With 2017 coming to a close, so does Andrew Hiltz time as the Saskatchewanderer.

The provincially-funded position is awarded to one lucky applicant each year, with that person's job being to travel Saskatchewan, promote our province and record it all along the way.

Hiltz spent the year visiting 157 different locations, 161 community events and spent 222 days on the road showing off the beauty and diversity that Saskatchewan has to offer.

Hiltz says his favourite experience of the year was flying with the snowbirds... twice.

"I got to take the air with them to highlight their training program. Kept in touch one of the pilots and a few of the people I worked with there, pestered them for a couple of months and managed to get myself in the back seat for the Canada Day flyover. That's what I have to strive for is to beat that experience in life, because that was incredible. Once in a lifetime... that I got to do twice".

Though the landscape and events were all great, he said he drew the most inspiration from the people who live in the province.

"It's tough to put words on the amount of inspiration I took from the incredible people of this province. It's one big small town. It feels like home no matter what community you go into. This province is so incredible for welcoming you and making you feel like one of their own".