By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Earlier this year the Kentucky National Guard sent a unique unit to Afghanistan to help local farmers learn modern techniques and how to market their goods in order to establish self sufficiency and stability.

The Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team (KADT) is comprised of specialists from the Army and Air National Guard, who have taken successful techniques learned here to the Afghani people, in hopes of bringing their agricultural endeavors into the 21st century.
State FFA chapters and the Kentucky agricultural community recognized the commitment of this group by collecting money to send gifts, supplies and other items in support of the unit’s efforts. The project was coordinated by the nonprofit Agriculture Communications Assoc. and its director, Steve Meredith, who brought the idea to Kentucky FFA Executive Secretary Matt Chaliff.

“When I started this fundraising effort, the FFA members were a logical choice. You have energy, patriotism and the future of agriculture all wrapped in one,” said Meredith. “I worked through Matt Chaliff, who talked to the state officers. They got behind it and got excited about it, took it to the regional officers and then the local chapters.”

The project was officially introduced during the Annual Regional Officer Training in September. Altogether, 26 chapters participated raising $3,600 of the total $6,000 collected by all who participated. The money was used to buy supplies and gifts for the soldiers and winter clothing and candy for Afghani children.

“This mission goes hand in hand with our FFA motto of ‘learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve,’” said Curt Lucas, state FFA advisor. “Throughout history, a safe and plentiful food supply has been the first step in a safe and stable nation. We want our National Guard members to know that we support their efforts and wish them all the best.”

A press conference was held Dec. 10 marking the success of the project, with General Ed Tonini, Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard, in attendance to accept the ceremonial presentation. The items will arrive in Afghanistan in late December.“It’s very special and it’s very effective. We are very appreciative of this effort,” he said.

The Oneida Baptist Institute (OBI) FFA was recognized as being the top contributing chapter, with $836.50 collected for the project. Several chapter members were on hand at the press conference with advisor Jennifer Griebenow.

“We are a private school and have one of the smallest chapters (19 members) in the state, and the kids were very excited about this project. It was close to my heart because my brother is in the Marines, and because of supporting our troops and supporting agriculture in another country, we got two for the price of one,” she said.

Griebenow also said the FFA students set a goal of raising $500 but raised more through hard work in publicizing the event on campus; it was fellow OBI students who really came through in raising most of the money.

The KADT unit presently in Afghanistan is the first of possibly three units scheduled to be in that country at some point in support of agricultural endeavors.  The second unit is scheduled to leave in January.

“We are located in Clay County and our county extension agent is in the National Guard,” said Griebenow. “He is in this second group that is going to Afghanistan as one of the teacher-educators. We didn’t know that, so that is just another opportunity for us to support Clay County, Kentucky, agriculture and the troops.”

As an added incentive, the chapter raising the most money was given a $100 donation for their efforts. The OBI group promptly donated their prize to the next group that will be leaving.