Meet the Staff

Kaleena is the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Horticulture Agent and started work with the Madison Jefferson County Extension office in February of 2019. Since moving to Butte from New York state in 2011, Kaleena has served as an AmeriCorps member, worked for the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), and most recently, worked for the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO). She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Economics and Management from the University of Rhode Island and a Master's Degree in Environmental Policy from Bard College.  Kaleena lives with her husband Dave in Butte and in her free time, you can find her doing something active such as hiking, skiing, or playing volleyball. She also enjoys the challenge of gardening in Butte's short growing season.

Merissa is the 4-H Youth Development Agent and began working with the Madison Jefferson County Extension office in May of 2023. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Agribusiness from Abilene Christian University and a Master's Degree in Agriculture and graduate certificates in Sustainable Agriculture and Project Management from Washington State University. Merissa grew up in the forested foothills of Mt Rainier where she participated in 4-H with an alpaca named Chilivio.  She has spent time working on ranches in Texas, lessons barns in Washington, a goat dairy in Tennessee, and a brief period in Forli, Italy teaching English. In her spare time, she can be found playing music, crafting, playing pickleball, and exploring the great State of Montana and beyond.

Sadie joined the office in August of 2023 as the Program Assistant for Agriculture and 4-H. She grew up on the bench of Mt. Ben Lomond in North Ogden, Utah and lived there up until 2018, when she and her husband, Tanner, relocated to his hometown of Whitehall. She graduated from Weber State University, at the age of 33, after several attempts and she wants to remind people that life is not linear. She has a BS in Zoology and studied Biology, Chemistry and for a time, Forensic Science at WSU. She is proud to be a Wildcat. Sadie worked at ARUP Laboratories in the Biochemical Genetics Lab, where she excelled at complex testing. She left the lab due to the long commute from Whitehall to Salt Lake City. Sadie currently lives in Whitehall with her husband, son, George and mother-in-law, Chris. She enjoys watching sports, playing golf, knitting, baking and playing with her toddler. In her “free time” she is usually trying to grab a nap.