University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis.-Barn owners and enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to learn about preserving rural structures at a workshop April 22-24 at the Heritage Farm south of Kewaunee. "Giving Old Barns New Life" is the first in a series of three workshops that focus on all aspects of preserving the rural structures in Wisconsin's countryside. Special tours on Sunday will feature restored barns and log homes in Door and Kewaunee Counties.

"We want to give folks who own these older buildings a chance to ask some basic questions," said Merritt Bussiere, Kewaunee County UW-Extension Community Development Educator. "Can they save it, salvage it, repair it or restore it? The experts gathered for this workshop can help building owners explore these sorts of questions and start thinking about the answers."

Workshop sponsors include Agricultural Heritage Resources and University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.

Jerry Sinkula, Executive Director of Agricultural Heritage Resources, is excited about resources that the workshop will offer.

"This is such a great workshop because it helps you define your problems and solutions. If you've got a barn or old building, this is where you will find all these resources in one place. You'll experience a number of projects from the basement to the roof and in between."

The workshop will begin on Friday, April 22, at 5 p.m. with registration and social time in a restored 1915 livestock barn and 1876 threshing barn. Dinner will feature a presentation by Jerry Apps, author of "Every Farm has a Story" and acoustic music by "Home Brew."

On Saturday, April 23, participants will tour the site of a 19th century farmstead that will be removed soon to make way for a quarry. The site contains a log house, barn and other out buildings, and will be the subject of a detailed case study on the many issues of saving, dismantling, moving or restoring a farm structure. The workshop will include the technical evaluation of structures, design and feasibility of reusing log and timber-framed structures, and safety and environmental issues. Participants will have many opportunities to interact with contractors and other presenters.

Afternoon sessions on Saturday will focus on a variety of topics including:

-- How to cable, straighten, level and jack structures

-- Working with county and local land use plans and regulations

-- Reusing material from farm structures in new construction and restoration

-- Dismantling and rebuilding log structures

-- Adaptive reuse of structures

-- Lumber re-sawing demonstration for reusing barn timbers

-- Repairing post and beam components and selecting replacement timber

-- Roof replacement options

-- Foundation repair and replacement options

On Sunday, April 24, optional tours include visits to barns and log homes in Door and Kewaunee Counties that have been successfully moved, restored, or put to adaptive reuse.

The cost of the Friday and Saturday workshop is $80 per person. The optional Sunday Tour is an additional $20; if you attend the Sunday tour without attending the workshop, the cost is $30. Registrants who attend the full workshop receive priority consideration for the Sunday tour.

Because this workshop is held at a restored farmstead with limited space, no more than 100 people will be able to attend. Participants are strongly encouraged to register early. A $20 portion of the registration fee will go to Agricultural Heritage Resources for the continued development and restoration of Heritage Farm. The Heritage Farm is a lovingly restored 1876 Bohemian farmstead that is frequently used as a community resource for events, activities and education.

For more information, contact Agricultural Heritage Resource at 920-388-0604 or by email to ahr@itol.com; or contact the Kewaunee County UW-Extension office at 920-388-7141 or email to tessj@kewauneeco.org; or visit the web site at http://www.wisconsinruralheritage.org .