Cumulative Results of the 2019 Texas Farm Credit Entrepreneurial Dreams Symposium

Cara Collins '08, Senior Director of Development, Texas A&M Foundation, presented Texas Farm Credit with a plaque recognizing its generous contribution to and partnership with the Department of Agricultural Economics. (Pictured left to right - Texas A&M Foundation: Clara Collins, Texas Farm Credit: CEO, Mark Miller, Texas Farm Credit Board of Directors: Vice Chairman, John Prukop, and Chairman, James Dawley).

More than 250 mentors and other professionals and supporters of the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Economics’ Agribusiness Entrepreneurship program attended the 2019 Texas Farm Credit Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Symposium. Congratulations to all the students who completed the program and presented at the symposium, which was held at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex on April 30 – May 1.

The program leaders would like to thank all who provided time and encouragement to the students this year. The impact on them is just beginning and will continue throughout their lives. And to those who provided, and are continuing to provide, financial program support and scholarship monies for the students, they express a sincere appreciation and gratitude. These funds enable the students to enjoy great learning opportunities and provide them with well deserved recognition and monetary reward for their efforts.

This year, more than $35,000 was raised and awarded to AGEC 425 students as scholarships for their competitive efforts, and more than $20,000 raised in additional program support.

Final Results

The comprehensive final results for this year’s AGEC 424 & AGEC 425 classes’ competition are as follows:

Entrepreneur of the Year

Ryan Drapela ’19, Wooden Gifts

Most Likely to Begin Business

Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse

Berry & Jennifer Summerour COADC Agribusiness Entrepreneurial Scholar

Connor Joseph ’19, Contract Labor Services

Final Business Presentation, May 1 (second day of Symposium):

First Place – Ryan Drapela ’19, Wooden Gifts
Second Place – Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse
Third Place – Connor Joseph ’19, Contract Labor Services
Honorable Mention
Crystal Barron ’19, Mexican Sweets and Treats
Madison Hawkins ’20, Vineyard
Taylor Law ’19, On-Line Document Sales

Top Written Business Plan Projects:

First Place – Victoria Saldaña ’19, Bakery
Second Place – Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse
Third Place – Michaela Cheyne ’20, Women’s Boutique

Honorable Mention
Hannah Belanger ’19, Equine Stables
Chancellor Bradley ’19, Barndominium Construction
Jacob Durham ’19, Commercial Insurance
Connor Joseph ’19, Contract Labor Services

Engagement and Networking

Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse
Ryan Drapela ’19, Wooden Gifts
Jacob Durham ’19, Commercial Insurance
Connor Joseph ’19, Contract Labor Services

Semi-Final Business Pitch Poster Presentation, April 30 (first day of Symposium):

Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse
Ryan Drapela ’19, Wooden Gifts
Connor Joseph ’19, Contract Labor Services

Business Pitch Preliminary Round, April 25:

Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse
Ryan Drapela ’19, Wooden Gifts
Connor Joseph ’19, Contract Labor Services

Top Grades in AGEC 424, Fall Semester:

First Place – Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse
Second Place – Jacob Durham ’19, Commercial Insurance
Third Place – Madison Hawkins ’19, Vineyard

Scholarship in Memory of Genevieve Johanna Rister

Maggie Branch ’19, Coffeehouse

Several other recognition awards to former AGEC 425 students (a.k.a. “Survivors”) were announced during the Symposium:

• Early Career Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Award – Heather Salopek ’14, of Las Cruces, NM
• Mid-Career Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Award – Brian Chapman ’99, of Caldwell, TX
• Family Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Award – Kyle West ’08, and his dad, James; mom, Sharon; and sister, Keri West-Coggans’05 – G&W Electric of Bryan, TX
• In addition, Wayne Dover ’72, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance of College Station, TX, was recognized as an Honorary AGEC 425 Survivor.

The 2019 Joseph B. Swinbank ’74 Outstanding Entrepreneur Award was presented to Graham Weston ’86, founder of Rackspace and several other businesses in San Antonio. The inaugural presentation of this award was made to Joe Swinbank ’74, founder of Sprint Companies in Houston, in 2017. In 2018, Murray Edwards ’73 of The Edwards Group in Clyde, TX was presented this award.

Congratulations to each person who received a much-deserved award!