This section of The Barn Journal is a listing of barn and farm related events across the country, as well as places to visit year-round, such as museums and displays. See also the The Barn Journal Round Barn Events and Displays section. If you know of other events and displays you would like to see listed here, send the relevant information to editor@thebarnjournal.org.

Special Events and Meetings

Past Events

  • On October 9, 2004, the McHenry County Historical Barn Preservation Association and other County groups host an all-day tour of nine period barns. Please visit www.mchenrycountybarns.org for details.

  • Barn Aid Concert (Menomonie, WI)
    August 4, 2001. Barn Aid is an outdoor benefit concert to help save a Dutch barn, which will feature nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Greg Brown. See www.barnaid.org or email pilar@languageartscom.com for more information.

  • Barnstorm (Plymouth, WI)
    February 21 — March 30, 2003. Barnstorm is an exhibit of artwork with barns and impressions of the traditional farm as a theme. For more information, contact the Plymouth Arts Foundation at 920.892.8409 or paf@excel.net.

  • Bond County Historical Barn Tour (Greenville, IL)
    Sunday, June 15, 2003. As part of the National Road Festival, Bond County will host a barn tour including a working dairy farm. Contact wamos@greenville.edu for more information.

  • Christmas at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm (Rochester Hills, MI)
    Saturday, December 20, 2003. The museum is having an old-fashioned Christmas! Please pre-register by calling 248.656.4663 and visit www.rochesterhills.org/museum.htm for more information.

  • Coopersville Farm Museum 2003 Holiday Events (Coopersville, MI)
    - Gingerbread House Decorating Contest December 3 - 6
    - Lunch with Mrs. Claus on December 6, 13, and 20
    - Visit Santa with your pet on December 6
    Please contact info@coopersvillefarmmuseum.org, call 616.997.5164, or visit www.coopersville.com for more information.

  • The Friends of Ohio Barns Conference (Xenia, OH)
    April 2 & 3, 2004. The conference will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Visit ohiobarns.osu.edu for details.

  • Iowa Barn Foundation Picnic and Tour (IA)
    Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9. A tour of 13 unique and historic barns in northeast Iowa and a picnic on the bluffs of the Upper Iowa River will highlight this summer event. Picnic is at 12:30 pm at the Ashmore-Jewell barn on College Ave., Decorah. Contact Marlene Fenstermann 563.382.3439 or Roxanne Mehlisch 641.487.7690 for more information, or visit www.iowabarnfoundation.org.

  • Jefferson County Barn Tour and Harvest Fair (Burr Farm, WV)
    October 12 and 13, 2002. "Experience the beauty and diversity of seven unique barns in Jefferson County." For more information, visit www.preservehistory.org.

  • The Mail Pouch Barnstormers 3rd Annual Picnic (Belmont, OH)
    Saturday, July 26, 2003, 10 AM - 6 PM. Plan to arrive early to trade photos, memorabilia and stories and bring a dish to pass at the picnic; table service and a cold beverage provided. Please contact Gyla Schnauffer at 724.443.1644 or Sherry Binkowski, or visit www.mail-pouch.org.

  • Mennonite Heritage Museum Historic Barn Tour (Goessel, KS)
    Sunday, June 2 from 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM. The tour covers four barns. Please contact Kristine Schmucker, Director, at 620.367.8200 or mhmuseum@futureks.net.  Tickets are $5 and available at the Museum.

  • The Michigan Barn Preservation Network 8th Annual Meeting (East Lansing, MI)
    Saturday, March 8, 2003, 9 AM — 4:30 PM.. The Michigan Barn Preservation Network will have its annual meeting at MSU. For more information, contact Vera Wiltse at 989.465.1216.

  • The Michigan Barn Preservation Network 9th Annual Conference
    March 12 & 13, 2004. For more information, read the conference press release or visit www.mibarn.net.

  • Michigan's Heritage Barns Photo Exhibit (Coopersville, MI)
    Through January 31st, 2003. The Coopersville Farm Museum has an exhibit featuring the photography of Mary Keithan, author of Michigan's Heritage Barns (see Barn Resources), and Holly Nelson through January 31st, 2003. Tu - Th 10 AM to 6 PM and Fri & Sat 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information visit www.coopersvillefarmmuseum.org or contact Cindy Timmerman at 616.997.8555.

  • "Once Upon a Farm" Celebration (Iowa City, IA)
    Saturday June 29, 2002, 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Held at the Secrest 1883 Octagonal Barn. Author Bob Artley will reminiscence on farm life. Contact Rich Tyler at 319.643.7360 or rich-tyler@uiowa.edu, or visit earphone.oto.uiowa.edu/octbarn.

  • New York State Conference on Preserving Historic Barns (Hamilton, NY)
    October 26 and 27, 2002. A two-day conference of workshops and a historic barn tour at the White Eagle Conference Center. For more information please contact Madison County Historical Society, 315.363.4136 or mchs1900@dreamscape.com or www.dreamscape.com/mchs1900.

  • The Traditional Timber Frame Research and Advisory Group Conference (Shepherdstown, WV)
    March 14-16, 2003. This is the 12th annual conference of the TTRAG, and barn preservation is a part of the program. For more information, contact Will Beemer at 413.623.9926.

  • Traditional Timber Frame Research and Advisory Group Annual Conference (Durham, NH)
    March 19 - 21, 2004. Visit www.tfguild.org for details.

  • Van Buren County Barn Tour (Keosauqua, IA)
    Saturday, June 29, 2002. Registration in Keosauqua City Park at 8:30 AM. Information at Villages of Van Buren, 800.868.7822, barns@800-tourvbc.com or visit www.800-tourvbc.com.

  • Wallowa Valley Barn Tour / Sunrise Iron Tractor Show 2001 (Enterprise, OR)
    August 3, 4, 5. Visit neoregon.net/barntour, call 541.426.0219, or email ehig@uwtc.net for more information.

 

Museums and Ongoing Exhibits

For more museums and exhibits, see the The Barn Journal Barn Resources section.

  • Hoosier Grove Museum (Streamwood, IL)
    The Museum is open Friday through Sunday 1-4 pm or by appointment.  Contact Nancy Gher for more information at 630.213.9706.

  • James & Macie King Dairy Barn (Montgomery County, MD)
    Located at the Montgomery County SoccerPlex, the barn is a "Moo-seum" on dairy farming. See our story about the barn, The Crowning Achievement.

  • Malabar Farm (Lucas, OH)
    For more information and a schedule of all events call 419.892.2784, fax 419.892.3988, e-mail malabar@richnet.net, or visit www.malabarfarm.org.

  • Newark Valley Historical Society (Newark Valley, NY)
    Various weekend activities throughout the spring.  For a schedule and details, go to www.tier.net/nvhistory.

  • Tennessee Agricultural Museum (Nashville, TN)
    The Museum is open Monday-Friday and located on the Ellington Agricultural Center grounds.  Please call 615.837.5197 or visit picktnproducts.org/agmuseum for more information.

  • Thumb Octagon Barn (Gagetown, MI)
    Fall Family Days at the Octagon Barn are scheduled annually for the second weekend in September. Contact 517.665.0081 or visit sitedezine.com/barn for more information.

  • Barn Again! Traveling Exhibit
    The exhibit explores the history and many uses of barns with photographs, artifacts, information, and anecdotes about barns. See the schedule at the Barn Again web site, www.agriculture.com/ba.

 

State Barn Organization Activities

  • Illinois
    A barn workshop was held at Freeport in October 1999. McHenry County is planning an all-day workshop on November 18, 2000 (past).

  • Indiana
    The10th Indiana Barn Preservation Workshop was held at the Krannert barn at the State Fairgrounds on March 25th. The 11th Workshop is planned for the old Ringling Circus Barns, Peru on November 11th.

  • Iowa
    The Iowa Barn Foundation now numbers 500 members. More than $250,000 has been raised and of that $117,000 awarded as matching grants for barn rehabilitation. The Foundation held a picnic at Earlham on June 11th (past). For more information, visit www.iowabarnfoundation.org.

  • Minnesota
    The first statewide barn preservation conference was held on April 15th at Nerstrand Church south of the Twin Cities. Plans are to form a permanent organization.

  • New York
    A 1997 barn conference resulted in the creation of a New York State Barn Coalition. There are plans for a state barn rehabilitation conference on October 14th at Amherst, near Buffalo) (past).

  • Ohio
    The first statewide conference was attended by 200 barn preservation enthusiasts on March 9th (past). The meeting was at a church near Columbus built by Josie Miller that utilizes German-barn post and beam construction. A permanent organization is under consideration.

    A regional barn preservation meeting occurred on May 3rd (past) at Wilmington (near Cincinnati).

  • Wisconsin
    The 2000 annual meeting of Barns NOW (Network of Wisconsin) discussed the building of a database and formation of a foundation to provide financial aid for barn rehabilitation.

    A technical workshop was held on June 10th (past) in Door Country as well as a tour and presentation on "Belgian Barns in Wisconsin".