About

What is the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania?

By Priscilla Cuono deLeon, President

The Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania began not with fanfare but with a shared sense of urgency — a belief the barns and agricultural buildings that shaped Pennsylvania’s landscape were too vital to be forgotten.

In early 2007, four passionate preservationists — Sheila Miller, former state representative; Robert Ensminger, author of The Pennsylvania Barn; barn historian Greg Huber, owner of Past Perspectives; and Jeffrey Marshall, barn preservation advocate — came together to form what would become a statewide grassroots movement.
That spring, they invited me, Priscilla deLeon, to join them as an interim director, recognizing my deep commitment to rural preservation and public trust.

From its earliest months, the foundation was shaped by a dedicated group of interim directors who helped guide its development with a shared vision — to document, protect and celebrate Pennsylvania’s historic barns before time eroded their stories. These volunteers laid the foundation for the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation’s grassroots identity, grounded in education, scholarship and fieldwork.

On June 7, 2009, the foundation held its inaugural annual meeting and barn tour in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. That day, members unanimously elected the first official 15-member board of directors, formalizing the organization’s governance while preserving the collaborative, volunteer-driven spirit that remains at its heart.

Elected to the board was Sheila Miller, founder and president; Greg Huber, vice president; Ken Sandri, secretary; Janice Graver, treasurer; Darwin Braund; Priscilla deLeon; Patrick Donmoyer; Bob Ensminger; Melissa Evans; John Hackman; Jim Hoy; Jim Lewars; Jeff Marshall; Rob Reynold; and Eugene Wingert.

In her message published in the Summer/Fall 2009 Forebay Post (the organization’s semiannual newsletter), Sheila Miller wrote: “I look forward to our growth as a statewide organization in the years to come, bringing more barn enthusiasts into our ranks of volunteers who are striving to preserve and record barns throughout the state.”
Her vision came true. The foundation has grown into a respected, statewide organization, uniting barn enthusiasts, preservation advocates and volunteers in a shared mission to document and protect Pennsylvania’s agricultural heritage.

The Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania’s mission comes to life through two cornerstone programs — the annual barn tours and the barn grant program.
The tours are held each June in regions across the commonwealth, showcasing barns selected for their architectural integrity, cultural significance and craftsmanship.
Each event features a Friday evening banquet with presentations and a Saturday guided bus tour, fostering education, camaraderie and appreciation for rural heritage.

The grant program is in its fourth year, offering matching funds up to $2,500 for vital preservation work, including roofing, masonry, painting and structural repairs — all in accordance with the secretary of the interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation.
Grants have supported barn projects in Erie, Centre, Lancaster, Northampton and Bucks counties.

This work builds on the legacy of founding members, including Ensminger of Bethlehem, whose enduring legacy continues to shape our understanding and documentation of these iconic structures.

Through it all, longtime leaders have provided steady guidance rooted in transparency, collaboration and stewardship. Today, the foundation is not only a respected voice in barn preservation but a trusted community that welcomes barn owners, volunteers, scholars and advocates across Pennsylvania.

Every barn tells a story — of the people who built it, the land that sustained it and the generations who shaped Pennsylvania’s agricultural history.

Every season brings quiet losses. Demolition by neglect is a silent destroyer, erasing our shared history one barn at a time.

This work builds on the legacy of founding members, including Ensminger of Bethlehem, whose enduring legacy continues to shape our understanding and documentation of these iconic structures.

Through it all, longtime leaders have provided steady guidance rooted in transparency, collaboration and stewardship. Today, the foundation is not only a respected voice in barn preservation but a trusted community that welcomes barn owners, volunteers, scholars and advocates across Pennsylvania.

Every barn tells a story — of the people who built it, the land that sustained it and the generations who shaped Pennsylvania’s agricultural history.

Every season brings quiet losses. Demolition by neglect is a silent destroyer, erasing our shared history one barn at a time.

We cannot delay. The time to act is now. Because once these barns are gone, they’re gone forever — and with them, a legacy that belongs not only to us but to future generations.

They are a cultural inheritance we are morally bound to protect.
Please join us. Your support — as a member, volunteer, donor or advocate — helps preserve Pennsylvania’s rural legacy for generations to come.