"The direct valuation of a farm is based in part on its buildings, so it makes sense to keep them in good condition. In addition, the local tax base is hurt when a barn is lost," says James Hayward, a Green Bay expert in the restoration of historic buildings. Hayward says that the majority of farmers want to know how to retrofit their buildings for storage or other use. New technology makes it possible to convert space for modern agricultural operations, while leaving the exterior intact. "When I'm driving by, I still see an old building, but inside the farmer has a new barn," he explains.

"A major goal of the Wisconsin Barn Raising Project is to highlight the array of barns that make the state of Wisconsin unique," says Chuck Law, University of Wisconsin-Extension's advisor to the Wisconsin Barn Preservation Program and Past-President of the National Barn Alliance.

Wisconsin boasts a wider variety of barn styles than most other states due to the diverse cultures and customs of the Badger State's early settlers. Italians, Welsh, Irish, Scandinavians, Polish, early Yankees, free blacks and escaped slaves contributed to Wisconsin's barn legacy. Vernon County, which claims the most round barns of any county in the United States, secured its reputation largely through the work of Algie Shivers, an African-American well-known in the Hillsboro community.

Architectural details on an old barn can often provide clues to its builders. For example, Germans were noted for their half-timber construction called Fachwerk, while Swiss barns had jutting pent roofs that sheltered cattle from the rain on stormy days.

Hayward cautions that Wisconsin's historic barns are in danger of disappearing. Each year, hundreds are taken apart piece by piece and the components sold to other states and countries for flooring and new construction. "Losing our barns would be the end of an era for Wisconsin," he says.