Kansas Tourism Awards BARN Grants to Boost Agritourism Development

TOPEKA – Kansas Tourism today announced $100,000 total has been awarded to the first recipients of the Barn Adaptation and Restoration Needs (BARN) grant program. The new grant will help drive economic growth in rural Kansas by preserving a vital part of the state’s architectural history through the revitalization of six iconic barns, which will be transformed into destination-based agritourism assets.

“The BARN grant is vital to our efforts to foster and support innovation and sustainability in our agricultural communities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These funds not only will help preserve the rich agricultural traditions of Kansas but also pave the way for new and creative agritourism ventures that will benefit local residents and visitors alike.”

Collectively, the six grant recipients will invest more than $200,000 in matching funds for barn restoration and enhancing rural tourism.

“We are excited to see these projects come to reality and contribute to the future of Kansas agritourism,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said. “By revitalizing these unique structures, we are not only preserving our past, but also creating new economic opportunities that will draw visitors to experience the heart and soul of Kansas.”

The 2024 BARN grant recipients:

Those interested in discovering agritourism businesses in Kansas can find all the registered agritourism experiences listed here.

For more information about the Kansas agritourism program, please visit our webpage here or contact Kansas Tourism Agritourism Manager Kelsey Wendling at [email protected].