Meet Dean Treangen, the Minnesota Zoo’s farm supervisor (you may already know him as “Farmer Dean.”) He has spent his whole life in the agricultural field, from growing up on a dairy farm in southeastern Minnesota to working at the Wells Fargo Family Farm, which celebrates its 16^th anniversary this summer.

Treangen first came to the Zoo in May of 2000 as a farm keeper. He became a zoologist in 2002 and then supervisor in 2003. Treangen attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a degree in animal science. Before coming to the Zoo, Treangen worked with dairy cattle, handing artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

The most challenging and rewarding time of the year for Treangen and the farm staff is the Zoo’s annual Farm Babies event, which begins on Friday. “My favorite part of Farm Babies is always the animal births, but it’s also fun meeting the different people who come out each year,” said Treangen. “For many families, it’s a tradition to come out and see the animals in the spring.”

Treangen and the farm staff (including farm keeper Lindsey Beach, who is celebrating ten years with the Minnesota Zoo!) also really appreciate the extra hands on deck during this busy time – the Zoo’s amazing volunteer corp. He explains, “Our volunteers are great! We have about 120 volunteers helping us during the summer season. It’d be impossible without their help.”