Mission Statement 

The mission of the Barn Quilts of Grundy County is to promote and celebrate the unique agricultural experience of Grundy County through the visual combination of barns, which were vital to the economic well-being of the rural community, and the comfort of handmade quilts that provided warmth, beauty, and an outlet for individual artistic expression.

Project Objectives 

 *Agri-Tourism: This project provides us with opportunities to showcase the various aspects of agricultural production and businesses. Our goal is to provide resources to enable visitors to enjoy hands-on experiences and educational opportunities regarding Iowa farm history.

 *Folk Art of the Americana Quilt: This project allows for the promotion of the necessity and uniqueness of quilts in rural Iowa, and provides a way to preserve their place in Grundy County history. Our intention is to illustrate the symbolism and heritage behind the quilt blocks and patterns that tied communities together and provided a socialization outlet for Midwestern women.

*Agricultural Architecture: The Barn Quilt Project allows us to illuminate the unique barn architecture that defined Iowa's diverse ethnic groups through building styles, materials, and work function. Built in different time periods and for different purposes, these buildings provide the perfect opportunity for visitors to learn about the diverse aspects of agricultural production and the different types of buildings that are needed to fulfill each of these functions.

*Cultural Identity: It is necessary to conserve the rich heritage of the Ostfriesen settlers who immigrated from Northern Germany and the Netherlands border in search of available farmland. These early settlers transformed Grundy County land that had been rejected by others, and, through their knowledge and skills, drained the land and cultivated it into the richest farmland in the world. The proposed Grundy County welcome center, to be built at the junction of Highways 20 and 14, will honor these settlers with a four-story German windmill and heritage center.

 *Economic Development: We would like to develop support incentives, such as promotions, marketing, and grant writing, for local businesses and farmers who want to link their new or existing small businesses to the Barn Quilts of Grundy County. The Grundy County Development Alliance will work to develop classes and workshops dealing with leadership, entrepreneurship, and other relevant topics that will be made available to those living in and around the county.

 *Community Sustainability: Our intention is to reroute tourist traffic off of newly constructed Highway 20 to the established retail and commercial ventures already existing in Grundy County. The Barn Quilt project will provide a climate favorable for local entrepreneurs to develop and initiate products that service the influx of new tourism in the county. Proceeds from the project will be funneled into two Grundy County campaigns that assist local, low-income families - Neighbors Helping Neighbors and Operation Recharge - thereby fostering community betterment on numerous levels.