On February 25, 1924, the South Dakota Chapter of Alpha Zeta at South Dakota State College was chartered with 19 Charter members, as telegraphed by Harry Potter, General Secretary of Alpha Zeta. This effort began with a December 24, 1919 letter of inquiry from S.D.S.C. President Willis E. Johnson. During the application process, the applying group of approximately 25 men was called the Hopkins Club; this process included 3 failed attempts before success finally came under S.D.S.C. President C.W. Pugsley, who was a member of Alpha Zeta, as were many other S.D.S.C. faculty.

The national Fraternity of Alpha Zeta, the oldest fraternal society in agriculture, was founded on November 4, 1897 at Ohio State University and now is a global network of diverse agricultural and natural resources professionals recognizing, developing and promoting leaders with common values and integrity. Alpha Zeta’s purpose is “to promote agriculture in its broad concept while encouraging and developing its actual and potential leadership, fellowship, service and a spirit of love and fraternity are involved."

In 2016, the South Dakota Chapter of Alpha Zeta is an honorary fraternity for top students in the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University. It’s involved in many campus activities, including Career Fair, Ag Day, etc. Some of its community activities include mentoring youth, visiting nursing homes, fence-mending and invasive weed eradication at the Girl Scout’s Camp Wildwood, fund-raising for community service projects, such as the Harvest Table, the Food Pantry, etc.