Madison County is home to more than 10,000 barns, many of which were built more than 50 years ago. It comes as no surprise then that what began as a day of celebration is now an entire month of events commemorating the county’s agricultural heritage. The Appalachian Barn Alliance will partner with other organizations to host several activities in May.
Amateur and professional photographers and artists have been invited to display and sell their images of barns in The Barns of Madison County Exhibit on display May 6–30 at the Madison County Arts Center, 90 S. Main Street in Marshall. An opening reception is set for Friday, May 6, from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the public is invited to spend some time at Root Bottom Farm, 1201 E. Fork Road in Marshall, where Sarah and Morgan Decker grow root vegetables, fruit, and flowers.
The third annual Barn Tour Day will take place on Saturday, May 21, from 2:30–7:30 p.m. In addition to a barn tour, guests will enjoy a cocktail hour, music by Susi Gott and Marty Lewis, dinner catered by Chupacabra Latin Café, and both silent and live auctions. Led by Taylor Barnhill, the tour departs at 2:30 p.m. from a location announced with ticket purchase. Following the tour, the rest of the evening takes place at Steen’s Barn, 431 S. Main Street in Mars Hill. This year’s featured farmstead is home to James and Geneva Roberts.
Taylor will take guests to several barns and outbuildings (farm buildings that are not the main barn or house), pointing out many of the hidden clues that reveal the age and historical significance of the structures. “Most people think that all our barns are for tobacco, but the mountain history included a century of mountain farming before tobacco was grown here, so there are beautiful old log livestock barns to learn about,” says Taylor, researcher with the Appalachian Barn Alliance.
Tickets are only available in advance. Barn Tour tickets for the general public are $35 per person or $65 for two. Tickets for Appalachian Barn Alliance members are $30. For more information, visit appalachianbarns.org. (Photo by Steve Tweed)
