Plans in hand, Texas A&M ag economics graduates ready to be entrepreneurs
COLLEGE STATION – With diploma in hand, Jerry Garcia is ready to pursue his dream of being his own boss. Best of all, his business plan is already complete, thanks to a rural entrepreneurship course in the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University.
Garcia’s plan of opening an avocado packing company in Mexico may get off the ground sooner than later. He’s planning to spend some time shadowing his father’s produce business in Mexico temporarily, all the while networking and trying to raise money for his own business venture.
Garcia was one of 11 seniors who gave oral presentations of business proposals recently in College Station as part of Agricultural Economics 425. The class is taught by Dr. Ed Rister, associate department head and a Texas AgriLife Research economist.
Students complete a two-semester sequence of capstone courses in rural entrepreneurship. In the courses, students choose a business and develop a plan, then present it to a panel of bankers, investors and entrepreneurs.
Garcia doesn't seemed fazed by potential risks.
“There’s a lot of that right now in Mexico with so much going on with the economy, public health, etc.,” he said. “I’m going to a country where I don’t know anyone. (Overall) I enjoy (risk) and very much want to own my own business.”
This year, more than 40 “real-world” entrepreneurs, lenders, real estate investors and managers, venture capitalists, and other experts evaluated the students’ presentations and interacted with them about their semester projects. Many of them are graduates of the agricultural economics department and “survivors” of AGEC 425. They return to the campus annually to mentor the current class of students.
“The intent of this class is for students to learn how to evaluate a business proposition with attention directed toward learning the various steps required to develop and analyze a business plan,” Rister said. “AGEC 424 and 425 are capstone courses, designed to allow students an opportunity to combine knowledge from all of their other courses in examining a ‘real-world’ business problem of their individual choice.”
More than 90 students enrolled in AGEC 424, “Rural Entrepreneurship I” during the fall semester, and the 11 students who gave presentations recently are the “survivors,” Rister said.
“These students balanced the demands of their other classes, work requirements, and other personal issues to complete what is recognized as the above-average course workload of AGEC 424 and 425. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them.”
The top three student presentations based on the expert panel members’ aggregated rankings receive scholarships. Winners were:
- Jeremy Frank (retail men’s clothing store), $1,250.
- Thomas Becker (algae production farm), $750.
- Bradley Bujan (luxury student apartments), $500.
“I’m an entrepreneur, and this type of class wasn’t offered when I was at A&M,” said Joe Swinbank, Class of 1974, who along with his wife, Shirley, provided two endowments to the program.
“It’s a worthy curriculum and maybe some of these students will take a chance and stick their neck out," Swinbank said. "This year there were more projects that were viable than in the past. There are a handful that have possible incubation.”
Phillip and Donna Garrett, Classes of 1991 and 1989, of Conlee-Garrett Moving & Storage in Bryan and 7-F Ranch in College Station, sponsored scholarships for the top three presentations.
Gary and Connie Decker of Edward Jones Investments in Stamford, parents of James Decker, Class of 2006, provided the inaugural Rural Entrepreneurship scholarship of $1,000 to Edgar Alarcon. Alarcon’s business plan was a real estate investment and leasing business. He received the award in recognition of the student who exhibited the highest caliber of sincerity and academic achievement in developing the project throughout the semester.
Matt Bobbitt, Class of 1999, and his wife Cassie of the Global Event Group in Bryan-College Station provided two VIP tickets to Austin City Limits Music Festival valued at $850 each to Thomas Becker for attaining the highest academic standing in the class for the semester. The Bobbitts also sponsored a dinner for the students and experts the evening before the presentation.
Murray Edwards, Class of 1973, spoke at the dinner, advising the students on decision making for use during their entrepreneurial careers.
James McGrann, Class of 1973, provided $100 scholarships to Alarcon and Matt Stovall (oilfield pump repair service) for second and third rank academically in the class for the semester.
Hunter Goodwin, Class of 1996, and Casey Oldham, Class of 2002, assisted with lodging for out-of-town participants.
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