On Saturday, the Mizzou Club in Bates County prepared for the University of Missouri’s homecoming parade. The trailer contained 3,400 bags of corn kettles and distributed them along the way.

That is more than 250 pounds of popcorn.

Member Rich Davis said this has become a tradition in alumni groups, which is 2 1/2 hours' drive south of Columbia and Kansas City.

"Our alumni association started in 1994," Davis said. "Because they didn't have it last year, this is our 25th parade." 

The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled last year's parade. With its return, more than one tradition has returned. The kettle corn tradition of the Bates County Club began in 1996.

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"I made that kettle popcorn in 1995," Adrian's Davis said.

He said that his and his wife Debbie's daughter was a freshman at MU in 1996. Davis' son and daughter went to Mu, where their granddaughter will study next year, he said.

Although it is the smallest alumni group, the proportion of MU alumni representatives organized by Bates County is higher than that of other county groups.

"During our summer picnic, we gave out a scholarship of $13,000," said Davis, who graduated from the University of Michigan in 1978.

He said that the association has an endowment fund of US$53,000. The Bates County Alumni Club has a tailgate in every home football game, attracting 50 to 100 people.

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He said the club distributed kettle corn to students and alumni on Friday afternoon. Adrian member Allen Sollars said that kettle corn is very popular.

"Everyone screamed at it," he said.

Jessie Bruto of Lee's Summit is also with the team. She is the first grade teacher there. She received a bachelor's degree in basic education from MU in 2007 and a master's degree in 2008. Although she did not grow up in Bates County, her husband grew up in Bates County, she said.

"It's funny," she said of the parade

How do children react when they pick up some kettle corn?

"It's like we are almost rock stars," Pluto said. "They are so excited. Their eyes are bright."

She said that members must adjust their pace to ensure that there are enough people throughout the parade.

Grace Miller, 3 years old, finally got a bag of kettle corn. She went to school on Eighth Avenue and Broadway with her mother Misty Miller and 5-year-old sibling Samuel; Thomas, 7 years old; Joseph, 10 years old; Andrew, 12 years old ; Laura, 14 years old.

Before the parade started, Laura handed out paper bags to her brothers and sisters to hold candies and loot.

"It's always a fun time," Misty Miller said. "There is a lot of friendship. I am glad to see them enjoying it."

She said she didn't mind the cancellation last year.

"It makes this year even more enjoyable," she said.

They are one of thousands of people lined up along the parade route.

A convertible in the parade bears the name of MU Sports Director Desiree Reed-Francois, but she is not in the car. Instead, she ran behind, high-fiving the parade spectators.

The MU women's basketball team is very popular and throws a lot of candy.

Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Gamma Rho have an elaborate Pokemon floater.

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile participated in the parade, driven by MU graduate Ally Friend. Tesla owners in central Missouri showed off 10 stylish, silent electric cars in the parade.

Marching Mizzou is at the forefront of the parade, and many large and small high school bands are also in the parade. All three public comprehensive high schools in Colombia have bands, as well as the bands of Tolton Catholic High School.

Other bands include bands from Kansas City, Festus and Westphalia.

The music and band are Grace Miller's favorite parts of the parade, she said at the end of the parade.

Their mother said that at the end of the parade, Miller’s children’s paper bags were full. Samuel’s goods include ramen from the local radio station.

They received some The Maneater newspapers from Mizzou Student Media and also grabbed two T-shirts.

"This is a great parade," Misty Miller said.