Michigan Heritage Barns: Farm, Family, Heritage

Aaron’s journey into timber framing began unexpectedly in 2005 when a layoff forced him to chart a new path. He started reclaiming old barns across Michigan—hard, dirty, demanding work that taught him the secrets of structures built to last centuries. Every barn he dismantled became a lesson in traditional craftsmanship.

The “BarnGeek” nickname came from his wife Maggie during a countryside drive. Aaron couldn’t stop analyzing every barn they passed—identifying construction eras, truss styles, and architectural details. “You’re such a barn-geek!” she said, and the name stuck.

In 2008, farmer Doug Shaw called with a request that changed everything: could Aaron design a new barn based on his knowledge of the old ones? That first custom project ignited a passion for bringing traditional barn building techniques to modern builders. What started as reclaimed lumber sales transformed into BarnGeek—a mission to help everyday people build beautiful, lasting structures without expensive contractors.

Today, Aaron leads the design side of the business, creating plans that blend 150-year-old craftsmanship with modern accessibility. His designs have helped hundreds of customers worldwide turn barn dreams into reality.

If Aaron is the visionary behind BarnGeek’s designs, Maggie is the foundation that makes everything stand. While she may not have swung the hammers that dismantled those early barns, she’s been the steady force holding the business—and the family—together since day one.

When Aaron took the leap into reclaimed lumber in 2005, Maggie was right there, believing in a dream that started with dirty barn wood and grew into something neither of them imagined. As the business evolved from Michigan Reclaim Lumber to Michigan Heritage Barns to BarnGeek, Maggie quietly managed the pieces that keep any business alive: customer service, shipping logistics, order fulfillment, vendor relationships, and countless details that never make headlines but make everything possible.

She answered customer questions with patience and care, coordinated shipments across the country, solved problems before they became crises, and kept the gears running smoothly—all while homeschooling seven children and managing a busy household. Her ability to balance it all with grace is nothing short of extraordinary.

Customers may have called to speak with “The BarnGeek,” but they stayed because of the care and professionalism Maggie brought to every interaction. She didn’t just support Aaron’s vision—she built the operational backbone that turned that vision into a thriving family business.

Maggie’s contribution to BarnGeek can’t be measured in timber or square footage. It’s measured in the trust customers place in the company, the smooth experience they receive, and the legacy she and Aaron have built together—one barn, one family, one day at a time.

Zeke didn’t choose the barn life—he grew up in it. As a young boy, he’d sit at the kitchen table copying his dad’s barn sketches “just for fun,” dreaming of building structures just like him someday.

Those childhood drawings weren’t just practice. They became the foundation for a career built on craftsmanship, customer care, and an unwavering commitment to doing things right.

What started as playful imitation evolved into real skill. Before long, Zeke was handling actual customer projects—designing barns with his own two hands and bringing other people’s dreams to life. Today, he manages the complete design process from initial concept to final cut list, answering every customer question personally and with genuine care.

Zeke’s dedication goes beyond the drafting table. When a customer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula needed help getting their cabin frame built correctly, Zeke didn’t hesitate—he made the long drive to ensure they had the support they needed. That’s just who he is.

Over the past year, his vision and drive have pushed BarnGeek to new heights. His leadership, technical skill, and heart for serving customers made it clear he was ready for more responsibility. In 2025, Zeke officially stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer, taking the reins of day-to-day operations and positioning BarnGeek for its next chapter.

As the second generation leading this family business, Zeke brings fresh energy while honoring the traditional craftsmanship that built the company. He’s proof that great barns—and great legacies—are built one timber at a time, with patience, skill, and care.

While the rest of the family builds barns in timber and steel, Isabelle builds the digital framework that connects BarnGeek to customers around the world.

She designed and maintains the entire BarnGeek website and membership community—a complex system that serves hundreds of active members with barn plans, courses, and resources. When customers can’t log in, can’t find a plan, or need help navigating the community, Isabelle is the calm, patient voice that gets them back on track.

It’s meticulous work that happens behind the scenes, but without it, none of the barn building happens at all.

Beyond BarnGeek, Isabelle brings that same steady care to children in her community who need stability and support. She’s a natural caregiver—the kind of person who shows up when it matters most.

And somehow, she balances all of this while remodeling her home with her husband Matt, tackling projects most people would hire out. When she totaled her car after hitting a deer, she didn’t wait for someone else to fix it—she rebuilt it herself.

Isabelle embodies the BarnGeek spirit: resourceful, determined, and always willing to figure it out. She doesn’t just maintain systems—she builds solutions, solves problems, and keeps things running smoothly, whether it’s a website, a home renovation, or a wrecked vehicle.

The BarnGeek community wouldn’t exist without her expertise, and it certainly wouldn’t run as seamlessly.

Eli is the person who makes sure everything gets where it needs to go—whether that’s answering a customer’s question, coordinating a freight shipment across the country, or getting fresh eggs to market.

As BarnGeek’s Customer Service and Logistics Coordinator, Eli handles the daily flow of customer emails, quotes hardware kits with precision, and manages the complex coordination of freight shipping. It’s detail-oriented work that requires organization, patience, and the ability to solve problems on the fly—skills Eli has in abundance.

But BarnGeek is only part of the story.

Eli also runs the entire poultry operation on the family farm, managing flocks, production schedules, and animal care with the same efficiency brought to customer service. That entrepreneurial drive doesn’t stop at the barn door—Eli sells farm animals, fresh eggs, and baked goods at the local farmers market, building relationships with customers and running a thriving side business.

Whether it’s quoting a barn hardware kit, coordinating a multi-state shipment, or managing market day sales, Eli brings the same thoughtful care to every task. Customers may not always know who’s on the other end of that email, but they benefit from Eli’s attention to detail and commitment to getting things right.

Behind every smooth transaction, every on-time delivery, and every well-coordinated shipment is someone who understands that the little details matter. That’s Eli—keeping things running, solving problems, and making sure customers and chickens alike are well taken care of.