From serving as a leader and educator in the local food system to working as an agronomist with farmers from the South, Northeast, and Midwest, Nancy Williams has shown true dedication to furthering sustainability efforts around the country.
Nancy also serves on the Center for Rural Affairs Advisory Committee. Members are recruited for their special backgrounds and insight into the Center’s program areas and meet quarterly along with the Board of Directors and Center staff.
“I love that the Center is unapologetically rural and demonstrates the value of diversity and inclusion in many aspects of operation,” said Nancy. “The Center acknowledges that there is opportunity for growth and development while also celebrating what is working.”
Nancy discovered the Center in the late 1990s while on her quest to find out more about the local food system and farming in Nebraska.
“I have learned more about the Center, and in meeting the people involved over the past couple of decades, I am impressed with the intention and growth,” she said. “The solutions that the Center works to bring to fruition are inclusive, collaborative, and systems-influenced.”
During her time on the Center’s Advisory Committee, Nancy has been able to share her expertise and experience while also learning more about Nebraska and its communities.
“The Advisory Committee has a grassroots feel and focus,” she said. “My favorite part of being on the committee is hearing and reading about the staff and community engagement and the results of the collaborations. I am also a fan of rural communities and believe in the inherent potential to improve connection and our economy.”
Nancy’s personal and professional experiences have given her a deep appreciation and understanding of the Center’s work. She took her first steps into the world of agriculture while spending time with her grandmother, an Extension educator, learning about gardening and food production. Because of her family’s passion for growing and sharing their produce, Nancy was involved with 4-H and the National FFA Organization when she was growing up.
She then received scholarships that helped her attend Louisiana State University and earn a degree in horticulture. Nancy went on to Cornell University and a master’s degree in weed science with a minor in plant pathology.
In 2016, Nancy was named president and CEO of No More Empty Pots, a nonprofit organization out of Omaha, which she co-founded in 2010. Today, she is managing partner at Block 27 Consulting, a family business that focuses on taking advantage of strengths and talents to help grow generational wealth for clients and communities.
Nancy says she’s eager to see how the Center will continue to grow and expand its mission. She’s also grateful to the Center and its staff for their hard work.
“I believe that our future is dependent on engaging all of our strengths collaboratively and for our common good,” she said. “I believe that the Center's work demonstrates the value and impact of authenticity, collaboration, and investment. The Center is a testament to folks caring and committing to a vision and the possibility of positive change and impact. I appreciate the Center and its stakeholders for being a beacon of hope and example of good works in our community.”
Nancy lives in Omaha and has been a member of the Advisory Committee since March 2021.
Photo by Analisa Swerczek
