I love the happy faces of well-kept barns, don’t you? I couldn’t get close enough to take a picture of the actual doors without going through the cow pen which would have been trespassing (as well as very messy).
I bet you think I took this picture out in farm country, right? Actually we were on the campus of the University of Maryland, about 20 minutes from downtown Washington DC. This is “The Farm” where agricultural students learn all about animal husbandry.
The students not only tend the cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and horses but they’re also famous for their hand-churned ice-cream. I’ve never encountered a working farm in the middle of a university campus but I definitely like the idea. I can’t think of anything more stress-reducing before finals than having a conversation with a pig. Can you?
Check out Norm’s #ThursdayDoors challenge. It’s always interesting to see doors from around the world.
Saying nothing in particular 
Charming. Yes, I do so love a big red barn, no matter where 🙂 That sky was phenomenal, too.
I do too. We were in between rains which made the air crisp and clear.
Gotta love a nice barn and this one certainly fits the bill. Nice find 🙂
Thank you!
That’s a beautiful barn. I’ve seen these on a few campuses that I have visited. In my humble opinion, college agricultural program ice cream is some of the best ice cream you can get.
Unfortunately we were there just after a big football game and we couldn’t get anywhere near ice cream shoppe – the lines were too long.
Makes me homesick. Great pic!
Thank you!
There is a wonderful working farm on NC State’s campus (in the heart of the state’s capital) that is also connected to their vet school. Great ice cream too.
North Carolina?
Yep! Not to be confused with unc or university of North Carolina at chapel hill
Those farm buildings are gorgeous, Jan. From a distance they look as if their roofs are thatched.
I’m sure that was done on purpose but it’s a fairly modern barn. (not that I’m an expert on barns!)
My baby brother, Harrison, was obsessed with farms when he was little. We would stand in 100-plus degree heat on the CSU Fresno campus and watch the mama pig give birth. Tho I was 18 and mostly swallowing down puke and dust, I loved the pure excitement he had for these little lives. When I’d had enough of the smells and sights, I’d wander off to watch the sheep graze. It truly was peaceful.
Thanks for the photo and memories, Jan.
HA! Jenn–I was going to respond with Harrison’s love of the CSU Fresno farm, especially the pigs! What fun times visiting there–even through the 100 degree heat and the horrid smells. Funny how little Harrison didn’t even notice the adverse conditions as he reveled in the pigs and cows.
What great memories! I’d probably have the same response to the birth of piglets as you did. Ugh! Did Harrison grow up to be an animal doctor?
He grew up to work in a start-up in San Francisco. However, he has many fond memories of those animals and is kind and decent to all living things.
A beautifully kept barn is a thing of beauty, jan. 🙂
janet
Indeed!
That’s a beautiful barn! I like the happy face of a well kept barn too. 🙂
Thank you. The animals looked very well taken care of too.
Beautiful barns! We have an agricultural college and they too have a farm in the middle of the campus.
There’s something reassuring about a farm in the middle of the university campus.
Positive 🙂