Tricked Out

1. When Mark and Pam Lage of Sheffield moved in 1999 to the farm where Mark’s grandparents had most recently lived, they remodeled the barn his great-grandfather had built in 1915, and operated their computer business there.
   
   Though they no longer sell computers, Mark and his dad, John, now have farm offices in the barn.
    
2. Kitchen cabinets salvaged from remodeling the house make a great break area for the Lage farm crew. Here, Mark and John discuss seed varieties for next season. 
    
3. The barn currently provides living quarters for the Lages’ son Ryan while he does his John Deere Mechanics internship. Pam’s office has been converted to a bedroom and the former computer tech room is a laundry room. 

Cool factor. The haymow makes a great gathering place for kids to play basketball, pool, ping-pong and other games. 

The Lages have hosted conferences, quilting retreats, graduation parties and family gatherings in the barn. Asked about the next phase for the barn, Mark grins as he describes his vision of a home with part of the haymow converted a master bedroom suite with windows overlooking the farm.

To read more about the Lage barn, check out a blog entry on our Publishers’ Notebook at www.iasoybeans.com/KSimon

Do you have something Tricked Out you’d like to share? 

Contact Karen Simon at ksimon@iasoybeans.com to provide details.