We’re honored to have been recognized in 2018 with awards from the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences for the work we do in supporting our communities. Congratulations to our former and current Team Members: Susan Ballabina, Chelsea Stevens, Michelle Allen, Julie Gardner, Joel Redus, Elaine Montemayor-Gonzalez, Danielle Hammond – Kreuger, Rusty Hohlt, Hannah Krebs, Kelli Brown, and Odessa Keenan!
Odessa E. Keenan
Elaine Montemayor-Gonzalez
Elaine Montemayor-Gonzalez, Extension Program Specialist for the Healthy South Texas Program with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is a wife, mom, and a native of South Texas. When not running after her three little ones, Elaine loves to develop recipes and cook for family and friends. After several rewarding years of working in nutrition and diabetes education, Elaine joined AgriLife as a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent in Jim Wells County and was able to begin a successful Farmers Market with a monthly healthy food demonstration for the public.
Gretchen Sanders
Gretchen Sanders, Blanco County Extension Agent-Family & Community Health has over 20 years of experience sharing healthy recipes and cooking demos with Texans. She lives in the Hill Country with her husband, two sons, and two dachshunds. Gretchen loves baking cookies and cooking dinner almost every night. Trying new recipes is one of Gretchen’s hobbies and she even creates monthly cooking and baking challenges for herself to learn even more skills. Her family loves to eat these creations. She cooks, they eat!
Amy Valdez
Amy Valdez is an Extension Program Specialist with the Healthy South Texas Initiative. She loves traveling, live music, spending time with her family, and rooting for the Texas A&M Aggies on game day! With a family and job that constantly have her on the go, making recipes that are flavorful but quick and easy to make is her go-to. She is also a Registered Dietitian and is passionate about educating the community about nutrition and how to make healthy and family-friendly meals.
Alaina Woolsey
Meet Alaina Woolsey, a nutrition professional who lives and breathes healthy living! She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from Baylor University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Alaina is all about making healthy eating easy and yummy, with a particular fondness for dishes packed with veggies and flavor. Her passion lies in helping families and kids embrace healthier eating habits and staying active to keep chronic diseases at bay. Get ready to be inspired by deliciously simple recipes!
Megan Glidden
Megan Glidden, the Aransas County Family and Community Health Agent, grew up spending time in the family kitchen, where she learned to love cooking and baking. She is a recent transplant to the Texas middle coast and has enjoyed creating new recipes with wonderful coastal commodities. Being a part of the Dinner Tonight team affords Megan time to experiment in the kitchen while creating wonderful recipes to share with Texans.
Wendy Hatfield-Hazzard
Wendy, County Extension Agent for Family and Community Health in Wheeler County with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, is a native of Arkansas. She transplanted to the Texas panhandle with her husband and now, with their two young boys, call the panhandle home. Wendy loves to cook for co-workers, family, and friends. She relaxes with her dirt therapy (gardening) in the spring all the way through to the fall. She loves to grow different herbs and vegetables that she tries in her various kitchen creations and food demonstrations. Her recipe box is full of quick, simple, and kid-friendly foods for her family’s busy lifestyle.
Shana Kutac
Shana Kutac is a true enthusiast of life and flavors! By day, you will find her at Texas A&M AgriLife where is teaches her passions with a smile. Her heart skips a beat for the Home Preservation series — where the magic of preserving meets the joy of sharing knowledge. Shana is always ready to explore the globe. Travel is a true passion of hers. Her taste buds have ventured on culinary odysseys through Africa, savored treats in The Netherlands and indulged in tropical delights in Belize. Don’t think the fun stops at home! In her kitchen you will find her whipping up family recipes, passing down traditions and creating memorable meals with her kids. In the world of food, Shana Kutac is the ultimate explorer, both near and far, turning every meal into a delightful adventure.
