Despite the cold weather and gusty winds, the first barn quilt of the year was installed April 1 in Oconto County at the farm of Ryan and Johna Brock. Russel and Barb Brock, who owned the farm previously, live a mile down the road.
The Brocks chose a dairy theme and a Dairy Cow block to place on their barn, which was built in 1941. All materials for the barn came from the property, from the rock for the 2-foot-thick walls to the cedar shingles for the roof. Stone was hauled from the fields with horses every morning before the masons arrived at 6 a.m. All the timber, planks and shingles were sawed on sight, and there is still sawdust evident in the fields when plowed.
Now, 17-year-old Raymond Brock is involved with the farm and is the fifth generation caring for cattle.
The Barn Quilts of Oconto County project got started a year ago by Kay Rankel of the Gillett Public Library and Lynn Jones of New View Industries. The blocks are painted at New View Industries by workers and volunteers and are installed by Oconto Electric Cooperative linemen, who donate their equipment and time.
To apply for a barn quilt, receive a gift certificate for sponsorship of a quilt or to volunteer to paint, call Jones at 920-855-2128 or Rankel at 920-855-6224.
For more information, visit barnquiltsofocontocounty.weebly.com.
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