It was an ordinary day. Reading a variety of things online and came across a children's book titled "Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn" which was written by Jason Weber, the national director of foster care initiatives at Christian Alliance for Orphans, and was illustrated by 344 people!! So, what's the story behind this book? The story began in 1988 in a small Nebraska farm town known as Bruno. Mr. Herman Ostry and his family had a barn that needed to be moved out of the way of flood waters.
The barn on Mr. Ostry's property that was to be moved.
After obtaining quotes from various contrac- tors, he realized that moving the barn wasn't going to happen. Then one night at supper he joked to his family, "I'll bet if we had enough people we could pick up that barn and carry it to higher ground." His son Mike took the idea seriously and thought about what his dad wanted to do and came up with a plan. He counted the boards and timber in the barn and estimated the barn's weight at 16,640 pounds. Then he began welding a grid of steel tubing together which brought the total weight to almost ten tons.
344 people moving the barn.
Mike's system provided a handhold for 344 people, which meant each person would be lifting about 55 pounds. It just so happened that the little town of Bruno was planning its Centennial Celebration that same summer and the planning committee decided to make the moving of Herman Ostry's barn a part of the official celebration. On July 30, 1988, local TV cameramen were on hand, along with 4,000 spectators. 344 volunteers lifted the barn in unison, walked the barn 115 feet to higher ground in three minutes and deposited it in a new location. So how did that all happen? Did Mike really figure in the full weight of the barn accurately including nails and hardware? And, how about the metal pipe grid? Wasn't there a group of people who wanted to try tractors and front-end loaders? And, where did the 344 volunteers come from. What if one of those people hurt themselves and sued Herman.
Another photo showing the movers.
And what if some moved in the wrong direction. But, Herman's barn got moved because Nebaskans know if one person is in need, everyone else will show up in a heartbeat to help out. They don't argue, they don't complain. They cheerfully get the job done and then they have a beer and gather at someone's house to play a few rounds of sheepshead, whatever that might be! At times Nebraskan farmers look more like the church than the church does. I guess the Bible verse 1 Peter 3:8 tells the story...Above all, be of one mind. Be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. So, where does this Jason Weber guy, the author of the children's book, come into the story? Well, he was in Lincoln, Nebraska one day for a conference and decided to drive to Bruno to meet with the Ostry's and see the barn. He wanted to ask them if he could turn their story into a book to raise money to help foster children.
Herman autographs a copy of the book.
Herman said, "Go for it, and if it touches even a little bit and cheers children up, what more could you ask for?" Weber also had the idea of having each of this 344 people who helped move the barn to draw one element - perhaps a cat, boot, goat, etc. - and have an illustrator use all those images in the book. He asked Mrs. Ostry if she could draw a sun. Weber than said to Mr. Ostry, "You know there's some people that think it's crazy to get 344 people to illustrate a book." Mr Ostry replied, "Yeah, that's what they told me too. but sometimes you have to do something a little bit crazy to get something done." Chris Dorvak, Herman Ostry's married daughter, and two of her children contributed drawings as did "Duck Dynasty star John Luke Robertson and the Christian band, Jars of Clay. So, for those reading my story today, just about anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Just ask Mr. Ostry! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
An old photo showing a barn raising in the distance.
It was an ordinary day. Reading about the Amish Community in which I live and how they help each other in every aspect of live. And, being that I have lived in Lancaster County my entire life, I have seen many barn raisings after disastrous fires, hurricanes and the like as well as when a new Amish family joins the community. A few times I have been a witness to what many will never see in their lifetime. Lancaster County has a very heavy Amish population and our roads are dotted with the traditional covered buggies as well as the open-air buggies. Barn raisings usually begin at the break of dawn and workers fill the landscape and skyscape until dark, usually finishing the project in a day.
Another early barn raising in Lancaster County, PA.
A few days before, the foundation is laid from blocks and cement. Barns raisings are usually led by one or two Amish "engineers" who draw the plans and make sure the materials will be on site. Roads are filled with buggies as far as the eye can see while horses feed together in nearby fields. The Amish number many as they crawl over the new roof, all dressed in colored shirts with black suits and straw hats.
Like bees swarming to stock the hive.
The atmosphere is festive with the women and young girls preparing food as needed. Most workers on the barn wear tool belts which carry a hammer and nails as they work in unison. So, just where did all these people come from. Seems that a fundamentalist movement began in Switzerland in 1525. This group eventually became known as "Mennonites."
Another view of Amish building a barn.
Then, in Germany in the late 1600's a Mennonite named Jacob Amman decided to start his own religion, thus the Amish began. They emigrated from the Palatinate region of Bavaria to southeastern Pennsylvania in 1698. Since that time over three hundred years ago, the peace-loving Amish continue to live their religion which emphasizes self-reliance. They reject welfare and government as well as refuse to serve in the military. But, boy can they sure raise a barn in no time. AS I said before, I have been witness to that. It was another extraordinary day in the live of an ordinary guy.
