Ethiopia Adventist College was delighted to welcome 15 South Korean delegates on September 24, 2025. At first the EAC Church Pathfinder Club welcomed the guests outside Toppenberg Hall with their unique marching style and presentation of beautiful pink roses to each delegate. After this, the delegates moved to the Conference Room for a formal welcome program.
Mr. Pradeep Tudu, the Vice-President for Financial Affairs welcomed Elder Tae-Soon Sohn, the CEO of Paul Mission, his grandson, Choi, Do-Young (Joshua), and 13 other South Korean delegates to Ethiopia Adventist College who came primarily for site visit and the inauguration of the Ethio-Korean Friendship Cattle Farm Project.
Next, Dr. Abraham Dalu, President of EAC, presented a brief but concise progress report of the Ethio-Korean Cattle Farm Project. Dr. Dalu began with a brief history of the college from its establishment in 1947 by American/Danish missionary V.E. Toppenberg to the present where EAC is in transition to a university status. He stated, “The College desires to generate funds for the construction of the university project—Kuyera Adventist University.”
Describing the establishment of EAC/KAU Ethio-Korean Friendship Cattle Farm in Ethiopia, Dr. Abraham Dalu stated, “The initiators and developers of the project are Dr. Chunsik Park and Dr. San Jin Lee, professors of Sahmyook University. The Cattle Farm Project is sponsored by Paul Mission, Elder Tae-Soon Sohh, the CEO, who have generously provided the seed money in the amount of 1.3 million Ethiopian Birr for cattle barn and fence construction.
The Paul Mission team has agreed to sacrificially and generously sponsor 200-300 cattle to strengthen the historic friendship between South Korea and Ethiopia and a goal to raise 10,000 cattle in five years and establish Kuyera Adventist University. Dr. Dalu further added that a lot of planning and groundwork has been done by the EAC Administrative team before starting the Cattle Farm Project. From Zoom meetings and assessment of the recommendations by Dr Lee and Dr. Park for the construction of the barns and fences to visitations to multiple successful local and distant cattle farms and selecting strategic sites for large open space with access to water, electricity, food production suitability, and safety for the cattle.
In addition, Dr. Dalu stated the administrators visited several agricultural training and livestock development centers and cattle farms in Oromia region and Sidama region. He assured the College will continue to interact and collaborate with several government officials in Ethiopia, community leaders, livestock experts and entrepreneurs from both Korea and Ethiopia.
Dr. Dalu revealed the best location for the Cattle Farm Project has been identified and a secure barbed-wire fence has been built around 7.5 hectares of land. The college has about 100 hectares of land for cattle feed production, grazing area, and expansion of barn construction as the number of cattle increases. Furthermore, cost effective and safe construction materials are used when possible.
Before the Korean delegates came to Ethiopia, EAC through the help of God, its alumni, and friends purchased 5 second time pregnant and 9 first time pregnant 85 % Holstein Friesian cows. The range of pregnancy is between 7-8 months. One second time pregnant cow gave birth to a healthy female calf on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The calf was fondly named Sanbatee, to signify the Sabbath day when it was born. God has already begun the work of multiplication. Dr. Abraham stated.
After giving a summary of the expenditure from the operating funds and the donations, Dr. Abraham Dalu stated cattle farm professionals were hired as full-time employees or contract employees for regular visits. A certified veterinarian is on contract agreement. Mr. Edao Shanku is the newly appointed Cattle Farm Manager, and additional cattle care givers will be assigned in the near future to support the project. The welcome program ended with a vote of thanks from Dr. Madianto Marpaung, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement.