NEWS

Arnold Award Winners Remain Rooted in Tradition

Dull’s Tree Farm in rural Thorntown receives the 2016 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation from Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau

Tom and Kerry Dull’s farm near Thorntown won the 2016 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation presented by Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau. (Photo: Kelsey Jones)

Diversification Saves Farm Buildings

Operating a farm of almost 2,000 acres of waxy corn and soybeans, Tom and Kerry Dull were looking for a way to diversify their business and provide for future generations. “The ground right around our house never was the most productive for corn and soybeans, so in 1985 we came up with the idea of starting Christmas trees,” says Kerry.

In August, Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau awarded the 2016 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation to the Dulls for their commitment to the historic agricultural buildings on their farm near Thorntown. Tom and Kerry, along with their son Lucas and his wife, Dana, continue to restore the farm’s original structures while adding old buildings as the operation expands.

Built in 1888, the focal point of the farmstead is the impressive red, timber frame barn. Originally used for animals and hay storage, the barn today serves as an event space and welcome area. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas—their busiest time of year—the barn gets heavy use processing Christmas trees.

In 2010, the Campbell Soup Company and the National FFA organization’s “Help Grow Your Soup” program recognized historic barns across the country. The national campaign drew attention to ten historic barns whose owners protected the integrity of their structures. By popular vote, the Dulls’ barn was one of five selected to receive funding for a complete rehabilitation. The barn got a fresh coat of red paint with white trim—the original scheme—along with a new floor and structural enhancements.

Tom and Kerry make their home in the original farmhouse, built in 1869. The granary, original to the property, became the wreath barn, renovated to expand the interior space while still maintaining the historic structure. Although most of the siding required replacement, the Dulls insisted on using the same type of board and batten as the original. The building also got a new metal roof.

They recently added two historic log cabins to the property to house a gift shop, event space, and bed and breakfast. The Dulls bought and moved both cabins from other Indiana counties. Tom dismantled and reassembled the structures by himself.

From January through November, the bed and breakfast in one of the cabins—the only air-conditioned building on the farm—accommodates up to six guests in a comfortable oasis complete with a stone fireplace. The B&B provides yet another income stream to help preserve the farm.

The Dulls received the Arnold Award at a presentation at the Indiana State Fair. “We appreciate that someone is recognizing people who are willing to take the extra time and effort to preserve some of the old buildings,” says Tom. “It’s the business that really enables us to preserve them.”

The couple’s preservation ethic extends beyond the farm. When Boone County Commissioners considered demolishing the nearby Bridge 32 in 2004, the Dulls were part of a group of locals that joined Indiana Landmarks in asking them to reconsider, leading to the eventual save and restoration of span built c.1910. The Dulls have also shared their expertise and experiences with agritourism with other farm owners at Barn Again! workshops staged by Indiana Landmarks.

The choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm on Thorntown’s Blubaugh Avenue allows visitors to create family memories while learning about agriculture and preservation. The Dulls sold nearly 4,500 Christmas trees during the 2015 season and hope to surpass that number this year. The family also provides holiday cheer to troops through the Trees to Troops program, donating trees and serving as the regional pick-up point for shipment to soldiers and sailors overseas.

During the fall season, a corn maze, pumpkin patch, face painting and even the Jack-O-Launcher—a high-powered pumpkin canon—attract families and add to the farm revenue.

The Dulls continue to diversify their farm and educate visitors through agritourism. “We focus our tree business on family traditions and memories and our 1800s-era farmstead helps our customers make the connection to their own agricultural roots. The tree business has enabled us to re-purpose the buildings and keep them a vital part of the experience that we create,” declares Tom.

by Kelsey Jones, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in public relations at Ball State University

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