Our Board

Arnold Balicki ranches with his wife Peggy, son Leonard and daughter Sarah. They own and operate the LB Ranch located north of Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, where they raise commercial and pure bred Black Angus cattle. Arnold has been involved with the SK VBP Program over a number of years as a presenter, an auditor and as a producer - his ranch is VBP audited. For the past 2 years he has served on AITC-SK board as a producer, representing the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. He has served on the Board of Directors for Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association since 2005. AITC-SK has a special meaning for him, his daughter worked at AITC-SK during university. Her employment with AITC gave him insight as to what AITC-SK meant and how it brings a greater awareness about agriculture to Saskatchewan students. He has enjoyed serving on the AITC Board of Directors representing the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.

Keith grain farms South of Lone Rock in NW Saskatchewan where he grows canola, wheat and peas. Part of the farm is at Maidstone where his great grandfather homesteaded as a Barr Colonist. Keith has been involved with SaskCanola since 2017 as a director. He is passionate about promoting agriculture in a positive way and building trust between consumers and farmers. He has a diploma in agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan and cherishes the connections that resulted in attaining his degree.

Ashton Wilson, CPA, CA, is a Business Advisor with MNP’s Agriculture Services team in Saskatoon. In her work, Ashton collaborates one-on-one with individuals, small businesses and corporations in the agricultural sector, with a focus on family grain farms. She is experienced with corporate and personal tax planning, operational governance, succession planning, financial reporting and strategic planning. Ashton earned a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) in accounting from the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business in 2012. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2014.

Heather Boensch was raised on a mixed cattle and grain farm in South Western Saskatchewan. She received her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture majoring in Agronomy from the University of Saskatchewan, is a member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (PAg), and Certified Crop Science Consultant (CCSC). Heather has worked in the agriculture industry for over sixteen years and brings experience in the areas of Strategy, Communications, Territory Sales Management, Recruitment, Agronomy, and Market Development. She is the Director of Business Resources for Winfield United where she oversees technical training and professional development, organizational development and financial services for Winfield United Owners.

Sarah Hein is the Director of Public Trust with the Ministry of Agriculture. Sarah leads a team that works closely with the agriculture industry to better understand the factors that impact people’s trust and acceptance of modern agriculture and what steps are necessary to ensure the sector remains trusted, competitive and sustainable. Sarah also works with federal and provincial partners to align public trust efforts and programming. Although Sarah grew up on a dairy farm in Alberta, she is proud to say she now considers Saskatchewan home.

Kathy Doucette is an Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator with Cargill. In her work, Kathy collaborates to lead and deploy strategic initiatives to build a safety first workplace culture. Kathy also leads her peers across the province on key community enrichment programs that focus on promoting food security, nutrition and sustainability. She grew up on a grain farm in Saskatchewan, is inspired by her young daughter, and is confident in the future of agriculture when you provide kids with opportunities to learn, explore, be inquisitive and come to their own conclusions.

John Bumbac operates a 6,000 acre family farm at Assiniboia, SK where they grow lentils, peas, canola, durum, and spring wheat. Pulse crops account for approximately 25% of their acres. John was a teacher and administrator for thirty years in rural Saskatchewan. He has been an active member of Five Hills Regional Health Authority Board, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Board, and the Viterra Farm Leadership Council Board. He also volunteers for Canadian Blood Services and the University of Regina Senate. John Chairs the Audit & Finance Committee and is a member of the Research & Development and Governance Committees. He also serves on the Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Board of Directors.

Brad Schultz is the Vice President of Finance for the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC). Brad started with SCIC on July 22, 2019. In his current role, Brad is responsible for the Finance, Compliance, Privacy and Facilities of the organization. Prior to his current role, Brad worked in the Credit Union financial cooperative for 30 years. His roles with the Credit Union included many areas with the last 20 years being in management. With the Canadian Co-operative Association, Brad had the opportunity to assist in the development of mature financial systems at the Credit Unions in Malawi and Uganda over a period of two years. Brad was also a member of School Boards for 13 years and a member of the local Co-op Board for 20 years. His involvement with the Co-op Board allowed him the opportunity to be elected to the Federated Co-op Board of Directors and most recently to President Chair of the Board of Federated Co-operatives Limited. Brad is very involved in his community, as well as in his children's activities. He has had the pleasure of coaching his children in many sports including hockey, soccer, baseball and football. Brad remains active in the farming community as he owns purebred Angus cattle. This opportunity allows Brad to spend time out in the country during calving and throughout the year. In addition, it is common for Brad to be seen operating farm machinery, especially during harvest, proving you can’t take the farmer out of the boy.

Sarah Heppner is a Marketing Manager at Fast Genetics. She grew up on a mixed farm near Spiritwood, SK, where her family raised cattle and grew grains and forages. After graduating high school, Sarah obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan. This is when she was first introduced to volunteering with AITC (through being involved in the CALM initiative). She now works for Fast Genetics, a pig genetics company with roots in Saskatchewan, and currently manage their marketing and communications while also completing her MBA through the University of Guelph. Outside of her career, Sarah loves getting involved in anything to do with promoting agriculture and educating on how incredible the industry is. Some of these activities, outside of AITC, include advising on the Sask Pork Symposium board, being an educator on Farm and Food Care food influencer tour, and working with the Animal (Bio) Science Club at the UofS on educating students about careers available in their field.

Jessica Lovich is a passionate dairy farmer from the Regina area. With her husband, they own Lovholm Holsteins, a dairy farm that focuses on genetics and production. They are also currently raising the next generation of future agricultural leaders with their three girls. Outside of farm life Jessica and her family are all actively involved in their community through sports and youth groups. Jessica is currently a director for SaskMilk but would love to be part of the AITC organization as well. Their family farm hosts farm tours through Ag In the Classroom and other industry partners. They love talking agriculture with school groups, industry groups and various tours that come to their farm. It is important that people understand the agriculture industry and how it impacts their lives. Jessica feels she would be an asset to the AITC board as she is passionate about education and have experience with the program as well.

Lana Mollard is corporate secretary and executive assistant to the president of Ag-West Bio and the ABIC Foundation. In her role, Lana supports the office of the president and is responsible for the oversight and management of the operations of the Board of Directors and its committees. She also advised the Board and senior management on corporate governance. Lana is a member of the Governance Professionals of Canada and a committee member for their Saskatoon Chapter. Lana was born in Humboldt, SK and raised in Saskatoon, SK. She enjoyed spending time on her grandparents grain farm in southwestern Saskatchewan where she helped deliver meals to the fields during harvest, riding in the grain trucks and combines and even during the big farm truck.

Jessica Podhordeski is the Community Relations/Public Education Coordinator for Sask Pork. Jessica, her husband and their two boys live on a farm near Marcelin, SK. Jessica grew up in Saskatoon with no real family connection to Agriculture. Her love of horses led her to join 4-H, and later to the College of Agriculture where she received a BSA in Animal Science. During her time at university, Jessica gained much hands-on experience, as well as married into a farming family. Jessica's career so far has been strongly focused in the hog sector and public education, but has also included the beef, sheep, goat and dairy industries. Last year my Jessica and her husband purchased the farm from his parents and now run a retail hay operation. They are excited to expand and to finally be able to raise their family on the farm!