Farm & Barn Tour Ag-Stravaganza

The A stands for Agriculture

And S.A.V.E.'s mission is aimed at the preservation of our rural heritage and community character, including the farmlands and the historic resources that make up our past, present, and future.

Long a twinkling in our eyes, S.A.V.E. has partnered with the Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania to organize a tour of area farms and historic barns on June 18th and 19th. The drive-yourself farm tour will represent the wide range of agriculture that calls southern Chester County home, including mushrooms, dairy, bison, equestrian and vineyards. The guided tour of historic barns in the area will highlight the architectural features of these structures and how their changes over time capture the history and development of the region. This two-day event opens with a special preview event on Friday, June 18th near Marshallton beginning with a tour at 5:30 p.m. of the Abiah Taylor barn, owned and restored by renowned preservation architect John Milner, AIA, and his wife Wynne. This tour will be followed by a barbeque dinner in a special nearby location, the historic barn at the Georgia Farm (listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Carter Worth house and farm) located on the Stroud Preserve of the Natural Lands Trust. As we enjoy dessert, we will be treated to a program by author and HBFF of PA director, Robert Ensminger, who will share his findings on the migration of the Pennsylvania barn and reflect on his research that has taken him across the Atlantic Ocean on the historic trail of these wonderful barns' origins. HBFF will hold its annual business meeting and election of directors.

Saturday's schedule begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at approximately 3 p.m. The guided historic barn tour will be devoted to touring five historic barns in southern Chester County, along with lunch at the London Grove Friends Meeting House and visiting the Penn oak tree. Farm tour participants will meet between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Routes 926 & 82 on the Willowdale Steeplechase grounds to receive their map and details of the day. Farm tour participants will drive themselves to each location on the tour and are responsible for their own sustenance. Lunch options will be provided in the materials. Further details for each tour will be mailed out upon receipt of ticket reservation.

Advance reservations by June 4th are required to participate in either or in both days' events. Tickets for both Saturday tour options will be limited so register early to avoid disappointment. Programs with event details and maps will only be provided to those who pre-register for the tour events.

Sponsors to date (May 4th) include:

• Narvon Builders LLC
• Hugh Lofting Timber Framing Inc.
• Landhope Farms
• The Yellow House at Willowdale

Partners:

• Land Conservancy of Southern Chester County
• Chester County Historic Preservation Network
• Chester County 2020
• Natural Lands Trust

Click to reserve tickets online before the June 11th deadline

Click for a list of local places to stay during Ag-stravaganza