Get to know us
Our Story
Nearly two centuries on this land
Cornman Farms is one of the oldest farmsteads in the Dexter area. The farmhouse went up in 1834, three years before Michigan became a state. The barn followed in 1837. The families who worked this ground for the next 180 years left us the buildings, the maples and the rolling 27 acres you see today.
The restoration
A three-year restoration that began in 2011 saved both buildings. The farmhouse kept its Greek Revival lines, wide porch and original footprint and gained a professional exhibition kitchen. The barn was rebuilt on its 1837 frame with a finished loft, a bar and lounge with a wood-burning fireplace, and heating and cooling so it works in every month of the year.
A decade of gatherings
For more than twelve years the farm has hosted weddings, retreats, dinners and community events, earning a reputation across Michigan for its setting and its food. People often say it feels like home: the porch and rocking chairs, the big maples, the smell of bread from the kitchen. We intend to keep that and build on it.
The next chapter
At the end of October 2026, Cornman Farms came under local family ownership. The Herrons of Dexter farm 70 acres just over a mile from here, where they planted the vineyard that became Social Vines. In 2027 they plant 14 acres of vines around the barn and farmhouse, turning a historic event barn back into a working farm, with the events carrying on in the middle of it.
Our Team
The people who will take care of you
Katina Blanchard
Katina runs Cornman Farms day to day: the calendar, the team, the planning behind every wedding and event, and the standard of hospitality the farm is known for. From your first tour to the last toast, Katina and her team are the people you will work with.
Lori Herron
Lori is the grower and winemaker behind Social Vines, our sister vineyard down the road. At Cornman Farms she supports Katina and the team on hospitality, the gardens and the wine list, and keeps the two farms feeling like one family.
Brian Herron
Brian and Lori bought Cornman Farms in 2026 to keep it the working farm and gathering place it has been for nearly two centuries. He supports the team on the long-term care of the property and the farm’s place in the Dexter community.
Our Spaces
Gorgeous spaces, inside and out
Let us show you around the farmhouse, the barn and the grounds and help you imagine how your day will unfold.
The Farmhouse · 1834
A white Greek Revival farmhouse with a deep front porch and rocking chairs, redesigned inside in 2019.
Arrivals, tall windows and natural light
Open kitchen where every meal is cooked; guests welcome
Working fireplace; a quiet room for a cup of tea or a signing
Pre-dinner drinks; a day room for the wedding party
Seated dinners, lunch meetings and pre-wedding brunch
Gown and suit changes; hanging rod and a painted mural backdrop
Salon lighting, mirrors and power at every seat
Morning-of space for the wedding party
The Red Barn · 1837
Raised in 1837 and restored on its original frame, with heating and cooling for year-round events.
Ceremonies, seated dinners, dancing and cocktail parties under the gabled roof
Wood-burning fireplace; the wedding party’s hideaway before the ceremony, cocktail hour after
Covered outdoor room off the barn, lit for evenings and open to the garden paths
Ceremony Sites
- The lawn, facing the farmhouse and the maples
- The gardens, beside the barn
- The barn loft, for winter and rain
- The pergola, for small ceremonies
The Grounds
A tree-lined drive, mature maples, a sweeping lawn, the chef’s garden and sunflower beds, pasture and animal quarters, and room on the lawn for a tent pavilion. Free parking on site.
Our Jobs
Work on the farm
Cooks, servers, event staff, gardeners and planners. If you like feeding people and keeping a historic place in good order, write to us.