By Kelly Wheeler
When you are driving through the countryside in Alabama , you ’ ve probably seen a unique quilt piece on a barn and never understood the significance .
That barn is part of the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail — which is changing the landscape of the rural part of the state , one colorful wooden quilt block at a time .
And if you are from Cullman County , you really don ’ t have to drive that far to see local barns on the spotlight .
Randy and Joquitta Posey have one , as well as Vickie and Billy Pruett . Take a look at the trail map to see the address to drive too .
According to the Alabama Barn Trail website , Founder Regina Painter saw her first quilt block on a barn while traveling through Tennessee .
Determined to bring the idea to the Yellowhammer State , she founded the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail in 2015 .
According to the official website , the trail is an “ agricultural tourism project designed to promote travel and community pride by encouraging the public to explore our roads , farms , businesses , and historic towns .
Alabama
Barn Quilt Trail
Today , “ The American Quilt Trail Movement ” reportedly is one of the fastest growing grassroots public art movements in the United States .
Just so you know , the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail currently includes 80 official sites , with three quilt blocks in the process of being installed and 10 to 20 more on the non-profit ’ s to do list .
Thanks to a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the Alabama Farmer Federation , the barn quilts are made and installed free of charge .
The quilt squares measure either 8 feet by 8 feet or 4 by 4 feet . Though they were originally made from plywood , the group now uses composite aluminum , which is more lightweight and durable .
Dale Robison , a member of the Alabama Barn Quilt Trail committee , designs draws each barn quilt square in his garage before it ’ s painted and installed .
The Trail partners are the Alabama State Council on the Arts , ALFA , and the Alabama Farmers Federation for their generous support !
If you would like to learn more about how you can be selected for the trail , please email alabamabarnquilts @ gmail . com .
For those who wonder what the purpose of the Alabama Barn Trail is let ’ s look at the benefits to our community and small businesses to see what they include :
• Providing an economic benefit from tourism for businesses and farms on the Quilt Trail
• Promoting preservation of our historic barns
• Honoring the agricultural roots of the state of Alabama
• Creating public art and paying tribute to the uniquely American history of beautiful quilts
Just one of the many sights to see on the trail in Cullman , Alabama .
42 | WINTER 2021 CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE