OXFORD — On April 22-23, the public is invited to join the Friends of Ohio Barns for another educational barn adventure.

Friday April 22, kicks off the full conference package with a daylong bus tour through Butler County to see and explore some historic barns. The Andrew Lewis Farm is on the tour with original intact buildings and Indian mounds. An 1815 Sweitzer barn with a log crib barn on the same property will certainly impress. There are a couple barns with swing beams and timbers harvested from the same properties.

The Stander Barn is an 1825 all-hewn barn with t-auger mortices.

“We will even make a stop at the barn owned by the Oxford Museum Association on Brown Road,” FOB Secretary Sarah Woodall said in a press release.

“All are very early period barns with very interesting stories,” she added.

“Lunch will be at the Barn-n-Bunk Farm Market that has plenty to see as well, including the barn that has been adapted into an event center, and other timber frame buildings. There is always so much to learn from the Barn Detectives, Rudy Christian and Dan Troth, and other knowledgeable members about barn structures and the unique aspects of the barns chosen for this tour.”

Saturday’s conference will be a day filled with presentations, according to Woodall. “Oxford’s own Steve Gordon will be our Keynote speaker discussing how historic agriculture in Butler County influenced farm layout and barn design. Doug Reed, from Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, will try to answer the hard question ‘Why should I keep my old barn?’ using his 44 years of experience in historical architecture. Ed Creighton, whose barn is on the tour, will tell the history of the Andrew Lewis Farm, one of the most intact original farms in Butler County. Tom O’Grady will give a history lesson on the Ohio Canal system in the area and Ric Beck with local hero, Mike Wengler, will perform a post bottom repair on site at the Hueston Woods Lodge.

“And, of course,” she continued, “The Barn Detectives will follow up with their findings from Friday’s tour with a slide show and usual antics.

The 2016 Barn of the Year Awards will be presented during the lunch break and they will also hold their annual meeting.

Barn owners are encouraged to enter the barn in the contest.

“Find the form on our website to enter your barn to win the Agricultural Use, Adaptive Re-use or Stewardship Barn of the Year Awards. There will be exhibits and vendors along with the annual silent auction filled with interesting items and much more!” Woodalll said.

Friends of Ohio Barns is a 501c3 non-profit membership based organization created to promote awareness of the significance of Ohio’s historic barns through educational opportunities that bring together barn owners, barn lovers and folks who believe in the stewardship of Ohio barns.

Visit the website http://www.friendsofohiobarns.org for more information and to register online to attend the Ohio Barn Conference. Contact Woodall at [email protected] or Friends President Ric Beck at [email protected], 614-738-4302.