Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1249431
Benton County Fair: A stop on the Arkansas Quilt Trail By Karen Rice Benton County has joined 23 counties in Arkansas, including Washington County, in participating in the Arkansas Quilt Trails, a sightseeing and destination movement across the U.S. inspired by quilt making, storytelling and local history. The first completed blocks will be revealed, judged and showcased at the Benton County Fair, August 4-8, 2020 along with its ever- popular Home Arts-Quilts Division. Quilters, artists, students and property owners are encouraged to get involved. Designs are due by August 1, 2020 for reveal at the Benton County Fair. Quilt trails include quilt patterns hand painted onto a large wooden surface that can be displayed on barns, homes, businesses, community buildings, historical structures or points of interest. A series of quilt block locations result in a quilt trail to be visited for photo taking, honoring history and education. Locations displaying quilt blocks need to be accessible to the public from a roadside at minimum. The website and eventual brochures document the trail map and provide other details about the quilt patterns and cultural significance. Participating counties must secure a minimum of 12 sites with installed quilt blocks in order to be recognized and promoted by the Arkansas Quilt Trail. "We love our Benton County history and we love our barns too. When you combine the rich history of farm families with the beauty of quilt designs you get something that everyone can share and enjoy: barn quilts," said Mechel Wall, Coordinator of the Benton County Quilt Trail and owner of Wall Flower Farm in Pea Ridge. The Benton County Jonathan & Heidi Nance Quilt Barn 108 2020 Benton County Fair