By Aaron Niemeier

What an incredible night at Prairie Trail! Our Father’s Club chapter stepped up big time for the September 17th tailgate before our 8th graders took on Chisholm Trail MS at College Boulevard Activity Center. The smell of grilled hotdogs filled the air as we fired up the grills and served up 350 hotdogs to fuel our amazing pep club, band, choir, and 7th grade football team.

But this wasn’t just about the food; it was about community. Both schools came together with T-shirt sales and fundraising efforts that raised money for Folds of Honor, showing what happens when communities unite for a great cause.

Huge shoutout to our grilling heroes: Chad Boling, Andrew Harwell, Sean Hedenskog, John Kohler, and Aaron Niemeier. These dads showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and made sure everyone was well-fed and ready to cheer on our Huskies!

Watching our students’ faces light up as they enjoyed their meal before the big game reminded us why we do this. It’s about building memories, supporting our kids, and strengthening our Prairie Trail family.

Thanks to everyone who made this night special. What a fantastic way to show our Husky pride!

By Chris Anderson – Blue Valley West Leadership Team Member/DAD

Back-to-school night for Blue Valley West was held August 25th, but for the BVW Father’s Club, it began over a month earlier.

BVW Father’s Club met with school administrators and the PTO President to review the entire 2025-2026 school calendar a couple weeks before school began. We discussed the events Father’s Club would be a part of and other ways our chapter could be involved in the school. The following week the leadership team had a meeting where we caravanned out to Kauffman for a Royals game tailgate (and a Flo Rida concert). Over cool drinks and hot dogs, we began to map out the year’s events and assign team leads accordingly.

Planning ahead allowed dads to map out in advance what they knew they would need to prepare for the events, and provide time in case conflicts arose with any unexpected personal or professional obligations. The tailgate allowed for the committee to ask questions, strategize, and build momentum for the upcoming school year.

Once we had the calendar finalized (although always fluid), we began to push out to social media about joining Father’s Club and sharing the upcoming schedule, including links to sign up via Signup Genius for the early fall events. We also communicated internally with the existing fathers on our GroupMe chat to build enthusiasm and participation for the school year.

August started with a bang

The month of August started with a bang for activities, with the goal to provide dads plenty of opportunities to get their feet wet and get back in the flow of the school year.

We kicked things off on August 6th with the BVW staff on their first day reporting to the building, welcoming them back with coffee, donuts and thank yous for all they do.

On August 15th, dads were present at the first Senior Sunrise, a BVW tradition for seniors to greet the morning early while we provide the food.

The following Monday was our first all-school event with Fist Bumps for Food, made even more notable with over 40 dads – a record for our FBFF – showing up to man the doors, pass out donuts, share fist-bumps/high-fives and get pictures with their kids. It was an incredible time, and a real sense of excitement was felt.

August 22nd introduced our first Jag Grill of the year, where dads grilled hot dogs and burgers (all food supplied by the lunch staff), and we served the students over their lunch period.

August activities closed out with Back-to-School Night, where dads hosted a table for sign-ups as parents navigated through their children’s classes.

September

The month of September started off on the 3rd, as we hosted the official Father’s Club Kickoff, a chance to share with new dads what Father’s Club is and how they can be involved, stressing the importance of “just showing up” for the students however we can and offering participation in a low-pressure, fun environment.

All of these early year-activities lead to Friday, September 5th with our first home football game. Home games are significant as Father’s Club runs the home concessions throughout the season (and if we’re lucky, a few playoff games). Concessions are our most important event for our club for a variety of reasons: dads are able to sign up for one or more shifts through the evening and have a chance to get to know other dads; interact with students, parents and staff as they serve food and drinks, and take part in raising money for the students. All profit from the night goes 100% back to the students/staff through events like Fist Bumps for Food and the Father’s Club Scholarships we give out to seniors at the end of the year.

Additionally, any tips collected from the concessions goes into the club for our social events, providing a chance for dads to spend time getting to know each other while providing a casual environment to bring new dads into the group.

Social events matter

These social events may be as simple as a couple of hours at a local establishment with food and drink provided, to playing cards at a neighborhood clubhouse. These evenings are invaluable for building relationships among the dads, welcoming new members, and building conversations outside of club activities themselves.

We are excited for the upcoming year, and if the first few weeks are any indication, it will be our best one yet!

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!

By Jim Bradford, Chapter Co-Chair at Mission Trail Middle School for Father’s Club

When it comes to raising children, they say it takes a village, right? It takes some help from family, friends, neighbors, teachers, administrators and even an occasional vague acquaintance. No one can do it alone.

And it’s not just the parents that need the help. The kids need some help along the way. They need some support, guidance, encouragement. That’s the specific reason that Father’s Club was created, to help students navigate the middle and high school years with a bit of that support, guidance, encouragement.

The schools and administration need help along the way, too. That’s another, more indirect, reason that Father’s Club was created. That support thing again. Remember, it takes a village, right?

Olathe Public Schools – It Takes a Village

That’s where the Olathe Public Schools have pioneered a program that helps support both schools AND students at the same time through their Adopt-A-School partnerships.

The Olathe Adopt-A-School partnership allows for developing a relationship between an outside organization or group and a particular school. Partnership examples include youth mentors, weekend back pack programs, building and landscape improvement projects, after school tutoring community service learning and much more.

Each school in Olathe has a faith partner, a business partner and parent partner. Traditionally, the parent partner has been the parent teacher organization, but that’s beginning to change with the new Father’s Club chapters starting across the Olathe district. Some schools are lucky enough to have a couple of parent partners with both a PTO and a Father’s Club.

As the school year began in early August, Olathe Public Schools dedicated a couple of afternoons to getting all of those partners together to work out a plan for the school year. It was an opportunity for the faith, business and parent partners to meet with the school administrators all at one time.

They heard from the Olathe Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager, along with a representative from the Olathe Public Schools Foundation and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. It was the perfect chance for all these groups to discuss how they can support one another.

They discussed:

• Preparation
• Coordinated relationships
• Assessed needs
• Developed and implemented an action plan
• Developed timelines and checkpoints

Over the years, the gathering has become paramount to each school’s success, to the success of the entire district.

For each of the partners, it’s the kickoff to a year of collaboration. It’s an opportunity re-acquaint, re-engage and review why they’re a part of the program.

For the schools lucky enough to have a Father’s Club, it’s a way to help the rest of our community understand our goal, our vision. And it helps us all realize that we’re not alone.

We’re all part of the village and we know what it takes. Now it’s time to execute.

Next Steps

• To get involved with a Father’s Club chapter at your school, visit the Chapters page on our website.
• If there isn’t a chapter currently at your school and you would like to know more about starting a Father’s Club chapter, visit the Contact page and fill out the form with your details and we will be in touch!

By Jim Bradford, Chapter Co-Chair at Mission Trail Middle School for Father’s Club

We met on a Tuesday morning. It was summertime and school was only a month away. I arrived first and found a table near the back and waited for the other me to arrive. I was meeting my 15-year-old self to talk about, well, about anything.

Younger me hadn’t arrived yet, so I ordered two Diet Cokes for us. (Nearly 40 years later and I still don’t drink coffee.) He arrived about 10 minutes later wearing a T-shirt, shorts and running shoes. He smelled of chlorine because he had just gotten done with swim team practice.

Present-day me was dressed in standard weekday attire. Dress pants and a button-up. The office would be my second stop of the day.

We started talking about baseball first. Younger me had gone to the Royals game the night before and was happy with the win, but not thrilled about the seven-game lead the California Angels had in the division. I just smiled. No info about the future. That was part of the deal. Just a conversation about life.

Man, it was killing me, though. I couldn’t tell younger me that the Royals would be World Series champs in just three months. Or that they wouldn’t win again until 2015. I couldn’t mention the Chiefs Super Bowl wins in 2019, 2022 and 2023, either. Fifteen-year-old me needed to find out about those on his own.

Then, the questions from younger me came fast and furious.

• What should I be doing?
• How do I know what I’m doing is right?
• When does it get easier?
• What’s it like getting older?
• Why is your hair so grey?

I just smiled again. I told my younger self about how difficult growing up is. Not like double overtime in a basketball game difficult or running a 5K exhaustion difficult, but just difficult. I told him to continue doing what he was doing. Work hard over the final weeks of the swim season. Go for a couple more runs to get conditioned for soccer tryouts in August. Try to enjoy – as much as he could – sacking groceries at Bob’s IGA. It’s not as bad as he might think. Or, I thought. Well, whatever.

I told him that he was doing everything exactly how he was supposed to be doing it. It does get easier, but easier isn’t necessarily better. Man, trying to explain that one was tough. I told him that getting older is amazing. A gift. And the hair, well, at least it’s still there.

But then I got into the weeds.

I explained that the journey is the best part. The less he knew about his future, the better. What really had him on the edge of his seat, hanging on every word, was what we’re doing with this group called Father’s Club. I explained how engaged we are with kids at both the middle school and high school level. I told him that parents are now an integral part of what is happening at these schools. And kids love it. They really do!

I tried to tell him about social media. It was hard to find the words. I warned him about the pitfalls of having our lives on display all day, every day. Younger me smiled and looked at me like I was speaking a different language, so I tapped the brakes. I could tell it was a bit much. I told him that times have changed. That as a society we have to rely on each other a bit more and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s OK to talk about the things that are bothering us. It’s good to find a friend to vent to or let know you need some help.

When I told him about the support that parents offer their kids, my younger self’s eyes lit up. It was like an epiphany. Not that parents weren’t supportive in the summer of 1985, it’s just that there was a different relationship back then. I told him what a fist bump was. He loved the idea and couldn’t wait to be the guy that hastened the arrival of the fist bump in Olathe when he would be starting his sophomore year at Olathe North in less than a month.

Sadly, it was time for us to part ways.

We both needed to get to work. One needed gas and arcade money. The other had to pay the mortgage, bills and buy food for the family. It was bittersweet to part ways, but the more he discovered on his own the better. His wide-eyed innocence floored me, but his tucked away confidence picked me back up. It also reinvigorated me, knowing that whatever we’re doing at schools truly can make a difference.

I shook his hand and bid him farewell. Right before leaving, I turned back and said, “Hey. Amazon. Remember that word.” I know, I know. I couldn’t help myself. I had to give him a tiny stock tip!

By Charles Dahm, Blue Valley District Chair for Father’s Club

Father’s Club has 3 “Lanes” where we engage:  KIDS, COMMUNITY and DADS. Today’s blog is about sharing some of the successes and approaches members are taking with the DAD lane.

Why does the DAD lane matter?

The DAD lane is a key to success for Father’s Club. Our members show up with enthusiasm and purpose when our kids, schools and community need them – showing up for each other matters too! Fellowship with other dads who are experiencing many of the same life challenges (and successes!) can lead to some great conversations and relationships.

When asked what is unique about fellowship among men, a local therapist Amy Schmidt, LCMFT said, “…men are taught to not only be strong, but that needing others is a sign of weakness. This can’t be further from the truth. Being known, truly known and understood leads to greater confidence and significance. It’s incredibly hard to feel the weight of leading a family and guiding your children, yet you aren’t alone.”

Father’s Club chapters have found so many ways to get together to unwind, share a few laughs and maybe even take some time for deeper conversations and connection.

Here are just a FEW successful approaches.

Jason Dolezal of Sunrise Elementary learned that Axe Throwing at Bury the Hatchet is a great way to learn the names of your new friends and cornhole is always a popular excuse to gather.

Dan Vial and Kevin Saylan say that “putting it on the calendar well in advance and sending reminders” can lead to a great turnout. They proved this when ELEVEN from their chapter turned out for a particularly HOT Royals game recently.

Tyler Cook from Olathe East and Steven Richmond (Regional Chair for Olathe Schools) say they have had great success by prioritizing consistent, routine meetups. These include monthly happy hours and morning coffees. Dads drop in on their way to and from work. These simple, informal gatherings allow the men to catch up with each other and also track chapter progress and hold one another accountable.

Father’s Club sponsored Mental Health events can help men not only with suicide awareness and prevention tactics but also help dads connect with one another to open up about families and shared experiences.

Check with your chapter chair to see if there are any Dad events scheduled. We also have a great communication tool called Benefaster to find opportunities to connect with other dads. Login or set up an account to see what is happening. If you don’t see any events, reach out to some dads and set one up!

One more quote to close this story…

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”  -C.S. Lewis