Speaker Bios

Brad Voss -  Fertilizer 101

Brad is a County Extension Agent for Horticulture with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Collin County. He provides research-based horticulture information to residents through educational workshops as well as extensive phone, email, and on-site consultations.

He holds a master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from Texas A&M Commerce, with an emphasis in plant and soil science, forage agronomy, integrated pest management, and weed control. Brad also trains and advises the Collin County Master Gardeners. This program delivers additional educational and outreach initiatives and manages numerous research and demonstration gardens throughout the county.

Brad and his wife, Audrey, have two sons, Owen and Rhys. Before returning to university and joining the Extension, Brad served as a Signals Intelligence Analyst in the United States Army.

Judy McGrath - Propagation Demo

Judy originally hails from Philadelphia and made Texas her home in 1984. She has a son who proudly calls himself a Texan—even though he keeps his Philly accent!  Judy built her career as an Interior Designer and earned her degree from UTA School of Architecture in 1991. She spent 26 wonderful years at The Container Store before retiring.

Her love of gardening was inspired by her Italian grandfather’s green thumb. Judy has been a Master Gardener for 7 years and a Propagation Specialist for 5 years. 

She is the current Project Leader of the CCMGA Propagation Team and co-leads fun propagation workshops and events for fellow gardening enthusiasts.

Janet Kirklen - Let's Talk Tomatoes

Janet Kirklen has been a Master Gardener since 2006. She attended MG plant propagation advanced training in 2017 and was named Collin County Master Gardener of the Year in both 2012 and 2019. Janet is an active volunteer in many of the Master Gardener events and stays busy as a mentor on the CCMGA Propagation Team. She is the guru in all things programming and has been responsible for all of the computer programs and the CCMGA public website.

Now retired, Janet and her husband, enjoy caring for 26 acres in Grayson County, where she focuses on wildlife management and restoring a native prairie on their property. She has become passionate about collecting seeds and growing vegetables. This has led her to  start working as a contract seed production grower for Victory Seed Company. Janet's love for gardening and conservation inspires everyone around her.

Joyce Cleary - Container Demo

Joyce lives in Richardson with her husband, John Paul, and their two garden-loving kitties. After 15 years as Director of Special Events at the Dallas Symphony Association, she’s now happily retired. Joyce also sang with the Dallas Symphony Chorus for 17 years—music and gardens have always been close to her heart.

She’s taught all kinds of gardening classes and is the one we turn to for anything about container gardening. Joyce knows everything about color, texture, and form, making her the expert for putting together eye-catching plant arrangements. The “Filler, Spiller, and Thriller” idea of container gardening? That’s definitely Joyce’s specialty.

Joyce has been a Master Gardener since 2006. Since then, she’s pretty much done every leadership role there is! She spent two years on the CCMGA Board of Directors and has jumped in to help or lead with The Garden Show, Plant Sales, Speakers Bureau, Annual Banquet, State Convention, and Master Gardener Training Classes. Her energy and enthusiasm for gardening inspire everyone around her.

Kristen Hoegenauer - Sunset Trail Farm

Kristen and her husband, Trey, are the founders of Sunset Trail Farm, a pick-your-own berry farm and pumpkin patch in McKinney, Texas. Together, they have created a vibrant agricultural space that welcomes visitors to experience hands-on farming and enjoy fresh, locally grown produce. She and her family grow blackberries, vegetables, and flowers, with a focus on soil health using regenerative practices. Their commitment to sustainable farming methods ensures that each harvest not only benefits their customers but also preserves the environment for future generations.

What started as a simple desire to move their large family out of the city, grew into a passion for growing healthy soil and healthy food. Their journey has transformed Sunset Trail Farm into a thriving hub where education, community, and stewardship come together. The farm has become a gathering place for families, school groups, and gardeners eager to reconnect with the land. Kristen is passionate about caring for the land, helping families reconnect with their food sources, and strengthening the local community. Her dedication inspires others to value sustainable agriculture and fosters a sense of belonging that extends beyond the farm’s fields.

Jane Skinner - Herbs (Paprika)

Jane Skinner's love of plants and herbs stems from growing up on a farm in Nebraska. She has been a Master Gardener in Missouri and Texas for 22 years and is a member of the Herb Guild. Jane loves to travel and enjoys visiting gardens and markets around the world.

Erin Hoffer - Texas Tough Herbs

When asked what she does for a living, Erin Hoffer quips that she gets “paid to play in the dirt with worms and to encourage others to do the same as often as possible.”  She is delighted to combine her love of gardening and her love of education into engaging presentations and hands-on workshops that inspire communities to reconnect with nature. Erin’s passion for horticulture and teaching shines through in every interaction, making her a trusted resource for both novice and seasoned gardeners. 

 For her presentation, Erin says, "It's 'thyme' to spice up your garden with Texas-tough herbs! It's not a big 'dill' to successfully grow them and we'll show you which ones work best in Collin County. Your yard is 'mint' to have a bunch of these beau-'teas'."