Post on 09-Aug-2020
Master of Agribusiness Spring 2017, Issue 2
MAB Teams Participate in CME Trading
Challenge - Team “B” Perspective
By: Devon Smolak and Muhammad Abdullah
When we enrolled in the CME Trade Challenge 2017, we had no idea what we were getting into. Our team had little knowledge of the commodities and futures market, but we left the challenge with an ability to use a real-life simulation software utilized in the commodi-ties market, a greater knowledge of the market itself, and a first-hand feel of the pacey nature of the deriva-tives market.
Figuring out the software was the first challenge we had. However, before the practice round began we watched many webinars on how to use the CQG Inte-grated Client software. When the time came for the practice round we were familiar with the software enough to make the layout the way we wanted. Our main objective was to buy low and sell high; we didn’t feel agricultural commodities were going to bring us as much money as bonds, gold and natural gas. Howev-er, when the preliminary round came, we had trouble buying more than one of what we wanted yet we bought what the software allowed us; soybeans, live cattle and natural gas.
Our undoing was buying 12 units of Natural gas. Pric-es dropped dramatically and did not rise in the short two weeks we had. We lost $38,000 of our trade mon-ey in one night. The most realistic option was to take the loss and sell low. This occurred near the end of the last week. We also tried salvaging the situation by purchasing S&P 500 futures but were locked out from trading for one day because of the 20% loss from the Natural Gas trades. We believe that one of our weak-nesses was that we traded too much like stocks, in-stead of long-term contracts. In all, our initial goals were met in that we figured out the complicated soft-ware, got a taste of the commodities and futures mar-ket and we met the daily target of 10 contracts as a team. The greatest advantage of taking part in this competition was that we acquainted ourselves with trading and stocks which is key to optimizing wealth. Our group believed the CME Trade Challenge 2017 added a lot of flesh to what we had been taught in class. We unreservedly encourage others to partici-pate in next year’s challenge.
CME Challenge Team “A” Members
MAB Teams Participate in CME Trading
Challenge - Team “A” Perspective
By: Kyle Joseph
The CME Trading Challenge is a great learning experi-ence for anyone who wants to learn more about com-modity trading. Through this program we had the op-portunity to trade commodities through current and fu-tures contracts.
My Agribusiness graduate team consisted of Iker Huacuja Goya, Chad McLaren, Cameron Novikoff, Blake Ramsey, and myself (Kyle Joseph). We enjoyed having the opportunity to learn this program together.
The CME Trading Challenge requires a great deal of attention and research to really do well. We did not keep up with the contracts like we should have and unfortunately did not do very well in the competition.
Even though we did not do well in the actual challenge, I believe we learned some important skills that we can carry with us after Graduate School. The CME Chal-lenge is useful because students get a chance to trade in real time on real servers and I do not know of any other program that gives you that opportunity.
My team and I are thankful for the competition and we encourage future students to take part if they are given the opportunity.
MABs Attend Interdisciplinary Graduate
Networking Event
By: Edeoba Edobor, Victor Galindo del Toro, Chandler
Johnstone, and Katherynne Padilla
On February 9th, 2016 several MAB students attended
the Graduate and Professional Student Council
(GPSC) hosted Wine Night, which took place at the
Alumni Center.
The Annual Wine Night was started with an informa-
tive presentation by Messina Hof representatives, who
gave a brief history of wine and wine in Texas, specifi-
cally here in the Brazos Valley. The representatives
also went on to explain a little about the business of
Messina Hof and the increased demand they’ve seen
over the last few years. From the presentation it ap-
peared “Texas Wine” is on the incline in terms of sales
and should continue to be a profitable product for the
state. There was even mention that in the near future
“Texas Wine” will be quality enough to compete direct-
ly with “California Wines”.
Shortly after the presentation, all attendees received a
“wine passport” for keeping track of wines which they
tasted and a wine glass. The event was set up as a
networking event in which it had, sitting tables, stand-
ing tables and areas to enjoy cheese and crackers.
Many of the MAB students made new connections
with other Graduate and Processional colleagues.
They took the opportunity to learn more about what
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other departments and colleges are accomplishing as
well as an opportunity to educate others about the
MAB program.
The goal of the evening was to engage Graduate and
Professional students across all disciplines in a social
environment that would allow for networking and pos-
sible future collaboration. GPSC has been hosting
several of these
types of events
throughout the year
in an effort to bring
Graduate students
closer. Given the
rigor that comes
with obtaining a
Graduate or Pro-
fessional degree
more often than not
some students nev-
er get to meet other colleagues across colleges on
campus. Events like the Wine Night help to bring a di-
verse crowd of Graduate and Professional students
together in one place to get the conversation started.
Those who attended would encourage everyone to
attend as many of these events as possible. The next
GPSC networking event is Ice Skating on March 23,
2017.
Rodeo Houston Trip
By: Christina Hilliard
Executives from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
(HLSR) will be hosting MAB students on Friday, March
10, 2017 for a day of behind the scenes tours and
networking with HLSR leaders. Majority of these
same leaders attended Texas A&M and some have
personal connections to former MAB students!
Agenda Overview:
-Tour of Center of Grounds with Allyson Tjoelker, Ex-
ecutive Director, Agricultural Competitions & Exhibitors
and Joel Cowley, President & CEO.
-Meeting with the CFO, Jennifer Hazelton
-Tour Commercial Exhibits and Sponsorship Activities
Discussion with Amber Burda, Executive Director,
Sponsorships, Business & Corporate Development
Continued on page 3
Pictured left to right: Brent Tymrak, Chandler Johnstone, Katie
Padilla, Victor Galindo del Toro, Devon Smolak, Sierra Shields,
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MABs Prepare for Spring Break Fun
By: Iker Huacuja Goya
As spring break gets closer, the MAB students are get-ting ready to relax while getting involved in some of their favorite activities.
It comes as no surprise that after some long weeks with plenty of hard work put in for school, the group is ready for some time off. I
have spoken to my peers and there are plenty of different plans going around. I will give you some insights.
A group of around 5 students are heading to Cancun Mexico aiming to get a nice tan and visit some of the most beautiful beaches on earth. A couple of other students are getting ready for the Rio Frio Fest that takes place in Concan, Texas. Others are heading to Colorado, looking for some skiing opportunities. A small, but brave, group is going on a mission trip to Honduras in order to help those in need donating med-icine and school supplies.
These are just some of the activities our current MABs are getting involved in this spring break before coming back to ace finals and head off to a great summer.
Cooperative Symposium
By: Christina Hilliard
What is a cooperative? According to the Cambridge
Dictionary, it can be defined as “an organization in
which many small farms work together as a business,
especially to help each other produce and sell their
crops.” You may now be left wondering what does a
cooperative and the MAB program have in common.
Well, in a one word answer, “Leaders”.
The MAB program is joining forces with AgriLife Exten-
sion to host “Symposium on Cooperatives: ‘How Do
Businesses Develop Future Leaders?’” on March 30-
31, 2017 at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center
(Association of Former Students) in College Station to
answer this question.
The symposium will begin with an opening reception
and student case competition on Thursday, March
30th. The opening session will begin at 8:00 a.m. on
Friday, March 31st and will adjourn at 4:15 p.m.
Speakers include:
Kevin Brinkley, CEO of Plains Cotton Cooperative
Association (PCCA)
Gregory McKee, Ph.D., Professor, North Dakota
State University
Keri L. Jacobs, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Iowa
State University
Philip Kenkel, Ph.D., Professor, Oklahoma State
University
Sanja Zivkovic, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Texas
Tech University
Enrique Pinon, MAB student
Registration is open, but seats are limited. Please visit
http://tx.ag/coop2017 for details and to secure your
seat today!
Questions? Email mab@tamu.edu
Rodeo Houston Trip
Continued from page 2
Students will have an early start to their day by leaving
campus aboard a charter bus heading to Reliant Cen-
ter at 7:30 a.m. Upon arrival, students will have an in-
side tour of the grounds, operations, and commercial
exhibits, just to name a few.
MABs will also be treated to a Texas style lunch while
at the Rodeo before finishing up the afternoon tours.
A short break of free time will then allow students to
visit vendors, the carnival, and commercial exhibits
before heading to NGR Arena where they will be
greeted by the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International
for the Midcoast International Super Sale.
The MAB program extends a deep appreciation and
Texas size “thank you” to the Houston Livestock Show
& Rodeo executives and staff who worked diligently to
ensure a wonderful educational opportunity.
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Dept. of Agricultural Economics 600 John Kimbrough Blvd., Room 213
2124 TAMU tx.ag/agribusiness
(979) 458-5539 mab@agecon.tamu.edu
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Go to:
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Company? We know some potential
industry leaders.
Let us help you! Email us at
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Upcoming Events
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Field Trip Friday, March 10 Spring Break March 13-17 Cooperative Symposium (Mandatory for MAB students) March 30-31 Last day for Q Drop April 18 Muster April 21 Last day to apply for May 2017 degrees May 2 Commencement May 12th at 9 a.m. Reed Arena