Eighteen days from today, several people, departments and organizations will take part in moving a barn from the Xcel Energy property to the Cox property near the Sherburne County History Center Sept. 25. The Farm Friends barn is to be used as part of an agricultural education exhibit for kids.

The barn was donated by Northern Metal Recycling and NMR gave the Farm Friends organization a place to keep it until the final move. 

 Jean Johnson is spearheading the move and she signed a lease with the county  effective May 1 and has been feverishly getting all other requirements, permits, insurances and legalities in place since then.  

“We have a lot of support and hoping the move will generate donations to get the whole project going,” she said. “There has been never been a project like this and we aim to make this a place to go and to be a part of in our community.  Something good for agriculture and youth that is not for profit that can explain agriculture/farming along with soil and water conservation.”  

Thursday afternoon, several city staff, county commissioners, partners and organizers gathered to break ground on the Cox site across the road from the History Center. The barn move is expected to take a good amount of time and disrupt traffic as it travels from the east side of the industrial park along the frontage road before connecting to Hwy. 10 at Hancock Street. The parade will continue along Hwy. 10 and turn onto Edgewood Street to 27th Ave. SE.