"Along came the corn, and everything turned around," says Bobbi Sale, Olathe Sweet Corn Festival Director. The magic of Olathe Sweet Corn isn't just in the amazing sweetness, but in the savvy of John Harold and the Tuxedo Corn Company, who have managed to carve out a niche market. Customers pay a higher price for Olathe Sweet Corn, just like they might spend a little extra for a Vidalia sweet onion.

"There's no way that this tiny little valley can compete with Iowa," says Sale, yet corn grown in Olathe is eagerly anticipated every year in 38 different states. Yes, even in plenty of corn-producing states.

In celebration of the crop that revitalized the local economy, the town began holding the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival in 1992. Attendance grew every year until it leveled out at about 18,000. Not bad for a town with a population of 1,600. Local non-profits are given the opportunity to work at the festival, and Sale estimates that over 800 locals volunteer to make the festival a success.

Although the population of Olathe has remained relatively stable and new homes aren't sprouting faster than the corn in Olathe, things may slowly begin to change. The town finished Phase I of a wastewater treatment system upgrade for the town of Olathe with the opening of a new plant last summer.

"It will give us the capacity for additional taps, which equates to growth," says Bill Sale, the director of operations for the town of Olathe.

The town is replacing the older, deteriorating sections of the sewage collection system as part of Phase II, which will insure that long-time residents will also benefit from the wastewater treatment upgrades.

Although the town is considering a subdivision of 200 lots, it's still in the preliminary stages and has yet to be platted. As Montrose lot prices climb higher, new housing in Olathe, where the dirt's still cheaper, will look even more attractive to Montrose and Delta residents who don't mind a short commute.

Most of the new housing construction near Olathe has been individual houses built on small acreage home sites of five, ten or 35 acres, according to Mike Williams, broker associate with Keinholz-Miller & Co. Although there are a few newer neighborhoods within the town, it's not unusual to see hundred-year-old homes for sale in Olathe. Their price often depends on how many times the home has been remodeled and upgraded.

Students in Olathe are served by the Montrose County Re-IJ school district, which is finishing the building plans approved in a 2002 bond levy. Included in the levy were major additions to the Middle/high School building, including a new cafeteria, a main office and seven classrooms. A new gym is being built this summer at the school, where the total enrollment of middle and high school students is about 550 students.

"The district has invested heavily in Olathe schools," says Linda Gann, communications coordinator for the district. The secondary school isn't the only recipients of upgrades; 20 new classrooms were built at Olathe Elementary School, where the population is more than 600 students.

Although the area is gearing itself up for change and growth, some local landmarks will stay the same. There has been a restaurant at Third and Main Street since the late 1800's. The Busy Corner White Kitchen has occupied the building since the late 60's and is the unofficial local gathering place.

"There's not too many times that you can't come in and recognize everybody," says Manager Brenda Percival. Breakfast is always busy, with 'the boys' coming in for coffee before they get to work in the fields or at the co-op across the street. Of course, some of those boys are farmers or ranchers in their 60's whose fathers used to gather at the cafŽ before starting on their morning chores, too.

"One thing we never change," says Percival, "It feels like a big family here with the customers and the employees." Like everyone else in town, Percival appreciates the corn festival. "The Corn Fest is very good to us," she says. "We get a lot of people who come in for breakfast, or they come in for a quiet dinner prior to the concert."

The town hasn't had to fight to preserve its agricultural roots yet, and because of the geographical boundary of the river on the west side of town, the eastern side of town will be easier to develop and connect to the existing sewer system. Since the best agricultural land is west of the river, that will help keep agriculture in Olathe.

"The Corn Festival is a good indication of the town's efforts to recognize our agricultural roots," says Bill Sale.

The Corn Festival isn't the only farming celebration to mark on your calendar as a good day to visit Olathe. The Great Pumpkin Toss, a day when pumpkins get shot more 2000 feet through the air, will be held October 14th this year.

Although it used to be held at the Corn Festival Park, the park become too small for the shooting pumpkins, so it's now held in a farmer's field. Check with the town of Olathe for exact times and locations, or stop by the Busy Corner White Kitchen. One of the locals will know.