From Left to Right:
Judge - Curt Richter
Most Original Restoration & Most Dramatic Rescue Eric Lomen, Zumbrota, Goodhue County
Best Barn to Living Quarters Conversion Peter Thomsen, Crystal Lake , Blue Earth County
Best Non-Agricultural Adaptive Re-Use Steven Schussler & Sunhi Ryan
2012 BARN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Best Agricultural Adaptive Re-use:
Fred & Barbara Arnold Caledonia, Houston County
Runner up: Steve Crownover Cosmos, Meeker County
Best Non-Agricultural Adaptive Re-use:
Steven Schussler Eden Prairie, Hennepin County
Runner up: Wilbert Hahn Brownton, McLeod County
Honorable Mention: John & Cindy Haffner Eagle Bend, Douglas County.
Jerome & Sue Stangler Waseca, Waseca County
Best Barn To Living Quarters Conversion :
Peter Thomsen Crystal Lake, Blue Earth County
Most Original Restoration & Most Dramatic Rescue:
Eric Lomen Zumbrota, Goodhue County
Most Unique Barn
Anthony Borgheiinck Long Prairie, Todd County
FoMB would like to thank our Judges:
- Richard Jeffries of Oakhaven
- Curt Richter of Rustic Innovations
- Linda Pate - Historian/USACE Liason for MNDOT's Office of Environmental Stewardship
Share your love of barns and support our organization with a set of Barn Shadows note cards!
Click thumbnail images to view sample scenes.
- $10 per set of ten unique card designs and envelopes
- Two different sets of ten are available.
Mission
Our mission is to educate the public and raise awareness to the importance of historic barns and farmsteads in Minnesota, and to help advocate for barn preservation. We offer educational workshops and assist others in finding resources for preservation and/or restoration of historic barns and farmsteads.
Formerly operating as a barn preservation program under the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), and as a result of 2003 state budget cuts, a group of citizens volunteered on Saturday, October 11, 2003 to establish a new organization. An initial steering committee was formed to develop an organization and mission to continue the work started by MHS. In March of 2004, a general membership meeting was held in Chisago City to ratify our charter and bylaws to operate as a newly formed organization.
We currently operate with an all volunteer staff of nine Steering Committee members, and are solely supported by membership dues. Annual membership dues are $25 Individual, $35 Family, or $50 Organization. Dues may be paid by mail or online, using our secure PayPal cart.
Questions?
Friends of Minnesota Barns is an all volunteer organization. We often receive the same questions repeatedly. Please review our frequently asked questions page BEFORE emailing or calling us with any inquiries. Thank you!
We welcome your ideas and invite you to join us!!
