Less than two weeks after Luther Farms received a commendation from Summit County for 125 years of operation, a large barn on its Richfield property burned down.

The June 25 fire destroyed a 90-year-old barn that was used to house livestock, equipment and feed. Tim Luther, who runs the farm with his cousin, Andy Luther, said the fire was caused by dry hay coming in contact with hot farm equipment. That day, temperatures in the area reached the low 90s.

Tim Luther’s brother, Scott Luther, lives next door. He was working from home when he heard “a popping noise.” He looked outside and saw the barn in flames. He immediately called 911 and ran up the hill to the farm.

No one was injured in the fire. None of the farm’s livestock, which includes 75 head of cattle, were harmed either.

Tim Luther said firefighters arrived around 3:45 p.m. and were onsite until roughly 10 p.m. Crews from 10 fire departments responded to the fire, Scott Luther said. 

“There wasn’t a lot of stuff in the barn, but we did have some hay and straw in there, and we did have to move that so they could fully extinguish the embers,” Tim Luther said.

A 90-year-old barn that was destroyed by fire June 25 at Luther Farms in Richfield was a total loss. The fire occurred less than two weeks after the family run business received a commendation from Summit County for 125 years of operation. The barn was used to house livestock, equipment and feed. Tim Luther, who runs the farm with his cousin, Andy Luther, said the fire was caused by dry hay coming in contact with hot farm equipment. That day, temperatures in the area reached the low 90s.
Only burnt timbers are left after a 90-year-old barn was destroyed by fire June 25 at Luther Farms in Richfield. The fire occurred less than two weeks after the family run business received a commendation from Summit County for 125 years of operation. The barn was used to house livestock, equipment and feed. Tim Luther, who runs the farm with his cousin, Andy Luther, said the fire was caused by dry hay coming in contact with hot farm equipment. That day, temperatures in the area reached the low 90s. (Photo courtesy of Scott Luther)

The long-running family farm is a staple in the local community. It operates a popular market that sells fresh produce, including sweet corn grown on the farm, plus Black Angus beef from its own herd as well as other meats and goods. Five days after the fire, the market opened for the summer season.

Tim Luther grew up working on the farm. In 2004, he joined his father, Bob Luther, in running the farm when his uncle stepped down for health reasons. When Bob Luther retired, Andy Luther stepped in to help run the farm.

As he spoke, Tim Luther sounded weary. The stress of his current situation was evident in his voice. Before the fire, he would go to the barn every morning to feed the animals. 

“I’m trying my best to keep it together, but it’s just, it’s hard,” he said.

Fundraisers launched to assist Luther Farms

Tim Luther said the support the family has received from the local community has been “unbelievable.” 

The sentiment was echoed by his brother. “People have been stopping by the market that we have and dropping off food and donations and just words of support. It’s been overwhelming,” Scott Luther said.

Two GoFundMe fundraisers were set up to assist with costs, one by Scott Luther and one by Ben McKay, a friend of the Luthers who worked on the farm for 10 years. To date, more than $75,000 has been raised.

“Being a business owner, I’m a numbers guy, and I figured there’s a lot of people in this community that love these people and would be happy to help them,” McKay said. “If you start stacking these $50, $100 donations, it could really go a long way.”

Signal background

Like Luther Farms, the barn itself has a long history. The structure was originally located on Broadview Road, about a mile from the Luthers’ property. When Rudy Luther, Scott and Tim Luther’s grandfather, heard that the barn was going to be torn down, he purchased it and paid for it to be moved to his farm. They used logs to roll the barn from its previous location to its new home at Luther Farms, Scott Luther said.

This isn’t the first time the farm has faced a fire. In 1982, when Scott Luther was 10, some of the farm’s original red barns were lost in an electrical fire. 

Tim Luther said his family will likely rebuild the barn. 

“We can’t do anything until things have been assessed, but, I mean, we’re fine for now,” he said. “We’ve got feed, we got hay, we got shelter for the animals. So we’re OK.”

A 90-year-old barn goes up in flames June 25 at Luther Farms in Richfield, less than two weeks after the family run business received a commendation from Summit County for 125 years of operation. The barn was used to house livestock, equipment and feed. Tim Luther, who runs the farm with his cousin, Andy Luther, said the fire was caused by dry hay coming in contact with hot farm equipment. That day, temperatures in the area reached the low 90s.
A 90-year-old barn goes up in flames June 25 at Luther Farms in Richfield, less than two weeks after the family run business received a commendation from Summit County for 125 years of operation. The barn was used to house livestock, equipment and feed. Tim Luther, who runs the farm with his cousin, Andy Luther, said the fire was caused by dry hay coming in contact with hot farm equipment. That day, temperatures in the area reached the low 90s. (Photo courtesy of Scott Luther)

Culture & Arts Reporter (she/her)
Brittany is an accomplished journalist who’s passionate about the arts, civic engagement and great storytelling. She has more than a decade of experience covering culture and arts, both in Ohio and nationally. She previously served as the associate editor of Columbus Monthly, where she wrote community-focused stories about Central Ohio’s movers and shakers. A lifelong Ohioan, she grew up in Springfield and graduated from Kent State University.