Heifer International recently celebrated their 80th anniversary in a lecture held at 7 p.m. on Mar. 14 in the Susquehanna Room of Myer Hall. Heifer, a global nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the eradication of poverty and hunger via sustainable and community-based development, incentivizing aid and training to build self-sufficiency.
The anniversary event began with a lecture by William Kostlevy, editor of the “Historical Dictionary of the Holiness Movement” 3rd edition (2024), co-editor of “Hoosier Prophet: Selected Writings of Dan West” (2021), as well as archivist and director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. Kostlevy described the origins of Heifer and its founder, Dan West, beginning with World War I. West spent two years as a conscientious objector to the conflict and would later travel to Spain in 1936 to serve as the director for a relief program for the Spanish Civil War, providing aid for those in need. Growing weary with simply handing out rationed supplies, he left Spain in 1938 with an idea for a more permanent solution to hunger by donating heifers (cows) to families in need.
Returning to the U.S., West met with friends and congregations in northern Indiana about the idea of donating heifers to those in need, and by 1942, his idea had been endorsed by the Brethren Service Committee (BSC). Kostlevy spoke on the concerns of West and those involved with him.
“In the beginning, Dan West was very concerned about one thing which should concern everyone who does humanitarian work: paternalism. How do we stop from micromanaging the gifts that we give? Do we actually give them openly?” Kostlevy said. West saw firsthand in Spain how only providing food was a short-term solution, and to solve this, there would be training and education that goes along with the aid to provide for the long-term. Kostlevy explained, “It’s not only the animals, it’s the training that goes with it. The goal is to make the recipients participants in the program. And that’s been part of the Heifer genius.”
Kostlevy also illustrated Heifer’s mission of building global relationships. Community-building is an element shared by several Brethren programs in the post-World War II era, and that “the goal is not merely to do something or help somebody, it’s to establish relationships.” Heifer recipients were also asked to write letters to those who sent things in order to better build relationships and communities across global boundaries, with the intent being pacifism and cooperation to prevent another devastating conflict. “As Dan West said, you help everyone. A cow doesn’t know the difference between a communist and a calculist [another term for mathematician],” Kostlevy said.
Following Kostlevy, Heifer’s president and CEO, Surita Sandosham, spoke on the organization’s scale and its current work in ending poverty sustainably. Sandosham emphasized the importance of following Heifer’s goals and continuing to pass on the gift into the 21st century while grappling with modern problems of climate change, difficulty in peacebuilding and rising global prices on food.
“We are an international development organization. We work in 19 countries, and one of the things we are focused on is really about partnering and supporting communities and rural areas to build resilience so they can work through, get to a good place with their families and get to a sustainable income,” Sandosham said. “What we’re trying to do is build social capital and capacity at the community, regional and national level to help farmers build viable livelihoods, increase their incomes and better integrate women, youth and indigenous populations in market systems that are inclusive of them.” All of this is to build a social safety net, where members of the community can rely on themselves and one another.
Sandosham described the holistic approach Heifer took towards its operations, considering elements such as the feed for their livestock, where there is a market for what is being provided and produced, and the cultural norms which may lack support for women, children and indigenous populations. “We want to make sure that we’re thinking not just about the agricultural input, but also the society in which they’re working in and that requires us to work in partnership with other organizations who are also in the same space,” Sandosham said.
Sandosham concluded the anniversary lecture by restating Heifer’s commitment to passing on the gift and supporting agricultural supply chains. “We want to be a partner with our communities, we want to listen very carefully and we want to continue the values that created Heifer through Dan West, and I assure you today, that is still very much a part of the DNA of this organization.”
