See Kansas Barns with New Eyes 
After decades of use, followed by abandonment and neglect, old barns are becoming extinct. As few as two million may be left in the nation, down from six million in the 1930s. And with every downed barn, bits of the nation's story are lost.
In October 2008, the Kansas Barn Alliance (KBA) established an affiliated fund with the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation, Wamego, to memorialize and preserve the history and architecture of Kansas farms, particularly those old, iconic barns.
“The Kansas Barn Alliance was founded in 2006 as a not-for-profit organization,” said KBA President Sally Hatcher, Leavenworth. “Our goal is to preserve as much as we can while we can, including writings, newspaper articles, blueprints, maps, journals and the like, which shed light on the history and architecture of Kansas farms and barns.
Convincing owners that old barns can still be used for agriculture often spurs preservation, Hatcher said. A farmer in Leavenworth converted cow stalls to cement tanks where he raises tilapia. A filtration system collects nutrients from the fish water to hydroponically grow peppers and basil. In Phillips County, an old dairy barn is now home to alpacas, whose hair is harvested for wool.
The first step in saving these living history books is documenting the number of old barns. Last summer, the Kansas State Historical Society completed the Kansas Barn Survey, a statewide survey of historic barns. As a result, seven barns or agricultural structures were placed on the Kansas Register of Historic Places and were approved for submission to the National Park Service for placement on the National Register.
The project involved surveying approximately 315 barns, an average of three barns in each county. The survey required physical access to the barns to allow visual and photographic documentation of the exterior, and interior where possible. The survey is a means to identify the number and types of barns in our state and study their styles and construction in relation to settlement patterns and agricultural trends.
“The survey findings have helped us build a record of historic barns in our state,” Hatcher said. “Barns that are eligible for listing on the Kansas or National Registers of Historic Places are then eligible for heritage trust grants and preservation tax credits.
“Many owners don’t realize those old barns can be adapted for small-scale farming or that grants may be available to help. Rather than tear down an old barn for the antique lumber, we want to preserve as much of our state’s history as possible.”
The KBA offers memberships to barn enthusiasts to help document, preserve, and utilize Kansas barns. Membership dues are as follows:
Student - $10
Individual/Family - $30
Non-Profit Organization - $50
Patron - $100
Business/Contractor - $150
Benefactor - $500 and above
For more information about the Kansas Barn Alliance, to become a member, or to make a charitable donation, please visit http://kansasbarnalliance.org. You may also mail your check to the Kansas Rural Communities Foundation c/o KBA Fund at PO Box 25, Wamego KS 66547.
Upcoming Barn Events:
2009 Barn Fest – September 25 & 26; Barnes, KS
Barn Fest is a gathering of barn owners and those who value barns. Educational sessions on barn restoration will feature Trillium Dell Timberworks from Knoxville, IL; a barn tour will visit the only known Sears round kit barn in Kansas, a Benton Steele designed round barn, and much more.
For more information about or to register for 2009 Barn Fest, visit http://kansasbarnalliance.org/projectsbarnfest.php
