By Cindy Ladage

 On Aug. 13, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the Dekalb County Barn Tour will take place. Antique tractor collectors will enjoy the opportunity to see different types of barns in northern, Illinois. The 2022 tour will be in the Hinckley area in the eastern portion of the county.

Mark calendars and purchase tickets now for the tour, which includes several barns of various architectural styles. The DeKalb County Barn Tour has been a combined effort of and partnership of DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association and Glidden Homestead for the past six years.

Jessi LaRue shared that they started the barn tours in 2014. “We took a break in 2020 due to COVID-19.”

When asked what to expect on the tour, LaRue said, “The DeKalb County Barn Tour is a wonderful glimpse into what farm life is all about. Visitors will see how hard farmers work, and how dedicated they are to what they do. For many visitors, it is their first time in the country or seeing the inside of a barn.”

There is a selection process for the barns. LaRue explained, “We start by focusing on one particular area of DeKalb County, and try to find barns that are near each other, which makes the tour a manageable road trip for the day.”

Next, she said, “We look for barns with unique characteristics, history and a good story. A lot of the charm and character comes from the barn owners themselves, who are an integral part of the day. They share the family history of their property and answer a lot of questions from visitors. Each barn is completely unique and has a fascinating story and history waiting to be discovered.”

For those budding photographers out there, she added, “This is also a great event for photographers. There are many gorgeous photo opportunities between the barns, fields, livestock and more.”

The money from the $10 tour goes toward agricultural preservation. The funds are used in part for the historical Glidden barn and other heritage projects. LaRue shared, “The DeKalb County Barn Tour is a joint fundraiser for the Glidden Homestead & Historical Center, as well as the DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association (DAAHA.) DAAHA is dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing with people of all ages the storied history of agriculture and its innovators in northern Illinois.”

For those that don’t know about the unique history of the Glidden family, she added a bit of history about this fascinating place that is also open for tour. “The Glidden Homestead is the home of barbed wire inventor Joseph F. Glidden. The property holds two sites on the National Historic Register: the home and the barn where Glidden invented his wire. This event greatly benefits both organizations and raises funds for operational expenses and educational purposes.”

Opening Day for the Glidden Homestead is June 12. On their website they share, “We will be open 12-4 p.m. Stop by to tour the homestead and barn and see blacksmith demonstrations. For more information about this historic site, log onto www.gliddenhomestead.org.

LaRue invited everyone out to see the amazing barns. “The DeKalb County Barn Tour is an excellent way to spend a day in the country and enjoy the rich history and beauty of DeKalb County, Ill. You support two wonderful non-profit organizations at the same time.”

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.dekalbcountybarntour.com.