Knoxville — Members of the Knoxville High School Chapter of the FFA have been busy this summer, completing barn quilts they designed and painted.
FFA members Jordan Richardson, Phillip Richardson and Abby Pothoven said there is at least one already hanging in the county, with more scheduled to be placed soon.
Each barn quilt represents Marion County, or a piece of its history. For instance, there is a 4-H quilt that showcases heart, health, head and hands motto, in the colors of the schools of Marion County
There is a quilt highlighting Whitebreast. Another pays homage to Knoxville as the birthplace of the Iowa State Flag. Yet another honors the Peace Tree.
"We've been working on it all summer long," Jordan said. The project began during the 2011-12 school year. The students researched the kind of wood they needed to use, as well as the history they wanted to portray.
"They look pretty nice," Pothoven said.
Not every barn quilt completed has a home. The students say they are also willing to take orders, to design and create a barn quilt if you have one in mind.
"We're just trying to include everything from Marion County into our barn quilts," Jordan said.
