Vox Magazine 10.12.17

1 0 . 1 2 . 1 7 / F R E E E V E RY T H U R S D AY

THE HEAD AND THE HEART The indie-folk band arrives in CoMo with its third studio album, Signs of Light, ready to rouse 9th Street Summerfest PAGE 16

Faith comes first Juggling the worlds of religion and sports, four MU athletes reveal how faith powers their play PAGE 8

GREEN HALLOWEEN Oct. 31 generates a scary amount of waste. Fight the fear with these do’s and don’ts for an eco-friendly fright night.

PAGE 5

IN THIS ISSUE

ONLINE

October 12, 2017 VOLUME 19 ISSUE 26 | PUBLISHED BY THE COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN

FEATURE Four MU athletes prove there’s no need for a separation between church and sports. These students use their faith to propel every stroke, shot, dive, pass and play they make. PAGE 8 NEWS & INSIGHT If old gadgets are taking up space in your drawers, it’s time to e-recycle. Thankfully, Vox makes it easy to say goodbye with this guide for ditching your tech. PAGE 4 THE SCENE Meet Chelsea Vaughn, founder of Humble Over Hype, an organization that helps athletes connect to their spirituality and find purpose outside of sports. PAGE 6 MUSIC After temporarily separating in 2014, indie band The Head and the Heart regrouped in California for its latest studio album. The band will play at 9th Street Summerfest with The Shelters on Friday. PAGE 16

GET THE SCOOP ON BOWLS With the rise of smoothie bowls, grain bowls and poke bowls, food bowls are swarming restaurant menus both in CoMo and across the country. Learn from registered dietitian Rebecca Mason why this trend is so hot.

IN PURSUIT OF POETRY If you’re ready to channel your inner Robert Frost, look no farther than these four Columbia locales for a place to perform and hear live poetry.

PUSHING FOR SINGLE-PAYER Amid ongoing debates surrounding American health care, Jefferson City Area Indivisible hosted a panel of physicians to discuss the benefits of a single-payer system. In this video, Vox gets closer to the controversy.

EDITOR’S LETTER

ARTS & BOOKS Take a break from your streaming addiction, and see which CoMo events can fill the holes your Netflix favorites leave behind. PAGE 17 Q&A: JAMIE BRYANT Jamie Bryant is the co-owner of Blue Bell Farm, a charming event venue in Fayette. She talks transforming her husband’s family farm into a sustainable enterprise. PAGE 19 COVER DESIGN: ASHLEY SKOKAN COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE HEAD AND THE HEART

MADISON FLECK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

320 LEE HILLS HALL, COLUMBIA, MO 65211 EDITORIAL: 573-884-6432 vox@missouri.edu ADVERTISING: 573-882-5714 CIRCULATION: 573-882-5700 TO SUBMIT A CALENDAR EVENT: email vox@missouri.edu or submit via online form at voxmagazine.com.

TO RECEIVE VOX IN YOUR INBOX: sign up for email newsletter at voxmagazine.com.

We’re social.

Vox Magazine

@VoxMagazine

Vox Mag

@VoxMagazine

Growing up, I didn’t play traditional sports. Instead, I went from dance class to dance class, often eating meals and doing homework at the dance studio.

Before any show or competition, my teammates and I would huddle in a circle with our arms linked. We would then voice the hopes we had for our performance, and in unison, say, “We promise to stand by you forever. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.”

You’re probably thinking that’s a strange and silly ritual. And looking back, it kind of was. But at the time, it connected us before a performance, and it made us feel more confident in what we were about to do.

On the pages of this week’s feature (Page 8), you’ll find stories of how four Mizzou athletes turn to their faith and religion to power their focus. They’re determined to be the best they can be at their sport, and for the strength they need to ensure that happens, they turn to higher powers.

For some athletes, it helps them cope with anxiety and nerves before a race or the highs and lows that come with competition and pushing their bodies to the limit. For others, it’s a way to praise God and thank him for their talents.

Regardless, it’s a way to bolster their self-esteem.

Practicing religion in sports is a deeper experience than saying silly chants with my dance teammates, but the need for focus and confidence building is the same.

VOX STAFF Editor: Madison Fleck Deputy Editor: Sten Spinella Managing Editor: Kelsie Schrader Digital Managing Editor: Lea Konczal Multimedia Editor: Meg Vatterott Online Editor: Brooke Vaughan Art Directors: Keegan Pope, Alexandra Wozniczka Photo Editor: Erin Bormett News & Insight Editors: Lauren Puckett, Rachel Treece The Scene Editors: Brea Cubit, Brooke Kottmann, Lily Zhao Music Editors: Lis Joyce, Amanda Lundgren Arts & Books Editors: Karlee Renkoski, Mary Salatino, Micki Wagner Contributing Writers: Taylor Banks, Emma Beyer, Kristin Blake, Alex Edwards, Jasmine-Kay Johnson, Kaylin Jones, Caroline Kealy, Meghan Lally, Rick Morgan, Rachel Phillips, Bianca Rodriguez, John Sadler, Samantha Stokes, Caroline Watkins, Meghan Weinewuth, Catherine Wendlandt, Chloe Wilt Editorial Director: Heather Lamb Executive Editor: Jennifer Rowe Digital Director: Sara Shipley Hiles Office Manager: Kim Townlain

2

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF MARTA PAYNE AND PIXABAY

RADAR

Vox’s take on the talk of the week

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

In case you didn’t know, early this morning a house-sized asteroid called 2012 TC4 whizzed past Earth. The space rock, which hasn’t been seen in five years, was visible only to those with telescopes. The event gave NASA scientists a chance to test out their asteroid detection and tracking network, which they hope to use to detect asteroids that could potentially hit Earth.

HOLLYWOOD’S DARK SHADOW Last week, The New York Times reported that producer Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexually harassing women for nearly three decades. What also came to light was the silence of many who knew it was happening. Now, Hollywood celebrities are speaking out:

FULL-COURT PRESS

On Tuesday, the NBA season returns when the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Boston Celtics. Following the opening game, reigning champions, the Golden State Warriors, will battle the Houston Rockets. With all the attention around athletes and the national anthem, fans will surely be watching to see how players respond, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a press conference that he expects players to follow the rules of the league and stand.

“I was petrified... I thought he was going to fire me.” ­—Gwyneth Paltrow on not speaking out about Weinstein’s advances on her as a young actress.

“There is no excuse for sexual harassment or sexual assault — no matter who you are and no matter what profession.” —Leonardo DiCaprio

102 3 BXR .

WHERE

MUSIC MATTERS

“The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.” —Meryl Streep “Any man in a position of power or authority who thinks it’s his prerogative to threaten, intimidate, or sexually assault any woman he encounters or works alongside needs to be called into account.” —Cate Blanchett

LUCKIN’ OUT

Friday the 13th isn’t always cursed. Here’s a list of spooky things you can do to make your day a little less unlucky: Jam out to The Head and the Heart on 9th Street Summerfest Get a $13 template tattoo at Iron Tiger Enjoy a stage performance of Sweeney Todd at Capital City Productions

GET THE OFFICIAL BXR APP

WWW.

BXR .COM

/102.3BXR

@1023BXR

Written by: Brooke Kottmann, Amanda Lundgren, Lauren Puckett, Mary Salatino, Micki Wagner PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF AP IMAGES, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS AND PIXABAY

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

3

NEWS & INSIGHT

Going green with technology Dust off those used computer monitors, cellphones and tablets to find a new purpose for even the most archaic devices BY MARSHALL REID Electronic devices surround us nearly every moment of our lives. According to the Consumer Technology Association, Americans own about 28 electronics per household. But as older gadgets collect dust, the need for repurposing devices increases. In 2015, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reported that more than 2.2 million pounds of electronic material were recycled by manufacturers. Keeping e-waste out of landfills can benefit the environment, people and even pocket books. Here’s how to start.

Recycle

If you’re in the market to recycle used devices, check out Mid-Mo Recycling in Columbia or Midwest Recycling Center’s Jefferson City location. Greg Cooksey, director of business development at Midwest Recycling Center, stresses the importance of recycling electronics instead of throwing them away. “It’s simply the right thing to do,” Cooksey says. Electronics often contain substances that are harmful to the environment, such as mercury or lead. Cooksey says his company diverted 2 million pounds of electronic waste from landfills in 2016. Both Mid-Mo Recycling and Midwest Recycling Center accept computers, monitors, printers, phones and more.

Mid-Mo Recycling, midmorecycling.com; Midwest Recycling Center, mrcrecycling.net

4

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

Sell

For those looking to upgrade an old device for a newer model, there are plenty of options right here in Columbia.

TigerTech offers a check or store credit for used technology through its trade-in service. This can be done online or at its store in the MU Student Center.

For a nontraditional selling experience, try using ecoATM. It is a simple process for first-timers. Place your device in the ecoATM test station, allow it to examine your device, and if you agree to sell, you receive cash on the spot. It accepts phones, tablets and audio players. There are stations in Columbia and Jefferson City. Locations can be found on its website.

TigerTech, tigertech.tradeitin.net; ecoATM, ecoatm.com

Buy

Trevor Robinson, owner of Columbia iRepair, recommends buying gently used electronics to avoid the sticker price of the latest gadgets. Apple’s newest generation of iPhone could set you back nearly $1,000, but a gently used iPhone 6 sells for around $200 at Columbia iRepair, Robinson says. Older models push that price down even further. The business also accepts used technology and compensates customers with cash for their old gadgets.

Columbia iRepair, columbiairepair.com

reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reuse recycle reduce reduce reuse recycle reduce reuse recycle reduce

Donate

Technology also has philanthropic potential. True North, a local emergency shelter and counseling center that provides services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, accepts pay-as-you-go phones to give to survivors, as well as used phones to be recycled, says Elizabeth Herrera, True North executive director. True North then receives funding for what the devices were worth. True North receives around $300 per year through technology donations. The money helps fund its everyday operations, including its children’s programs, support groups and GED preparation.

True North, truenorthofcolumbia.org

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDRA WOZNICZKA

THE SCENE

After Halloween, take your costume to Maude Vintage to potentially sell it back.

Eek-o-friendly tricks ‘n’ treats Stay environmentally conscious this Halloween, and avoid leaving a frightful amount of waste in landfills BY TAYLOR BANKS It’s the spookiest time of the year.

Aside from goblins, ghosts and ghouls, perhaps the scariest part of Halloween is how much of it ends up in landfills.

Chain Halloween stores sell an array of mass-produced, single-wear costumes as well as bags of candy and cheaply made decorations all excessively wrapped in plastic and cardboard. Despite the scary amount of waste Halloween creates, it is possible to turn this black-and-orange holiday into a green one. Retailers around Columbia give tricks on how to keep Halloween eco-friendly.

DO: 1. Use reusable bags such as those sold at Natural Grocers, says Tony Thebeau, manager of the store. Pick up one of the 99-cent bags for a long-lasting tote.

Home Paints, which is available at quiethomepaints.com.

2. Wear wigs. Lunatik Hair Dye is a vegan and cruelty-free alternative.

3. Throw away costumes. Maude Vintage Clothing and Costumes occasionally buys back costumes. Bring yours in, and the store will take a look, says owner Sabrina Garcia-Rubil.

4. Purchase bags of artificial candies.

Nourish Cafe and Market sells candy apples sweetened with dates in 100 percent compostable containers at its storefront, says co-owner Kalle LeMone.

5. Utilize your pumpkin leftovers.

Source organically grown pumpkins, and after carving them, bake the seeds, or use the innards to make pies and breads.

OCTOBER 14, 2017 Find out more info at SOMO.ORG/EDGE!

2. Thrift for costumes. Nickie Davis, owner of Muse Clothing, says her store is full of good quality vintage pieces.

THE LION AND WITCH IN YOUR WARDROBE:

3. Recycle empty snack wrappers with a TerraCycle Zero Waste Box. Fill the box with the wrappers, and use the provided label to ship it to TerraCycle for recycling. A small box costs $85 and is an eco-friendly alternative to tossing rubbish. The boxes can be purchased at zerowasteboxes.terracycle.com

Nickie Davis, owner of Muse Clothing, says Halloween pieces can be restyled for everyday wear. Try out these:

MissouriOTE

1. Western-inspired bandanas can double as a chic choker.

SOMissouri

4. Think outside the costume box, and make multi-purpose costumes. The ’90s are always in, Davis says.

DON’T: 1. Buy plastic pumpkins. Instead, preserve your natural ones with a nontoxic and organic coat of white paint. Try the color Mist by Quiet

2. Solid colors, which can be used for M&M’s ensembles, create clean lines.

3. Military-style costumes with cargo pockets, olive-colored capes and camouflage designs are versatile.

4. Where’s Waldo’s iconic stripes give the illusion of length with a pop of color.

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON; MAKEUP BY BRIELLE BISHOP OF VADE MECUM BEAUTY; MODEL: MADDISON CLEMENTS

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

5

THE SCENE

Humble beginnings MU alumna Chelsea Vaughn reminds athletes that developing their spirituality is the ultimate score BY ANNAMARIE HIGLEY

Chelsea Vaughn, founder of Humble Over Hype, is manifesting her vision of connecting sports and faith.

When 22-year-old MU graduate student Chelsea Vaughn was in high school, she was lanky, ridiculed by classmates and unsure of herself. Yet she remained steadfast in her Christianity. This continued faith motivated her to start Humble Over Hype, a nonprofit that aims to help athletes cultivate their spirituality amid the mayhem of playing a college sport.

The concept of Humble Over Hype struck Vaughn while she was recording a motivational YouTube video at the age of 16. The name stems from 1 Peter 5:6 in the Bible. “Humble thyself so that one day, God can exalt you,” she says.

To Vaughn, athletes often internalize the feeling of being reduced to their sport. “When they win, everyone’s happy, but when they lose, they don’t know who they are,” she says. She seeks to help them understand that their athleticism is a God-given talent rather than their entire identity.

Vaughn’s mother, Alisha Vaughn-Kerr, had foreseen her daughter’s aspirations. “I always knew that God would give her something,” Vaughn-Kerr says.

Once her vision became clearer, Vaughn started actively publicizing the brand during her second year at MU as an undergraduate in 2014. Athletes from schools spanning the South and Midwest began wearing Humble Over Hype gear. In September 2016, Vaughn

received a Twitter message from Mississippi State University football player Brandon Bryant. He sent a photo of his forearm tattooed with the letters “H.O.H.” in calligraphy. “Through all the hype I needed something to humble me & it reminds me every day,” he wrote.

Anfernee Jennings of the University of Alabama, Arden Key of Louisiana State University and Vincent Taylor of the Miami Dolphins are a few of the estimated 75 to 100 athletes who openly back the organization.

Members of MU’s volleyball, gymnastics and basketball teams have also shown support.

Last summer, Vaughn funneled much of her efforts into hosting weekly Real Talks — her covert name for what are essentially Bible studies. She and MU athletes met in person to discuss the pressures of being a college athlete, how to use their God-given gifts and more. At one of the meetings, the football players wrote themselves letters that they’ll read at the end of the season to see how their faith journey has progressed.

Raven Fairley, one of the nonprofit’s board members, helped develop the idea of Real Talks alongside Vaughn and Whitney Thompson, who is the other board member. “It shows them that, ‘Yes, you play this rough sport,’” Fairley says. “But it is OK to feel emotion. It’s okay to relate to people who struggle.”

Fall

Community Radio Pledge Drive 17 N. 10th St. Downtown Columbia

874-8600

Mon-Sat: 10am - 8pm Sun: Noon - 5pm

OctOber 9-15

Since 1968

Stop in at Aardvarx where you are free to be.. fun, loud, crazy, or hip..whatever defines YOU. We have everything you need to express yourself.

T-ShirTS, CloThing, CandleS, inCenSe, PoSTerS, TaPeSTrieS, TobaCCo, Smoking aCCeSSorieS, Jewelry, body Jewelry, TaroT CardS CrySTalS & muCh more!

6

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

It’s Not Just Radio...It’s Community Radio! kopn.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHELSEA VAUGHN

Vaughn continues to make YouTube videos and push the clothing line. The most popular items are wristbands, T-shirts and hoodies. So far this year, Vaughn has made over 500 sales — a vast improvement from the 10 shirts she first ordered as a 16-year-old. She hopes to develop Humble Over Hype into a network with ambassadors who travel to campuses across the nation to conduct conferences and workshops for college athletes.

For now, she’s working as a recruiting graduate assistant for MU’s football team while pursuing a master’s degree with a specialization in positive coaching. Vaughn expects the skills she gains through her degree will help advance her nonprofit and that one day, Humble Over Hype will become her full-time job.

“I want to take over the world in a positive way,” she says.

In our feature (Page 8), Vox further explores the role religion plays in the lives of MU athletes.

Donavin Newsom (above), a former MU athlete and current San Franciso 49ers football player, shows supports with a tattoo and wristband. Chelsea Vaughn has promoted Humble Over Hype through informational booths (left).

AT THE

DO TIME IN

JEFFERSON CITY

MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY History and Ghost Tours Available

Tours still available Oct. - Nov. from Sun. - Thurs.

www.MissouriPenTours.com 866-998-6998

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BREA CUBIT AND CHELSEA VAUGHN

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

7

prayer Most valuable

L

Whether these athletes scream with joy or cry in pain, whether they feel confident or pressured, whether they win or lose, they always look to God

BY NADINE LAEMMLER

Lauren Reedy just failed a dive.

It’s her second dive in the 3-meter final of the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. As she does her lineup on the diving board, her knee buckles. She slips, and her head and back hit the diving board before she falls into the water. Reedy just earned zero points in her best event. She had told people she would become an SEC champion. Yet, with zero out of six points for her second dive, the May 2017 graduate knows her chances of winning this event are gone.

Her usual sense of courage and fearlessness is replaced by anxiousness. She has a strained quad from her fall. A nasty cut on her arm, which looks worse than it is, begins gushing blood 30 seconds later.

With four dives to go, Reedy turns to the source of her confidence: her faith. She goes to the shower to rinse off and recalibrate before her next dive. She visualizes in her mind what she wants her upcoming dive to look like. “God, I just want to do this dive I have next as if it was the only dive I was going to do to worship you,” she prays silently. “I wouldn’t do it scared; I would do it with courage.” She begins singing a worship song quietly to herself.

With newfound confidence, she refocuses and steps on the diving board. She sets the

8

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

fulcrum — the wheel on the side of the diving board — and steadily walks to the end of the board. She turns around and puts her arms to the side. The gash on her left arm is visible to her competitors and the crowd in the stands.

She takes a deep breath. “Lord, would you establish peace for my heart and send courage through my veins?” she prays.

One, two, three. She rocks the board and launches herself in the air, relying heavily on one leg. It’s an inward two-and-a-half somersault pike. And it’s good. Thank you, Jesus, she thinks as she’s underwater.

Her game plan worked.

Reedy is far from alone in her faith.

According to the Pew Research Center, 87 percent of adults in Missouri believe in God, and 56 percent say religion plays a very important role in their lives.

However, the religious landscape is shifting, especially among the younger generation.

Although the generation gaps in religious affiliation have always been stark, the number of college-age students who are religious has been declining since the 1990s. According to a 2016 Public Religion Research Institute study, 39 percent of young adults in 2016 identified as religiously unaffiliated, which is nearly four times more than the 10 percent from 1986.

PHOTO BY CARSEN SIKYTA

Lauren Reedy says she began making faith a priority when she was a freshman at MU and realized there was more to life than diving.

“When I’m up there, I’m thinking about what God has given me and leading the crowd in worship,” Reedy says.

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

9

UNITED BY SPORTS AIA – Athletes in Action AIA is the sports ministry of Cru Ministries, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ. As an international sports organization, it reaches out to Olympic, professional and collegiate-level sports. It was founded in 1966 and has grown continuously since then. It now has staff and ministries in 40 countries, including Canada, the Netherlands and South Africa. At MU, AIA campus director Nathan Buxman, his wife Lisa and an intern work on their mission to become a spiritual resource for every Christian student-athlete. They organize and lead weekly meetings, small groups and other sport-specific events, such as services before games. In 2014, AIA earned a profit of $28 million for ministries and other religious activities.

AIA’s vision is to see a day when there are Christ-followers on every team, in every sport, in every nation.

49% Nevertheless, there are still many students who place high importance on their religious identities.

It is not uncommon for these students to play sports. For Reedy, like numerous athletes in the United States, religion plays a significant role in her personal life and also in her athletic pursuits.

It’s not unusual to see players making the Christian symbol of the cross over their chests or kneeling to pray before a competition starts. Why do they do that?

FCA – Fellowship of Christian Athletes FCA focuses on Olympic, professional and collegiate-level sports as well as junior high and high school sports. The international nonprofit sports ministry was founded in 1954 and is based in Kansas City. It now has more than 17,000 certified huddles — small group Bible studies for coaches and athletes ­— in 90 countries around the world. It also offers a variety of camps that combine athletics and spirituality to help athletes grow in their faith.

In 2016, FCA recorded a record year of $120 million in revenue.

FCA’s vision is to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

25% of Americans say God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event

Lauren Reedy completes dive after dive at practice to perfect her form. She is currently training in China to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

In the world of athletics, it isn’t enough to be the fastest, strongest or most talented person; what is equally important to succeed is the right mindset. Mental strategy and preparedness can make the difference between winning and losing. Different athletes manifest that mindset — the motivation for practice, the confidence for competition — in different ways. For some MU student-athletes like Reedy, these goals are reached through faith. They turn to God for help in challenging times and give him the glory and honor of their achievements.

Joanna Foss, a mental performance coach in the MU Athletic Department, says sports are an expression of a person’s identity. When someone is solidly religious, it can be powerful to incorporate belief and faith into his or her mental strategy. A connection with something outside of yourself can be comforting and eventually take the pressure of competition off the mind. She also says you don’t

of Americans say God rewards faithful athletes with good health and success –Public Religion Research Institute, 2017

have to be religious in order to be successful, but faith can be helpful and beneficial, especially in the face of negative setbacks and difficult situations.

Nick J. Watson and Daniel R. Czech write about the use of prayer in sport in Athletic Insight: The Online Journal of Sport Psychology. They state that prayer is an important source of strength and a means of coping with anxiety for Christian athletes. Watson and Czech found that athletes use religious prayer in sport for three main reasons: “coping with uncertainties and the concomitant anxiety, putting life and sport into perspective, and providing meaning to sports participation and competition.” One way athletes can justify the selffocused and self-indulgent way of thinking that is so pervasive in competitive sports is to define sports participation as an act of worship, they write. To put it simply: God is the author and true beneficiary of personal praise.

Sophie Cunningham, a Mizzou basketball player, adheres to this ethos. Every time the guard puts her shoes on, whether it’s before a game or just a regular practice, she uses her fingers to draw the sign of the cross over them, then over her knees, her heart and her forehead. She draws it one more time over her heart when she walks up to the free-throw line. It’s almost unnoticeable; she wants to keep such displays between her and her God. “I started doing that, and I would focus on why I play and why he gave me these talents,” Cunningham says. “I threw this into my routine to put it in God’s hands. It calmed my mind, made everything a lot slower and helped me focus more.”

When Cunningham makes a shot or helps win a game, the subsequent accolades are not hers. She gives thanks to God and her Christian faith. “The majority of our team always gives credit to him,” she says. “Not just big games but little games, too.

And it really is glory to him because he has given us these talents, and we’re just trying to give the best of our abilities to win but also to use these chances to give back to him.”

Cunningham says the entire team shares her faith and has incorporated it into basketball. Before each game, there is an optional service for the whole team to attend. They eat and pray together, and a pastor reads and elaborates on a passage

–Public Religion Research Institute, 2017 10

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

PHOTO BY CARSEN SIKYTA

Mizzou women’s basketball guard Sophie Cunningham puts her faith in God when she is on the court. Cunningham says she and her teammates share the same faith, and they attend services before each game to center their minds.

from the Bible. “(The service is) short, and it’s simple, but I think it really does help to get your mind right and put yourself in perspective,” she says. Cunningham says all her teammates and coaches sharing the same faith brings them closer together as a group.

Robin Pingeton, the Mizzou women’s basketball head coach, has been vocal about her faith since beginning her tenure. At the start of her career in 2010, she said: “I am a Christian who happens to be a coach, and my values are

PHOTO BY ALEX SCIMECCA

very important to me. I think you’ve got to do things the right way and treat people the right way.” Pingeton faced immediate public criticism for her comments, stemming from her forceful views on the importance of Christianity and family, perceived by some as an anti-gay stance.

As the Columbia Daily Tribune reported at the time: “Helen Carroll, sports project director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, told Inside Higher Ed that Pingeton’s comments seemed to be ‘subtly proving that everyone in

their program was straight.’” Still, Cunningham appreciates Pingeton and the rest of the coaching staff for pushing her and her teammates in their faith and in everyday life.

Having players from only one religion is a unique situation and can have negative consequences. Nathan Buxman, MU campus director of the worldwide organization Athletes in Action, says it’s possible to feel left out when you join a team with a specific belief system. However, he says the women’s basketball team has created

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

11

AS LONG AS THE WORLD IS LOOKING UP TO THOSE ATHLETES, WE WANT THOSE ATHLETES LOOKING UP TO CHRIST. – NATHAN BUXMAN MU CAMPUS DIRECTOR OF AIA

a culture with mantras: love unconditionally, serve intentionally, and live gratefully, which create a welcoming atmosphere people want to belong to. “So, I think it invites people in,” Buxman says.

Regarding the individual athlete, Terry Shoemaker, a doctoral candidate who teaches an online class at Arizona State University called Religion and Sports, says religion can serve as “somewhat of a crutch,” a mechanism meant to take stress away from athletes and to give them something safe to fall back on.

Regardless, he says he doesn’t think religion necessarily awards the faithful an advantage over non-religious athletes. “It gives athletes a different kind of motivation, whether that’s an edge, whether that’s some sort of extra benefit compared to non-religious athletes, I’m not sure,” he says.

Religion can also be an expression of identity, and Foss, of the MU athletic department, says faith can help when someone is experiencing setbacks such as a career-ending injury. Whether it’s voluntary or not, ending

Mizzou punter Corey Fatony has always been grounded in his faith and carries that mentality onto the field. “I know that I’m loved and that I’m already forgiven,” he says. “So if I win, or if I lose, it’s much bigger than that.”

12

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

PHOTO BY JEREMY JOHNSON

PREACHING THEIR FAITH a high-level sports career is devastating. “It can be hard to find meaning and purpose,” she says. “I think religion can be really helpful in connecting with something, giving a sense of purpose and ultimately figuring out what (to) do afterwards.”

In contrast, attaining your goal, such as winning an Olympic gold medal, can also lead to an existential crisis. “Now what?” says Shoemaker, a doctoral candidate at ASU. “You set a goal, and your entire life has been to achieve this, and now you did it. Then, there’s a gap that needs to be filled.”

Mizzou punter Corey Fatony has the same tattoo as his mother on his left arm: a lily, his mother’s favorite flower. It symbolizes the compassionate love they have for each other and for God, he says.

Corey Fatony, Mizzou’s starting punter, agrees that faith doesn’t give athletes the upper hand over non-religious performers. However, he says it can help with the highs and lows of competition and remove some of the strain many athletes feel. “When I mess up, or when I get things wrong, I know it’s not about me,” says the junior from Tennessee. Just like Reedy and Cunningham, Fatony also prays before every practice and game. Because football can be a dangerous sport, he often includes prayers about safety for his teammates and his opponents. “It’s bigger than us,” Fatony says.

“When you really look at it, football is just a game, and it’s just such a small part of life.”

The players aren’t the only ones in the stadium who turn to their faith and pray.

According to the Public Religion Research Institute, half of sports fans believe a spiritual power has some impact in a game or competition. They pray to God to help their team, think their team was cursed at some point or believe God plays a role in determining the outcome of sporting events.

Unlike these sports fans, Fatony doesn’t pray for success. Instead, he prays for wisdom, knowledge, courage and strength.

He and a few of his teammates go to weekly meetings organized by Athletes in Action, which has a campus ministry at MU consisting of three staff members to help Christian athletes grow in their faith.

Weekly meetings, small groups and other sport-specific events, such as chapel services before games, are designed to represent a spiritual resource for Olympic, professional and collegiate athletes. Buxman says sports are a common denominator, and athletes influence others by acting as role models. “As long as the world is looking up to those athletes, we want those athletes looking up to Christ,” he says.

“So that’s kind of the essence of Athletes in Action.”

Buxman, who has been at MU for five years, says about 120 student-athletes from official Mizzou sports teams come to the weekly meetings on Tuesday nights to talk about their relationships with God. Azra Avdic, a sophomore on the MU Women’s Swimming and Diving team, is Muslim, but she says there are similarities in between Christianity and Islam, such as the idea of the Trinity.

Their faiths are also not that different when it comes to the world of athletics. When she talked to one of her Christian teammates, she realized the religions have many aspects in common. “We both have the same idea that God’s presence is still there and that he’s helping,” she says. “I feel like faith within sports is very tied together.”

Avdic, who was born and raised in Chicago but has family in Bosnia, first felt the strength that faith could give her when she was 16.

At the Speedo Sectional Meet in Minnesota,

of young adults identify as religiously unaffiliated, which now constitutes the largest “religious” group –Public Religion Research Institute, 2016 PHOTOS BY OR COURTESY OF MARTA PAYNE AND AP IMAGES

A look at professionals who put their trust in God

Stephen Curry While on the basketball court, Curry, a guard for the Golden State Warriors, sometimes points his index finger upward to acknowledge the Lord.

He also has Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ,” written on his shoes.

Tim Tebow

Tebow, a current baseball player for the St. Lucie Mets, became known for Tebowing — dropping down on one knee while holding his fist against his forehead. During his football career, he wore Bible verses such as John 3:16 under his eyes.

Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49ers football player, has long been outspoken about his faith.

He has a tattoo of a Bible scroll with Psalm 18:39 on his right arm and other tattoos including a cross, praying hands and angels.

Jeremy Lin

Now a guard for the Brooklyn Nets, Lin created the phenomenon known as Linsanity and often posts Christian references on social media. He has also used his fame to spread the word of Christ in China and Taiwan.

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

13

Mizzou swimmer Azra Avdic puts her trust in faith during competitions.

“Whenever I get nervous, my parents and my grandma would always say the same thing,” she says. “Do your best, and Allah will do the rest.”

14

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

PHOTO BY MARTA PAYNE

10%

DRIFTING FROM GOD

of millenials identify as various types of Christians

–Public Religion Research Institute, 2012

Avdic dropped three seconds in her preliminary swim and advanced to the A final, which was filled with older, more experienced and mostly college athletes. Avdic was intimidated and started doubting herself. She went into the ready room, where all the swimmers wait before the race, and sat down on one of the plastic chairs.

She panicked. She started crying. Then, she put her head in her hands and prayed. The other girls looked at her, but Avdic was focused on herself. She prayed to God to give her strength.

“I will give it my everything, but I just need your help to give me that extra push,” she says. And it worked. Avdic dropped an additional 3 seconds from her time in the morning and placed third.

She got out of the pool and started crying again ­— but this time out of joy. “And that’s why I put so much time in my faith,” she says.

Since then, Avdic has made it part of her routine to pray before every race. She knows it won’t always lead to a best time because of other factors such as her health and physical state, but it helps her calm down and cope with her anxieties before a race.

Reedy also depends on God in difficult times. With Christianity being the most practiced religion in Missouri, she has many resources on campus (more so than non-Christians), including Athletes in Action.

Reedy started participating in the weekly meetings halfway through her freshman year after breaking both her ankles while tumbling in the gymnastics gym. Diving had been the one thing that made her who she was. She did everything in her life for diving. She went to class because otherwise she wouldn’t have been eligible to dive. She ate because if she lost too much weight, she wouldn’t be allowed to dive.

Then, in just one moment, she was unable to practice her passion and struggled to find something else to identify with.

A few months later, she found a new identity and self-worth in faith after going to one of the weekly meetings. There, she got the idea

Today, millennials are less likely to be religiously affiliated compared to the general population, according to studies in 2012 and 2016 by the Public Religion Research Institute.

Young adults ages 18-29 are three times as likely as people ages 65 and older to identify as religiously unaffiliated. Thirty-nine percent of young adults in 2016 identified as religiously unaffiliated compared to 10 percent in 1986.

Reason for leaving childhood religion:

to go to China. One of her friends asked her if she wanted to go there on a mission trip, and without a second thought, she agreed. She ultimately wasn’t able to go on that trip due to her schedule, but she continued to look for an opportunity to visit the country. Her coach contacted a swim coach at Miami of Ohio who used to train at Ersha Sports Training Center in Guangzhou, China. Now, in exchange for teaching English two hours a week, Reedy lives and trains at the facility at no expense.

60%

stopped believing in their childhood religion’s teachings.

29%

cite negative teachings and treatment of gay and lesbian people by religious organizations.

In 1986, only of young adults claimed no religious affiliation.

The religiously unaffiliated now Catholics, white traditional Protestants and white evangelical Protestants. of Americans switched from their childhood religious identity to unaffiliated. of millenials identify as Catholic (roughly equivalent to proportion in the general population).

Mizzou swimmer Azra Avdic says praying to God helps calm her down. She always prays quietly to herself behind the blocks before a race.

Through her entire journey, trusting in God’s plan is what helped Reedy. At the 2017 SEC Championship, as much as she wanted to win, it was never about a medal for her. “If it’s all about a prize, it is not worth my time,” she says.

“Knowing my worth and my identity is not in how well I finish or in how good I get at diving; that’s really freeing.” This mentality gave her the means to move on and come back stronger. She fulfilled her promise and won an SEC title in the 1-meter event the day after her failed dive. “My mindset when I compete isn’t about winning or losing.” Reedy says. “It’s about ‘Did I dive with courage, or did I dive with fear?’ It solidified that it’s not about the outcome to me. It’s about experiencing God in my sport.”

of millennials on Facebook include a religious identity on their profile page. is how 62% of millennials describe present-day Christianity.

Although of millennials report being religiously unaffiliated in childhood, now identify as unaffiliated.

6%

of millennials identify with a non-Christian religion

–Public Religion Research Institute, 2012 PHOTO BY MARTA PAYNE

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

15

MUSIC

A rejuvenated return to Columbia Folk-pop group The Head and the Heart brings new music and a new outlook to 9th Street Summerfest Just a few years ago, writing music was a therapeutic liberation from everyday life for Kenny Hensley, the keyboardist for lauded indie-folk band The Head and the Heart.

Following fame, fortune and four years of non-stop touring, however, music became a source of stress.

After The Head and the Heart finished touring for its second album, Let’s Be Still, in 2014, Hensley embarked on his dream of getting a pilot’s license, went rock climbing and did just about everything to keep music off his mind for nine months.

Hensley wasn’t the only one in the band who needed a break. The six strangers who bonded through their passion for music in Seattle eight years ago all took some time to recharge.

When the band reunited in Stinson Beach, California, in summer 2015, the whole group was “rejuvenated and ready to go at it again,” Hensley explains to Vox ahead of the band’s show at 9th Street Summerfest. The result of their rejoining was the band’s most uplifting record yet, Signs of Light.

Signs of Light, released last year, has moved beyond the rustic folk sound of the band’s early days onto more electric guitars and synthesizers and less acoustic instruments.

“We were in a good mood,” Hensley says about recording the third album. “I feel like after taking that time off and coming back, especially being in a beach setting in California, I think the songs sound hopeful and new again,” Hensley says.

THE HEAD AND THE HEART The Blue Note, 17 N. Ninth Street Friday, 7:30 p.m.

874-1944, thebluenote.com $33.75 in advance, $39 day of

The new sound also partly comes from The Head and the Heart quite literally being a “new” band. Since early last year, co-frontman Josiah Johnson has taken a break to battle an undisclosed addiction, according to a press release by the band.

The last time The Head and the Heart filled The Blue Note with its ragtag folk melodies in 2012, it was a relative newcomer to the indie-folk boom

Chart Toppers

The Head and the Heart have grown in experience and popularity since its previous stop in Columbia back in 2012.

popularized by such acts as Fleet Foxes and Mumford and Sons. The Seattle band’s music tapped into the zeitgeist of the moment with the sort of “stomping, clapping” kind of folk-pop that is “feel-good” without being corny, as Seattle-based City Arts Magazine Senior Editor Jonathan Zwickel puts it.

Zwickel, who has followed the band since its early days, remembers when The Head and the Heart played in spontaneous, cozy, spatially intimate sets.

He describes that closeness as egalitarian-like and says when the band started playing on massive stages, it felt completely different.

“It’s really beautiful to see 20,000 people singing along to these songs that I’ve known now for almost 10 years,” Zwickel says. “At the same time, as an older fan, you give up some of the connection that you had to them early on. There’s something sad about that, I suppose. Bittersweet is maybe a better way of putting it, but at the same time, you know, it’s really a victory for them.”

Hensley says some of his best memories are from when the band was playing tiny shows in the early

days. MU student Maddie Lupori had the opportunity to see the band in London earlier this year when it played a smaller venue. “I just remember tears rolling down my face because it was so beautiful,” Lupori says.

“It was like a magical concert experience.” Now, CoMo fans might see some of that intimacy at the upcoming outdoor concert.

“It just made my heart so happy that they’re coming to Columbia because I feel like it’s a little more quaint, and I think it shows a lot about them as a band because they care about smaller stops on their tours,” Lupori says.

Columbia is one of the final tour dates. Hensley says the band will take a break for a couple of months and start working on a new album in December or January. He also hinted at the possibility of Johnson coming back for the new record.

“It’s just up in the air, but we’re starting conversations with him,” Hensley says. “He’s one of our best friends, and we’re always talking to him. At this point, it’s really just about him being happy and healthy, and that’s more important than the band.”

The Seattle-based band has had five top-10 Billboard hits from three separate albums in the past seven years. Its 2016 single, “All We Ever Knew,” topped both the alternative and adult alternative chart. Below are some of the group’s biggest hits.

The Head and the Heart VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

The Head and the Heart’s most recent release, Signs of Light, is its most buzzed-about yet. With a major label behind the band, Warner Bros. Records, the album is production-polished and relatively upbeat. “Rhythm & Blues” features melodic rock, and it’s no wonder the track made it to the top of the Billboard Alternative chart.

Let’s Be Still is the band’s sophomore album and has a more constructed feel while sticking to the original musicianship that made The Head and the Heart so popular. The album features two tracks that made the top 10: the Dr. Dog-sounding “Shake” and title track “Let’s Be Still.”

This self-titled breakout album featured the band’s first Billboard AAA top-10 hit, “Lost in My Mind.”

The track has an Americana feel with lyrics about love and, you guessed it, loss.

16

BY SOO RIN KIM

Let’s Be Still

Signs of Light PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HEAD AND THE HEART AND AMAZON MUSIC

ARTS & BOOKS

Skip Netflix, and chill at these October events Getting bored of TV? Check out local happenings to replace the streaming selections you love BY BENNITO L. KELTY The fall chill might inspire you to huddle under the blankets with your laptop and Netflix, but there are more fun things to do this October. Get ready to dance in your flash pants, and put on your thinking caps because we have a few autumn events that will align with your favorite Netflix shows.

If you like Glee, you’ll love Dancing Through the Decades

Glee specialized in introducing teenagers to their parents’ music. Here’s your chance for some musical time-traveling. Dance your heart out at Dancing Through the Decades, an event where a live DJ plays music from decades such as the jazzy ’20s and the funky ’60s. Costumes are optional, but why not try one out before Halloween? You can also expect table games, auctions and raffle prizes. This night doubles as a fundraiser that benefits 14-year-old Jackson Morton, who was diagnosed with Leukemia, and Pascale’s Pals, a volunteer organization that supports local children with serious illnesses. Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Bob Lemone building in Hallsville, $20; $30, couples ticket

If you like Black Mirror, you’ll love Socrates Café

Each episode of Black Mirror examines reality and life with nightmarish scenarios. If you’re a fan of the show’s depth, then you’re probably looking for a place to unload your opinions. Socrates Café is a monthly forum held on the third Tuesday of every month that invites dialogue and deep thinking with discussion questions such as “how do we distinguish between the fake and the real” or “what is enough?”

Local editor and doctor of philosophy Brian Bowles leads the discussion. Bowles missed the thoughtful discussions he had while in academia, so he used Christopher Phillips’ book Socrates Café: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy as a guide to bring these discussions to Columbia. Oct. 17, 7–8:30 p.m., Columbia Public Library Conference Room B, Free

If you like Making a Murderer, you’ll love 12 Angry Jurors This Netflix series unravels unbelievable legal twists through the case of Steven Avery, who was exonerated from prison by DNA testing and was then arrested two years later for murder. If you like

this series, consider seeing the play 12 Angry Jurors.

Written in the 1950s by Reginald Rose, it shows 12 jurors in a hot, stuffy room debating whether the defendant is guilty of murder. Their deliberations reveal insights into each juror’s perspective and the difficulty of discerning bias from truth. The play, directed by Christopher Gould, has a diverse cast in terms of gender, race and sexual orientation. Oct. 26–28, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, 2 p.m., Columbia Entertainment Company, $10

If you like Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press, you’ll love Voyeur

This film explores Hulk Hogan’s lawsuit against Gawker and uncovers the relationship among Silicon Valley billionaires, online tabloids and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. If you were a fan of that film, True/False is presenting another documentary that shows the impact of journalism and its stories. Voyeur follows literary journalist Gay Talese as he investigates a Colorado motel owner who secretly watched the guests in their rooms for at least 15 years. Stay after the movie for a Q&A with the directors. Oct. 18, 6:30 p.m., Missouri Theatre, Free

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE CONCERT BAND & SINGING SERGEANTS

Thursday, October 19 | 7 P.M. Jesse Auditorium

The Beach Boys Monday, October 23 | 7 P.M. Jesse Auditorium

(573) 882-3781 | concertseries.org ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF PIXABAY

10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

17

THE TO-DO LIST

this week in Columbia

ARTS & CULTURE Blithe Spirit

Follow novelist Charles Condomine as he attempts to find inspiration for his next book by inviting a medium into his home. The medium brings Charles’ deceased first wife back into his life, and drama ensues. Tonight through Oct. 21, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m., Macklanburg Playhouse, $14; $7, seniors and students, 876-7199

The Joan Crawford Effect

Explore this Stephens College exhibit that focuses on costume designer Adrian Adolph Greenberg and the garments he designed for Hollywood actress Joan Crawford. The costume gallery will also showcase archived letters Crawford wrote to the college’s president at the time.

Now through Dec. 17, Wednesdays, noon to 1 p.m.; Thursdays, 5:30–8:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 3 p.m., Lela Raney Wood Hall, Free, 876-7220

CIVIC Jim Obergefell

The named plaintiff behind the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage, Jim Obergefell will speak before an MU audience this week as part of the Life Sciences and Society

Symposium. He’ll discuss his book, Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. Friday, 7 p.m., Monsanto Auditorium, Bond Life Sciences Center, Free, 882-7957

Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival

Your fall season isn’t complete until you visit this festival stocked with thousands of pumpkins. There will also be games, crafts and musical entertainment.

Saturday and Sunday, 9.a.m., Hartsburg, Free, 808-1288

Sustainable Living Fair

Go green this fall, and stop by the Sustainable Living Fair. Guests can attend workshops and learn how to reduce their carbon footprints through gardening, investing and more. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Daniel Boone City Building, Free, 875-0539

FOOD & DRINK Crawfish Boil

Come to the Museum Associates’ annual Crawfish Boil to feast on crawfish, gumbo, muffulettas, pralines and beer prepared by Brook Harlan and The Columbia Area Career Center. Friday, 5:30 p.m., Mizzou North canopy, $40, individual; $35, MA members; $75, couple; $65, MA members, 882-6724

Apple Tasting at Clovers

’Tis the season to go apple sampling.

Grab the whole family, and head to Clover’s location on Chapel Plaza Court for a day of sharing local cheeses and caramel dips to complement the bag of apples you’ll probably buy. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Clovers Natural Market, Free, 445-0990

Great Muslim Food Fest

Nothing brings people together like food.

Experience cuisine inspired from recipes around the world by dining on a wide array of dishes prepared by members of the Muslim community. Attendees can also enjoy shopping, tours of the Masjid, comedy, speeches and more. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Islamic Center of Central Missouri, Free, 875-4633

Akropolis Reed Quintet

Founded at the University of Michigan and considered one of the most accomplished quintets in the world, the Akropolis Reed Quintet will play the music of Bernstein, Gershwin’s American in Paris and more.

Akropolis will spend two days performing and working with CPS music students and teachers. Friday, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, $20; $10 with student ID, 424-1792

Yoga with Live Cello at The Missouri Theatre

Come to The Missouri Theatre for an all-levels yoga flow class with live cello music. Practice on the stage looking out into the beautiful theater while listening to lovely music. Wednesday, Noon, Missouri Theatre, $10 suggested donation, 882-3781

SPORTS

Bear Creek Run: Half-Marathon and Team Relay

This half-marathon and team relay is returning for its fourth year in Columbia.

Soak up the scenic Bear Creek Trail during the 13.1-mile race. Saturday, 8 a.m., Albert-Oakland Park, $48, 874-7460

WOMEN ONLY, WITCHES COSTUME PARTY

MUST BE 21

Support suicide prevention at this walk that benefits research, educational programs and more. Walking is free, but attendees are encouraged to fundraise.

Registration begins at noon. Sunday, 2 p.m., Stephens Lake Park, Free, 673-9533

SCREEN Battle of the Sexes (PG-13)

Revisit the most-watched televised sporting event of all time: the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. This film explores the struggles each player faced on and off the court.

RT RUNTIME = 2:01

The Mountain Between Us (PG-13)

MUSIC

WITCH FEST 2017

Third Annual Columbia Out of the Darkness Walk

Two strangers are pushed to their limits after a plane crash lands them on remote, snow-covered terrain. When they learn help is not on the way, the two are forced to embark on a perilous journey.

F, R RUNTIME = 1:49

Still playing

American Made (R) F, R Battle of the Sexes (PG-13) RT Beach Rats (R) RT Blade Runner 2049 (R) F, R Flatliners (PG-13) F, R The Foreigner (R) F, R Happy Death Day (PG-13) F, R The Hitman’s Bodyguard (R) R Home Again (PG-13) R It (R) F, R Kingsman: The Golden Circle (R) F, R The Lego Ninjago Movie (PG) F, R The Mountain Between Us (PG-13) F, R My Little Pony (PG) F, R Pop Aye (Thailand) (NR) RT Rat Film (NR) RT Spider-Man Homecoming (PG-13) R Suspiria (1977) (NR) RT Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) (R) RT Victoria & Abdul (PG-13) RT

Theaters F = Forum R = Regal

WHEN

October 14, 2017 | 4pm - 10pm

WHERE Haunted Castle House Bed & Breakfast 841 Hwy C | Brumley, MO

Just 10 miles outside of Osage Beach on Hwy 42

MUSIC • SHOPPING • DANCING • BONFIRE DOOR PRIZES • CASH BAR BENEFITING LAKE REGIONAL CANCER CENTER | HOPE PROGRAM 18

VOXMAGAZINE.COM | 10.12.17

RT = Ragtag = available in 3D

ADVANCE TICKETS $25

CALL (844) 48-GHOST (44678) (314) 956-4366 (316) 650-5161 EMAIL VICKI@HAUNTEDCASTLEHOUSE.COM

AT THE DOOR

WILL BE CASH ONLY

JAMIE BRYANT promotes sustainability and a homegrown experience at Blue Bell Farm

WIN A NEW HONDA PILOT or $500!

O

n a 300-acre farm in Fayette, just a stone’s throw away from a coop of screeching chickens, sits the white barn of Blue Bell Farm. A venue seemingly straight out of HGTV Magazine, the barn was completed in 2014 and has since created a space for Jamie Bryant and her husband, Derek, to develop a homegrown business.

Rustic weddings, intimate dinners, relaxing corporate getaways — Blue Bell Farm provides it all with a natural twist. Livestock is raised only a few acres away, and produce is sourced from family farms. Everything is local, and everything is personal.

Photographer Aubrey Rowden, co-owner of Love Tree Studios, has enjoyed working with the Bryants for several years. “Jamie sets the bar so high, and she brings a polish to her events that I have not seen anywhere else in mid-Missouri,” Rowden says.

Blue Bell Farm is focused on locality and sustainability, and Jamie talks with Vox about how it provides a homegrown experience for guests.

Blue Bell Farm has been in your husband’s family for seven generations. How has it changed?

In the early years, the farm was very diverse. In the 1960s, the family moved away from the land, and it was cropped heavily with corn and soybeans. When we moved to the farm, we knew we wanted to bring the diversity back. We removed the industrial crops and planted the land in pasture grass and also started an organic garden. We also have laying hens, cows, pigs, turkeys and goats that live on the farm.

What are you trying to communicate overall as a business?

We’re really about community. When we host our events, we’re not only just sustaining our own farm, but we are also supporting and sustaining our community of farmers and artisans.

So we have a lot of livestock, but what also goes into the events are a lot of produce and local cheese and local honey and nuts and so on. Every opportunity we have to buy locally, we’re helping support other family farms as well.

What are you doing to promote sustainability on the farm?

We strive to host zero-waste events.

We recycle and compost all the leftover food from the event. We work with a great florist, Emily Hansum, from Sugarberry Blooms. She sources her flowers from local organic farms and creates natural arrangements that are compostable as well.

Was a business like Blue Bell always a goal for you?

I would say a barn-style venue was always the dream. It took a long time to make it reality, a long time to figure out what we wanted and what would be a good fit with the community.

We soon came to the realization that there was a need for overnight accommodations. We’ve renovated a cabin where guests can stay and enjoy a farm breakfast. ­— ANN MARION PHOTO BY MARTA PAYNE

TICKETS ONLY $5 8 finalists; 1 wins the SUV, 7 win $500!

Purchase tickets at www.SOMO.org/Win MISSOURI

Missouri Automobile Dealers Association

®

Raffle benefits 15,300 Special Olympics Missouri athletes!

Take a peek at the aesthetic of Blue Bell Farm in a photo gallery at voxmagazine.com 10.12.17

|

VOXMAGAZINE.COM

19

Get the story on Columbia’s latest showings.

MOVIE REVIEWS VoxMagazine.com