Agribusiness Development Team II returns home from Afghanistan

By: Silas Allen
Missouri National Guard Public Affairs
Agribusiness Development Team II returns home from Afghanistan
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon shakes hands with Soldiers of the Agribusiness Development Team
Soldiers of the Agribusiness Development Team II enter the Capitol Rotunda
Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, welcomes home Agribusiness Development Team II at a ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon welcomes home Agribusiness Development Team II at a ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, welcomed home Agribusiness Development Team II at a ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol.

The 55-member team returned after serving in Afghanistan's Nangharhar Province since last December. Included in the unit are security force personnel and agriculture specialists including an agronomist, pest management specialist, agriculture marketing specialist, hydrologist, soil science specialist and large-animal veterinarian. The team represents the first time Missouri National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed together as a part of a single unit.

Danner recognized members of the unit who had received combat infantryman badges, combat action badges and Purple Hearts while deployed with the unit. He praised the unit for its hard work during deployment.

"Thank you for a job well done," Danner said. "God bless each and every one of you, and God bless America."

The Missouri National Guard became the first in the nation to have an Agribusiness Development Team in 2007. The first team served in Nangarhar Province from fall 2007 until December 2008. The returning team will be replaced by Agribusiness Development Team III, which will continue the Agribusiness Development Team program's mission.

Joining Nixon and Danner in the official party at the ceremony were Mike Dubois, representing Sen. Kit Bond; Cindy Hall, representing Sen. Clair McCaskill; Ann Kutscher, representing Rep. Ike Skelton; Sen. Carl Vogel, Rep. Mark Bruns and Rep. Bill Deeken, all of Jefferson City; and Councilman Dan Klindt, representing Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr.

Each member of the official party deferred their remarks to Danner and Nixon in the interest of allowing members of the unit to be more quickly reunited with their families. During his remarks, Nixon said he joined the families in their happiness that all the members of the unit had returned safely.

"There will be many special prayers of thanks this Thanksgiving in homes across Missouri," Nixon said.

Nixon said he had been especially impressed with the unit during his visit to Afghanistan last July. During the visit, the unit proclaimed Nixon an honorary member of the unit. Nixon said he was humbled by the proclamation, and said he especially treasures a photo of himself with the unit taken during his visit. The photo currently hangs on wall in the lobby of Nixon's office and is signed by every member of the team.

"While I'm proud of all our units in the Missouri National Guard, I feel a special connection to Agribusiness Development Team II," Nixon said. "Our state can be justly proud that the first ADT was a Missouri unit."

During the deployment, the team worked to undo years of damage to the agricultural and livestock infrastructure in Nangharhar Province. The region's agricultural capabilities took a heavy blow during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In more recent years, opium poppies have represented most of the area's economy. Among other projects, the team worked to build a slaughter facility, veterinary clinics and a cold storage facility.

To view more pictures from the homecoming ceremony, please visit us at www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.