WALNUT RIDGE – Eagle Farms, a major component of the new student work initiative at Williams Baptist University (WMU), has taken a big step forward with the donation of a tractor. Cox Implement of Hoxie delivered a new, 75 horsepower Massey Ferguson tractor to the university Monday.
“Cox Implement and the Cox family have made a tremendous gift to WBU, and in doing so they are expressing great faith in the Williams Works initiative. This initiative is going to make an academically excellent, Christ-centered education affordable for many young people, and Cox Implement will long be remembered for getting our farm operation started with this crucial piece of equipment,” said Stan Norman, president of WBU.
Eagle Farms will be developed in coming months on the west end of the Williams campus, converting a previously unused piece of ground into a fruit and vegetable farm. The farm will employ students who are working their way toward a WBU education through the recently announced Williams Works initiative.
“Eagle Farms and Williams Works are a perfect fit for this university, this community and this region, and our family is just very excited to play a part in the launch of such an exciting initiative,” said J.R. Cox of Cox Implement. “WBU is a huge asset to our community, and this initiative means many more students will be able to receive the great Christian education that Williams provides.”
Cox, his sister, Mary Stone, and brother, Jerry Cox, made the gift possible, as well as other members of the family involved with the business. The tractor is valued at more than $40,000.
J.R. Cox is a member of the WBU Board of Trustees and former chairman of the board.
Williams Works will enroll its first students next fall, with 40 incoming freshmen to be chosen for the inaugural class. Another 40 will be added each of the following two years, with more expansion planned for the years beyond.
For more information on Williams Works, go to https://williamsbu.edu/williamsworks/.