Merry Breeze Farm

Bridgeway Beam & Decking Replacement Project

A fun, lively farm where the cows are happy and the farm family loves their work, Merry Breeze Farms in Andes, NY utilized a Delaware County Farm Enhancement Grant to preserve their 100-year-old-dairy barn. The ladies of Merry Breeze value the beauty of the farm and historic building almost as much as they do the way of life it provides, and restoration of the barn was important for operations to continue.

The project Judi Tait undertook was to replace the barn bridge to her haymow. As a grazing farm, feeding hay through the winter months when the cows are stabled tis imperative to the operation. All the farm's hay is stored in the haymow, accessed only via the bridgeway. Over the years of use, the laid up stone foundation had settled, and the wooden portions of the structure had deteriorated, to the point of pulling the structure away. With the assistance of the grant, the earthen approach was shored up, new concrete footings were poured, and new supports were installed. The wooden floor of the bridgeway was replaced, with the old lumbar saved for future projects. The building structure was repaired to keep the roof line intact, and the haymow doors were reframed, rehung, and secured to protect the feed stores from dust, weather and nuisance animals.

This was the first grant the family has undertaken to restore the farmstead they acquired in 2011 to agricultural use and are appreciative of the assistance and the ease of the process. They are looking forward to continuing to improve the farm and lands to keep the farm alive and vibrant for years to come.

Last updated June 13, 2025