Travis Ritter competes in the cycling portion of the Show-Me State Games triathlon on Sunday at A. Perry Philips Park in Columbia. Ritter has competed in triathlons for 15 years and participated in the Show-Me State Games triathlon for five years.
Avery Lowe, left, staples a weather barrier with Devin Harris on Saturday during Pride Build in north Columbia. The Center Project created the event to give back to the community during Pride Month.
Shannon Soldner looks around her new painting studio on April 19, 2025 in Rocheport, Missouri.
A cow pokes his head through bars while being groomed on July 16, 2025, at Northeast Regional Park in Columbia. The cow, Fletcher, was about to compete in the Beef Show as part of the annual Boone County Fair.
Calvin Percy, 9, holds up his robot during the Labspace Robotics class Monday at Capital Mall in Jefferson City. “My robot is called ‘Sumosaurus Rex,’” he said.
Thomas Moore shows off his nails Saturday while holding a hammer tacker during Pride Build. Including Moore, 37 volunteers were on the roster for the two-day event.
Competitors swim in the Show-Me State Games triathlon Sunday in Columbia. In all, 22 athletes participated in the triathlon events, and an additional 13 competitors participated in one or two of the three events.
Bailey Middleton, 12, brushes her heifer, Maple, and bull, Hot Rail, before competing in the annual beef show during the Boone County Fair Wednesday at Northeast Regional Park. Bailey is from Paris, Missouri, and this was her first year showing at the Boone County Fair.
Paint-soaked sponges line the table during the Dino Summer Camp on Monday at the Tiny Play Cafe in Columbia. 2025 marked the second year the Tiny Play Caffe hosted a themed summer camp.
Shannon Soldner points to one of her small paintings on April 19, 2025, in Rocheport, Missouri.
Peyton Hurst, 4, inspects a stick during the Dino Summer Camp on Monday at the Tiny Play Cafe in Columbia. Snack time featured fruit kabobs that the campers assembled themselves.
Zach Smith hauls a window pane out of Pickard Hall on the University of Missouri campus as part of the radioactive testing being pursued to settle the future of the building. Earlier plans for the building's demolition, which would cost approximately $12 million, have recently been put on hold as Mizzou conducts more tests on the building.
Kassandra Ridgeway, a recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home, holds a board during the Pride Build event on Saturday in north Columbia. Ridgeway applied for a home in February and was fully approved by April.
A trail winds throughout the Cosmo Park Nature Trail in western Columbia's Second Ward. Cosmo Park is Columbia’s largest municipal park.
A structure sits on display in Cosmo Park.
A colorful tunnel frames a pavilion in Cosmo Park in Columbia's Second Ward. Cosmo Park contains the city’s largest playground system.
From left, Carmen Walker, Sam Philips-Stephens, 15, and Alex Johnson, 13, sit during the opening remarks of the 10th annual Cosplay Con on Monday at the Columbia Public Library. Alex, as “Raggedy Andy,” won first in the 12 to 18 age division.
Tim Reinbott shaves seeds off a sunflower on Monday at the University of Missouri South Farm. Reinbott said these particular sunflowers are the species typically used for oil production.
Nancy Kassabaum, left, feeds a strawberry to her granddaughter Orella Kassabaum, 6, as Orella’s sister Savi, 3, watches Thursday at Shelter Gardens. Shelter Insurance marked the 50th anniversary of its gardens, which are open to the public, with a special event Thursday.