Released on = March 1, 2007, 5:36 pm

Press Release Author = Ric Beck, FOB President: 614-898-9461

Industry = Agriculture

Press Release Summary = The 8th annual Friends of Ohio Barns (FOB) Conference will
be held in Mansfield, Ohio on March 30, 31 and April 1 2007. This educational event
is cosponsored by FOB and Barn Again!. It has been designed for barn owners,
enthusiasts, trades people, and historians interested in the preservation of these
magnificent icons of Ohio agriculture.

Press Release Body = The 2 ½ day event will begin Friday morning with an all day
chartered bus tour and inspection of seven barns in the Ashland/Richland County
area. Saturday's activities will take place indoors at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield.
The conference will conclude Sunday with a guided tour of the historic barns and new
Visitors Center at Malabar Farm State Park.

Friends of Ohio Barns is a non-profit organization formed in 2001 to promote
awareness of the significance of Ohio's older barns. The urban growth and
development of our state coupled with the changes in agriculture practices, farm
downsizing, increased costs and lack of repairs has had a significant impact on
barns throughout the state. These factors are threatening the future existence of
our historic farm buildings.

The FOB quarterly newsletter, annual conference and website help keep members and
other interested individuals informed about practical and fiscally responsible ways
to conserve and maintain their barns. The organization helps bring barn stewards and
repair specialists together by working with other groups like the OSU Extension
Service, Barn Again! in Ohio, The National Barn Alliance and the Ohio Historical
Society.

The annual Ohio Barn Conference is held in different areas of the state each year
and has toured many magnificent and sometimes under appreciated barn structures.
Numerous folks have been enlightened by historians, trades people, and experts
knowledgeable in barn repair and preservation. This year's theme is "Ohio Barns
Built by the Trades" with special emphasis by experienced craftspeople who are
involved in maintaining the beautiful workmanship that originally went into building
the beautiful old structures that still dot the landscape.

Friday's optional day long bus tour of seven of Ashland & Richland Counties
wonderful barns will be hosted by two extremely knowledgeable and respected barn
repair, rehab design and construction professionals. Lunch that day will be at The
Mohican Gardens ,a greenhouse converted into a Restaurant for the day.

Presentations and activities Saturday will include: Keynote speaker Rudy Christian,
Photography of barns for pleasure and preservation, a wood identification contest,
Historic Barn Restoration by Tom Ambrose, Agriculture Easements by Katie Myers, Barn
Repair Tax Incentives, Political Support for Barns by Bob Gibbs, and hands on
demonstrations of barn repair and construction crafts such as Roofing, Lime Mortar
and Stonework by local craftsmen. The well respected Barn Detectives, Larry Sultzer
and Rudy Christian, will discuss what was seen and learned on the previous day's
barn tour. A Barn Repair Panel consisting of experienced trades people and FOB
members will field questions from the audience. Hands on demonstrations of typical
barn repair work will take place throughout the day. In the evening there will be a
silent auction, live entertainment and presentation of the Barn of the Year Awards.

One annual Barn of the Year Award is awarded for selected barns in each of two
categories, Continued Agricultural Use and Adaptive Reuse. Barn owners, barn
enthusiasts and historical societies throughout Ohio are encouraged to submit
nominations. Included should be as much information as is available: photos, current
owners name, location of the barn, present use, history of the old barn, age and
builder if known, as well as information on repairs made and on the individual(s)
who did the work. Deadline for nominations is March 10th, 2007. All info is to be
sent to: Dan Troth, Friends of Ohio Barns, 7591 Perry Rd., Delaware, Oh 43015 or
e-mail same with attached photos to dtroth@columbus.rr.com.

Sunday activities will begin with breakfast at Malabar Farm State Park. After which
barn topology expert Tim Anderson will explain who the local barn builders were and
how and why the types of barns in the Ashland area developed as they did.
Participants will then take a guided tour of the Park's barns and new Visitor's
Center. There will be over 100 barn photos and information concerning Ashland
County's recently completed barn survey on display in the Big Barn. Also included
will be progress reports from 3 other Ohio counties now in the process of
documenting their barn census. The conference will end prior to lunch Sunday.

Reservations for lodging should be made directly with the Holiday Inn, Mansfield
(Mention FOB to get conference rates) or with other local hotels. Please contact
Friends of Ohio Barns at their website http://ohiobarns.osu.edu for more information
and conference registration or send an e-mail to FriendsOhioBarns@aol.com.

P.O. Box 203 - Burbank, Oh 44214
FAX: 330-624-0501

Web Site = http://ohiobarns.osu.edu

Contact Details = Ric Beck, FOB President: 614-898-9461
Bob Rowland, FOB Vice President: 419-368-3803

Friends Of Ohio Barns
P.O. Box 203
Burbank, OH 44214

FAX: 330-624-0501