Grant to A-State Establishes Andrew Wargo III Agriculture Scholarship

JONESBORO – A grant gift has been given to Arkansas State University (A-State) to establish the Andrew Wargo III Endowed Scholarship.

The $29,000 gift from Andrew Wargo of Watson will establish an academic scholarship for students in the College of Agriculture.

“Mr. Wargo's generous gift is investing in the future of students in the College of Agriculture. Dr. Mickey LaTour, dean of the College of Agriculture, said this investment will create opportunities for students, and we are grateful for his ongoing commitment to empowering the next generation.”

Wargo graduated from A-State in 1964 with a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering. In 2021, he received the College of Agriculture's Distinguished Alumnus award.

He spent much of his career at Baxter County Land Co., where he helped guide conservation and management plans implemented across the country. He was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2016.

“In every position I held, I always saw the benefit of the agricultural engineering courses and degree I received at A-State,” Wargo said.

Wargo wanted to support those in the field of research, which played an important role in his career, and this was one of the driving factors behind the gift.

Wargo added, “I want to encourage students taking courses right now to continue their studies, and I hope this scholarship will help them continue their education.”

While in college, Wargo was a member of the A-State Sport Parachute Team, which won the National Collegiate Championship in 1964. He worked as a flight instructor, teacher and administrator before returning to the agriculture industry.

Wargo worked alongside Bill Baxter of Baxter Land Co. and helped the Baxter family start a catfish farming operation, and managed a family-owned cotton gin that grew into a 30,000-bale production facility before the operation merged into Dumas Cotton Gin.