DIY Farm Yard Sign

Whether you hope to lure passers-by to your farm to sell fresh corn or advertise the fact that the place is up for sale, installing a big yard sign will attract attention. Build a giant sign with carpentry tools or have a vinyl sign professionally made. Either way, you'll have about seven seconds to grab the attention of folks driving by, so make your sign big and bold to get your message across.

Plan the Sign

• 1

  Determine the size of the farmyard sign you need based on the distance between your property and the adjacent road or highway. Billboard signs measure 25 feet long by 12 feet high (the largest are 20 feet by 60 feet). Adjust dimensions accordingly to produce a prominent sign that can be seen from a distance.

• 2

  Collect reference material. Evaluate billboards, yard and commercial signs to see which grab your attention. Photograph the most compelling ones. Pick bright colors if you plan to add graphics. Keep the number of words on your sign to a minimum. Leave room for your contact information -- phone number, web address or simple directions for reaching your farm, e.g., "Take exit 2B and turn left."

• 3

  Purchase materials and hardware for your farm sign. Choose plywood, lengths of lumber or masonry cut to fit the sign's dimensions. Add braces, posts, hardware and other necessities to your cart. Buy paint, large stencils, primer and sealer. Set up saw horses or a worktable in your barn to construct the sign.

Make and Install the Farm Sign

• 1

  Prepare a section of plywood, masonry or another building material for your project by sealing and priming the surface. Use stencils to transfer images if you plan to add graphics. Add minimal copy to advertise your homegrown squash or quilts. Alternately, draw guidelines with a yardstick and pencil. Employ individual alphabet letter stencils and black paint to spell out your message.

• 2

  Design your farmyard sign on your computer using your favorite software if you desire a more professional-looking sign. Import clip art -- a cow, barn or another farm symbol. Keystroke the text. Arrange the message and art attractively so the sign doesn't look cluttered.

• 3

  Construct the sign or have it fabricated. For wood or masonry signs, use your carpentry tools, braces, bolts and other hardware to fashion the farm sign. Add a protective sealer if it's to remain in your yard for an extended period of time. Alternately, take the computer-generated disk and size specifications to a local print shop. Request a vinyl sign with grommets.

• 4

  Rent or borrow a post-hole-drilling tool. Sink posts into the earth. Erect the wood or masonry sign by plunging the signposts into the yard. Fill the post holes with cement to brace the sign. Display your vinyl sign by installing the posts without the sign attached. Thread rope into the grommets and tie the sign to the posts.