At the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago in the fall of 1922, FarmHouse National President R.E. Holland talked with J.C. Holbert and others from Iowa State who were interested in an organization with high ideals. The men returned to Ames with hopes of establishing a fraternity among agricultural students whose members would excel in scholarship and would be outstanding in personality, character, and activities.

Professor H.W. Richey, a Nebraska alumnus on the Iowa State Horticulture staff, gave the men much encouragement. The early group of six or eight men met frequently in Professor Richey’s office to discuss the possibilities of forming an official organization. Dr. Buchanan also continued his encouragement. Soon they were meeting in a larger room in what was then known as the Cranford Apartments on the south side of Lincoln Way just a few doors east of the Welch Avenue entrance to campus. By the next spring, enough men had been recruited to start a chapter.

Following approval by the Intercollegiate Council, ten men established Lanthus Fraternity on April 16, 1923. It was formed as a temporary organization until the chapter could become FarmHouse. The name Lanthus was chosen, according to J.C. Holbert, because the men were "trying to think of a name that would soon be forgotten, because we wanted it to be FarmHouse right away. So we found a young Hereford bull in Ken Clark’s herd with the name of ‘Lanthus.’ We looked up the bull’s pedigree, figured he wouldn’t live too long, so we adopted the name."

The FarmHouse influence was evident with Lanthus choosing "F.H." as the official password, green and white as the official colors, and a design for a Lanthus pin with an ear of corn and a crescent on the pin. Assistance from FH alumni was tremendous including Kenneth Clark of the Nebraska Chapter.

The petitioning to become FarmHouse began early and continued for months. In November 1926, the Iowa State Faculty approved the petition. The following months, the National Council of FarmHouse also granted its approval. An installation week committee immediately began plans for chartering.

Lanthus Fraternity became the Iowa State Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity when the Charter was granted on January 22, 1927. An installation banquet was held that evening at the Sheldon Munn Hotel in Ames. Over seventy men were present including the Iowa State College President, Deans of Agriculture and Graduate Colleges, members of the Interfraternity Council, FarmHouse, National Officers and alumni. Active member Bill Grove spoke on "Our Ideas and Ideals."

The ambitious Iowa Founders had their dreams realized. These men are:

Erwin E. Dubbert, J.C. Holbert, Herbert G. Palmer, Elmer I. Rosenberger, Roy L. Watkins, Harold K. Wilson, Warren O. Duncan, Carl C. Malone, F.J. Paul, Bernard Scholten, Paul G Williams, John H. Turner, Jr.