The gavel that is passed on each year to the new President of Gamma Sigma Delta has a history that certainly began prior to the time of Iowa's statehood in 1846. The gavel began when a tree sprouted, perhaps here in Iowa and probably sometime in the 1700s. That tree grew to maturity, was cut and a beam was formed from its wood. In 1861, that timber became part of a barn here on the Iowa State campus. After standing for 68 years, that barn was demolished in 1929 and part of that timber was saved and crafted into this gavel.
Dr. Verner N. Nielson, then Professor Emeritus in Food Technology at Iowa State, wrote a brief poem which is inscribed on a small plaque on the head of the gavel. Each year, following our tradition, when the gavel is passed on to the new President of our chapter, that poem is read to remind us of the long history of Gamma Sigma Delta at Iowa State.
RUGGED BEAM, IN HAYLOFT TIER SHELTER ONCE FOR HORSE AND STEER NOW IN CONCLAVE, HEED MY CALL MENTORS, STUDENTS, SCHOLARS ALL.