FSCC Women’s Luncheon connects community, supports local businesses

Fort Scott, KS - More than 130 people gathered at Fort Scott Community College for the annual Women’s Luncheon, bringing together local businesses, organizations and community members for a day focused on connection, resources and support.

The event was held on April 16 at the Ellis Fine Arts Building and has been a long-standing tradition at the college, according to Taylor Bailey, public relations director and administrative coordinator to presidential affairs at Fort Scott Community College.

“I’m not sure the exact number of years that it’s been happening. The earliest I have in my notes is 2001,” Bailey said. “So at least 20-plus years.”

The luncheon is designed to give local and small businesses, particularly those owned by or serving women a platform to showcase their work.

“The purpose of the annual Women’s Luncheon is to provide an opportunity for local and/or small businesses to highlight themselves,” Bailey said. “The businesses are either owned or run by women or promote or provide products or services for women.”

This year’s event brought in approximately 132 attendees.

“Approximately 132 people came, and I hope to have an even bigger turnout next year,” Bailey said.

Alongside shopping opportunities, the event also connected attendees with organizations offering health and community services.

“It’s kind of a combination of fun shopping events, but also services that can really help you,” Bailey said.

The luncheon reflects the college’s mission of community engagement.

“Our motto has always been students first, community always,” Bailey said. “So we want to offer events like this, bring the community in, and also give us a chance to showcase some of our local businesses.”

This year’s event expanded through a partnership with Fort Scott High School, bringing in student-run businesses.

“We made it a little bigger by partnering with Fort Scott High School,” Bailey said. “Three of our businesses this year were small businesses run by high school students.”

For some attendees, the luncheon offered a chance to discover new opportunities and connect with local creators.

Pam Davis, a Fort Scott resident, attended the event for the first time after seeing it advertised online.

“I just happened to see the post on Facebook, and so I thought I would try to come,” Davis said.

Davis said she enjoys creating handmade items and connecting with the community.

“I like to make pretty things in an ugly world,” she said.

She added that her work includes embroidery, quilting and other crafts.

“I do a lot of different types of craft. Mostly, I’m doing machine embroidery,” Davis said. “I’m upcycling denim and doing embroidery on them. I also do crochet, and I make quilts.”

Vendors also saw the event as an opportunity to build relationships and support other women in business.

Leah Smith, with Four State Insurance Agency, said it was their first time participating.

“This is our first time being here,” Smith said.

Smith said the business joined the event to connect with the community and support other women-led businesses.

“We’re a woman-owned business, and we want to support other women in the community, and also business owners and leaders,” she said. “That’s why we partnered with it, and we love being here.”

She added that the event also helped the business reach potential employees.

“We’re also hiring in our office, so that was a big piece for us,” Smith said. “We wanted to get in front of people who are involved in the community.”

Community health organizations emphasized the importance of events like the luncheon for outreach and education.

Linda Lawrence, deputy administrator at the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, said the organization has participated for several years.

“We’ve been coming here probably about five years,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the department uses the event to inform the public about available health services.

“We’re promoting our services and trying to get information out there to the public on what we offer,” she said.

The department provides services including immunizations, physicals and women’s health care.

“We offer immunizations for adults and children. We do children’s physicals. We do well-woman checkups periodically,” Lawrence said.

Additional health providers at the event focused on early detection and screenings.

Jenny Dugan, lead mammotech at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, said their team attended to help schedule screenings and raise awareness.

“We are here to schedule women for their mammograms and low-dose lung cancer screenings,” Dugan said.

Dugan emphasized the importance of early detection.

“If you catch cancer early, there’s a better chance of surviving,” she said. “That goes for any type of cancer.”

She added that the center offers imaging services such as mammography, CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays, often at a lower cost than hospital facilities.

The event also highlighted organizations focused on recovery and mental health support in the community.

Jennifer Simhiser, CEO of The Path of EASE Association, said their work is centered on helping individuals rebuild their lives.

“We get them the guidance and support that they need to get themselves back on their feet and to get the tools to live a sober and healthy life,” Simhiser said.

She explained that many individuals come from difficult situations, including addiction and lack of resources.

“There weren’t any housing options here to go somewhere safe and to get sober,” Simhiser said. “Nobody ever talked to me about rehab, mental health, anything like that.”

After seeking help outside the community, she said she returned with a purpose.

“I wanted to come back and offer options to help people break out of the place that I’ve been for so long,” Simhiser said.

She emphasized that recovery should be viewed with compassion.

“No human being is beyond redemption,” Simhiser said. “Everybody is worth a second chance at recovery.”

The event’s mix of business, health services and personal stories highlighted its role as more than just a luncheon, offering both resources and meaningful connections.

Despite the name, organizers emphasized that the event is open to everyone.

“Men are more than welcome to buy a ticket and come,” Bailey said. “We are not anti-man.”

Bailey added that attendees can participate without purchasing lunch.

“If you’re just wanting to walk through and shop, there’s no cost to that,” she said.

Looking ahead, organizers hope to expand the event’s reach.

“Next year, the goal is to open it up to vendors in all of our service areas,” Bailey said, referencing communities including Paola, Pleasanton, Arma and Frontenac.

Bailey said the event continues to serve as a meaningful opportunity for both businesses and attendees.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn about small businesses in the area that you might not have known existed,” she said.

Women’s Luncheon Vendors 2026