By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The toys are coming, the farm toys are coming!
One of the biggest toy shows around is the Gateway Mid America Farm Toy Show. Planned at the Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Westport Plaza in St. Louis on Feb. 5-7, this show brings in visitors from all over the United States and even a few collectors from across the ocean.

The show opens Feb. 5 from noon-6 p.m. Part of the draw of this big show is the more than 300 dealers who will be set up buying and selling farm, truck and construction toys, as well as NASCAR collectibles.

For those who have never been to a toy show, it is a must-see called “room trading.” While at most hotels, private rooms are off limits, at toy shows the selected rooms are open and toys are on display on beds, shelves and almost anything that could be made into a makeshift showroom. Along with the room trading, there are more than 125 tables of farm toys and merchandise located in eight banquet rooms throughout the hotel.

On Feb. 6, collectors come to see some of the most talented toy builders show off their scratch-built and customized toys in the model contest. For those who like farm layouts, there is also a display contest that brings some amazing farm scenes, and at times crops are on display, making this an educational visit as well as a fun one.

In 2009, Jason Jeffers was the winner of the display contest; his winning layout showed a canola display. The machinery was unusual as well – Hector Matthys of Peoria, Ill., an engineer for Caterpillar, created a 1/64-scale John Deere 9600 side hill combine.
This year the contests begin at 11 a.m. The toys come in high quality 1/64- to 1/8-scale models.

Toy builders such as show founder Roy Lee Baker will be on hand with his Cub Cadet and his miniature John Deere B. This two-foot long metal framed toy was made from scratch by Baker in his toy shop near Shipman, Ill. The toy is fascinating because all the parts move, just like the real thing. The tractor actually pulls a Ryder wagon behind it.

Baker was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1996. According to the National Farm Toy Museum, “During the early years of his farm toy collecting, Roy Lee Baker was directly involved with manufacturing farm toy models, particularly 1/64 scale. Baker Manufacturing has provided scale model tractors for both the farm toy hobby and the Mid America Toy Show held annually in St. Louis, Missouri.”

Toy Farmer magazine will be set up, and the show also offers a big consignment auction with many custom-made toys that are not found for sale anywhere else. Some items often bring amazing prices: In 2006, a custom-built Case IH 8010 combine brought $3,800.

The show closes on Feb. 7 and will be open from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, check out the website at www.gatewaytoyshow.com