Oats Transit Celebrates 55 Years of Serving Webster County Residents

Published 8:12 pm Tuesday, November 10, 2026

By Joe Rios

For residents in Marshfield, Seymour, Rogersville, Fordland, Niangua, and other Webster County communities, getting to a doctor’s appointment or grocery store isn’t always as simple as jumping in the car.

For 55 years, OATS Transit has helped rural Missourians overcome those transportation challenges, providing rides that let residents stay independent and connected to their communities.

The nonprofit organization is celebrating its 55th anniversary this November, recognizing a service that began with volunteers in 1971 and has grown to serve 87 Missouri counties, including Webster County.

Executive Director Dorothy Yeager said she understands the importance of rural transportation because she grew up in a small Missouri community herself.

“I’m Mid-Missouri, born and raised,” Yeager said. “I grew up in rural Cooper County, went to Otterville School, which is a tiny little school there in Cooper County.”

Yeager joined OATS in 1987 after graduating from the University of Missouri. She started by working on the organization’s monthly newsletter and has now served as executive director for 12 years.

“If you had told me then that I’d still be here in 2026, I wouldn’t have believed it,” she said.

She credits the people she has worked alongside and the opportunities provided by the organization’s leadership for keeping her with OATS for nearly four decades.

“I feel good getting up every day knowing that what we do makes a difference to rural Missourians, and as a fellow rural Missourian, that’s near and dear to my heart.”

OATS was established in November 1971 to help older adults in rural Missouri who had limited transportation options.

Yeager said many seniors, particularly women living on farms, either did not drive or could no longer drive, making everyday trips difficult.

“OATS Transit became a lifeline for them,” she said.

The organization began in five central Missouri counties and expanded to 87 counties by 1973.

In the early 1980s, a partnership with the Missouri Department of Transportation helped OATS secure federal grants and expand services to the rural public.

That’s an important point Yeager wants residents throughout Webster County to understand.

“Anyone of any age can ride the OATS bus in rural Missouri,” she said. “You don’t have to be a senior or someone with a disability to partake of our services.”

The misconception that OATS serves only senior citizens dates back to its original name, Older Adult Transportation Services.

Although the organization considered changing its name, leaders decided to keep the familiar OATS identity while giving the initials a new meaning: Operating Above the Standard.

“Our drivers every day are out there going above and beyond,” Yeager said.

For Webster County residents who don’t drive or have limited transportation options, that service can provide access to medical care, shopping, and other essential activities.

And while OATS has been around for more than five decades, Yeager said the organization continues to look for people willing to help their neighbors by becoming drivers.

“We’re always looking for good drivers, always,” she said.

“If you think that helping your community is something you’d be interested in, we encourage people to apply for those positions.”

Webster County residents interested in scheduling a ride can visit www.oatstransit.org and select Webster County to find local bus schedules, contact information, and instructions for arranging transportation. The website also lists employment opportunities.

As OATS marks 55 years, its mission remains much the same as when the first volunteers began offering rides in 1971: helping rural residents get where they need to go.

For Webster County, that means keeping transportation within reach for residents who might otherwise have difficulty getting there.