Barn dance benefits land trust

Barn dancing and land conservation are normally two unrelated topics, until now.
The Sycamore Land Trust, a locally-based land conservation group, will host a barn dance to raise funds Friday at the Beehunter Farm in Bloomington.

The Sycamore Land Trust is hosting the event with music from local band Fiddle ‘n’ Feet. To greet and educate guests, there will also be animals on display from Wildcare Inc.

“This event will generate funding for ongoing land management for our 5,200 plus acres in 10 different Indiana counties,” said Erin Hollinden, Outreach Coordinator for the SLT.
The Sycamore Land Trust is based in Bloomington, and more than half of its preserved land is located within 30 miles of the city.

“The land is for both nature preservation and human interaction, and we have land spread over most of Southern Indiana all the way to the Ohio River,” Hollinden said.
The Land Trust is working with Upland Brewing Company and Bloomingfoods, which are donating beer and food to the cause.

“The proceeds from all the beer sales at the event will go to the SLT for continuing conservation,” said Upland Brewing Company President Doug Dayhoff.
Upland brewery has paired with the Sycamore Land Trust for events to raise money for conservation before.

“We do a lot of community support, but land conservation is our main philanthropy,” Dayhoff said. “We like the SLT for their entrepreneurial spirit, as well as their end goal of conservation and the way the go about it.”

Jean Kautt, Bloomingfoods administrator of member services and outreach, has worked with the Sycamore Land Trust for several years and has high hopes for this event.

“We had over 200 people at the last barn dance, so we are expecting as good or better than last year,” Kautt said.

Bloomingfoods is donating food from crops purchased from local farmers.
“We have products from over 100 local farmers and producers, so land conservation is important for us,” Kautt said.

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday with Fiddle ‘n’ Feet playing its signature Irish-esque music accompanied by dance lessons. The event will continue rain or shine under a tent at the Beehunter Farm, which is located at 5577 Kings Road in Bloomington.

“I think what the Sycamore Land Trust does is wonderful,” Kautt said. “They preserve open spaces, which are quickly disappearing in Indiana.”