MONROE - Wisconsin State FFA officers including Tommy Butts, state secretary, who represents Section 4 through the Black Hawk FFA and Kimberly Forrester, state reporter, who represents Section 5 through the Brodhead FFA, have contributed to the new tourism project started in Green County. Barn Quilts are being made to promote and celebrate the visual arts through the combination of the many unique barns in the county that have played an important role in the economy through the generations by adding the warmth, beauty, and artistic expression of quilts. A barn quilt is painted on a wood block (typically 8 foot x 8 foot), then hung on a farm building. This project is based on similar projects in Ohio, Iowa, and the Appalachian states.
Making these quilt squares will allow volunteer groups from churches, schools, 4-H, scouting, HCE, and other community service groups and even families the opportunity to create and paint their own quilt square as a group project. The square that is chosen may represent a family pattern from a beloved quilt or perhaps a new favorite. The Green County Barn Quilt Committee will work closely with the owner on the design and the colors to be used on the quilt square and will retain final approval.
The state officers helped paint a barn quilt from the pattern "rising star." Using the traditional FFA colors of corn gold and blue, the rising star recently came to life and has now been labeled on barn quilt maps in Green County as the "FFA Rising Star."
Butts and Forrester were instrumental in helping organize the other officers to help with the painting. Upon completion, the "FFA Rising Star" quilt block has been placed on a barn at the Ahren's Acres Farm and Greenhouse (Kim's grandparents farm) located at W2176 Greenbush Road, Brodhead, for all to see. For more information on barn quilts in Green County, visit the Web site at: www.greencountybarnquilts.com.
Making these quilt squares will allow volunteer groups from churches, schools, 4-H, scouting, HCE, and other community service groups and even families the opportunity to create and paint their own quilt square as a group project. The square that is chosen may represent a family pattern from a beloved quilt or perhaps a new favorite. The Green County Barn Quilt Committee will work closely with the owner on the design and the colors to be used on the quilt square and will retain final approval.
The state officers helped paint a barn quilt from the pattern "rising star." Using the traditional FFA colors of corn gold and blue, the rising star recently came to life and has now been labeled on barn quilt maps in Green County as the "FFA Rising Star."
Butts and Forrester were instrumental in helping organize the other officers to help with the painting. Upon completion, the "FFA Rising Star" quilt block has been placed on a barn at the Ahren's Acres Farm and Greenhouse (Kim's grandparents farm) located at W2176 Greenbush Road, Brodhead, for all to see. For more information on barn quilts in Green County, visit the Web site at: www.greencountybarnquilts.com.
