Meet The Team

Doug Yutzy

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"My dream for a Search and Rescue Team was first born in 2013 when one of my best friends went missing while canoeing on Cheney Reservoir. After finding him deceased, the experience left me with a desire to help bring a highly-trained SAR team to Kansas.

I was again part of a search effort in 2024 when an elderly neighbor man went missing.

In both cases the community showed up to help where they could. After the 2024 search there was a group who came together with interest and passion for starting a SAR team for the state of Kansas. It's been amazing to see how God brought many people with many different gifts to create a strong team. I'm looking forward to seeing how God uses this team to work with, and to serve our community."

Andy Bontrager

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​“I've always enjoyed spending time outdoors and helping people as a first responder, so search and rescue is a pretty natural fit for me. After the search for Gary Foster last December, I saw the need for an organization like Seek1 in central Kansas. It's been very rewarding to see everyone in our group work together, and also to see the community support the work we are doing. Im excited to see what we can accomplish with the team we're building!”

Caleb Roper

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​“I am passionate about getting this organization going because I witnessed first hand the need we have of it here in Kansas. My hope is that by getting this search and rescue up and running we will be able to help others in a timely manner and maybe with luck and skill we can find the missing before it's too late and have more positive outcomes.”

Alex Miller

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​"I'm incredibly thankful for this opportunity to serve my community. It's been truly beautiful to see the outpouring of community support. Folks donating their time and money to help us provide this resource to the state is a welcome reminder of the altruistic and neighborly character of Kansans. It makes me proud to call this state home."

Grant Bontrager

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​“I have always enjoyed helping people when they are in need. During the search for Mr Foster, I realized that there was a real need for a search and rescue team in our community. Having worked with some of the other team members on the fire department, and knowing them personally, it made it that much easier to get on board with Seek1. I am looking forward to using my abilities to help others in times of crisis.”

Nick Gingerritch

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​“I've had interest for a number of years in being involved in a local search and rescue team. When it became available I felt drawn to help provide resources and support for the families that are in need.”

Jason Miller

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​“Helping families when they are missing someone they love is a great honor. Having two acquaintances go missing showed me the burden and anxiety of having a missing friend. I am excited to join in helping bear this burden with family and law enforcement, and hopefully, bring the lost home.”

Andy Hostetler

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"I first ran into the concept of volunteer search and rescue back when I lived in Ohio when I was around 20 years old but there wasn’t a group close to where I lived. I thought about it every now and then through out the years till December of 2024 when a local gentleman went missing. That brought it back to the forefront of my mind again and I felt like the time was right to start one. Doug Yutzy pulled a group of people together that had talked to him about it. We’ve gone quite a ways from where we started and with God’s help we will go much further. I look forward to helping local communities where needs arise.”

Hannah Roper

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​“Having a loved one go missing was a tragic awakening for me. The grief of losing a family member mixed with the overflow of love and support from our community lit a fire in my soul. I knew I wanted to be a part of something that could make a difference and through this journey I've seen the difference in myself already. This organization has given us all a new purpose and strengthened - at least my own- faith. I have never felt closer to our Savior than when I was literally walking to search for one of His own.”