Raynors to host first barn quilt in county as part of new tourism program

Arline Borchers, member of Boonslick Tourism Council, paints the marine board quilt that will be hung on Richard and Carol Raynor's barn located on Highway 240. The quilt, "Farmer's Daughter," is red, blue and yellow.
(Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)

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On Wednesday, June 11, at 4:30 p.m., the group's first quilt to be hung in Saline County will be unveiled at Richard and Carol Raynor's farm, located one mile west of Highways 240 and 41. This quilt is called "Farmer's Daughter" and is red, blue and yellow. It is made of marine board and will hang at the top of the face of the barn.

Wayne Rucker of Rucker Signs allowed Borchers to paint the quilt in his shop in Marshall. He also suggested a cheaper way of making the quilts.

The quilts are currently made of marine board that is heavy and requires a base coat of white paint prior to the painting of the quilt. Rucker suggested the use of a light, aluminum material.

"It comes already painted white and it saves us some money by not having to paint it white," Borchers said.

The Boonslick Tourism Council covers three counties, Saline, Cooper and Howard. They have six objectives, which are agri-tourism, folk art of the American Quilt, agricultural architecture, cultural identity, economic development and community sustainability.

"We want to bring tourism off the big highways and into the small communities," said Arline Borchers, member of Boonslick Tourism Council.

A quilt has been hung in each county. "Missouri Star," the first block hung, is displayed at the Missouri Valley Steam Engine Association at exit 111 on Interstate 70. The second quilt, "Electric Fan," is hanging on the "Lucky Barn," owned by Bill and Martha Holman, located on Highway 240, two miles south of Fayette. The "Electric Fan" pattern comes from a quilt made by Bill Holman's grandmother.

The council chooses the barns after rigorous searches throughout the counties.

"We have driven every black top road in the counties to identify potential barns," Borchers said.

Saline County was identified with 74 potential barns. The council plans to hang 60 quilts by 2011 on barns throughout the Boonslick region, with 20 in each county.

The barns must be the "old-style, big barns" and must last the next 10 years, she said. "We don't put them on new ones."

Raynor's barn was chosen for the third quilt because "she asked for it," Borchers said.

"When Carol heard about (the project), they were keeping their barn up and wanted to participate," she said. "This project is also a way to get people to take care of their older-style big barns."

The quilts are designed to take tourists through the three counties on a nice tour that will not be too long.

"The people like to see the different shapes of barns," Borchers said.

She said the council's only funding opportunity for this project is from their duck race and quilt raffles.

"We are hoping to contact big farm companies to help with the expense," Borchers said.

D&C Tree helped hang the first quilt Tuesday morning, June 10. David Morrow brought out a lift-bucket truck and Fred Borchers and Tim Musgraves helped hang it.

"They are all donating their services," Borchers said.

For more information about the project, contact Connie Shay, secretary and treasurer of Boonslick Tourism Council at 660-248-2011 or by e-mail at cshay341@sbcglobal.net.

Contact Rachel Harper at marshallcity@socket.net