LARGEST EVER GROUP OF BARNS TO BE FEATURED IN STATEWIDE TOUR
Ninety-two restored barns will be featured on this month’s statewide tour organized by the Iowa Barn Foundation.
Of the 92 barns, eleven are round barns. Six of these are part of the tour for the first time, including the round barn at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars. Pat Lehner is the caretaker of the fairgrounds, including the Round Barn. She says every once in a while, individuals or groups will request the barn be opened for a visit.
The Round Barn is well-used, but doesn’t need a lot of maintenance year to year.
This would be what the Iowa Barn Foundation would describe as a working barn, but for a different purpose. People coming to visit during the barn tour are mostly interested in the structure and workmanship of the Round Barn.
Wayne Frost, a spokesman for the foundation, says all 92 barns on the tour have received Iowa Barn Foundation grants. This is the Iowa Barn Foundation’s 24th fall tour, scheduled for the weekend of September 14th and 15th.
The Round Barn at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds was moved there in 1981 It was built in 1918 by H.A Tonsfeldt for his show cattle, and took three years to complete. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Iowa Barn Foundation web site has a complete list of the barns on the tour this weekend.
