Shout Out: Quinlan Carttar, Community Food Systems Team
October 13, 2026
Submitted by Gregg Hadley
This week, the Shout Out is from Brooke Kauchak, Community Food Systems outreach specialist, and is sent for Quinlan Carttar, a food systems entrepreneurial resource navigator with the Community Food Systems team.
Brooke writes:
“A big congratulations to Quinlan Carttar, who was recently named a finalist for the Shared Kitchen Industry Champion of the Year award through the Golden Whisk Awards at the Shared Kitchen Summit.
Shared-use commercial kitchens are a major focus of Quinlan's work with K-State Extension’s Community Food Systems team. So far, they’ve provided technical assistance to more than 30 Kansas communities and kitchen operators working to develop or operate shared kitchens, helping with everything from kitchen planning and operations to navigating the challenges that come with running these unique community resources.
Last year, Quinlan attended the Shared Kitchen Summit and brought back connections, resources, and ideas that have directly strengthened the technical assistance our team provides to kitchen operators across Kansas. They’ve also helped launch a statewide peer network for shared kitchen operators, giving operators a space to compare notes, troubleshoot challenges, and learn from one another.
That work also happens close to home. As the person overseeing the Douglas County Culinary Commons, Quinlan has onboarded, coached and supported 11 food producers in the kitchen so far in 2026 — more than one new producer a month.
The Golden Whisk nomination recognizes the broader work Quinlan is doing to connect Kansas kitchen operators with one another and with resources beyond their communities, while bringing what they learn from those relationships back to the entrepreneurs and organizations they serve.
The winners will be announced at this year's Shared Kitchen Summit in Providence, Rhode Island, October 12–14. Congratulations, Quinlan, on this well-deserved recognition!”
Quinlan -- thanks for all you do for the people of Kansas, our colleagues and K-State Extension.
If you know of a colleague or team of colleagues who deserve recognition for a job well done, why not nominate them for a Shout Out? Simply send their name(s) and the reason for the Shout Out to ksreshoutout@ksu.edu.
Shout Out submissions are published in the order they are received.
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