Awardees
MBPN recognized six barns and honored their owners at the Annual Conference held Feb. 29, 2020 at Kellogg Center in East Lansing. This year’s entries revealed fascinating stories of tradition, family, determination, rugged work ethic, diversity and love.
Click on the barn name to read the story.
MacKenzie Farm Barn
Location: Adrian (Lenawee County) in southeastern Michigan
Built: Early 1900s
Owner: Allan & Virginia Langenderfer
Category: Continuing Agriculture
Use: Farm tractor, machinery storage, tool room, family event space
Brandt Barn
Location: Bay City (Bay County) in Michigan’s Thumb area
Owner: Jennifer & Rebecca Brandt
Built: 1929
Category: Continuing Agriculture
Use: Equipment storage for cash crop operation, granary, tool room
Buck Barn
Location: Ludington (Mason County) in West Michigan
Owner: Donald Buck
Built: 1898-1908
Contractor: American Heritage Barn Preservation
Category: Adaptive – Family-owned
Use: Family celebrations and recreation; storage
Gierok Barn
Location: Rochester Hills (Oakland County) in southeastern Michigan
Owner: Rochester University
Built: Early 1900s
Contractor: JDS Historical (Dean Sutton)
Category: Adaptive – Nonprofit
Use: Historic farmstead on campus; storage & maintenance facility
Brunson Barn
Location: Glen Arbor (Leelanau County) in northern Michigan
Owner: National Park Service, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Built: c. 1900
Category: Adaptive – Nonprofit
Use: Tourism – Port Oneida Rural Historic Park; storage
Heritage Wedding Barns
Location: Shelby (Oceana County) near Silver Lake Sand Dunes in West Michigan
Owner: Samuel IV & Jennifer Stitt
Contractor: Great Lakes Barn Preservation
Built: 1892
Category: Adaptive – Commercial
Use: Wedding and event venue