Ag Heritage Park:  Dairy Barn

Built in 1929, both wings of the original structure had two rows of 12 stanchions  used as holding pens for milking activities.  A small area off the connecting breezeway contained areas for straining, cooling and handling the milk. After each cow was milked, the buckets were manually carried from the milking area to the scales for weighing.  As one former student commented, "the milking process gave you a real workout."

This facility continued to be used as a milking barn until about 1948 when a new research unit was built in North Auburn; however, teaching activities continued on for many years.

No specific plans have been set yet, but the desire is to rebuild the Dairy Barn and silos with the same basic design while updating the interior areas to allow for flexibility in use and activities. In addition, we expect that many items from the Johnson Farm Tools Collection will be displayed in this building.

In May 2005, work began to revitalize the existing courtyard which serves as a temporary home for the brick project.  This work was provided as a student-driven landscape design experiment to be incorporated around both the Dairy Barn and the Herdsman's House.  Dr. Amy Wright worked with students to design appropriate landscaping that can be "re-invented" each semester as an ongoing outdoor design laboratory.  This new landscaping certainly enhances the beauty of the Dairy Barn.

A benefactor is needed to assist with reconstructing this wonderful building.