New leader for Common Ground: Brent Thomas takes over from longtime director Sammie MacFarlane

LOGAN - Brent Thomas started as executive director of Common Ground Outdoor Adventures in October 2026, succeeding Sammie MacFarlane, according to a Nov. 10 email from Common Ground.

MacFarlane had been with the organization since 1999. During those 27 years, participant experiences grew from 500 a year to more than 2,500 a year, and she led the 2017 opening of the adaptive ski lodge at Beaver Mountain, Common Ground said. Common Ground's Who We Are page lists Thomas as executive director.

Common Ground said it offers more than 20 activities, including cycling, canoeing, skiing, snowboarding, archery and rock climbing. It will be among seven nonprofits at Logan's Giving Machines, Common Ground said, with an opening night celebration at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 on the 50 block of West Center Street; the machines will run 24 hours a day from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31. A gift to Common Ground helps pay for affordable recreation for people with disabilities and for equipment and supplies for programs and the office, Common Ground said. Common Ground also named CETC, Cache Valley for Hope Cancer Foundation, CAPSA and the English Language Center, plus two unnamed global organizations.

Why this matters

People with disabilities in Cache County who use Common Ground's programs have a new executive director after a long tenure, and residents can give to the organization at the downtown Giving Machines starting Nov. 30.

Source: Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, email to The Cache Citizen from info@cgadventures.org, Nov. 10, 2026; Common Ground, Who We Are, opened Nov. 10, 2026.