Meet one of our AGS Gamma Chapter alumni members, Bennett Perlinger!
What do you currently do for work?
I’m currently a Grain Origination Merchant for Cargill in Kansas City, buying producer bushels into regional elevators and a soybean crush facility and partnering with farmers to implement grain marketing solutions.
Why did you choose AGS?
I chose AGS because of the intentional mentoring I had the opportunity to receive from active members who were involved on campus and embodied the qualities I believe represent Nebraskan agriculture: honest, driven, and selfless.
Did you have any officer positions during your time?
I served as Chapter Alumni Relations Chairman, Chapter President, and Assistant Recruitment Chairman during my time in the house.
What were some of the highlights of your time in AGS?
Too many great memories to choose from, but some of the highlights during my time at AGS include representing AGS on UNL’s homecoming court, getting to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony at our new 3455 Holdrege Street chapter house, watching my two little brothers Connor and Ross become active members, and doing dishes with my class on Monday nights.
What impacts did being in the fraternity have on your personal and professional development?
Being in AGS impacted my personal and professional development because I learned during my time in the house how to challenge myself academically, think intentionally about the legacy I would be remembered for upon graduating from college, and present the best version of myself when building interpersonal relationships with my peers and networking in a professional setting.
What was your favorite fraternity event and why?
My favorite fraternity event was the river tanking trip we hosted as a recruitment event in my hometown Paxton, Nebraska. Getting to know the new men joining our fraternity while sharing the culture of my community back home with the chapter as a whole was a really unique experience.
Reflecting back, how did the fraternity mold you into the man you are today?
AGS molded me into the man I am today because I was exposed to professional development and leadership opportunities in the first few semesters of college that very few students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have the privilege of experiencing. Being in AGS and seeing the example set by active members and alumni who were a part of the fraternity, as well as well-needed accountability from my friends in the house, gave me a very tangible roadmap to follow in becoming a goal-oriented and authentic young man.
What advice would you give to current fraternity members?
My advice to current fraternity members is to embody servant leadership both in the house and on campus. Challenge yourself to invest your time and resources into helping mentor and develop your brothers (whether that be academically, professionally, or personally) and take the time to contribute your talents to organizations and other involvements on campus. You get out what you put in!
