Farm Toy Shows, Dec. 12 & 13, 2009

Holiday shopping means something different for collectors. There are a few toy shows left before the big day. I'm listing this weekend's upcoming farm toy shows in this post.

Dec 11-12, Taylorsville, Kentucky

20th Annual Spencer Co. FFA farm toy show at the Spencer Co. High School.

Hours: Fri. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sat. 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

For information call (502) 477-2781

Dec 11-12, Sikeston, Missouri

22nd Annual SEMO farm toy show at the Best Western Coach House Inn.

Hours: Fri. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sat. 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

For information call (573) 628-3643

December 12, Corning Iowa

4th Annual Corning farm toy show at the Corning Community Building.

For information call (641) 344-2686

December 12, Fairfield, Ohio

20th Annual farm toy & die-cast collectible toy show at Treasure Grove Auctions, 4771 Dixie Hwy.

Hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

For information call (513) 856-8160

December 12, St. Thomas, Pennsylvania

14th Annual P. Rodney Cover Memorial Christmas toy show at the St. Thomas Fire Co. at the intersection of Rt. 30 and School House Lane.

Hours: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

For more information contact the Tri-State Farm Toy Collectors Club, (301) 790-2422

December 12 & 13, Fairmont, Minnesota

23rd Annual D & S farm toy show at the Five Lakes Center, 308 S. State St.

Hours: Sat. 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sun. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

December 13, Effingham, Illinois

Annual National Trail Farm Toy Winter Show at the Effingham K of C Hall.

Hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

For more information call (217) 844-2474

December 13, Portland Indiana

23rd Annual Jay County Farm Toy Show at the Green 4-H building on the Hay County Fairgrounds.

Hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

For more information call (260) 726-6433

December 13, Gower, Missouri

East Buchanan FFA Alumni Toy Show at the East Buchanan High School gym.

Hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

For more information call (816) 244-4036

Have fun!

Westchester Toy & Train Shows

With Christmas just around the corner, my mind turns to toy trains. Now that the Christmas tree is up and decorated, one last tree-related task remains for this weekend -- setting up the electric train that runs circles around the tree skirt.

As with farm toys, winter seems to be a good time of the year for toy train shows. These shows are usually run by a local club of train collectors, and they are more than happy to answer any questions about the hobby. In addition to dealers selling merchandise, many shows also feature train layouts on display, so be sure to bring the kids.

Now in its 26th year, the Westchester Toy & Train Associates, Inc. is hosting two upcoming toy and train shows. The first is on December 13 and the second is on January 31. Both shows will be held at the County Center in White Plains, New York (Rt. 100 & Tarrytown Rd.) For dealer and patron information click on the links above.

The Westchester shows feature trains and layouts, but also include toy soldiers, die-cast cars, books, and new and antique toys, as well. If you attend, take a few photos and I'll share them here.

Model Train and Farm Toy Show

While knocking around on Twitter recently, I discovered a press release for a 2nd annual model train/farm toy show to be held in north central Illinois next weekend. If you're in that part of the state, this sounds like a great show. Here's the entire press release:

The North Central Illinois Model Train Fair and Farm Toy Show will be held at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 21.

All types of trains will be on display and for sale including the popular Thomas toy trains, HO Scale trains and the larger American Flyer and Lionel style trains. There will also be several working train layouts for everyone to watch.

In addition farm toys and equipment manuals will also be sold at this show. Antique toys and games will also be sold.

The show runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the heated exhibit halls at the fairgrounds. Adult admission is $4. Kids 10 and under are admitted free. A concession stand is located in the building with breakfast and lunch items.

The Fairgrounds are located at 811 W. Peru St in Princeton. For information call (815)875-2606 after 5 p.m. or see www.bureaucountyfair.com

If you attend, please take some photos and I'll share them here.

Chicago Toy Soldier Show

Though I don't collect toy soldiers per se, I do collect the drummers that toy soldier companies have been considerate enough to release through the years. As a drummer myself, I can't pass up Barclay snare drummers, especially if they still have their hats. I've found a few at the Kalamazoo Toy Show and the Chicago Toy Show -- soon I'll have a nice drumline across my desk!

On Sunday, September 27, 2009, the Chicago Toy Soldier Show will be held at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield hotel in Schaumburg, IL (1800 Golf Rd.). This is North America's premiere toy soldier event, and one not to be missed if you collect miniature soldiers. The doors open Sunday at 10:00 am and the show continues through 3:30 pm, though this show is famous for its room trading in the days before the actual show. Click the links above for more information.

If you're interested in learning more about collecting toy soldiers, I highly recommend you pick up a subscription to Old Toy Soldier magazine. Its articles are well researched and always informative. You'll be able to keep up with toy soldier shows and get acquainted with the international network of toy dealers who can help you find just about everything you'd want for your collection.

Show Calendar

I'm busy this summer -- the good kind of busy -- and have been attending all kinds of great car shows, toy shows, and comics shows, too.

Planning my weekend activities usually starts with a look at the Show Calendar section of Old Cars Weekly, Hemmings Motor News, or Toy Farmer magazines. And I've noticed a disturbing trend -- the calendar sections are smaller in the magazines than ever, as are their online counterparts.

It's tempting to suppose that there are fewer listings because fewer shows are being held, and it's true that many shows have disappeared from the hobbies. But I'm of a different opinion. I think that the current generation of show promoters doesn't know where to promote their shows. Perhaps they aren't tuned in to the magazines, or they assume that someone else will pass on the information, or they just don't understand how important it is to get the word out to hobbyists early. We can't attend your show if we don't know it's happening. And those Show Calendar listings are done by Old Cars Weekly and Toy Farmer for free. Hemmings will give you an online listing for free and a print listing up to 50 words for free.

Several local shows have already taken place in my neck of the woods that I never knew about. There were no listings in the car magazines and I didn't find anything in the local papers. I learned about one show because of a crude sign placed by a stop light at a busy intersection -- turns out the town was having a car show at a local park. They drew about 80 cars. They could have doubled that if they had sent notices to the magazines.

You don't need to be a show promoter to submit info to the magazines -- just send the show flyer with the event and contact information.

Here's where to send the info for car shows/cruise nights/related events:
Old Cars Weekly
Show Calendar
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
oldcars@krause.com

Hemmings Motor News
(800) 227-4373

For toy shows (I miss the calendar from Toy Shop, don't you?):
Toy Farmer
7496 106th Ave. SE
LaMoure, ND 58458-9404
(800) 533-8293
info@toyfarmer.com

And for comic book shows:
Comics Buyer's Guide
Show Calendar
700 E. State
Iola, WI 54990
showscalendar@krause.com