For those who think that some government actions belong in history’s pigpen, a visit to the Otsego County Fair’s swine barn might be a good field trip.

The fair’s board of directors would like to replace the decrepit barn at the Morris fairgrounds, but bureaucrats in Albany won’t let the project proceed because they think the structure might be of historic value.

A walk through the building probably would change their minds. Spending time in it is what led board members and pig owners to push for a new one.

It seems the State Historic Preservation Office figures the barn, which measures about 120 feet by 25 feet, is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places for its association with agricultural history, which means it sits on the fairgrounds.

You see, the fairgrounds go back to the 19th century and some buildings may indeed be historic and worth preserving. But the hog barn?

James Powers, a Butternuts farmer who serves on the fair’s board as well as the Otsego County Board of Representatives, said he wasn’t sure how old the swine barn is, adding that it doesn’t appear in a photograph of the fairgrounds taken in the 1960s.

Forty years ago just doesn’t make it when it comes to historic preservation. Maybe some day it will, but not now.

The building is dilapidated and disgusting. Just ask someone who uses it.

Farmer Dave Holbert, of Burlington, who for years was involved with swine exhibitions at the fair, said it wasn’t ``a very good place for the pigs because it gets too hot in there. I think it needs to come down.’’ Naturally, Powers agreed.

The pig pens have poured concrete bases, he said, and the rusty metal roof is sagging over the eves.

``It’s not that old, but it’s in terrible condition,’’ he said. ``I think it needs to be bulldozed so we can put up a nice, airy, straight barn.’’

OK, since the farmers, the fair board and likely the pigs, too, want the barn to come down, why can’t the state bureaucrats see the slop on the wall.

Cathy Jimenez, a spokeswoman for the SHPO, said they ``found that taking it down would have an adverse effect on historic resources.’’

That means the fair board can’t use a state grant it has been awarded to demolish the barn.

There is hope, however. Jimenez acknowledged that the agency might be persuaded to change its collective mind after more discussion and information. Not to mention gaining a few historic facts and taking a first-hand look, let’s hope.