Barn Quilt Locations

4145 East State Route 296, Urbana

Barn Owners: Larry and Jan Dagger

Quilt Square: "Bovine Star"

Sponsors: Dagger Farms & Dagger Seed Service

This barn has been in the family for five generations, spanning 118 years. Jacob Dagger purchased the farm in 1890. To the best of knowledge, the bank barn was one of the earliest structures built on the farm. The bottom of the barn was constructed from railroad car timbers from cars being dismantled for refurbishing in Urbana. Several floor joists still show railroad markings on them. The upper levels of the barn are pinned and are finished with tongue and groove siding. The original slate roof with the name DAGGER imprinted on it was visible from the road but was replaced by a metal roof twenty years ago for economic reasons. The original stone foundation made from stones found on the farm has been replaced by concrete blocks.

Originally, the barn's primary use was to stall the work horses, and it's design also enabled cows to be milked in the milking area. A large mow allowed an abundant amount of loose hay to be stored in it. Today, several thousand square bales of hay and straw can be stored in the mow. Horses are still stalled in an upgraded area below the hay mow.

The five generations that have worked this family farm include the family members of Jacob Dagger, Rolly Dagger, Carl Dagger, Larry Dagger, and Jason and Justin Dagger. A variety of livestock and crops have been raised on the farm over the years including tobacco, wheat, soybeans, oats, hay and corn. Livestock raised since 1890 include horses, sheep, chickens, goats, hogs and cattle. The farm's main focus today is hay, row crops, and cattle. Since the farm presently consists of over 200 brood cows, beef was selected as the feature woven into our quilt design. At this time, the primary builder of the barn is unknown, but the barn's function remains the same - the center of the farm.

We are honored and proud to display a Champaign County Barn Quilt. We believer our 1800's barn helps represent the rich heritage and classic family traditions symbolic of Champaign County.

The quilt pattern, an Ohio Star variation, was chosen because several of our family members are graduates of The Ohio State University and all family members are Buckeye fans. The steer head represents the beef production characteristic of the farm. The selected quilt pattern uniquely showcases the Buckeye/Beef focus and allowed us to incorporate the colors representative of the universities and colleges from which all of our immediate family members and their spouses have earned degrees: The Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, Ball State, University of Dayton, Rhoades State, Urbana University, Wilmington College, Southern Illinois, and the University of Kentucky.