


About José
José Contreras ’22 is an animal science major with a minor in agribusiness entrepreneurship from Del Rio, Texas. He plans to graduate in May 2022.
Dr. Rister has played a monumental role in my life as a professor, mentor, and guide. Before taking his classes, I have always had entrepreneurial dreams, but he has helped me make it become a work in progress.
About José’s Business Enterprise
Contreras Covered Arenas is an enterprise targeting customers of the equestrian community located around the primary breeding and ranching areas in Denton County, north of Fort Worth and almost to the Oklahoma border. This area is known as horse country, and there are many different disciplines such as cutting, reigning, and the reining cow horse that attract horse owners from around the world to move to this area.
What’s next for José and Contreras Covered Arenas?
José has accepted a job offer from a home building company, and will be learning how to build houses from the ground up. About his plans, he said, “I saw a great opportunity to learn and gain the experience that I lack. I plan on working in the industry for a number of years before deciding what my next step will be. I just might be the next new homebuilder in town someday. Another business I aspire to be in is in the business of saving souls. I want to be able to teach and preach God’s word to those around me.”
“I asked my mentor Mark Froman, ‘How will I know when I am ready to become an entrepreneur?’ He paused for a moment, like he usually does, and then he told me, ‘You will know when you are ready when you have multiple contacts for every trade; when you are able to understand how long a project should take, what the cost is, the schedule of payments, the contractional language and agreements; and when you know all the suppliers in an area. Once you are able to do all these things, then you are ready.” While I may not be doing my exact AGEC 425 project, I will end up doing something very similar.