Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast, your source
for stories that milk more than just cows. Today's
episode is one for the books. Ever met someone
who traded a world -class Holstein herd for a
life -changing mission in Tanzania? Buckle up,
because Mark Yeasel's story isn't just about
dairy farming. It's about faith, family, and
rewriting what it means to make an impact. From
breeding elite red Holsteins to building grass
-roofed barns for orphans, Mark's journey will
make you rethink how dairy expertise can change
lives. We're talking slick genes in the African
heat, 800 eggs a day, and a radical decision
that left the dairy world speechless. Let's dive
into how one man's yes became a lifeline for
over 130 children. Stick around. This isn't just
a podcast episode. It's a call to action for
anyone who believes dairy can do more. Let's
get started. You know, in the world of dairy,
we see a lot of folks making moves, maybe tweaking
their feeding programs, perhaps investing in
some shiny new robots, even taking the plunge
into a different breed sometimes. Sure. Those
are the kinds of shifts we talk about regularly.
Incremental changes, strategic moves. Exactly.
But every once in a blue moon, something comes
across your desk that, well, it makes you do
a genuine double take. And that's precisely where
we're headed on this deep dive. Couldn't agree
more. We've been digging through the details
of a truly extraordinary shift from someone who
wasn't just involved, but, you know. deeply respected
within the U .S. dairy landscape. It's a story
that really gets you thinking about, well, the
potential reach of our expertise and the unexpected
ways it can be applied. Absolutely. We're talking
about Mark Easel, the man behind J. Bob Holstein.
For three decades, he was crafting a Holstein
breeding program that was a real standout. It's
a serious force. Really renowned. Yeah. I mean,
when you look at the numbers, over 40 homozygous
polled animals, more than 120 polled total, and
another 120 plus red cattle, you're talking about
significant genetic progress. A major investment
in time, effort, genetics. Right. And then he
sells the whole darn thing. The whole operation.
It's not just, you know, thinning the herd or
a partial dispersal. It's complete exit. The
complete dispersal. And that kind of decision,
it signals a monumental life change. And the
why behind it is what really grabbed my attention,
made me want to delve deeper. Mine too. You'd
maybe expect someone to sell up, maybe head for
Florida, perhaps dabble in a different kind of
agriculture stateside. Something like that. Retire,
maybe. Nope. Mark decided to sell his entire
top -tier operation to start a dairy farm for
orphans. In Tanzania. Tanzania. Yeah. We're talking
about impacting the lives of more than 130 kids.
It's just a move that stops you in your tracks.
It certainly does. And his reasoning, as he put
it, was so straightforward and, well, powerful.
What was it he said? He said, no, what would
be crazy is to believe God tells you to go do
something and tell God no. Wow. Yeah. That's
a statement that really sets the stage for understanding
his conviction, I think. Okay. So let's unpack
the before picture a little bit. Okay. Before
Tanzania, Mark wasn't just any dairy farmer.
His J -Bob heard. boasted a rolling herd average
RHA, for those maybe newer. The key metric, yeah.
Right, key metric of productivity of 27 ,641
pounds of milk, which is huge. That's a serious
number. And the components were, well... Nothing
to sneeze at either. 4 .1 % butterfat, hitting
1 ,128 pounds. Over 1 ,100 pounds of fat. And
3 .25 % protein at 898 pounds. And get this,
a somatic cell count SCC, you know, that indicator
of milk quality and utter health. Crucial. Of
just 140 ,000. Wow, that low. Yeah. Those are
the kind of numbers that put you firmly in the
elite category. No question. Absolutely. That
level of production combined with such a low
SEC, it speaks volumes. It says superior genetics,
meticulous management, the whole package. Right.
He wasn't just producing milk. He was breeding
for excellence in health and output. Yeah. Really
focused. And his influence went beyond his own
farm gate, too. That's right. He was heavily
involved with the Red and White Dairy Cattle
Association. Had a real pulse on the industry.
Very active. He even played a pivotal role in
connecting them with U .S. livestock genetics
export. This wasn't someone on the periphery.
He was a well -respected and, frankly, influential
voice. Which just makes this transition all the
more remarkable, doesn't it? It really does.
It's not someone, you know, casually involved
in dairy deciding to try something new. This
is a seasoned professional, deeply entrenched,
very successful. Talk of his game. Making a complete
life pivot. And it's driven by this profound
sense of purpose. It's fascinating. So what was
the initial spark? What set this whole incredible
journey in motion? You might be surprised. It
goes all the way back to Sunday school, 1995.
Sunday school. Apparently, there was an exercise
where people wrote down things they enjoyed.
Mark wrote, international travel. Seems pretty
common, right? Sure. A lot of people enjoy that
or aspire to it. But then came the unexpected
question. What if God asked you to give it up?
Okay. Mark's initial thought, he recalled, was
affirm, absolutely not. You know, fair enough.
Understandable reaction, perhaps. But as life
sometimes has a way of doing, things shifted.
Just four months later, he felt a strong calling,
a real pull to resign from his leadership positions.
Four months. That's a pretty rapid and significant
change of heart. Isn't it? It really underscores
the power of that internal shift. It's one thing
to have a fleeting thought, but to act on it
so concretely, stepping away from established
roles, that speaks volumes about the depth of
that. Incredible. And it's worth noting his wife,
Joy's support in this, that kind of partnership,
it's often the bedrock, isn't it? Especially
for a decision of this magnitude. Oh, absolutely
crucial. He even described how his sort of general
desire for international travel was replaced
by a specific desire to travel internationally
for service. A complete reorientation. Total
reorientation of priorities. Now, the project
that has become his focus is called Eternal Families
Tanzania. And it's not your typical institutional
orphanage, which I think is a really crucial
distinction to make here. Yes, that's important.
The model they've embraced is quite innovative
and, you know, arguably far more conducive to
the well -being of the children. How so? Well,
instead of a large impersonal setting, they've
established actual family units. Each home has
dedicated parents providing consistent love,
care, a stable environment. Like a real family.
Right. It's inspired by a place called Caminal
Felix in Romania, which Mark had visited some
years ago. Yeah. The whole idea is creating that
essential family structure. Which is so vital
for kids who've often experienced significant
trauma and instability. Exactly. And the scale
of what they've built is, well, truly impressive.
They already have 10 houses in their first village.
10 houses. Wow. And they're actually in the process
of constructing a second village. Goodness. That's
serious commitment and growth. It is. And it's
not just about providing housing. It's about
fostering long -term sustainability for these
families. The farm operation plays a huge role.
The farm. Right. How big is it? It's a 120 -acre
operation. Okay. Decent size. Yeah. And they're
growing crops like corn and watermelon, essential
food sources. They're raising tilapia in fish
ponds. Adding protein. Good thinking. And producing
800 eggs daily. 800 eggs a day. That's a significant
step towards self -sufficiency right there. It
really paints a picture of a holistic, well -thought
-out approach, doesn't it? It does. Very integrated.
And the decision to integrate dairy farming into
this model is, of course, what resonates most
with us in the dairy world. Naturally. Mark mentioned
that the idea to sell his renowned herd and establish
this dairy in Tanzania, it actually came to him
quite clearly on a flight home from a trip. Just
like that. On a plane. Apparently so. Talk about
a light bulb moment at 30 ,000 feet. That's a
pretty pivotal moment, isn't it? To have such
a distinct vision and then crucially to act on
it with such determination. Yeah. And the fact
that his wife, Joy, was immediately supportive.
Right back to that partnership. It really underscores
their shared commitment and understanding. That
kind of unwavering partnership must be invaluable
when you're embarking on something like this.
Absolutely essential, I'd imagine. Now, setting
up a dairy in Tanzania. Yeah. isn't exactly like
setting one up in, say, Wisconsin or California,
is it? No, not at all. Different world, different
challenges. Tabora, where Eternal Families is
located, it sits at an elevation of around 4
,000 feet. And the temperatures fluctuate between
about 58 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Pretty much
year -round. So heat stress is definitely a factor
to manage. Not extreme heat always, but consistently
warm. Right. That presents a whole different
set of challenges for dairy productions. You
can't just transplant established practices.
Definitely not. Mark clearly recognized the need
to adapt to the specific local conditions. The
barn design, for instance. Oh yeah, tell me about
that. Well, incorporating a grass roof for natural
cooling. It's a brilliant example of... Blending
maybe traditional methods with modern needs.
Low tech, but highly effective for managing heat.
Smart. Very practical. And they're not overlooking
the crucial aspects of herd health either, are
they? No, it seems like they're on top of it.
Implementing biosecurity measures like wheel
dips for vehicles, foot baths for visitors. Doing
that right from the start is so important. Especially
with diseases like foot and mouth. East Coast
fever. Those can be devastating in those regions.
Absolutely. It shows a proactive, responsible
approach to animal health, learning from others'
experiences and putting prevention first. It's
clear he's not just relying on his past Holstein
experience in a temperate climate. He's actively
learning and adapting. What really struck me,
though, was Mark's attitude towards the local
Tanzanian community. He emphasized the importance
of building genuine relationships, of learning
from their knowledge before implementing his
own ideas. Yeah, he even made a point of saying,
too many people judge others in countries like
Tanzania as stupid. It is far from the truth.
They have fewer opportunities. That's a profoundly
insightful and, frankly, respectful perspective.
Isn't that? It speaks to a level of cultural
humility and understanding that is absolutely
essential for any successful international endeavor,
recognizing and valuing local expertise. It's
not just respectful. It's key to long -term sustainability
and building trust. So true. Okay, so when it
came to actually selecting the cattle, you might
naturally assume that someone with Mark's background
in elite Holsteins would, well... Start with
Holsteins. Yeah, that would be the obvious guess.
Right. But he took a very pragmatic approach.
He recognized that getting Holsteins there might
be difficult, maybe costly initially. Logistics,
acclimatization. Yeah. Lots of factors. So they
made the practical decision to start with a foundation
herd of five Jersey cows. Which makes a lot of
sense, actually. Strategically sound. Why do
you say that? Well, Jerseys are generally known
for their adaptability to warmer climates, their
efficiency, you know, milk production relative
to body size. Plus, they often fare well on a
wider range of feed resources, which might be
more readily available locally. Good points.
But. The top -notch Holstein genetics haven't
been entirely left behind. Oh, how so? Mark actually
retained 23 embryos from his prized Red Pole
donors. Ah, okay. From the J -Bob herd. Exactly.
And these were sired by slick bulls, which...
for listeners maybe not familiar, is a genetic
trait that helps cattle develop shorter, sleeker
hair coats. Better heat tolerance. Great. Makes
them better able to regulate body temperature
in hot environments. So he's now actively seeking
a local partner to serve as recipients for these
embryos. Wow. So the vision is? The vision, he
paints it, is a J -Bob prefixed cow grazing in
Tanzania that's red, polled, naturally hornless,
great welfare trade. And slick. And slick. It's
a pretty exciting long -term vision for their
herd, isn't it? It really is. It's a long -term
vision that cleverly integrates his deep breeding
knowledge with the specific environmental challenges
of Tanzania, creating a resilient, productive
herd suited to local conditions. Very smart.
Now, beyond the obvious economic benefits, you
know, milk production, helping the sustainability
of eternal families, there's a really significant
nutritional aspect to this whole endeavor. Which
is probably the core mission. Absolutely. Mark
pointed to studies suggesting that incorporating
milk into the diet of children under six, it
can potentially lead to an increase in their
IQ. Really? By how much? By as much as 15 points,
according to the studies he cited. 15 points.
That's potentially life -altering for their cognitive
development. Isn't it? Absolutely. For children
in vulnerable situations, consistent access to
nutrient -rich foods like milk can have a profound
effect. It's not just basic sustenance. It's
a direct investment in their future potential,
their well -being. And looking ahead, there are
some really interesting market opportunities
on the horizon, too. Beyond just fluid milk for
the kids. Yeah. Mark is exploring producing butter,
yogurt, and something called mintendi. Mintendi?
What's that? It's a traditional local fermented
milk product. Apparently, there's clearly a demand
for these dairy items from local consumers, restaurants,
hotels in the area. Makes sense. Value -added
products. And his unwavering commitment to milk
integrity. That's crucial to his firm stance
against adding water, for example. Oh, absolutely.
Building trust, establishing a reputation for
high quality, unadulterated products in the local
market. That kind of ethical approach can really
differentiate them. Builds long term loyalty.
He also has a clear vision for how the dairy
operation itself will be managed from a business
perspective. Me name. He's committed to demonstrating
better employee. employer relationships, ensuring
fair treatment, showing genuine appreciation
for the people working there. That's fantastic.
It's about creating a positive, supportive work
environment, which as we know is so important
for long -term success anywhere, but perhaps
especially in that context. That holistic approach,
considering the animals, the production, and
the human element that's essential for building
a truly sustainable and thriving enterprise,
can overlook the people. So true. Now, for our
listeners out there who are hearing this incredible
story and thinking, wow, this is amazing. How
can I possibly contribute? Yeah, I imagine some
folks might be wondering that. Well, there are
actually several ways people can help, even from
thousands of miles away. Mark and his team could
really benefit from remote consultation. Okay,
in what areas specifically? Things like tropical
dairy management best practices, formulating
nutritional plans based on locally available
feed ingredients. Oh. That's a big one. Tricky
with local feed stuff sometimes. Right. And even
offering insights on breeding strategies, specifically
for heat -tolerant cattle. So if... Any listeners
have expertise in those particular areas, tropical
management, nutrition with local feeds, heat
tolerant genetics. This is a really unique, impactful
opportunity to lend that knowledge. Exactly.
Make a tangible difference in this remarkable
project. They must have equipment needs, too,
I'd guess. Starting from scratch, almost. Oh,
yeah. Very specific, critical equipment needs.
At the top of their list is a reliable milk cooling
unit. Absolutely essential. Yeah. Especially
in that climate. For quality and market access.
Couldn't agree more. They also have a need for
a second tractor. Apparently the distance between
their two current locations is about 45 minutes.
Oh wow, okay. Yeah, a second tractor makes sense
then. And a sturdy pickup truck. Needed to handle
the often challenging road conditions there.
Those are very tangible needs. Direct contributions
there could have a huge immediate impact on their
daily operations, their efficiency, and ultimately...
their ability to provide for the children. For
sure. And for those folks listening with connections
in the bovine genetics world. The embryos. Right.
Mark is actively seeking assistance with the
logistics of transporting those valuable embryos
to Tanzania. That can be complex, expensive.
Definitely. He's also very interested in connecting
with anyone who has knowledge about yellow or
silage corn varieties that would be well -fooded
to thrive in Tanzania's specific climate. Ah,
agronomy expertise, too. Makes sense. So whether
your area is logistics, agronomy, nutrition,
breeding, management, there are definitely avenues
to contribute. It seems like it covers a lot
of bases within our industry. It really does.
And it's also really heartening to hear that
the dairy community has already begun to rally
around this incredible effort. Oh, yeah. How
so? Well, with generous donations of AI kits.
embryo transfer supplies, ET supplies, you know.
The tools for the trade. And even a nutritionist
volunteering their valuable services remotely.
That's fantastic. It really highlights the spirit
of generosity within our industry, doesn't it?
It really does. It's wonderful to witness that
immediate heartfelt support. Underscores that
strong sense community, the willingness to help,
even across vast distances. It's one of the best
things about the dairy sector, I think. Agreed.
And at the very core of this entire endeavor,
this massive shift is Mark's unwavering motivation.
He articulated it so powerfully. Not just that
one. He also said, I believe as a Christian that
love your neighbor is not just a slogan for next
door, that love has no boundary. Wow. And then
he added, I also believe that love is an action
word. Love is an action word. That really encapsulates
the driving force behind this whole journey,
doesn't it? Perfectly, I think. It beautifully
and succinctly captures the fundamental principle
guiding this radical life transformation. It's
a testament to putting faith into action, using
his God -given skills, his extensive experience
to serve a much wider community in a truly profound
way. Yeah. So for our listeners in the United
States who feel moved to contribute financially,
there's a practical way to do that, too. Okay.
The organization is Remember the Children, and
it's a registered 501c3, so donations are tax
-deductible in the U .S. That's a no. You can
send checks to their address, 1100 S 9th Street,
Suite 211, Noblesville, Indiana, 46060. Okay,
1100 South 9th Street, Suite 211, Noblesville,
Ease Ease 46060. Exactly. And please make sure
to clearly write Tanzania Dairy Project in the
memo line of the check. That's really important.
Tanzania Dairy Project in the memo. Got it. Every
single contribution they assure us will go directly
towards supporting the operational needs of the
dairy farm. And most importantly, ensuring that
fresh, nutritious milk. reaches those deserving
children. That's fantastic. A direct, impactful
way to support the dairy's needs and, crucially,
ensure those kids get the significant nutritional
benefits of fresh milk for their development.
So from an elite Holstein breeder, you know,
showcasing champion cattle in the top show rings
across the U .S. Living that life. to embarking
on a mission to establish a dairy farm to nourish
orphans in Tanzania. Mark Easel's story is truly
something extraordinary. It really is inspiring.
He's taking his decades of hard -earned dairy
expertise and channeling it into transforming
young lives in just a deeply meaningful way.
It really prompts us to consider the broader
potential, doesn't it? The potential of the skills
and knowledge we possess within the dairy industry.
Yeah. How can the things we've learned, the expertise
we've cultivated, How can that have a wider ripple
effect beyond our own farms, our own businesses?
Right. It brings that powerful concept, love
is an action word, into a whole new and inspiring
context within the global dairy community. Exactly.
It's not just about the high quality milk we
produce here or the genetics we develop. It's
about how our collective knowledge, our resources,
how they can reach across borders and make a
real lasting difference in people's lives. It
certainly gives you food for thought, doesn't
it? It really does. A lot to think about there.
Thanks for joining us on the Bullvine Podcast.
If Mark's story lit a fire in you, head to thebullvine
.com for the full article, photos of Tanzania's
grass -roofed barns and ways to support the mission.
Got a dairy story we should feature? Email us
at editor at thebullvine .com. Don't forget to
subscribe so you never miss an episode. Until
next time, keep milking those possibilities.