• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Barn quilts put the country into the county

The Mitten Farm, in East Troy, displays an Irish Chain pattern, reflecting the owner’s heritage. Terry Mayer/staff.

ELKHORN — Nothing quite says “country” so much as a sturdy barn surveying the countryside. Not only are the structures useful as animal shelters and storage facilities, they are proving to be a big tourist attraction as well.

With bigger-than-life quilt squares going up on the sides of barns all over the county, there’s plenty of color to see and enjoy — especially in this wintry landscape. The snow seems to brighten even the muted colors in “Hens and Chicks” or “Grandmothers Flower Garden.”

List of quilts I Photo gallery

It’s no coincidence that the quilt blocks have such quaint names evoking the feeling of country and home, of gardens well-tended and animal husbandry showcased annually at the Walworth County Fair.

In fact, there are three quilt squares now on display at the Elkhorn fairgrounds, the geographical center of the county.

When Peg Reedy, University of Wisconsin-Extension agri-business agent, started the project, she was hoping for a good response.

The response has been way better than good — more like terrific. Some 48 barn quilts have been erected thus far.

A new brochure has a locater map and a listing of the participating locations.

For more information, contact Reedy at (262) 741-4961 or at peg.reedy@ces.uwex.edu.

More: New 4-H members encouraged to enroll now, PAGE 6.

Read the full story in the Jan. 19, 2011 e-edition of Weekender PAGE 6.