Our Board & Staff
Amy Peterson
Amy , Co-Founder and Head of Farm Operations, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience serving adults with disabilities. Amy is from Minnesota and has lived and worked in the busiest metro to the most rural counties. Amy graduated from Northwestern College in 2007 with a Bachelors in Kinesiology and Minor is Special Education. Prior to co-founding 21 Roots Farm Amy worked for six years at Adventurous Christian a wilderness camp in Grand Marais, Minnesota. There, Amy managed the camp kitchen, hosted groups and acted as a wilderness guide for adults and children of all ages. Amy also has experience working in a one-on-one capacity with children with disabilities and with adults in their home. Amy is excited by the therapeutic and calming effect of nature on all humans, and finds joy in exploring these adventures with people from varying skill sets and interests.
Brittany Wiitala
Brittany , Co-Founder and Program Manager, leads the programming at 21 Roots with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing people with disabilities. Brittany grew up in rural Wisconsin and was submursed in agriculture. Brittany attended Northwestern College and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Brittany has over 10 years of experience serving people impacted by disabilities in a variety of settings. Brittany, with her long-time friend Amy, Co-Founder and Head of Farm Operations, decided to create even more opportunities for people with disabilities by opening 21 Roots Farm in the summer of 2019. Brittany is dedicated to creating experiences for all people using agriculture, nature and their natural talents. She believes that through connecting with other adults, animals and nature is an important way to build self-confidence and find purpose through work.
Dan Thibault
Dan has been involved with 21 Roots Farm since its inception and has helped get us off the ground. He is the father of 9 children (2 grandchildren) including 3 with Down syndrome were adopted – one at birth and two from the same orphanage in Ukraine. As the idea of 21 Roots Farm was being developed, he and his wife saw there was a large need in the community to have a place where adults and children with disabilities could spend time in agricultural activities that can help them gain a sense of purpose, instead of spending time on electronic devices or working full time at a job that may be less fulfilling. Ricky, Stas, and Susha love spending time at the farm and getting their hands dirty as well as connecting with others. Dan received his bachelor degree at the University of St. Thomas and law degree at William Mitchell College of law. He is currently a Partner at Ernst & Young (EY) where he is responsible for leading their tax managed services.
Blair Juliar
Blair has 37 years of experience in the construction industry. He has been employed at Sheehy Construction Company since he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management from Mankato State University in 1991. Blair has 4 adult children and currently resides in Shoreview. In his spare time, Blair enjoys cycling, serving at his church, hunting, outdoor activities and teaching firearms safety. Blair has previously served on the Board of Eagle Brook Church and Home Educator’s Resource Organization. Blair was introduced to 21 Roots Farm while experiencing Wednesday Night Explorer’s with his son Cooper. Cooper has Cri Du Chat syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder. Cooper has had a tremendously positive impact on Blair’s life and 21 Roots Farm and its staff have had a very positive impact on Cooper’s life.
Jen Ware
Jen currently works at Tradition Capital Bank as a Client Experience Officer, a role combining her previous work experiences and passions. Building relationships and making a difference in people’s lives motivate her. Jen earned her degree in Foundations of Education from the University of Minnesota and found her passion for teaching and business in a career at Evereve, a Minnesota based women’s retailer that has become a national brand with 100+ stores. As a founding employee, she spent 9 years building the brand and developing the employee culture while leading store teams as a Regional Director. Following her heart to make a difference in the world led Jen to MATTER, a non-profit organization where she built relationships with donors in the US and Africa in a Director of Donor Relations role. Jen lives in North Oaks where she enjoys spending time outside in nature, running and spending time with her husband Jim and their 3 kids. Jen is excited to be a part of the 21 Roots Farm team with hopes of adding value and support in fundraising and donor relations.
Karen Quammen