '76; Dick Naskali, Idaho FarmHouse '70; Bob Off and Mike Goolsby, ex-officio members. After two years of study, this committee proposed that two to three chapters be piloted on a trial basis for the 1980-82 biennium. The proposal made by the committee was approved at the 1980 Conclave.
At a local level, Andy Grant, Colorado State FarmHouse alumnus, began working on the concept of an agriculture-based sorority in 1976. During the 1978 Conclave, held in Brookings, SD, he met with the International Board of FarmHouse. A FarmHouse Women's Club was formed at Colorado State University in 1978 primarily through the efforts of Andy Grant and Melissa Miller. On February 18, 1980, eighteen women signed a document that officially founded the FarmHouse Women's Club as an organization that was dedicated to the formation of an agriculturally orientated sorority based on the ideals of FarmHouse Fraternity. This first group of members was assisted by Andy Grant and William Thomas, who was not only a FarmHouse alumnus, but also the Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture Sciences at Colorado State University.

In the fall of 1980, the International Board selected three women's clubs to be in the pilot program. Those clubs were located at Colorado State University, West Virginia University, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Role of Women Committee was continued at the 1980-82 Biennium with specific consideration of the women's chapter concept assigned to the Women's Club sub-committee. Those serving on the committee were: Roy Wilson, chairman; Margaret Hazeleus, Widow of the Founder of the Colorado State Chapter of FarmHouse and Assistant Dean of Home Economics, CSU; Joan Blackwelder, CSU FarmHouse Women’s Club; Dorothy Farrell, Associated Women of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Renee Johnson Hinkle, West Virginia University FarmHouse Society; J. David Corry, Alberta FarmHouse ‘82, (previously a member of FarmHouse Colony at Guelph University); Chris Lembcke, CSU FarmHouse ‘67; Dick Naskali; Randy Weaver, Oklahoma State FarmHouse ‘72; and Bob Off and C.J. Gauger, ex-officio.

At the 1984 FarmHouse Conclave a "Proposal for the Establishment of an Agricultural Sorority" was passed unanimously.  Three of the women's groups which had been affiliated with FarmHouse as clubs or colonies (Colorado State ,  Alberta  , Cal Poly-Pomona) for at least the previous two years indicated that they wanted to be a part of forming the proposed ag-related women's fraternity or sorority.

A committee of members consisting of Roy Wilson, Don Stenberg, C.J. Gauger, Joan Blackwelder, Karen Whipple, Brenda Lea Rumohr, Nora Hirons, John Bard, and Bob Off began the process to make this group a reality.

This group chose the name Ceres International Fraternity and developed its by-laws and rituals, all of which was subsequently ratified by what were to be the three founding chapters and by the FarmHouse International Executive Board. 

On  October 12, 1985 , Ceres International Fraternity became a reality.   On that date, nineteen women were initiated as chartering members of the Colorado State Chapter.  They were the first members of the new agriculture related women’s fraternity.  This chartering culminated years of discussion and work by the members of FarmHouse International Fraternity and of women in agriculture.  Together these two groups attempted to sort out what role or relationship these women would have with FarmHouse Fraternity.

The first Biennial Conclave of Ceres International Fraternity was held  August 4-7, 1986 at the   University of  Alberta,   Edmonton,  Alberta,  Canada, in conjunction with the FarmHouse Conclave.  Joan Blackwelder was elected as the first woman president of the International Board of Ceres.  Linda Hawk, Alumna of the Alberta Chapter, was elected vice president.  Other board members included Kathy Pogge, Cal Poly-Pomona; Brenda Lea Rumohr,  Alberta; Chris Lembcke; Kenneth Overhults; Dwane Miller, and Don Stenberg.  Ex-officio board members included Tom Kopacek, president of FarmHouse Executive Board and Bob Off, Executive Director of Ceres and FarmHouse International Fraternities.  The agreement between Ceres and FarmHouse Fraternities was to continue until the 1988 Conclave.

By the 1988 Conclave, Ceres had successfully grown.  This Conclave marked the beginning of all Ceres board positions being held by Ceres alumnae.  Delegates voted to have Ceres governed by a six-member board.  With the current size of Ceres, a six-member board was deemed most economical.  Donna Giampoli, Fresno; Claudia Sersland, Fresno; and Yolanda Munoz, Cal Poly-Pomona joined the three remaining board members to form the new all-woman team.  The president of FarmHouse and Executive Director continued to serve as ex-officio members of the board.

In 1994, Ceres celebrated their 10th anniversary at the 5th Biennial Conclave in Scottsdale,  AZ.  This conclave also marked the end of Ceres business being taken care of by the FarmHouse International Office.  The delegation voted to create a Ceres Executive Director position for Ceres Women's Fraternity.  Claudia Sersland was hired to fill the position.  Ceres continues to maintain a six-member board of directors, an Executive Director and an Executive Assistant.