Jason and Laura Lee Petersen are proof that volunteering pays off. After all, it's what brought them together over 20 years ago. "We are both community-minded and at the time we volunteered at the local dinner theatre," says Laura Lee. "We were cast as boyfriend and girlfriend in the play, and by the end, let's just say, we weren't acting!"
They both grew up in rural Saskatchewan. Jason grew up in Lake Alma, a small village about an hour south of Weyburn. He developed a strong work ethic early on in life. His family was active in the community, operated a mixed farm with grain and cattle, and there was always work to be done.
Laura Lee's family ran a grain farm in Radville, about 30 minutes southwest of Weyburn. In addition to farming, she says her parents also operated pedigree seed and ag management coaching businesses. She inherited some of her family's entrepreneurial spirit and perhaps that's why opening the new UFA petroleum agency in Weyburn was appealing.
The couple made their home in Lake Alma for a decade before moving to the farm they call home today. Running a cattle ranch, raising an active 12-year-old son, and both working off the farm, make for busy days, not that it stopped Laura Lee from pursuing her life-long dream of getting her MBA. "It is a family MBA," she laughs. "As a busy working mom, it took a lot of support and patience from my family."
Laura Lee has an impressive resume that includes managing national Human Resource projects. Together with Jason's many years of experience in the fuel and agriculture business, they have the ideal mix of skills and expertise to run a successful petroleum agency.
Why UFA? Laura Lee says it was a no-brainer. "We saw lots of signage and heard the buzz that UFA was expanding in Saskatchewan, so we kept our eye out for the agent posting," she says. "Reviewing the qualifications, we ticked every box. And the more we learned about UFA, the more it aligned with our approach to business; providing quality products supported by excellent service."
Jason adds that UFA being a member-owned co-operative, was the determining factor. "We believe strongly in the co-operative business model; patronage can be a real difference-maker for members. We have had many conversations with leadership at UFA, and it is clear they have a vested interest in their agent's success. When an organization has a service-leader mentality, it trickles down. And that's obvious with UFA."
Both Jason and Laura Lee are active in their communities including volunteer work with the local Recreation Board, minor hockey and 4-H. "We've been raised to give back to the communities we serve," says Laura Lee.
The couple also emphasizes the importance of knowing your market and your customers. "UFA is a western Canadian company that understands agriculture, the energy sector and the overall needs of the Weyburn area. And through UFA, we will be the exclusive distributors of Dieselex® Gold, a proven product that consistently outperforms other diesel fuel," says Jason.
Jason and Laura Lee welcome the opportunity and look forward to supplying Weyburn and the area with great products and excellent service from a state-of-the-art facility.
