A historic barn at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm will open its hayloft to the public during Iowa’s 26th Annual All-State Barn Tour, giving Decorah-area visitors a rare look inside a working agricultural landmark.
The free, self-guided tour is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 19–20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors do not need to register in advance. The Seed Savers Exchange barn is located at 3074 North Winn Road in Decorah.
What visitors can see
During the tour, visitors may explore the barn’s hayloft and find information about both the Iowa Barn Foundation and Seed Savers Exchange. Posted tour signs will guide visitors after they arrive at Heritage Farm.
The Seed Savers Exchange barn is one of more than 100 buildings included in the statewide event and one of several featured in Winneshiek County. The Iowa Barn Foundation describes the event as the largest barn tour in the world. The 2026 tour includes a record 107 stops, ranging from historic round and octagonal barns to gambrel-roofed and other distinctive structures.
The event offers an opportunity to see historic craftsmanship and learn about Iowa’s agricultural heritage while visiting barns that continue to serve practical purposes.
A working part of Heritage Farm
Ralph and Maggie Halse constructed the Gothic-arch barn between 1929 and 1930. It originally served as a dairy barn and remains an active part of Heritage Farm today.
Seed Savers Exchange uses the barn as a central location for processing seeds from tomatoes, peppers, melons and other fleshy crops. Staff extract and ferment seeds there before beginning the drying process with screens and fans.
The barn also hosts community events, continuing its role as both a place for agricultural work and a gathering space.
“There’s something special about a well cared for Iowa barn. Ours is still a working barn where we process seeds, host classes and even hold the occasional barn dance. Like the seeds we preserve, it reminds us that the things we value endure when people continue to care for them. We are delighted to open it up and welcome visitors during this special statewide celebration”
Mike Bollinger, executive director of Seed Savers Exchange, said the organization is pleased to welcome visitors during the celebration.
More to explore at Heritage Farm
Seed Savers Exchange is a Decorah-based nonprofit founded in 1975 to conserve and promote America’s culturally diverse but endangered garden and food-crop heritage for future generations.
Visitors can also explore the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March through October. The center offers hundreds of varieties of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds, gardening tools, books and locally made gifts.
Heritage Farm’s grounds are open from sunrise to sunset and include more than nine miles of trails, display gardens, orchards and a spring-fed trout stream.
Visitors can use the interactive tour guide at iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tours to plan a route among the statewide stops. More information about Seed Savers Exchange is available at seedsavers.org.