Siloes and big barns are usually the first buildings someone spots when driving by a farm. But tucked somewhere in between them is the structure that is the real heart of any Iowa farm — the farmhouse.

Farmhouses come in all shapes and sizes. Often, they are older buildings that have been occupied by generation after generation of the same family.

For any farm family, the house is an oasis for rest. It is the place where the family gathers for delicious meals around the kitchen table, and where someone can sit on the porch to unwind on a summer evening. And yes, it is often the place that younger generations can’t wait to get away from, only to long for the day that they can get back there once they do leave.

This week, Farm News is focusing on these unique homes with a special publication.

For each farmhouse there is a story of what families have done to make these homes their own and what it means to them to be a new owner or what it means to be able to live on their family’s farm in a place built by their ancestors.

We believe you will find this farmhouse publication interesting and informative. It is something you will want to look through again and again.