Growing up a country kid, gettin’ anywhere meant long, winding drives through the countryside, past herds of cattle out to pasture (or wandering into the highway), sheep, horses… and barns. From the classic bright red to dilapidated structures with old advertisements for miracle tonics still peeling on the walls, I don’t think I’ve ever met a barn I didn’t like.

That’s why I was so excited to hear about the National Barn Alliance‘s efforts to survey, photograph and preserve barns across the nation. It’s easy to tear down these old structures and steamroll in some shining new building, but nothing’s quite as nice as a friendly barn.