Luke Everett didn’t know Don Scott directly. But the Purdue University ag student and member of Farmhouse Fraternity is a fan of two books Scott published as part of his hobby, not his vocation. The late Purdue University Extension plant pathologist compiled two books about the barns of Indiana and used them to build a scholarship fund to help Purdue College of Agriculture students.

"Barns of Indiana" was originally published in 1998. Scott’s second collection, "Barns of Indiana, Volume II," came along in 2001. So why is it a current topic now?

Working with the Purdue Ag Alumni Association, Everett says they are making a new push to sell the books to continue to raise money for scholarships. The books are timeless, and while they are interesting to read, they are also great books to put on a coffee table for someone with only a few minutes to pick up and browse. Many of the pictures speak for themselves.

Each hardbound volume sells for $20, or you can purchase a set of both volumes for $40 as a package. To order the books, visit edustore.purdue.edu/default.asp.

Scott was a Purdue graduate in the class of 1956. He returned to serve as an Extension plant pathologist for 30 years, retiring in 1998. Scott passed away in 2005. He laid the groundwork for many of the projects Extension plant pathologists work on today. He also left a legacy through the barns he photographed.

FAMOUS BARN: One of Indiana's most famous barns with a unique history is the Normandy Barn, which now resides at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It’s been moved twice.

As he crisscrossed Indiana to put on Extension meetings, he marveled at old barns, many of them showing the effects of wear. Seeing them as beautiful structures from a day gone by, Scott began capturing them with his camera. Many of the barns he photographed are no longer standing, but they’re preserved in print through the books he published.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own two pieces of Indiana history. It’s especially fitting considering Indiana’s bicentennial heritage.