With commitments of major sponsorships from First Farmers Bank & Trust and Central Indiana Ethanol, the Greentown Lions Club will soon be relocating and restoring the last remaining round barn in Howard County currently located at 7649 E. Rd. 300 S.
The barn, built in the early 1900s by the Armfield Family and generously donated to the organization by the Moyer Family, will soon be relocated to the Howard County Fairgrounds in the Pioneer Village to mark the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the village exhibit at the Howard County Fair.
“Our organization feels that this historical building would make an excellent addition to Pioneer Village. More importantly, we feel that the barn relocation and restoration would further our goal of preserving and celebrating our shared local cultural history,” said Jason Kendall, President of the Greentown Lions Club.
Consistently the most popular attraction during the Howard County 4-H Fair, the Pioneer Village provides educational value to area schools and organizations. Numerous field trips and class educational efforts utilize the exhibit to better understand the cultural history of Indiana Agriculture.
The relocation and reconstruction efforts will be completed by Trillium Dell Timberworks from Knoxville, Illinois, who specialize in historical preservation and construction of timber frame structures.
Major sponsorship commitments have been secured from First Farmers Bank & Trust and Central Indiana Ethanol to aid in overall costs associated with structural renovation and relocation and a local fundraising campaign is underway to cover total costs estimated to be around $250,000. Local businesses or individuals interested in donating will be recognized by name in various designations and fundraising accounts are currently being accepted at all locations of First Farmers Bank & Trust.
“Our goal is to support the efforts of the Greentown Lions Club and add further value to the Howard County 4-H Fair. This project will allow us to maintain the historic integrity of a structure very unique to the area and help preserve the agricultural history of our community. We feel that this is an excellent way to provide an example of the “Hoosier Pioneer” way of life to our future generations,” said David Eikenberry, Chief Operating Officer of First Farmers Bank & Trust.
Jeff Harts of Central Indiana Ethanol added, “This is a perfect example of the community educational projects that CIE is committed to supporting. There is no better way to demonstrate ethanol’s role in the present and future of agriculture than by helping to preserve the history of local agriculture.”
