BLUFFTON, Ohio — The 10th annual Friends of Ohio Barns Conference will be held in Bluffton April 24 and 25.
The central theme of this year’s event will be the celebration of 10 years of stewardship, education and preservation efforts to save old barns, valuable icons of our Ohio agricultural heritage.
This year’s economized event has been shortened to two full days. The event will begin April 24 with registration at Bluffton University followed by an all day chartered bus tour/inspection of seven older barn structures in Allen and Hancock counties.
Itinerary
Saturday’s activities will take place at the university and will conclude prior to dinner that evening.
The group will also visit an “in progress” historical farmstead restoration. Local historical society curator, Keith Sommers, will explain the ins and outs, ups and downs of undertaking such a challenge.
The April 25 activities will begin with keynote speaker Bill Kimball of the Michigan Preservation Network. That will be followed by numerous barn construction/repair demonstrations, the barn repair panel, barn detective review of the April 24 barn tour findings, and explanation and discussion concerning the new Junior Barn Detective program.
Also included will be the annual meeting, customary silent auction and presentation of the two Barn of The Year awards.
Details
More information on the above awards and how and when to submit can be found on the Web site http://www.ohiobarns.osu.edu .
Reservations for the conference, which includes the barn tour, can be made by accessing the above Web site.
Additional information is available on the Web site or by e-mailing friendsohiobarns@aol.com.
Lodging is not included in the conference fees.
Friends of Ohio Barns is a nonprofit organization formed in 2001 to promote awareness of the significance of Ohio’s older barns.
