Nearly 400 attend annual Tracy Area Quilts & Gardens Tour
This year’s Tracy Area Quilts & Gardens Tour went off without a hitch — or a stitch out of place. Although it might’ve been a bit hot for some, the draw of beautifullypruned rose bushes and meticulously-piecedtogether quilts attracted quite the crowd last Wednesday.
With just under 400 ticket-holders, and even more who came for the pie and ice cream, the event was above predicted numbers. Unlike in the past, there were no large bus tours that made the trip out for the event this year. However, organizer Jolynn Johns was amazed by the turnout despite that.
“It was just a perfect day,” she stated. “We were very happy with the weather, and we’re always so thankful to the people who opened up their gardens and showcased their quilts for us.”
The majority of attendees were from southwest Minnesota, but quite a few people from the Twin Cities area and as far as Yankton, SD.
The sites this year were much closer together, with all but one being in Tracy city limits. St. Mary’s Pies were served at The Caboose, and the first site was just down the road.
The closer sites were a huge plus for many visitors. Joyce Pearson, of Canby, said it made seeing all the sites much easier.
“It’s a great time every year, but the sites being as close as they were was really nice,” she said. “The tour always has so many friendly people. Every year I have great conversations. The pie is always good, too, of course!”
The big featured quilter of this year’s tour was Cynthia Buchholz, who displayed her barn quilts and other creations at The Caboose alongside her husband, Richard Buchholz. A middle school shop teacher, he started building birdhouses with his students two years ago for Cynthia to finish and adorn with her unique barn quilt designs. But he explained that those birdhouses have become a larger community project for him and his wife.
Meghan’s Place, a nonprofit founded in 2017 in the Buchholzs’ hometown of Hutchinson, focuses on providing a space for young adults with disabilities to grow into active members of their community. Richard had the idea to partner with the group and provide an opportunity for his students to engage with the members.
“It was just amazing to see them work together.” He said. “I was worried about how some kids would interact with the members, but they really surprised me.”
Cynthia’s original idea of decorating birdhouses turned into so much more: quilting turned into community connections.
Other sites on the tour included local businesses Cinnamon Hen (owned by Nancy & Tom Dobson), which saw quilts hung outside and inside the shop, and I&H Greenhouse (owned by Ina & Harvey Rykhus), home to dozens of pots of flowers and unique woodworking projects.
The only farmsite on the tour was BIG Roots Family Farm, owned by Nicole & Jason Knopik. Last year they planted over a half dozen large flower beds and opened them in late July-September for “U-Pick” flower bouquet events. They also create custom, pre-made bouquets and sell them.
All in all, another year of success for the annual event!
