Staff
Tonya Wells,
Founder & Executive Director
Tonya Wells
Executive Director, Lead Mentor
Tonya believes God has given her a passion for everything related to horses and has a strong desire to share that passion with others. She has been a teacher at heart from childhood; received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Education from Illinois State University; and taught at Princeton High School. She started showing horses in 4-H as a child and continued to show at local shows in halter, western, saddleseat, huntseat, trail, and dressage. Tonya has trained horses and given riding lessons for over 25 years. Since 2014 she has been a certified therapeutic riding instructor through PATH Intl.
Executive Director, Lead Mentor
Tonya believes God has given her a passion for everything related to horses and has a strong desire to share that passion with others. She has been a teacher at heart from childhood; received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Education from Illinois State University; and taught at Princeton High School. She started showing horses in 4-H as a child and continued to show at local shows in halter, western, saddleseat, huntseat, trail, and dressage. Tonya has trained horses and given riding lessons for over 25 years. Since 2014 she has been a certified therapeutic riding instructor through PATH Intl.
Laura Endress,
Mentor
Laura Endress
Mentor
Laura has been a volunteer with Sol's for three years and we are so excited for her to become a member of our staff in 2021! Laura is a freshmen at Black Hawk East in the Ag Production/Business program and serves as a student ambassador. She lives on a multi-generational farm and loves helping, especially during planting and harvest. When she is not working, she enjoys playing with her two horses and improving her knowledge and skills with horses. Laura has six siblings and focuses on spending time with family and friends. She has a passion to help others, especially when it comes to her love of horses and agriculture!
Mentor
Laura has been a volunteer with Sol's for three years and we are so excited for her to become a member of our staff in 2021! Laura is a freshmen at Black Hawk East in the Ag Production/Business program and serves as a student ambassador. She lives on a multi-generational farm and loves helping, especially during planting and harvest. When she is not working, she enjoys playing with her two horses and improving her knowledge and skills with horses. Laura has six siblings and focuses on spending time with family and friends. She has a passion to help others, especially when it comes to her love of horses and agriculture!