After 2021 brought a retirement and a couple of departures from our staff last year, the Henderson County Center is fully staffed again. Henderson County Extension welcomed Betsy J. Tankersley on January 3. Please welcome Betsy to our staff as our new Expanded Food & Nutrition Extension Program (EFNEP) Program Assistant.
Betsy will be working with youth and adults in the county in teaching them about good eating habits, proper nutrition, and leading active and healthy lifestyles. While she is currently in an intense training program, Betsy will soon be in local schools and community programs teaching the EFNEP curriculum. Studies have shown this curriculum does a great job in raising awareness among participants in making proper eating and lifestyle choices.
A native of Flat Rock and a resident of Henderson County, Betsy has a degree in Fine Arts from Blue Ridge Community College and certifications in Therapeutic Cuisine and Culinary Studies from Asheville-Buncombe Technical College. She served as an intern for Renay Knapp, retired Family & Consumer Science Agent, in the summer of 2021 as part of her studies at A-B Tech.
Betsy has a diverse background, having worked in the restaurant industry as well as the entertainment industry. She has worked with several community theatres as well as with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her cooking skills have won her numerous awards at both the NC State Fair and the Mountain State Fair as well as several county fair competitions.
Betsy is a former Henderson County 4-Her and knows the community well. She remembers her time as a 4-H Run About well. “The program provided the opportunity to participate in countless skill-building activities, which have helped prepare (me) for this position, many years later. Some of (my) fondest 4-H memories include poultry judging competitions and the mini-gardening program,” she said. Betsy continues to use these skills to serve as a third-generation farmer, currently raising chickens, goats and one ornery pot-bellied pig!
Henderson County Cooperative Extension is fortunate to have someone who likes to cook join our team. We do have some folks who enjoy eating. Some of Betsy’s favorite culinary creations to make are unexpected flavors with healthy ingredients, such as her award-winning vegan sweet potato-peanut butter ice cream. Yeah, she says it's better than it sounds.
Her goal as an EFNEP Program Assistant is to empower local families with the knowledge of how to obtain, create and consume more nutritious meals. We look forward to the impact that Betsy will have on our community. Please welcome Betsy to our team and stop by and visit her at the Henderson County Extension Center. Betsy can be reached at 697-4891 or at bjtanker@ncsu.edu.
