We envision a sustainable regional food system that utilizes locally grown and produced foods to promote healthy individuals, equitable communities and thriving local economies.
Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network Staff
Samantha Smith Goyret
Co-Director, Co-Manager – Martin Farmers Market
nwtnfoodguide at gmail.com
Samantha Smith Goyret’s passion for local food began in her family’s garden, where she discovered the joy of growing, cooking, and sharing fresh food. With more than 25 years in food-related nonprofit work and a degree from the College of Charleston, she combines community leadership with technology and food education to strengthen local food systems.
In 2016, she co-founded the Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network to help build a more equitable and resilient food system across the region. Samantha also manages her urban farm #BarefootGardens, serves as Co-Manager of the Martin Farmers Market, and shares her love of gardening, cooking, and healthy eating through community education and outreach.
Caroline.Ideus at gmail.com
Research Assistant
Elysia Duke, a native of Northwest Tennessee, is also a self-published author. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Martin, Master of Public Administration degree from Murray State University in Kentucky, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Lyndsie Knox
Marketing and Communications Intern
At the heart of her work, Lyndsie has a deep appreciation for the role farmers and food producers play in their local communities. Lyndsie hopes to use her passion for storytelling to connect people with the world around them, communicating these important contributions in ways that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful to everyday audiences.
One thing that is clear to Lyndsie is the vital role our physical health plays in supporting a healthy mind. Since a healthy body begins with a healthy diet, she is eager to apply what she has learned so far about the way people think and how people behave to make fresh, locally produced food more accessible to everybody here in Northwest Tennessee.
Alesa Hefner
Marketing Director
Alesa Hefner grew up in Houston, Texas, she is a freelance marketing and media manager. When she is not working with clients, she’s a full-time mom to two amazing kids and a proud dog mom to three fur babies.
Giving back to the community is important to her, and she enjoys volunteering at the St John’s Community Services food and clothing pantry. She also spearheaded two county wide food drives for the Boys Scouts of America.
Whether she creating marketing campaigns, spending time with my family, or serving others, she strive to make a positive impact in everything I do.
“When you cease to make a contribution you begin to die.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network Board of Directors 2026-2027
Interested in joining our board? Take our Board Interest Survey.
Brian Carroll – Local Food Network Board Chair
Dietetic Internship Director
Board of Dietitian and Nutritionist Examiners
WTAND President/Public Policy Coordinator
UT/TSU Extension Advisory Council
Tennessee Department of Education Career College and Technical Education Advisory Council
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN
Brian Carroll is the Dietetic Internship Director at the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. He received his M.S. and B.S. from Southern Illinois University. He has served as a Dietitian in various roles since 2002. He was named the Tennessee Academy of Nutritionists and Dietitians 2016 Dietetic Educato of the Year. In 2019, he was a Recognized Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2019-2020 TAND President, Advocacy Pillar Chair, and WTAND Public Policy Coordinator. From 2016-2018, he served on the initial Northwest Tennessee Local Food Network Steering Committee before it became an official nonprofit in 2018 and continues to serve to this day. In his free time, Brian enjoys spending time with his family, especially his 3 grandsons, ages 14, 3 and 5 months, working out, reading and studying the Bible and eating and promoting local foods.
Rachna Tewari, Ph.D. – Local Food Network Vice Chair
Professor, Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness
Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, and Natural Resources
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Weakley County, TN
Dr. Rachna Tewari is Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics in the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Her teaching and research interests are in the area of agribusiness management and entrepreneurship, farmers markets, climate impacts on agriculture and groundwater management, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Dr. Tewari has worked with education initiatives such as the UTM Mobile Energy Classroom and currently leads the CLASS (Climate Literacy for Agriculture and Sustainable Societies) program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture & Capacity Building Grants.
Wenwen Xu
Financial Director
Wenwen Xu received her second Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Before she moved to Martin, TN she worked in Beijing, China for 5 years. Wenwen Xu received her first Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management in China.
In her spare time, she likes to travel with her family to explore the United States, try new foods, and experience cultural activities.
Jessica Crews Garcia
Former Chair of the Board
Lecturer, Agricultural Economics
Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, & Natural Resources
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Henry County, TN
Jessica is a Lecturer of Agricultural Economics in the Department of Agriculture, Geosciences, & Natural Resources at UT Martin. She grew-up on a row-crop and cow-calf operation & was actively involved in 4-H & FFA organizations. Jessica earned her B.S. & M.S. degrees in Agricultural Business & Agricultural Operations Management, respectively as well as an M.B.A. from UTM. She has previous experience as an IT Specialist, assisting faculty with online learning technologies and has utilized these experiences to better support students in the undergraduate and graduate online Agriculture programs at UTM. She & her husband Jerry, reside on her family’s Tennessee Century farm in Paris, TN.
Ranson E. Goodman
Agriculture Extension Agent
Henry County, TN
Ranson grew up in southern Benton County. He left Camden to further his education at Murray State University where he obtained both his Bachler’s of Science Degree and Master’s of Science Degree in Agriculture. He began his Extension career with the University of Tennessee in the late 1990’s in Dyer County as the 4-H Agriculture Agent. In 2002 he transferred to the Obion County Extension where he served as the Adult & 4-H Youth Agriculture Agent. In the Fall of 2009 he and his family moved to Henry County where he became the Adult Agriculture Agent in Paris.
Through Ranson’s years as an agricultural extension agent, he has learned just how diverse agriculture is in Northwest Tennessee. His experiences have molded and directed his professional intertest to all areas of agriculture. His focus areas are in Production Agriculture (crops, livestock, forage), Natural Resources (conservation, forestry, wildlife, fisheries), Horticulture, Turf, Fruit Production, Master Gardener Education/Management, and Home/Land Owner Education.
Ranson is married to his high school sweetheart, Karen Goodman, who is an educator with the Paris Special School District. Ranson and Karen have one child, Hunter Goodman, who is a Senior at Murray State University majoring in Agronomy. Ranson and his family enjoy spending time together outdoors, hunting, fishing, volunteering and supporting their community.
Dr. Lisa Norris
Director of Schools, South Carroll County Special School District
Carroll County, TN
Dr. Lisa Norris resides in McKenzie, Tennessee with her husband and family. A graduate of McKenzie Special School District, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bethel University and a doctorate in education from Walden University, with additional study at UT Martin, the University of South Alabama, and Capella University.
Dr. Norris began her career in law enforcement and later served as Youth Services Officer for Carroll County Juvenile Court, where she co-created Carroll Academy, a state-recognized model program. She also served as Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Bethel University and taught college courses for 18 years
As Director of the South Carroll County Special School District, she has expanded academic and athletic opportunities and secured more than $13 million in competitive grant funding, including developing a robust Farm to School program at Clarksburg School, demonstrating a strong commitment to innovation, leadership, and student success.
Jessica Quinn
Founder: Mama on the Homestead Blog, Society of St. Andrews Gleaning Coordinator
Obion County, TN
Jessica lives in Union City where she operates a sustainable homestead with her 5 children. She currently raises rabbits, laying hens, meat chickens, and honeybees as well as growing multiple vegetable and herb gardens each season. Jessica received her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from The University of Tennessee at Martin. She runs the website Mama on the Homestead and she also works on staff with the Homesteaders of America organization.
Gage Rosti
Owner of Hidden Acres Homestead, Henry County, TN
With a background in food safety, and science, Gage Rosti is the Co-Owner of Hidden Acres Homestead out of Como, TN. Gage spent time on his Uncle’s farm in his youth and developed an interest in cooking. He has spent 40 years in the food industry, first as a cook and then as a health inspector. He is also a veteran of the Army. After retiring from there, his family moved to a farm where farm to table is a way of life. Hidden Acres Homestead sells their products at the Martin and Henry County Farmers Markets. He and his family raise their own meats, and vegetables naturally to produce the best food for his family and community.
Lisa Seiber-Garland
School Nutrition and Finance Director,
Trenton Special School District
Trenton, TN
Lisa has been a School Nutrition Director/Federal Finance Director for nineteen years at the Trenton Special School District. She served as the past President for the Tennessee School Nutrition Association. In 2020, she operated the statewide emergency feeding program that helped feed students while schools remained shut down due to the COVID-19 health crisis in 2020 serving 3,200 meals in a day to students at the Trenton Special School District. Lisa not only has extensive professional experience, she also has the personal passion for Farm to School programming working with the Local Food Network in 2020-2021 to complete the Gibson County Farm to School Action Plan.
Lacy Yeley
Family & Consumer Sciences, Carroll County Extension
Carroll County, TN
Lacey grew up in Weakley County and was a long-term resident of Gleason until some unforeseen circumstances lead her, her husband and two boys to Carroll County in 2021, where they now reside. After graduating from the University of Tennessee at Martin, she worked serving Carroll and surrounding counties, utilizing her passion for children and their families. Seven years later, she began her Extension career with the University of Tennessee in 2017 as the Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Carroll County.
Her experiences teaching Nutrition and food safety, wellness, money management, and human relationships have only grown her passion for helping families and communities. She thoroughly focuses on nutrition and foods for families in need by providing resources and cooking demonstrations to better help them live a healthy lifestyle.
