Source http://www.briangardner.com/home-widget-area-eleven40

functions.php

genesis_register_sidebar( array(
    'id' => 'home-featured',
    'name' => __( 'Home Featured', 'eleven40' ),
    'description' => __( 'This is the home featured section.', 'eleven40' ),
) );

/** Add the home featured section */
add_action( 'genesis_before_loop', 'eleven40_home_featured' );
function eleven40_home_featured() {
  if ( is_front_page() && !get_query_var( 'paged' ) >= 2 ) {
		genesis_widget_area( 'home-featured', array(
    	'before' => '<div class="home-featured widget-area">',
    	'after' => '</div>'
    	) );
	
     }

}