Atifete Jahjaga, president of the Republic of Kosovo, stopped by campus and the university’s Horticulture Research Station east of Gilbert on June 13.

The visit is part of a military exchange program between the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force. The Guard, host of Jahjaga’s three-day Iowa visit, is working to expand the program beyond the military by fostering Iowa-Kosovo relationships in such areas as education, agriculture, and business.

Accompanying President Jahjaga on the visit were the Kosovo ambassador to the United States Akan Ismaili, U.S. ambassador to Kosovo Christopher Dell, Isa Mustafa, mayor of Kosovo’s capital city Pristina, and Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard.

The delegation met with Iowa State University officials in Beardshear Hall for an introductory overview of Iowa State, then toured the Center for Crops Utilization Research in the Food Sciences Building and the Horticulture Research Station.

Among Iowa Staters meeting with the Kosovo delegation were Lawrence Johnson, director of the Center for Crops Utilization Research and BioCentury Research Farm, and Mark Honeyman, director of Iowa State research farms and associate director of BioCentury Research Farm.

Left: Lawrence Johnson (left) shows President Jahjaga samples in the Wet Processing Pilot Plant. Right: In the Technology Transfer Pilot Plant, Kyle Haubrich, research associate (right), shows samples of biobased plastics and composites to President Jahjaga (center) and Maj. Gen Orr (back). Photos by Bob Elbert, University Relations