The 4-H Canada Board of Directors is a volunteer governance board comprised of individuals from across Canada.

Meet the Directors

Carlie Whetter, Manitoba

Chair, 4-H Canada Board of Directors

Carlie was raised on a mixed farm in southwestern Manitoba. She was a member of the Kenton Kraftsmen 4-H Club, and a Manitoba 4-H Ambassador as an alumni. Now, as the progressive and innovative head leader of the Alexander 4-H Club, a large multipurpose club, she has adapted and flexed programming to meet the needs of over 40 club members. Carlie has been active in zone, area and provincial associations, most recently as president of Manitoba 4-H Council with her term ending November 2018. Carlie and her husband Darren have 3 kids, all involved in 4-H, and operate a grain farm growing certified seed. Carlie also works part-time as a consultant for a real estate company.

David Hansen, Manitoba

Vice-chair

With over 47 years in the agriculture industry (10 in grains, two in crop nutrition, and 35 in the seed and biosciences sector), and over six years of international business experience, David brings his wealth of experience to our board of directors. Outside of his work and volunteer hours, David enjoys spending time at the cottage with his wife, his two daughters and five grandchildren. Occasionally, you can find him golfing when time allows.    

Valerie Stone, Ontario

Past Chair

A graduate of the 4-H program growing up, Valerie was also the Ontario representative on the 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee for three years. Valerie would like to pass on what she learned in 4-H and continue to bring her passion, enthusiasm, authenticity, and unique perspective to the 4-H Canada Board of Directors.

Danielle Chu, Ontario

Director

As a Business and Regulatory Lawyer with Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP, Danielle has experience with the firm’s Competition, Foreign Investment, and International Trade Group, as well as the Regulatory, Environmental, Indigenous, and Land Issues Group. Her industry expertise spans everything from agriculture and agribusiness to natural resources and energy. Danielle is also passionate about working in team environments and takes pride in being both a member of a team and a leader. She is the current Committee Chair of the Osler Women Lawyers’ Network and has vast experience in leading committees, councils, athletic teams and clubs, and organizations.   

Ken Clark, British Columbia 

Director

A die-hard Boston Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, and New England Patriots fan, Ken is passionate about incorporating enthusiasm and fun into everyday life! Semi-retired after 51 years in the retail food industry, Ken is currently working as a consultant for partners to continue to grow their businesses. Outside of consulting, Ken is proud to be a part of the 4-H team and is also an active volunteer at the Langley Sources Food Bank.

Fawn Jackson, Ontario

Director

Fawn is a leading voice in Canadian Agriculture with a focus on international trade and sustainable agriculture systems. In her former role as Director of Policy and International Relations, Fawn leads the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association policy and government relations team. She has represented the beef industry in trade negotiations, such as the New NAFTA, Canada-UK Continuity Agreement, and was the founding Executive Director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. An avid advocate for the endangered grassland ecosystem, Fawn has sat on Canada’s Species at Risk Advisory Committee and is a current board member of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. She also helped establish one of Canada’s leading youth agriculture mentorship programs, as well as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Foundation, which is dedicated to youth, the environment, and research. 

Shelley Jones, Saskatchewan

Director

A 4-H alum from Saskatchewan, Shelley is passionate about agriculture, youth leadership, and community engagement. In her nearly 40-year career in agriculture, she is particularly proud of her involvement in the development of Saskatchewan’s first Agriculture Awareness Strategy. She credits her passion for volunteerism and public speaking to the programming of 4-H where those values and skills were developed. In her free time, you can find Shelley playing slo-pitch, golf, and hiking.  

Todd Klink, Saskatchewan

Director

Todd was raised on a mixed farm in southwestern Saskatchewan where he was a member of 4-H for several years. After graduating from university, Todd began working in agriculture and has been in the industry ever since. Todd joined Farm Credit Canada in 2003 and is currently Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer. Todd and his wife Kathryn have two teenaged children and live in Regina, SK.

Robert Larsen, Prince Edward Island

Director

From an early age, Robert, a youth agvocate, has worked on his family’s fourth-generation beef farm in Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island. He has been involved with the Albany Centennial 4-H Club for ten years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the Summerside District 4-H Council and the PEI 4-H Council. As a founding member of the 4-H PEI Members Advisory Committee, Robert believes in empowering youth by giving them a vehicle for their voices to be heard. Robert is pursuing a Bachelor of Agriculture Business from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture.

Tyler McCann, Quebec

Director

Tyler’s lifelong commitment to agriculture and food is exemplified through his career in agriculture policy, increasingly senior roles in and out of government, and as the owner-operator of a family farm business. As the current Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, Tyler is responsible for managing and directing a national agri-food policy think tank. In addition, he is currently a Senior Associate with T. Bjornson and Associates, where he advises agriculture and agri-food clients on policy, politics, communications, and strategy. A passionate 4-H supporter, Tyler is an alum who was part of the inaugural 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee. He went on to become a 4-H club leader, as well as a former Director and President of 4-H Quebec.  

Matt Boutilier, Nova Scotia

Youth Advisory Committee Representative to the Board

Matt is from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, and has been a 4-H member for the last eight years. Since joining 4-H, Matt has held the executive positions of club Secretary, club President, County President, and the County Member’s Voice Committee Representative. Matt is currently studying Political Science at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax and hopes to continue working with 4-H in the years to come. He hopes that he can continue to promote and help youth explore their passion for agriculture.

Brett Rumpel, Saskatchewan

Youth Advisory Committee Representative to the Board

Brett is from Craven, Saskatchewan and has been a member of the Longlaketon Multiple 4-H for 14 years. In addition to her many 4-H project achievements, Brett has also participated in national programs including a Going Global Exchange to Taiwan in 2018 and the Committee on World Food Security Conference in 2019. Not only does Brett have a passion for 4-H, but she is also enthusiastic about agriculture and working with children, leading her to pursue a degree in Plant Ecology from the University of Saskatchewan.