Soul of 78: Andrew Manasco

Manasco Landscaping

Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Image by Ryan McGill

At 16 years old, Andrew Manasco worked three summer jobs to earn extra money. 

He helped with operations at the I-22 Dragstrip, served as a lifeguard at Carbon Hill Pool, and began cutting grass for his church. Upon picking up a few more yards to cut, he made a discovery. 

"I got up to 3 or 4 yards, and I noticed I was making twice as much money as I was with the other jobs," Andrew recalls. "So, I pretty much quit everything else and kept cutting grass." 

What started as a summer job to make extra money became a thriving business and career. 

After graduating from high school, Andrew knew he wanted to pursue a hands-on career, so he completed an associate degree in Machine Tool Technology from Bevill State Community College. This led to a series of jobs in machine shops that were never truly satisfying. 

"I noticed that there never seemed to be an upside to any job that I had," says Andrew. "But I would remember my yard equipment sitting in my garage, and I always wanted to go back to that." 

In 2016, he formed an LLC and officially started Manasco Landscaping. His company offers landscape design and installation, hardscaping for outdoor living spaces, and irrigation installation. He also offers 12-month lawn maintenance, which include grass cutting, mulching, shrub trimming, and general yard cleaning. 

Away from work, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife, Kristin, and their three-year-old daughter, Caroline. The trio lives on 75 acres of pastureland in Carbon Hill.

More than anything, Andrew is grateful to have a family that supports his endeavors. 

"My grandfather helped me get started by buying me my first lawn mower. If it weren't for him helping throughout the years, I wouldn't have been able to grow my business as I have," says Andrew. 

From cutting grass to owning his own thriving landscaping business, Andrew Manasco's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to hard work prove that sometimes, the key to success is right in your own backyard. 78