Ken Klettke and his wife, Patty, came to the Gateway Mid-America Toy Show from Fort Atkinson, Wis., the first week of February, to even more snow. “We have eight inches at home,” he explained, not daunted by the few inches that fell in St. Louis the weekend of the show.

It was easy to see the Klettkes in their corner space, with silos standing head-high on their table. Ken got into this hobby when he set up his own farm layouts and could not find any silos. “So I made my own,” he said.

This hobby expanded when his brother needed some silos for his layout. Ken created a 1/64th-scale version for him – and that was the beginning. Friends wanted a few, and so on. “This is a sideline for me, it is fun; that is why we are 400 miles from home,” Ken said.

He offers the silos in two different varieties: the Harvestore version, just like the ones seen on everyday farms, and a concrete version. He has them from 1/16th- to 1/64th-scale. The silos are made from PVC pipe, with a special mold for the tops. “The larger ones are harder to make because I have to make each one at a time. The smaller ones I can make in batches,” he explained.

For a 1/16th Harvestore, it takes about 16 hours from start to finish. Ken is also making an array of items to accompany his silos, such as forage blowers that are used to fill the harvesters.
In fact, his scratch-built harvester was featured in a “Toys Around the World” article in Toy Farmer. Like the silos, the forage blowers are available in 1/16th- and 1/64th-scale.

 “The 1/64th Harvestore is the hottest seller right now. The price is right for the kids, they like it,” Ken said.

This is a fun family hobby because Ken and Patty travel together. “I like going to the shows. It is so much fun meeting the other vendors and dealers,” Patty said.

Ken gave an example of going to dinner on Friday night and having a group of collectors ask them to join a table. That is what the hobby is all about – the sharing and camaraderie that accompanies the hobby. “I am his support,” said Patty. “He does this in his spare time.”

Working as a mechanic for a food company, Ken gets off at 2 p.m. and works on his projects between then and when Patty gets home from her job as an underwriter for an insurance company.
“She is the accountant for the hobby,” Ken shared – he makes the money and she invests it, and it works!

For questions about Ken Klettke’s farm toys, contact him at 920-568-9250.

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