Barn Quilt Trail of Benton County, MO!
Welcome to the Barn Quilt Trail of Benton County, MO!
The mission of this trail is to increase visitation and awareness of the Benton County Area by utilizing already existing agricultural assets and the history and heritage of our area by placing barn quilt squares to draw tourism. Benton County is also known for our quilting businesses. Each barn quilt square will have a unique identity based on the owner and location of the barn, along with a history of the barn itself. We will also link to other barn quilt trails in our region to expand our tourism efforts.
There is a committee of very enthusiastic local individuals who are excited to bring you the official barn quilt trail of Benton County, MO! We have been working diligently to secure barns for the beautiful quilt squares, speaking to a local artist about utilizing her talent to do the squares, along with a very talented lady, Mrs. Kathie Kinkaid-Hubbard with Hubbard Holler, who has been doing these amazing barn quilt squares for years.
The committee selected the first 10 barns based on their history, heritage, agriculture, location and visibility from paved roads that are close to already existing assets throughout Benton County. The committee applied for a grant through the MO Humanities Council for the first 10 squares and we want to send a big THANK YOU to them for providing the $2,000 grant to get this trail started. Benton County Tourism & Recreation also committed $1,000 to this project.
We proudly introduce the first 10 square locations, which will be up by mid-October (photos coming soon):
GOOGLE MAP LINK
Bob and Wanda Brown – 400 N Booneville (U Highway), Cole Camp
This beautiful barn has been in the family for over a century and became a Century Farm in 1919. The land was purchased in 1919 by Diedrich Eckhoff and the barn was built in 1950 by Lawrence Eckhoff. The function of the barn was for storing hay and grain and was also used for milking and feeding cattle.
The farm helped support twelve children that Lawrence and Elda. Bob was the twelfth child. He walked alot about military in the barn and putting squares bales of hay in the loft of the barn.
Both mothers of Bob and Wanda were quilters. Wanda’s mother, Alice, worked at the quilting factory in Stover for years and also did alot of her own personal quilting.
Josh and Katie Jackson – 15000 Rehmer Rd, Cole Camp
For years it was known locally as the Bahrenberg Farm and where Harold (Barney) Bahrenberg and his sister Juanita grew up.
The interesting history tied to the acreage and area is it once belonged to Squire Frederick Behrens and his wife Margaret Bockelman, who operated a store. They had come from Louisiana in 1855 and had their store on the old farm, three miles east of Cole Camp. The supplies for the store had to be hauled from Boonville by oxen teams.
Squire Behrens served in the Union army in the original Benton County Hussars. He was injured and discharged in January, 1863.
Deborah Eckhoff – 17305 Highway W, Cole Camp
The barn was built in 1950 by Lawrence Eckhoff for storing hay and grain and also used for milking and feeding cattle. The farm was bought in 1919 by Diedrich Eckhoff is a Century Farm.
The farm was used for a cow-calf operation but is now used for hay crop. The farm helped to support 12 children that Lawrence and Elda raised.
On both sides of the family – the mothers were quilters and Alice worked at the quilting factory in Stover for year and did alot of her own personal quilting.
Brent Otten and Tammy Schrader – 15891 Highway F, Cole Camp
Pete and Terri Richardson – 22344 H Highway, Lincoln
The farm was purchased in May of 2015 by the Richardson’s. The purpose of the barn is for utilization of the calving process for Richardson Ranch to house registered Angus females and their newborn calves to prevent exposure to outdoor elements.
Over 80 years ago, Terri’s great-grandparents lived on this farm and used this barn for their dairy cows.
This pattern was selected because it reminds them of an Indian pattern and some of Terri’s family have Indian heritage.
Dennis and Judy Frisch – 20746 Frisch Rd, Lincoln
This barn has been in the Frisch family since 1959 when it was sold to Clarence R. and Stella R. Frisch. The original farmstead was a land purchase in the 1860’s by Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Mueller/Miller and was owned by different families throughout the years. The current barn was built in 1959 by workers hired by Mr. Harold McCain. The original barn was said to have burned in 1958.
The use of the barn has always been for storage of hay and feeding cattle – even to this day. Dennis and Judy Frisch have lived on the farm since 1996 when they built a house. Dennis and his brother Gary Frisch both worked on the farm with their dad Clarence and for awhile they raised Brangus Cattle.
The quilt selected is a nine patch, which Dennis and Judy have a 9 Patch Pattern quilt that Dennis’ grandmother Louise Frisch (Mrs. Oliver) made for Clarence Frisch and Stella Schnakenberg’s wedding in 1943.
Lincoln Airport – 501 Highway 65, Lincoln
The town’s airport, and one of the last of Missouri’s grass runways, was established with a $10,000 grant in 1969, Lincoln’s Centennial year. Annually, there is a Lincoln Fly-In that celebrates this unique airport; however, all year pilots fly in using this airport.
Jeff and Christy Tolliver – 16509 Boyer Ave, Cole Camp, MO
This barn is well over 100 years old and is a horse/hay barn, which has 4 stalls for horses, 2 tack rooms and a loft for the hay. The Tolliver’s have owned the barn for 37 years.
LeRoy and Vickie Whitaker – 18285 Lone Star Rd, Warsaw
This barn was built in approximately 1928 and the farm has been in the family since 1926, owned originally by Roy and Anna Whitaker. It was used as a sale barn for livestock in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
Cecil Harms/Cheryl Sparks – 19659 Highway P, Ionia
The barn was built in 1860 and has been in the Harms family since 1978 and has been used as a horse and storage for hay and machinery. The barn square design was selected because of the bright and cheerful colors.
If you are interested in being part of the Benton County barn quilt trail and having your own square, please contact Benton County Tourism at lstokes@visitbentoncomo.com or 660-438-2090 for more information. There will be a cost as all grant money has been disbursed at this time. Please note that all quilt designs must be straight-line or approved by the committee for any custom designs (such as logos, etc). The cost for a 3-5 color 4’x4′ is $200-$250 and a 6’x6′ up to 5 color is $400. Logos, additional customization and colors are an additional cost, along with any designs that are not straight-line. Hubbard Holler or Janet Manson are the artists doing the squares and they can be reached for a quote. Artists may require a deposit before beginning work.
