Silos and Smokestacks

[CyForPresident]

So I'm thinking of trying to get my parents a barn quilt patch for our farm. In looking at the Silos and Smokestacks website, there is no real documentation on how to add one. Anyone with experience care to share how to do this? Do you just do it yourself with a couple sheets of plywood or is there a protocol I'm missing somewhere?

 

[everyyard]

Paint some boards. I've never understood these.

 

[sweetiecy]

So I'm thinking of trying to get my parents a barn quilt patch for our farm. In looking at the Silos and Smokestacks website, there is no real documentation on how to add one. Anyone with experience care to share how to do this? Do you just do it yourself with a couple sheets of plywood or is there a protocol I'm missing somewhere?

Try Iowa State Extension:

The Year of the Barn and the Family Farm

 

[Wesley]

Found the Iowa movie theater slideshow - which theater looked best?

Hollywood in the Heartland

 

[Trainer]

I had never known what these were until I moved to the Waterloo area. They are everywhere and I really don't get it. Apparently this is the class that us southern Iowans do not understand.

 

[LutherClone]

So I'm thinking of trying to get my parents a barn quilt patch for our farm. In looking at the Silos and Smokestacks website, there is no real documentation on how to add one. Anyone with experience care to share how to do this? Do you just do it yourself with a couple sheets of plywood or is there a protocol I'm missing somewhere?

I think we got our through the Iowa State extension office. Give them a call, or call Silos & Smokestacks and they can point you in the right direction.

As for the southern Iowa comment, I can't resist:

Q:How do you raise the average IQ of both Iowa AND Missouri?
A:Give Missouri everything in Iowa south of I-80. :smile:

 

[GOPCyclone]

I think we got our through the Iowa State extension office. Give them a call, or call Silos & Smokestacks and they can point you in the right direction.

As for the southern Iowa comment, I can't resist:

Q:How do you raise the average IQ of both Iowa AND Missouri?
A:Give Missouri everything in Iowa south of I-80. :smile:

Hey now...just the southern two tiers of counties (which Missouri claimed anyway...).

 

[Cyclonetbone]

Step one: Forget about Silos and Smokestacks existence. It is just a middle man for federal dollars and serves no real purpose. It is an example of waste, someone gets paid so that non profits have someone they can apply for grants through, money that NORMALLY would be available through federal grants anyway. P.S. that someone gets paid a lot and actually has a gold tooth right out of Home Alone.
Step two: Talk your local extension office.
Step three: Have you not forgotten about Silos and Smokestacks yet? Start forgetting now.

 

[mkadl]

I think we got our through the Iowa State extension office. Give them a call, or call Silos & Smokestacks and they can point you in the right direction.

As for the southern Iowa comment, I can't resist:

Q:How do you raise the average IQ of both Iowa AND Missouri?
A:Give Missouri everything in Iowa south of I-80. :smile:

Negative rep for you!!! It is Minnesota and north of 30 get it right!!!

 

[Al_4_State]

Negative rep for you!!! It is Minnesota and north of 30 get it right!!!

So you're advocating giving Ames to Minnesota?

 

[MNCyGuy]

So you're advocating giving Ames to Minnesota?

Can I retroactively get in-state tuition?

 

[intrepid27]

Step one: Forget about Silos and Smokestacks existence. It is just a middle man for federal dollars and serves no real purpose. It is an example of waste, someone gets paid so that non profits have someone they can apply for grants through, money that NORMALLY would be available through federal grants anyway. P.S. that someone gets paid a lot and actually has a gold tooth right out of Home Alone.
Step two: Talk your local extension office.
Step three: Have you not forgotten about Silos and Smokestacks yet? Start forgetting now.

Better yet call you congressman and remind him this program is a black hole for money and should be eliminated. I spoke with a guy that ran this once and it pretty much revolves around a few signs and tourist brochures. By the way I believe there are state funds used as well.

 

[FarminCy]

Paint some boards. I've never understood these.

This is the best answer. I've never understood the whole barn quilts thing. Most people should be focusing on fixing the roofs and siding on the barns to make sure they keep standing instead of thinking some design hanging on it will make it look nice.

I don't know the whole story of the barn quilts but was told that state money is used for them, if so what a giant waste of money when we have so many other things in the state that need funding.

 

[cstreed]

So I'm thinking of trying to get my parents a barn quilt patch for our farm. In looking at the Silos and Smokestacks website, there is no real documentation on how to add one. Anyone with experience care to share how to do this? Do you just do it yourself with a couple sheets of plywood or is there a protocol I'm missing somewhere?

The Barn Quilt Projects have typically been done at the county level. Depending on where your parent's live, will determine if a program exists. Silos & Smokestacks works with Barn Quilts of Grundy County to tell their story, but you would need to contact Grundy County directly. Grundy County Extension developed this project and manages it - 319.824.6979.

You are not so far off - they typically paint a quilt block on plywood and attach to a barn or outbuilding. In many cases, it is local volunteers doing it. Some of the barn quilt projects around the US are done better than others. In Grundy County, they have taken the project to another level with a travel cd so you get more background about the individual farms and their families and what each quilt means. Usually there is a special meaning behind it.

I, too, am skeptical when other counties put a quilt block on a rundown barn, but it many cases the owner of the barn takes it as an opportunity to tidy up the barn.

Hope this is helpful. Good luck.