6-12-20: Thumb Octagon Barn is Closed Until Further Notice Due to the COVID-19 Virus. We are not opening July 1st. All events, including Fall Family Days and meetings scheduled are cancelled. Please continue to check the Thumb Octagon Barn website and/or the FaceBook page for updates on other activities/events scheduled to be held. Stay Safe! Stay Healthy! Stay Home!
Saving the past for tomorrow's future! The Thumb Octagon Barn Agricultural Museum is located in Tuscola County approximately 1 mile east of the Village of Gagetown along Bay City Forestville Road, 1 mile north on Richie Road, just south of the Huron County border. What exists on this site today is the result of a vision, a team effort, generous contributions and many hours of planning, organization, and plain hard work. The vision began in the minds of a few neighbors who did not want to see such an awesome structure and piece of agricultural history be destroyed in the name of “convenience” or “progress”. And so began the Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn organization — a rescue effort to save the barn from demolition, then restore the barn, then restore the house and surrounding grounds.
VISION STATEMENT: Our vision is to develop the Thumb Octagon Barn complex for the community as an agricultural museum and educational center open to individuals, families and student groups to educate and stimulate awareness of our agricultural heritage.
MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to maintain a volunteer group of Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn involved in the restoration and preservation of the barn complex as an educational tool preserving our rural and agricultural history for the benefit of our visitors. Fund-raising efforts have grown into annual events known around the state. The vision to preserve has grown into a plan to own and operate an historical agricultural site for the education, recreation and entertainment of the community and visitors. Currently the Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn has nearly 800 members — many from all over the State of Michigan and around the country. Members may receive the Barn Newsletter and volunteer their time to help out if they are able. There are always work activities, festivals, gatherings and restoration upkeep that bring members together in the community. Help is always needed and appreciated. Upkeep is ongoing...
VALUES STATEMENT: As stewards of the Octagon Barn, we embrace the diversity within our organization and celebrate our many individual talents. We are committed to our visitors and have a passion for the Octagon Barn complex as an educational tool to share with the community our rural heritage. We take on big challenges, and pride ourselves on seeing them completed. We have a responsibility to hold ourselves accountable to the legacy of the Octagon Barn as it continues to grow in the future.
Kohl Farms Corn Maze now open for 2020!
Kohl Farms in Gagetown has developed a corn maze to help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Fall Family Days. Please help support their efforts. Follow this link to their Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/kohlfarmsmi/
6-12-20 Press Release regarding 2020 Season
WITH MUCH REGRET THE FRIENDS OF THE THUMB OCTAGON BARN EXECUTIVE BOARD HAS MADE THE DECISION TO CANCEL FALL FAMILY DAYS FOR THIS YEAR AND ALL OTHER SCHEDULED EVENTS. THE SITE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERS, VENDORS, EXHIBITORS AND PATRONS.…
CANCELLED – 2020 Fall Family Days Sept. 11-13
2020 Schedule of Events
Thumb Octagon Barn Closed Until Further Notice Due to the COVID-19 Virus. All events and meetings scheduled for May are cancelled including Spring Clean Up and Public Tours. CANCELLED for 2020: July 18 & 19, 2020-Music Weekend in the Barn July 22, 2020-Themed Tea Party July 25 & 26, 2020-Open House…
