Zac Hoppenstedt
Horticulture Agent
Fruit and Vegetable Production
Areas of Specialization:
- Specialty Crops
- Commercial Horticulture
- Organic Agriculture
- Postharvest Handling and Quality
- Greenhouse and High Tunnel Production
- Local Food Systems
Personal History/Background
Zac grew up in the “Little Apple” (Manhattan, Kansas) and brings more than 10 years of experience in management of successful agriculture and environment projects to his new role. After completing his undergraduate degree, Zac joined the Peace Corps, serving in rural Guatemala as a community health volunteer. He’s worked as a sawyer with the Forest Service in California’s Eastern Sierras, led outdoor education programs with the Nature Conservancy in Colorado, and apprenticed with diversified farms throughout the U.S. and Latin America.
Most recently, Zac worked at the K-State Research and Extension Center—Olathe where he managed fruit and vegetable trials in the greenhouse, high tunnel and open field.
In addition to his responsibilities with KSRE, he’s an organizing committee member for the Growing Growers farmer training program, Kansas City Young Farmer Coalition, and the Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association.
In his free time, Zac enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking and reading through seed catalogues. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Certifications
FSMA Produce Safety Alliance Certified Trainer
Education
- B. A. — Spanish, University of Kansas
- M.S. — Horticulture, Kansas State University
