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Kaleb Kromann has thankful attitude about Iraqi service Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Agri News staff writer
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. -- Kaleb Kromann always thanked the Iraqi people and military leaders for all he learned during his time serving his country. It is a topic Kaleb focuses on during his presentations to agricultural organizations.
Kromann grew up on a dairy farm in Washington before moving with his family to the Midwest. Even though they moved, the family still wanted to be a part of agriculture, so they started to raise beef and swine on their farm in Litchfield and remained active in 4-H and FFA.
Kromann started college at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in fall 2001 majoring in agricultural education. Kromann was involved in Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, Block and Bridal Club, Agricultural Education Club, and served on the Minnesota Royal Executive committee.
In January 2004, with two and a half years of his college career completed, Kaleb left Minnesota to head to Colorado to start National Guard training. On February 19th 2004, he left Colorado and headed over to Kuwait, and three weeks later he was in Iraq.
During his time in Iraq, he assisted in building and running a detainee facility for 6 months and for 3 months cleared "road bombs."
Kromann saw his service as an opportunity to learn more about the culture, people, and the agricultural industry in another country.
"I wanted to ask as many questions as I could," said Kromann. "I wanted to learn as much as I could in the time I had."
Kromann learned Iraqi farmers struggled to get water.
"It is a common struggle in the region," said Kromann. "Iraq has one of the largest potentials to become a richer country, but they are the poorest in the region."
At the end of his service, Kromann brought home some life-long lessons and values.
Kromann remembers people thanking him for his service before he headed back home in February 2005.
"At first I didn't know how to respond to them," he said. "Then I realized that I could say "your welcome," but I wanted to thank them for the valuable experience they had given me."
Kromann believes that people should appreciate any opportunity that arises and not take life so seriously, but rather enjoy it.
"We should be thankful for what we have," said Kromann. "We have such a rich and vibrant country full of resources."
"Men who have offered their lives for their country know that patriotism is not the fear of something, it is the love of something," said Kromann. "That is one of my favorite quotes from an unkown author while I was in Iraq."
Kaleb will be finishing up his degree in agriculture education this December and will be teaching ag classes at the Academy of Food Science and Agriculture during the fall semester for grades 9-12.
Kaleb will remain active in agriculture by managing the swine facility at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus as well as working as one of the supervisors at the Miracle of Birth Center during the Minnesota State Fair.
In the future, Kaleb plans to be involved with legislation and help support the agricultural industry.
"I eventually want to get back into beef and swine," said Kromann. "I want to someday have a hobby farm."
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