More Than Storage: Grain Bin Gazebos and More!
Although most every grain bin project we do has some level of customization to the grower’s specific needs, we had two projects in 2020 that were truly unique. It’s certainly not every day that we get to create a grain bin gazebo and outfit another with a garage door.
Johnson County Fairgrounds grain bin gazebo
When the Johnson County Fair Board was looking at having a dedicated space for memorials, the discussion turned to how other county fairgrounds had nice gazebos. But it wasn’t until a few members came across a Sukup grain bin gazebo at the state fair, that their vision was complete. Not only would a grain bin gazebo be a longer-lasting, lower maintenance option, but its symbolism of the agriculture industry was also fitting.
The 27’ gazebo, installed in July of 2020, is now home to many of the memorial benches paying homage to the great families, supporters and volunteers of the Johnson County Fair. In addition to providing shade for fairgoers to rest, the bin itself serves as a memorial.
Several organizations and families donated to the project, including:
• John and Allie Dane Family
• Eldon C. Stutsman Family
• Pat Johnson Family
• Elmer Vanorny Family
• Johnson County Ag Association
• Johnson County Pork Producers
• Johnson County Cattlemen
Be sure to check out the custom grain bin gazebo the next time you find yourself at the Johnson County Fairgrounds!
Carpool Creative grain bin studio
This next grain bin takes the phrase ‘more than storage’ to the next level. With a vision to have their new office reflect the agricultural roots of their property, Eric and Laura Kome of Carpool Creative thought a grain bin would be the perfect fit for their creative design agency. The 24’ bin “studio” is attached to a workshop, which features barn-like design elements for another nod back to the property’s heritage.
One challenge their construction crew faced was making a circular foundation, which involved building a new circular frame from scratch. The Kome’s also envisioned a large garage door and a few windows to let in some natural light, while still maintaining the bin’s true round shape. They achieved this by setting the door and windows back from the outer bin walls. The interior also features a loft for storage. Eric and Laura are excited to finish up their workshop and put it to use this winter. Surely this unique space will provide inspiration as they serve the Iowa City area in design, videography, and marketing services.
For some of you, this may have sparked some inspiration for those older bins on your property. For others, you may be thinking you will need to hide this article from your significant other. Grain bin gazebo or not, give our grain handling team a call to talk about how you can use your grain bins for more than just storage.