Fourth Annual Barn Raising Event!
SATURDAY MAY 4, 2019 (8 AM - 4 PM)
Full clean-up week: Monday, April 29 - Saturday May 4, 2019
"Barn raising" describes the collective action of a community to build or rebuild a barn for a community member. Barn raising was particularly common in 18th and 19th Century rural North America. A barn was a necessary structure for any farmer, for storage of grain and hay and keeping of animals. A barn was also a large and costly structure, the assembly of which required more labor than a typical family could provide. Barn raising addressed the need by enlisting members of the community to assist in the building of their neighbors' barns.
Here at the Pioneer Village Museum we aim to create an old-fashioned “barn raising” atmosphere. There are many tasks to complete before opening for the new season. Whatever your abilities or talents, we can find something for you to do. All week we'll be working hard to get the museum into top shape, and on Saturday, we'll provide the food, music and door prizes. We hope you join us!
The Hiram Hover barn raising event, Town of Maple Grove. The photo was not dated. Hiram Hover lived in Maple Grove from 1889 to 1927.
Who can participate? Can I bring my family?
Anyone willing to lend a hand can participate! This is a great opportunity for families, youth groups, schools, clubs, churches, community organizations and more to join in a volunteer activity together. You do not have to be an expert in anything to help out! Our maintenance crew, gardeners, and staff will be glad to help all volunteers find a task that matches their skill level or even teach them a new skill on the go! Plan a day of volunteer activities together - this is a great time to find out what your friends, family and interest groups are able to do when they work as one.
This sounds like work. What's in it for me?
Along with the great extras from Saturday's event, volunteering at the Pioneer Village Museum brings with it a host of benefits for everyone involved. The Pioneer Village Museum is a non-profit organization, meaning we rely on volunteers, members, and donors to continue bringing the best possible experience to the Barron County community and visitors from all over - sometimes even other states or countries! Helping keep the museum in top shape is an important part of that experience.
Community Service - Skill Building - Teamwork - Oral History - Life Lessons
Volunteering at the Pioneer Village Museum is, at its core, a community service activity, and that's what a lot of Barn Raising volunteers feel like they're signing up for. The stereotypical "staples" of community service - cleaning, raking, mowing - are all certainly part of our event. However, like the barn raisings of the past, participation involves more than just picking up trash and calling it a day. Everyone who participates has an opportunity to learn or improve new skills by working with veteran volunteers of the museum and develop teamwork habits that will extend outward into their personal and professional lives. Additionally, many of our regular volunteers are also museum members or long-time residents of Barron County who share their knowledge and experiences with young and old alike, passing on valuable life lessons and Barron County history. Many volunteers who work at the museum even a day go home knowing more about their community history and the history of Wisconsin and the United States than they did prior to their service. These are all things anyone - young or old - can carry forward into the rest of their lives.
I'm ready to join in. How do I sign up?
Come to the museum on May 4th ready to go! We'd also love to know in advance if we can count on you to join us so that we're sure to have enough supplies and opportunities available - if you know for sure you want to help out at the museum, either during the event on May 4th or any time during cleanup week, give us a call at 715.458.2080 or e-mail us at museum1@chibardun.net to get a jump start on your volunteer experience! If you are planning to come with a group, you can also let us know about how many people and vehicles you think you'll be bringing, and we'll be sure there is plenty of parking available. If your group would like to make a day of it, we also have ample picnic, restroom, and indoor seating facilities to accommodate you. We hope you'll join us!