Board of Directors and Staff
OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Anne Horjus, President
Youth Services Program Coordinator, Baraboo Public Library
Speaker and Member, Wisconsin Humanities Council's ShopTalk Team
Instructor, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
Author-Artist-Illustrator
Paul Bierman, Vice President
Elementary School Principal, School District of Reedsburg
Volunteer Firefighter, Reedsburg Fire Department
Honorary Member, Reedsburg-Western Sauk County Rotary Club
Andrew (Andy) L. Hager, Treasurer
Private Wealth Advisor and Certified Financial Planner, Ameriprise
Treasurer, Baraboo Area Literacy Council
Board Member, Varigen
Owner, Acorn Hill Farm LLC
Meg Allen, Secretary
Director, Baraboo Public Library (retired)
Former Board Member, Baraboo Area Literacy Council
Annette Crowder, Director
Madison Community Elder Representative, Ho-Chunk Nation (HCN), Tribal Aging Unit
Married to HCN tribal member Parent, KIDS RANCH participant
Vice Chair, Local Indian Educational Council/Johnson O’ Malley
Former Member, Boys n Girls Club Board of Directors
Former Member, Governors Juvenile Justice Commission for Wisconsin
Sue Halvensleben, Director
Member, Board of Education, St. Peter's School, Reedsburg
Member, American Legion Auxiliary
Elementary School Teacher, Wisconsin Dells School District & St. Joseph Catholic School, Baraboo (retired)
Linda Hale, Director
Attorney, Hale's Legal Service
Tutor, KIDS RANCH, Baraboo School District
Bonnie Hayskar, Director
Publisher and Editor, PANGAEA
Tutor, KIDS RANCH, Wisconsin Dells School District, Briggsville
Treasurer, Stewards of the Dells of the Wisconsin River
Volunteer Historic Site Guide & Member, Dells Country Historical Society
STAFF
Penny Johnson, Executive Director
Youth Services Teen Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator, Baraboo Public Library (retired)
Volunteer, Baraboo Public Schools
Former Member, Vice President, & President, Baraboo School District Board of Education
Mary Bowers, Co-founder and Education Coordinator
Board Member and Founder, Sauk County Children's Giving Tree
Board Member, Reading Connections
Elementary School Teacher, St. Joseph Catholic School, Baraboo (retired)
Theresa Parker, Social Worker
Joan Fordham, Bookkeeper
District 17 Supervisor, Sauk County Board of Supervisors (retired)
Ashley Bostwick is an artist and a second-year graduate student at Mount Mary University pursuing a Master of Science in Art Therapy with an emphasis in counseling. She is originally from Michigan where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art with a minor in Psychology from Saginaw Valley State University. Ashley has resided in the Madison area for the last six years where she has focused on elder care both in hospice and life enrichment with special training in dementia and adaptive arts. She enjoys running, painting, gardening, and exploring nearby parks with her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Penelope.
Mary Bowers Since 1998, Mary has been the Kids Ranch Education Coordinator. Mary graduated cum laude from Silver Lake College earning a BS degree in elementary education. She taught second and third grade for seven years in Green Bay and first grade for nine years at St. Joseph, Baraboo.
Mary and Jim, her husband of 43 years, live in Baraboo. They have three children: Jim, Betsy and Ann, and are blessed with nine grandchildren. Anne Rakos and Mary co-founded the Sauk County Children’s Giving Tree in 1987. In her free time Mary enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and volunteering for the Giving Tree.
Richard Krause has a degree in Biological Aspects of Conservation, from UW-Milwaukee. He has worked with the DNR as an educator/camp counselor/crew leader in SE WI as part of the Youth Conservation Corp (YCC). He also worked with the Milwaukee Public School System at their nature center, ran the planetarium program, worked at the zoo, and at the Oak Ridge Farm, all part of the Milwaukee Public Schools recreation department.
The Milwaukee Co. Park System worked in collaboration with the UW-Extension to create a traveling program called, “Nature in the Parks”. Its purpose was to immerse youth in their local greenspace. Richard worked as the lead naturalist and program coordinator on that project, working with 1000’s of children annually.
Richard also worked at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, where he worked with middle and high school age students. The “Center” specializes in aquatic programming in SE Wis.
Ten years ago Richard began his own business-“Moon in the Cradle,” which focuses on teaching and environmental instruction for people of all ages. For more information Richard can be reached at: mooninthecradle@gmail.com . Richard has a 24-year-old son, and has recently returned to the area that initially instilled his love of nature
Tabitha Stelter is a school counselor at Spring Hill Elementary. She began there in the fall of 2014 after completing 8 years as middle school counselor for the Adams-Friendship Area School District. Tabitha has a M.A. in School Counseling from Marquette, and a B.A. in English/Psychology from Carroll University (College) where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She resides in Montello with her husband, Lucas of nearly 9 years, and their children, daughter Aurora (6) and son William (4). Tabitha also keeps a beautiful flower garden and enjoys the outdoors.
More People we love...
Kaaren Anderson is an art therapist, counselor, and educator; she has Master of Arts degrees in Education and Art Therapy / Professional Counseling. Kaaren is a Transition Coordinator for the Wisconsin Dells School District, a therapist for Transitions Behavioral Health in Portage, and owner of Red Fern Art Therapy & Counseling. Kaaren lives on a hobby farm with her husband and son in an 1840's farmhouse, where she keeps bees and chickens, perpetually renovates, and makes art when time allows.
Interested in art therapy? You can contact Kaaren at or on FaceBook:
Kaaren worked with Kids Ranch the summer of 2018 and we are so very grateful for the many many fantastic photos she took of the campers that summer and for her care and professionalism. Thank you Kaaren!