Crescent Duck Farm
Challenge – Lack of surplus straw storage
Solution – Hercules Truss Arch Building
Size – 65′ wide x 140′ long
Application – Straw storage for duck farm
When Blake Corwin, owner of Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, NY, needed a new option for housing the straw he uses for his commercial-scale duck farm, he turned to ClearSpan Fabric Structures for a fast, economical and no-hassle solution.
As one of the largest and last duck farms existing on Long Island, Corwin raises, harvests and transports ducks to many of the best markets in the Northeast. When faced with the need to store straw for his farm, Corwin wanted to find the best choice for his operation. “When straw comes, it comes and it comes heavy! When farmers are ready to harvest it, they need to get it out of the fields and to the customer,” Corwin explains. In order to store as much straw as possible, Corwin decided to replace his 30’W x 60’L concrete and wood barn with a 65’W x 140’L Hercules Truss Arch Building. “We used the original building predominantly for straw storage,” Corwin states. “We decided that since we had the space to fit a larger building, we would just go with it!”
Since the purchase of his fabric structure, Corwin says there’s no turning back. He has unlimited access to the straw that is housed under the cover, as well as equipment storage and work space. “Odds and ends that I used to have to keep outside are now under the building, readily available and not all over the place,” Corwin explains. In addition to the storage benefits of his building, Corwin loves the natural light that the cover of his building provides. “Working on repairs or equipment outside in the bright sun is not always the best choice, but the amount of light that comes through the building is perfect for being able to comfortably work on projects,” Corwin says.
The economical benefits that Corwin has seen from his building have only added to his overall satisfaction. The cost of running his original barn, he estimates, is twice as much as what it costs him to run and upkeep his fabric structure. Not only is the cost of running the building less, but Corwin was pleased with the quick installation timeline for his building. “The crew came in on a Tuesday and by Friday, they were on their merry way!” Corwin explains.
In the end, Corwin is very pleased with his building. “The overall experience with ClearSpan was very enjoyable,” he states. “We just love the sheer size of it, and the ease of repair is just great.”
