Tony ® -winning playwright Ken Ludwig puts a comedic twist on your favorite Sherlock Holmes characters.
- ON STAGE -
Sep 27 - Oct 6
Elvis Presley. Jerry Lee Lewis. Carl Perkins. Johnny Cash. Four legends. One unforgettable night.
LEARN FROM 100+ owners, operators, & investors including: Farnam Street
Simple Modern Shane ParrishLori CoulterMike Beckham A world-class business festival in your backyard. Downtown Columbia October 8 - 10
“I will 300x my money from attending Main Street Summit. I’ve attended lots of events. Main Street was the most valuable, surrounded by top-notch owners sharing what they’ve learned.”
-Mike Higgins 2023 Main Street Summit attendee
58
66 ALL DRESSED UP LOCAL DANCERS FLAUNT FABULOUS FLOWING DRESSES
WING WONDERLAND GET WING TIPS FROM LOCAL CULINARY HOTSPOTS
from the editors
Sports Season
ENJOYING FALL FLAVORS AND FOOTBALL
Jordan Durham
Co-editor | jdurham@mailzimmer.com
Inside Columbia magazine
Zola Heck
Co-editor | zcrowder@mailzimmer.com
Inside Columbia magazine
Sports fanatics in Columbia, rejoice! September only means one thing — football. As a Mizzou Tiger, I cut my college teeth with Coach Gary Pinkel’s teams and the Big 12. This was the era of Chase Daniel, Sean Weatherspoon (Can you still hear the stadium rocking “Spoooooooon” like I can?), L’Damian Washington, Michael Sam and Henry Josey. Much has changed, including a new conference; NCAA name, image, likeness rules; and cell phone reception in Faurot. Yet, the most recent and exciting change is Laird Veatch, Mizzou’s new athletic director. We talk with Veatch on pages 100-105 about everything from his experience under Mike Alden and philosophy on working with coaches, to fundraising and facility maintenance, and how all of these pieces impacts athletics, the university and the city. September also makes way for the beginning of fall, bringing with it fall festivals, which you can finda list of on pages 50-57. A cozy cup of tea and slice of cake can warm you right up as the days get chillier, so we talk with the owner of Wynnsome on pages 122-123 about her journey and obtaining the tea shop’s iconic downtown location. There is so much to do in Columbia in the fall, and we can’t wait to see you all out and about. M-I-Z!
The holiday season is approaching and if you know me, you know that is my absolute favorite time of the year. The cooler weather, the beautiful colors, the cozy clothes, the yummy soups and, of course, the excitement that Christmas is just a bit closer! Since we can’t jump to winter just yet, we wanted to fillyour home with all things autumn and bring just a little extra joy into your lives as we switch seasons. Whether you are a football fan looking for a new tailgate recipe, or an avid reader ready to learn something about a new local author, this issue has everything you need to say goodbye to summer. You can findthe perfect wing guide on pages 66-71 if you are looking to take your tailgates to the next level or you can learn about a local aspiring author on pages 26-27 who is switching out her kitchen knives for pen and paper to focus on a new passion in life. So, grab your cozy cup of joe, watch the leaves turn red and fall into this new issue of Inside Columbia. We can’t wait to spend this season with you!
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Madelyn Jones mjones@mailzimmer.com
CONTRIBUTORS
John Darkow, Sara Fougere, Brook Harlan, Ava Kitzi, Wally Pfeffer, Nancy Toalson, Mason Stevens, Sanford Speake
On the cover
Dancer from Mareck Center for Dance modeling flowing dresses for fall.
Photo by L.G. Patterson
what’s online...
Enjoy additional digital content on our website and social media.
HAVING A GOURD TIME
If you’re looking to embrace fall with your family, flip o page 50 for a full list of fall festivals to enjoy in mid-Missouri. If you want to see even more events, head to insidecolumbia.net and check out our online calendar for an extended list of upcoming events and make the most of your fall season!
AN A-MAIZE-ING GAME
In our latest Dueling DJs competition, Kristin from Y107 and Josh from Clear 99, went head-to-head to see who, without a kernel of doubt, is the best cornhole player. See which DJ got to take home some baggin’ rights on page 137 and visit insidecolumbia.net or find us on acebook and Instagram to see a full video of the challenge.
#INSIDECOLUMBIA
Football season is in full swing, which means it’s time to take your tailgate to the next level with a batch of perfectly cooked wings. To help you bring the best batch to your next football tailgate, we put together a guide for prepping, cooking and serving wings with the help of local chefs. Check out the full guide on pages 66-71, pick your favorite spot, snap a picture of the wings and post it on Instagram using #insidecolumbia by Oct. 15. We’ll pick from the submissions and award the winner a FREE one-year subscription to Inside Columbia!
Inside Columbia Staff
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INSIDE COLUMBIA MAGAZINE
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Inside Columbia is published by Zimmer Strategic Communications, 3215 Lemone Industrial Blvd., suite 200, Columbia, MO 65201, 573-875-1099.
Copyright Zimmer Communications, 2024. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Postage paid at Columbia, Mo. Not responsible for omissions or information, which has been misrepresented to the magazine.
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Inside Columbia Advisory Board
Welcome our fist Inside Columbia Advisory Board members! We are thrilled to have such a diverse and talented group of individuals joining us to help shape the future of our publication. Their expertise across several professions and unique perspectives in the Columbia community will be invaluable as we continue to provide the best content for you, our readers.
OTHER MEMBERS NOT PICTURED ABOVE
Sue Schwinke State Farm Insurance
Amanda Alcamo Restoration Chiropractic
Andrea Lyn Seppo Andrea Lyn Events Ashleigh Stundebeck Select Realty Group
MJ Smith Department of Emergency Medicine, MU School of Medicine
Stephanie Witthar CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia
SCARED SAFE
While Halloween is about having fun, it’s important to remind yourself how to keep your kids safe during the spooky season. According to the American Red Cross, make sure your kids can see and be seen, use flame resistant costumes, accompany your kids door-todoor, be cautious around animals, don’t run, only visit homes with a porch light on, walk on sidewalks, check candy before eating it, and if you are hosting trick-ortreaters make sure your home is lit, and sidewalks and steps are free of tripping hazards.
What Wood You Like?
ARTISAN TRANSFORMS WOODWORKING HOBBY INTO MARKET SUCCESS.
BY ZOLA HECK · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
What started as a pandemic hobby with his daughter to make his wife a better work-from-home setup has turned into a successful small woodworking business for Matt Villasana, the maker and owner of Villasana Woodworks. Thanks to social
media, the desk model he created for his wife who was teaching virtually, was seen online by teachers and others adjusting to the work-from-home life, and just like that, the desire for one of his handmade products was wanted by the community. “That was the first part of t and then turned into what else? What else can I
make? And then it kind of morphed into more of the home goods, the cutting boards and charcuterie boards, small items like that,” Villasana said.
After their first show in the fall of 2022 , Villasana started building more inventory, while his daughter, Maggie, enjoyed the marketing and sales side of the business.
It's kind of fun thinking that you have pieces in homes around Columbia and across the country. “
“We started doing that and it has kind of gone from there,” he says. “We typically do quite a few shows in the fall. We had Art in the Park in 2023, but we took this year off.
Villasana creates a variety of pieces from more expensive items, including cutting boards, charcuterie boards and Lazy Susan’s, to smaller items like tee games, bottle openers and bookmarks. “Cutting boards, charcuterie boards; those are probably the most popular and Lazy Susan’s are very cool as well,” he says. “I also wanted to find some wys to get smaller items that are more unique.” And if you’re looking for something to take to the tailgate, Villasana also creates footballthemed items. “I can do something generic; the arrowhead works pretty well, the state of Missouri or a football,” he says. “I also do engravings for anyone that wants something custom-made.”
While Villasana loves to make all these items, his favorite thing is to create patterns using a very unique approach. “I've been able to get broken skateboard decks and fuse them together and crosscut them. And because skateboards are seven layers of maple, they produce a ton of colors, and it's very unique,” he says. “It is a lot of work to do, but the colors are really fun.” You’ll never see Villasana painting his inventory, he always uses the natural color of the wood to create the patterns
you see. “I try and use a variety of woods. The Missouri woods, the walnuts, cherries and maples are fun to use. But I think the exotics are what set us apart.” That’s where those red, deep blacks and even purple colors come from. “I really enjoyed experimenting with different woods in different designs. That's kind of a fun part about doing custom pieces.”
While the community has enjoyed his woodworking, this hobby is not something he wants to expand as it’s not his full-time job. “I think I call it my very small business. For the most part I build when I want to,” he says. The goal is to woodwork when he
feels creativity strike and not be forced to create. “I don't feel a need to go downstairs and spend six hours on a Saturday cutting and gluing,” Villasana says.
Because he truly enjoys every aspect of woodworking and loves being a part of the special moments in people’s lives. “I've enjoyed the idea that people were sharing these gifts as wedding presents, engagement presents or Christmas presents,” he says. “It's kind of fun thinking that you have pieces in homes around Columbia and across the country.”
If you own your own piece from Vilisana, he says the best way to take care of the wood is to never put it in the dishwasher, hand wash and dry it instantly and then apply board butter. “You don't want to dry out because that's when the cracks can occur,” he says. “I have also refinished som before when people bring it back to me.”
If you want your own custom piece for the holidays, Villasana says you should give him at least a two-week turnaround. To browse his inventory or to stay up to date on his woodworking, visit Villasana Woodworks on Facebook or Instagram using his handle @VillasanaWWorks.
Recipes to Rough Drafts
ASPIRING AUTHOR’S OWN PLOT TWIST FROM WHISKS TO WORDS.
BY ZOLA HECK · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
Have you ever wondered if it’s too late to pursue a new career, follow a new passion, or chase a dream?
For Autumn Walker, a local chef at Irene’s, it was easy to start the transition of trading the bustling kitchen for the quiet solitude of a writer's desk. “I love food, I will always love food, but that's not where my heart is anymore,” Walker says.
The goal was not to give up cooking, as Walker loves her job, but to create more time to give her passion for writing. “One thing I love about Irene's is how understanding my boss is, and when I expressed my concerns to him, he assured me that he wasn't expecting me to devote my life to this role. He knew my heart belonged to writing, but he still trusted me to help lead his staff.” Whie she still loves being in the kitchen working with her team, she feels as though her creativity truly thrives at her desk. “The lack of creative control is kind of what's pulling me away from kitchens," she says. "That's something you don't really get as a chef until it's your restaurant and your menu."
But returning to her passion for writing has given her much more room for creativity. “I've always had an affity for writing. I used to write random stories when I was a kid. And then it kind of fell off hen I, for whatever reason, convinced
myself that writing wasn't something I wanted to pursue. Because at the time, I was more passionate about food and becoming a chef.” But finding tha creativity once again through writing has been a game changer for Walker. “The creative freedom is defintely my favorite part,” she says. “The idea of just having this idea and bringing it to life. All from your head, you can build an entire world, you can create an entire story. And that's just really cool to me. It's so limitless.”
While she is still figuring out the rigt balance for her, she feels lucky that she is in a position where her current boss offers complete and utter support for her passion for writing. “I'm incredibly grateful to have a boss that supports me in such a way,” Walker says. “When I'm at the restaurant, I'm there to do my job. But my time off th clock is my time to pursue my passion.”
And now, what started as storytelling as a kid, drawing picture stories for her parents, has blossomed into a dream of creating a full series of books under her pen name: Autumn Journey-Walker. “I like to write the stories I enjoy consuming,” she says. “So, for me, I enjoy sci-fi and fatasy that focuses more on superpowers, not so much mythical creatures.” This stemmed from her love of futuristic and fantastical elements that have been influenced by "X-Men" and “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” as she loved the idea of, “building a world with a lot of different powers and magic systems." "I always fantasized about having abilities like manipulating the elements or becoming a giant or flying. So I thought, why don't I just write it?"
Journey-Walker hopes that her series will satisfy sci-fi and fatasy lovers alike. After nearly finishing her first draft June, Journey-Walker had a dream about an alternate plotline for her first bok. “I woke up the next morning and was like, I'm going to have to rewrite this now.” This led to her scrapping her almost finishe
The idea of just having this idea and bringing it to life. All from your head, you can build an entire world, you can create an entire story. “
draft to incorporate this new idea, which now focuses more on worldbuilding. “I want my readers to fall in love with the world I've created, and I feel like this new plotline focuses more on that,” she says. And so began her composition of “draft 1.5,” as she calls it.
“While my very first draft will never se the light of day, I'm not going to get rid of it. I still plan to use it as a reference point.” And this time around, Journey-Walker plans to be easier on herself, letting her enjoy the writing process rather than focusing on harsh, self-imposed deadlines. “I was kind of making myself miserable for no reason,” she says. “This deadline doesn't have to exist for anyone but me. I'm at liberty to change it.” The most important thing for JourneyWalker is to continue to love writing because as we all know, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Journey-Walker says right now she is planning for her series to be a fiv-book multiverse series, where each book takes place in a separate universe with specific sets of powers. “All of the characters' stories are going to start weaving throughout the books,” she says. “Each book is going to focus on a specific character and their journey throughout their respective world. And in the fifth bok, they will all come together.” But the twist? Only one of those universes knows the others exist, so throughout the series, Journey-Walker’s
characters will start to discover more about the other worlds. “Their stories will intertwine, culminating in a final bok set in a new, all-encompassing world that was created to inhabit people from every universe. But establishing a new world order is obviously not something everyone can get behind, and that will be the main source of tension in my series."
Even though the passion for her newfound career has come easy, there have been vulnerable moments for JourneyWalker as she opens up to the world about her new career change, including starting a social media account where she posts about her journey as an aspiring author, the ups, the downs and everything in between. “I haven't posted a lot yet. For now, I'm just using it as a way to talk about the thing I love when I want to talk about it, not necessarily on a specific schedule,” Journey-Walker says, as she hopes to keep a healthy relationship with social media since stepping back from her personal page in 2021. “This new page is not about me, it's about my passion. And that's easier for me to talk about."
While she doesn’t have a secure date in mind for when she will publish her firs book, she says she hopes to finish draft 1.5” by the end of January 2025.
To stay up to date on Journey-Walker and her journey as an aspiring author, visit her on Instagram, ajw.author.
Artistic Altruism
FUNDRAISER PAIRS LOCAL CELEBRITIES AND ARTISTS FOR ACCESS ARTS.
BY JORDAN DURHAM · PHOTO BY JONATHAN ASHER
The arts are on display through various media for the 8th annual CelebrARTy event on Sept. 17 at The Blue Note, benefitting Access Arts. or the eighth annual event, eight teams come together to create exceptional pieces of art that are then auctioned off at the evet. Teams consist of one local celebrity and an artist. A videographer is assigned to each team to document their process as well.
The fundraiser also consists of a silent auction filed with art, gift cards and baskets, along with heavy hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets per attendee. All funds raised benefit Access Arts pograms and initiatives, including artists in residence, scholarships for individuals with lower incomes, and classes for veterans, students and individuals with disabilities, among other efforts.
“I think art is really powerful,” says Access Arts’ Executive Director Sarah Catlin. “It can transform; it can heal. Up to 40% of our youth population are on the autism spectrum, and they will come in here and find their comunity and fin their place in a way that they maybe don’t quite fit in our typical classroom or other social setting. People find their lace, their happy place in their community.”
The artwork for the fundraiser can range from papermaking and ceramics
to painting and videography. Last year’s winners, Russ Anderson, founder and CEO of Anderson Homes, and artist Emmett Russell crafted a metal grandfather clock that sold for $4,500. In total, last year’s event fundraised $33,000.
Artist David Spear, known for his artwork seen in businesses such as Addison’s and Sophia’s restaurants, knows the monetary impact this fundraiser makes for the community. “This year, I had the opportunity to rekindle my passion for clay through evening courses after more than a decade. The classes were informative, yet enriching, with an accessible instructor who provided valuable guidance when needed.”
Spear is paired with local celebrity Jay Sparks, who is director of the Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia College. The two are working on using found pieces around Columbia’s thrift stores, antique shops and elsewhere to “Columbia-fy” their artwork.
“We’ve kind of let chance take the lead for us,” Sparks says. “Going the chance route and letting the universe put us where we need it, where we want it, where we find it, I think is a ot of fun.”
Along with Spear and Sparks, this year’s teams are Taylor Freeman with KOMU 8 paired with artist Ashlee Christensen, Mikel Fields with Castello Branco Fields
LLC paired with Jake McMahon, Johanna Cox with Veterans United Home Loans paired with Rebecca Allen, Bridgett Randolph with Central Bank of Boone County paired with Mira Stoddart, Connie Morris with Simmons Bank paired with Ramsay Wise, Alyssa Galbreath with Battle High School in Columbia Public Schools paired with Jade Poe, and Robin LaBrunerie with LaBrunerie Financial paired with Renee Monroe.
“I love seeing what people come up with, especially people like bankers who are like, ‘I’m not creative,’ and they are! They just don’t know it,” Catlin says.
What’s Going On
THE
EVENTS YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Dates and events are subject to change. Please visit the event website for the most up-to-date information.
September
SEPT. 7-9
WELLNESS WEEKEND
THE DISTRICT
De-stress this weekend in The District where numerous health and wellness businesses come together for the third annual Wellness Weekend. The weekend encourages you to find your en in whatever way works for you, whether that be walking on a trail, buying a plant, getting treated at the spa, joining a workout class or more.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; free; discoverthedistrict.com
SEPT. 14-15
SHOW ME STATE AIR SHOW 2024
JEFFERSON CITY MEMORIAL AIRPORT
Celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day with a family-fun event with aerial acrobatics, WWII warbirds, tactical military demonstrations, a classic car show and more. Vendors, food and merchandise to purchase, as well as military vehicles and aircrafts for children to climb in will also be part of the celebration.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $5 general admission, free for children, military personnel and veterans; showmestateairshow.org
SEPT. 22
BRAD UPTON
THE BLUE NOTE
Bring your friends for a night of laughs at Brad Upton’s Tap Out, Nap Out, Crap Out Tour! In 2018, Upton went viral for his Dry Bar Comedy skit about millennials. Now, see the viral sensation in The Blue Note’s CoMo Comedy Club series and prepare to laugh until you cry. 7 p.m.; $25-$30; thebluenote.com/event
SEPT. 23
7TH ANNUAL ROCK BRIDGE LIONS CLUB
CHARITY PICNIC
LOGBOAT BREWING CO.
Support local veterans by attending the 7th Annual Rock Bridge Lions Club Charity Picnic. Tickets include entry to the private event, a barbecue dinner, two drink tickets, raffles an auction, live entertainment and more.
5-8 p.m.; $30; welcomehome.org
SEPT. 28-29
MID-MISSOURI PRIDEFEST
ROSE MUSIC HALL AND SURROUNDING STREETS
Rose Music Hall and surrounding streets will be this year’s location for the Mid-Missouri PrideFest. Food trucks, live entertainment, community organizations, vendors and more will brighten downtown for the weekend, including the parade at noon. Noon to 10 p.m.; free; midmopride.org
SEPT. 28-29
2024 MID-MO HOME & GARDEN EXPO — AN EVENT BY ALE
NORTHEAST EVENT CENTER
Whether you’re looking for new items or creative ideas, you will find it all at this yar’s Mid-MO Home & Garden Expo. You can chat with vendors about products and design, or revel in the BBQ contest and car show. Don’t forget to check out the pets up for adoption too!
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; free; andrealynevents.com
October
OCT. 18
SWITCHFOOT
THE BLUE NOTE
We “Dare You to Move” and sing along to Switchfoot’s
biggest songs as they take The Blue Note’s stage for The Beautiful Letdown World Tour. You are “Meant to Live” for this concert, so don’t let these songs released in 2003 pass you by.
Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.; $39.50-$54.50; thebluenote.com
OCT. 19
MIZZOU HOMECOMING PARADE
MIZZOU CAMPUS AND DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA
Before the 113th Mizzou Homecoming football game against the Auburn Tigers, wake up bright and early and bring your Tiger spirit for the Homecoming Parade! Themed floats and fun cars will be part o the Homecoming tradition, and of course, candy! 8 a.m.; free; mizzou.com
OCT. 25
HALLOWEENIE IN THE DISTRICT 2024
THE DISTRICT
Downtown Columbia is ready for the cutest, funniest and spookiest costumes in the largest and safest trickor-treating event in the city. Bring the children, family and friends as business’ hand out candy. Don’t forget to shop local while gathering your sweets! 4-6 p.m.; free; discoverthedistrict.com
OCT. 25
THE 2024 BRIDGERTON BALL: THE QUEEN’S MASQUERADE
THE ATRIUM ON TENTH BALLROOM
Dearest Reader, COMO 411 presents the 2nd annual Bridgerton Ball, benefiting The Missouri Symphony (MOSY) and Mareck Center for Dance. Don’t miss out on the regal aesthetics, including era dress and masks (encouraged), food provided by Eclipse Catering, drinks, live entertainment and more.
7-10 p.m.; $79-$199; como411.com
COFFEE CRAWL
Coffee and caffeine lovers alike are welcome to join in for the second annual Caffeine Crawl in The District. From 9-10 a.m. on Oct. 5 the Columbia community will get to embrace the flvors of fall and enjoy delicious treats from local businesses participating in the crawl.
Sommelier Selected
AUTUMN WINES FOR YOUR LATE-SEASON FEASTS.
BY SANFORD SPEAKE · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
When I agreed to write this article about “fall wine,” I was thinking there is no such thing as “fall wine.” Then, while my wife and I were on a walk and I brought this up, she mentioned rosés. While rosés are certainly best in the summer — sitting outside with some friends and snacks, as though they are “summer wine” — people who make rosé don’t think of themselves as summer winemakers; they’re winemakers. Wineries don’t make “fall wine” or “spring wine.”
Thinking about wine always makes me think of food and which wine to pair with that food, so I approached this with food in mind. Obviously, the most important fall meal is Thanksgiving, so I thought about wine that pairs well with that holiday’s food. Thanksgiving is actually a very difficult meal to match wine to. This is primarily because most of us put all the food on the table at one time, instead of in courses where a different wine could be paired with each course. Think about the diversity of dishes many of us eat at Thanksgiving: cranberries, sweet potatoes, gravy and turkey, Brussels sprouts and green beans. It’s very hard to think of a wine that will complement it all.
My introduction to wine, as a kid, happened over the years primarily at Thanksgiving. I grew up in Mendocino, in northern California, and my grandparents lived in central
California. Each year on their drive up for Thanksgiving, they would stop at wineries, taste, buy a few bottles and then arrive with a case or two. For the four or five dys that they stayed with us, each night at dinner there would be multiple bottles opened. They would swirl and sniff hile my dad just smiled and nodded, as he wasn’t discriminating. He used to say, and still believes, that “wine is good” … all wine. It was some years later that I was given some tastes, and it’s convenient that what I remember tasting first is a classc “fall” or Thanksgiving wine, gewurztraminer.
How perfect that the first win I mention is a bit obscure and is defintely hard to pronounce: guhworse-trah-miner. The specific wine, Navarro Vineyards, inconveniently isn’t available here, but I grew up on Navarro Ridge in Mendocino County. It is about a half hour drive from the Anderson Valley, a great wine-growing area, where Navarro Vineyards is located. Beyond my sentimental reasons, gewurztraminer is good with Thanksgiving because its spiciness works with warm spices, but also with some vegetal qualities you will get with vegetables, alone, or in casseroles. If you’re interested in trying a spicy (think ginger), rich, sometimes a tiny bit sweet wine, go to any of the HyVee stores, Schnucks on Forum, Top Ten Wines, or Macadoodles, and they should be able to direct you to a gewurztraminer. The
best examples will usually be from the Alsace region of France.
A slightly sweet and highly acidic Riesling is one of the most versatile wines with food. The sweetness can temper the fie of spicy food or match the sweetness in food, like cranberries for instance. Riesling’s acidity refreshes with each sip, begging you to sip again, and can cut through the richness of some food, like gravy or mashed potatoes. Riesling is one of the best Thanksgiving wines, and it is also one of the wines that many people say they don’t like. Usually, they think they don’t like it because it is sweet. The first wine most of us drank wa sweet. Many of us have rejected sweet wines because they remind us of what we drank when we were learning about wine. It’s unfortunate. I dare you to come to Sycamore and try some pork belly sliders or Chris’s Nashville hot chicken with a glass of Riesling. For comparison’s sake ask for a sample of Cabernet and see which works better. If you know you’ll like the Cab and aren’t sure about the Riesling, order the Cab and get a sample of the Riesling! My favorite Rieslings come from the Mosel region of Germany. The Mosel is so far north that some years it isn’t warm enough for the grapes to ripen fully. These wines are naturally low in alcohol, sometimes dry but usually sweet, and high in acidity. You should be able to find a Resling from the Mosel region of Germany at one of the stores mentioned above. You can
find something delcious for around $15. Maybe you’ve seen “Kung Fu Girl” Riesling from Washington State? It’s very welldistributed, tasty and will fill in perectly if you can’t find the osel Riesling. Champagne is an obvious choice. It is celebratory by nature, and it pairs beautifully with most everything. Champagne is expensive. There are a lot of sparkling wines that aren’t Champagne (must be from the Champagne region of France to be “Champagne”) but are fantastic in their own right. Just about any Cava, which is sparkling wine from Spain, and can cost as little as $12 a bottle, will be quite satisfying. Marques de Caceres, and Segura Viudas are both Cava brands that are widely distributed. “Cremant” is a type of sparkling wine from regions of France other than Champagne. It is made in the same way as Champagne but is much less expensive. You might find examles from Burgundy, the Loire, or Alsace, and each will be made with the grapes common to their areas.
My parents, who still live in Mendocino, where I grew up, regularly go wine tasting in the Anderson Valley. The Anderson Valley is much less developed and has much less prestige than the Napa Valley, while still producing great wine. It can be expensive to go to wineries in Napa to taste. Most wineries in Anderson Valley offer tasting for free. But, not Roederer Estate, which is a great domestic sparkling wine, and so my father has never ponied up to taste at Roederer — he’s not cheap, but he certainly has his principles, and paying to taste doesn’t fit. Roederer is a French company that has a facility in the Anderson Valley that makes California sparkling wine. I highly recommend it. Roederer Estate is much less expensive than Champagne and a bit more expensive than Cava.
To me, Beaujolais is an obvious choice.
It’s delicious! Beaujolais is a region south of Burgundy, in France, and the primary grape is Gamay. I’m not talking about Beaujolais Nouveau, which is sold as a celebration of the harvest when the wine is just made and hasn’t aged at all. I’m talking about Beaujolais Villages, or better yet, Cru Beaujolais. Cru Beaujolais is from 11 distinct regions within Beaujolais. These wines are much fuller-bodied, deeper in flvor and texture, and more serious than the nouveau versions. They often have a spicy quality combined with bright fresh, sometimes a bit wild, fruit flvors, and a bit of earth. When I say “earth” don’t get scared! Imagine driving around the countryside and what it smells like when you pass small farms: turned earth, the sun on corn and just the tiniest hint of the fact that cows and pigs live there. It’s not a bad smell, but it is an evocative smell. It’s the earthy and vegetal qualities, along with acidity, that helps a wine match food, and Beaujolais has those in spades. There should be an example or two at the grocery stores, but Paul at Top Ten will have a variety for you to consider.
Fall wine, for many people, would mean leaving the light refreshing wine of summer behind and switching to fullerbodied and more richly flvored wine for the cooler months. Contrast sitting on a patio during the summer sipping a glass of Sauvignon Blanc with sitting around a fie in the fall sipping a glass of Cabernet. At Sycamore, we sell much more white wine during the spring and summer and more red during the fall and winter. This contradicts assertions I’ve made elsewhere in this article, but there is nuance. The white wines we sell the most of in the summer are also the white wines we sell the most of in winter. It’s the same for the red wines; we just switch over all sales of each, red and white, seasonally.
This is true for liquor as well. We sell more gin, tequila and vodka in the warm months and more brown liquor in the colder months.
This is going to sound really obvious: most people drink what they like, regardless of the season, and regardless of what they are eating. I think this is how it should be, but I hope everyone tries something new every once in a while. At Sycamore, regular customers often ask me to pair a wine with their dinner. With a couple of these people, it became a joke for me because whatever they were eating, and whatever I suggested, they would always choose the same type of wine they always drank. I wasn’t offended, and I would always bring a sample of my suggestion. I regularly encounter people who brand themselves as “a Cab guy” or “a Pinot person” or “I only drink Chardonnay.” To each their own is what I think. But I also think they are missing out. There are great interesting wines from all over the world. I tell my staff that they do’t have to like or care about wine but that they should learn something about the wine on my list to be able to talk about what they are selling. Each bottle could have a story behind it that includes generations of a family farming the same land, getting through wars (Europe), dealing with bureaucracy, adjusting to changes in tastes and fashion, all the while creating a product that represents their priorities, influenced by what the geology and geography of their place has to offer. When you are interested, curious, it becomes easy to learn. As a server, when you can talk about a wine it’s much easier to sell it. As a consumer, if you learn about a wine, your enjoyment of it takes on new dimensions. Cheers!
Functional Fitness
TRAINING FOR LIFE'S ADVENTURES.
Vacation is a time to explore new places, enjoy longawaited adventures and savor the joys of life without the constraints of a busy work schedule. The same can be said for enjoying retirement. But just like we prepare for vacation and retirement by saving first physical preparation is key to getting the most out of life’s adventures. Functional training, focusing on exercises that mimic real-life movements, plays a crucial role in preparing the body for the challenges of travel and outdoor adventures. My family recently took a trip of a lifetime, hiking and paddling our way through several national parks. It was our functional fitness that prepared us for some of the most spectacular views and experiences.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNCTIONAL TRAINING
Functional training goes beyond traditional gym workouts. It emphasizes movements that improve your ability to perform daily activities and hobbies with ease. Unlike exercises that target isolated muscle groups, functional training involves multiple joints and muscles working together, mimicking the way
BY MASON STEVENS · PHOTOS BY AVA KITZI
your body naturally moves.
My family’s trip through the mountains, forests and lakes proved to be a demanding physical challenge. However, the views were well worth the effort; and the effort was manageable because of our preparation. Months before we left, we incorporated a variety of functional exercises into our fitness routines. Squats, lunges and step-ups were staples, giving us the strength and stability to climb over boulders. Core exercises like planks and seated twists improved our balance and rotational strength. This was crucial as we paddled against a strong headwind. Inside of the gym, deadlifts were a must. Outside of the gym, we rucked with weighted packs. These two exercises were essential to strengthen our backsides, ensuring we could carry our backpacks without straining.
PREPARING FOR TRAVEL IN RETIREMENT
For individuals wanting to travel in their retirement, physical preparation may be even more important. If you have spent your entire career behind a desk, the best thing you can do to prepare for your travels is to work on
your functional fitness. On a trip last year, I spoke with several retirees, and this is what they said was important to them.
Mobility and Stability: Functional exercises improve joint mobility and range of motion, making it easier to navigate through tight airplane seats, climb stairs and explore the cobblestone streets of Europe.
My favorite dynamic stretch is a bodyweight squat, sitting back into the deepest squat possible without pain. Shoot for three sets of 10 reps. Try to hold each rep for three seconds at the bottom.
Increased Strength and Endurance: Building overall strength and endurance enables you to carry luggage, hike for longer distances and participate in a variety of activities without getting tired. Sadly, I’ve seen folks struggle simply getting on and off a tour bus
Step-ups with a press are a great way to prepare for getting on the bus and placing your bags in the overhead compartment. Start by stepping your right foot onto an 8- to 12-inch riser, holding weight at the left shoulder. When you have stepped up with both feet, press the weight overhead. Aim for completing eight repetitions on each side for a total of three sets.
Improved Balance and Coordination: Balance exercises reduce the risk of falls, which is especially important for older adults. Improving coordination helps you
maintain stability on uneven surfaces and in crowded places.
Tandem walking is my favorite balance exercise. Standing next to a wall or countertop, walk with one heel directly in front of the other foot. Using the wall for assistance as needed, walk by alternating the lead foot for three rounds of 30 seconds.
Reduced Risk of Injury: The combination of these types of exercise helps to create strong and resilient bodies. But remember to start slow and progress gradually. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting new exercises too.
Remember, functional training is an investment in your future adventures. By preparing your body for the physical demands of travel, you can fully enjoy your retirement or that next vacation. Embrace functional fitness, and let it be the foundation of your active, adventurous life.
Mason Stevens is owner and exercise physiologist at MET-Fitness in Columbia. He has his bachelor’s in nutrition and fitness, and has more than 10 years o experience in sports conditioning, coaching and fitness
Discovery on the Dial
3 SHOWS AND 2 MOVIES TO STOP AND WATCH WHILE CHANNEL SURFING.
BY BRIAN WEAR
WELCOME TO OUR ULTIMATE LISTS! In each issue, you will find a cuated selection of things to listen to or watch, put together by influeners in the community, on-air talent from Zimmer Communications or a member of the Inside Columbia staff. For this issue, Brian Wear, owner of Brian Wear Plumbing, shared his ultimate watchlist while channel flipping or steaming. Scan the QR code on this page to view the full watchlist. Enjoy!
“Horizon” — MAX
I'm old and I like a good western, and I've been looking forward to this one, even though I'm pretty ticked off that Montana Batman isn't finishing ellowstone. This is part one, and it was three hours, but it was pretty good. Lots of characters and storylines that I assume will come together in part two. Costner likes to have a message in his projects, and I believe one of them is if people today had to deal with what our ancestors who settled the West did, there would be a lot less people. I look forward to part two.
“The Innovation That Built America” — History Channel I love history, and there's a lot of interesting stories here. From soup to ice cream, soda, candy, breakfast foods, from the story of Walt Disney and Evel Knievel to cell phones and rental cars. Ruthless backstabbing, tireless hours of work never to see any fruits of labor, unbelievable risks that pay off big. God bles America.
“American Nightmare” — Netfli
This is just crazy. I don't want to talk about it and give anything away. It's three episodes so not a huge commitment, and it's worth it. It's one of those stories that you think will never happen to you, but it happened to someone. Start it early in the evening because you'll want to finish it.
“Jerry and Marge Go Large” — Paramount + or Amazon Prime Video
The best movies are based on real life. I enjoyed this one from 2022. Maybe it’s because I wonder at times what I'll do if I retire. Should be watched by any kid who thinks math is dumb. I enjoyed Rainn Wilson’s character in this one.
I usually find yself mindlessly channel surfing fom whatever movie or show that happens to be on that I like. It drives my wife crazy, which is not why I do it. It’s amazing and confusing with all the steaming services these days — the unbelievable number of options. I grew up with three channels. I rarely go to the movies these days, although it does seem like better films ae being made now unlike the last few years. Anyway, this is my list. SCAN TO DOWNLOAD THE
“Seinfeld” — Netflix and TB Best sitcom ever, and don't even try and convince me otherwise.
Temperature Drop Swaps
HARNESS THE MOODS OF FALL FOR YOUR HOME HAVEN.
BY JORDAN DURHAM · PHOTOS BY SCOUT AND NIMBLE
After the heat and hustle and bustle of summer, making aesthetic changes in your home can feel like a breath of crisp, fresh air. It’s a great time to think about the coziness of fall and how you want to create the warmth everyone will soon need through décor. Founder of Scout and Nimble, Jesse Bodine, gives us advice on how to create the warm, interior ambiance we crave for a brisk autumnal day.
COZY COLORS
After many years of gray and cool tones, the tides are shifting to embrace the warmth. Brown, though not a new style for fall, is coming back in style through furniture, décor and fabrics throughout the home. For example, Bodine says trends are moving away from a bleached oak or lighter stain on furniture and more toward what is known as a heritage look. “I think any
and layering. Bouclé fabric for chairs, ottomans, etc., is currently trending. It is a soft plush material that allows for a fuzzy touch in a room and isn’t hard to snag, making it livable rather than merely showroom ready. Along the same lines, velvet is here for a comeback as an inviting texture, as is shearling.
“I always tell clients, ‘Summer’s over. Take away the light gauzy throws and bring in the more woven pieces that are a little bit heavier,’” Bodine says.
“
you can host and feel confident hosting” is important.
“I feel like when people surround themselves with whatever they feel is beautiful and is a reflection of them, it gives them confidence to have people over. I just think that what you surround yourself with really impacts your mood, happiness and well-being.”
Another quick swap can be brasses on cabinetry or furniture. This gives a “pop” to the room that is sleek and classy.
I feel like when people surround themselves with whatever they feel is beautiful and is a reflection of them, it gives them confidence to have people over.
shade of brown that you want to bring in is great.”
Earth tones such as terracotta and olive green bring the outdoors in, even as the leaves outside fall and trees begin to hibernate. Deep and unexpected colors such as plum and mustard can enhance a room throughout the cooler months as well.
Currently taking the internet by the color wheel is red theory. “I’m excited to see some of that red coming back into play,” Bodine says. “And there’s a way to utilize those things in a really fresh way that it doesn’t feel like the early 2000s.”
And though a bright red may not say “fall” to you right away, utilizing a splash of the color along with layering in warmer colors is a way to allow a bit of play in a cozy room.
THE WAY YOU FEEL
Textures and different fabrics can give a space dimension, tangibility
Adding or switching to a patterned rug in a living room, office, etc. can also give a room dimension. Different patterns in the same room, whether pillows, blankets, ottomans, chairs, etc., can help bring a fresh and fun perspective, especially if you’d rather not have the monotony of solid colors and patterns.
DOABLE D É COR
Let’s talk about simple swaps for those looking to transition their home from a bright summer sanctuary into a warm, moody haven. With spending so much time at home when the temperature begins to drop, swapping pillows can go a long way, as well as provide a great element for a nap.
With children going back to school, people’s minds turn to football and hosting. According to Bodine, attentions turn to the entryway, living and dining spaces, and for you “making sure that those feel rounded out, so that
Finishes for furniture can also transition a piece and give it a fresh and new feel to the home, without going out and buying something brand new.
For those who love anything to do with the outdoors, anything wood indicates bringing the outside in. In thinking about the kitchen or dining room for gathering spaces, leaving a wooden cutting board or fruit bowl on the counters is not only a quick way of introducing the changing season in your home, but it’s functional too. Another idea is to bring clippings in from outside. You can use twigs from trees and add them to floral arrangements or use the brown stems and pick up some reddening or yellowing leaves for colorful displays.
When planning seasonally, it’s easy to fall for trends, especially when walking through big-name stores. Yet, Bodine says her piece of advice is always to go with what you love. It will never go out of style.
Announcing Woodhaven’s Community Connections After School Youth Program!
Woodhaven is excited to introduce our new After School Youth Program, specifically designed for middle school and high schoolaged neurodivergent youth and those with learning and/or physical disabilities. Hours are Monday through Friday from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM. Contact us for more information on enriching and supportive experiences offered!
Our program offers specialized classes with trained staff, including Relationship, Hygiene, and cooking classes, designed to enhance essential life skills. Participants will enjoy a variety of community and in-house activities, including arts and crafts, music and karaoke, bingo, bowling, video games, day trips, and exercise. Additionally, there are numerous volunteer opportunities to foster a sense of community and purpose.
Behavioral supports are supervised by licensed BCBA professionals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all. Our program also collaborates with other WLC departments, such as Encircle and Community Employment Services, and partners with local community agencies to provide valuable volunteer experiences.
Woodhaven’s Community Connections After School Youth Program is a great place to learn, grow, and have fun in a supportive and inclusive setting!
Veterans Administration Partnership program for Senior Citizen Veterans
Woodhaven is honored to announce our new veteran’s program. The Community Connections Senior Veteran’s program offers retired veterans a place to enjoy a variety of activities when they get together, reflecting their shared experiences and interests.
At Woodhaven, our new veteran’s program offers a comfortable and dedicated location to meet, with numerous opportunities to connect and thrive. They can share stories and memories, reminisce about their service days and catch up on each other’s lives.
Veterans can engage in community service, volunteering together for community projects or supporting veteran-related causes. For those who enjoy friendly competition, there are opportunities to play cards or board games such as poker, bridge, or chess. Veterans can watch sporting events together and participate in hobbies like model building. Additionally, they can engage in physical fitness activities, nature walks, bowling, or workouts.
These activities provide opportunities for bonding, mutual support, and maintaining a sense of community among retired veterans.
We are also very excited to announce Woodhaven was recently awarded the Neighborhood Assistance Program(NAP) tax credits from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The NAP program will enhance our work with neurodivergent youth and adult individuals with disabilities in education, employment and training. We are so grateful to MO DED for giving us this amazing opportunity to credit 50% back to our generous donors and sponsors! Contact DeAnna Alonso for NAP credit application information.
Please celebrate 60 years of innovation with Woodhaven! We invite you to support Woodhaven with a sponsorship for our 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee. We are also currently taking premium item donations for our silent and live auctions.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH AT 5:30 PM
Fall
Mid-Missouri’s Fall Festivals For Every Weekend
BY JORDAN DURHAM
Photos Courtesy of Rodney Battles, Amber Friedli, Tim Reinbott, Dustin Shryock, Moira Theis, Jenna Thompson, Lexi Linsenman, Zach and Erin Diederich, Dina Dunklee and L.G. Patterson
Falling leaves, pumpkins, apple cider and crisp days call for the fun of autumn festivals throughout mid-Missouri! We’ve compiled a list of fall festivals that each hold a little something different than the rest and all ages can enjoy. Whether you want to stay close to Columbia or explore new towns, you’ll fid everything from shark races to tomato testing, from artisans in period apparel to a three-story gumball machine. In September and October, each weekend holds some festival magic for every family to enjoy. Thow on something cozy, grab a blanket and have some fall festival fun!
Thursday, Sept. 5, 4 to 7 p.m.
Tomato Festival
Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center, Columbia FREE | calendar.missouri.edu/event/tomato-festival
Those looking for a delicious taste-testing festival will not fid anything better than the Tomato Festival. Hosted by the Central Missouri Research, Extension, and Education Center through the University of Missouri’s Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, the event brings over 175 tomato varieties and 70 pepper varieties, along with tomatillos and ground cherries, all for tasting.
Tim Reinbott, the festival organizer and the director of three College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources areas including Research Activities, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Communications, and CAFNR Construction, says his excitement surrounds the sheer number of options provided.
“I love the variety and how the different salsas taste depending upon the type of pepper. After we planted the tomatoes and peppers (that were started from seed
Saturday, Sept. 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Downtown Tipton | FREE | facebook.com/events
Ths year’s 2nd Annual Tipton Septemberfest brings fun and whimsy to the town as festival goers can plan on shark races, a human-powered tractor pull contest and the presiding commissioner’s cup as three of the main events. These, alongside a parade, over 60 vendors, eight food trucks, at least four performers for live music, stagecoach rides, a dunking booth, bucket truck rides and more are all included in a day full of family fun.
Rodney Battles, founder of Septemberfest and president of Friends of the Maclay Home, began the festival last year to bring people to the Maclay Home, as well as the historic Old Presbyterian Church, and to foster community across the town. Septemberfest is a different version of a festival that took place in the 80s
at MU South Farm) I realized that there were some sold and grown by local gardeners and nurseries that we didn’t have, so I purchased some plants of each and included them.”
Last year, the festival brought 1,100 attendees; this year Reinbott expects even more. Attendees can expect taste testing of tomatoes, peppers, salsas and jams, including milk tasting for children. Local restaurants will provide cooking demonstrations to taste as well.
and 90s in Tipton.
“I used to be able to walk around this town and I knew somebody on every block; anymore, I don’t, my kids don’t. It’s just, so much has changed,” Battles says. “I was shooting to bring back that old time once a year — everybody gets together and has a good time.”
Battles hopes to bring something new to the festival each year that other towns may not have, like the shark races, which he found on TikTok. Keeping the festival fresh is what he believes makes it different than others.
“ That’s kind of my main goal, to drop the things that didn’t work and pick up something that may,” he says, “and grow this into something for years to come.”
Friday, Sept. 13 • Opening Day
Shryock’s Corn Maze
Shryocks Callaway Farms, Callaway County FREE | callawayfarms.com
One of the most well-known places for fall joy is Shryock’s Corn Maze located 15 minutes outside of Columbia. Every fall, the Shryock family creates a 16acre corn maze with a new and exciting design. The 2024 season is the family’s 23rd year of opening the corn maze, and the festivities have grown to include the Fun Barn, a jumping pillow, a basketball wagon and a hay bale run. They also have a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin.
“It is certainly the traditions that people are able to make here with their friends and loved ones that keep them coming back,” says Dustin Shryock, one of the family members who makes the fall magic happen. “All we do is offer a fun, safe place for people to be outside
together and have fun investing in their relationships, and the people of mid-Missouri love that!”
If the past few years are any indication of this fall favorite, the Shryock Corn Maze has averaged 20,000 tickets sold. Visiting groups can purchase campfie sites via registration; visitors can also purchase hot and cold drinks, hot dogs, ice cream, kettle corn and other general concessions.
“My siblings, cousins and I all help make this place happen,” Shryock says. “We always loved growing up on this farm together and it's really great getting to share that experience and see others enjoy the setting as well!”
Saturday, Sept. 21, 4 to 8 p.m.
CCUA’s Harvest Hootenanny
Columbia Agriculture Park, Columbia FREE | columbiaurbag.networkforgood.com
For farm-fresh food and a good time, the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture’s 15th Annual Harvest Hootenanny is where you need to be! The Hootenanny stands out from other festivals as it brings members of the Columbia community together for a Missouriraised, farm-to-table meal prepared by students at Columbia Area Career Center, along with offering carnival games; local beer, wine and cider; raffletems; farm animals; tours of the 10-acre park; kid’s activities; a Dance Hall; live music and more.
“Getting to see the community come together, the air is electric; the atmosphere resembles a happy family reunion,” says CCUA Development Manager Lexi Linsenman. “At the Hootenanny, we get to connect with thousands of folks across our community from our volunteers, to program participants, to partner
organizations, to donors, to people who are meeting us for the fist time! It is so exciting and rewarding to be face to face with our community sharing a meal, dancing and connecting with each other.”
Over 50 organizations and businesses partner with CCUA to help make the event happen.
“From hosting carnival games, to sponsoring tickets to give away to low-income individuals and families, to supporting local farmers to grow the produce, CCUA’s Harvest Hootenanny is a coming together of our community to celebrate and support one another while having a lot of fun doing it!” Linsenman says.
New this year is the return of the “Plop Plop Chicken Drop” game and farm face painting. The festival is free, however, tickets are used as currency for the evening meal, alcohol, raffletems and carnival games.
Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 21-22; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Heritage Festival & Craft Show
Nifong Park, Columbia | FREE | como.gov/parks-and-recreation
In its 46th year, the Annual Heritage Festival & Craft Show brings together traditions from across the globe through artisans, performers, crafters, storytellers, animals and much more. The festival pairs with the Boone County Historical Society and Culture Center, providing resources for the festival and showcasing reenactments and historic homes and replicas on their property.
Recreation Specialist for Columbia Parks and Recreation Moira Theis is the lead coordinator of the festival this year and emphasizes the importance of enjoying a new, or perhaps well-loved, space, “Going to new parks in new places opens up a wider range of a sense of community. The more events that you place at different parks, the more accessible those events become to the community that surrounds it.”
All heritages are welcome at the festival. Theis and her team keep expanding the festival to include diverse cultures for festivalgoers to learn about. Ths
year, performances range from Irish step dancing to Indigenous dancing, Latin music to local mid-Missouri bands. Thee stages will showcase 15 performers and musicians throughout the two days. There will also be 11 types of food booths and trucks, 47 vendor booths and 20-30 traditional booths showcasing quilters, knitters and others in period dress, in addition to woodworkers and craftsen. Kids activities such as rope making, face painting and cow milking will go throughout the day, along with ghost stories told from 8-9:30 p.m. They expect 6,000 attendees each day, so it’s recommended to go early for close parking and to bring cash as some vendors do not accept cards.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hermann Harvest Festival
Hermann | $5 | visithermann.com/event
It’s easy to think of Hermann for their weekends of Oktoberfest, but for those looking for a more familyfriendly festival, look no further than the Hermann Harvest Festival located in their downtown district. And this year, they’re expanding!
Ths year, the festival will include adding more live music performances and more food trucks, increasing their vendor count to over 80 vendors total and expanding their kid zone. Vendors will sell antiques, clothes, permanent jewelry and baked goods, as well as handmade items, such as candles, skin care products and more.
“We are delighted to bring together an array of talented individuals and organizations at this event, fostering collaboration and supporting small businesses in partnership with our community,” says Jenna Thompson, one of the organizers of the festival.
By her side is the other organizer, Jenna Schaefer, and they both are looking to double the attendance with the increase of events, food and fun.
“Jenna and I aimed to organize an exciting event in Hermann that would attract visitors and provide a family-friendly experience,” Thompson says. “With the understanding that fiding suitable events for children can be challenging, we prioritized creating an inclusive atmosphere that caters to all ages. In our pursuit of continuous improvement, we surveyed our vendors last year and incorporated their invaluable feedback to enhance our event.”
What sets this festival apart is the quaint, German town setting along with beautiful views as it sits along the Missouri River, so whether you drive, cycle or take the train to Hermann, you’ll fid some fall scenery.
Opening Day • Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lloyd's Farm Fall Festival
Lloyd’s Family Farm, Ashland | FREE | lloydsfamilyfarm.com
Starting the autumnal season off or the family farm, Lloyd’s Fall Festival Opening Day brings attractions big and small, plus … plenty of pumpkins!
“We always hope to add something new and exciting for guests to enjoy while at our farm, while keeping the same general experience so guests know what to expect each time they visit,” says Erin Diederich, owner of Lloyd’s, along with her husband, Zach Diederich.
The festival began in 2014 as a chance for people to visit and experience all that a farm offers and an opportunity to meet farmers. The 2024 opening day will be filled with fall joy, including you-pick pumpkins, a corn maze, farm animals, trucks and tractors, games, fall photo opportunities, jumping pillows, a fun slide and more.
“We always strive for the highest quality in our crops and environment,” Erin says. “Our farm has been in our family for six generations and is very precious to us. We feel blessed to offer an experience at our farm that others get to participate in. Our Fall Festival is an exciting, and simple way to transition into the fall season and spend a day with those that you love!”
Ths year’s theme of “A Family Tradition for 45 Years” reflcts exactly what the Versailles Olde Tyme Apple Festival brings to festivalgoers and Versailles. With over 200 booths, a parade, a car show, a corn hold tournament, a demolition derby, live music and so much more, this festival is one not to miss! Thee contests also will take place, throughout the weekend: the Apple Festival King and Queen competition, Fiddler’s Contest and Apple Pie Baking competitions.
“Last year, we had a consistent 15,000 people on the square for Saturday,” says Executive Director of the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce Dina Dunklee. “ The most exciting aspect is that families come together every year
and enjoy the day. For many families, it’s more of a family reunion.”
If you can’t make it out for the opening day, you can enjoy the magic of Lloyd’s this fall on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 through Oct. 27.
With a jam-packed weekend full of festivities, the festival stays fresh by bringing in new artisans every year. Attendees can expect numerous craft booths, fun for kids, food trucks and much more fun.
One of the largest fall festivals in mid-Missouri is the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival. Ths year, the festival celebrates 33 years with a parade, arts and crafts thousands of pumpkins, entertainment, hayrides, a straw maze, pumpkin painting, apple butter making and much
more. Approximately 30,000 visitors are expected in a town with a population of 143 as recorded in the 2021 census. The Main Stage acts range from live music to entertainment, and you won’t want to miss the crowning of 2024 Pumpkin Royalty early on Saturday morning.
Saturday, Oct 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Centralia Pumpkin Festival
Centralia City Square, Centralia | FREE | centraliamo.org
Only 30 minutes away from Columbia is the 6th Annual 2024 Centralia Pumpkin Festival for you and your family to enjoy.
The festival started in 2018 with only 30 vendors, 10 games and approximately 500 people. Now, it has grown, with 2020 being the only year they had to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year it brought 5,000 visitors.
Ths year, the festival is hoping for 7,000 visitors as the festival is family-centered.
“Robert Wright started the event to be a community-oriented event that was fun for all. It has grown immensely,” says Amber Friedli, the festival coordinator.
The money collected each year goes to providing free games, prizes, goodie bags and pumpkins for kids. Ths allows money spent at the festival by attendees to go to food trucks and over 100 vendors. The festival will also include live music and a pumpkin pie contest.
“ There are so many things to see and do in a small area,” Friedli says. “We have something for all the ages.”
DRESSES en pointe
Local
Dancers Model
Flowing Dresses for Fall!
What is a complete wardrobe without a fancy flwing dress? Check out these perfect flwing dresses modeled by the dancers with Mareck Center for Dance and add something stunning to your closet this season. Whether you are looking for something more neutral or want to add a pop of color to your wardrobe, our team has curated the perfect mix of gorgeous dresses for you to select for fall. So, sit back and enjoy this flwing fashion feature just for you!
STYLED BY MADELYN JONES PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
Alex Marie Annalee Satin
Cowl Neck Sleeveless Midi
Dress in honey
Dillard's $178.00
Kellsa Maxi Dress Altar'd State $104.00
Gianni Bini x Caelynn Bell Mary
Satin Chiffon V-Neck Sleeveless
Drop Waist Maxi Dress
Dillard's $113.40
Alex Marie Colette Sleeveless Tie Waist Tiered Ruffle He
Maxi Gown in navy
Dillard's $178.00
Le' AL.X Mesh Sleeveless
Deep V Neck Low Back Empire
Waist Maxi Dress
Dillard's $159.00
Antonio Melani x The Style
Bungalow South Ocean Bow
Detail Striped Maxi Dress
Dillard's $104.65
Harlan Chiffon Maxi Dress
Altar'd State $92.00
LOCAL CHEFS SHARE THEIR WING WISDOM
BY ZOLA HECK | PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
W
hen it comes to football season, there are so many tailgating traditions, whether that’s playing games like corn hole, enjoying a cocktail, dressing up in your team’s colors or enjoying your favorite game day wings. To celebrate this football season with all the best flvors, we spoke with local restaurants to get the best tips for preparing, cooking and serving delicious wings. Bon appétit!
Prepping Your Wings
The prep may seem like the scariest part, but in fact, prepping wings for cooking is a straightforward process. According to the Food Network, start by placing the wings in a large bowl and season them generously with salt, pepper, garlic power and any other desired spices or marinades. Then you’ll want to toss the wings with the seasoning mixture to ensure each piece is evenly coated.
If you are deep frying your wings, whisk together two cups of all-purpose flou, ½ teaspoon of fine salt and ½ a easpoon of cayenne.
Once you have the rub of your choosing, Matt Hawkins, the coowner of Como Smoke & Fire, says the prep is the easy part. “Just take the wings straight from the package and into the rub. Now if you buy frozen wings, make sure they are thawed so they take on that rub. Make sure to cover them well,” he says.
Angie Buttrum, the owner and manager of D&D Pub N Grub says picking the right seasoning is very important. “Whether they are naked or breaded, you want to use a seasoning that is going to complement your sauce or sauces. If you are using a variety of sauces, make sure you season lightly and recommend using a general seasoning. What may work for one may be too much for another,” she says. For Eduardo Urbina, the manager of D. Rowe's Restaurant & Bar, the prep is all about the marination. “Marinate in your favorite dressing with your favorite spices,” he says. For extra flvor, let the wings marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to several hours in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, ensure the wings are evenly coated and proceed with your preferred cooking method, whether it be grilling, baking or frying.
Cooking Your Wings
Chicken wings can be cooked in a variety of delicious ways, whether that’s smoking, grilling, baking or frying. When smoking wings, make sure to place wings evenly on a smoker rack, according to the Food Network, and smoke in the smoker until golden brown.
For grilling, preheat the grill to medium heat and place wings on the grill so they are all touching. Cook for twenty minutes, flipping the wings very fie minutes. When baking wings, make sure to spread them out on the baking sheet and roast them for 40 minutes on 400 degrees, turning the pan halfway through. During the last fie minutes, make sure to coat the wings in the sauce of your choosing. And if you’re looking to create a more classic wing, in oil that has reached 375 degrees, working in batches of three, place wings in the oil until the chicken is lightly browned, which is typically 10-12 minutes.
Ty Moore, the owner of CJ’s Hot Wings says, “Wings are not a ‘onesize-fits-all’ iem.” Moore says when creating the Missouri hot wing, the most important thing is to keep the customer in mind. “There’s no right or wrong when it comes to wings, it’s all up to what the consumer prefers,” Moore says. “Don’t try to have something for everyone, fin something your audience enjoys and do it at a high level.”
For Moore, while his specialty is frying wings, the unique details of his cooking method are kept a secret. “Our particular methods are geared towards creating a product that presents an enjoyable crispness while also being lathered sauce, and for real wings, it’s all about the sauce,” Moore says.
At Como Smoke & Fire, it’s also all about what the customer prefers. Hawkins says any meat wings are very subjective. “It all depends on the preference of the individual eating them and the flvor profil they enjoy. Our preference is smoking wings around here. Keep it simple,” he says. Compared to chicken breast, Hawkins says wings are more forgiving. “So, 165 internal temperature isn’t going to overcook them like it would the breast but I would pull them a few degrees before,” Hawkins says. “The hotter you cook, the quicker you will get there.”
At D. Rowe’s, Urbina says smoking wings is also their specialty, and the key to making the best smoked wings is to keep them on the smoker for several hours. “Smoke the wings anywhere between four to six hours between 200-250 degrees with your favorite rub. Make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees before you pull them off the smoer or grill.” If you are
more into the classic flvors, Buttrum says to try making a wing that is breaded and fried. “If you like a traditional wing, I would stick with a wing that is breaded and fried. If you are looking for a diet-friendly wing, I would grill, smoke, or fry a naked (no breading) wing,” she says.
To add a unique twist, try air frying the wings at 360 degrees for 12 minutes on both sides and 390 degrees for an extra six minutes or until the outside is crispy. Each of these cooking methods gives deliciously different results, which are all perfect for any occasion.
Serving Your Wings
The secret to serving chicken wings depends on the event you are serving them at. Are you staying home? Are they traveling in a car to a tailgate? This answer will decide the best way to arrange the wings before serving them to guests.
Hawkins says wings are best right out of the smoker. So, if you’re having a tailgate party at home, serve them up when they are fresh, if possible, but “If you can’t do that, reheat using the oven, air fryer or deep fry for that crispy skin.”
If you are packing up your wings and taking them to a tailgate, Buttrum says it’s important to pack the sauce. “I do recommend taking your sauce bottle with you and saucing them at the tailgate,” she says. But no matter where you are serving them, make sure to arrange them on a large platter with a mix of drums and wings for variety. You can also add different dipping sauces, whether that’s classic buffalo, barbecue, ranch, blue cheese or any other dip of your choosing. To add a bit of color, garnish the platter with celery and carrots too!
Whether hosting a game day party or a casual get-together, any of these wing creations will be a hit.
Noelle Case (left) and Sarah Hanneken of Commerce Trust
Noelle Case
Senior Vice President and Private Client Advisor
Sarah Hanneken
Vice President and Private Client Advisor
Since she was young, Noelle Case, the senior vice president and private client advisor at Commerce Trust, has loved numbers and solving puzzles. “Those early interests laid a strong foundation for the analytical and problem-solving skills,” Case says. And her passion continued through her college years when she worked as a bank teller and was influenced by her financeprofessor. But for Sarah Hanneken, the vice president and private client advisor at Commerce Trust, she found her passion in her early 20s. “Many of my friends, particularly my female friends, had limited understanding about investing and retirement. That ignited my passion for financialliteracy, and wanting to ensure everyone felt they had a seat at the table,” Hanneken says.
For both Case and Hanneken, now being able to help people every day is incredibly rewarding, whether that’s helping clients' children obtain a college education, helping them make a downpayment on their firsthome, or mentoring young professionals. “Sometimes, we meet with clients during periods of grief and despair. If we can take a load offtheir shoulders, offer support and provide helpful advice to those in a time of need, that makes the hard work and hours we put into this role all worth it,” Case says. “As a mentor, I get a true sense of pride and achievement watching them grow, overcome challenges, and achieve significant
milestones,” Hanneken adds.
Throughout their careers, both Case and Hanneken have received career advice that has helped propel them forward.
For Hanneken, that advice came from a great mentor, Keith Schawo at Commerce Trust. “He taught me to lead by action and always do the right thing, even in the face of strong opposition.” Case says, the best advice she can give to other women starting in this field is to seek out mentors to help provide guidance, share their experiences and offer advice. “A good mentor will be able to help you navigate your industry and provide valuable insights,” she says. “I also think it’s important to pay it forward. Should the opportunity arise, be a mentor to others.”
Hanneken says for women starting out in this field her advice “is to embrace your unique strengths and experiences and never compromise your integrity.”
Hanneken and Case say being a "Woman to Watch" is an incredible honor. “It comes with a sense of responsibility to continue striving for excellence, to mentor others, and to support other women in our community,”Case says. “By uplifting and advocating for one another, we can break barriers, challenge stereotypes and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future,” Hanneken agrees.
Jaclyn Rogers
Client Relations Manager
As a woman in a male-dominated field, Jaclyn Rogers knows that being herself and jumping in is what it takes to make a difference. This is why her advice for women starting offin the painting trade is “just go for it.”
“The local leaders in this community are who have continued to inspire and push me to be who I am today,” Rogers, who is the clients relations manager at Ai Painting Plus, says. The business already redefinesthe standards in the trade as it is a women-led and -owned company.
“Even in a male-dominated industry as a non-painter, I feel very respected in this community and know that I bring strong attributes to the role that I get to fulfill evey day to others.”
Understanding client needs and wants comes second nature to Rogers. With her background in retail management, she commits herself to the client and not the sale, allowing relationships to be forged with trust and open communication.
“I have always had a high interest in customer care and working directly with clients,” she says, “being able to help them achieve their desired outcomes and ensuring satisfaction with the services provided, which involves great communication and attention to detail.”
These points were valuable pieces of advice she received when starting in her career. They have carried her forward and helped her tailor solutions to authentically meet the expectations of her clients. “We pride ourselves on so much more than just a paint job.”
Her unyielding commitment to her clients at Ai Painting Plus and the industry positions her as a “Woman to Watch” in the Columbia community. “It signifies that my efforts, contributions and achievements are being acknowledged and appreciated by those around me. It’s a validation of my dedication and commitment to making a positive impact, whether it’s in my profession, community involvement or personal growth. I am so grateful for this local community and the support it always shows for other leaders in the community.”
Phyllis Nichols
Phyllis Nichols, a dedicated State Farm agent in Columbia, has spent more than 37 years helping the community. Nichols’ stands out for her commitment to treating her clients like family. “I always say, treat others as you would like to be treated and you should be in a good place,” she says.
Her journey into the insurance industry was inspired by her father-in-law, who was an agent for 42 years and demonstrated the impact an agent can have on someone. “I got to see firsthand how he could positively affect people’s lives.”
Along with the guidance of her father-in-law, Nichols’ career has been guided by the principle that “if you love what you do, then it is not a job.” This advice has kept her motivated, especially during challenging times. “When things start getting complicated in the business world, I try to seek out more positive sides to take me back to what got me into this business,” Nichols says.
Since working on a death claim for a dear friend, Nichols saw firsthandthe impact of life insurance. “I could tell that the proceeds were not going to be enough to get the family where they needed to be to maintain a similar lifestyle, so I have made it my mission to bring the topic of life up to everyone.”
For women starting in the insurance field, Nichols wants people to remember the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance. She advises, “Your kids will grow up fast and there will always be work on your desk tomorrow. Lastly, live for today as tomorrow is never promised.”
Being recognized as a “Woman to Watch” in her community humbles Nichols as she values the opportunity to use her knowledge to help others. “I am always humbled at thinking that someone values my opinion and/or knowledge, but I am grateful when I can use my knowledge to put someone in a better place or circumstances.”
State Farm 1006 West Blvd N., suite 102 573-443-8727
phyllisjnichols.com
Sarah Wolf
For the longest time, Dr. Sarah Wolf wanted to break the career mold. Optometry has been a part of her entire life — both of her parents are optometrists; they even met in optometry school. “Growing up, I resisted following in my parents’ footsteps, but as I explored my career options, optometry became the clear choice,” Dr. Wolf shares. “I love the opportunity to care for entire families as they grow. Building relationships with my patients over the years is the best part of my job.”
Dr. Wolf’s influence extends far beyond her clinical expertise. She is quickly becoming an integral part of the Columbia community, known for her dedication to improving eye health and quality of life. As a compassionate and skilled practitioner, she stays at the forefront of advanced treatments, including cuttingedge IPL and LLLT therapies for dry eye relief. Her commitment to patient care and continuous learning ensures that her patients receive the highest standard of treatment.
Dr. Wolf is reminded daily why she loves her job through simple interactions she has with her patients. From dramatically improving the quality of life of those that have been suffering from severe dry eyes, to something as simple as prescribing a child their firstpair of glasses and watching their world come alive for them, she is constantly inspired. These experiences highlight her dedication and the profound difference she makes in her patients’ lives, and it simply never gets old.
“Being a 'Woman to Watch' means being a role model committed to making a positive impact in my community and my patients’ lives. It involves actively engaging with the community, contributing to its growth and well-being, and setting a standard of personal and professional excellence that inspires others to strive for their best.”
Morgan Mehr
General Manager
Morgan Mehr, the general manager of Crumbl in Columbia, is a passionate leader with a deep love for food. “I have always had a passion for working with food, working at Crumbl just made the deal even sweeter!” Being able to combine her love for food and her management skills has made the perfect recipe for a dream job. “Fostering a comfortable and loving workplace is how I have managed to gain such amazing employees and experiences in my profession.”
The best advice she received in her career came from a conference, where she learned that honesty and integrity are just as valuable as a great work ethic. “This resonated with me because I truly feel like a strong team can thrive with this great combination,” she says.
What makes Crumbl stand out in mid-Missouri is not just their exceptional cookies but the incredible team behind them. “We have top-notch people at Crumbl. They are outstanding individuals who care so much about providing these amazing cookies to this amazing community.”
Being recognized as a “Woman to Watch” in her community is a true honor for Mehr. She takes pride in being part of Columbia’s vibrant community of amazing women and is dedicated to seeing everyone prosper. “Being a part of that is a blessing. I appreciate the love!”
Laurie Williams Fundraising Sr. Manager
Teresa Brown Programs Manager
Catherine Roehl Director of State Affais
Sitting in Columbia, the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter is a reminder of hope and provides support for families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. At the forefront of this impactful organization are three remarkable women: Laurie Williams, Teresa Brown and Catherine Roehl.
As the fundraising sr. manager, Williams gets to pursue her lifelong passion for guiding and leading others. “When I began learning more about the Alzheimer’s Association, I found that the mission of service, research and awareness allowed me to bring my passion for service and sales together to do good for my community,” she says. Roehl, the director of state affairs brings a unique mix of public policy expertise and personal commitment to her role. “When I saw that there was an opportunity to tie public policy into the Alzheimer’s Association, an organization that my family had worked with since several family members had been diagnosed with the disease, I jumped at the opportunity to help
create lasting change and use my voice to advocate legislatively for those who could no longer advocate for themselves,” she says.
For Brown, the programs manager, joining the Alzheimer’s Association was a deeply personal decision inspired by her grandmother’s battle with the disease. “My grandmother’s story and my family’s journey with the disease compelled and continues to inspire me to try and make a difference, provide care and support to care partners and their loved ones, and figt towards a cure,” Brown explains.
For women starting out in the nonprofit field, Brown has several pieces of advice. “Focus on your work, set achievable goals, and be open to learning and growing. Be positive, curious, and vulnerable, and demonstrate inclusive behavior. Embrace work/life balance, share opportunities and support others. Be the person you wish you had in your corner,” she says. And Williams says the most important thing is to not be afraid to be told no. Just keep moving forward and if you trust yourself and “believe it can be done, then it can.”
Together, Williams, Roehl and Brown embody the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association: to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementias by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection and maximizing quality care and support.
For all three women, being a "Woman to Watch" shows that the community supports and values their work and hopefully helps other women to get involved. “It may even provide some support, inspiration or a nod of agreement from other women in the community,” Brown says. Their work not only supports individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s but also inspires others to join the figt against this devastating disease.
Stacey Weis
Stacey Weis has been an expanded function dental assistant for nearly 30 years. Her knowledge in the industry comes not only from her patients’ experiences, but her own as well. Since her teenage years, Weis has suffered from temporomandibular joint disorder. So, when she heard that Bohon Sleep and TMJ Therapy was hiring, she knew it was the place she needed to be. For her, it was “somewhere I would be able to relate and help people that are suffering like I had been for so long.”
Bohon Sleep and TMJ Therapy is not a traditional dental office. The business focuses solely on sleep and TMJ disorders, helping patients by alleviating their pain and getting better quality sleep. Additionally, they work with patients over short and long periods of time, making sure they findthe right solution for each person and that, in the end, they are finaly free from pain and feeling more rested.
“We feel that if Bohon Sleep and TMJ Therapy can help our community feel better about themselves, it improves our community.”
The most impactful moments in Weis’ career have been when she sees a patient’s quality of life improve and knows she had a hand in making it happen. As the COO, she ensures patient care is a top priority, and she’s made it her mission to findother dental professionals who feel the same way. It’s why an important lesson she’s learned in her career is “to surround myself with like-minded people that have the same focus and mindset and will do whatever it takes to provide the best care for our patients.”
Weis is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine; as a “Woman to Watch” in the Columbia community and the dental field, she makes sure that she is constantly learning and growing. Early in her career, she was told, “Be persistent. The answer isn’t always easy.” Her advice is similar for those women up-and-coming as well.
“Find someone like Dr. Richard Bohon who works with and treats you like an equal. Never stop learning. Get all the training you can. There is always new information and research.”
Bohon Sleep and TMJ Therapy 1505 Chapel Hill Road, suite 203
Natalie Wier
Broker-Owner
Natalie Wier’s dream of owning a brokerage began three years ago when she earned her real estate license. She quickly learned that her interpersonal skills and passion made selling real estate the perfect career fit. Acknowledging her success, her peers awarded her the Joel Radman Award through the Columbia Board of REALTORS® in 2022. On July 1, 2024 her dream became a reality when she and her husband, Aaron, launched their own independent brokerage, Central Missouri Real Estate.
“This is a dream come true!” Wier says. “I have dedicated many hours into creating my ideal business model and poured my sweat and tears into making it as great as it can possibly be for myself, my family, prospective agents, and our clients.”
At the heart of her brokerage are the relationships she forms and fosters daily with her clients and fellow agents. “The gratitude of my clients plays a huge part of who I am and the business model I strive to uphold,” she says. “I’m honored to be an integral part of such a monumental milestone in their lives.”
Wier knows that what makes her brokerage stand out is her commitment to building trust rather than simply selling homes, as an important lesson she has learned in her career is that no two transactions are the same. Her vision for the brokerage to elevate the real estate experience in central Missouri is completed through “connecting residents with homes that embody the essence of this vibrant community.”
“From historic neighborhoods to emerging developments, we are committed to showcasing the unique charm and opportunities that mid-Missouri has to offer,” she says. “Our coupled knowledge and experience will help clients achieve their real estate goals without feeling overwhelmed.
Megan Steen
Regional Chief Operating O ff icer
Like many family members in similar situations, Megan Steen, COO of Brightli, witnessed firsthandthe impact of mental health disorders on those she loved growing up. This was at a time when the stigma surrounding mental health was far greater than it is today.
“I knew early on that I wanted to be in a profession that contributed to improving the lives of others,” Steen says.
With a background as a licensed clinical social worker, Steen worked with youth in foster care with severe mental health disorders; this experience led her to focus on behavioral health for individuals of all-ages. Then fiv years ago, she found herself at a turning point and decided to pursue her master’s in business administration.
“I truly believe this decision gave me the skills and confidence necessary to change the trajectory of my professional development and led me to the position I am in today.”
Burrell Behavioral Health is a certified community behavioral health organization providing a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services for individuals of all ages. Burrell is under the Brightli umbrella as a comprehensive health care organization. Also under Brightli is Clarity Healthcare, a community health center providing comprehensive, whole-person care through primary care and dental services in Columbia. The importance of these health care providers to Columbia and its surrounding communities, and individuals within, cannot be overstated.
“I I am honored to work in a profession committed to increasing access to comprehensive health care and decreasing the stigma associated with behavioral health conditions,” Steen says.
She knows being a "Woman to Watch" in the community means continuing to develop and learn personally and professionally. It’s also important to her to keep supporting other women’s accomplishments, as well as “creating space for new voices.” These goals pair with a lesson she learned early on in behavioral health care — to “remain curious.”
“When we close ourselves offto new information and ideas, we limit our learning and growth,” Steen says. “I hope to remain a lifelong learner.”
Abby Gibbs
Owner/Operator
After dealing with her own insecurities as a teenager, Abby Gibbs, the owner and operator of Creating Confidence Spa, knew she wanted to help women feel their best. “I struggled to figue my skin out when I was a teen, and it constantly made me embarrassed and self-conscious,” she says. Creating Confidence is not just a place for treatments, it’s a sanctuary for clients to build friendships while building their confidence. “As soon as you walk in my door, we’re automatically best friends!”
But confidence isn’t just what you see on the outside, it comes from within. Gibbs found her confidence while working at Massage Luxe in St. Louis, after a not-so-great firstjob as an esthetician. “I started to rethink my whole career and wonder if I was actually right to go into this field, and my confidence was so low. But when I started at that location with the people around me, I had so much support and so much love, it really confirmedfor me that I picked right and built me up.”
Hearing some great advice was also a pivotal moment for Gibbs. She learned it’s important to “be a sponge,” she says. “Absorb everything you can and learn everything you can. I am inspired all the time by people I talk to, places I used to work, and services I get myself!”
If you’re looking to get started in this field, Gibbs says to always take new opportunities and continue “to learn and explore new techniques whenever you can.”
Being recognized as a “Woman to Watch” in her community signifies more than just business success for Gibbs. “It means that I can be an example of a confident, powerful, successful woman to other women who may be afraid to start their own business and take that extra mile,” Gibbs says.
For anyone looking to create a little bit of confidence, Gibbs says at her business, “everyone is welcome.”
Alice Leeper
When Alice Leeper returned to Columbia as an adult, she only knew her immediate family and a couple of her brother’s friends. Once she changed her sights to real estate in the hopes of a more entrepreneurial career that offered potential for growth, she made sure to know as many people in the community as she could.
“Joining the Chamber gave me the opportunity to meet people, but more importantly for them to meet me,” Leeper says.
As Leeper grew her business, met more individuals and helped families and community members findhomes, she also was asked to co-chair the Chamber Government Affairs commttee.
“It forced me to pay attention to what was happening in city and state government as it potentially impacted Columbia,” Leeper says. “This opportunity led to me participating in the Columbia Imagined Task Force. It helped me to understand that all politics is local and that some seemingly inconsequential decisions can have major impacts on our businesses and our lives.”
Through RE/MAX Boone Realty, Leeper works with home buyers, sellers and investors, with many of her clients being repeat buyers and sellers with her. This is because she’s learned to keep her clients’ needs first,to “listen carefully to what my clients want, to always remember that the decisions are theirs, so that when I’m offering professional advice, it’s not colored by my personal feelings.”
For other women looking to enter real estate, Leeper reminds them that it won’t be easy, but that they should stay active in the community and “take part in every continuing education opportunity offered.” She also recommends maintaining good relations with industry peers.
“I love living in Columbia,” Leeper says. “Being able to introduce the city to potential new home owners gives me pleasure. Being a Woman to Watch means I’m growing my business as I’m making a difference in people’s lives.”
RE/MAX Boone Realty 33 E Broadway, suite 200 573-256-3158
Tasha Pryor
Totally Pampered stands out in Columbia as a beacon of quality skincare and personalized beauty services, with Tasha Pryor leading the team. “What truly sets Totally Pampered apart, though, are the handcrafted body products that I make personally,” Pryor says.
With a passion for skincare science, since she was young, Pryor’s journey into the world of esthetics is inspiring and powerful. Pryor recalls, “I have always been fascinated by the science of the skin and how it worked since I was younger. I remember findingthings around my parents’ house to do pretend facials on my friends.”
This early curiosity is the root of her seven-plus years as an esthetician, filed with both challenges and triumphs. One piece of advice that influenced her path was, “don’t rush things and everything will fall into place.” Pryor reflects, “Once I finaly started listening to that advice, I was more at peace and things, in fact, started falling into place.”
Her journey not only shows her dedication to her craft but it is also a source of inspiration for other women entering the field. Pryor encourages women to “just go for it! Even if you’re nervous and afraid. There’s enough room for every esthetician in this industry.”
Being recognized as a "Woman to Watch" is a significant honor for Pryor. “It means the world to me to be a solo Black esthetician with multiple certifications in my own shop. I’m proud to be an inspiration to young girls of color, showing them that they can also achieve their dreams and be successful,” she says. Pryor’s story is a strong reminder that with passion, drive and a commitment to quality, anything is possible.
Jayme Prenger Director
Abigail Beeler Program Manager
Tiowana Warrick
The Shops at Sharp End Program Manager
The Missouri Women’s Business Center team is a dynamic group of women with a wide range of entrepreneurial experiences who understand the challenges of balancing family, career and other responsibilities. Jayme Prenger, the director, says this diverse team is what makes the center so powerful and unique to Columbia. “There is not another Women’s Business Center for over 100 miles, and women are the fastest-growing entrepreneurs in the United States,” she says. We aspire to be the go-to place for providing access to support for entrepreneurs, especially women, to findsupport in the community. “We aspire to be the most effective resource that provides access for entrepreneurs that want to start, build or grow successful businesses,”
Prenger says. “We are dedicated to innovating and encouraging an economic growth landscape in our local community in order to decrease poverty and increase financial stabilty for all.”
Prenger’s journey into this field was fueled by her passion for helping people and bringing her diverse experiences together into a singular, fulfillingrole. This role allows her to channel her passion into making a difference in the lives of women entrepreneurs. Her mantra, “Believe in yourself,” resonates deeply in her work, as she strives to instill confidence in women who often doubt their abilities. This piece of advice, given to her early in her career, has profoundly influenced her approach to leadership and mentorship.
For women starting out in this field, Prenger’s advice is straightforward and empowering: “Seriously, go for it! Use your connections and network to help you get to where you want to be.” She emphasizes the importance of leveraging relationships and building a strong network to achieve career goals.
The most important lesson Prenger has learned throughout her career is to always remember her “why.” This core motivation keeps her grounded and focused, especially during challenging times.
Prenger believes that “Women to Watch” are those making significant contributions, often behind the scenes, without seeking the limelight. They are the ones who deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication. To Prenger, being a “Woman to Watch” means being a trailblazer who inspires others through her achievements and resilience.
Wendy Sprouse
WOwner/Agent
endy Sprouse has always found it easy working with the elderly population. This is part of why being a Medicare insurance agent comes naturally to her. “If you listen to their stories and things, they just have a lot to say, and a lot of times people don’t want to listen to them.” But it’s listening and patience that matter in her field to those who seek her help.
Self-branded as the “Medicare Nerd,” Sprouse, who is the owner of Wendy L. Sprouse Agency LLC and has been in the industry for over 15 years, understands Medicare is difficult for those not handling its intricacies every day. Between coming into her office and leaving, she sees a huge difference in her clients’ demeanors.
“They are so nervous and stressed and overwhelmed,” Sprouse says. “And when they leave, they’re just like, ‘How come it was so easy?’ But I do it every day and that’s why I tell them, for them to know that that’s what I do. That gives them more peace of mind to take my advice.”
Being a "Woman to Watch" in the community is a “big thing” for Sprouse, whose advice for other women breaking into the demanding field is that success is not going to happen overnight. “You have to be patient, and if you do the right thing for the right reasons, it will all work out.” It’s good not only for her and her business but for impacting the younger generations as well.
“I have a two-year-old granddaughter, and she’s been coming to work with me. To be able to give her that perspective of this is what we do: we help people, we talk to people, we’re kind to people, I get to influence her,” Sprouse says.
For Sprouse, it’s the personal touch that means the most in her position and industry. She knows that she is more than her brand and makes sure she is the right person for each client and their needs.
“They don’t get a prompt when they call my phone. When they call me, they get me, Wendy Sprouse. I’m going to be here, and I’m always going to do the best I can do for them, and that’s all I can do.”
CONTENTS
UP & COMING
Look who’s moving up in businesses around Boone County.
100. NEW PLAYBOOK
The University of Missouri has a new Athletic Director, Laird Veatch. Learn about his background and plans for the athletic department.
108. CULINARY CONSTRUCTION
The Columbia Area Career Center has started its renovation and expansion to increase access to programs and courses for students and the Columbia community.
112. CEO ROUNDTABLE
Local Leaders discuss the economic impact of sports tourism and the importance of athletic events in our community.
The new Athletic Director Laird Veatch has big plans for Mizzou.
THE LADDER REPORT
Look Who’s Moving Up In Business
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL MISSOURI has announced ERIC SAPPINGTON as their new executive director. Most recently, Sappington was at Missouri Valley College for more than 15 years as the vice president of institutional advancement. During those years, he mentored through the Alumni Advisory Board and oversaw the offices of alumni, development and marketing.
COLUMBIA INSURANCE GROUP has announced two individuals to their executive team.
BRIAN SCHAEFFER has been announced as the COLUMBIA FIRE DEPARTMENT’s new fie chief. Schaeffer comes from Spokane, Washington where he served from 2005-2024 as the city’s assistant fie chief and fie chief. Prior to this, he served as Yakima, Washington’s deputy fie chief. He has a Master of Leadership Education from Creighton University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and a Bachelor of Science in fie science from Sterling College.
STACEY LAFEHR-YODER was announced as the new vice president of corporate governance and administration. The newly created position will handle strategy management, risk management and internal control functions. KEITH MACIEJEWSKI was announced as the new vice president and chief underwriting officer. Previously, he was the vice president of underwriting for the public risk group of a global specialty insurance carrier. He has spent the last 17 years in underwriting and product development roles.
DREW WILKINSON was announced as BOONE HEALTH’s new vice president of provider and ambulatory operations. Wilkinson started his career at Boone Health in 2006 in the Nutrition and Food Services department. In 2020, his peers recognized him as the Boone Health Leader of the Year. He is a Rockbridge High School graduate, has a Bachelor of Health Science from the University of Missouri and has Master of Business Administration from Columbia College.
N.H. SCHEPPERS DISTRIBUTING has announced FRED JENKINS as their new vice president of sales and marketing. Jenkins has been the team leader of the sales team prior to this and joined Scheppers Distributing in 2021. Jenkins will be responsible for ensuring distribution on new products, setting and conducting meetings with company suppliers, as well as managing and developing the sales team personnel. Jenkins is currently in AnheuserBusch’s Successor Manager Program.
JEFF KLEIN, PH.D. was announced by COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS as their new chief academic officer for the 2024-2025 school year. With nearly 20 years of leadership experience at the district-level, he was Park Hill School District’s assistant superintendent for academic services and
executive director of research, evaluation and assessment in Kansas City, Missouri. Klein began his career as a special education teacher and school psychologist.
DR. PIYUSHA SINGHA was announced as the new president of BIG TREE MEDICAL CORPORATION
Most recently, Dr. Singha was the company’s vice president. She comes from a background of over 20 years in leading strategy and operations in higher education. She has a bachelor’s degree, as well as a doctorate in public policy and management.
FIRST STATE COMMUNITY
BANK has announced VALORIE LIVINGSTON as the new assistant vice president business development officer. Livingston brings three years of banking experience and 29 years of business management and development experience from companies such as ProDental and Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Area.
MATT UNREIN was appointed as the CITY OF COLUMBIA’s new deputy city manager. Immediately prior to this position, Unrein was working as the assistant city manager for the city. Before Columbia, Unrein worked as the assistant city administrator and public works director in Festus, the assistant city manager and public works and parks director in Ferguson, the city administrator of Arnold, and the assistant city manager of Maryville, all in Missouri.
LEADING THE NEXT CHAPTER
Laird Veatch Has His Sights Set on Sustained-Success for Mizzou Athletics
BY JORDAN DURHAM | PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
Laird Veatch is a Midwest guy.
This is how he describes himself in mid-July while sitting in his new office, which still needs a bit of décor. But if the lack of office decoration says anything, it’s not that he isn’t planning to stay, it’s that he’s been busy.
When news broke in April of Veatch’s arrival in Columbia, he was quoted numerous times saying that this town is his “forever home,” indicating he plans on being at the University of Missouri for a long time.
“This is the job that I’ve been working towards for my whole career. And I want to, particularly at this point in my life, I want to be at a place where I can really see it through for the long haul and really try to help be part of building that sustained success over time,” Veatch says. “You get to a point where you don’t want to just jump and build, you want to be a part of something for more than a year. And then, there are the types of relationships and friendships that are built on that, to the point where you want those to be able to sustain so I can enjoy those for many years to come and not just pick up and move again.”
Laird began his journey in college athletics as a student-athlete on
the football team at Kansas State University. He was one of fie hometown recruits for the university (Veatch’s other option came down to Mizzou), where he succeeded as a linebacker and captain under College Football Hall of Fame Coach Bill Snyder, where he was part of Snyder’s fist full recruiting class.
“People always ask ‘What was it like to play for Coach Snyder?’ I say, ‘Very hard.’”
From Kansas State, Veatch went to the University of Texas as a graduate assistant for the Longhorns and began building his career. Texas paved the way for his fist time working in Mizzou Athletics from 1997-2002. At the helm for most of Veatch’s time at Mizzou was previous Athletic Director Mike Alden, making Veatch one of “Alden’s Army” — a moniker for the numerous individuals who worked under Alden and have gone on to work in prominent leadership positions in college athletics administration throughout the U.S.
“Mike is unquestionably a big influene and mentor,” Veatch says. “I tell people that he’s the best teacher that I think I’ve ever had. He was very, very intentional. I think one of the reasons why you see so many
of us in this profession that have had some success at other places, he was very intentional about teaching us the fundamentals of being an athletic director. It was about the business. And he really did an amazing job of including us at young ages and high-level decisions, issues and projects. We had kind of frontline exposure to the hiring process for major hires or the big facility projects and other things that were happening. He was really intentional about that. It really meant a lot to him to do that, and I think that intentionality really, really paid off.”
It's difficulto count just how many of those under Alden’s wing went on to different institutions throughout the country and into positions in administration in college athletics. Alden held the position of Mizzou’s athletic director for 17 years before stepping down in 2015, the second longest tenure in the position.
“We have been blessed to always be surrounded with amazing people at Mizzou. The experiences all of us had from the beginning of our work together prepared folks to accomplish great things
in our profession,” Alden says. “It says something about our university and certainly, those people like Laird that all of our collective work at our institution provided great opportunities for many of our ‘team’ throughout the country.
“I’m not sure you could have predicted that so many people from Mizzou would impact so many programs in college athletics … but it’s pretty cool to see many of those successes lead right back to Mizzou.”
Mentorship has turned into friendship over the years for Alden and Veatch. With Veatch back in town, the two meet for coffee and the discussions are always rewarding.
“He’s a great listener, is professional and shows genuine interest in people,” Alden says. “We talk about lots of things both personally and professionally. I can tell you that during our time together, Laird provides me with confidene, perspective and support … I hope Laird might be able to say the same about me.”
After his time under Alden, he spent a quick year at Iowa State, where one night a bit of trouble ensued between
the Cyclones and, ironically, the Mizzou Tigers basketball teams. Mizzou beat the Cyclones, an after party started with college students in which the Cyclones’ head coach, Larry Eustachy, attended. Photos emerged. Veatch dealt with the scandal, then moved to work for Learfiel from 2003-2010, fist as the general manager of Mizzou Sports Properties and then as vice president for Learfiel in Missouri.
Roger Gardner, who was a Learfield partner, executive vice president and chief culture and communications officer of the company, knew Veatch fist from when he worked at Mizzou, then grew much closer with him during his time at Learfield
“I think the world of him,” Gardner says. “I think he’s a fist-rate person, fist of all, but then beyond that he has got a significant inerest and devotion to college athletics, because that was his experience as a student-athlete.”
It was clear to his superiors that during his time at Learfield, eatch not only took pride in his work but served as a leader and mentor to those who he worked closely with and reported to him. All his
time spent managing others contributes to what Clyde Lear, co-founder and previous owner of Learfield, sees him bringing o the position.
“He is a leader in his own right, and I think anybody — a coach or other administrators, and even students — will look at him and say, ‘Gosh, when I grow up, I want to be just like he is. I want to be like Laird Veatch.’ And you couldn’t find
for his student-athletes and their wellbeing, placing them at the forefront of everything he sets out to accomplish. The NIL deal could have made his life at Memphis comfortable with what seemed to be an inevitable extension as he was reaching the end of his fie-year contract in September.
“It was a lot, a lot of fun helping put that together. It certainly will really help
A major change impacting NCAA student-athletes, as well as high school students looking to sign with university athletics programs, are name, image, likeness rules and laws being instituted in universities and states across the U.S. These open the floodates for any student-athlete's ability to use their name, image, likeness for earning benefits or money. In the era of social media, this
He is a leader in his own right, and I think anybody — a coach or other administrators, and even students — will look at him and say, ‘Gosh, when I grow up, I want to be just like he is. I want to be like Laird Veatch.’
anybody better to want to emulate than this young man. He’s a good leader. He’s thoughtful. He thinks big. He’ll come up with some great ideas, and if you have an idea, take it to him, he’ll run with it if it’s a good one.”
Learfield then led o opportunities at his alma mater, Kansas State, the University of Florida and then the University of Memphis as the Tigers’ athletic director, where his impact is resounding. According to his Mizzou online bio, he directed facility projects and improvements for tennis and football, as well as a nutrition center and an Olympic sports weight room.
If this was not enough, Veatch most likely will be remembered for striking a major deal.
He took an inventive approach to the NCAA’s Name, Image, Likeness policy for his Division 1 Memphis student-athletes. He worked with FedEx Corp. to initiate the company’s commitment of $5 million per year for fie years for the student-athletes to capitalize on. A highly innovative approach to the NCAA’s relatively new policy.
There’s no doubt that Veatch works
Clyde Lear
them competitively,” Veatch says. “But there’s always demand in this profession, even from one thing to the next.”
So, when Mizzou’s athletic director position opened, the potential move from the American Athletic Conference to the dominant Southeastern Conference wasn’t a question.
“There’s so many more advantages than disadvantages at a place like this,” Veatch says. “And being in other places, and throughout my career and other conferences and levels and schools, you get a real appreciation for what an SEC school that is in a big state, that is so widely supported … it has such capacity. You understand what can be.”
The Mizzou Tigers football team leads off the 224 season from a commanding 2023 regular season and a 14-3 Cotton Bowl win, finishing the ear eighth in the Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ poll. Veatch sees his role with Coach Eliah Drinkwitz and every sport’s coach as one of support, where he “facilitates the role of great coaches” since they are “the ones that drive success and make the difference.”
can mean thousands of dollars’ worth of endorsements for student-athletes, who prior to 2021 had to rely on scholarships, grants, federal assistance, families or their own money to attend and play at the postsecondary level.
Effective as of Aug. 28, 2023, a revision to Section 173.280 of the Missouri law opened NIL to high school student-athletes as well, beginning as soon as they sign a letter of intent with a public university in Missouri. The revision states, “Compensation of studentathletes permitted, when — definition — grant-in aid or stipend eligibility not impacted, when — contracts for compensation prohibited, when — educational workshops, purpose — civil action, when — applicability.”
The law goes on to state, “(2) No postsecondary educational institution shall interfere with or prevent a student from fully participating in intercollegiate athletics or obtaining professional representation in relation to contracts or legal matters relating to earning compensation as a result of the use of the student athlete’s name, image, likeness
rights, or athletic reputation, including, but not limited to, representation provided by athlete agents, financial advisors, or legal representation provided by attorneys.”
Missouri’s law is progressive and will shape how other states and universities approach discussions in forming rules and laws for their student-athletes. NIL also positions Mizzou in an opportune position for recruiting, and Veatch believes it’s already had an impact for football recruitment.
“I’m sure it has, not just because there’s the NIL support that’s there, that’s certainly a big party of it, absolutely. But also, because now we have, I believe, a reputation here and in the studentathlete recruiting world that it is such a well-run operation. I think that helps that they know exactly what is expected of them as student-athletes and what they perform, but also how the other compensation works, etc. It’s just a really good system.”
As though a testament to this, within a week this July, Mizzou football landed fie recruits for the class of 2025, four of which are four-star commits. Additionally, student-athletes who might not live in a state with laws nearly as flxible when it comes to NIL now can consider the transfer portal.
Earlier this summer, the NCAA proposed a nearly $3 billion settlement over three class-action lawsuits, known as House v. NCAA, Hubbard v. NCAA and Carter v. NCAA. With the settlement, previous Division 1 studentathletes dating back to 2016 will receive payment from their universities having used their name, image and likeness during their time in athletics, according to the New York Times. The NCAA also will present an optional revenue-sharing model for student-athletes and their universities where 22 percent of powerconference schools’ revenue, roughly $20 million, would be directly paid to student-athletes.
“A big part of that is Coach Drink really has a very good handle on this new era and how to recruit in the new era,
how to utilize the NIL opportunities there the right way and that’s key also. But we’re going to continue to see dramatic change whether it’s through the House settlement or both,” Veatch says.
The college athletics landscape is changing, with numerous opportunities and challenges ahead. Veatch’s extensive experience in handling both have prepared him for what’s to come.
“The hurdles and opportunities Laird may see at Mizzou are similar to what leaders throughout college athletics are facing,” Alden says. “This may be one of the most uncertain and ‘fluid’ times in the industry in the last 50 years.
“The difference for us is Laird is not only prepared for the future of Tiger Athletics and college athletics, he is overprepared. We have to be reminded Laird has worked at some incredible programs in the country and has learned from nationally recognized leaders in college athletics. He has an outstanding skill set that has been developed and ‘sharpened’ consistently over the past 25 years.”
Veatch’s versatile skill set is also one he’s leaning on when it comes to attending games and Mizzou fan loyalty. To pack Memorial Stadium, Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena in a year where a team is seeing less success is difficult To Veatch, there’s one answer.
“We need sustained success over a significant period of time, and that in itself will have a major impact on the culture and sustainability of a fan base,” Veatch says. “If you’re part of something like that for a long time, and it becomes part of the family experience, the student experience over many, many years, it leads to that kind of loyalty. So, that’s the honest, hard answer that you want a shorter-term fix in may respects, but the real answer is we need to have continued sustained, success.”
From there Veatch states, there are ways to enhance the game day atmosphere and experience to keep fans coming back for more, year after year. It’s also pivotal for student-athletes and fans alike to have improved facilities.
It’s still early in his current Mizzou
tenure for Veatch to fully see and know the “whole operation.” He needs to see game day experiences and observe the needs of each team, though some of Veatch’s plans mirror his wins at Memphis. This includes taking care of certain playing surfaces, as well as overseeing the massive $250 million expansion to Memorial Stadium’s North End Zone and Concourse.
Improved facilities, sustained success, fan culture, NIL deals — these lead to more exposure for all Mizzou sports. In supporting sports outside of football and basketball, the long-term success, as well as the culture, mindset and expectation of winning, in a few
teams trickles to coaches and studentathletes in others.
“That’s what you really want, you want to establish that again over a period of time to where if people know that if you’re competing at Mizzou, you’re competing to win.”
Additionally, the support of university leadership is paramount to the future success of Veatch and Mizzou Athletics.
“I’m excited at how well athletics is embraced here, and that recognition of the importance of it … which is not always the case. So having leadership that understands the real value and impact
to having high-performing athletics programs is important, particularly given the evolution that we’re going through currently and what we’re headed for. You need institutions and leadership to really understand and see the big picture.”
The honeymoon period of the job is over for Veatch, and the big picture is coming together in terms of Mizzou athletics. It’s clear his Columbia connections hold much respect, enthusiasm and support for him.
“To be here and to see Laird, Brandy and their family in this leadership role for the University is exciting,” Alden says. “It provides us with such a source of pride
and confidene seeing all of their personal and professional accomplishments and knowing they truly have a long-term commitment to the Tigers and Mizzou.”
It’s been 20 years since Veatch was last in Columbia. On a walk during the summer, close to where he was staying, Veatch realized he was on the same sidewalk where he and his wife had walked when she was pregnant, floodin him with memories.
“We love the town. The quality of life here … we’ve experienced a lot of places, and it really doesn’t get better than Columbia.”
Construction for Instruction
COLUMBIA AREA CAREER CENTER RENOVATING AND EXPANDING THE FACILITY
BY ZOLA HECK | PHOTOS BY AVA KITZI AND L.G. PATTERSON
The Columbia Area Career Center, which is a part of the Columbia Public School District offering hands-on, personalized Career and Technical Education programs for a variety of ages, is renovating and expanding to increase access to programs and courses for students in the Columbia community.
In 2022, voters approved the Career Center project which provides funding for the $15-million addition to the trade school. That long-awaited dream official became reality during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Columbia Area Career Center on June 18.
“It went from concept to approval from
the community that we are extremely grateful for,” says Dr. Brandon Russell, the director of CTE. “It has been a struggle because we are living in a construction zone, but it’s just really exciting. We are going into this school year knowing next year we will have a brand new, modern, updated facility and we just can’t wait.” Russell says the expansion, which started with a demolition of 20,000 square feet, to then replace it with 10,000-15,000 square feet, will update most of the classroom instructional spaces to reflect moe of the real world. “This update lets us get closer to that with our fiscal spae,” he says. It also creates better functionality throughout
the school for classes under one umbrella.
“All of our health-related programs will all be in the same area before they were spread throughout the building,” he says.
“It gives the opportunity for students in multiple classes and related pathways to connect.”
Creating more connections is just one of the main goals for this expansion. “The fiscalbuilding is adding spaces throughout the building to allow students to connect,” Russell says. “There will be lots of small rooms that they can access, there will be makers spaces, there will be lots of spaces throughout the hallways where students can meet and collaborate.” The central
part of the building will also allow for “the old and the new to come together,” which Russell says will be a major improvement. While a big portion of this expansion is on student connection, Russell says they also wanted to focus on bringing more professionals into the facility. This includes a new conference space for industry professionals to meet with students. “We are really excited about that opportunity to create those connections between students and the professionals in our community.”
The expansion will also bring new student enterprise spaces or small retail spaces, including a coffee shop, café and
one flx space for anyone in the community to use. “Maybe there is someone in the community who has started a new business and needs a test market, but we also want the flxibility to use it for special events,” Russell says.
There are so many possibilities coming from this expansion, and Russell can’t wait for it to truly be the reality for the Columbia community. But none of this would be possible without the incredible
teachers. “The teachers and staff hve been amazing, it has been tough to teach and be in a construction zone, but they have been so flxible during this time,” he says. “We couldn’t be here today in this progress on this project without their flxibility and participation, we are certainly grateful for them.”
The hope is for this expansion project to be completed, and have the community immersed in the celebration by fall 2025.
Home Turf Advantage
Local Leaders Discuss Economic Impact of Sports Tourism and Athletics in Columbia.
By Jordan Durham
by L.G. Patterson
Columbia is a haven for sports play and entertainment; from youth athletics to club teams, from amateur sports to intercollegiate athletics play, it’s undeniable that Columbia athletics is a boon to city and state revenue. A large factor in this is the three universities with intercollegiate athletics bringing in visitors from other cities and towns inside, as well as outside of Missouri.
With Columbia’s quickly growing population and demand for different spaces needed for current and upand-coming sports, however, losing sporting events at the amateur and collegiate levels is becoming more prevalent, leading to loss of tourism and spending.
Inside Columbia Publisher Fred Parry hosted a CEO Roundtable luncheon with eight local leaders, who all directly impact and are impacted
by the state of athletics in Columbia, to discuss the current situation and future of athletics in the city. The Broadway Hotel sponsored the event with the hotel’s award-winning Chef Jeff Guin catering the meal that accompanied the conversation.
Standing Out in Missouri
The vast appeal of a university town still means vying for events held in the city. According to the Missouri Census Data Center website, Columbia is the fourth most populated city in
Photos
Missouri behind Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield, espectively.
Though Columbia has the four-year, publicly funded University of Missouri
and out-of-state students compared to Mizzou.
Amy Schneider, director of the city of Columbia Convention and Visitors
the facilities to be able to bid out.”
The Show-Me State Games celebrated 40 years of games this summer, all of which have taken place
Anything we can do to get more people in town is what we’re trying to do
Bruce Ungles, Interim Director of Show-Me State Games
flagship campus and the pestige that comes with it, Springfield has Misouri State University, the second-largest four-year, publicly funded university. It serves as a closer-to-home option for many students in southern Missouri and costs less in tuition for in-state
Bureau, says, “What I like to remind everybody about is that from our perspective, everything that we bring in, we have to bid, and we bet against every other city in Missouri. So, in order for us to bid, we have to have a partnership with the University of Missouri, with Parks and Recreation, with Columbia College, we have to have
in Columbia. The games are part of the University of Missouri, and with the games’ location in the center of the state, 104 of the 114 counties were represented. According to Interim Director of Show-Me State Games, Bruce Ungles, sports and competition have changed. At the start of the games, 750 basketball teams would attend from across the state. Now, multiple sports camps, tournaments and more run for many weekends throughout the summer, competing for athletes’ time.
“Anything we can do to get more people in town is what we’re trying to do,” he says.
Understanding Facility Usage and Need
Another association looking at utilizing as much space as possible is the Missouri State High School Activities Association. They need to consider facilities for championship brackets on top of individual sports and activities, like track and fiel and wrestling or even the music festival, versus team sports and activities.
“You’re impacting so many more communities because of the individual nature of qualification” says Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, executive director of MSHSAA.
From Rukstad and MSHSAA’s point of view, financial viabiliy for the schools is top of mind when considering where championships are held. She goes on to state that while they try to keep individual sports in the middle of the state, team spor ts differ depending on facility availability, size and seating. Currently, volleyball championships are in Cape Girardeau. After next year, football championships are moving to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph from playing at Faurot Field. Losing championships to other cities means losing money for Columbia through sports tourism. The basketball championship returned to Columbia in the 2023-2024 school year after fie years in Springfield It brought Columbia $2.1 million in direct spending. It’s also important
to consider the money earned for MSHSAA as they are a nonprofit. rom the direct spending the basketball championships brought to Columbia, MSHSAA made approximately $100,000. Ticket sales for each championship are 67% of their budget.
The city of Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Tourism Sales Manager, Adam Ziervogel, knows that for Columbia to continue bringing sports to the city and be a strong contender against cities vying to do so more facilities are necessary. He also recognizes the need for a multi-use sports facility that can hold 2,0004,000 spectators with a large amount of floor spae.
“In the industry, there’s a common phrase called ‘anchor facilities.’ You need X amount of diamonds to have a baseball or softball tournament, X amount of pitches to have a soccer tournament — and that gets up there from starting at eight, but really to be a major player, upwards of 12 to 16. Basketball and hardwood courts, you’re talking about eight is probably the good place to start to get some of those regional, shoe-company type circuits.”
The need for space and facilities to encompass numerous sports will keep growing as more sports continue to gain popularity. Sports like pickleball, girls wrestling and others are only gaining momentum, and with more exposure, the larger they’ll grow.
“It seems as though there needs to be further conversation about what’s the next opportunity to partner because things are changing in our world as well, as you probably have read and seen. Things are going to continue to evolve and change. So, we’re going to have to probably look at things differently too,” says Laird Veatch, the athletic director for University of Missouri Athletics. “So,
I would encourage us to have those conversations. And what is that? It’s almost like we need to have one in the queue, what’s our next priority and what’s the one after that that’s going to be the most beneficial o the most parties for the city community, but also with consult, needs in other ways, and we can bring resources to the table.”
the Fieldhouse has four hardwood courts, with four additional courts being constructed for basketball, volleyball, archery and pickleball. Yet, the current construction of the Fieldhouse merely holds “bleachers with seating for 90 spectators for full-size basketball and volleyball, bleachers with seating for 45
You’re impacting so many more communities because of the individual nature of qualification
Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, executive director of MSHSAA
Utilizing Partnerships in the Industry
A good example of these organizations working together in Columbia is the cross-country championship, located at a facility owned by the city through Columbia Parks and Recreation. With MSHSAA’s early commitment and their partnerships with MU and the city, the cross-country championships each year is held at Gans Creek Cross Country Course.
“We are now able to say we have a wow factor in a non-wow sport. I mean, cross country is an Olympic sport. It’s huge for us. We love it … But we are looking at a facility that is one of the top fie in the country to run and that’s where our state championship is, so that’s a pride point for us.”
Another large multi-use facility through the city of Columbia is the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse. According to the city’s website,
spectators and seating for 54 overlooking the courts on the upper level.”
James Arnold, the vice president of student experience and director of athletics with Columbia College, says, “When we think about where the Fieldhouse is going, and when we think about just what work has been done since as, to be candid, Columbia’s gotten serious about having real plans, both for now and for the future, I think that’s paying dividends. But I think, we talk about it a lot, is that we’ve got to find some ays to get to the turf field busines at some point. I think that’s a big one. One of the things that comes up a lot is that 2,000-3,000 seat arena … we’re either huge or we’re too small, and that hurts us in some ways, whether it’s for
MSHSAA or it’s for outside groups to come in and host things.”
Veatch is encouraged by the partnerships between MU and other organizations, such as with the cross-country championships, as he sees a lot of opportunity from these. From his time in Memphis, he has seen how partnerships can work greatly to everyone’s benefit
In discussing the University of Memphis Athletics partnership with the city of Memphis, he says, “We use the FedEx Forum for basketball, Liberty Bowl for football. We partnered with them extensively on a big tennis center project that was half funded by the university, half by the city, so there was a lot, a lot of overlap there.”
The economic trickle-down ect of direct spending due to sports tourism oftentimes does not come immediately to mind but impacts many Columbia citizens.
Gabe Huffiton, director of
Columbia Parks and Recreation says, “Just in terms of partnerships, that’s kind of how we look at it from a parks and recreation department, support from Columbia College or University of Missouri Athletics, helps us to promote that to our citizens. They understand the benefits of that, especially when ou talk about attracting students, not just athletes, to Columbia. That’s huge for all of us in this room. The department is driven by a park sales tax, and we need people to come to our community, whether they live here or visit here.”
Engaging with the Community
Along with a winning season, a game day experience is also what draws fans in and keeps them coming back. The community factors into this. From downtown businesses to the billboards outside of town, the anticipation and excitement is palpable, especially on Mizzou football game days. Yet is there more Columbia could do for the overall experience?
“It’s not the money. The money’s great, but it’s the atmosphere, it’s the welcoming,” Schneider says. “… From what I’ve heard, everyone says they have a great time when they come here. But what is that next level?”
When fans come to visit for Mizzou games, Columbia College games, high school game championships, the ShowMe State Games or any other event, downtown Columbia is often what greets them fist. Aric Jarvis, general manager of The Broadway, understands that making an experience for visitors is what they will take away and remember. In discussing
To move beyond wearing black and gold during Mizzou football weekends, the Columbia community can be brought into the fold in other ways outside of game days as well, such as the coaches engaging with the community at events.
It’s not the money. The money’s great, but it’s the atmosphere, it’s the welcoming.
Amy Schneider, director of the city of Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
Mizzou football games in the fall, it’s not difficulto keep visitors in Columbia after a Thursday night game, but Saturday morning and afternoon games are trickier.
“If we can find ays to help enhance that experience, I don’t know if it’s just circled around Mizzou football, but any type of event that we have here, if we can find other activities or things or people to do, it’s going to increase their shoulder night stays outside of the event that they’re attending.”
Veatch believes that community excitement beyond the stadium, in one way or another, is the way to push the game day experience.
“People expect once they get to the stadium to be received and have to see the colors and feel the pageantry,” he says, “but if that permeates, that circle widens throughout the whole community — when they’re coming off the higway and they’re seeing it in their faces in every way shape and form.”
When discussing the community and support for MSHSAA basketball, Schneider says, “Both coaches have made a point to make sure that they are involved with the community. When we were bringing the bid for MSHSAA basketball, they not only came to talk to the people who were going to give money, they said, ‘Anytime you have a hard time talking to someone, let us know, we’ll go meet with them.’ … So, that’s a big deal, having the Mizzou basketball coach, whether it’s the women’s or men’s, having them come and talk and show that they aren’t only just a basketball coach, they’re part of the community and they want to help. And that has been big.”
RAPIDFIRE Final Thoughts
“I’m a real optimistic kind of person, and I think having a strategy which takes place, that the Sports Commission is committed to, and communication among these stakeholders is key.”
James Arnold, vice president of student experience and director of athletics of Columbia College, chair of Columbia Sports Commission
“It’s really exciting to potentially see what facility developments go online in the next fie, ten years.”
Adam Ziervogel, tourism sales manager of Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
“There’s a lot more that hoteliers can do in terms of making sure those visitor experiences are well, and that people feel welcomed. And I would like to take some of the information that was shared today back to the Columbia Hotel Association and see how we can help partner with some of those strategies.”
Aric Jarvis, general manager of The Broadway
“I think competition is a positive thing, is healthy. I would encourage Columbia to scout the competition. I think we’re pretty proud of ourselves, and we should be! Yet, we don’t necessarily know what else is out there in our state.”
Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, executive director of Missouri State High School Activities Association
“This thought of what’s the next facility partnership that can be identified that is most beneficialo all, and establishing some real communication about that, I think could prove to be fruitful for everyone.”
Laird Veatch, athletic director of University of Missouri Athletics
“When you work for city government, it takes a lot of steps to get something approved and completed, and having these individuals with a very keen interest for what we do with sports — to speak on our behalf — is very, very helpful.”
Gabe Huffiton, director of Columbia Parks and Recreation
“Collaboration. I don’t think any of us can do it alone. And it’s so much easier to do when you have somebody to help you out.”
Bruce Ungles, interim director of Show-Me State Games
“Collaboration and partnerships — that’s what we thrive on. We’re a small department of 13, so anything that has be done, we have to build on partnerships, we have to build on collaboration.”
Amy Schneider, director of Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
You’re Invited!
TOTP Artist Meet & Greet
Generously Hosted by Orr Street Studios
Friday, September 6, 2024
Orr Street Studios & Gallery, 106 Orr St. | 6-9 PM
MEET 12 AMAZING ARTISTS WHOSE WORK WILL BENEFIT SIX COMMUNITY NON-PROFITS!
Tootie Burns
Rachel Choma-Koch
Richelle Douglas
Cody Finley
Kate Gray
Jenny McGee
Phillip Peters
Sharyn Hyatt-Wade
Terri Rickerson
Emmett Russell
Marie-Josee Thiffault
Sawyer Wade
Tigers on the Prowl benefits the following non-profits
SPOOKY SNACK
This year, whether you are hosting a party, getting ready for Halloween or just looking for a way to sink into the spooky season, and go the extra mile, try making this spooky snack. You only need butter, flou, sugar, vanilla extract, melting chocolate, coconut flaes and salt to make these creepy, crawly tarantula cookies. Go to insidecolumbia.net for the full recipe.
Cake Creations
Pork Perfection
128
Cauliflower Power
132 Say Good-Rye
Let Them Eat Cake
COLUMBIA NATIVE OPENS NEW TEA AND CAKE SHOP.
BY JORDAN DURHAM · PHOTOS
Emma Briner’s entrepreneurial journey began with stumbling upon a sign for soup in downtown Columbia.
In April 2023, Briner was walking downtown and saw the sign outside of My Sweet Parlor offering khao soi, a northern Thai curry noodle soup. Having previously lived in Thailand, Briner had been attempting to make the soup to no avail, as most Thai restaurants in mid-Missouri offer southern Thai food. Briner walked in and ordered a bowl of khao soi from Nicki Chompupong, the previous owner of the now closed, My Sweet Parlor, and the two bonded.
“I just started coming back every week,” Briner says, “and back in September, we had a conversation.”
This conversation about Chompupong’s transition from her business led to Briner signing papers to the building in December 2023, and the opening of her own tea and cake shop, Wynnsome, in February 2024.
Owning a business downtown was a dream of Briner’s since she was young when she would visit downtown with her family. At eight, she wanted a bakery. Then, she fell into the coffee scene — an easy, transferable job and industry as
BY L.G. PATTERSON
she moved abroad after graduating high school. However, recognizing Columbia has numerous coffee shops, she wanted a business that would lend a different piece of culture that the West doesn’t typically build into its day-to-day.
“That was my world for a really long time,” Briner says about working in coffee shops, “I was like, ‘I think Columbia really needs a tea shop.’ And I really love cultures. I really wanted a place that felt like an extension of my home, because if I don’t feel like there’s a purpose behind it, I’m really not very motivated. I just really want there to be a place for people to slow down and rest.”
Wynnsome is derived from the word “winsome” meaning “generally pleasing
and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence,” according to Merriam-Webster. It is exactly what Briner intends when people come and slow their lives down for a cup of tea and slice of cake. She also wanted to tie in her middle name, Joy, too, encompassing the endearing, safe and charming space that makes up Wynnsome.
The business offers numerous tea and coffee options and cakes by the slice. Each cake is homemade by Briner and her team of two. Daily, she makes sure to offer a gluten-free option and a gluten and dairy-free option, as well as regular cake options. All cake slices cost the same amount of $6.50, as Briner wants to provide customers with the opportunity
to try as many cakes as they wish, without breaking their budget.
“There’s a wide variety of teas, so I’m actually learning as I go,” Briner says. Ironically, she grew up not liking cake but would eat peaches and cream with her family. Now, baking cakes that she enjoys is pivotal for her, so she has created a peaches and cream cake that reminds her of her childhood.
Wynnsome is located at 1020 E. Broadway, suite G in downtown Columbia. Sit down and relax with a cup of tea and a slice of cake from noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For more information on the delightful new tea and cake shop, visit wynnsome.org.
EVERY HOME NEEDS A ROOF — and every town has a multitude of roofers waiting to do the job. But our goal isn’t just to create a high quality, durable roof — it’s to save you money, too. For every roofing job, we check with your home insurer to see if the service could be partially or fully covered. Our roofing contractor team is skilled at assessing if the damage might be covered and works directly with your insurance company so you don’t have to. And it doesn’t matter what company you use — we work with them all.
A Perfect Pairing
LOCAL CHEF'S ONE PAN PORK AND APPLES DELIGHT.
BY SARA FOUGERE · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
Fall always gives me some “Little House on the Prairie” feels. I’m sure many of you remember the television show, and when I was in elementary school everyone read the series cover to cover. Laura Ingalls Wilder could really make you live inside her descriptions and that was never greater than when she was describing food. I was a "foodie" even back then. When I cook apples and pork in the fall I reminisce about those stories and how the meals jumped off the pages. I think you’ll feel that way about this dinner. It’s a quick cook, but it is high on those classic fall flvors. Sweet enough for kids, a little mustard kick and some local fresh apples makes a winning combination. The recipe calls for apple juice, but cider works beautifully and just increases the hominess. Laura probably wouldn’t have approved but a glass of white wine pairs perfectly here. And there’s cider for the kids.
One Pan Pork & Apples
INGREDIENTS
1 ½-3 pounds pork tenderloin
salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons oil
½ cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
DIRECTIONS
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons apple juice or cider. I have also made this with white wine vinegar and it turned out great.
2 medium apples - sliced into wedges. I love a local Jonathan. I don’t peel.
1. Season pork with salt and pepper on all sides. Drizzle oil into a large skillet and bring to medium heat on the stove.
2. Stir together brown sugar, Dijon mustard, garlic and apple juice. Rub mixture all over pork using your fingertips.
3. Cook pork in preheated and oiled pan, turning every 2-3 minutes to ensure even cooking. After about 10 minutes, add apples and cook until tender and pork is white through the middle (there shouldn’t be any pink left).
4. Let sit about 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Cauliflower Craze
GO BEYOND RAW AND EXPLORE THESE CREATIVE RECIPES.
BY BROOK HARLAN · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
Ithink most of us grew up with cauliflower being one of the big three ranch dippers, rounded out with raw baby carrots and broccoli. Ninety percent of the time we saw cauliflower it was raw and was pretty terrible without smothering it in ranch. During the gluten-free and
vegan revolution we found out it could somehow become pizza crust, as well as vegan wings, and if seasoned well, and cooked properly, it can be delicious. The modern version of deviled eggs, with mayonnaise as a binder, dates back to the late 1800s, appearing in the Boston Cooking School Cookbook. This was a
few years after the first Amercan recipe had been published in a newspaper in Alabama, albeit without mayonnaise.
TECHNIQUE
Leave your boiling, steaming, poaching and stewing for another day. While some of those techniques can produce
some delicious cauliflower, other dry techniques will lend to a more desirable taste when you are first starting out. Roasting, broiling, grilling, griddling, frying or even air frying will be a better place to start and experiment.
SIZE
Depending on your cooking method, you probably want smaller bite-size pieces for high heat and short cooking. The alternative would be to have one large slab of cauliflower to griddle or sauté, or a large whole seasoned head to
roast. Smaller pieces can also mean more surface area to create a delicious crust.
TIME & HEAT
Short bursts of heat for four to six minutes frying, or 10 to 15 minutes in the air fryer will result in a crisp exterior and a slight bite with the interior texture. A longer roast or grill/griddle will produce a dark and flvorful exterior with a fully cooked center. The whole roasted cauliflower can easily be served in more of a family-style larger portion service that guests can cut off and porton onto
their plate.
SEASON & SAUCE
Small pieces can be oiled, seasoned and quickly cooked. Larger pieces may benefit from a longer soak and season to help the seasoning penetrate the cauliflower. A dipping sauce is sometimes helpful, especially when the cauliflower is served as an appetizer. Whipped ricotta with olive oil and balsamic is a great combination for whole roasted. Hummus, pesto, baba ganoush or labneh are also great.
FRIED CAULIFLOWER
INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup flour
• ¼ cup rice flour
• ¼ cup chickpea flour
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk ingredients.
Add ¾ to 1 of cup milk.
Dip cauliflower flets, shake off excess.
Fry for three to five minutes until golden brown.
AIR FRYER CAULIFLOWER
Cut cauliflower into bit-sized floets and toss with oil, salt and pepper.
Place a slightly crowded single layer (they will shrink some in the air fryer).
Use the highest setting on the air fryer for about 10 minutes, and shake every two to three minutes.
After 10 minutes, check the color and doneness. I prefer brown with some dark brown spots and a crunchy texture. Put the cauliflower back in for longer if needed.
Remove, season with other seasonings after cooking (to prevent burning) and serve.
GRIDDLED/SAUTÉED CAULIFLOWER
Season both sides of a thick slab of cauliflower (1 to 1 ½ inces) with oil, salt and pepper.
Let seasoning soak in for about 10 to15 minutes.
Heat an empty cast iron or thick-bottom sauté pan over mediumhigh heat until almost smoking.
Carefully add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
Place the cauliflower into te pan and reduce heat to medium.
Weigh down with another pan, this will help a nice dark even crust form. Check after six to eight minutes to see how the crust is forming. I prefer a dark, almost charred crust. This may take another five minutes or moe.
Once your desired crust is reached, flip and epeat. It may not take as long on the second side.
Look for a combination of the color of the crust as well as the tenderness of the cauliflowe.
When you can easily pierce a knife to the center of the slab of cauliflower and you have te desired crust you are looking for you are ready to serve.
WHOLE ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
Season the whole head heavily with olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Try adding paprika, garlic powder, cumin or cayenne, depending on your mood.
Let the oil and seasoning drip through, and baste again onto the cauliflower fom other angles.
After four or five times basting most of te seasoning has stuck in the cauliflowe.
Roast at 350 to 400 degrees (on convection, if possible) for 30 to 45 minutes. The outside should be golden brown (I prefer a little darker).
Test the head with a knife that can reach the center of the cauliflowe. When you pierce the center with the knife, you should feel only slight resistance.
Serve with a knife and dipping sauce as desired.
Here are a few methods to test out. Mostly just a rough road map to get you going and then take it out on your own.
This is really just a start; play with the techniques. Tweak the seasonings and the sauces to make it your own. One of my easiest go-to snacks or side dishes for dinner is air-fried caulifloer, tossed with a made-up blend of spices and dipped through ricotta. It can come together in minutes, allowing you to work on other tastes while your meal is cooking.
Rye Not?
WHISKEY COCKTAIL BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF HOME.
BY GREG HAEFNER · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
This cocktail is the culmination of several of my favorite things. My general manager/ mentor at The Bar at Willett, Andy Pope, really built my belief that great cocktails don’t need to be complicated. He taught me that oftentimes when ingredient lists get lengthy with cocktails, it is because the added ingredients are being used to cover up a core combination
that simply doesn’t work. Rather than adding, subtracting and simplifying usually leads to the tastiest end result. From the moment I started building the bar at Belly, I also knew I needed a cocktail that utilized Cynar, my favorite Amaro.
The unique vegetal, bitter and smooth profie of Cynar fits perfectly in boozeforward drinks that we love during the fall. We also use Cask & Crew Rye for this
cocktail at Belly not only for its flvor but also because it comes from my hometown in Rochester, NY. Bringing a taste of where I grew up to the place I’m now happy to call home, the Rye Bye Bye is a balanced, boozy, dangerously easy-to-sip drink to ease into the cooler months on the horizon.
Greg Haefner is the general manager of Belly Market & Rotisserie
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ ounces Rye Whiskey
½ ounces Cynar Amaro
½ ounces Orange Peel Liqueur
TO MAKE THE DRINK
Add all ingredients to the mixing glass. Fill the glass with ice and stir until the preferred dilution. (10-15 seconds recommended) Pour into a glass over a large ice cube. Express an orange peel over the drink, and slide it in.
Cocktail Tasting
ADVISORY BOARD ENJOYS FEATURED COCKTAIL AT HAPPY HOUR.
BY ZOLA HECK · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
Inside Columbia magazine recently hosted a special happy hour event for its Advisory Board to showcase the delightful Rye Bye Bye cocktail from Belly Market & Rotisserie seen on page 132. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy the expertly crafted rye cocktail by Greg Haefner, which has smooth and robust flvors. To complement the drink, a curated selection of appetizers was served to enhance the tasting experience. It was an evening of exceptional service and conversation to celebrate local culinary creativity, help foster communication and facilitate networking among the board.
CONSTRUCTION JUNCTION
Construction is underway on the Interstate 70-Highway 63 Interchange as a part of the statewide Improve I-70 program. This project will provide a third lane of travel on I-70 east and west from Columbia to Kingdom City. The plan is to complete this project by the end of 2027.
Darkow Draws
Bagging the Win
WHO'S PREPARED BEST FOR TAILGATE SEASON?
In each issue, multiple on-air talents from Zimmer Communications’ stations take on a seemingly simple challenge to see who comes out on top. In this issue, Josh from Clear99 and Kristin from Y107, prepared for tailgate season by competing at cornhole. Make sure to visit insidecolumbia.net to see a video of the whole challenge!
THE CHALLENGE
Each DJ has the chance to throw the bags in hopes of either scoring one point by making it on the board or making three points by throwing it directly into the hole. The fist DJ to reach 21 points wins the game!
THE CONTENDERS
While both Kristin and Josh were excited, hesitancy crept in as they both hadn’t played in so long. To calm the nerves the DJs played some warm-up rounds, finding out quickly thy were both unprepared for the difficuy of the distance.
THE OUTCOME
The fist round started strong when Josh got three bags on the board and Kristin got two, leaving Josh with one point for the scoreboard. But things took a turn for the worst when both DJs managed not to score a single point until the seventh round. But on the seventh round Josh, with all his might threw the bag, watching it sail across the lawn and right into the hole. This came after the bag was intercepted by the tree landing right in the middle of the two boards. Womp, womp. While Josh got it in the hole, Kristin landed two bags on the board leaving Josh with just one point to add to his score. Things were looking up in the eighth round when Josh got two bags in the hole and Kristin got one on, leaving Josh with fie points! But that point streak didn’t last long as neither DJ scored again until the seventeenth round when Josh got one in the hole and one on the board leaving the score at 16-3. You could say at this point the win was in the bag for Josh. Fast forward to the twenty-sixth round and Josh only needed one more point to take home the win. Josh focused in and threw the bag one last time. He watched the bag as if it was in slow motion, landing right into the hole, securing three final points. And just 7 short minutes later, we finally had a winne.
”You know, I didn’t realize how terrible I was at bags. I’m aware now. Never ask me to be on your team. I really just wanted to spend some time outside.
-Josh
"”
So I guess I’m going to be buying a bag set to practice a lot.
"-Kristin
Boone County Spring Fling
Alumni members and their families gathered for the Boone County Alumni Chapter’s annual Spring Fling event. Members enjoyed music, food, a silent auction, Mizzou Tiger spirit and more as they welcomed new board members and said farewell to others.
Date
May 22
Location
Shiloh Bar & Grill
Photos by Nancy Toalson and Wally Pfeffer, mizzouwally@compuserve.com
Shirley Farrah, Virginia Bzdek, Mandy Manderino
Terri Dobey, Jane Wagner, Stacy Morse
Dick Otto, Sue Scott, Donna Otto
Matthew and Tess Stephens
Anne Edgington, Elizabeth Dorman, Bob Edgington
Cindy and Carlyle Foley
Bob and Kate Wessler
Life can sometimes feel like a roller coaster. There are plenty of highs, but you need to be prepared for the lows. Ever since I opened my savings account at The Bank of Missouri, I feel like I'm ready for the unexpected. I get to really enjoy the ups without worrying about the downs.
The bank of staying on track. The Bank of Missouri.
Larry Gross 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament
The 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament was packed with fun, competition and philanthropy. There was a packed schedule, including lunch, a shotgun start and awards. There were various games throughout the course requiring a cash donation to participate.
Date
June 3
Location
Country Club of Missouri
Photos by Nancy Toalson and Wally Pfeffer, mizzouwally@compuserve.com
Austin Kolb, Will Moore, Adam Weber, Tyler Kolb, Mindy Coyle
Jesse Lark, Daniel Veros, Max Konig, Calum McAndrew
JL Maher, James and Leslie Wilson, Stephen Garlook
Melinda Netemeyer, Sam Verslues, Dan and Chris KellarMeghan Buchert, Cole Stocklein, Cam Herman, Devon Casady
Jeff lenn, Craig Simon, John Pfenenger, Durk Price
Chris and Heidi Davis, Chris and Gina Gervino
Best of Columbia 2024 Party
Inside Columbia magazine hosted the Best of Columbia party to celebrate and award all the 2024 Gold winners. Around 250 of Columbia’s best gathered to enjoy food, drink, the July/August issue and a new 360 photo booth.
Date
July 1
Location
Courtyard by Marriott
Photos by Ava Kitzi
Back row: Adam Bostick, Seth Lindenbusch, Jesse Miller, Thomas Wolfe Front row: Claire Dinwiddie, Arika Smith
The Vincent P. Gurucharri, M.D., Foundation had its 14 th annual golf tournament at the Columbia Country Club. It was an exciting day of swinging, networking and fundraising for beginners and advanced golfers alike. The golf tournament raised money to support the Vincent P. Gurucharri Foundation, which is dedicated to providing financial support or cancer patients in the community.
Date
July 15
Location
Columbia Country Club
Photos by Nancy Toalson and Wally Pfeffer, mizzouwally@compuserve.com
Logan Gray, Joe Ritter, Joel Schirmer, Montgomery Hill
Greg Flaker, Deb Richardson, Orv Salmon, Steve Neal
Kevin Harvey, Joe Carrone, Evan Perry, AJ Perry
Bob McDavid, Jim Sowash, Jim Roller, Jay Ward
Les and Mary Sapp, Mike and Deb Gerecke
Gerald Orth, Charles Lemmers, Ron Carter, Randy MorrowLynn Hendrick, Donna Breedlove, Chris Schulz, Steve Crabtree
Countdown to Kickoff
Over 200 fans of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri attended the 24 th annual Countdown to Kickoff, pesented by Columbia Safety and Supply. More than 50 items were available for purchase in the silent auction with another 10 or so for the live auction, resulting in over $130 ,000 raised. The highlights of the evening were introductions by Athletic Director Laird Veatch, the attendance of Coach Gary Pinkel and the interview of Coach Eli Drinkwitz by Ben Arnet.
Date
July 25
Location
Columns Club at Memorial Stadium
Photos by Nancy Toalson and Wally Pfeffer, mizzouwally@compuserve.com
Laird Veatch, Matt Garrett, Ben Arnet
Ann Merrifiel, Eli Drinkwitz
Danielle Culbertson, Kerrie Bloss, Kayla Inez
Sherri and Steve Redmon
Tim and Betsy Vicente
Gary Pinkel, Lizzy Denzel
Gary and Amy Gundy
Ambassadors Century Club
The Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated its qualifiers with 100 attendance points or more with the annual Century Club celebration, an ongoing tradition since 200 8. Cooper's Ridge generously hosted the event and Room 3 8 provided the delicious food.
Date Aug. 1
Location
Cooper’s Ridge Event Venue
Photos by Nancy Toalson and Wally Pfeffer, mizzouwally@compuserve.com
Century Club Qualifier
Jan Beckett and Bob Aulgur
Jenny Williamson and Garrett Walker
Jim Cherrington and Gena Patton
Tim Knarr and Heather Stewart
Kerrie Bloss, Jazmyn Drake
Heather Hargrove, Matt McCormick
A New View
BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER, I HAVE ACCESS TO SOME UNIQUE POINTS OF VIEW IN THE COMMUNITY
Assignment: Sommelier Portrait
The Location: 8th Street
While loading my cameras in my car after photographing Sanford Speake I noticed the Tiger Hotel in the reflection of my rear window.
The curved glass gave the hotel a distortion I thought created a fun perspective.
Staying on your toes while looking around can have some unexpected results. That’s
why I constantly look for photos even when I am not shooting.
Sometimes a good photo can be found while looking away from the subject.
L.G. Patterson
MMaking Columbia Great Again
OUR CITY STRUGGLES FROM A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.
any of our readers will remember that day in September 1992 when Columbia was named by Money magazine as the second-best place to live in America. Mary Anne McCollum was Mayor of Columbia at the time. Our fair city was enjoying a period of prosperity thanks to recent economic development efforts, a growing university and a new focus on quality-of-life initiatives. Civic pride was at an all-time high.
To fully understand the gravitas of this honor, Columbia outranked some of the nation’s world-class cities on the magazine’s top 10 list including Austin, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Honolulu, Gainesville and Madison. In spite of the stiff compettion, Columbia stood head and shoulders above the crowd. Fast forward to 2024 and you quickly realize that things have changed. Unfortunately, given our current state of affairs, no matter how uch we all love our city, she’s no longer a contender for this list. Beyond just pointing out the obvious, I’d rather embrace an optimistic outlook for our city’s future. We can make Columbia a world-class city again, but we’re going to have to make some changes that might ruffle some feathers and slay some sacred cows. Here are five things we ougt to consider: Beautificaton: I know it’s been said a million times before but we must do something about the overall appearance of our city. More than 50,000 vehicles pass through Columbia on I-70 on a daily basis. The truth is that our city is hideously ugly from the vantage point of the interstate. Should a weary traveler exit at Providence Road or Rangeline to fuel up or grab a bite to eat, they would immediately get to see a vast array of dilapidated buildings, worn-out
gas stations and the remnants of homeless encampments scattered along the shoulders of our highways. We’ve talked for 30 years about adding nicely landscaped welcome signs as you enter our city but nothing has materialized. Speaking of blight, our esteemed mayor’s NO MOW zones (aka pollinator habitats) along Columbia’s busiest roadways only add to the problem.
Panhandlers: Driving through Columbia, you get the feeling that the people who live here are incapable of taking care of the least among us. What we see at most major and secondary intersections is a sad commentary on a system of failed social services. The average citizen’s well-intentioned attempts to help these folks is exasperating the problem. These panhandlers return every day because the “goodhearted” among us throw untold sums of cash at them. Columbia needs to create an ordinance that prohibits panhandling. Instead of considering this act of vagrancy as “free speech,” we should instead consider it a public safety concern.
Watchdogs: The painfully slow death of the Columbia Daily Tribune and the drastic reduction in news reporting in most local media outlets have given public officials an opportunity to “pull the wool over the eyes” of their constituents. When this happens, there is no accountability from the people we elect to protect our best interests. Longtime residents will remember Paul Albert and Henry Lane who were, undoubtedly, an annoyance to elected officials, however, they played a vital role in our community’s civic procedure. These men paid attention to where public dollars were going and they were bold enough to make some noise about it. We need these same kind of watchdogs today to keep our leaders in line.
BY FRED PARRY
Leadership: Speaking of leaders, Columbia is in desperate need of a group of individuals willing to stand up and create a bold vision for Columbia’s future. This is not a job for the faint of heart. There is a pack of naysayers in this community who are determined to kill any reasonably good idea that comes along. The Columbia City Council’s preoccupation with climate action and social equity prevents our city from appropriately planning for the future. As a result, we find ourseves constantly running behind on important infrastructure projects and public safety. We need leaders who can focus on what citizens want Columbia to look like twenty years from now. We are cheating future generations of citizens with our lack of vision, planning and forward thinking.
In the final anaysis, most of these things could be fied with a change in leadership. In recent years, we’ve spent tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds in addition to the proceeds from at least four increases in sales taxes, (children’s services, 911, Wayfair, marijuana) all implemented since our community was last ranked among the top 10 places to live. What do we have to show as a result of all this spending? That’s right. Not much.
Unfortunately, we’re headed in the wrong direction and we’ll stay on that trajectory until somebody decides to stand up and lead. The future of this once great city depends on it.
Fred Parry Founder & Publisher Emeritus fred@insidecolumbia.net
