Ceres (pronounced “Series”) is the Roman goddess of agricultural fertility, particularly that of grains. Her name stems from the word creare, which means “to create”. She is associated with the ground from which crops spring, the bread produced from the grain, and the work necessary to raise crops. She presided over the distribution of grain to the urban poor and the administration of the Roman gr
ain supply. Her festival was know as the Cerealia and was held in mid-April. The festival celebrated the growth of grain and other agricultural products. Rituals included the lighting of torches; these torches were associated with the magic that protected cropland. Ceres is also representative of the historical involvement and importance of women in agriculture. The word “cereal” originates from her name. The number of women entering the agriculture industry has increased over time and, while FarmHouse chapters had “little sister” programs, a demand for a women’s version of the agriculture fraternity was evident. At the 1984 Conclave, a proposal for the establishment of an agriculture sorority was passed unanimously. On October 12, 1985, Ceres International Women’s Fraternity became a reality when nineteen women were initiated as the first members of the agriculture-related women’s fraternity at Colorado State University. The University of Alberta and California Poly-Pomona followed suit.
