2022 Barn Winners
See pages 4 – 6 in the Spring 2022 Newsletter for stories about the winning barns.
American Boy Farms
Location: Cheboygan, MI (Cheboygan County)
Owners: Toni & Josh Johnson
Contractor: Perry Neuman
Distinguishing Features: Gothic-style with a unique arched roof formed by trusses made from 1”x4”s; iconic flag.
Year Built: Early 1940s
Category: Continuing Agriculture – Family
Use: Preserved and moved to new site for 5th and 6th generation
Weisberg Barn
Location: Milford, MI (Oakland County)
Owners: Matthew & Joan Weisberg
Restorer: JDS Historical (Dean Sutton)
Year Built: 1870s
Distinguishing Features: Cupola and “barn red” paint
Category: Adaptive Reuse – Family
New Use: Hangout for family & friends, exercising/workout space and storage.
Griffin Barn
Location: West Branch, MI at Ogemaw County Fairgrounds
Owner: Ogemaw County
Donor/Applicant: Family of Bob Griffin by his son Bob Griffin, Jr.
Year Built: Early 1900s
Distinguishing Features: 60’ x 40’ gable-roofed bank barn with hand-hewn beams
Category: Adaptive Reuse – Non-Profit
New Use: Community building in antique village at fairgrounds
The Olde Stone Porch Barn
Location: Ionia, MI (Ionia County)
Owners: Conley Family – Warren, Sharon and Kiel
Year Built: Two phases – 1850s and 1880s
Distinguishing Features: Gable-roofed barn on farmstead with unique brick and granite stone house
Category: Adaptive Reuse – Commercial
New Use: Wedding & event venue
Rochester Hills Museum at
Van Hoosen Farm
Location: Rochester Hills, MI (Oakland County)
Owner: City of Rochester Hills
Applicant: Patrick McKay, Museum Manager
Year Built: 1927 for Dairy Operations
Distinguishing Features: Glazed block exterior of barn and 2 silos
Category: Farmstead Adaptive Reuse – Non-Profit
Use: Local history museum complex with other preserved barns and milk house. Wedding venue and event rental.
Maxwell Farms
Location: Washington, MI (Macomb County)
Owners: Dr. Case & Peg Hoonhout
Year Built: 1930s for Grade A dairy operations
Distinguishing Features: Farmstead with main residence, several barns, carriage house, farm hand house, milk house and shop, all restored by the Hoonhout family over 40 year period.
Category: Farmstead Adaptive Reuse – Commercial and Family
Use: Stony Creek Veterinary Hospital and owner’s residence
Here’s How to Enter Your Barn
To be eligible, the barn must be in-use, either for continued agricultural use or adapted for other uses. Barns must retain their overall appearance — both in their interior and exterior barn characteristics.
Categories:
Award categories cover barns that continue to be used for agriculture and those that are adapted for other uses and whether the barn is family-owned or the project of a non-profit or commercial entity.
- Continuing Agricultural Use – Family (Private), Non-Profit or Commercial
- Adapted to Other Uses – Family (Private), Non-Profit or Commercial
Evaluation
Nominated barns are judged on (1) completeness of information presented in the application, (2) sensitivity and integrity of repairs or modifications, (3) visual appeal, (4) creativity, (5) thoroughness of work and (6) effort expended to repair and maintain.
Application Componets:
Four items are required for the submission:
- A completed application form
- A written narrative
- Photographs (24 maximum)
- A completed Michigan Barn & Farmstead Inventory
Submissions for 2023 will be accepted for 90 days beginning Nov. 1, 2022 and ending Jan. 31, 2023. Click here for sample application form.
For questions, contact the program chairman, Keith Anderson. E-mail: klanderson42@gmail.com or Mobile: 616-540-6701.
Past Awardees
A total of 101 barns from across Michigan have been recognized for their unique qualities and/or preservation efforts since the award program began more than a quarter century ago.
2021 Winners
Five barns were selected to receive recognition as Barn of the Year for 2021. Click on the barn name for more information.
Concordia Hills Barn
Location: Farwell, MI in Isabella County
Owner: Jeffrey & Michelle Thompson
Category: Family—Continuing Agriculture
Built: 1884 (date carved on SW gable end)
Most unusual feature: Never-painted siding
Current use: Storage of hay from working fields; future plans for “agritainment” – fall apple cider and spring maple syrup.
Eisenmann Barn
Location: Palmyra, MI in Lenawee County
Owners: Tom & Kathy Eisenmann
Category: Family—Adapted to Other Uses
Built: Circa 1850-60
Most unusual feature: Roof
Current use: Party barn; “man cave” with regular and antique tools/equipment; tractor storage.
Yellow Horse Farms Barn
Location: Pellston, MI in Emmet County
Owners: Tonya & Gus Boening
Category: Family—Adapted to Other Uses
Built: Late 1800s to early 1900s
Most unique feature: American flag added to S. exterior.
Current use: Special events and storage
Poor Farm Barn
Location: Maple City, MI in Leelanau County
Owner/Applicant: Leelanau County/Save the Poor Farm Barn, a project of the Leelanau Co. Historic Preservation Society
Category: Non-Profit—Adapted to Other Uses
Built: 1911
Most unique features: Early use of poured concrete, shawver truss system
Current use: Part of Myles Kimmerly County Park
Dickerson Barn
Location: Salem Township, MI in Washtenaw County
Owner: Salem Area Historical Society
Category: Non-Profit—Adapted to Other Uses
Built: 1830
Most unique feature: Oldest timber frame barn in Washtenaw County
Current use: Local history education in Jarvis Stone School Historic District
Click here for in-depth 2021 winner profiles.
Great Michigan Barns
These six “runner-up” barns in this year’s competition are deserving of recognition for their unique characteristics and history:
- Trails End Barn (Kalkaska)
- Applegate Barn (Grand Blanc)
- DeYoung Barn (Hudsonville)
- Lazy J Ranch Barn (Milford)
- Hattie & Emmet McCrumb Barn (Portland)
- Valdez Barn (Ann Arbor)
The preservation stories of these designated “Great Michigan Barns” will be featured in the MBPN Newsletter. Board members will personally deliver framed Certificates of Appreciation to the owners. (See a photo of the honored barn on each award plaque.)
Winner Database and Profile
Click here for database of Barn of the Year winners from 1997 to 2016. Also see showcase of winners from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.