On Friday, Oct. 9, the Trowbridge Event Center at the University of Missouri became more than a place for cattle. As Barnwarmin’ returned to campus, the arena transformed into a time capsule for CAFNR students and alumni.
Adorned with lights and rustic decor, the venue welcomed more than 200 guests for an evening of dinner, dancing and reminiscing.
Leading the event’s return were seniors Isabella Burnine and Skylar Goodman and junior Addy Nichols. The three hospitality management students took on the challenge of bringing a longstanding tradition back to the CAFNR community.
“It’s one thing to be asked to take over and just put on the next year’s event,” Goodman said. “But when you’re bringing something back, you’re reshaping it into something completely new.”
Before this year, Barnwarmin’ had not taken place at Mizzou since its centennial celebration in 2004. That meant Burnine, Goodman and Nichols had to recreate a beloved and historic tradition that they had never experienced firsthand.
“We learned that they were going to bring another CAFNR Week event back, and I had absolutely no idea what Barnwarmin’ was until it was explained to me,” Burnine said.
Thier lack of firsthand experience didn’t stop the students from rising to the challenge. With guidance from experienced faculty members, they spent seven months organizing everything from vendor permits and decorations to community outreach and promotion.
“We were very nervous about it,” Goodman said. “But it came to life really well.”
A tradition rooted in history
Barnwarmin’ brings together students, faculty and the agricultural community to celebrate the fall season and campus life. Established in 1904, the event is one of Mizzou’s earliest and most enduring student traditions, predating the university’s Homecoming tradition by seven years.
In its early years, Barnwarmin’ featured cider, doughnuts, music, dancing and opportunities to socialize. Over time, the event became closely associated with CAFNR Week, serving as the culmination of a weeklong celebration of student involvement and college pride.
Generations of students have helped bring the event to life over the years, creating memories that link them to the tradition’s history.
For Burnine, Goodman and Nichols, their goal was to honor that history while making the event their own.
Recreating a night to remember
With alumni initially at the center of their planning, the students looked for ways to incorporate elements that reflected Barnwarmin’s traditional atmosphere.
“There were lots of opportunities to sit down, an emphasis on food and drink and a band that reminded them more of the traditional side of Barnwarmin’,” Goodman said.
Planning an event of this scale brought challenges, but those experiences became valuable learning opportunities. When the evening finally arrived, the students had the chance to see months of preparation pay off.
“The highlight for me was seeing it all come together,” Burnine said. “It was kind of crazy to look around and say, ‘We did it.'”
For Goodman, one of the most rewarding moments was stepping away from the planning and enjoying the atmosphere alongside fellow students.
“Being on the dance floor, seeing people get out there and not be afraid to dance with each other, that was really cool,” she said. “That just made me smile.”
Lessons that last a lifetime
Planning an event with such a long history and an important place in the CAFNR community gave Burnine, Goodman and Nichols skills and experiences they will carry into their future careers.
“I learned I can do hard things,” Burnine said. “I got so much out of all the connections we made, whether it was between the three of us or anyone who helped give us support.
The students also gained hands-on experience they believe would have been difficult to replicate anywhere else.
“The opportunities that I’ve been presented with here are something that I never would have the opportunity to be able to experience outside of this by just starting at a restaurant, hotel or resort,” Goodman said. “I now have a better baseline knowledge than a lot of people have coming out of college.”
Beyond event planning, the experience gave the students a new perspective on CAFNR and the variety of opportunities available within the college.
“It’s a bit of a smaller college, but it has so much diversity,” Goodman said. “There are so many majors inside of CAFNR that people don’t know about, including us in hospitality management.”
For Burnine, bringing Barnwarmin’ back was about more than reviving a campus tradition. It also strengthened her connection to the community that made the experience possible.
“I’ve gotten closer to CAFNR and what it stands for,” Burnine said. “I love knowing that I can always come back here, which is like coming back home.”