This year constituted the 33rd annual National Farm Toy Show, and it was a bright spot for many. Toys were selling and the crowd was big, with collectors from all over the United States and as far away as England.

Dyersville, Iowa, was filled to capacity with farm toy collectors, most in a jovial mood. Vendors were set up all around the National Farm Toy Museum and Beckman High School, where the show was featured. Crowds thronged among the outside vendors before the show officially opened on that Friday evening, though several visitors bought “floor rights” that entitled them early entry into the show.

Darold and Karen King of Tipton, Iowa, traveled to the show to see what they could find to add to their collection of John Deere pedals. “I have all the John Deere pedals from 1949 to the current ones, except for a John Deere 63,” Darold said.

While at the show, the Kings found a couple items they were looking for: Karen purchased a 1948 model Ford operator’s manual for her tractor that is like the one her father once owned, and Darold found a hard-to-find JD D 63.
While most everyone had a good time, at Beckman High in Hallway Two – where Ev Weber was usually set up with his wife, Myra – visitors found that Ev had passed away the previous July. He was a toy pioneer and known throughout the farm toy hobby.

Anyone who visited the National Farm Toy Museum had the chance to see some of Ev’s work. His “Small Grain Farming” display filled much of the first floor and other displays are found throughout. Ev had contributed so many items that Amanda Schwartz, of the museum, said, “We rotate them.”

The National Farm Toy Museum is also where plaques are located that honor the Toy Hall of Fame winners. This year’s winner is Wayne Cooper. This Fombell, Pa., toy maker began collecting toys when buying pedals and restoring them for his children during the 1960s. He has also been instrumental in setting up pedal pulls around his state and other areas.

Visitors this year were able to take in a final view of the museum’s display of it International Harvester collection. Schwartz said, “At the 2011 summer show the new AGCO display will be released.”

The museum website at www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com shares details about what it has to offer: “… thousands of toys and exhibits between its two floors. Tractors, implements, trucks, miniature farm dioramas, toy manufacturing information and pedal tractors are on display around the museum.
“Also displayed are two Doug Schlesier sculptures, plaques honoring inductees into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame and a plaque honoring the founders of the world’s largest farm toy manufacturer headquartered in Dyersville, the Ertl Co.”

The National Farm Toy Show is sponsored each year by Toy Farmer magazine. In addition, it also rolls out a show tractor. The 2010 tractor was the International Harvester 3788 2+2, a four-wheel-drive articulating tractor built in 1980-81. Toys were ordered prior to the show and picked up in the school gym.
The show offered an array of events that included the traditional Saturday morning auction by Cromwell Auctioneers, and the farm layout contest. This contest included adults and youth and had many educational displays that brought visitors into the rooms.

Besides the museum and Beckman, vendors were set up at Commercial Park. In one building there were sanctioned micro-mini pulls and on Saturday, Commercial Park was the site of sanctioned pedal pulls for kids.

Although most all of the farm layouts were located at Beckman High, one layout artist from Kansas had a display so big that it wouldn’t fit, so it was shifted to the Commercial Park location where visitors enjoyed the special ranch and livestock scene.

It was easy to move between the museum and Beckman High because buses were running between the locations.

Buses also took visitors to other Dyersville sites, such as the Dyer Botsford Historical House and Doll Museum, and St. Francis Xavier Basilica and Holiday Festival at Mercy Hospital. Many visitors also found their way to the famed site where “Field of Dreams” was filmed.

For those who missed the National Show, the Summer Farm Toy Show is held annually on the first weekend of June in Dyersville. Next year it falls on June 3-4. The show opens Friday at noon and runs until 6 p.m., and on Saturday it opens 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

This two-day show includes experts in the toy manufacturing industry who will be available to offer advice and speak to guests one-on-one. Annual show events include a 50-mile tractor ride and colorful tractor parade.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.