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 2001-2008 All-State Barn Tours.

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.

2009 Calendar of Events

June

Northwest Iowa Barn Tour, Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, 2009

Fourteen Northwest Iowa barns, including a renowned and magnificent wooden round barn, will be on the Northwest Iowa Barn Tour on Saturday, June, 13, and Sunday, June 14. Carrie Jones, the Iowa Barn Foundation’s Osceola County Representative and member of the Iowa Barn Foundation board, has orchestrated this not-to-be-missed tour. The barns on this free, self-guided tour will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. Among the highlights of the Northwest Iowa Barn Tour is a complex and glorious round barn north of Algona, Iowa that was built in 1911 from a Horace Duncan design. Duncan, of Indiana, was one of America’s renowned round barn builders. This barn, still used for agriculture, remains in the same family that built it. It is believed to be the only one of Duncan’s round barns in Iowa. Also on tour will be Mennonite barns and a barn with a widow’s walk.

For more information about the tour, contact Roxanne Mehlisch (641) 487-7690.

September

Ninth annual All-State Barn Tour, Saturday, September 19, and Sunday September 20, 2009

Many newly restored barns, along with many from last year's tour will be open to the public during the ninth annual All-State Barn Tour, Saturday, September 19, and Sunday September 20, 2009. This tour features over 100 restored 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 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. The Iowa Barn Foundation’s state-wide tour is the first of its kind in the United States.

For more information about the tour, contact Roxanne Mehlisch (641) 487-7690.