A workshop and tour for owners of historical rural properties, as well as barn & bridge enthusiasts has been planned by OSU Extension Educator Bonnie Norris of Preble County.

Good farmers know never to waste anything, including old farm buildings. However, knowing what to do with the building and how to go about repairing or refitting for a new use can create challenges. All across Ohio, barns built for different purposes and different times have been successfully renovated and reused. The same is true of the covered bridges that dot our rural landscape.

The Ohio State University Extension in Preble County is sponsoring a workshop and tour showing how you can preserve or re-use your agricultural buildings. Barn Again! & Bridges Too! will share practical solutions for maintaining and adapting your old barns or bridges for today’s needs.

The workshop will cover the history and structural technology of barns and bridges as well as economic incentives for restoration and property tax issues. Most importantly, barn renovators will share their experiences and point out local sources for know-how, labor, and materials.

Whether you are a farmer, barn owner, covered bridge enthusiast, or just someone interested in beautiful old structures.

Few engineering structures – indeed, few historic structures of any kind – captivate the American imagination like covered wood bridges.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Steve Bartels may write to him in care of this publication.