Oats Transit Celebrates 55 Years of Serving Webster County Residents

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.

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