Talia Bryce: Executive Director/Founder
Originally from New York City, Talia landed in Austin in 2006 with a BA in Environmental Studies and a year of AmeriCorps service in the Rocky Mountains under her belt (where she learned to wield a pick and play the guitar). Her love for organic gardening and farming developed while working at an Eco-camp on Catalina Island, a small organic farm in Israel and the Gardens plant nursery in Austin. She has been the manager and leader of Austin bluegrass band, the Lost Pines since 2007. In 2010 she established Bouquet Bands, a booking agency that focuses on weddings and events. She is also Director of Events at Tillery Place in east Austin. In 2014 she started Farmgrass Fest as a small, family-friendly bluegrass music festival and since the Simmons Family offered to host, decided to make it a fundraiser for a cause important to them as family farmers.
Originally from New York City, Talia landed in Austin in 2006 with a BA in Environmental Studies and a year of AmeriCorps service in the Rocky Mountains under her belt (where she learned to wield a pick and play the guitar). Her love for organic gardening and farming developed while working at an Eco-camp on Catalina Island, a small organic farm in Israel and the Gardens plant nursery in Austin. She has been the manager and leader of Austin bluegrass band, the Lost Pines since 2007. In 2010 she established Bouquet Bands, a booking agency that focuses on weddings and events. She is also Director of Events at Tillery Place in east Austin. In 2014 she started Farmgrass Fest as a small, family-friendly bluegrass music festival and since the Simmons Family offered to host, decided to make it a fundraiser for a cause important to them as family farmers.
Matt Bradshaw: Festival Director/Board of Directors
Originally from Virginia, Matt has been in Austin for nearly 10 years. While on tour as trumpet and keyboard player for Austin pop sensation Wild Child he somehow finds time to discover the cutest baby animals the internet has to offer for our Instagram feed and write informative and beautiful blog post about our local farmers. Matt's other band Fog & Bone appeared at Farmgrass Fest '16 for their 3rd year running. His harmonica is guaranteed to blow your mind.
Originally from Virginia, Matt has been in Austin for nearly 10 years. While on tour as trumpet and keyboard player for Austin pop sensation Wild Child he somehow finds time to discover the cutest baby animals the internet has to offer for our Instagram feed and write informative and beautiful blog post about our local farmers. Matt's other band Fog & Bone appeared at Farmgrass Fest '16 for their 3rd year running. His harmonica is guaranteed to blow your mind.
Suzanne Brandford: Treasurer/Board of Directors
Suzanne Bradford, a native Texan, has lived in Central Texas since September 1980. She worked as a CPA in industries including home building, banking, consulting, and local government. She is currently employed as a senior consultant for a criminal justice consulting firm based out of Port Arthur, Texas. Suzanne became interested in farming issues in 2010 when she joined a community garden in Austin and learned just how difficult it is to grow food. This experience gave her a new respect for the people responsible for providing our nation’s fresh food supply. She has maintained her own garden ever since then, and when the opportunity to join the Farmgrass team came up in 2019, she jumped at the chance to be a part of the organization. She lives in Lockhart, Texas with her rescue pup Hazel and three rescue box turtles, Thelma Liz, William Robert, and Notch.
Suzanne Bradford, a native Texan, has lived in Central Texas since September 1980. She worked as a CPA in industries including home building, banking, consulting, and local government. She is currently employed as a senior consultant for a criminal justice consulting firm based out of Port Arthur, Texas. Suzanne became interested in farming issues in 2010 when she joined a community garden in Austin and learned just how difficult it is to grow food. This experience gave her a new respect for the people responsible for providing our nation’s fresh food supply. She has maintained her own garden ever since then, and when the opportunity to join the Farmgrass team came up in 2019, she jumped at the chance to be a part of the organization. She lives in Lockhart, Texas with her rescue pup Hazel and three rescue box turtles, Thelma Liz, William Robert, and Notch.
Molly Lefanowicz: Marketing Manager/Board of Directors
Molly moved to Austin in 2016 after graduating from The University of Michigan, Program in the Environment. She's worked on small organic farms in Texas & Michigan, and manages media for Old Settlers Music Festival in addition to her work with Farmgrass. Molly works in edible landscape design and is currently pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture. She lives on the Colorado River in east Austin and loves canoeing, swimming, gardening, and exploring the great outdoors!
Molly moved to Austin in 2016 after graduating from The University of Michigan, Program in the Environment. She's worked on small organic farms in Texas & Michigan, and manages media for Old Settlers Music Festival in addition to her work with Farmgrass. Molly works in edible landscape design and is currently pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture. She lives on the Colorado River in east Austin and loves canoeing, swimming, gardening, and exploring the great outdoors!
Travis Singley: Board Of Directors
Travis Singley is the Local Food Program Manager at the Texas Center for Local Food in Elgin, Tx, where he works to economically empower small-scale producers and create community through agriculture. He also works for the Central Texas Meat Collective where he helps to bring together farmers, chefs, butchers, and students all in the name of transparent meat education and ethical meat production. After receiving his Master’s degree in Social Work, Travis began working as a Food Justice Advocate at a nearby farm, where he helped to expand access to organic produce and meat to the surrounding low-income neighborhood. From there, the rest is history, as they say. After remembering how amazing it felt to have his fingers in the soil, Travis spent the next few years working as a farmer at different organic farms throughout Central Texas, raising sustainable meat, growing organic veggies, and learning from those smarter than himself. When Travis is not talking about food, eating food, or helping folks to learn about and engage with their food, he is Travis lives on a 200-acre cattle ranch in Pflugerville, Tx with his wife and two dogs.
Travis Singley is the Local Food Program Manager at the Texas Center for Local Food in Elgin, Tx, where he works to economically empower small-scale producers and create community through agriculture. He also works for the Central Texas Meat Collective where he helps to bring together farmers, chefs, butchers, and students all in the name of transparent meat education and ethical meat production. After receiving his Master’s degree in Social Work, Travis began working as a Food Justice Advocate at a nearby farm, where he helped to expand access to organic produce and meat to the surrounding low-income neighborhood. From there, the rest is history, as they say. After remembering how amazing it felt to have his fingers in the soil, Travis spent the next few years working as a farmer at different organic farms throughout Central Texas, raising sustainable meat, growing organic veggies, and learning from those smarter than himself. When Travis is not talking about food, eating food, or helping folks to learn about and engage with their food, he is Travis lives on a 200-acre cattle ranch in Pflugerville, Tx with his wife and two dogs.
Etan Sekons: Farmgrass Co-Founder/Board of Directors
Etan is an Austin based musician and sound engineer. He has worked with countless artists, bands, and productions both as a performer and behind the scenes. He originally hails from New York City where, among other things, he worked with the Blue Man Group for 7 years. Etan currently owns and operates Battle Bend Studios, and can be seen playing guitar frequently around Austin and elsewhere.
Etan is an Austin based musician and sound engineer. He has worked with countless artists, bands, and productions both as a performer and behind the scenes. He originally hails from New York City where, among other things, he worked with the Blue Man Group for 7 years. Etan currently owns and operates Battle Bend Studios, and can be seen playing guitar frequently around Austin and elsewhere.
Tymothy Bryce: Medical Advisor/Farmgrass Co-Founder
Tym Bryce is a Doctor of Acupuncture, Herbalist and founder of website Acupuncture Pros and clinic Lockhart Acupuncture with over 16 years of clinical medical experience. As a co-founder of Farmgrass he has helped facilitate all events, marketing and sponsorship initiatives and heads the initiative to stretch the funds we raise to have the most impact for Central Texas farmers. He grew up on a ranch in Manchaca, TX and is also REALLY good at parking cars.
Tym Bryce is a Doctor of Acupuncture, Herbalist and founder of website Acupuncture Pros and clinic Lockhart Acupuncture with over 16 years of clinical medical experience. As a co-founder of Farmgrass he has helped facilitate all events, marketing and sponsorship initiatives and heads the initiative to stretch the funds we raise to have the most impact for Central Texas farmers. He grew up on a ranch in Manchaca, TX and is also REALLY good at parking cars.