A Familiar Face Behind the Scenes

Tatiana Means wears a lot of hats at the Co-op — you might find them prepping sandwiches, packaging pastries, roasting chickens, or mixing up one of our beloved house-made dressings (they’re especially fond of the honey mustard). For the past three years, Tatiana has been an essential part of our team — starting out in the Meat Department and now working full-time in the kitchen.

Cooking with Culture and Intention

Tatiana’s relationship with food started long before they ever set foot in the Co-op. Tatiana grew up on a ranch on the Crow Reservation, where cooking was deeply tied to land, culture, and community. “As an Indigenous person, cooking wasn’t just about eating,” they shared. “It was about connecting with the land and feeding the people around me.” From gardening and raising chickens to hunting for food, Tatiana learned how to make meals with what was available — and to do so with gratitude and intention.

Tatiana started working in kitchens at just 14 years old to help support their family, and food has remained a steady presence in their life ever since. Tatiana credits their culture — rather than any one person — as the biggest influence on their cooking journey. “Through my family I learned that food can be more than nourishment; it can be medicine, ceremony, and connection.”

A Natural Fit at the Co-op

That perspective comes through in everything they do at the Co-op. When they worked in the Meat Department, Tatiana deeply valued the relationships the Co-op has with local farmers and ranchers — and the care those producers take with their animals. Coming from a farming background themselves, that respect for the source of our food really resonated.

When asked about their favorite part of working here, Tatiana doesn’t hesitate: “The people.” They started working at the Co-op when they were just 18 and brand new to Bozeman. The community here — both coworkers and customers — helped them feel grounded and welcomed. That sense of connection is what keeps them coming back, day after day.

Life Beyond the Kitchen

Outside of the kitchen, Tatiana is just as inspiring. They’re a student at Montana State University studying Psychology, with minors in Writing and Women’s Studies. They’re also a journalist for the MSU Exponent, covering campus and cultural stories, and an advocate for housing justice through their volunteer work with Bozeman Tenants United.

Creative expression plays a big role in their life, too — whether it’s writing, painting, sewing, or getting outside to hike, climb, or hit the gym. Tatiana brings that same sense of care and creativity to everything they do.

Favorite Flavors

And when it comes to favorite meals? “You can’t go wrong with tacos,” Tatiana says — especially their go-to: sesame beef tacos.

Rooted in Purpose

In the kitchen and beyond, Tatiana shows up with care, purpose, and heart. We’re proud to have them on our team — and even prouder to share a little of their story with you.