ACMH employees and their families enjoy their first official outing with new CEO, Callen Weispfennig at the Exira Fourth of July parade.
Photo by
Eleanor Greving
For many years, ACMH has participated in Exira’s Fourth of July parade to see eye to eye with their community members. This year was no different in ACMH’s mission to connect with their communities and shed light on the excellent care that the hospital strives to provide.
In an effort to put their best foot forward, ACMH employees and their families came together to set up the parade float. Decked out with red, white, and blue fringe, balloon arches, water sprayers, and of course candy, the 16-foot long trailer was ready for the parade.
Driving the float was Joe Otten, Director of Plant Operations at ACMH, who has lent a helping hand at events for the last three years. This responsibility of supplying the truck, amongst other things, just happened to fall on the maintenance department during the natural process of preparation.
As an active member of our community, Otten takes pride in driving in the parade knowing that “people would realize, ‘Hey, there goes Joe,’ and he’s driving the truck for the hospital.” The sense of pride and connection to the community was even more evident this year, as the hospital took the parade participation to the next level.
Otten said “We decided to go for more of a float, which was kind of cool because we got hospital employee involvement,” further noting that “we had a good group of people on the float itself… It’s getting bigger and better every year.”
The float wasn’t the only new advancement that ACMH gained this year. Having started at the end of June, new CEO Callen Weispfennig, embarked on his first public event tied to the hospital. He described his experience in a few words; proud, welcoming, and connected.
Weispfenning said “There’s a real sense of pride here – not just in the parade itself, but in the people and traditions that make up this community.”
Entering a new community, the Weispfennig family expanded the floats outreach to children around their ages. Bringing youth and fresh excitement to the ACMH crew, Weispfennig said that having his family there “means the world” to him. He further states that “being able to introduce them to the people and the place that we serve makes work so much more meaningful.”
Weispfennig believes the importance of participating in events like this isn’t simply promotional.
“Community health goes beyond clinical care — it’s about relationships, trust, and showing up for the people we serve. Being part of events like this isn’t just symbolic; it’s a real way to connect, to listen, and to show that we’re invested in this community – not just inside our walls, but out in the streets, side by side” Weispfennig exclaims.
With fresh eyes and a new perspective, Weispfennig is keeping a look out for next year’s events and how the hospital will grow. Weispfennig notes that iIn the coming years, “we have a milestone anniversary… Our focus is to call attention to our history.”
As Weispfennig looks ahead with optimism and a commitment to deepening community ties, a powerful moment from this year’s Fourth of July parade serves as a reminder of the impact ACMH and other small hospitals have on individual lives.
A detail that both Otten and Weispfennig felt deep appreciation for was the parade’s Grand Marshal sharing a meaningful experience that he had at ACMH. The Grand Marshal stated that he was really grateful to our hospital and how it saved his life.
This statement stood out to Otten who said, “that was nice to hear him right in the middle of the parade route, stop, and give his little plug for his appreciation for a small town hospital.” Also acknowledging this “heartfelt message,” Weispfennig saw this proclamation as being “really sincere.”
With new ideas, traditions, and people, ACMH’s role in the community will seek to highlight the real impact that rural hospitals and clinics can have. For everyone involved, from staff to spectators, Exira’s 2025 Fourth of July parade was a celebration of community and connection.
Weispfennig concludes, “The energy, the smiles, the turnout — it’s one thing to hear about the parade but experiencing it was another.”
By Eleanor Greving
