When Faith Meets Farming: Mark Yeazel’s Amazing Journey from Holstein Breeder to Tanzanian Dairy Missionary

From elite Holstein breeder to Tanzanian missionary: How Mark Yeazel trades show rings for orphan care through dairy farming.

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You know what gets me? Stories about dairy farmers who entirely flip the script on their careers. And man, do I have one to tell you about today?

Have you heard about Mark Yeazel? This guy spent three decades building one of the country’s most influential Holstein breeding programs. He then shocked everyone by selling his entire operation to start a dairy farm for orphans in Tanzania. Yeah, seriously! We’re talking about a renowned breeder who sold his Ja-Bob Holstein herd—over 40 homozygous polled, 120+ polled, and 120+ red animals—to help more than 130 orphaned kids. I don’t know what will if that doesn’t hurt your heartstrings.

“No, what would be crazy is to believe God tells you to go do something and tell God no.”

Mark and Joy Yeazel receive a traditional Tanzanian giraffe gift from local partners as they embark on their dairy mission journey. After selling their renowned Ja-Bob Holstein herd to serve orphaned children through sustainable agriculture, the couple is bringing decades of dairy expertise to Eternal Families Tanzania where they'll develop a dairy operation providing nutrition, training, and economic opportunity. — Mark and Joy Yeazel receive a traditional Tanzanian giraffe gift from local partners as they embark on their dairy mission journey. After selling their renowned Ja-Bob Holstein herd to serve orphaned children through sustainable agriculture, the couple is bringing decades of dairy expertise to Eternal Families Tanzania where they’ll develop a dairy operation providing nutrition, training, and economic opportunity.

The Backstory That’ll Blow Your Mind

Let me tell you, Mark wasn’t just any dairy farmer. His Ja-Bob herd posted numbers that’d make most breeders drool—an RHA of 27,641M 4.1 1128F 3.25 898P with 140,000 SCC. Impressive, right? He was a big deal in the Red and White Dairy Cattle Association and was crucial in getting them involved with US Livestock Genetics Export.

Family Legacy: Cousins Ja-Bob Kad Holly P Red EX (left) and Ja-Bob Bayonet Hava P RC EX-94 (right) grazing at the Yeazel farm. Hava holds the distinction of being the last cow ever scored at Ja-Bob and commanded top dollar as the high-selling cow in the Ja-Bob Dispersal sale that marked the end of Yeazel's renowned U.S. breeding program. These powerful red & white, polled females exemplify the genetic excellence that defined Yeazel's three-decade breeding legacy before his mission work began. Photo: Han Hopman — Family Legacy: Cousins Ja-Bob Kad Holly P Red EX (left) and Ja-Bob Bayonet Hava P RC EX-94 (right) grazing at the Yeazel farm. Hava holds the distinction of being the last cow ever scored at Ja-Bob and commanded top dollar as the high-selling cow in the Ja-Bob Dispersal sale that marked the end of Yeazel’s renowned U.S. breeding program. These powerful red & white, polled females exemplify the genetic excellence that defined Yeazel’s three-decade breeding legacy before his mission work began. Photo: Han Hopman

The turning point? It happened in Sunday School, of all places. Back in ’95, when someone asked what he loved doing, Mark wrote down “international travel.” Then came the follow-up question that changed everything: “What if God asked you to give it up?”

Mark told me, “I recall saying in my head, ‘God will not ask me to give it up.'” But four months later, he told his wife Joy he needed to resign from his leadership positions. Talk about a plot twist!

“God replaced that desire with international travel to serve Him.”

Honestly, I find it fascinating how life works sometimes. What seemed like giving something up transformed into something completely different. Mark’s international connections didn’t disappear—they just shifted purpose.

A Mission of Love: Mark Yeazel cradles one of Tanzania's youngest orphans at Eternal Families Tanzania. Rather than institutional care, EFT's family-centered approach ensures each child receives the individual attention, nurturing and stability needed for healthy development. "Each house has dedicated parents who provide the love that a child needs," explains Yeazel, whose dairy project will soon provide nutritious milk for more than 130 children like this one. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania — A Mission of Love: Mark Yeazel cradles one of Tanzania’s youngest orphans at Eternal Families Tanzania. Rather than institutional care, EFT’s family-centered approach ensures each child receives the individual attention, nurturing and stability needed for healthy development. “Each house has dedicated parents who provide the love that a child needs,” explains Yeazel, whose dairy project will soon provide nutritious milk for more than 130 children like this one. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania

Not Your Average Orphanage

What makes this Tanzania project so unique? Well, Eternal Families Tanzania isn’t your typical institutional orphanage. They’ve created actual family units! Each house has dedicated parents who provide genuine love and nurturing. It’s modeled after a place called Caminul Felix in Romania that Mark visited years ago.

The setup is impressive. They’ve got 10 houses in their first village, and a second village is under construction. And get this—they’re not just housing kids. They’re running a 120-acre farm growing everything from corn to watermelon, raising tilapia in fish ponds, and producing 800 eggs daily! Talk about self-sufficiency.

I couldn’t believe it when Mark told me about his decision. “It was on the flight home that I told Joy that I thought I should sell the herd and build a dairy for Eternal Families Tanzania,” he said. What’s even more amazing? Joy didn’t hesitate for a second. That’s partnership!

Building for the Future: A bulldozer reshapes pond banks and constructs roads at Village 2 of Eternal Families Tanzania, where three new houses will soon welcome 42 additional orphaned children. This infrastructure development demonstrates EFT's comprehensive approach to creating sustainable communities—addressing practical needs like erosion control while expanding their capacity to provide family-centered care. Mark Yeazel's dairy project will soon serve both villages, providing nutritious milk to children in these carefully planned, self-sufficient communities. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania — Building for the Future: A bulldozer reshapes pond banks and constructs roads at Village 2 of Eternal Families Tanzania, where three new houses will soon welcome 42 additional orphaned children. This infrastructure development demonstrates EFT’s comprehensive approach to creating sustainable communities—addressing practical needs like erosion control while expanding their capacity to provide family-centered care. Mark Yeazel’s dairy project will soon serve both villages, providing nutritious milk to children in these carefully planned, self-sufficient communities. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania

Dairy Farming with an African Twist

So you’re probably curious—how do you build a dairy farm near the equator? Tabora sits at around 4,000 feet, with temperatures ranging from 58-90°F year-round. Mark didn’t just copy-paste American dairy practices. He studied the local conditions carefully and adapted.

One of my favorite details? The barn has a grass roof! Seriously! It’s a traditional building technique that provides natural cooling. They’ve also installed wheel dips for vehicles and foot baths for visitors to prevent diseases like Foot and Mouth and East Coast Fever. Smart, right?

“Too many people judge others in countries like Tanzania as stupid. It is far from the truth; they have fewer opportunities.”

What strikes me about Mark is his humility and respect for local knowledge. He’s built relationships first and learned from the community before imposing his ideas. That’s how you make something sustainable.

Knowledge Exchange in Action: Mark Yeazel collaborates with local Tanzanian experts during a dairy farm planning session. Rather than imposing American methods, Mark relies heavily on this team's understanding of local conditions to design appropriate systems. "We can do better," he often reminds the group, as they review facility layouts adapted for Tanzania's unique climate. This partnership approach ensures the project incorporates traditional wisdom alongside modern dairy practices—creating solutions that truly work for Tabora's environment rather than simply transplanting Western systems. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania — Knowledge Exchange in Action: Mark Yeazel collaborates with local Tanzanian experts during a dairy farm planning session. Rather than imposing American methods, Mark relies heavily on this team’s understanding of local conditions to design appropriate systems. “We can do better,” he often reminds the group, as they review facility layouts adapted for Tanzania’s unique climate. This partnership approach ensures the project incorporates traditional wisdom alongside modern dairy practices—creating solutions that truly work for Tabora’s environment rather than simply transplanting Western systems. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania

Jersey Girls in Tanzania

I chuckled when Mark told me about his cattle selection process. He initially wanted Holsteins (once a Holstein guy, always a Holstein guy, am I right?), but practicality won out. “Holsteins are a bit harder to find and quite more expensive, so we recently decided to start with 5 Jerseys,” he explained.

But don’t think for a second he’s abandoned his breeding roots. Mark mentioned that he still has 23 embryos from his red polled donors, which he didn’t sell in his dispersal. They’re sired by slick bulls, perfect for Tanzania’s climate. He’s trying to find a local partner to help with recipients. Can you imagine? A Ja-Bob prefix cow in Tanzania that’s red, polled, AND slick? That would be something!

Mark Yeazel sits with six-year-old Adima outside the House of Joy at Eternal Families Tanzania. Rescued from extreme poverty after losing both parents, Adima arrived severely ill but now thrives with her new family of 14 siblings. Her story represents the very children whose futures will be transformed by the nutritional benefits of the Jersey milk production. "Adding milk to the diet of children under six can help increase their IQ by 15 points," Yeazel explains. "That will be a huge advantage as these children develop." While the Jersey cows will soon provide sustainable dairy operations, it's children like Adima—with her warm smile and remarkable resilience—who remain at the heart of this mission. — Mark Yeazel sits with six-year-old Adima outside the House of Joy at Eternal Families Tanzania. Rescued from extreme poverty after losing both parents, Adima arrived severely ill but now thrives with her new family of 14 siblings. Her story represents the very children whose futures will be transformed by the nutritional benefits of the Jersey milk production. “Adding milk to the diet of children under six can help increase their IQ by 15 points,” Yeazel explains. “That will be a huge advantage as these children develop.” While the Jersey cows will soon provide sustainable dairy operations, it’s children like Adima—with her warm smile and remarkable resilience—who remain at the heart of this mission.

It’s Not Just About Milk

Do you know what gets me excited about this project? It’s so much more than just producing milk. Mark told me about studies showing that adding milk to the diet of children under six can increase their IQ by up to 15 points. That’s a game-changer for these kids!

And the market opportunities? There’s potential for butter, yogurt, and mtindi (a local product similar to drinkable cottage cheese). There’s demand from consumers, restaurants, and hotels. And in a market where adding water to milk is common practice, Mark’s commitment to integrity stands out: “We will not do that.”

“We can do better. Better employee-employer relations, our care for our employees, and our appreciation for our employees.”

I love how Mark sees this as a chance to demonstrate better business practices. It’s not just about the cows—it’s about the people.

Faith in Action: Mark and Joy Yeazel (far right) celebrate with Eternal Families Tanzania staff and a young recipient during a certificate ceremony. The Yeazels' remarkable journey from elite Holstein breeders to missionary dairy farmers began with a question in Sunday School and culminated in selling their entire award-winning herd to serve orphaned children through sustainable agriculture. "Love your neighbor is not just a slogan for next door," says Mark. "Love has no boundary." Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania — Faith in Action: Mark and Joy Yeazel (at right) celebrate with Eternal Families Tanzania staff and a young recipient during a certificate ceremony. The Yeazels’ remarkable journey from elite Holstein breeders to missionary dairy farmers began with a question in Sunday School and culminated in selling their entire award-winning herd to serve orphaned children through sustainable agriculture. “Love your neighbor is not just a slogan for next door,” says Mark. “Love has no boundary.” Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania

Want to Help? Here’s How

I’ll bet some of you think, “This sounds amazing, but I can’t exactly hop on a plane to Tanzania.” Good news! There are tons of ways to contribute without leaving home.

Mark could use remote consultation on tropical dairy management, nutritional advice for local feed ingredients, or help with breeding strategies for heat-tolerant cattle. Equipment needs include a cooling unit, a second tractor (they currently share one between locations 45 minutes apart!), and a pickup truck for those rough roads.

Do you have connections in genetics? Mark needs help getting those embryos transported. Do you know anything about yellow or silage corn varieties that would work in Tanzania? That would be huge!

The newly constructed Eternal Pre & Primary School at Eternal Families Tanzania, where children will receive quality education alongside nutritious dairy products from Mark's mission. Your support helps build not just barns and milk cooling units, but complete educational ecosystems where Tanzania's next generation can thrive. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania. — The newly constructed Eternal Pre & Primary School at Eternal Families Tanzania, where children will receive quality education alongside nutritious dairy products from Mark’s mission. Your support helps build not just barns and milk cooling units, but complete educational ecosystems where Tanzania’s next generation can thrive. Photo courtesy of Eternal Families Tanzania.

From Breeder to Missionary: A Story That Matters

I can’t help but be inspired by Mark’s journey. Here’s a guy who walked away from an acclaimed breeding program to serve orphans in Tanzania. When skeptics told him he was crazy, his response was perfect: “No, what would be crazy is to believe God tells you to go do something and tell God no.”

The dairy community has already stepped up with AI kits, ET supplies, and a nutritionist who volunteered his services. That’s what I love about dairy people—they are always ready to help each other.

“I believe, as a Christian, that ‘love your neighbor’ is not just a slogan for next door, that love has no boundary. I also believe that love is an action word.”

This story reminds me why I fell in love with the dairy community in the first place. It’s not just about milk and genetics—it’s about people using their specialized knowledge to improve the world. Whether through technical consultation, equipment donations, or financial support, we all have something to contribute.

Mark’s journey from elite Holstein breeder to Tanzanian dairy missionary is inspiring—it’s a blueprint for using agricultural expertise to transform lives. And honestly, I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds.

Mark and Joy Yeazel with their Tanzanian partners and friends at Tabora Airport, preparing for their journey back to Ohio. "Our last couple days have been filled with prayers and celebrations. Now we return home for a little slower pace and preparing for the Yeazel Farm equipment auction on May 17th. Here's to the next 30 hours either in an airport or airplane." Each departure becomes another chapter in their ongoing story—leaving pieces of their hearts in Tanzania while carrying their mission forward back home. — Mark and Joy Yeazel with their Tanzanian partners and friends at Tabora Airport, preparing for their journey back to Ohio. “Our last couple days have been filled with prayers and celebrations. Now we return home for a little slower pace and preparing for the Yeazel Farm equipment auction on May 17th. Here’s to the next 30 hours either in an airport or airplane.” Each departure becomes another chapter in their ongoing story—leaving pieces of their hearts in Tanzania while carrying their mission forward back home.

Critical Needs & How to Support

A milk cooling unit sits at the top of Mark’s wishlist—it’s essential for preserving milk quality in Tanzania’s heat and expanding market opportunities.

For tax-deductible donations (U.S. supporters):
Send checks to:
Remember the Children
1100 S. 9th Street, Suite 211
Noblesville, IN 46060
Write “Tanzania Dairy Project” in the memo line.

Every contribution directly funds the dairy’s operational needs, ensuring fresh milk reaches orphans daily.

Mark Yeazel (right) shares a moment with the children and house parents at the "House of Joy" in Tanzania—named after his wife and dedicated with the verse "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Built through donations from Eaton Community Church and Yeazel's "Junk for Jesus" initiative, this home represents the heart of Eternal Families Tanzania's mission: creating real families for orphaned children. Many children proudly wear t-shirts gifted by Mark and Joy, a small reminder that care extends beyond nutrition to genuine relationship. The dairy farm being developed will soon provide fresh milk daily to these bright smiles—proving that agricultural expertise truly can transform lives half a world away. — Mark Yeazel (right) shares a moment with the children and house parents at the “House of Joy” in Tanzania—named after his wife and dedicated with the verse “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Built through donations from Eaton Community Church and Yeazel’s “Junk for Jesus” initiative, this home represents the heart of Eternal Families Tanzania’s mission: creating real families for orphaned children. Many children proudly wear t-shirts gifted by Mark and Joy, a small reminder that care extends beyond nutrition to genuine relationship. The dairy farm being developed will soon provide fresh milk daily to these bright smiles—proving that agricultural expertise truly can transform lives half a world away.

Key Takeaways:

Radical Career Pivot: Sold 40+ homozygous polled Holsteins to fund orphan-focused dairy in Tanzania.
Family-Centered Model: 10 homes with dedicated parents, 120-acre farm, and 800 daily eggs support 130+ children.
Climate-Smart Design: Grass roofs, Jerseys over Holsteins, and biosecurity measures adapt to Tanzania’s 85°F days.
Dairy = Development: Milk boosts IQ; future plans include butter/yogurt production and community training.
Call to Action: Dairy pros can donate equipment (cooling units, tractors) or expertise to sustain the mission.

Executive Summary:

Mark Yeazel, a renowned Holstein breeder, sold his entire herd to build a sustainable dairy mission in Tanzania for 130+ orphans. His Eternal Families Tanzania project combines family-style orphan care with innovative agriculture—producing eggs, tilapia, and soon, Jersey cattle milk. Designed for Tanzania’s climate with grass-roofed barns and disease-prevention protocols, the dairy aims to boost children’s nutrition (studies suggest milk increases IQ by 15 points) while training locals. Yeazel’s shift from chasing genetics to serving communities highlights how dairy expertise can drive global humanitarian impact.

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