For eight years Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Fifth Judicial District has been hosting the Taste of Park County, and after nearly a decade a multitude of local businesses and restaurants still contribute.

This year’s Taste of Park County on Oct. 7 at the Cody Auditorium will feature at least 16 restaurants and both live and silent auctions that includes diamond earrings from Sean DeNamur Designs and a kayak from Walmart, among other interesting items.

“Shoot, we’ve got Cuban cigars,” director Brandie Gann said. 

CASA is an organization that assigns a volunteer advocate for children who come from homes of abuse or neglect. The volunteers write reports to a judge as well as provide support and resources. 

Ellen Klym, the district’s first CASA director, said it was first formed in 2010 after former District Court Judge Steven Cranfill requested it.

“It was mostly because they saw a need for an individual to focus on the child’s wishes,” Klym said. 

Klym said that in the CASA’s nearly 13 years of activity between 55-75 volunteers have been trained and 31 volunteers are currently active in Park County – over 250 kids have been served since the CASA’s creation. Each volunteer requires about “30 hours of intense training before being sworn in,” she said.     

CASA depends on grant funds and fundraisers to be able to continue to serve children in the community. Since the first Taste of Park County the event averages 350 samples of food from 17-20 restaurants.

“It’s been a community staple,” Klym said. “I want to say it’s been like a church supper kind of event.”

Both Klym and Gann thanked the restaurants and businesses in the county for their support of CASA and the event. 

“The businesses in Cody and Powell are so giving,” Gann said. “That’s how we’re funded is the silent auction and ticket sales.”

Tickets for the event are $20 which will include food. There will also be a cash bar sponsored by Libations. All proceeds go to CASA of the 5th Judicial District.