The barn quilt committee is hoping to hang quilt blocks on historic barns not only to highlight the agricultural heritage of the county but also to call attention to the architectural uniqueness of barns and encourage the preservation of historic barns. Stern is among about a dozen local farmers who are part of an effort in Walworth County to revitalize its rural areas and honor its agriculture heritage by placing colorful painted squares on the sides of barns. The barn quilts are expected to attract visitors, said Walworth County agriculture educator Peg Reedy, who is leading the project. Barn quilts originated in Adams County, Ohio, in 2001, when Donna Sue Groves painted a traditional quilt square on an old barn on her family farm as a tribute to her mother, who loved quilting and farming. Several Wisconsin counties are dotted with barn quilts, including Green County, which boasts about three dozen quilts; Lafayette County, which has almost a dozen; and Racine County, which features about a dozen.

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