CALGARY, AB – 4-H Alberta is pleased to announce the appointment of its first elected board members at the May 29, 2021 Annual General Meeting.

The Interim 4-H Alberta Board appointed a Governance and Nominating Committee and conducted an open, transparent search for the first elected 4-H Alberta Board. The Governance and Nominating Committee was charged with developing the first slate of nominees to be elected by the voting members and an election took place at the AGM. The Interim Board completed their term at the AGM, May 29, 2021.

“On behalf of the Interim Board of Directors, 4-H Alberta, we are pleased to welcome the first elected Board of Directors of the new 4-H Alberta,” said Lyanne Almberg, past board chair. “Their leadership experience and expertise will bring energy, and will help to strengthen and continue leading the organization forward to better serve our members and our community.”

Joining the board are Scott Bodie (Diversity Director), Tim Church (Area Director, East/West Central), Andrea Hanson, (Area Director, Calgary/South) Evan Jamieson (Youth Representative), Syeda Khurram, (Diversity Director), Kathleen Linder, (Area Director, Northwest), Nora Paulovich, (Area Director, Peace), Andy Pittman (Diversity Director), Cathy Price, (Diversity Director), Christine Suominen (Diversity Director) and Janice Wirsta (Area Director, Northeast). Ex-officio members include Kurt Kinnear, CEO, and Jake Kotowich, GoA Rep, Executive Director of Agriculture & Forestry.

The five Area Directors represent an Area and were elected by the Area.  The five Diversity Directors were elected by the Board of Directors based on business, competency, skills, diversity and geography.  Andy Pittman will serve as Board Chair, Christine Suominen as Vice-Chair, Syeda Khurram as Treasurer, Cathy Price as Secretary, and Lyanne Almberg, Past Board Chair.

Andy Pittman (Board Chair) has over 20 years of 4-H experience. Pittman lives on a farm in southern Alberta near Picture Butte and raises purebred sheep.  He is also the Farm Operations Manager at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Lethbridge. He has held many executive positions in 4-H Alberta over the years, and most recently was a director on the Interim 4-H Alberta Board.  Andy Pittman was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame in 2020.  “I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as Chairman of the 4-H Alberta Board of Directors,” said Pittman.  “I look forward to leading and serving our members and our community.  This is a significant moment in the history of our organization as we continue to lead the vision of ONE 4-H Alberta with dedication and passion.”

About 4-H Alberta

4-H Alberta is the new streamlined youth development body registered under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. It combines the former three-party organizations that operated 4-H in Alberta, the 4-H Council of Alberta, the 4-H Foundation of Alberta, and the 4-H Section of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

After extensive consultation with Alberta’s 4-H community, changes to the current structure were deemed necessary. The newly formed 4-H Alberta involved new governance, a new structure and operating model that is efficient and effective, supported by a modernized constitution/by-law alignment to coordinate 4-H staff and volunteer roles and build operational harmony for the growth of the 4-H leadership program in Alberta.

For more information, visit www.4hab.com.

Media Contact:
Shane Guiltner
Interim Director, Marketing Communications & Technology
4-H Alberta
(403) 862-7105
shane.guiltner@4hab.com