The Shipshewana/LaGrange County Convention and Visitors Bureau has partnered with the Indiana Barn Foundation to offer a public barn tour. The Indiana Barn Foundation Barn Tour will take place September 13th from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in LaGrange County. It is a self-guided driving tour featuring multiple barns, including two Amish homesteads, a Bison ranch, a honey farm and a Percheron horse barn. This rare immersive experience provides attendees a glimpse into the craftsmanship behind these iconic barns.
“This tour is a celebration of Indiana’s agricultural legacy,” said CVB Executive Director Sonya Nash. “It’s a chance for families, history lovers, and curious travelers to connect with the past and enjoy the beauty of Amish Country.”
Public Barn Tour Weekend
Pretty Valley Barn, one of the barns on the tour, will serve as the day-of headquarters for the event. Therein, attendees can enjoy photo opportunities, food trucks and more. Some of the locations included in the tour will have additional food for sale and portable restrooms will be available as well.
The schedule of events for the public barn tour weekend include:
Friday, September 12th:
- Free Off the Beaten Path & Barn Quilt Tour
- Straw Bale Art Trail & Autumn Adventures
- Brown Swiss Dairy Farm Open House
- Stutzman Dairy Farm Guided Tour
- “Painting Stories” Barn Quilt Workshop
Saturday, September 13th:
- LaGrange County Barn Tour from 10AM-5PM
- “Farm Girl Adventures” book signing by Cindy Ladage at Pretty Valley Barn from 10AM-12PM
Media Preview Day
A media preview day will take place Thursday, August 28th from 10AM-4PM. The media is invited to preview three of the featured barns: Cook’s Bison Ranch, The Pretty Valley Barn and Our Heritage Honey Farm. At Cook’s, media can speak with owner Erica Cook and learn about the rich history of this working bison ranch. The Pretty Valley Barn, owned by Steve and Deanna Engleking, was built in the 1940s to milk Jersey cows. Tours are available between 10AM-3PM of their barn, which features original concrete work, a mechanical gutter system and a granary. Our Heritage Honey Farm, owned by Jim and Deb King, is focused on pollinator preservation, sustainable agriculture and honey production. The media can tour it between 3-4PM. To attend, an RSVP is necessary by the end of day on August 27th.
Tickets
Barn tour tickets are $15 Indiana Barn Foundation members or $20 for non-members. Children 16 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online until September 12th at 5PM. Day of tickets can be purchased at Pretty Valley Barn, located at 2685 S 950 E. Pre-registered attendees should plan to stop in Pretty Valley Barn for their maps, wrist bands and collectible stickers.
To learn more and pre-register, visit https://indianabarnfoundation.wildapricot.org/event-6180406/Registration.