Disabled Woodworker Reclaims Old Farm Buildings

Disabled Woodworker Reclaims Old Farm Buildings “I’ve had to figure out ways to do things differently my whole life, and I’ve found there’s not much I can’t do if I put my mind to it,” says Tyler Christman of Bald Eagle Barnwood, Lecompton, Kan. Christman’s business specializes in dismantling old barns and other wood farm buildings and “reclaiming” the wood, primarily for reuse as furniture, home finishing and “man caves.” While other companies are in the barn deconstruction business, Christman is unique because he was born with cerebral palsy. He does most of his work while seated in a wheelchair, which he affectionately calls his “work truck.” Christman, 33, operates Bald Eagle Barnwood with a crew that includes his father and uncle, with help from other family members when needed. “Taking down a barn is actually the easiest part of the process,” Christman says. “Hauling the lumber home, removing nails and cleaning the boards, and then organizing and storing all the lumber is the bigger challenge. We have an inventory of thousands of square feet of lumber, and it’s always an adventure to keep it somewhat organized and displayed so customers, primarily from Kansas and Missouri, can easily see and pick out the exact wood they need for their project.” Christman says the work never gets boring because old structures and aged wood have so much history. “I now view our work as ‘reclaiming history’ because many of these barns give us a glimpse of what life was like one or even two centuries ago. The wood came from the best trees, and the skill, grit and craftsmanship it took to build these buildings before electricity, using the hand tools of the era, is simply astonishing. That’s why I always like to learn the story behind the buildings, so I can pass that history to the people who buy the wood.” Christman says their most valuable marketing tools involve social media, typically Facebook and Facebook Marketplace. “Word of mouth is also a powerful marketing tool for us. If you treat people fairly and they’re happy with the wood they buy, they’ll often refer us to another prospective customer, which has helped our business tremendously.” Fifteen years of experience has also contributed to their success, Christman says. “Many folks arrive at our shop with a rough idea of what they want, and we can provide ideas and show hundreds of photos of successful projects. That’s often been the key to making their visions come alive.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tyler Christman, 516 N 2100 Road, Lecompton, Kan. 66050 (ph 785-318-0259; www.baldeaglebarnwood.com; Facebook: Bald Eagle Barn Wood).

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