LINCOLN, Nebraska — Nebraska Extension has appointed Beth Nacke and Hannah Guenther as Statewide Food, Nutrition, and Health Rural Health Educators, effective September 1. The focus and target audience is rural youth, adults, families, and the communities and environments in which they live and work. Health behavior change and translation of research will be the foundation of their program development, delivery, evaluation and assessment.
Rural health is a key priority for Nebraska Extension, which serves residents across the state, regardless of location. Nacke and Guenther are part of Extension Food, Nutrition and Health program, focusing on individual behavior patterns and environments that prevent/reduce chronic health conditions and improve human well-being, a safe and diverse food supply and system with choice and access for people focused on health, and rural health, safety, and wellbeing.
Nacke, a registered dietitian, has served as a SNAP-Ed educator in Dodge County since 2018 and has been with the Dodge office since 2016, working under contract with the Nutrition Education Program. She has been instrumental in delivering grant objectives for SNAP-Ed, school wellness, and school breakfast programs in partnership with DHHS and NDE-Team Nutrition. Nacke holds a master’s degree in nutrition science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“I am thrilled to take on this new challenge—health and well-being are my passion,” Nacke said. “The Rural Health position opens an abundance of opportunities to make a meaningful, positive impact on the lives of rural communities, and I welcome the challenge. I aim to be a trusted resource for credible health information across the state and work with public health partners to address the complex health issues facing Nebraskans.”
Guenther has served in Extension for the past 5 years as the Food, Nutrition, and Health Educator in Cuming County with Accountability to Stanton and Colfax Counties. Key programs have included the creation of Health Food Fast and Food in the Field which is a nutrition education program that aims to help farmers, and their families make healthy eating choices during the busy seasons of life and farming. She earned her bachelor's degree in Dietetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She is currently pursuing a master’s in public health from UC-Berkeley as a Rural Health Innovation Scholar.
“This truly feels like a dream job. I am eager to dedicate my time and energy to improving health outcomes in rural Nebraska and making a real difference in rural health,” Guenther said.
In her free time, Guenther enjoys experimenting with new recipes in her kitchen, which she shares on her social media account, @feedlotsofpeople.
