The Farm Friends Barn Committee got one step closer last week to their goal of building a 40’x80’ agricultural structure at the Oak Savanna Park in Becker.

 

The barn is the future home of the Little Farm Hands program, an agricultural education exhibit for kids. Children become farm hands with hands-on exhibits as they are provided the opportunity to experience the agricultural process, beginning at the farm and ending at the market.

 

The Oak Savanna land was donated by Bill and Margaret Cox years ago with the ultimate goal of relocating the Sherburne County Fairgrounds there. 

 

At a workshop last Tuesday, project chair Jean Johnson approached the county commissioners about nailing down an actual site at the Oak Savanna, rather than just assuming there will be a spot for the building.

 

“It’s been 20 years since the Cox family began the process to donate the land for such uses,” she said. “We’d like property designated by the board so we can proceed with our plans to build the barn and to have an ag learning center on the property.”

 

Johnson said the group was asking for a five-acre site just southeast from the History Center across 27th Ave. A power transfer station is located just south of the proposed five acres. Johnson also asked for an additional 10-acre site to the north and east of the building site for temporary uses, such as farming demonstrations and other agricultural purposes.

 

“Nothing permanent would be put on that acreage,” she said. “But we would like the first five acres so we could proceed.”

 

The Farm Friends group recently received 501c3 non-profit status and has the ability to raise funds for construction of the building. But Johnson said without a specific site, it was difficult to get donations.

 

“We need the county to give us an area so that in our fundraising efforts we can explain to people where we’re going to build it,” she said.

 

So far, the group has raised about $27,000. The building is expected to cost just under $200,000.

 

Becker City Administrator Greg Pruszinske, who was also at the meeting, said the city hasn’t formally been approached by the group to seek assistance. But he felt the city would contribute in some way, possibly waiving permit fees and helping with water, sewer and utilities.

 

“On behalf of the City of Becker, we support this project,” he said. “We’re pretty excited about it. It’s a good use.”

 

Commissioner Rachel Leonard asked whether the county attorney had weighed in on the project.

 

“I figured there are a lot of hoops you would have to jump through,” she said.

 

“We can certainly structure an agreement based upon the county board’s direction,” said Sherburne County Attorney Kathleen Heaney.

 

Commissioner Felix Schmiesing said the county has already been through a similar process.

 

“This (agreement) probably wouldn’t look a lot different than our relationship with the History Center,” he said. 

 

Funds were raised to construct that building, which was donated to the county and leased back to the History Center.

 

Heaney said the next step was to sign a letter of intent, then sign a formal agreement when it was time to begin construction.

 

The commissioners took no official action Tuesday, but were in favor of designating a site.

 

That decision will follow during an upcoming board meeting.