Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh

Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh is passionate about local history. She was raised in Blaine County in the Nebraska Sandhills, graduated from Sandhills High School, received her BA from UN-L with a major in Great Plains Studies, and her MLS from Emporia State University. She has served on the boards of the Great Plains Trails Network and the Douglas County (NE) Historical Society. She wrote a history of the Never Sweat Ranch that she and five generations of Ferguson’s have lived on when it celebrated its 100 year anniversary of continuous ownership. She was a librarian and branch manager for Omaha Public Library before retiring in 2020.   She serves as the board secretary for the Great Plains Black History Museum board of directors.