Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute Purchases 30 Acres from Gleaner Life to Expand in Lenawee County

December 01, 2025

Adrian, Mich. — The Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute (SBWI) is expanding its presence in Lenawee County with the purchase of 30 acres from Gleaner Life Insurance Society (GLIS). The partnership ensures SBWI’s continued growth in the region and underscores both organizations’ shared commitment to education, skilled trades, and community development.

Founded in Adrian, Michigan, in 2015, SBWI has grown into one of the nation’s premier trades schools, attracting students from across the U.S. and abroad. The land acquisition will allow the Institute to construct a new campus designed to meet increasing demand for hands-on, outcome-based training in woodworking and fine craftsmanship. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2026, with classes expected to begin in the 2027 academic year.

In June, SBWI President Luke Barnett approached Todd Warner, CEO and President of Gleaner Life Insurance Society, about the prospect of purchasing part of Gleaner’s wooded lot. With like-minded missions that focus on service to the community and education, the partnership began.

“This collaboration helps redefine the importance of post-secondary trades education on a national level,” said Luke Barnett, President of the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute. “The land we’ll now call home reflects Gleaner’s founding mission to serve farmers and families, and our own mission to preserve the woodworking tradition. Our organizations dovetail perfectly together.”

Gleaner Life Insurance Society, which has been headquartered on its 106-acre Adrian campus since 1980, saw the partnership as a way to strengthen its long-standing legacy of supporting education and community growth.

“This collaboration reflects Gleaner’s long-standing commitment to education and community development. By selling this property to SBWI, we’re helping create an enduring educational resource for Lenawee County, one that will expand opportunities for hands-on learning and strengthen the local economy, while preserving the character and integrity of our campus for years to come,” says Warner.

GLIS provides competitive life insurance and annuity products to help members safeguard their dreams. A fraternal benefit society founded in 1894, Gleaner has a long history of investing in education. Through the Gleaner Life Insurance Society Scholarship Foundation, the organization has awarded more than $4.6 million in scholarships since 1980. Gleaner also supports local volunteerism and community initiatives throughout the Midwest.

SBWI is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Institute’s curriculum emphasizes traditional woodworking skills, modern manufacturing techniques, and entrepreneurship in the trades.
This expansion ensures that SBWI can continue to grow while remaining rooted in Lenawee County — where both organizations’ missions to strengthen community and opportunity are rooted.

For more information, contact Luke Barnett at luke@sbwi.edu or 517.759.3070, or the Communications Department at communications@gleanerlife.org or call 800.992.1894.