SIBLEY, Iowa - It will be four more years before the Osceola County Fair celebrates its 150th anniversary, but organizers have already started building interest in the event by launching a barn quilt display.
Thus far, 24 mini barn quilts have been completed. They were hung Wednesday morning on the walls of the open class building for all to see when the fair kicks off next Wednesday in Sibley.
The 2x2 wooden quilt blocks were offered to the public by the fair board with the understanding they would be decorated and returned to the fair for a permanent display.
The exhibit was the idea of Beth Thole, a department superintendent in the open class building. She’s pleasantly surprised by the number of quilt blocks decorated for this year’s fair, and said people are still welcome to do paint or decorate a square to be added to the display in future years.
“I got the idea from the Clay County (Iowa) Fair,” Thole said. “It was a category they had in their open class for judging.”
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After suggesting that they do something similarly in Osceola County, she heard from several people who were willing to paint a block if they would be for display only and not judged as a competition.
“It’s so neat to see,” Thole said of the decorated boards. “You see personalities come out and family values. They just did a fantastic job - beyond my expectations.”
About half a dozen of the decorated quilt blocks are done in patriotic colors of red, white and blue. The remainder featuring a variety of images, from colorful quilt blocks to a series featuring a country church, country school and a barn. One block depicts an image of a sheep, with a nod to one family’s history with raising and exhibiting sheep in Osceola County 4-H and Sibley-Ocheyedan FFA. Another includes a monarch butterfly with a white background, signifying the transition from winter to spring and the importance of conservation. That block also notes the fair’s 150th anniversary in 2022.
A photo of the artist - all were between the ages of 20-70 - and brief explanation of the design is attached to each mini barn quilt.
Thole said there will be a sign-up sheet in the open class building during the fair next week for people who are interested in doing a quilt in time for the 2019 Osceola County Fair.
“We hope to keep this going until we can have them all around the building on the inside,” she said, adding her thanks to everyone who has painted a quilt block thus far.
“It’s a great way to start on the celebration,” she added.
Thole said she’d like to begin creating a list of Osceola County residents who have a barn quilt on display at their home or farm, adding that it could lead to the creation of a Barn Quilt Trail in the future.
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The Osceola County Fair begins Tuesday with livestock and open class entry, with the first livestock shows to begin on Wednesday. The Osceola County Relay for Life takes place Wednesday evening at the fairgrounds, as well as the crowning of Little Miss Osceola and Osceola County Fair Queen.
Livestock shows continue through Saturday, with the fair board planning nightly entertainment. Thursday evening is the Figure 8 races and demolition derby, followed by fireworks. Friday evening, the Impact Professional Wrestling Show takes the stage at 7 p.m.; and Saturday’s entertainment includes the band Kurrent at 5:30 p.m., a 6 p.m. meet-and-greet with monster truck drivers, and a 7 p.m. monster truck show, followed by fireworks.
An ecumenical worship service will be at 9 a.m. Sunday, with the Osceola County 4-H Council serving a breakfast of omelets, smokies, pancakes, juices and coffee for a free-will offering from 7 to 11 a.m.
