Remember leisurely Sunday drives in the country with the family? Relive those memories while exploring symbols “of a way of life rapidly disappearing from the American landscape.” This weekend, take a road trip in the rural Sterling, and Dixon, IL, area of Whiteside County to 11 barns, each with individual presence and purpose.
To whet your interest, these are photos from the 2013 barn tour.
The 7th annual Whiteside County Barn Tour is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, 2014:
- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday
- 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Sunday.
The tour begins at 1963 Mound Hill Road, Dixon. Purchase tickets and receive a spiral-bound booklet of pencil drawings by David Alan Badger, which includes brief histories of the tour structures.
Admission is $20 per vehicle, so carpooling with a group will add to the fun.
Lunch and fresh produce will be available for purchase from the Whiteside County Cattleman’s Association.
“We have a rich history to share and a great story to tell,” stated Matt Lillpop, Farm Bureau Executive Director. Experience a “rural connection” as you visit each site.” Besides a variety of barns, you will view antique farm equipment, beef and dairy cattle, horses, and barn quilts, a collection of Cub Cadet lawn mowers, and an attractive three-hole outhouse.
Restrooms will be available along the route.
Call Whiteside County Farm Bureau at 815-772-2165 before 4:00 p.m. or email wcfb@frontiernet.net for a tour map and additional information.
