Friends of Ohio Barns

07/20/2026

A few images of the 2026 Timber Frame Leadership Camp last week. The camp is operated by the Light Foundation at Chenoweth Trails near Greenville, Ohio. It's currently in its eighth year and hosts a little over a dozen high school students from around the country for three days of timber framing education. Students work on a different project each year involving traditional mortise-and-tenon construction and other timber framing techniques. While in previous years campers erected structures, this year the objective was table-sized; something each student could take home.

Though the Friends of Ohio Barns is not directly affiliated with the camp, several of our board members support its efforts through sponsorships and by volunteering as instructors. We appreciate their assistance towards this noble effort and wish the Light Foundation continued success in its pursuits, timber framing or otherwise!

05/06/2026

Monday, May 11th, FOB Board Member Dan Troth will be giving a talk on preserving Ohio's historic barns for Design Ohio. Registration is $20 for non-Design Ohio members, or free for those with existing memberships. The meeting will take place at the Auditorium in the Columbus Main Library. More information can be found below!

We will be meeting at the Columbus Main Library in the Auditorium. There is a parking garage on the north side of the building. The 1st hour of parking is free and there is a minimal charge each hour thereafter. Bring your parking ticket inside to pay when you leave. Lunch will be catered!  So tha...

04/29/2026

Congratulations to our award and grant recipients from this year’s Ohio Barn Conference XXV! Two Barn of the Year awards were conveyed to barn owners featured on our tour. James, Jeff, and Aiden Woodruff of Woodruff Farms received the Agricultural Use award for their continued employment of the impressive three-bay bank-barn on their farm, which is now in its ninth generation of Woodruff ownership. This year’s Stewardship award was given to Dean Arnold and the Arnold Family Farm for the great care they have taken with their historic bank-barn. Also preserved on the Arnold Family Farm is a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, whose appearance remains much as it would have when it was still used for blacksmithing.

On Saturday, two organizations received Barn Conservation Grants from the Friends of Ohio Barns. The Red Riding Hood Rescue Project, an organization committed to the rescue, care, and advocacy of wolfdogs. Funds for the grant will go towards priming and painting their 1840s barn, which will be utilized as an educational center upon its completed restoration. The Hardin County Historical Society received the second grant. With the grant FOB has provided, the HCHS plans to restore and improve the barn doors on the gambrel-roofed ground barn preserved at their Agricultural Learning Center.

Thanks to all our members and donors for enabling us to provide these awards and grants to recognize and facilitate the preservation of Ohio’s historic barns! For grant information, please visit: www.friendsofohiobarns.org/barn-conservation-grant

04/27/2026

After two days of touring Washington County and one day of brilliant presentations, Ohio Barn Conference XXV has come to a close. Last Thursday kicked off the 2026 conference with a visit to several Marietta museums and landmarks, including Campus Martius and Mound Cemetery. From Ohio’s first planned city, attendees traveled in two buses across the undulating landscape of Washington County on Friday. Five barns comprised the tour this year, ranging in ages from 70 to nearly 200 years old. A study of their construction by our barn detectives revealed great insights into how farmers responded to this new Ohio Country and, too, how they adjusted to evolving agricultural practices. On Saturday, all gathered for a day of conference in Marietta. Six speakers offered their knowledge on timber framing, the history of Marietta and Washington County, and the impact of this region on the story of Ohio as a state.

Many thanks to all who made this event a tremendous success. It wouldn’t have been possible without our attendees, faithful FOB members, local heroes, and barn owners. We look forward to Barn Conference XXVI in Hardin County next year!

04/15/2026

Registration is now open for Friday-only attendance at the Friends of Ohio Barns 2026 Conference!

Join us for a full day bus tour featuring five historic timber-framed barns, each with its own story, craftsmanship, and connection to Ohio’s rich agricultural heritage. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience remarkable barns up close, enjoy fellowship with others who appreciate rural history and preservation, and be part of a memorable day in Washington County.

Reserve your spot and come spend Friday exploring some of Ohio’s remarkable historic barns with us! https://www.friendsofohiobarns.org/annual-conference