National Guardsmen return from year-long Afghanistan deployment

? A group of Kansas National Guard soldiers with expertise in agriculture returns this weekend from a one-year deployment in Afghanistan.

The Agribusiness Development Team is made up of about 60 soldiers and airmen. They worked with Afghans in Laghman Province to developing efficient agribusiness techniques.

A welcome-home ceremony is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Petro Building at Washburn University in Topeka. Doors open at 8 a.m.

The agricultural team was the first of three from the Kansas National Guard to go to Afghanistan. The second has already been deployed, also in Laghman Province.

The teams are a being sent in a partnership with experts at Kansas State University.