Ulaanbaatar
Gen Z Herder
Mongol Pulse
Ulaanbaatar, February 9, 2026 /MONTSAME/. My name is Dashnyam Munkhbold. I am 26 years old and a herder from Sumber bagh, Bayan-Ovoo soum, Khentii Aimag. As people say, I am a “Gen Z herder.” I feel that I am someone who was born on this land and will live happily right here where I belong.
After finishing ninth grade, I went to the capital city for two months with the intention of becoming a graphic designer. But I was too restless in the city—I kept longing for the countryside. One day, a relative called and said, “I’m heading to your homeland.” without having a second though, I got into his car and went straight home. When I arrived, I told my parents, “I’ve come back to take up herding.” After a while, I was conscripted into military service in the autumn of 2018 and served in the military.
In 2021, I met my wife. Today, we are a happy family with two children, a daughter and a son. I am living a good life with a well-managed herd. In 2023, I was named the best herder of my soum. I enjoy learning about Mongolia’s traditional heritage and passing on what I learn to younger people. Mastering the skills to make horse tack, bridles, whips, hobbles and lariats, is a form of deep knowledge that I value.
I also volunteer as a community-based conservationist with the “Dalt Bayan” cooperative, where I take part in monitoring gazelles, marmots, foxes, corsac foxes, birds and even plants. Together with my community, I work to protect our natural environment.
Herding and environmental protection complement each other. Even something as simple as moving seasonally and rotating pastures not only helps livestock gain strength but also reflects the traditional wisdom of Mongolian herders in caring for their land.
These days, people say it is becoming rare for young people to become
herders. This is largely because families move to aimag and soum centers (municipal towns) when
their children start school and end up settling there. That said, I will also send my children study at our local soum school.
