Front Lines

Did you read the March/April issue of "Show Me" magazine?  All the way through?  Because besides having great photographs of the YF&R Conference and a list of our sponsors (please support!) it also contained a heart breaking story-- on the very last page.  And while I'm certainly not breaking any news headlines in summarizing the story here for you, this story begs to be repeated.  And honored.

On January 5th Staff Sergeant Robert W. Pharris was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.  And though 268 soldiers have been tragically killed in this way in the war on Terror, you may wonder why such news would appear on the MFB YF&R blog.  The reasons is this; Pharris was a member of the Missouri Agri-business Development Team (ADT)-- his assignment was teaching Afghan farmers about sheep and goats.

A resident of Seymour, MO, Pharris raised sheep and goats on his own 36 acre farm.  This experience recommended him for a placement on the 13 member ADT. The article, written by Chris Fennewald, reports that Pharris was enthusiastic about making a big impact in his reconstruction mission. 

Imagine what an impact raising food will have.