Makayla and I scooted right outside town for the 7th annual Harris Angus Bull Auction this past Saturday (picture here). Our 1,200-square-foot backyard is not particularly well-suited for livestock, and there may also be an ordinance or two prohibiting bulls within city limits. So, we didn’t do any bidding… But we did get to watch in on the fun! They sold 28 bulls raised right here in Franklin County and a few heifers. Winners came from all over, with several winning bids coming from out of state, all to get a piece of these Kansas Angus.

Ottawa’s FFA: A Program That Grows More Than Crops

This past Tuesday, we had the opportunity to visit Ottawa High School and hear from the local FFA Chapter (pictures here). This Coffee was initially scheduled for February (National FFA Week), but Mother Nature had other ideas. Thankfully, we were able to scoot it back so Chamber members could learn a thing or two about this expansive program here in town. There are nearly 1,400 students involved in FFA across the state, and Ottawa’s FFA is made up of 92 of them. Tuesday morning, we heard from their local student leadership team. They shared information about themselves, their experiences with FFA, and what they hope to achieve with the skills they’ve cultivated through participation in this impactful program. One of the misconceptions about participating in FFA is that you must be currently working in agriculture, or your intentions must be to pursue an agricultural field following graduation. The truth is that FFA provides students with the skills and network to achieve their goals by equipping them with more tools in their toolbelts, regardless of the industry they wish to pursue. This group shared their diverse professional goals, which included welding, teaching, marine biology, and other fields. Since 1928, Kansas FFA has touched the lives of over 1 million people who can claim past membership, which suggests the notion that there is a massive web of alumni scattered throughout the world.

Along with the FFA students, we also heard from OHS Agriculture and FFA Teacher Allyson Gilmore. She also tied in Natalee Bray, a Kansas FFA State Officer. Natalee is a current K-State Sophomore who is actively involved with FFA even after high school, serving as the state Sentinel. Natalee’s connection to Ottawa is that she spent a semester observing Allyson’s work as an Ag teacher. After graduating from K-State, Natalee hopes to follow this same career path as an ag educator. These two FFA leaders highlighted different aspects of the program and how it sets these students apart. They also spoke about opportunities to participate in events and meet other students you’d never otherwise have the chance to experience. For Natalee, this included spending time in Washington, D.C., and traveling to Spain and Portugal on behalf of FFA. These experiences have shaped Natalee and the future work that she will do as an ag educator. What Natalee and Allyson are doing now will undoubtedly impact students for years to come.

A Taste of Serbia

Wednesday morning, Ottawa University and the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium joined forces to host the 5th Annual Cultural Breakfast. This event invites the community to gain perspective on cultures around the world and learn firsthand from those who grew up in these foreign lands. This year’s speaker was Marco De Sa Faria from Serbia. Marco is a Junior at Ottawa University who plays goalkeeper for their men’s soccer program. Marco is joined on campus by nearly a dozen other Serbians who have found their way to our little community in Kansas.

We started the event in the OMA basement, which had been transformed into a mini-Serbia, complete with photos of Belgrade’s historic architecture, landscapes, and some fun facts about Serbian traditions (picture here). There were also Serbian flags, traditional art, and a few items showcasing the country’s rich history. Prairie Star Catering presented their best impression of three Serbian dishes, including Burek, a flaky, savory pastry filled with meat; gibanica, a rich, cheesy egg casserole made with layers of thin pastry; and Popara, a comforting dish made by soaking bread in milk and butter until soft and pudding-like.

Following breakfast, we went upstairs where Marco shared a bit about Serbia’s history—touching on its role as part of the former Yugoslavia and how the country has developed since gaining independence in 2006 (picture here). He painted a picture of life in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. He spoke about the Kalemegdan Fortress, a historic landmark that overlooks the convergence of the Danube and Sava rivers, and the bustling Skadarlija street, which he compared to an Eastern European version of Times Square. He shared that sports are a huge part of Serbian culture. Marco gave us a look into the passion that Serbians have for basketball and tennis, touching on stars like NBA legend Nikola Jokić and tennis giant Novak Djokovic.

Beyond sports, Marco shared some of Serbia’s most cherished traditions, including Slava, a unique Serbian Orthodox Christian celebration where families honor their patron saint with a special feast. He also spoke about the importance of family and hospitality in Serbian culture—how guests are treated like royalty, with plenty of food, conversation, and, of course, rakija, a traditional fruit brandy that Marco jokingly warned was “not for the faint of heart.” He said that you can be born and raised in Serbia, but the rite of passage as a Serbian is being able to take a drink of rakija without expressing a reaction. Marco is just one example of the diverse array of students on Ottawa University’s campus. I know our community has a profound impact on the lives of these international students, and I’m thankful that Marco had the opportunity to do the same for us.

The Power of One Advocate: How CASA Transforms Lives

This morning, we had the privilege of learning more about the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of the Fourth Judicial District. Director Jaimie Needham oversees this advocacy program across Franklin, Coffey, Osage, and Anderson counties, operating out of the Franklin County Courthouse. Her office can't quite accommodate all 30-40 of us, so we gathered in the historic old courtroom on the third floor. A fitting setting to discuss CASA’s work, as it’s in courtrooms just like this one, where children who have been abused or neglected sit to decide their future. It was the perfect reminder of why this organization exists: to ensure every child in foster care has a voice in the judicial process and a dedicated advocate fighting for their best interests. With April marking Child Abuse Prevention Month, today’s conversation was especially timely (photos here).

The CASA program plays a crucial role in the child welfare system by ensuring that the voices of abused and neglected children are heard within the judicial process. CASA volunteers who choose to serve are consistent advocates and mentors, standing by children throughout their journey in foster care. With only one paid staff member covering four counties, the program relies on a dedicated network of volunteers who work tirelessly to provide stability and hope for the children they support. By focusing on a small number of cases, each CASA volunteer can build meaningful relationships with the children they serve, gain insight into their unique needs, fears, and aspirations, and advocate effectively on their behalf in court. The impact they have on these children is immense. Jaimie shared that reports show kids with CASA experience fewer placements, less time in foster care, better academics, and higher levels of hope than those who do not have a volunteer advocate.

Jamie, who recently marked her second year as Director, has made a significant impact, expanding CASA’s reach and finding new ways to engage more people in this work. She shared several ways the community can get involved:

Become a CASA volunteer – This role requires 30 hours of training and an ongoing commitment to meeting with and advocating for a child in foster care. Travel is sometimes involved, making it a challenge for some. Eleven local superheroes currently work with 17 children in need. Unfortunately, many more children are waiting for an advocate, so if this speaks to you, reach out to Jamie ASAP!
Support through corporate giving (view these sponsorship opportunities here). Jaimie shared that federal programs and grants sourced much of their funding. In a time when these avenues for funding are uncertain, she stated it’s more important than ever to broaden their private revenue streams. All with the goal that by the end of 2025, she will have another employee to help her and the volunteers reach more kids.

Jamie and her volunteers are doing incredible work, ensuring that some of the most vulnerable members of our community don’t face their challenges alone. It’s not an easy job, but her dedication—and the passion of CASA volunteers—empowers others to step up and make a lasting difference. We are grateful to have CASA in our community, and we encourage anyone interested to explore ways to support this life-changing program!

With the end of the first quarter just next week, that means a couple of things for our office. One is that we will start to send out 2nd quarter invoices to Chamber members. The second is that summer is right around the corner. With that comes an array of Chamber-sponsored events! As an office, we use this time to plan ahead and prepare for what’s around the corner. I’ll highlight some of these summer events in an upcoming newsletter to make sure everyone is in the know. In the meantime, have a great weekend, and talk to you soon!

Ryland Miller

President/CEO

Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce

ryland@ottawakansas.org

785-242-1000