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Friday, November 29, 2024
The landscape is a’changin’, literally, at the Virden agricultural grounds as two smaller barns were demolished this fall and have since been replaced with one larger building, thanks largely in part, to a $100,000 donation by Federated Coop.
The grant announcement and presentation were made at the Valleyview Coop AGM to the Virden Ag Society (VAS) directors Everett More and Darcy Strain, back in June of this year. With a full slate of summer events scheduled to be held at the ag grounds, plans to begin the project were deferred until fall.
In late September, demolition began on Barn 4 and 5. Since the entire roof of Barn 4 and the tin from Barn 5 was still in satisfactory condition, it was repurposed.
Barn 4’s roof was moved in two sections to Kings Crossing arena located just outside of Virden, and the tin went to another local resident. Clean up of the site was done within a week and preparations were made to begin construction of the new 124’ x 42’ x 14’ build, just slightly larger than the existing Barn 6 at 100’ x 54’ x 14’.
According to VAS director, Everett More, it took only a few days from start to finish for Unrau Building Supply to erect the new shell with the first post tamped on Wednesday, Nov. 13 and the final sheet of Gyproc lining one of the inside walls (to satisfy fire regulations) placed on Nov. 21 with a weekend and a winter storm in between. The new build is already in use, filled with boats and RVs tucked away for winter storage.
Plans for spring include lining the inside of the new building with 6’ of plywood, and outfitting
it with portable 10’ box stalls which will make it more suitable for animal use. There is also some floor work to be completed. They were able to utilize the existing concrete pads from both the previous barns.
It is estimated that the project will require an additional $100,000+ to complete. Fundraising efforts are underway to secure extra finances and sponsors. Winter storage rental will offset some of the immediate expenses, and the committee hopes to promote the new building as a means to accommodate the regular user groups and appeal to some new ones to attract a variety of events to the area.
Virden Ag Society builds big new barn
By Brenda Hunter
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