TODAY ON AGDAY
JULY 4, 2017
HEADLINES
ICONS IN AG -- AND GREAT AMERICAN BARNS. TOUR A PALACE OF CORN IN SOUTH DAKOTA. PLUS, PRESERVING THE BARNS OF INDIANA--ONE BRUSH STROKE AT A TIME. WE’LL TOUR A TOBACCO BARN RICH IN KENTUCKY HISTORY. CORNER A ROUND BARN STILL FINDING ITSELF USEFUL AFTER DECADES ON THE JOB. AND SEE HOW A MICHIGAN CRAFTSMAN IS HELPING THESE FALLEN HERO’S SERVE ON FOR OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS. AGDAY-BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEPENDABLE, LONG LASTING CHEVY SILVERADO.
CORN PALACE
GOOD MORNING I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. AS A WAY TO ATTRACT SETTLERS TO MOVE TO THE ROLLING PLAINS OF THE DAKOTAS, THE TOWN OF MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA BUILT THE WORLD’S ONLY CORN PALACE IN THE LATE 1800’S. NATIONAL REPORTER BETSY JIBBEN SHOWS US THE HISTORY OF THE ICONIC PALACE AND INTRODUCES US TO THE LONE FARMER WHO SUPPLIES THE CORN FOR IT. STANDING TALL IN THE HEART OF MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA SITS THE WORLD’S ONLY CORN PALACE. TRUE TO ITS NAME, THE BUILDING IS DECORATED WITH CORN INSIDE AND OUT. “ALL OF OUR DECORATING IS DONE WITH COLORED CORN, AND RYE GRASS AND EVEN SOUR DOCK WHICH IS A WEED WE DRY OUT FOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE PALACE,” “THE FIRST MITCHELL CORN PALACE WAS BUILT JUST THREE YEARS AFTER SOUTH DAKOTA BECAME A STATE, WHEN THE CITY WAS JUST 12 YEARS OLD,"> THE PALACE HAS QUITE A HISTORY. FIRST BUILT TO BOOST THE CITY IN 1892, IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH SURROUNDING TOWNS.. WITH THE HOPES OF ATTRACTING TRAVELERS AND SETTLERS. THE WHOLE STRUCUTRE WAS BUILT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.. BUT THE CORN DETAIL CHANGES YEAR AFTER YEAR. “LOOKING BACK AT THAT HISTORY IN 1892, THERE WAS A LOT MORE STRAW VEGETATION AND LESS CORN. THE PALACE WAS MADE OUT OF WOOD BACK THEN, NOT BRICK,"BEHIND A PALACE SO RICH IN HISTORY.. IS ONE GROWER WHO IS IN CHARGE OF SUPPLING IT ALL. “YEP, I’M IT. I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO GROWS THE CORN FOR THE CORN PALACE,"JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN, WADE STRAND GROWS ALMOST A DOZEN VARIETIES OF COLORED CORN FOR THE PALACE CALLED OPEN POLLINATED FLINT. HE EVEN SUPPLIES THE RYE. HE GOT THE JOB AFTER A FAMILY MEMBER WHO SUPPLIED BEFORE.. APPROACHED HIM TO HELP. “WE PLANT IT AFTER OUR REGULAR CORN IS PLANTED, JUST BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF IT FREEZING OFF. IT’S NOT AS HARDY UNLIKE NEW VARIETIES WITH COLD TOLERANCE AND WE WANT IT TO POP UP AND GROW FAIRLY QUICKLY ONCE IT DOES GROW,"AS STRAND HARVESTS THE CROP, IT’S SEPERATED DURING HARVEST AND TAKEN TO THE CORN PALACE TO BE STAPLED ON BLACK TAR PAPER. “BEHIND US, YOU WILL SEE THE TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE INSTALLING THE CORN. THESE TWO ARE FULL TIME MANTAINCE. IT WILL TAKE THEM 2 MONTHS TO JUST DO THE CORN,""THEY WILL CUT THE CORN IN HALF. WHEN THE CORN GETS A LITTLE DRIER, THEY WILL SOAK IT IN OCTOBER,"AS THE MURALS CHANGE WITH THE HARVEST SEASON.. STRAND HAS A DIFFERENT BUT BIG JOB TO DO.. IN ORDER TO KEEP A PIECE OF HISTORY THRIVING FOR YEARS TO COME.. “I’VE BEEN DOING IT SO LONG ITS JUST PART OF THE EVERYDAY DEAL,” REPORTING IN MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA. I’M BETSY JIBBEN.
POTATO CHIP BARN
IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, CHANCES ARE YOU HAVE GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO YOUR FARM OR HOUSE BY USING LANDMARKS AND NOT STREET SIGNS. A GREAT AMERICAN BARN IN PORTLAND, MICHIGAN HAS SUCH A JOB. THIS BARN AND SILO ALONG OLD HIGHWAY 16 JUST WEST OF LANSING MICHIGAN HELPS PROMOTE THE ‘NEW ERA’ POTATO CHIP BRAND. THAT WAS A REGIONAL BRAND OF CHIP FIRST MADE IN DETROIT MICHIGAN IN THE 1920’S. THE
COMPANY’S LOGO WAS THE BLACK SILHOUETTE OF A THIN WOMAN, SEEMING TO IMPLY THAT CHIPS WERE NOT FATTENING. ‘NEW ERA’ PAID BARN OWNERS TO PUT THIS CLEVER MARKETING TOOL ON THEIR PROPERTY. THIS ONE - NEAR PORTLAND, MICHIGAN - SITS ALONG-SIDE WHAT WAS ONCE A BUSTLING ROAD. IN FACT IT WAS THEEE MAIN THOROUGHFARE BETWEEN LANSING AND GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN. FRITO-LAY PURCHASED NEW ERA IN THE 1950’S. PREVIOUS OWNERS RE-PAINTED THE NEW ERA BILLBOARD FOR ITS NOSTALGIC VALUE. THE BARN IS NOW OWNED BY CHRIS SMITH WHO FARMS IN THE AREA. HE USES IT TO STORE STRAW BALES. CHRIS TOLD US HE STILL USES THE BARN TO GIVE DIRECTIONS TO HIS FARM. OUR THANKS TO CHRIS SMITH FOR SHARING HIS GREAT AMERICAN BARN.
TEASE
STILL TO COME - TOBACCO WAS ONCE A MAJOR CASH CROP IN THIS COUNTRY. THE OLD BARNS USED TO CURE THE LEAVES ARE STILL A SIGHT TO SEE. PLUS WE MEET AN ARTIST ON A MISSION - TO HELP MAINTAIN INDIANA’S FARMING HERITAGE - ONE BARN AT A TIME. GET THE ROOTS YOUR CROPS NEED, BY GETTING RADIATE FIRST. VISIT LOVELAND PRODUCTS.COM SLASH RADIATE. SEE YOUR CPS DEALER TODAY.
BARN PAINTER GWEN GUTWEIN
WHEN YOU SAY YOU’RE PAINTING A BARN, PEOPLE MAY ASSUME YOU’RE SIMPLY SLAPPING A FRESH COAT OF PAINT ON THE AGING EXTERIOR. BUT FOR INDIANA ARTIST GWEN GUTWEIN, HER PAINTWORK INVOLVES CAREFUL RESEARCH AND A LIGHT TOUCH OF THE BRUSH. A DECADE AGO SHE SET A GOAL TO PAINT AT LEAST ONE BARN IN EVERY INDIANA COUNTY. IT’S HER WAY OF KEEPING HERITAGE BARNS ALIVE. AN OCTOBER-SKY BACKDROP....AND A WATER-FOUNTAIN SERENADE - SETTING THE MOOD FOR INDIANA ARTIST GWEN GUTWEIN.” I TRY TO PAINT EITHER FIRST THING IN THE AM, TO CATCH EARLY MORNING LIGHT ON THE BARN, OR LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN LIGHT IS LONG."WITH BRUSH & PALETTE - AND KEEN EYE - GWEN IS RE-CREATING INDIANA’S BARNS ON CANVAS. HER TEMPORARY STUDIO MOVES FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY IN INDIANA - 92 IN ALL. " I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF OUR BARNS. BEING AN ARTIST, I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING I COULD DO TO GIVE BACK AND TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE DEMISE FACING OUR BARNS."WITH A MISSION IN PLACE, GUTWEIN SET-OUT TO CAPTURE THE CHARACTER -- THE AGED TIMBER... THE HARDENED HINGES... AND THE WEATHERED FACADE OF BARNS THROUGH OUT THE STATE. " THE BARNS REFLECT INTEGRITY, THEY REFLECT INGENUITY, CREATIVITY, BEAUTY, HAHAA. “WITH PHOTOS IN HAND, GUTWEIN IS FINALLY READY TO PAINT. SHE PREFERS TO WORK ON LOCATION - A PRACTICE KNOWN AS PLEIN-AIR (PLEN-AIR) PAINTING. " I LET THE BARNS TELL ME HOW TO PAINT THEM. BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING I HAVE MY PERSONAL APPROACH LIKE EVERY ARTIST...."SO I CAN CAPTURE AND THE MOOD THAT SURROUNDS THE BARN."> AS IF TRAVELING TO EVERY COUNTY OF THE STATE WEREN’T ENOUGH, GUTWEIN WANTED TO DO MORE. THREE YEARS AGO GUTWEIN HELPED CREATE THE NON- PROFIT INDIANA BARN FOUNDATION. IT TRIES TO EDUCATE THE NON-AG PUBLIC ON THE VALUE OF THE STATE’S AGING BARNS...A VALUE THAT BARN OWNER KATHLEEN NICHOLS MIGHT CALL PRICELESS. “WE ALL WANT TO GO BACK AND REMEMBER WHEN LIFE WAS SIMPLER. WHEN WE LIVED OFF THE LAND AND DIDN’T SPEND ALL DAY ON OUR CELL PHONES.”. > GWEN CALLS THIS ENDEAVOUR A “SELF INFLICTED” PROJECT - A WAY TO ENRICH HER OWN LIFE AND FOR THOSE WITH AN APPRECIATION FOR HISTORY. “WHAT IS ABOUT BARNS THAT YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT” "..."THE BIGGEST THING BARNS ARE SUCH A PART OF OUR HERITAGE AND WE’RE LOSING THEM. AND IF WE LOSE THEM, WE CAN’T GET IT BACK. IT’S GONE. " BUT GUTWEIN’S CAMPAIGN HOPES TO LIMIT THOSE LOSSES BY GUARANTEEING A LASTING IMAGE. THE PROMISE GOES BEYOND CANVAS AND OILS BY RE-CONNECTING A YOUNGER GENERATION THAT IS NOW FURTHER REMOVED FROM AGRICULTURE THAN EVER BEFORE. “I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE YOUNGER GENERATION BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE BARNS. BECAUSE IF A PERSON DOESN’T HAVE A CONNECTION TO SOMETHING IN ANY WAY, THEN THEY DONT’ SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATION. "..PRESERVATION....AND GIVING PAUSE TO THOSE SEEKING PEACE AND TRANQUILTY...ON THE FARM. “THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO SIT AND JUST REMEMBER HOW IT IS TO HAVE A GENTLE LIFE. AND THAT’S HOW I LIVED HERE....I LIVED A GENTLE LIFE.” ..A GENTLE LIFE INDEED.... GWEN HAS ACCOMPLISHED HER MISSION, REACHING ALL 92 COUNTIES. IN MOST CASES, IT WAS TWO BARNS PER COUNTY BUT SHE TACKED ON A FEW ADDITIONAL BARNS FOR GOOD MEASURE..... TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.
TEASE
LATER ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF AGDAY WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE OF THE BARNS THAT GWEN CAPTURED ON CANVAS. ITS UNIQUE SHAPE CREATES UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OWNER.
KENTUCKY TOBACCO BARN
KENTUCKY’S AGRICULTURAL HISTORY IS RICH. TOBACCO WAS THE STATE’S LEADING CASH CROP IN THE 19TH CENTURY. BUT AS TIMES HAVE CHANGED, SO HAVE THE CROPS KENTUCKY FARMERS GROW. TOBACCO ACRES STEADY ON THE DECLINE SINCE ITS PEAK IN THE 1980S. BUT TODAY, TOBACCO BARNS STILL STAND, WITH MANY STILL IN USE. TYNE MORGAN TAKES US TO KENTUCKY TO SHOW US ONE TOBACCO BARN STILL STILL TURNING OUT MEMORIES TODAY. PERCHED ON GROUND JUST SOUTHEAST OF HOPKINSVILLE, STEVE BOLINGER IS PRESERVING A PIECE OF HIS FAMILY’S HISTORY... THIS IS AN OLD DARKFIRFED BARN THAT WAS PROBABLY BUILT IN THE 50S AND 60S IT WAS USED FOR DARK FIRE PRODUCTION, BUT NOW WE USE IT FOR BURLEY. IT’S STILL IN USE HERE EVERY YEAR> BUILT BY HIS GRANDFTHER, THIS BARN’S ROOTS ARE IN DARK FIRING TOBACCO.. A PROCESS WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS. FOR DARK FIRE PRODUCTION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TIGHTER BARN, THIS IS AN OLDER BARN, A LITTLE LOOSER, A FEW PLANKS MISISNG, SO FOR BURLEY, YOU WANT AIR VENTILATION. YOU WANT VENTILATION ON THE TOP, DIAMOND CUTS ON THE SIDE, IT’S MADE TO LET AIR INAND CURE. IT HAS TO CURE IT> TODAY, 70 PERCENT OF THE NATION’S BURLEY TOBACCO IS KENTUCKY GROWN... BORN IN THE U-S IN THE 1800S, IT’S A PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY BOLIINGER KEEPS ALIVE EACH YEAR. BURLEY MOST TIMES WE’LL CUT IN AGUSIT, IT’LL DRY OUT PROBABLY BY NOVEMBER, OCTOBER, YOU CAN START TAKING IT DOWN AND STRIP IT. YOU’LL PUT ABOUT 5 OR 6 PLANTS PER STICK. YOU BRING IT TO THE BARN. THE STICK ACTUALLY HANGS BETWEEN THIS WAY.RAISING BURLEY AND DARK FIRED TOBACCO TAKE TIME, IT’S DARK DARK FIRE CURED TOBACCO THAT’S MORE OF AN ART, GIVING THE TOBACCO A DESIRED SMOKY FLAVOR. . DARK FIRE PROCESS IS TALTALLY DIFFERENT. DARK FIRE YOU CUT IT AND LET IT WILT. YOU HANG IT IN TEH BARN. YOU’LL PACKK SLABS... YOU PUT SLABS DOWN AND PILE SAW DUST PROBABLY KNEE DEEP. YOU’LL LIGHT SEVERAL FIRES PER ROW AND IT’LL SMOKE FOR A WEEK OR TWO. AND YOU’LL DO IT 2 TO 3 IDFFERENT TIMES AND IT PUTS A FINISH AND SLICK LOOKING SHINE ON IT. IT HEATS IT AND CURES IT IT’S MORE OF A HEAT CURED TOBACCO VERSUS AN AIR CURED. BOLINGER SAYS THE ART COMES FROM THE FLAMES... IF IT’S TOO HOT, THE PROCESS CAN RUIN THE TOBACCO. BUT IF IT’S TOO COOL, THE CROP WILL ROT. THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE THAT COME BY AND SAY YOUR BARNS ON FIRE BECAUSE YOU’LL SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF HTE EAVES. AND IF YOU’RE NOT FROM THIS AREA THEY’LL THINK IT’S ON FIRE AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S ONFIRE. BOLINGER SAYS DARK FIRING TOBACCO ISN’T EASY. OVER THE YEARS, IF TOO MUCH AIR CREPT INTO THE BARN, IT CAUSED UNCTROLLABLE FIRES. AS A RESULT, HE LOST THREE BARNS FROM FIRE OVER THE YEARS. THAT’S WHY NEWER BARNS ARE MADE OF METAL AND BUILT TIGHT WHERE LITTLE AIR CAN GET IN. WITH EIGHT BARNS IN USE TODAY, HE SAYS EACH STRUCTURE GEST USED TO ITS FULLEST CAPACITY. IF YOU WERE PUTTING DARK FIRE IN TEH BARN, IT’LL PROBABLY HOLD 2.5 TO 3 ACRES. MAX. BURLEY PROBABLY HOLD AN ACRE AND A HALF BECASUE BURLEY YOU SPREAD IT OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER SO AIR CAN GET INTO IT AND CURE IT. BUT DARK FIRE IS ABOUT 8 INCHES BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEAT TO KEEP IT FROM ROTTING> NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF CURING PROCESS HE’S USING, BOLINGER SAYS EACH OF HIS OLD BARNS REQUIRE T-L-C. I’VE HAD TO PUT SOME POSTS IN IT AND POLES IN IT TO HANG THE TOBACCO ON, BUT, IT’S AN OLD BARN AND BOLINGER HOPES IT’S THESE AGING TIMBERS OF HIS KENTUCKY TOBACCO BARN THAT PLAY A ROLE IN THIS FARM’S STORY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
TEASE
THANKS TYNE. NEXT WE VISIT AN IMPRESSIVE BARN IN NORTHERN INDIANA THAT STANDS AS A TRIBUTE TO TRUE CRAFTMENSHIP. AND MEET A CRAFTSMAN WHO GIVES NEW LIFE TO BARN WOOD.
CALLOWAY BARN
WHEN CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BARN WAS UNDERWAY, HENRY FORD HAD JUST DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT OF AN ASSEMBLY LINE FOR HIS MODEL-T CARS. BABE RUTH PLAYED HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME. AND WOODROW WILSON WAS PRESIDENT. THE YEAR WAS 1914. THE BARN STILL STANDS TODAY. HARVEST-READY CORN WAVING HELLO - TO AN OLD FRIEND. THIS CLASSIC INDIANA ROUND BARN, DRAPED IN HUES OF RED AND GREEN, JUST CELEBRATED ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY LAST YEAR. " WE’RE KIND OF LIKE THE OLD MCDONALDS FARM. WE HAVE THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.” JERRY AND PHYLLIS CALLOWAY HAVE LIVED ON THIS FARM FOR A HALF CENTURY. BUT IT’S BEEN IN THE FAMILY SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. “WE LOVE WHAT WE DO. FARMING IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR US. IT’S NOT A JOB. IT’S A WAY OF LIFE.” > THIS BARN IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE FARMSTEAD. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1914 AND FINISHED THE FOLLOWING YEAR. EIGHT LABORERS BUILT IT FROM THE GROUND-UP - 80 FEET IN DIAMETER AND 54 FEET FROM THE BASEMENT FLOOR TO THE PEAK. AND IT’S THAT PEAK - A SELF SUPPORTING ROOF - WHICH WAS AN ENGINEERING MARVEL FOR THE TIME. IN THE BEGINNING A CUPOLA - SIMILAR TO THIS ONE - SAT AT THE PEAK. BUT IT THREW THE BALANCED ROOF OFF KILTER AND IT PARTIALLY COLLAPSED. THEY WENT AROUND AND PUT SUPPORT POSTS IN.ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL BARN ALLIANCE, THE STATE OF INDIANA BOASTS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF EXISTING ROUND BARNS IN THE COUNTRY....ABOUT 80. BUT MOST ARE NOT USED IN MODERN AGRICULTURE. THAT’S NOT THE CASE FOR THE CALLOWAYS WHO STILL HAVE LIVESTOCK IN THE LOWER LEVEL AND FARM EQUIPMENT AND A SILO UP ABOVE. “EVERYBODY THINKS THEY’RE UNHANDY BUT ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT, IT’S NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN A SQUARE BARN."THE ROUND STYLE BARNS STARTED GROWING POPULARITY IN THE EARLY 1900’S. THOUGHT TO BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR FEEDING AND MILKING DAIRY HERDS. BUT THEY WERE ALSO MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD. AND BY THE END OF THE 1930’S, THEY FELL OUT OF FAVOR. “OLD BARNS ARE DWINDLING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN USE. THIS IS A WORKING ROUND BARN. A WORKING BARN PERIOD. "...A WORKING BARN.... THAT REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION... “HOW IMPORTANT IS UPKEEP ON THIS BARN. WELL IT’S 100%. IF YOU DON’T DO THE UPKEEP, YOU’LL BE GOING THE OTHER WAY REAL FAST.” PERHAPS A RELATIVE TERM FOR AN AGING STRUCTURE MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD. BUT UNDER CALLOWAY’S CARE, THE FUTURE IS PROMISING. “BECAUSE IT’S A FAMILY HERITAGE. AND IT’S SOMETHING WE CAN PASS DOWN TO OUR CHILDREN. AND HOPEFULLY THEIR CHILDREN IF THEY MAINTAIN IT."DELIVERING ON A PROMISE....PRESERVING A CLASSIC BARN....UPHOLDING HOOSIER HISTORY...INSIDE THE BARN, THERE’A WOODEN SILO THAT THE CALLOWAYS STILL USE TO STORE SILAGE FOR THEIR LIVESTOCK. IT’S MADE FROM WOOD PLANKS, HELD TOGETHER WITH BANDS. JERRY SAYS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, HE SWORE HE’D NEVER FILL IT AGAIN. BUT THEY KEEP FILLING IT AND USING IT.
TEASE
UP NEXT - BARN PRESERVATION IS NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL. AND WHEN IT’S TIME TO BRING IT DOWN, THERE’S AN CRAFTSMAN IN MICHIGAN WHO’S READY TO GIVE THAT OLD TIMBER A SECOND CHANCE.
IN THE COUNTRY
IN THE COUNTRY - SPONSORED BY KUBOTA’S FULL LINE OF FIELD-PROVEN HAY TOOLS. EXPLORE THE FULL LINE UP AT KUBOTA.COM. OR VISIT YOUR LOCAL KUBOTA DEALER TODAY. TRAVEL THE COUNTRYSIDE AND OLD DELAPIDATED BARNS DOT FIELDS AND TREELINES--STANDING AS SKELETONS OF DAYS GONE BY. IN MICHIGAN THERE’S A MAN WHO SEES THESE FAILING STRUCTURES AS POTENTIAL FUTURE HOMES FOR OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS. WEATHERED AND WORN. THIS BARN IS JUST ONE STRONG-WIND AWAY FROM FINALITY. BUT HIDDEN IN THIS MASS OF TERMITES AND TIMBERS ARE PLANKS OF PROMISE. JOHN GUERTIN FOUND HIS CALLING IN OLD BARNS....SALVAGING BARN LUMBER THAT’S BEEN RAVAGED BY THE ELEMENTS AND TIME. AND SLATED FOR DEMOLITION. SAW THESE OLD BARNS FALLING DOWN. THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NOTEWORTHY THING TO SAVE THEM FOR A BETTER PURPOSE. . . . AND THAT PURPOSE? TURNING BARNS INTO BIRDHOUSES. AND CREATING A BUSINESS A LONG THE WAY. IT’S MORE THAN JUST A STRUCTURE OF BEAMS AND SHINGLES. IT’S A WAY OF LIFE.IT HOUSES SOMETHING OF REVERENCE - LIFE ITSELF. JOHN RECEIVED CLASSICAL ART TRAINING, WHICH IS EVIDENT WHEN YOU SEE THE RESULTS OF HIS 19TH CENTURY CRAFTSMANSHIP IN A 21ST CENTURY WORLD. WE LIVE IN A DISPOSABLE AGE. EVERYTHING IS DESIGNED TO BE TOSSED. .EXCEPT IN JOHN’S WORKSHOP WHERE FEW SCRAPS ARE LEFT UN-USED. THEY BECOME THE FINE DETAIL THAT JOHN STRIVES TO ACHIEVE. BUT A PROCESS LIKE THAT THAT CAN NOT BE RUSHED - AS HE SPENDS HOURS TO GET THE DETAILS JUST RIGHT. JOHN AND HIS OCCASIONAL HELP BUILD MAYBE A HUNDRED HOUSES A YEAR. “THIS IS 19TH CENTURY PRODUCT? DO IN A DAY? NEVER NEVER..IF I DID TEN IN A WEEK, THAT’S A GOOD WEEK"HE PURCHASES BARNS PAST THEIR PRIME...STRIPPING AND RIPPING THEM DOWN TO THE FRAME...GIVING HIM AMPLE PILES OF AGED MATERIAL. JOHN FINDS CHARACTER IN EVERY CRACKED AND SPLINTERED PIECE OF WOOD. AT THE CORE OF HIS EFFORTS - CONSERVATION - AND A HIGHER CALLING. EVEN A SMALL THING LIKE A BIRD HOUSE IS MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT HISTORY, WE SAVED A PIECE OF HISTORY AND BRINGING A NEW GENERATION OF NATIVE BIRDS INTO THE WORLD BY REPURPOSING THAT MATERIAL SOMETHING OF A GREATER ORDER...IT SHOULD BE A THING OF REVERENCE TO SAVE THE PAST, AND BRING THAT INTO THE FUTURE. ISN’T THAT WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. A HOLINESS AND HISTORY - ONE MAN’S VISION TO ALLOW THE BEAUTY AND AGE OF RESTORED BARN WOOD TO ONCE AGAIN HOUSE NATURE’S DELICATE CREATURES.
CLOSE
THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS MORNING. WE’RE GLAD YOU TUNED IN. FOR ALL OF US AT AGDAY. I’M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. AGDAY IS POWERED BY RAM TRUCKS - AMERICA’S LONGEST LASTING PICKUPS.
