Austin was born and raised on a farm north of Abilene. He attended Chapman High School and graduated in 1998. He then attended Kansas State University and obtained a degree in agribusiness in 2002. Upon graduating from college, he began his professional career in crop insurance and was located in Fresno, CA. He was in California for 2 years until the company he was working for made the decision to sell off the Ag division. At that time he moved back to Kansas. In June 2004, Austin began his banking career with Pinnacle Bank in Abilene as a loan officer and has enjoyed building relationships with current and prospective customers while helping them meet their financial needs. He also enjoys being actively involved in the community by volunteering and serving in multiple charitable organizations.