All-state Barn Tour is an affordable fall getaway
Tour restored, historic barns statewide this weekend
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The hard-working members of the Iowa Barn Foundation (IBF) aren't given to flights of fancy, but they're immodestly calling this fall's 26th annual statewide barn tour, "the world's largest." We don't know the state of barn love elsewhere in the world, but you can't miss it in Iowa. The tour showcases restored, historic barns across Iowa on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, from 9-5 each day. There is no charge to visit any of the barns.
IBFs' spring barn tours focus on a single county, but all-state tours, held each September, feature barns across the state. With mid-September weather typically warm and sunny, this year's tour is a fine opportunity for an affordable early fall short vacation.
Today, affordable is a relative term. The traditional drop in gas prices after Labor Day didn't happen this year due to the ongoing war in Iran. Hotel rates are staying at near-summer levels, with much higher rates on football weekends in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City. So, while not cheap, seeing Iowa's historic barns and meeting their owners will still cost less than going to a ball game or museum in Chicago, Minneapolis or Kansas City.
IBF's glossy twice-a-year magazine is worth the $50 annual membership fee in itself. Technically there are no memberships, only "donations." That word, donation, has much to say about IBF itself. Here's IBF's Dave Austin, a professional photographer, who edits the magazine; "Iowa Barn Foundation is 100% funded by private donations. We don't receive any government agency funding grants. Since the barns that the Iowa Barn Foundation gives restoration grants to are on private property, they are not eligible for most public grants."
He continues, "As a volunteer-led non-profit, we have no employees, buildings, or vehicles.
This keeps expenses low so we can maximize funds towards restoration grants. Since 1997, we have given out $2.6 million in barn restoration grants to save over 300 barns."
If he could talk to you in person, he'd probably say, "in 1900, 39% of Americans lived on farms; today, fewer than 2% do - less than half the 5% in 1970." In short that means, IBF can't rely only on farmers or barn owners to further its work. By hosting free barn tours twice a year, IBF reaches people who appreciate the hard work that restoring a 100-year old barn entails.
Here are a few highlights of this fall's tour.
Several unusual barns are in or near West Union in Fayette County. There's the Fayette County Fair Rabbit & Poultry Barn at 504 S. Vine St., West Union. Built in 1921 as a show barn for cattle, it has 16 clay-tile sides. It received IBF's Award of Distinction, meaning it's at least 50 years old, and has been restored with original materials. Metal roofing is allowed.
A hundred years ago, Iowa had 200,000 barns. Of that, only about 250 were octagonal in shape, among the rarest of barns. A fine example is the Roberts Barn at 4715 Kansas Ave. SW, Iowa City. Built in 1883, it's also an IBF Award of Distinction winner, and is located on a Heritage Farm, a farm that has been in the same family for 150 or more years.
Closer to home, drive over to Duncombe to see the Mitchell Barn, 2723 255th St. Slated to be torn down by its owner, Matt and Libby Mitchell bought the 105-year-old barn and moved it two miles to their farm, where it was restored by friends, family and volunteers. An IBF grant helped cover some of the expenses. The barn has a bright future as a home for the Mitchell's livestock.
Ready to go? To see all barns open during the fall tour, visit www.iowabarnfoundation.org, click on the barn tour tab and a map showing all barn locations will appear.