Charles W. Burkett and John F. Cunningham, students in the College of Agriculture at the Ohio State University, founded the Fraternity of Alpha Zeta November 4, 1897. Alpha Zeta is a professional, service, and honorary agricultural fraternity for men and women in agriculture seeking to develop leadership skills to benefit agriculture, life sciences, and related fields. There are over 100,000 members worldwide.



The Wilson Chapter of Alpha Zeta at Iowa State University was chartered on November 27, 1905. It was named the Wilson Chapter after James "Tama Jim" Wilson, the first Professor of Agriculture at the Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State University) and former Secretary of Agriculture of the United States (1897-1913) . In 1913, the Wilson Chapter made Wilson an honorary member.



To be eligible for membership, the candidate must be in the upper two-fifths of his/her class and be classified as a sophomore. Selection is based upon leadership and being active in various organizations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine.