By Ken Francis, Staff Writer

 

A vintage barn may be one of the buildings on the future Farm Friends site near the Sherburne History Center in Becker.

Back in 2015, the board of commissioners designated five acres for the future construction of a 40’ x 80’ Farm Friends barn to educate youth about farming. At the time, there was talk about eventually moving the county fairgrounds to that site.

The Barn idea was based on the Little Farm Hands project at the MN State fair, where kids learn all about the process of farming, from growing crops to caring for livestock.

Since the board designated the land, the Farm Friends board and volunteers have bee raising funds to construct the barn. Their goal is $200,000, and so far have raised about $65,000.

But a new twist occurred this summer.

Jean Johnson, chair of the Farm Friends Barn board, said she heard about an old barn during an EDA meeting in Becker.

The barn is located on the Northern Metals Recycling site in the Becker industrial area.

“One of the city staffers mentioned the old University of Minnesota research barn on the Northern Metal land,” Johnson told members of the county board Tuesday.         “We reached out to the COO (Scott Helberg.) He gave it to the project on the condition that we get it out of the way soon. It’s on the construction site.”

The board was able to get a company to move the barn, which is now temporarily on beams until the final site can be prepared.

“Now we’re to the point we want to add this barn to the current plans of building a new building and have it as strictly for kids to experience an old barn,” said Johnson. “We want to put some of the displays in the old barn instead of the new barn.”

She was looking for the  county’s support to add the barn to the site.

“We think this is a pretty unique opportunity to educate our youth and keep that Sherburne County connection,” said Greg Pruzinske, a Farm Friends director and the Becker City Administrator. “We think there’s no better way to teach our youth about agriculture than a 1926 barn.” 

He said the project also has the Becker City Council’s support.

Former Commissioner John Riebel, also a Farm Friends Barn director, said it would generate more interest and enthusiasm.

“If we get this barn moved onto that property, people can actually see something being done. It may lead to more donations,” he said.

He said several vocational teachers have already expressed interest in remodeling part of the barn.

Members of the county board were in favor of the barn addition.

Administrator Steve Taylor said there is still site plan work and a lease agreement to work on before anything can be finalized.

Johnson said they probably have at least 90 days before the barn needs to come off the beams. In the meantime they will work on cost estimates and foundation issues.

Taylor said the county and the Farm Friends will continue to work together to try to get that accomplished.