BFRO Missouri Leader Shares Bigfoot Conference Vision and 2019 Sighting

There's something refreshing about a Bigfoot conference that doesn't just talk the talk but actually gets out into the woods afterward. That's exactly what caught my attention when I stumbled across a recent episode of PARAGEEKS TV, where the hosts sat down with Maryanne, the powerhouse behind the Ozark Mountain Bigfoot Conference and an expedition leader for the BFRO in Missouri, Arkansas, and now Oklahoma. Maryanne's origin story is the kind that makes you lean in a little closer. She had always been fascinated by Bigfoot and other cryptids, spending summers as a kid sprawled out on the library floor reading about Sasquatch and Nessie. But it wasn't until 2019, when a coworker mentioned hearing something strange on a police scanner, that she decided to take the plunge. She signed up for a BFRO expedition in Missouri, dragged her poor husband along (who insisted on telling everyone they were just "camping"), and on her very first night out, had a Class A sighting. For those unfamiliar with the BFRO classification system, a Class A sighting means a clear, visual observation of a Sasquatch at close range. That's not just dipping your toes in the water, that's cannonballing straight into the deep end. That first encounter hooked her completely. She went on to lead expeditions across multiple states and eventually launched the Ozark Mountain Bigfoot Conference, which is heading into its fourth year. What makes her event stand out is the structure: speakers and vendors during the day, then a small group heads out to private property with documented activity for actual overnight research. The very first time they camped at their research site, a Sasquatch was reportedly seen in the camp and tracked all around it. That's the kind of hands-on approach that sets this conference apart from your typical vendor-heavy festivals. The conversation also touched on something that anyone who's spent time in this community knows all too well: egos. The hosts brought up how strange it is that despite all the evidence and activity in the Ozarks, organized research wasn't happening there for decades. Maryanne didn't sugarcoat it. Egos are a real problem in the Sasquatch world, and they can keep serious researchers from collaborating and sharing information. But she also pointed out the flip side, the deep respect that rural communities have for whatever is living in those mountains. One of the hosts shared a sentiment echoed by locals everywhere: "That's the old man on the mountain. He comes out at night, we stay out of his way, he stays out of our way." There's a coexistence happening in these rural areas that outsiders often miss entirely. One of the funniest moments was the hosts' observation about how you can tell a local from an outsider. Apparently, if you say "Appalachian" with the full pronunciation, you're probably not from there. Real locals say "Appalachin." It's the kind of subtle cultural marker that only someone who's spent real time in those communities would pick up on. The episode also touched on the West Virginia Bigfoot Festival, where the hosts and Maryanne bonded and became like family. It's a reminder that this community, despite its occasional clashes, is built on genuine connections and shared passion. If you're looking for something to watch that feels like sitting around a campfire with people who actually do the work, this one's worth checking out. Maryanne's energy is infectious, and the Ozark Mountain Bigfoot Conference sounds like an event that delivers on its promises.