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On Friday, March 18, Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, visited the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus to view progress on renovations to the Agriculture Building, which began in February 2022.

Wardlaw was instrumental in gathering supplemental funding to renovate the Agriculture Building, helping to secure $250,000 from Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “With the help of Governor Asa Hutchinson and his Rainy Day Fund, we were able to fund the remodel of the Agriculture Building to a level that students can be proud of for years to come,” Wardlaw said. UAM has provided the rest of the funding for the $613,193 project.

Gov. Hutchinson’s financial contribution allowed UAM to expand the project. The Agriculture Building is undergoing a total renovation that includes classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, a new student lounge and the auditorium. The renovated auditorium will serve as a large classroom space and a location to hold presentations for people from agriculture, industry and the community. Renovations to two exterior structures—the soils lab building and the greenhouse—are also included in the project.

Wardlaw, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture degree from UAM in 2002, stated, “It makes me feel proud to be a UAM alum, to come back and see how attractive the campus looks and how strong the agriculture program will be for years to come.”

Dr. Peggy Doss, UAM chancellor, attended the tour with Wardlaw and thanked him for his contributions to the project, stating, “It is so important to have Representative Wardlaw here today because he is a graduate of UAM who understands the UAM agriculture program’s impact on the agriculture industry and economy in the state, including research that is significant to the agriculture in our region. As a state representative, he has been our champion in promoting agriculture and renovations at UAM, and today, we want him to see the progress that we are making in renovating our Agriculture Building to be a state-of-the-art facility for our undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and researchers. I cannot thank Representative Wardlaw enough for what he has done to make this possible for UAM.”

The UAM Agriculture program is housed in the College of Forestry, Agriculture & Natural Resources. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture degree and can choose between five specializations: agribusiness, animal science, plant and soil science, site specific management and general agriculture. In addition, students who have the desire to enter veterinary school are provided coursework and advising aimed at meeting the requirements of institutions offering a degree in veterinary medicine. 

For more information, contact the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture & Natural Resources at (870) 460-1052.