PROvincial Office Staff

The provincial office is made up of a dynamic team ready to serve our new and existing members, leaders and clubs throughout the province. ​

CERA YOUNGSoN
​​EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hometown: Grandora, Saskatchewan
Best Part About Working For 4-H: Collaborating with a passionate and hard-working group of individuals on the staff and board team, developing new programs, and having the opportunity to see young 4-H’ers learn and do.
History With 4-H: Member of the Grandora Light Horse 4-H Club for 11 years. Highlights of her time as a member include being delegated to represent Saskatchewan at the National 4-H Member's Conference in Toronto and as part of Team Saskatchewan Hippology at the 10th Anniversary Alberta 4-H Horse Classic. Including her time as a 4-H staff member, Cera been involved in 4-H for more than half of her life!
Craziest Job: Two summers extracting honey at a bee farm and teaching English in China and France.
Favourite Quote: "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." - Vincent Van Gogh

Karrie Watson 
Executive Administrator- Member and Leader Services

Hometown: Born and raised in Perdue, Saskatchewan and reside there still with my husband.
Best Part About Working For 4-H: I believe whole heartedly in what 4-H can do for not only kids, but adults as well. 4-H brings families and communities together and holds on to a value system that many don’t have the opportunity to experience today.
History With 4-H: I was a 4-H member for 10 years with the Catherwood Multiple 4-H Club and participated in everything offered. 
Children/Pets: We have 4 children, ages 7, 11, 14 and 19 as well as our dog  (Duchess) and cats (Diva and Bodie).

Sandi Sirois
Accounting Officer

Hometown: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Best Part About Working For 4-H: ​ Knowing that you're contributing to a very positive organization for young people and therefore helping form our future generations.
Kids/Pets: Three children; two boys and a girl ranging in age from 13 to 20. Also have two cats that allow us to share the house with them.
Favourite Colour:  Green
Favourite Movie:  Jaws, first saw it at the age of 11 and it instilled in me a lifelong fear of sharks.

Jodi Schellenberg
Program and Communications Specialist

Hometown: ​ Originally from the Nipawin area – I grew up on a farm close to the Wapiti Valley Ski Hill. I currently live in Saskatoon.
Best Part About Working For 4-H: ​ I enjoy working for 4-H because I still have the opportunity to talk to people and learn their stories, but I also am able to help shape the leaders of tomorrow.
History With 4-H: Growing up, I was a part of the Nipawin Multiple 4-H Club and later switched to the Riverview Riders when it was created, where I continued as a member until I graduated from high school. 
Craziest Job: Before working for 4-H, I was a reporter. The hours were crazy, the people I met were interesting and I loved digging into the truth and learning people’s stories.
Pets: I have a Siamese cat named Bucky, who is one of the most loveable and strangest creatures I've met. 

Shirley Wensley
Administrative Assistant

Hometown: ​ Originally from a farm near Wilkie, Saskatchewan. Currently resides in Martensville, Saskatchewan.
Best Part About Working For 4-H: ​ I've met so many awsome people working at 4-H.  I enjoy working with an organization for youth that is focused on youth leadership.  
Favourite Colour:  Blue
Favourite Movie:  My two favorite movies are Pretty Woman and Love Actually.  I also love any Disney movie.  
Pets/Kids:  One pretty awesome kid, Brock. I also have a springer spaniel named Sawyer.

Kalynne Martin
North west regional 4-H specialist

​Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Currently resides in Delisle, Saskatchewan.
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite Book Series: Harry Potter
Best part of working for 4-H: As someone who has a background in formal education I firmly believe that learning that happens outside of the classroom is just as important what happens in school. Also, that learning doesn’t stop once you complete your schooling. When people are given the opportunity work together with different generations it helps develop better community involvement and retention. 4-H is a great way for all ages to get involved with learning by doing.
Pets: I have a wonderful cat name Leonard (Leo for short) He is always happy and by the door to greet me when I get home!

Shelby Longworth 
NORTH East REGIONAL 4-H SPECIALIST

Hometown: Harris, SK 
History with 4-H: I was a Beef Member for eleven years, starting off in the Catherwood Multiple 4-H Club and later the Eagle Creek 4-H Beef Club.  I was a part of both the heifer and steer projects, and I can still remember the names of all my 4-H steers! 
Best Part of Working For 4-H: I love meeting new people, and I love working for the organization that helped me learn so much when I was a youth.   I believe that 4-H teaches youth about confidence, communication, and community, and these are all very important values in my life.  
Craziest Job:  For one of my summer jobs, I worked as a tour guide for the “Chicago Connection” tour at the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. I loved dressing up in costume every day and working with some very energetic and fun people!

MELODI HAWKESFORD-LEE
SOUTH EAST REGIONAL 4-H SPECIALIST

Hometown: Fillmore SK
History with 4-H: I was a 4-H member in the Fillmore 4-H Homecraft Club for 9 years, back when you had to be 9 years old to join. I took many projects including Crafts, Sewing, Car Care, Babysitting, Foods, Taking Care of Yourself and my personal favourite, Exploring 4-H!  I have been a Regional 4-H Specialist since 2001 and have enjoyed the many exciting challenges and changes 4-H has undergone over the years.
Best Part About Working For 4-H: The People, hands down!  Never will you meet a more passionate, hard working, honest, down-to-earth and humourous bunch of people than in 4-H.  I also think Learn to do by Doing is the best motto ever - I live it every day (especially now that I have kids!)
Interesting Experiences: I love to travel, with some of my highlights being the United Kingdom, France, Cuba, Ukraine, USA and good old Canada!  Definitely one of craziest experiences was driving in a rental car from Boston Massachusetts to August Maine all by myself when I was 18.  I got so turned around, I drove in the complete wrong direction to the complete wrong state!!

KAITLYN KELLER
SOUTH WEST REGIONAL 4-H SPECIALIST ​

Kaitlyn has been the South West Regional 4-H Specialist for two years and loves being able to come out to club and district events, where she gets to see the members shine!
​
4-H had a huge influence on Kaitlyn as a youth and she is an avid supporter of the 4-H program. She has a passion to help youth and adults seek their passion in life, encouraging them to do what they love as a career. Kaitlyn and her siblings are the fifth generation of The Cliffs Farm, the oldest Polled Hereford breeders in Canada. She is a 4-H alumni with the Saskatoon 4-H Beef Club, where she was a member for 13 years.

When she is not traveling around south west Saskatchewan with 4-H business, she can be found spending time with her husband, basset hound and cattle. She loves to travel, having the opportunity to visit many countries around the world and has been to every Canada province (excluding the territories).  ​​

Shelby Corey
Development officer ​

Home Town: I grew up on a ranch west of Turner Valley, AB and now live southwest of Saskatoon, where my husband and I have our own cattle operation.

History with 4-H: I was a member of the Millarville Stockland 4-H Beef Club for seven years and the Turner Valley Light Horse Club for three years.

Children/Pets: Two kids (Dallas and Wade), two dogs, and a cat.

Favourite Colour: Turquoise

Favourite Movie: I love kid’s movies, but I think my favourite is Brave.

HAROLD THE HARE

OUR LOVEABLE 4-H SASKATCHEWAN MASCOT

Harold hopped into being in 2004, thanks to 4-H member Mandy March, who created him in a contest. 

He has a "hop to it" attitude and tries to attend as many 4-H events across the province as he can. He has been spotted on national travel opportunities, provincial events, club activities and has even tried his hand at curling! 

You can always contact the 4-H office to see if he is available to head down to your event! ​

Board of Directors

The role of the Board of Directors is to set direction and policy of the 4-H program. They contribute to defining the organization’s Mission, Vision and Core Values and governing the fulfillment of those.
Board members are elected for two-year terms. The Saskatchewan Board of Directors consists of:
  • Three registered leaders elected by each of the four regions (Leader Delegates)
  • Two currently registered members (18 and older) (Member Delegates)
  • One representative appointed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
  • The Executive Director (ex-officio)
  • The immediate Past President may be an addition board member if not a regional leader delegate

The Board of Directors elects several positions from amongst its members. Official positions are elected for a one-year term. Below are the current elected officials:
  • President: Glenn Gress 
  • Vice-President: Tammy Rumpel
  • Secretary: Cameron Choquette
  • Representative to the Advisory Council: Tara Malinowski
  • Representative to the Saskatchewan 4-H Foundation: Alvin Pawlitza 

​Our board of directors is elected at the Annual General Meeting of March each year. If you are a registered leader who would like to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors, complete a Board of Directors / Advisory Council Nomination Consent Form and submit it to the Provincial 4-H Office prior to AGM.  

Cameron Choquette
NORTH WEST LEADER DELEGATE 
LEADER, TOON TOWN 4-H CLUB | DISTRICT #22

Cameron has been involved with the 4-H program for 14 years. Currently serving as a Director of the Saskatchewan 4-H Council, Cameron was a member and has now taken on the role of leader with a club in Saskatoon, SK. He is currently enrolled in the Edwards School of Business for a degree in Commerce. Cameron’s passion for positive youth development and community engagement started from his hometown of Kelvington, SK where he was an avid volunteer, student, and advocate for positive change. Cameron was involved with 4-H Canada for two years as the Saskatchewan Youth Advisory Committee member, attending several national conferences as a delegate. Through his 4-H experience in the last two years, Cameron has gained a wealth of knowledge in the area of effective programming and engaging youth, he hopes to bring this to the Board table to ensure that 4-H Canada continues to move forward in a positive direction for our members and leaders. Cameron’s favourite colour is blue and he loves to talk on the phone, or pretty much any way that he can. He lives for 4-H and is super eager to be a general leader someday in the future.

​Leah Clarke

Ministry of Agriculture Representative 
Regional Livestock Specialist | Watrous

Leah has a M.Sc. in agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan, with a major in animal science and a minor in rangeland resources.  Her M.Sc. thesis in animal nutrition focuses on wheat-based dried distillers' grain as a protein and energy source for beef stocker calves in extensive grazing programs.

​She maintains an active interest in water quality and ruminant nutrition. Leah looks forward to serving farmers, ranchers and industry based out of the Watrous region. 

Leslie Penner (nee Dagg) 

North East Leader Delegate
Light Horse Project Leader, Golburn Gallopers Light
​Horse 4-H Club | District #27

​Leslie was born in Tisdale and became involved in 4-H at the age of 9, which was the youngest a 4-H member could be at the time.  Her parents were integral in starting the Tisdale 4-H Light Horse Club, and Leslie and her two sisters were members for many years.  4-H is a large part of the person Leslie has become today.

Leslie was the kid that never wanted to leave home, but knew she had to get an education.  She pursued a Diploma in Computer Information Systems and spent almost 5 years developing, designing, and maintaining computer programs.  She didn’t feel she was helping people enough so Leslie decided to return to university and obtained her Pharmacy degree.  She now works as a Pharmacist in northeast Saskatchewan.  When Leslie returned to the northeast, she was a project leader with the Trails End 4-H Club, then helped start the Golburn Gallopers 4-H Club in 2012.

Leslie has been involved in various boards and volunteer activities over the years.  Her current endeavours (besides 4-H) include the following: 4-H Equine Camp Director and planning committee member, Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) SK Branch Treasurer, and North East Outreach & Support Services (NEOSS) Capital Campaign Corporate Chair.  She also enjoys travelling, playing soccer, and curling.

Stan Figley

South West Leader Delegate 
Project Leader, Kyle Multiple 4-H Club | District #40

​Stan is a heavy equipment operator and runs a ranch in White Bear with his wife, Shelley. He has been a 4-H beef club leader for the Kyle Multiple 4-H Club for 20 years. He started with 4-H as a member, before becoming a leader and has been involved with agriculture all of his life.

In addition to being a Director on the Canadian 4-H Council Board, Stan also volunteers his time with the Matador Pasture Patrons, and to the Swift Current Ag and Ex Livestock Planning Committee, helping to put on a four-day show that attracts over 150 4-H’ers.

His experience as a long-time 4-H leader, as well as experience on other boards and knowledge from tax and financial courses, will benefit him on the Board.

Mike Kirzinger

North East Leader Delegate 
Assistant General & Project Leader, Viscount 4-H Beef Club | District #21

4-H is a family affair in the Kirzinger household, with Mike as the General Leader for the Viscount 4-H Beef Club, Nancy (Mike’s wife) the Project Leader for Digital Photography & Cooking and their children are active members in the Club, District, and Regional level. He has also been an active member in District 21 holding executive position and helping organize numerous Club and District events. He is also currently a member of the Prairieland Junior Ag Showcase Planning Committee for the Regional Show in July. 

Mike believes that it takes a community to raise a child, all the interactions our youth have with people growing up help to develop and shape them into the adults they will become. The 4-H program gives youth the opportunity to grow, develop and challenge themselves in a safe environment. By being a part of the Board of Directors as a Leader Delegate, Mike can give back to a program that has given himself and his family so much. With his extensive experience in the agriculture industry and community service, Mike feels that he can be an active and effective delegate in a diverse group to continue to advance 4-H in Saskatchewan. 

Nora Schock

SOUTH WEST LEADER DELEGATE 
ASSISTANT GENERAL LEADER & PROJECT LEADER, MAPLE CREEK MULTIPLE 4-H CLUB | DISTRICT #10

​Nora has been actively involved with 4-H for the past 40 years. She has held positions as General and Assistant Leader of the Maple Creek Multiple 4-H Club for the past nine years, and has been the District #10 President for five years. Nora has been a leader for 14 years, leading projects such as Cloverbuds, On the Move, Beef, Archery and Welding.

She has chaired committees at the club and district level, helping revamp constitutions. Nora is also the treasurer of a local church camp and responsible for setting policy and budgets for operation. Nora is an Animal Health Technician and also has a background in book keeping and agribusiness courses.

Nora believes in honesty, communication and putting members’ needs first. She believes in rules and responsibility while maintaining a sense of humour and fun doing so. Nora will be an asset in shaping and maintaining the 4-H program, while focusing on keeping the traditional grass root values, by helping guide and evolve the program for the future.

Glenn Gress

South East Leader Delegate
Beef Project Leader, Browning 4-H Beef Club | District #1

Glenn has been involved in the Browning 4-H Beef Club for 14 years, and is currently a Project Leader for the Beef Project.  He has served as coach for his club’s 4-H Curling team, where they have advanced to Provincials several times. 

​Glenn not only has extensive knowledge about the Beef industry, he is also an excellent horseman and certified horse clinician.  Glenn brings a lot to the 4-H Saskatchewan Board of Directors in that he has a thorough understanding of boards and policies, as he has served on several boards within his community. 

​He and his family live on a farm west of Lampman, SK.

Annaleigh LeBruno

North West Leader Delegate
Vanscoy Multiple 4-H Club | District #22

Annaleigh is a swine project leader with the Vanscoy Multiple 4-H Club and a North West representative on the Board of Directors. She has been involved in 4-H her entire life, from being a member, to a staff member and is now a leader. Annaleigh lives on a farm with her husband and three children. She is passionate about 4-H and everything it does for youth in the province. 

Emily Letendre

18-yr-old Member Delegate
Member, Spruce Home Multiple 4-H Club | District #32

​Emily has been involved in 4-H for the last 10 years with participation at every level she has even had experience internationally. While in her personal time has worked at a Veterinary Clinic for 3 years. She was the club president for 7 years and spearheaded the making of their Club Constitution. While she was District president, she also made sure to review their constitution annually. Emily is currently living in Saskatoon while attending the University of Saskatchewan studying Animal Bioscience.

Emily feels that becoming an 18 Member Delegate would be a fantastic opportunity to hone her skills on policy making and procedures. Emily wants to give all her fellow 4-H members an opportunity to have their voices heard and encourage them to do anything they set their minds to. She has already proven passionate involvement in 4-H and in her own words "I bleed 4-H Green!"

Tara Malinowski

North East Leader Delegate
General Leader, Wishart Multiple 4-H Club | District #20

​Tara is a born leader in the best sense of that word. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and often “out of the box” thinking is invariably contagious. Those who work with her truly enjoy the experience of discovering what can be done when people work together as a team. Her philosophy is that even challenges that look daunting can be made easier with the right attitude mixed in with a witty sense of humour.

Tara’s leadership skills come from a variety of personal passions that she has pursued over the years. These include General Leader of the Wishart Multiple 4-H Club for eight years, her own sewing business, running a greenhouse, keeping numerous bee hives, traveling, community involvement as an executive member of the Hopak Ukrainian Dancers, Secretary of the local Music Parents Association among others. Tara is deeply passionate about good, healthy and natural food and lifestyle.

Clint Panter

North West Leader Delegate
General Leader, Big River Multiple 4-H Club | District #33

​Clint grew up on the family farm in Big River and continues to run a small cattle operation with his wife and two children in the Big River area. He also works as heavy duty mechanic/ supervisor at the local sawmill.

Having never been involved with the 4-H program as a member, Clint has immersee himself in the program as a leader. As the beef leader for three years and general leader for two years, he has seen the success of the program in the smiling faces of the members. Wishing to further his involvement with 4-H Saskatchewan, he joined the Board of Directors and is serving his second year.

Clint feels that with the changing demographics of our province, we must adapt our organization to keep up with our society while still maintaining our agricultural roots. Given the opportunity, he will continue to assist 4-H in transitioning the youth of today into the leaders of the tomorrow.

Alvin Pawlitza

South West Leader Delegate
Abbey-Lancer 4-H Beef Club | District #11

After a year’s hiatus I started my second term on Saskatchewan 4-H Board of Directors. I have been project leader with the Abbey-Lancer 4-H Beef Club for 11 years. Currently, I’m serving on the Finance and Selections committees.

One of my favourite things about being a parent, leader and board member is the interaction with 4-H members. I attended the provincial judging competition in Swift Current and, although I was there only for the awards, I was very impressed with the turnout and the depth of our older 4-H members!

​I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and the challenges it brings to move this great youth program forward.

Kati Culbertson

18-yr-old Member Delegate 
Member, Alida and Area 4-H Beef Club | District #41

Kati has been a member of the Alida and Area 4-H Beef Club for three years, taking the beef project. Her interest and enthusiasm led to her participating in all levels of 4-H, including executive roles at her club level and being one of three member ambassadors in the South East Region. One of her favourite things to enjoy is judging and she has competed at both the regional and provincial level. 

Her admiration of all things 4-H stems from her upbringing in an agriculture-driven community. She has deep roots in agriculture from  growing up and being part of her family’s grain and livestock operation. In addition to farming, she spent time volunteering or working at her local vet clinic, Head for the Hills Veterinary Services. She also worked as a farmhand for local farmers in her community.
 
After graduation from Redvers School in 2018, Kati enrolled in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan. She believes the best way to learn more about 4-H is to learn by doing. 
 

Tammy Rumpel

South East Leader Delegate
General Leader, Longlaketon Multiple 4-H Club | District #37 

​Tammy grew up in the village of Earl Grey and was a 4-H member with the Earl Grey Multiple club as a child, taking everything from crocheting to cake decorating.

Currently, Tammy is living on a mixed beef and grain farm outside of Craven, raising their four children: Karly, Brett, Jana, and Levi; and is working a full time job as a Tech Analyst with SaskTel. Tammy and her husband, Neil, are General Leaders in the Longlaketon Multiple 4-H club where she has led various projects. They have been involved with the club since their eldest daughter, Karly, joined 12 years ago, and will most likely remain involved as long as their youngest son, Levi, is a member.

Tammy believes strongly in the 4-H motto of "Learn to do by Doing" and has seen the impact firsthand many times.  She will continue to promote and work in the program for many years to come. 

brittany stepp

SOUTH EAST LEADER DELEGate
​assistant leader, radville 4-H beef club | DISTRICT #7 

Brittany has been a member of 4-H, taking both the beef and light horse projects. After she moved away from home, Brittany wanted to continue being involved in 4-H, so she became a Cloverbud project leader. Her goal was to keep meetings and functions entertaining for youth and keep them engaged in the 4-H program. 

She has been very involved in judging , hosting multiple clinic and has been on the Weyburn Regional Judging board for almost 15 years, being the chair for the five. She has also served as a chaperone for numerous judging teams. 

Brittany always encourages new members to communicate and get more involved, in order to grow and cultivate long-lasting friendships, much like she did as a member. The motto "Learn To Do By Doing" is very important to her and encourages everyone to continue following this motto. 

Before being elected to the board, Brittany was involved on the District #7 executive. She wants to continue to encourage today's youth to be involved with the 4-H program, no matter what their background is, and considers putting the members' needs first her priority. ​Listening to the members needs when it comes to how their 4‐H experience can get better or changing the negative in their experience to be a positive one keeps her passion strong for this organization.

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is made up of four registered 4-H members, one from each region, the two 18-year-old delegates to the board, the 4-H Saskatchewan YAC member, one board adviser and two staff advisers. They meet in person twice and have conference calls throughout the year. Our 18-year-old delegates (Brett Rumpel and Emily Letendre), board advisory (Tara Malinowski) and staff advisers (Melodi Hawkesford-Lee and Jodi Schellenberg) biographies are above. 

summer norman

North West Advisory COuncil Member

I am sixteen years old and live on a farm just outside of Saskatoon. I’ve been a part of 4-H since I was eight years old. I grew up in the 4-H program, it has shaped me into who I am today. I am a member of the Sunset Rangers Multiple and Saskatoon Beef 4-H clubs. Currently I am completing the beef and rodeo projects.
 
I’ve participated in many events such as regional and provincial curling, regional and provincial judging, summer camp (as a counsellor), the Prairieland Youth Leadership Conference, Leaderama, etc. I’ve taken on various roles such as President, Vice-President, and Treasurer, as well, I’ve been an Ambassador for the North West region for the past year.
 
I love meeting new people and hearing the unique stories of past and present 4-H members. I want to be the voice of the youth 4-Her’s within my region. 

rebecca fitzsimmons

North East Advisory Council Member

I have been in the Viscount 4-H Beef Club for 10 years and have taken Beef, Photography, and the Sewing project. At school I am a part of the SRC, SADD Chapter and Yearbook. I also participate in Volleyball, Curling, and Track & Field.  I worked at the Colonsay Swimming Pool as a Lifeguard this summer. I live on a mixed cattle/grain farm outside of Colonsay.

​This past year I have been one of the North East Ambassadors which was a wonderful experience, which taught me so much! Last November, I was able to be a part of the delegates for the Toronto Members Forum and I had the time of my life! I met some of the most amazing friends and learned so much! I look forward to continuing my involvement with the 4-H community. 

Adrianna Simpson

South West Advisory Council Member

Adrianna is part of the Kyle Multiple 4-H Club. She is 16 years old and has been in 4-H for 10 years in the Beef and 4-U - Ranch Horse Projects.

"Being involved in 4-H I have had many great experiences consisting of attending 4-H exchange trips and 4-H events that have made me the person I am today," Adrianna said." 

She decided to become an AC member because she wanted to gain skills which will help benefit both herself and her region. She is looking forward to working with the South West Region during her two-year term.
 

BRETT RUMPEL

4-H Saskatchewan Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Member

​Brett has been a member of the Longlaketon Multiple 4-H Club for over a decade with projects including Beef, cake decorating, crafts, archery, among others. She has participated in all levels of 4-H including club and district executive positions. She is involved with every aspect of 4-H from local, regional and provincial competitions to Event Organization. She has attended Citizenship Seminar and the Global Network Summit travel awards. She has also been awarded a Going Global exchange in Taiwan.

Brett has had varied experience in Agriculture through her family’s cattle and grain operation. She has worked with youth through 4-H camp, camp Monahan and her experience as an Early Childhood Educator at the YWCA daycare.

Brett has experienced the value of 4-H and is interested in becoming more involved with the decision making process of the 4-H council. She will bring an experienced and strong voice to the Board of Directors for the members of 4-H.

grace christensen

south east advisory council member

​I am 16 years old, and am in my 10th year as a member of the Alameda 4-H Beef Club. I live on a farm with my parents, my two sisters, our two dogs, and our cattle. I attend Lampman School as a 10th grader, and I love 4-H and the opportunities it has provided me. I hope to come home to the farm one day, and le my children participate in 4-H and have the opportunity to have the experience that I did.