A country gem waiting to be found

“Barnyard Treasures” is an arts and crafts sales event held at the rural farm home of Dawn Raatz. During the Sept. 28 show, 13 vendors had their items on display. Raatz herself advertised “Unique signs hand painted on salvaged barn wood and tin.”

 

Among the vendors were Polly’s Pantry Treats, Beautiful Yard, The Candle Beesness, Originals by Sheesh, Agate Couple, Tim’s Custom Engraving, Keck’s Sweets and Treats, Emerson Lane Boutique, Janae’s Wacky Workshop, Uniquely Crafted, Twin Arrow Spices and Pixel 3D Prints. There was also a cider tent offering cold drinks and some snacks and fall treats. Visitor traffic was light, but constant at the 8623 SW 108th Street address in the area of New Richland.

 

Event organizer and artist Raatz observed, “I’ve always crafted. In fact I don’t ever remember not doing it.” She sells an assortment of stencils on tin, stencil on barn wood, paintings/stencil on canvas. She said she started producing and marketing more pieces when her friends began urging her to start selling in volume. At first, she used Facebook as a market, but last year decided to hold an in-person sales event. She’s lived on her farm going on thirty years; she and her husband, Steve, have three sons now in their thirties, Cody, Colton and Randy. For the Sept. 28 event, Steve took on the task of managing parking. Cody was nice enough to stick around and help for the day when Mom asked.

 

Raatz has a refinished, antique horse trailer set up in her yard to display her artwork. A borrowed 1950s Ford truck was set in the middle of everything with artwork leaning against it. There is also a small building with her work on display. Besides her focus on barn wood and tin, she also does decoupage. She says she continually tries new things, happily learning as she goes.

 

At least for now, Barnyard Treasures is a one-day event, although Raatz says she is considering putting something together for the Christmas season. Crafters and other vendors can contact Raatz at dawn.raatz@yahoo.com, or call her at 507-456-9311. More information is also available on the Barnyard Treasures Facebook page.