The History of Beta Tau

The Beginning of Beta Tau Chapter

          The Mississippi State Colony was established in the Spring of 1991.  Initial interest in establishing a colony at Mississippi State University resulted from a visit by Dana Baith and James Sipes, Chapter Service Managers from National Headquarters.

              The first organizational meeting, attended by 20 men, was held in the Ballew Animal Science Building, on the Mississippi State University campus.  Bringing interested men in agriculture at Mississippi State together to form a fraternity seemed to be the best means of developing a cohesive group with genuine brotherhood.

              A second introductory meeting was held at the Western Sizzlin' in Starkville.  The meeting was attended by several members of the former Mississippi State Colony, which disbanded in 1984.  Alumni from other chapters and many prospective new members were also in attendance.

              The Mississippi State Colony was formed with 21 brothers.  The initiation ceremony was performed by brothers from the Xi Chapter at Auburn University.  The chapter soon obtained a house in the Spring of 1992.  The old house is located on University Drive.

              The chapter was initiated as the Beta Tau chapter on October 31, 1992.  The Alpha Gamma Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho from the University of Florida performed the ceremony and is therefore our "Big Brother" chapter.  Shane Kitchens was the first man initiated into the chapter and also served as Beta Tau's first Noble Ruler.