Attorney, business owner, and father Sam Webb ’07 not only built his own career path, but also aligned his business with his personal values. For Webb, entrepreneurship is a means to achieve his life goals of being a family man while pursuing his passions through a career in law. Watch his story here Pursuing College… Read More →
AGEC 425 Former Student Features
Bierschwale Land Co.: Rural Roots, Family Values, and a Future in Appraisal
Rooted in strong family values and commitment to their rural community, Bierschwale Land Co. has evolved from a small-town appraisal business to a trusted name in rural property valuation. The family embraces entrepreneurship as a means to lead a fulfilling life within their cherished community. Watch their full interview here, and watch interview highlights here…. Read More →
Creating her legacy in the pecan industry, Salopek ’11 ’14 pivots with Legacy Pecans
July 11, 2024 “The road to entrepreneurship success is rarely smooth sailing,” offered Heather Salopek ’11, owner of Legacy Pecans, during the 2024 Texas Farm Credit Entrepreneurial Dreams Symposium. Salopek is an AGEC 425 “Survivor” who entered the Dianne and M. Edward Rister ’74 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program during the 2013-2014 academic year as a Master… Read More →
Ryan Shronk ’23 Grows a Sixth-Generation Legacy with Planting Seeds Farms
Ryan Schronk ’23, from Hillsboro, Texas, is continuing his family legacy as a sixth-generation Schronk farmer by taking over and leading the operations of the farm. Driven by a passion for agriculture, Ryan stands as a beacon of generational legacy and entrepreneurial spirit through his company, Planting Seeds Farm. Ryan double-majored in Agricultural Economics and… Read More →
Benjamin Billings ’18 crafting landscapes and legacies through creative ranchscape designs
Feature story written by Luke Caverlee ’26, Student Program Assistant, Electrical Engineering Major Benjamin Billings ’18 is from Cypress, Texas, and is an Agricultural Economics-Rural Entrepreneurship major. Benjamin is a proud third-generation Aggie. As a freshman at A&M, Benjamin began his studies as a mechanical engineer. However, by the end of the year, he knew… Read More →
Cullen Sherrill ’23: Strike3Farms Owners Capitalize on Niche Hunting Market
Feature story written by Taylor O’Brien ’24, Student Program Assistant, Agribusiness major Cullen is a senior Agricultural Economics major from Cypress, Texas. He co-owns Strike3Farms, a trophy horn sheep breeding operation, with his twin brother, Tanner Sherrill. Together, they breed Painted Desert, Texas Dall, Black Hawaiian and Corsican sheep. They focus on superior Texas genetics,… Read More →
Colt Kokel ’14: From Rural Entrepreneur of the Year to Loan Committees
Colt Kokel ’14 received the highest AGEC 425 honor in 2013 when he was recognized as the AGEC 425 Rural Entrepreneur of the Year during that year’s symposium. His business project when he was a student in the class was a real estate company. Today, Colt is working in the finance sector helping his clients… Read More →
Alex Valicek constructs NOCO Services with expertise and economics
Feature story written by Taylor O’Brien ’24, Student Program Assistant, Agribusiness major About Alex Alex is from Houston, Texas. Already an AGEC 425 “Survivor,” he is currently a senior at Texas A&M with plans to graduate in December of 2023 with a degree in Agricultural Economics – Rural Entrepreneurship. Alex is also the president of… Read More →
F is for Fish Camp – and for finding inspiration to write children’s books
Seventeen years ago, Fish Camp inspired an Aggie to become an author, writing children’s books. At the time, AGEC 425 “Survivor” Cameron O’Connell ’07 was a counselor, not a Fish. His Fish Camp journey changed his life. O’Connell celebrates his life, married to Aggie April South ’06 and father to three future Ags. He also… Read More →