This week you get to hear some of the good news about what our military is doing in Afghanistan. Like in Iraq, our fighting men and women have also engaged in projects to help re-build this country’s agricultural infrastructure. It sure is a different story than the one you’ll find on network television or read in the newspaper.
Thanks to Pfizer Animal Health, I got connected to Lieutenant Colonel Sam Barringer, DVM. He’s a U.S. Air Force Reservist who went on a mission to help reinvigorate animal agriculture in Afghanistan. Basically, his team trained local veterinarians, brought in and treated animals from areas of the country that still had livestock and helped family farmers establish themselves. The idea being to help these people become self-sufficient.
Dr. Barringer says that although it’s dangerous territory still, the people he met were friendly and truly appreciated the work he was doing. He says that he believes he could go back in 10 years and they would still welcome him into their homes.
In the picture you can see Dr. Barringer (right) training Afghan veterinarians on animal health assessment and prevention and treatment products. He says that extended therapy products are especially beneficial because these veterinarians travel great distances to treat an animal, then are unable to return for long periods of time, making repeat treatments extremely difficult.
This is a story that needs to be heard so I hope you’ll pass a link to it along to your friends. That is what this new media is all about you know.
I looked through the Podsafe Music Network for something about veterinarians or livestock but couldn’t find any so the program ends with a song called “Animal” by the Jeff Hightower. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.
You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: 
ZimmCast 148 (17 min MP3)
Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast148-12-3-07.mp3
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes