The barn - a part of North Dakota history, a part of Our history
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HISTORY (or how we got here)
We had a dream and...well...some amazing people helped us get to where we are. This is a story of their kindness, determination, and true neighbor attitude. Oh don't get me wrong, we paid for the work they provided, but no amount of money can pay for the wisdom, advice, and grey matter they provided.
Summer 06: Somehow God led us to Don Rustad and the most beautiful property. Don was so kind to us. We have pictures of 4 kids under 7 running through the tall grass on a beautiful day towards the only standing item on the acres - the windmill. Still a favorite even though now the kids almost never look up at it. Thank you Don for helping us get started.
Spring 07: Al Halverson decided to let us have his old sunflower barn near Sheldon ND. Without Al, his brother and his son this would never happen. Good people doesn't come close. And the farm hand who worked beside me in those months to get the barn ready to move. We don’t remember your name, but your kindness will outlast both our names.
Summer 07: How to get a 50 by 30 barn from Sheldon to Kindred? Nick Schmidt! We have never seen this work done and we will never forget it since. We had a van full of kids screaming with delight as Nick and crew flew over the dirt roads with the barn in tow. wow! What a ride. Now a note, in 2009 the winter fall wind storm decided to tilt the barn a few degrees to the east. Nick to the rescue! In a few hours, Nick and crew had the barn straight as an arrow and nailed so tight - mother nature never succeeded again. Some say Nick used more nails than lumber to straighten the barn, all we know is - it never made so much as a creak after!
Summer 07: How to get the barn placed? Cooper Brothers Construction. Corey and Al. or Al and Corey. Those two helped us get the barn planted and they kept us in stitches. They are brothers but they feel more like my brothers. They built our house and, garage, and well...they did way more that any builder ever would. There are a lot of builders in FM area, but none compare to the personal, professional, and amazing kindness of the brothers.
Years pass: Kids grow, we work on fixing the barn in-between diapers, winters, school, work, life. Little by little we get things started. Kids jumping out of the loft into powder snow drifts, kids chasing dogs around the barn, kids climbing anything and everything. Those kids know every board, mostly because they spent hot summer months pulling nails. When not in the barn, they picked raspberries. Not that they brought any home, but they never lacked for dessert.
2014-2016: Valley Construction enters and begins to make real progress. New loft floor; (We recycled the old loft floor into other parts of the barn renovation.) New staircases; (the kids still have great memories of climbing the old case and we do mean climbing, those were some seriously steep stairs, more of a ladder); New concrete floor; and the following year, we built a new addition that houses a bride's room, groom's room and...wait for it...new men's and women's bathrooms! We know that might not sound like the greatest things since sliced bread, but let me tell you, it makes all the difference. People love the country, but not in that area. So who helped with the bathrooms?
2015: New bathrooms need plumbing - Howard Rasmussen - none better! Teacher, Certified Mathematician, plumber, and wise sage. Oh, and entertainer and Arizona expert. We were really impressed how much Howard added to the overall project despite us helping him. He even taught our kids some plumbing basics they won't forget. Howard is the guy that kids love, fish fear, and holds a high bar for plumbing.
2015: Did someone say let there be light? Mike Lotzer. Half amazing electrician and half magician. How he gets things done so fast amazes us. He can listen to the most confusing instructions and simply provide the best solutions. True, he'd rather be riding, but his electrical, and just construction smarts, are truly invaluable to any project. Thank you Mike for making the most beautiful lighting solutions a barn ever had.
2016: Opened for Events! Thank God. We are so happy and it is all due to the great folks above and so many other great people. ND Tourism? CCE? Walcott Township Council? The list is very long. North Dakota has a rich history in barns and farms, but an even richer history in the people that make such a beautiful place. We will continue to add to this list. Will there be enough room for all of them? We’ll make room, they did for us.
We had a dream and...well...some amazing people helped us get to where we are. This is a story of their kindness, determination, and true neighbor attitude. Oh don't get me wrong, we paid for the work they provided, but no amount of money can pay for the wisdom, advice, and grey matter they provided.
Summer 06: Somehow God led us to Don Rustad and the most beautiful property. Don was so kind to us. We have pictures of 4 kids under 7 running through the tall grass on a beautiful day towards the only standing item on the acres - the windmill. Still a favorite even though now the kids almost never look up at it. Thank you Don for helping us get started.
Spring 07: Al Halverson decided to let us have his old sunflower barn near Sheldon ND. Without Al, his brother and his son this would never happen. Good people doesn't come close. And the farm hand who worked beside me in those months to get the barn ready to move. We don’t remember your name, but your kindness will outlast both our names.
Summer 07: How to get a 50 by 30 barn from Sheldon to Kindred? Nick Schmidt! We have never seen this work done and we will never forget it since. We had a van full of kids screaming with delight as Nick and crew flew over the dirt roads with the barn in tow. wow! What a ride. Now a note, in 2009 the winter fall wind storm decided to tilt the barn a few degrees to the east. Nick to the rescue! In a few hours, Nick and crew had the barn straight as an arrow and nailed so tight - mother nature never succeeded again. Some say Nick used more nails than lumber to straighten the barn, all we know is - it never made so much as a creak after!
Summer 07: How to get the barn placed? Cooper Brothers Construction. Corey and Al. or Al and Corey. Those two helped us get the barn planted and they kept us in stitches. They are brothers but they feel more like my brothers. They built our house and, garage, and well...they did way more that any builder ever would. There are a lot of builders in FM area, but none compare to the personal, professional, and amazing kindness of the brothers.
Years pass: Kids grow, we work on fixing the barn in-between diapers, winters, school, work, life. Little by little we get things started. Kids jumping out of the loft into powder snow drifts, kids chasing dogs around the barn, kids climbing anything and everything. Those kids know every board, mostly because they spent hot summer months pulling nails. When not in the barn, they picked raspberries. Not that they brought any home, but they never lacked for dessert.
2014-2016: Valley Construction enters and begins to make real progress. New loft floor; (We recycled the old loft floor into other parts of the barn renovation.) New staircases; (the kids still have great memories of climbing the old case and we do mean climbing, those were some seriously steep stairs, more of a ladder); New concrete floor; and the following year, we built a new addition that houses a bride's room, groom's room and...wait for it...new men's and women's bathrooms! We know that might not sound like the greatest things since sliced bread, but let me tell you, it makes all the difference. People love the country, but not in that area. So who helped with the bathrooms?
2015: New bathrooms need plumbing - Howard Rasmussen - none better! Teacher, Certified Mathematician, plumber, and wise sage. Oh, and entertainer and Arizona expert. We were really impressed how much Howard added to the overall project despite us helping him. He even taught our kids some plumbing basics they won't forget. Howard is the guy that kids love, fish fear, and holds a high bar for plumbing.
2015: Did someone say let there be light? Mike Lotzer. Half amazing electrician and half magician. How he gets things done so fast amazes us. He can listen to the most confusing instructions and simply provide the best solutions. True, he'd rather be riding, but his electrical, and just construction smarts, are truly invaluable to any project. Thank you Mike for making the most beautiful lighting solutions a barn ever had.
2016: Opened for Events! Thank God. We are so happy and it is all due to the great folks above and so many other great people. ND Tourism? CCE? Walcott Township Council? The list is very long. North Dakota has a rich history in barns and farms, but an even richer history in the people that make such a beautiful place. We will continue to add to this list. Will there be enough room for all of them? We’ll make room, they did for us.
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Book your beautiful event in this original, romantic, rustic barn with modern amenities, surrounded by 40-acres of
rolling prairie, close to Fargo
16305 57th Street SE• Kindred, North Dakota • 701-388-3589
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