Returning to Their Roots: Dustin Zenger and Family

The path for Dustin Zenger’s journey on the farm was laid before he was even born. The Zenger family land, near Haddam in northeast Kansas, was founded by his ancestors in the late 1800s. Back then, the days were marked by resilience and an unwavering commitment to the land. Today, Dustin proudly carries forward the same legacy and aims to instill similar values in his own kids.

Dustin and his brother grew up helping manage a herd of 150 cows. Of course, the work was tough — early mornings and cold weather make for rough conditions — but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The family time on the farm is something we all really enjoyed,” he said. “I remember camping in the stock trailer with my dad and his buddy. We slept in the nose of the trailer and woke up early to move the cows before the weather got too unbearable. It felt like real cowboy stuff.”

And while the passion for farming runs deep in the family, Dustin’s dad encouraged him to pursue a degree anyway.

“Dad always said there was no money in farming, so he told us to get a degree,” he said. “But it’s pretty ironic, because even though he said that, he still had us helping and falling in love with the farm most weekends!”

Dustin heeded his father’s advice and earned a construction science degree from Kansas State University. After graduating, he moved around the state for work, then he and his wife relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, where she’s completing her residency as a family practice physician. All the while, though, Dustin longed to be back on the farm.

“I went home as much as possible during those years. And once my wife finishes her residency, the plan is to move back to the farm,” he said. “We’d like to raise our kids there and have them experience some of the special things I was able to.”

Dustin dreams of seeing his kids interact with animals, go fishing and learn lessons like the importance of taking care of the land. Ultimately, he wants them to share his sense of pride in this line of work.

“Mom and dad showed us there’s more to this than money. It’s a feeling of all working together. Of carrying something on for generations. Of really being stewards of our land and our animals,” he said.

Stewardship and a responsibility to educate others has recently been at the forefront of Dustin’s mind. He has noticed a disconnect between consumers and the farmers who produce their food, and he’s starting to wonder how to bridge that gap.

“On the farm, we’re price takers,” he says. “We have to sell our products for the price the market dictates. Now sometimes the price is good and sometimes it’s bad, but I wish consumers knew that farmers aren’t the ones deciding how much to charge at the grocery store.”

To learn more about how much farmers make, check out our article on the subject.

Dustin someday wants to work more directly with consumers. He praises programs like Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom — his aunt just so happens to be the executive director! — and KC Farm School at Gibbs Road. Like their names suggest, each program aims to connect kids with the food they eat and educate them about farming in Kansas. In the future, Dustin would like to partner with similar initiatives.

“At the end of the day, I love our family’s farming history, and I want to help teach more people about what the experience is really like,” he said. “And, of course, I’m looking forward to watching my own kids continue the legacy.”