As a crisp fall breeze settles in the atmosphere, pumpkin spice takes over menus and the leaves begin to change color, mid-Missouri shudders with excitement for the upcoming autumn season. In Columbia, the 15th annual Harvest Hootenanny was the perfect way to kick off all things fall. 

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) celebrated the event on Sept. 21 from 4-8 p.m. The convention was held at Columbia’s Agriculture Park, roughly a 10-minute drive from campus. All proceeds made from the event went to CCUA to support their programs, such as Planting for the Pantry, Opportunity Gardens and the Veterans Urban Farm. 

The event was free to enter and available to anyone, however if a guest wanted to play any games or have food or drinks, they had to purchase a $6 ticket. Playing a game cost half of a ticket. Raffle tickets, alcoholic drinks and sandwiches cost one each and a dinner plate cost two. All meals were prepared by students from the Columbia Area Career Center.

A lineup of various local organizations lined the pavilion with information booths, candy, prizes and games. From homemade wooden tricycles to balloon animals, the festival was already buzzing with excitement. The sense of community was palpable, making the hootenanny the ideal place to be to celebrate local spirit and the incoming fall season. 

At the end of the pavilion, a concrete dance floor beckoned attendees, where several instructors guided participants through tai chi, Zumba and our personal favorite: line dancing. Guests were invited to grab a partner and learn choreography to a variety of different dances, getting more complex as they went on. 

The inviting nature of the Columbia community was apparent, as strangers quickly turned into dance partners and then into friends. Although we were far from professional line dancers, we were quickly welcomed into the line-up and cheered on as we sashayed through the crowd.

As guests traveled further through the event, they would come across Pancake, Mango and Ginger – chickens that guests were able to pet, hold and take photos with on a stack of hay bales. Despite sudden bursts of wing-flapping, the three chickens were polite and willing to pose for photos with each of the guests. MOVE writer Liv Martin posed for a picture with Ginger, whose feathers were a mixture of warm oranges and browns and matched the fall vibe perfectly. They were cool, calm and collected and seemed to enjoy being held. 

Past the chicken-petting, attendees could exchange their tickets to either dunk a man dressed as a hotdog into a dunk tank or play Plop Plop Chicken Drop, which drew in the biggest crowd. Players could trade half a ticket for a number on a mat that was on the ground, then the chickens would be set into the part of the pen where the mat is located. Whichever chicken pooped first on a number, that number’s holder would win a stuffed chicken and 10 more tickets.

The hootenanny also featured a lineup of local bands. Blues band Chump Change kicked off the performances, followed by the genre-bending Compass Music, the rave-music-esque Double Helix and closed with Mobile Funk Unit’s upbeat and lively tunes that got the crowd up on their feet and dancing. 

In true country fashion, the hootenanny also had a cow-milking demonstration every hour provided by Southwest Dairy Farmers. First, a volunteer provided a brief information session about cow milk, the nutrients and vitamins found in it and how much milk different cows provide their farmers before performing a milking demonstration for her audience. 

The CCUA’s 15th annual Harvest Hootenanny has come to a close, transitioning Columbia into fall with its lively entertainment and spirited games. This vibrant festival brought with it a celebration of community, inviting everyone to come together to embrace the spirit of the season. 

Edited by Ava McCluer | amccluer@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com 

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com