The Big Woods State Park Dairy Barn will have a new home at Shepherd's Way Farms, in Nerstrand, Minnesota. Shepherd's Way is moving the 120 foot, 1930s dairy barn down the road four miles. Without Shepherd's Way, the barn would have been demolished. The rescued barn will become housing for 200+ lambs, replacing the lamb nursery that was destroyed in an arson fire January 2005.

Shepherd's Way Farms has already converted a 1940s dairy barn and the attached low barn into a sheep milking parlor, a cheese production room, and cheese aging room with a viewing hallway for visitors. Also on the farm is a two story granary from the 1900s.

The Farm's mission of outreach and education through demonstration is a good fit for the barn move and preservation. Shepherd's Way Farms has had hundreds of visitors and can serve as an example and resource for those interested in barn preservation and renovation.

The opportunity to move the barn came about quickly, with an extremely short deadline for completing the move to prepare the Big Woods site for reforestation and prairie restoration. Logistics for the move have been coordinated and the move is anticipated to take place by January 15th. Significant funding has been secured through individual loans and donations yet capital is still being raised to finance the preservation and move.

Visitors are welcome at the farm most Saturday mornings, 9 am to noon. The farm is located 7 miles southeast of Northfield, next to the Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Please email for directions.

Individuals or groups interested in the Big Woods Barn rescue may contact Steven Read and Jodi Ohlsen Read, Shepherd's Way Farms, 507-663-9040 or farmfriends@earthlink.net.
www.shepherdswayfarms.com

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