Funk Farmstead

Attention

The object that is described in this article is located on private property. Trespassing is punishable by up to six months of prison time. Permission should be granted before passing on private property.

About

The Funk Farmstead, also known as the Funk Dairy, is a historic dairy farm located in south Richmond with a home and a burned-down barn. The house and barn were constructed between 1911 and 1914, and the barn was destroyed by a wild bush fire in 2022.

History

The Funk farmstead has had multiple constructions throughout its lifetime, beginning in 1903 and continuing until the mid to late 1900s. The home, built in 1911, and the main barn, built in 1914, were constructed by Clarence and Laura Merrill Funk. Clarence continued to build on the property, including the two large chicken coops on the north end. Clarence used the farm as a dairy, selling milk and cattle.

In the 1930s, Clarence and Laura lost their home to the bank due to the Great Depression and their cattle developing tuberculosis. Their son, LeRoy Conrad Funk, and wife, Grace Viola Williams, purchased the farm and proceeded to use it as a dairy. Clarence and Laura later built a smaller home on State Street inside the city limits.

In the 1960s, after LeRoy became too old to work, he sold most of his land and the farm to his son, Calvin Williams Funk, and wife, H. Carol Nobel. Calvin continued to use the farm as a dairy and also began purchasing more land around the north end of Cache Valley and southern Idaho to produce hay, barley, corn, and other grains for cattle and livestock.

After Calvin's death in Nov 2002 and Carol's in Jan of 2003, the Funk Farm was inherited by their youngest son, who continues to own it. After Cavlin and Carol's deaths, the dairy ended. Currently, the pastor and other buildings around the home and barn are used by a different farmer.

In April 2022, the main barn was destroyed in a bush fire that got out of control.