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Chuck, I've built a few pole barns in the south and we don't have the snow problem down here but we do get our share of hurricanes. I bury the poles at least 5 feet, six feet if I can. Holes are dug deeper than needed and I pile in broken bricks, rocks or oyster shells for the first foot or two in the bottom of the hole. This provides a good "bedrock" for the poles to support weight better and it also drains off water too. Poles are spaced on 8' centers, top bands are doubled 2x10's, through-bolted with 1/2 galvanized bolts. We build our own trusses with 2x6 around the perimeter and 2x4's for the bracing. Trusses are spaced on four foot centers and then we install 2x4's on edge on 18" centers for the tin. You probably would have to go with 2 foot centers because of snow loads, in which case you could probably get away with regular 2x4 trusses. We use 2x6's for the lower, middle and upper band and then use either treated T-111 siding or 1x12 cypress or pine in a board and batten arrangement (vertically). All structure is treated down here because of the termites both ground and airborne type. Lower trim piece is a beveled 2x4 to receive the bottom of the siding--also use a galvanized drip edge "z" shape. Everything is strapped and clipped and it makes for a pretty strong building. We're building a 28 x 32 (between hurricanes) and after that one is done we'll be doing a 40x60. It helps to be able to get the poles for free as we can down here--power company gives them away. On top of that the hurricanes have produced a "bumper crop" of poles laying along the roads. Just winch 'em up on the trailer and go.... Most of our barns have gravel or brick floors because of zoning laws (no permit req'd if no slab), but concrete is nice if you can afford it. I wouldn't advise pouring concrete around the poles though--it promotes rot. If you must have a slab, build your form just inside the poles, so there's a 2x thickness between the slab and the poles. Many folks will disagree with that suggestion but I've seen more rotted poles than I care to count--when concrete is poured around them... On the roof arrangement, I always like a higher ceiling for adding hoists and such and if you set the trusses up right, you can end up with a second deck storage area or hay loft--that all depends on what you need for extra space or ceiling height. If you go with a sloped/flat roof, then you might consider using angle iron trusses--lots of folks using them down here but I haven't priced them. Hope not too many words and something said here you can use...Good luck with the job and be careful when lifting the poles in place...
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