By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Barn Preservation Network (MBPN) will host an annual barn tour during its conference March 13-14, which is in conjunction with Michigan State University’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week.

The March 13 tour will feature eight barns in the Okemos, Mason and Williamston areas. Stops will include the barn of MBPN member Maureen Sanders. A visit to the Meridian Historic Village will spotlight the 1870s Unruh barn, a restored building that is now used to showcase historical displays.

Tour-goers also will take a look at one of the buildings at the MSU Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Center and a llama barn in Williamston. The tour will continue to the 1880 Propst-McDonough Barn, a 2002 Barn of the Year award winner. During lunch at Snow’s Sugarbush, tour participants will have the opportunity to talk with barn contractor Harlan Whipple.

An evening dinner will feature the organization’s annual farm treasures fundraiser and will conclude with a showing of Kurt Kolaja’s documentary film, “Charlie Obert’s Barn.”

On March 14, the MBPN will convene at MSU’s Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center for its “Preserving the Past for Sustainable Future” conference. The event will feature a variety of workshops, including an illustrated talk on the origin and development of curved-rafter barns, techniques used in restoring heritage barns, details on the “domestication and greening” of the Jerry Damon barn house and an update on documenting the state’s remaining barns and farmsteads.

For those who want to learn about saving a specific barn, the Oakland Township Historical Society will provide “how to” tips. In addition, more than 30 exhibits will be on display, and owners of several Michigan barns will be honored for their efforts to maintain these buildings during an award luncheon March 14.

The keynote speaker will be Jerry Harte, who will share the peg-in-post fit of matching the cause of barn preservation with planning for the future.

The cost is $80 for the full conference. For members, the barn tour and lunch only is $35; the tour, lunch and evening dinner is $55; and the March 14 program only is $40. For non-members the full conference is $110; $45 for the barn tour and lunch; $85 for the tour, lunch and evening dinner; and $70 for the March 14 program.
To register, visit www.mibarn.net or send a check to: Michigan Barn Preservation Network, P.O. Box 614, Mount Pleasant, MI 48804-0614. Include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

Contact MBPN Board Member Vera Wiltse at 989-465-1216 for more information.