Lifelong Antelope County resident Donna Hanson, of rural Oakdale, is the new executive director of the Antelope County Museum.

Hanson was hired recently by the Antelope County Historical Society.

Hanson has been very active in agriculture throughout her life, farming first with her parents, then later, her husband Ron. They farm one-half mile east of Oakdale in Burnett Township. They were dairy farmers for 27 years. After selling their herd, they continued to crop farm and are now turning the farming over to their oldest son Jeremy.

One of her initiatives as museum executive director is incorporating more ag-related displays into the museum.

Since her hiring, Hanson has been painting at the museum and working on new displays. She is making a goal of cleaning out the back storage room so it can be used for meetings, talks and training purposes. The museum will host a Halloween event, with tentative plans for a Christmas Gala this year. Another trail ride around Antelope County Fair time is being considered for summer 2023.

Hanson has been researching the history of the county and  attending surrounding county museum meetings.  

Her roots in the county date back to the late 1800s. Her great-grandfather, Seth Allen, homesteaded in Blaine Township, and her great uncle, Henry Nagel, named the village of Brunswick.

Hanson and her husband have four children: Jeremy of Oakdale, Tanya Gallagher of Norfolk, Trevor of Tilden and Jared of David City. The couple has six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Hanson's farming has always involved outside work. She helped her children and grandchildren in 4-H. While still assisting with the farm, Hanson worked for more than 16 years at the former Sherwood Medical, then Covidien, in Norfolk as an inspector/machine operator.

Her time now is spent raising dogs, helping her son with the farming, working with horses, participating in trail rides and working at the museum.

Hanson has trained and ridden horses her entire life. She started riding at age six.

Hanson's predecessor at the museum was Ron Westlake, who left the post to work in law enforcement in Antelope County.