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.
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.
Brooke Schweke: Marketing Manager/Board of Directors
Brooke is a proud new member of the Farmgrass board. She thrives on creating impactful events and finds fulfillment in supporting organizations like Farmgrass that share her values. Along with her partner-in-crime (husband Ryan) , she owns The Workschop, a craft printing and graphic design studio specializing in screen printing and letterpress. She also serves as marketing director for the historic Devil’s Backbone Tavern out in Fischer, Texas. Outside of work, Brooke's got a green-ish thumb (and a weakness for impulsive plant purchases) that she loves sharing with her daughters. You can often find her digging around in her garden, trying to grow things faster than her girls can can eat them. You may also find her in a heated standoff with her garden nemesis, Peanut, the fat squirrel that terrorizes her from the treetops. Brooke is also a member of the Central Texas Mycology Society, where she volunteers to help turn agricultural waste into valuable resources through mushroom block distribution for community reuse or composting.
Brooke is passionate about Farmgrass' mission, and feels pretty lucky that she gets to throw parties and make the world a better place while she’s doing it.
Brooke is a proud new member of the Farmgrass board. She thrives on creating impactful events and finds fulfillment in supporting organizations like Farmgrass that share her values. Along with her partner-in-crime (husband Ryan) , she owns The Workschop, a craft printing and graphic design studio specializing in screen printing and letterpress. She also serves as marketing director for the historic Devil’s Backbone Tavern out in Fischer, Texas. Outside of work, Brooke's got a green-ish thumb (and a weakness for impulsive plant purchases) that she loves sharing with her daughters. You can often find her digging around in her garden, trying to grow things faster than her girls can can eat them. You may also find her in a heated standoff with her garden nemesis, Peanut, the fat squirrel that terrorizes her from the treetops. Brooke is also a member of the Central Texas Mycology Society, where she volunteers to help turn agricultural waste into valuable resources through mushroom block distribution for community reuse or composting.
Brooke is passionate about Farmgrass' mission, and feels pretty lucky that she gets to throw parties and make the world a better place while she’s doing it.
