America’s agricultural economy is depressed; family farms are struggling to survive; barns are expensive to restore. Barns are being lost at an alarming rate—at least 1000 barns per year disappear forever from the Iowa countryside. Neglected barns must be rehabilitated now, before they are lost to the ravages of time and neglect.

Founded in 1997, the Iowa Barn Foundation is dedicated to preserving Iowa’s rural buildings, symbols of Iowa's early heritage. The Iowa Barn Foundation is an Iowa non-profit corporation with tax-exempt status under paragraph 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

The primary mission of the Iowa Barn Foundation is to educate the public about Iowa’s endangered barns and to provide barn restoration matching grants to help property owners restore their barns. In addition, property owners who use their own funds to restore or rehabilitate barns that would otherwise qualify for a matching grant are eligible to receive an Iowa Barn Foundation Award of Distinction. Take a look at some of the restored barns that have been featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 All-State Barn Tour.

The Iowa Barn Foundation, in keeping with its mission to preserve Iowa’s agricultural heritage, now accepts economically and financially self-sustaining farms and farmland. Through farm conservancy, these farms and farmland are saved in perpetuity for agricultural purposes according to the owner’s wishes.

We need your help to preserve Iowa’s barns! All of the funds to rehabilitate and restore Iowa’s barns come solely from private donations. Make a donation or become a member of the Iowa Barn Foundation today!

Looking for the perfect holiday cards or gifts? Check out the Iowa Barn Foundation Store.

Preservation Alerts

Watch this space for news about historic barns and other important agricultural buildings in Iowa that desperately need your help.

2008 Calendar of Events

June

Highway 30 Barn Tour and Picnic, Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, 2008

Twenty five barns will be featured on the Iowa Barn Foundation’s Highway 30 Barn Tour and Picnic, Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, 2008. This tour stretches from river-to-river across Iowa along old Highway 30 (a.k.a. the Lincoln Highway). The barns on this free, self-guided tour will be open both days between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The tour is dedicated to educating people about the importance of barn history and preservation. Many of the barn owners will have interesting displays. Many rural buildings along the once-busy highway have been demolished through the years, but some remain and hold their histories, which will be highlighted during the tour.

The Highway 30 picnic and barn dance, featuring the Barn Owls, will be held on Saturday evening in the Community Center at the Story County Fairgrounds in Nevada, Iowa from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. To reach the fairgrounds, turn off old Highway 30 at First Avenue in Nevada, and travel south to I Avenue. The cost of the picnic and dance is $10 per person (children are $5). Checks should be made out to the Iowa Barn Foundation and must be received by May 25, 2008. To make reservations, send your check made out to:

The Iowa Barn Foundation
c/o Roxanne Mehlisch
17590 730th Avenue
Zearing, Iowa 50278
(641) 487-7690

September

Eighth annual All-State Barn Tour, Saturday, September 20, and Sunday September 21, 2008

Many newly restored barns, along with many from last year's tour will be open to the public during the eighth annual All-State Barn Tour, Saturday, September 20, and Sunday September 21, 2008. This tour features barns all across Iowa that have received Iowa Barn Foundation matching grants. The owners of other featured barns have received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation, which honors those barn owners who have restored their barns using their own money.

The barns on this free, self-guided tour will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days. The Iowa Barn Foundation’s state-wide tour is the first of its kind in the United States.