Barn Quilt Squares Catch On

Barn Quilt Squares Catch On AG WORLD Ag World Painting quilt squares on barns started in Ohio then spread to Tennessee Kentucky and Iowa When Kevin Peyton first heard about the idea he decided to develop the idea in his home area Sac County Iowa What started out as a 4-H leadership project has taken on a life of its own      Our original goal was 10 barns but we are up to 17 with five more ready to be installed on barns says Peyton The whole county has gotten involved We have had adult and youth groups art classes and ag classes painting squares FFA chapters helped build the frames     Eligible barns are on blacktop roads for ease of access and should be at least 50 years old to emphasize the county s agricultural heritage Unlike some communities where the quilt patterns are painted on the barns themselves these are painted on 8 by 8-ft squares of plywood that are later attached to barns      You can t put kids up high on barns says Peyton By building and painting the squares on the ground you get a lot more youth groups involved     Initial funding came from the Sac County Farm Bureau local individuals and businesses As the project progressed barn owners have gotten involved to help fund it     Peyton s end goal is to have a barn with a quilt square close to every town in the county He hopes the increased tourist traffic to view the artwork will result in increased business for town shops and cafes So far the quilt square barn route covers 108 miles of hard surface roads While there is no way to tell how many people have traveled the route numbers are growing      We have had a lot of barn owners tell about people pulling in and taking pictures says Peyton     Whether or not the county sees an increase in business Peyton feels the project has been worthwhile The project has really brought a sense of unity to a lot of people involved he says Our biggest problem so far has been that everybody wants a barn quilt     Peyton is using GPS and other software to make maps of where the squares are He has also produced a CD that tourists can buy or rent to tell them about the county the barns with squares and other places of interest The county plans to produce brochures about the quilt squares to promote agriculture and the county     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kevin Peyton 2537 Xavier Ave Sac City Iowa 50583 ph 712 662-3507; kpeyton@ prairieinet net; www barnquilts com

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