Join the Utterly Exciting Movement: Barnyard Estates Project Update

Chatty Belle, World’s Largest Talking Cow located in Wisconsin, an inspiration for the Barnyard Estates project.

This week has been utterly fun, and yes the pun is intended - you’ll see later on. On Monday, July 10, 2023,  we presented our project to Terry Handstedt, Partner of MCL Industries,  and Tonya Dittman, Director of Engagement at the Village Companies. Tonya Dittman was raised in Advance, Wisconsin. Her background with Miron Construction Co, Inc. a design-build, industrial, and general construction service in the US will be a benefit to the group as she intends on joining the steering committee. Both individuals were excited about the project and asked what the next steps would be moving forward. 

The Pulaski Area Chamber of Commerce held their monthly meeting on Wednesday morning of this week, so an update on the Barnyard Estates journey was provided. There was excitement, along with a lot of questions on how everything will work together, the logistics of it. However, it was explained to them that the project is huge and the goal is to have an estimate on the project costs by July 31, 2023, so we can move forward with our fundraising efforts. We need to have a clear understanding of the cost of the project so that we can include it into the details of the business plan. The key focus of the steering committee will be to help brainstorm a clear plan of how business and community will help not only propel the project forward, but sustain everyone in the Barnyard Estates.

On Thursday, Village Trustee, Stephanie Rodgers also agreed to assist us on the steering committee. She believes that the project will be a great asset to the community. Stephanie has a strong background in accounting and has resources available for helping non-profits that might come in handy as we move forward.

On Thursday, I met an individual from another non-profit (Strike Up A Chord) at a coffee shop in Green Bay, Karvarna, which is located on Broadway. My first impression of the Karvarna Coffee House was  “community”. The Barnyard Estates “commons area” to me would definitely be an atmosphere like the Karvarna I experienced. If you get a chance to stop out and experience it, it was definitely an inspiration. One thing I thought was really interesting is that sourcing local food is very important to Kavarna. They source foods from the local agriculture as much as possible, and they work with local producers such as Full Circle Community Farms (Seymour), Lamers Dairy (Appleton), and SLO Farmers Co-op (Wisconsin) and many more throughout the Farmer’s Markets in Green Bay. In fact, I reached out to SLO Farmers Co-Op and received a response from Heather Toman, the general manager wanting to learn more about the organization. What’s really exciting is that SLO is headquartered in Hofa Park, Wisconsin. I will be reaching out to Heather this week to set up a time to meet.

Interestingly enough, that same day, I attended the Summer Market on Military Avenue in Green Bay. Here is the website to learn more. One of the thoughts of the Barnyard Estates would be to have in-door and out-door markets. As I walked around, I had the opportunity to talk with a few vendors. Two vendors in particular were from Suring and Green Bay and may be potential targets for the shared kitchen in the Barnyard Estates. Currently, they create from scratch home baked goods in their own home. By the way, I walked away with some delicious treats and business cards that I will add to our potential vendors list in google docs.

Finally, at our last meeting, we were brainstorming, and discussion about having a large “cow” or some kind of attraction in front or near the Barnyard Estates Building. In my research this week, I came across a Wisconsin company (Sparta) called FAST Fiberglass, a manufacturer that creates larger than life animals for businesses and roadside attractions. I reached out to them for a tour and Ryan Lakowske is more than excited to accommodate us. We are working on a date to visit the company the last week in July or first week of August.

The next steps? On Thursday, July 31, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. we will meet in Kaukauna with the Keller Team to go over the Discovery Meeting, which will include plans and comps. On August 16th, an early morning zoom meeting will be scheduled to introduce the three new individuals to the Promote Pulaski Board of Directors. We’ll probably have some discussion about the presentation meeting - which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, August 24, 2023. The plan is to hold an evening presentation “by invitation only” on-site at Keller to present the Barnyard Estates project. Our goal is to obtain as much support, and yes, financial backing before we begin the fundraising to “build the barn.” This week we will work on creating content for the invitation along with the list of potential community individuals and businesses we believe we can partner with to bring this exciting project to fruition by March 2025. If you know of anyone that should be included on the list, please forward their contact information to tammy@dynamicdesignspulaski.com. As I mentioned at the beginning of this update, it’s been utterly fun researching, meeting with like-minded people and building the momentum of the project. 

Promote Pulaski Seeks Passionate Pulaski People

The Barnyard Estates Steering Committee Opportunities

Do you have a passion for Pulaski? Are you self employed and dreaming of relocating your business out of your home some day? Would you like to expand your current business by adding a different venue, location or satellite office? Are you a volunteer or do you serve on a board in a community organization? Would you like a place to go while your kids are practicing or in extracurricular activities at school? Does a recreational/activity center for adults and kids excite you?  Have you ever needed a place to host a family party, an educational event or business meeting in Pulaski other than your home? Is preserving Polish Heritage, family traditions or the history of Pulaski important to you?  If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider becoming a part of the Barnyard Estates, a project of Promote Pulaski (501c3 non-profit). The Barnyard Estates is a huge community project that will engage businesses, non-profits, community members and families in a single infrastructure. Promote Pulaski is currently seeking ambitious persons that have an interest in becoming a part of the steering committee that is setting this project in motion.

The mission of the Barnyard Estates is to create a space for community, businesses and families to co-exist together under one roof, based on the concept of the “family farm.” The Barnyard Estates project would be constructed like a barn, and would accommodate business, community and families. The project is specifically designed to provide a co-working space for professionals to collaborate, present workshops and provide services, leasing opportunities for businesses, a safe place for kids to congregate and be entertained, a shared kitchen for caterers, community, food trucks, culinary chefs and pastry cooks. If you’ve ever had the need to rent a space for a party, event or meeting, this project will support these needs. Finally, a public commons area, eateries: a Polish restaurant, coffee/breakfast, and a winery or bar & grill are all a part of the Barnyard Estates.

Promote Pulaski, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to help promote business and tourism for Pulaski and surrounding communities, through marketing, special events, education and projects that focus on Pulaski’s rich Polish heritage and history. The Barnyard Estates is one of those projects that has been in the development phase since late December 2020. The organization is seeking assistance from Pulaski and surrounding communities to pull this project forward. There currently are volunteer positions available on the board and steering committee. If you think you are a key fit for Promote Pulaski,  email promotepulaski@gmail.com or connect with Tammy or Bruce at 920-822-4450 for more information. To view the premier video for more detailed information click on the QR code below or go to the website at www.thebarnyardestates.com.