March 15, 2024

Dr. Mark Hussey speaks to Larissa Hernandez
Dr. Mark Hussey speaks to Larissa Hernandez.
Mentors Adrien and Pat Drouilhet share their insights
Mentors Adrien and Pat Drouilhet share their insights.
Dr. Rister speaks to student
Professor and Director of the Rister '74 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, Dr. Ed Rister, interacts with his student Robert Gottlich.

In February, AGEC 425 students participated in two days of the Spring mentoring forum. More than 90 entrepreneurs and business leaders also participated in the Kathi & Murray Edwards ’73 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Mentoring Forum sessions that were held in person on Friday, February 16,  and virtually, Friday, February 23. During these two days, more than 300 cumulative hours of mentorship transpired between mentors and students.

"As a student, I value the opportunity to talk openly and freely . . . about my business to successful entrepreneurs and professionals."
headshot of William Garner

William Garner '24

Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Economics major William Garner ’24 reflected on his experience of attending the two mentoring forum sessions. “I really appreciate that there were so many mentors who took the time to be part of the Mentoring Forums. As a student, I value the opportunity to talk openly and freely, outside of the classroom, about my business to successful entrepreneurs and professionals. It was a great experience to know that people were willing and wanting to hear about my business, and that they were willing to help shape and mold my business plan based upon their own experiences and knowledge.” Garner is developing a business plan for a bonsai nursery.

Emma Brett (left), an Animal Science major, and Harleigh Strack (right), an Agricultural Economics major, attend the in-person forum. Troy Thompson (center) is the lecturer for AGEC 324.
Emma Brett (left), an Animal Science major, and Harleigh Strack (right), an Agricultural Economics major, attend the in-person forum. Troy Thompson (center) is the lecturer for AGEC 324.
Harleigh Strack speaks to mentor Angel Jaramillo during the February 16 Mentoring Forum.
Harleigh Strack speaks to mentor Angel Jaramillo during the February 16 Mentoring Forum.

AGEC 324 students pursuing the Rural Entrepreneurship option or the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship minor attended to observe and network.

Photo (right): AGEC 324 students who attended to observe the in-person mentoring forum (left to right): Owen Sanders, Garner Mickle, Matthew Ross, and Millie Frey, stand with Troy Thompson.

Participating mentors commented on the positive interactions they had with students. Namesake for the mentoring forums, Murray Edwards ’73, who participated virtually, shared, “I thoroughly enjoyed the students, and it was obvious they'd been coached well to prepare for the session.”

Photo above: Murray Edwards '73 mentors AGEC 425 student Matthew Bridges, an Animal Science major, who is pursuing the Agribusiness Entrepreneurship minor.

Our 90+ mentors represent communities across Texas. Including mentors from the Bryan/College Station area, this year’s mentors live or work in Amarillo, Austin, Bellville, Brenham, Caldwell, Canyon, Clyde, Cypress, Dallas, El Campo, Fredericksburg, Hearne, Houston, Laredo, McGregor, Millican, Nacogdoches, Ovalo, Pilot Point, Ransom Canyon, Richmond, San Angelo, San Antonio, Schulenburg, Seguin, Snook, Southlake, Spearman, Spring, Stephenville, The Woodlands, and Weslaco.

We also are honored by the participation of several of our mentors who live outside of Texas. We are especially appreciative of former student Ghanga Bhatt ’22 who flew in from Florida to mentor students during the in-person forum. Dr. Rodney Holcomb ’91, professor in Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University returned to Aggieland to participate as a mentor. Our virtual forum also drew participation from Aparna Basu of Tennessee (who recently endowed a scholarship in the Ag Eco department honoring her late husband and Aggie Christopher Narayanan ’96), as well as former students, Tom Cobb ’11 who lives in Washington, Rebecca Moore ’19 who lives in Michigan, and Camila Prudencio ’17 who lives in Bolivia.

Above photo: Camila Prudencio '17, owner of Blu Babassu, gives advice to Ansley Blake on social media tools and strategies. Prudencio used the knowledge she gained in AGEC 425 to launch her company, Blu Babassu, after graduation.

We also want to recognize and thank Madison Murchison ’20 for her role in hosting the virtual forum. Madison provides an expertise and skill set to seamlessly facilitate a virtual forum with mentors participating remotely.  

Lastly, we recognize the catering services of Global Event Group during the in-person forum. Global Event Group is owned by Cassie and Matt Bobbitt ’99.  

To view all the photos from the Kathi & Murray Edwards ’73 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Mentoring Forum, go to https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBfFog.

Merritt Weeks

Merritt Weeks

Assistant Director

Merritt Weeks is the assistant director with the Dianne and M. Edward Rister '74 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program. She manages the communications for the program, as well as oversees the coordination of events.