AMSTERDAM — The Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm are trying to professionalize their fundraising by hiring a marketing and public relations consultant to raise awareness about the cause and focus the group’s vision for the site.

The Friends this week signed a three-month contract with Tom Collins of Pattersonville-based Collins Communications.

“I really want to move [their efforts] to the next level and begin to try and raise the visibility and reach of the people they are getting to,” Collins said Friday. “And to really tell the story of the farm because it has great Amsterdam history and great racing history associated with it.”

Collins said the efforts of the Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm are not really about saving a barn, but creating a heritage location where people can come and learn more about Amsterdam and about racing.

“It is really about trying to build a heritage center, a destination place,” Collin said. “It’s not just about the structure. We want to make it something the people are proud of.”

Collins said he’s a racing fan and history buff, which is why he agreed to work with the volunteer organization on the trial basis. Collins said if the Friends members are satisfied with his efforts after three months his services are free.

Friends of the Sanford Stud Farm President Sam Hildebrandt said Collins won’t be doing any event planning for the group. Rather, he’ll be getting the word out about the organization and its efforts to the people, Hildebrandt said.

“His function will be to take those ideas we have, crazy or otherwise, and get those out to the people and make them known,” Hildebrandt said.

The Friends are already working on two fundraising functions for this spring and summer. The group is planning an open house at the farm for June 21. Hildebrandt said visitors won’t be able to see the entire structure because of safety reasons, but they’ll be able to better visualize the efforts.

The group is also planning a day at Saratoga Race Course with Sanford family descendants. Last year’s event drew third-, fourth- and fifth-generation Sanfords.

Hildebrandt expects the preservation of the Sanford Stud Farm will cost at least $1 million over the next five years. He said an initial investment would be close to $600,000.

He said he is excited about the group’s new ventures and he hopes that Collins will help increase membership, funding, participating and awareness.

“The last thing we want to see is this go the way of the wrecking ball like downtown Amsterdam did,” Hildebrandt said. “I want my legacy to be the fact that we saved this barn.”