Like many farmers, the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame struggles to hold on from one year to the next.

After being closed last year except for special events, the 50-year-old hall in Bonner Springs will reopen this weekend, thanks to a financial windfall, volunteers and a new executive director.

Board president Clausie Smith says this will be a pivotal year for the center, which opened in 1965 and has struggled financially for years. The center lost almost $800,000 between 2009 and 2013, according to the federal income tax forms that nonprofits file.

He says the board will work on a strategic plan for the next 50 years that will be the basis for a campaign to bring in new exhibits and increased programming.

The Kansas City Star reports the sale of 5 acres last year allowed the organization to pay off some of its debts and provide cash sufficient to reopen.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony today will celebrate the center’s anniversary. The annual Barnyard Babies exhibit will be held again as well. It will feature sheep, goats and other farm animals that kids can pet.

Dawn Gabel, an experienced fundraiser who was hired in January as executive director, hopes the event will expose visitors to the center’s permanent collection.

“We have a better collection than the Smithsonian of historic implements,” Gabel said.