Meet Our Staff

Gretchen has been with Land to Hand MT since 2004 and was the first paid employee. She is passionate about growing local food, eating good food, and making sure everyone in our community has access to it. Gretchen is a staple in the Whitefish community and loves skiing, rafting, and hiking.

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Whitney has been working in farm to school and agriculture in the Flathead Valley since 2014. Whitney served two terms with FoodCorps and then was the farm manager at Purple Frog Gardens. Before moving to Montana, Whitney WWOOF-ed and worked in community gardens in Vermont, Washington, D.C., France, and Thailand. Whitney also loves spending time with her dog, Harvey.

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After graduating with a teaching license, Mara worked in a variety of capacities in the education world. Teaching art in a Costa Rican Liceo, gardening and food education in the Bellingham Public Schools, and she also worked in a Communication-Behavior classroom in Portland. When not at work, Mara spends as much time outside as possible. She loves to hike, boat, bike, climb, ski, and eat snacks on top of mountains.

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Emily is passionate about local food access and education and has been a part of L2H for the last 3 years as a board member. After graduating college she completed two years of service with AmeriCorps in Boston and Philadelphia, before moving west to teach outdoor education. Emily loves skiing, cooking, and the public lands in this area.

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Cejay spent most of her life in Northern Nevada and recently relocated to Montana with her husband and three children. She has an eclectic career background ranging from Business Management to Co-Op Director and even operated her own Cottage Bakery. As a mom, she is passionate about food being fuel and medicine, and believes that everyone should have access to these tools. In her spare time you can find her dancing in the kitchen with her babies, cosying up with a good book or chasing around her ever growing amount of animals while planning out her dream homestead.

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Silas is passionate about creating a more equitable, sustainable, and compassionate world. He is thrilled to leverage his degree in statistics for the benefit of NW Montana communities. Silas envisions a future where everyone has access to local, nutritious food. In his free time, he enjoys baking, hiking, puzzling, and exploring new music.

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My name is Rachel and I’m originally from the Great Lakes state of Michigan, but moved to the Flathead Valley last year and have been loving it! I’ve been working in agriculture for four years now. I’m passionate about sustainable food systems and have worked on a variety of different farms ranging from Michigan, Hawaii, and Montana. I’m excited to join Land to Hand this summer in the garden!

Carolan has worked in Flathead Valley non-profits since 2010, and is passionate about serving her community in ways that help bring people together. She served as a Crew Leader with Montana Conservation Corps in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and other conservation orgs in CO. She now chases around 2 toddlers and enjoys her busy backyard full of chickens and honey bees, and loves wild summertime garden experiments. In her spare time, you can find her in the mountains, in a lake, or on a river, with a book in her back pocket and a smile on her face!

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Ryan has always been inspired by community connection and beautiful places. Over the years his background ranges from ecology, to outdoor education, to baking and cooking with local foods. Ryan can often be found playing in the mountains or bustling around the kitchen cooking food with friends.

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Tucker is originally from Bozeman, MT, and relocated to the area in the Fall of 2024. He has spent most of his career in the marketing & communications world, working for a wide range of organizations. As a 4th-generation Montanan, he cares deeply about giving back to local communities and cultivating positive change for future generations. When he’s not working, you can find Tucker tending to his bees, making music, spending time with family and friends, or taking advantage of the many outdoor activities that Montana has to offer.

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