Campbell's Invites Voters To Choose Five Barns for Repair

By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Oct. 6, 2007

Last fall, volunteers repaired the Riordan barn in Reddick, Ill., as part of the Help Grow Your Soup program.

Credit: Campbell Soup Company

Like American Idol or Partners in Preservation, the Campbell Soup Company is asking for your vote.

The company has selected 10 barns from Iowa to Virginia. After voters choose their favorites, five winners will receive money for repairs and restoration. For every vote, Campbell's will donate $1 (up to a $250,000 limit) to the National FFA Organization, founded in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America.

"There has been a phenomenal response," says says Will Fett, spokesman for the National FFA. "The barn owners absolutely love it, and the students have all been very excited to partake."

Now in its second year, the barn-restoration program, dubbed "Help Grow Your Soup," has helped five barns so far, starting last fall with the Riordan Barn, built c. 1912 in Reddick, Ill.

Campbell's approached the National FFA with its idea to repair barns, and the two groups formed a partnership. The National FFA uses Campbell's donation to sponsor the barn projects as well as three other education programs.

Last fall and spring, volunteers—students, community members, and alumni from local FFA chapters—spent an average of two days working on the barns.

"We're proud to give back to the farming community by continuing our support for FFA, which will enable us to preserve five more barns, the iconic symbol of the American farm," Eric Christianson, business director of Campbell's, said in a statement.

Voting began on Oct. 1 and will conclude on Jan. 2, 2010. Winners will be announced in January.

This year's barns are located in:

White Hill, Ill.

Thorntown, Ind.

Lewis, Iowa

Union Bridge, Md.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Bark River, Mich.

Brainered, Minn.

Climax, N.C.

Seneca, S.C.

Staunton, Va.