Buchanan County Barn Quilt advisory committee members meet at Heartland Acres to discuss plans for a revival of the Barn Quilt project in Buchanan County.
Pictured left to right: Roxanne Fuller - Buchanan County ISU Extension & Outreach Administrator, and Buchanan County Barn Quilt advisory committee members Susie Alber and Craig Johnson. Member absent from photo is Judy Scott.
Barn quilts are nothing new to Iowa and residents around the state are accustomed to seeing them along many roads in rural Iowa. The original Barn Quilt Project began in Adams County, Ohio in 2001 as a way to attract tourists. Buchanan County is no exception with over 60 of the 8 foot by 8 foot barn quilts dotting the county. Many smaller sizes are also found on garages and outbuildings. Working to keep the tradition alive, advisory committee members under the leadership of Roxanne Fuller – Extension Administrator for Buchanan County ISU Extension and Outreach, are making plans for a revival.
Starting in 2013 the members began putting together a program built on the work of committee member Judy Scott and others who launched the initial program several years ago in Buchanan County. Modeled after a similar program in Grundy County, the newly formed group hopes to jumpstart the program again and make sure it remains a cornerstone of things to see for visitors to Buchanan County. Previously, the Barn Quilt group lead by Scott did all the work through volunteers and support from businesses and the purchasers of the Barn Quilts.
Plans for the revival include some of the same supporters along with the new group. The program will include the opportunity for a property owner to pick a unique design for their own personalized barn quilt to be built, delivered and mounted to their building in Buchanan County. The program is designed to make it as simple as possible and at minimal cost, as much of the program is based on volunteers and the good will of others to make the colorful barn quilt program a success.
The Barn Quilt program will roll out this spring with information and forms available through Buchan County ISU Extension and Outreach. Call (319) 334-7161 or email rrfuller@iastat.edu for more information. Heartland Acres is proud to support the Barn Quilt program in Buchanan County.
