Preservation Pennsylvania is holding its annual Statewide Conference on Heritage at Wilson College this week and the organization invites the general public to attend two free events─a free workshop and a film about the Commonweath's historic barns─on Thursday, June 20. Both events will be held in Thomson Hall's Alumnae Chapel.

Community members are invited to join Preservation Pennsylvania for a panel discussion on "How to Save Barns, Farms and Rural Heritage" to be held from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Questions to be addressed include: What are the key threats to historic barns and farm structures and what solutions are available? What are preservation priorities in an agricultural context? Where do I find funding? When is a structure beyond rehabilitation? How do I preserve the landscape as open space?

The panel will be moderated by Dianna Clemens-Heim of Fayetteville, a Wilson College employee and author of the book, Cumberland Valley Barns: Past and Present.

Experts from the state historic preservation office and organizations involved in land conservation, barn preservation and cultural heritage will provide helpful insights into the challenges that exist regarding agricultural preservation and conservation, as well as offer useful ideas, free tools and resources. Those attending will learn about preserving a local "sense of place" and how to get involved in local, county and state planning for historic and agricultural districts.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m., a documentary film called Barns of the Susquehanna Valley will be screened. Participants are encouraged to come along on a film journey to discover the agricultural, architectural and historical significance of the barns of Southcentral Pennsylvania. The documentary features interviews with farmers, landowners, historians, architects, authors, preservationists and fellow barn enthusiasts. The film will be followed by a brief question-and-answer session.

Those who plan to attend one or both of the free events are asked to register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-celebration-of-barns-how-to-preserve-farm-buildings-and-open-space-tickets-61805022486.

Preservation Pennsylvania is the Commonwealth's only statewide, private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historically and architecturally significant resources. More information about the organization can be found at preservationpa.org.