2/1/12 – A sendoff ceremony will be held this weekend in Hartford for several local Wisconsin Army and Air National Guardsmen. Approximately 60 members of the 82nd Agribusiness Development Team, are being deployed to Afghanistan. Their mission is to teach Afghan farmers how to effectively farm and herd to expand their agribusiness, create jobs and reduce poverty. That includes training Afghans in beekeeping, advising grape farmers in the use of trellises to increase yield, educating livestock owners in the use of vaccines to improve herd health, and establishing demonstration farms to highlight various agriculture techniques. The members of the 82nd include a forestry specialist, agronomist, agricultural marketing specialist, a hydrologist, a pest control specialist, engineers, a veterinary technician, mechanics, medics, communications specialists and security personnel. Their sendoff will be held at 2:30pm Saturday at Hartford High School. Another ceremony for 130 Army National Guard soldiers from the Oshkosh-based 1157th Transportation Company, will be held at 11am Saturday at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Eagle Hangar in Oshkosh. Prior to their deployment overseas, the soldiers will train for several weeks at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. Both ceremonies are open to the public.
