New NDA Entomology Inspector

Bonnie Straka is the newest central Nebraska plant inspector for the Department of Agriculture. Originally from the Washington D.C. area, Bonnie was raised a Cornhusker and decided to make it official by attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for her undergrad. Bonnie double majored in entomology and forensic science. She became interested in the agricultural industry when she started working in a lab that studied Western Corn Rootworms and their resistance to different transgenic corn traits. Bonnie has held multiple entomology internships, including a research position at Dupont Pioneer in Des Moines and a pest management position at Disney World. After her time in Florida, Bonnie moved back to Nebraska, where she got married and settled down in Omaha with her husband Mark and black lab Elliot. Bonnie started a master's program in natural resources and environmental science through the University of Illinois and a biology internship with the Army Corps of Engineers. Although she enjoyed her time at the Corps, Bonnie wanted to return to her entomology roots and found the NDA inspector position. Bonnie is based in Hastings and enjoys getting to know her clients in the industry and exploring more of Nebraska through her work.