Dianne Peck

The Benton County Barn Quilt Committee met briefly on Wednesday, August 21st to report on progress. The group had not met recently and there was some catching up to do.
The updated list of installed squares includes the Beyers, Hendersons, Warta, Lucas, Bruner, Wenig and Johnson barns. Total grant revenue was $3,880 and total expenditures since 2023 are $2,100, leaving a balance of $1,780 that can fund 7 more 4×4 squares if no installation costs are incurred.

Marge Lumpe attended the meeting and learned that her square for the barn on her property on the eastern edge of Cole Camp was ready. The property belonged to her mother-in-law, Helen Lumpe, and Marge wanted the quilt square to honor Helen’s love of flowers. For those who knew Helen, she was the driving force behind the flower show at the Cole Camp Fair for many years.

Marge brought a miniature of the site and presented it to Lynette Stokes of the Benton County Tourism Office. She received it as a gift for her office. Lynette has organized and managed the Barn Quilt program from the beginning and hopes to one day connect Benton County sites with neighboring counties that have their own Barn Quilt Trails.