The 2020 Kentucky Census quilt will now hang in the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, located in Frankfort. Photo by Jordan Strickler.

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment – News
September 10, 2021 | By: Jordan Strickler

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- In 2019 at the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association was asked if the group could create a quilt containing a square from each of the state’s 120 counties as an effort to promote the 2020 Census. Now, after a tour of the state, the final product recently found a long-term home in the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort.

“The KEHA was founded on education, leadership and service,” said KEHA advisor Kelly May. “Those who look at this quilt will learn about our state’s people. It implies that every individual counts, which refers directly back to the census. It gives a story that the census is important.”   

In just four months, KEHA members from across Kentucky created each square to represent a unique element of each of the state’s counties. The quilt visited many areas of Kentucky, including a brief stay at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, various libraries and rounded out its tour at the Kentucky State Fair. 

“There is some wonderful artwork representing all of the different counties in this quilt,” May said. “This was actually more than just a quilt. This was an example of teamwork throughout the state. And you would be amazed at what some people can make.”  

The Kentucky Extension Homemakers is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. The organization was developed in cooperation with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Enviornment’s Cooperative Extension Service. 

Contact: 

Kelly May, k.may@uky.edu