Washington County Barn Quilt Press Releases 
Monday, October 8, 2007
Iron Chef Barn Quilts-An Exclusive Event
Held at Holy Trinity Parish Life Center, Richmond, Iowa
Gourmet Chefs Featured
David Haywood from David’s Catering, Washington, Iowa
Adin Wheat from Café Dodici, Washington, Iowa
Diners were served 4 courses, one of each prepared by the chefs. These consisted of appetizers, salads, entrees and deserts. Following each course, which was served by an incredibly efficient volunteer staff made up of WACO Football players, IMS Baseball players and coaches and a few 4-H members, the diners were asked to “judge” their entrees according to taste, presentation and originality.

Heading up the waiters & waitresses was Cindy Widmer, Washington, with help from Jerry Partridge and Linda Drish.

The delicious four course meal’s grand finale featured Baked Italian Cream prepared by Chef Adin and a decadent dark chocolate and cherry creation by Chef David. This followed offerings of Cornish game hen, southern beans, stuffed pork roll, salads and appetizers. Only room temperature water was served with the meal so that “the diner’s palates were kept pure.” The chef’s wanted  each course to truly be judged on its culinary creativeness without being clouded by the taste of other beverages. 

Voting for each chef resulted in a close race. David Haywood, of David’s Catering, won by a miniscule .05%. His claim to fame is that he is Iron Chef of the Year (2007).  Congratulations to Chef David and thanks to both chefs, the Barn Quilt committee and all those who served, dined or donated to the cause. It was a delightful evening that helped fill the coffers of the Washington County Barn Quilt project as well as provided a time of fellowship and friendship among those interested in making Washington county a wonderful place to visit and live.

9-24-07
Barn Quilt Group Hangs More Blocks

 Barn Quilts of Washington County continues to fill their clothesline of quilts.  Barn quilts were recently hung on the barn west of the McDonald’s drive thru in Washington and on highway 218 south of Riverside.  The local volunteer group plans to hang a total of 24 barn quilts in Washington County in the first of four phases of the project.  For more information you may contact the Washington County Extension Office at 319-653-4811.

 Pictured is a barn owned by Gary Goff located west of the McDonald’s drive thru in Washington.  The Pumpkin Seed pattern is the signature block for the local barn quilt group and represents the four driving loops planned for the county.  It was painted by Kathy Ebert and Mary Chmelar, both of Washington.

This St. Louis Star quilt block can be found on a barn owned by Keith and Penny Sweeting of Riverside.  The barn is south of Riverside on highway 218 between 150^th and 160^th Streets and can be seen from the interstate.

9-7-07
Barn Quilt Group Brings St. Louis Quilter to Washington

The Barn Quilt Committee in Washington County is bringing an accomplished quilter to an upcoming event.  Sally Morgan, a well known quilt teacher and St. Louis quilt artist, will give a presentation about the quilt she created to commemorate the National Corn Growers Association’s 50^th anniversary.  She will also show many of her other quilts.

The special program will be held during Renewable on Parade, on Friday, September 21, at 4:00 p.m. in the upstairs of the Community Center on the Washington County Fairgrounds.  Admission is free with the purchase of an admittance wristband to the Renewable on Parade Consumer Expo.    

The original idea was to have an album quilt made with traditional blocks.  It quickly evolved into a landscape collage quilt.  The NCGA’s Grower Services Action Team oversaw the project which began in January 2006.  Morgan, who will soon turn 70, has been quilting for more than 30 years.  This is her first landscape collage.

Armed with photos from NCGA’s photo contest and other corn-specific images, Morgan went to the International Quilt Show in April in Kentucky.  There she purchased most of the fabrics used in the quilt.  She incorporated PLA fabrics (biodegradable fabrics made from renewable sources such as corn) in the section of the quilt on new corn uses.  By May, Morgan was well on her way to piecing the quilt, starting with a large conceptual drawing on tracing paper and then moving to connecting segments of the quilt together.  Morgan’s work was completed in October when she gave the quilt to her friend, Nancy Clayburn, a long-arm quilter.

While completing the project Morgan learned a lot about corn.  “I had no idea that it was such a valuable crop,”  Morgan said.  “I didn’t realize it was in plastics or that it was in clothing.  I was very impressed with how beautiful the corn plant is.  It is beautiful if you look at it in its parts.”

The program will also include a bed turning of quilts from local quilters plus slides of Washington County’s Barn Quilts.  Morgan’s trip to Washington is sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association as well as the state and Washington County corn growers.