The Canadian 4-H Foundation was established in 1969 to ensure the legacy of 4-H Canada and continue to provide national programs and events that help members Learn To Do By Doing.
A federally incorporated, not-for profit organization, the Canadian 4-H Foundation is made up of experienced and knowledgeable individuals responsible for overseeing and managing 4-H Canada's endowment funds in a reliable, ethical, and intelligent manner.
Meet the Trustees
Gene Fraser
CHAIR, MANITOBA
Gene Fraser is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Raised on a family farm in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, he moved to Winnipeg and dedicated over forty years to MacDon Industries Ltd., holding roles from Operations to Vice President of Business Development. Active in agricultural associations and youth programs like 4-H, he is passionate about mentoring future leaders. Gene and his wife Sheri enjoy traveling, music, and plan to visit all 32 NHL arenas! Additionally, their goal and passion is to give back to their community, province and country in someway to make it a better place tomorrow.
Ashwin Ramesh
VICE-CHAIR, ONTARIO
Ashwin Ramesh is a sustainability and impact leader with deep experience advancing strategies that support resilient and purpose-driven growth. He currently leads the Environmental Sustainability team at Farm Credit Canada, where he oversees ESG due diligence, climate and nature strategies, and stakeholder engagement across the agri-food system. Previously, he led the Sustainability & Impact Strategy team at McDonald’s Canada, managing initiatives in climate action, circularity, and sustainable agriculture. He is passionate about youth development and agriculture and is proud to contribute to the future of both as a trustee of the Canadian 4-H Foundation.
Ben Graham
PAST CHAIR, ALBERTA
Ben Graham is a country boy at heart. He comes by it honestly — his family has farmed the same land for over a century. Ben is passionate about agriculture and especially 4-H. As a second generation 4-H’er he was a member of the Vulcan West 4-H Beef club and transitioned to the Champion 4-H Beef club for 10 years. During that time he attended numerous regional, national and international 4-H events and conferences. Ben was named to the Alberta Premier’s Award group where he travelled the province as an ambassador for 4-H. Today, Ben is proud to be Chair of the Canadian 4-H Foundation Board and is currently President of AdFarm – Canada’s largest agriculturally focused communications agency.
Valerie Stone Grech
DIRECTOR, ONTARIO
Valerie was a proud 4-H member in Brant County, Ontario, even serving on the Youth Advisory Committee, as a 4-H representative at the Food and Agriculture Organization's 41st Conference on Agriculture and, ultimately, as a 4-H facilitator, leading the 4-H Dairy Club in her hometown. In addition to her bachelor's degree, Valerie holds a diploma from the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and has over ten years' experience in the agricultural field. In her spare time, she enjoys fastball, figure skating, volunteering and playing with her two dogs!
Jacob Fergus
TRUSTEE, NEW BRUNSWICK
Originally from Ottawa, ON, Jacob Fergus believes in bettering his community by sharing his time, expertise, and experiences with organizations such as ours. Jacob brings with him over 20 years of experience in the communications field, including experience with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Parliament Hill, and with the Ottawa Hospital where he was key player in the development and launch of a multimillion-dollar fundraising effort. Outside of work, Jacob has a passion for photography and writing, and can also be found coaching his kids’ soccer, baseball, and hockey teams!
Ryan Riese
TRUSTEE, ALBERTA
Growing up on a farm in Manitoba, Ryan’s passion for agriculture started early, and he believes farm living is the best education you can get! He has used his MBA and CPA to dedicate much of his career to the industry, and is currently the National Director, Agriculture with RBC, a position he has held since 2018. Outside of work, you can find him chasing after his young son who is crawling and ripping every cord out of the wall!
Arron Madson
TRUSTEE, ALBERTA
A 4-H alum from the Sundre Beef Club in Alberta, Arron has spent much of his career in the agriculture industry. With a decade of working for 4-H Alberta and a decade of experience with various advertising agencies, Arron is currently the President of Agcall, a company he has worked at for the past 19 years. Arron has visited every Canadian province apart from the Yukon & Territories, and enjoys riding, golf, volunteering, and spending time with his wonderful wife, three kids, and granddaughter.
Lisa Ashton
TRUSTEE, ONTARIO
Lisa’s passion for Canada’s agriculture sector and its role as a global leader in production, innovation, and sustainability was shaped by her upbringing on her family’s farm in Southwestern Ontario. This early interest led her to pursue post-graduate degrees in Ireland, Germany, and most recently at the University of Guelph, where she completed a PhD focused on the governance of scaling natural climate solutions in Canadian agriculture. Currently, Lisa serves as Director of Agriculture Policy at RBC Thought Leadership, where she leads agriculture and food research and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining RBC, she was the Sustainability Lead at Grain Farmers of Ontario and worked as a consultant, helping not-for-profit organizations and companies develop and implement regenerative agriculture strategies.