The Missouri national guards agri-business development team program, which has been active since 2007 suffered it’s first loss of a soldier in Afghanistan. 48 year old sgt. 1st class Robert Wayne Pharris, of Seymour passed away of wounds suffered at nangarhar province after insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Pharris served as an agriculture specialist with agri-business development team number 5. At the time pharris was working as a liaison officer to 1st squadron, 61st cavalry. Pharris is the Missouri national guards 13th casualty in overseas contingency operations since September 11th 2001.
