Some call it the social event of the year, but for us it is a gift to our friends and neighbors. Getting ready for the barn dance takes a lot of time and planning. A week before the dance we had a huge mess of straw, hay, dust, dirt, farm equipment, cement mixers, generator, lumber, rafters, wool, coal and even a setting turkey hen to deal with. We started to clean last Sunday and pretty much worked on cleaning the quonset out all week in between regular farm and home work. We also had to move and wall paper the outhouse, hang the hand sanitizer, candles, mirror and toilet paper. 
I never did get a before photo of all the hay bales that had to be moved out first, but the entire front end was full. After the building was empty, Fred came through and swept the cement floor with a large square bale of alfalfa. It worked pretty slick. The strong South winds helped to blow out some of the dust as well.
After the first sweeping we started building up the straw and hay bale bleachers. This also created plenty of dust.
Next we set up the stage, swept and started vacuuming which was done three times because the dust kept settling. We also had to rewire a new light on the roof, which is a job none of us wanted to do. Gravel was hauled in front of the barn so that there would not be any mud tracked in. Then the tables were set up and the lights and decorations hung. We also scatter pine shavings all over the floor just before the dance to make it smell good and help make the dancing easier on the cement.
Friday night came and went by very quickly. Chores were done a bit early. The following are some photos of the fun had by all. One unique thing about this event is that there is such a wide range of ages all having a good time together. Fathers are seen dancing with daughters, brothers with sisters, and mothers with their sons.
God held back the rain and severe weather that was all around us. I think there was a tornado warning in our county as well. Thanks to all the folks who came and made the dance so much fun. To those of you who could not make it, we missed you and hope to see you next year.
CALLENS HONEY FARM 
WE really wanted to come! Maybe next year.
Love- xoxoxoxo- Teresa
WOW!!! Looks like you all had a TON of fun! (And I think I recognize the vases on the tables! 😉
I hope we can make it out some year!
Thank you Fred, Sandra and family for making a night to remember, AGAIN!!!!! What fun and joy to celebrate life with good friends and meeting new acquaintances! May the Lord bless you all for blessing us in such a marvelous way! 🙂
That was so much fun Sandra and family…as usual! Ron and I want to host one in our cattle shed in the fall. =)
Suzanne
We really had a fun time at your barn dance! Thanks again for all your work in preparing it and for providing the great music!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Wish we could have made it, but our day started at 5am the next morning! Looks like a great time was had by all!
Hugs to all!
Gloria
Been traveling for the last two weeks and just couldn’t make it
this year. Maybe next year!
Hope to see you guys later this summer.
George & Tu Callens
Yay! This is the post we were waiting for!:) Thanks for all the pictures! Looks like tons of fun you guys!
Blessings,
Mary 🙂
http://lundkids.blogspot.com
Awesome, looks like so much fun……..and work:)
What a huge amount of work….but wow, what a lot of fun!
Enjoyed the festivities thru the Blog. Looks like a lot of fun was had by all!
The pictures of the barn dance brought back memories. I especially loved the one of Jessi and Luke with Maura. I couldn’t help but remember when we were at that one barn dance that the two of them couldn’t keep their eyes off each other! Soon afterwards, they got engaged…Oh, to be young again!