Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn named a Michigan Barn of the Year

Photo of Steve Stier and Barbara Siepker by Linda Alice Dewey

From staff reports

The Michigan Barn Preservation Network (MBPN) has designated the Leelanau County Poor Farm Barn as a Barn of the Year. A dedication event will be held outside the barn on Thursday, May 20, at 4 pm. A plaque and sign will be presented to Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society president Steve Stier. The public is invited to attend.

According to the Preservation Society’s Laurel Jeris, this award will increase the visibility of the project and surely will be an important stop for visitors to Leelanau County who are interested in historic features and cultural tourism.

A panel of eight judges from the MBPN selected the Poor Farm Barn from 11 entries to be one of five to receive the distinction this year. “You can be justly proud of the results of your efforts in preserving this piece of our great agricultural heritage,” wrote the Network.

The Barn of the Year is MBPN’s top award and is for honoring barns and
their owners that best exemplify our mission of preserving these iconic
structures and our rich agricultural past.

Read our September 2017 feature story, “Leelanau County Historical Preservation Society forms to save Poor Farm barn“