The Vermont Barn Painting Project announced on March 16 that it is now accepting new applications for the 2026 painting season. The program, led by Angelo Pizzagalli and the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund, aims to help restore historic barns across Vermont through minor repairs and fresh coats of paint.
The initiative is important because many generational farm families struggle to maintain these large, historic structures. By supporting barn owners with micro-grants, the project helps preserve Vermont’s agricultural heritage and enhances the visual appeal of rural communities for both residents and visitors.
In 2025, eight barns throughout the state were painted by their owners, who then received up to $8,000 in reimbursement from the fund. The program encourages barn owners to improve and preserve their properties for future generations while also contributing to roadside aesthetics across Vermont.
For the upcoming season, organizers hope to approve painting requests from ten barn owners in need of support. Interested applicants can visit https://agriculture.vermont.gov/paintbarn or contact Scott Waterman via email at Scott.Waterman@vermont.gov for more information or to apply.
“The Pizzagalli Family looks forward to working with Vermont barn owners to preserve and protect these architectural monuments to our state’s agricultural heritage, and their place on Vermont’s landscape,” said representatives of the family fund.
