Youth with a Farm Toy Passion

​By Fred Hendricks
Note: This feature is in the October TF 2017 issue

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The youth who are members of the Southwestern Ohio Farm Toy Collector Club (SWOFTCC) are actively involved as collectors and builders. With the support of their parents and encouragement by senior members of the club, they have developed a passion for the farm toy hobby.
The SWOFTCC sponsors a farm toy show each Augest in Hillsboro, Ohio, with youth fully engaged. In addition, the SWOFTCC assists the local FFA chapter and FFA Alumni Association of Mowrystown, Ohio, with its annual farm toy show in February. The Morrystown show features dioramas, with many youth participating.
Following is an in-depth story about two individuals, along with tow young brothers, who are active collectors, some of whom customize farm toys also. They also display creative dioramas at the Mowrystown show. Their collections and dioramas were not photographed at the show, but in their respective homes.
Matthews Brothers Create Massive Display
Two young lads from Bainbridge, Ohio, are excited about the farm toy hobby. Zane Matthews, 11, and Joe Matthews, 8, are fully engaged in farm toy collecting. At this young age, they have built creative displays, along with dabbling in customizing. 
The brothers were exposed to the farm life while still very young.
"We grew up around the farm alongside our dad, grandfather and great-grandfather. I drove a John Deere 1020 tractor for the first time when I was 9 years old. But, my first field job, in 2016, was driving the John Deere 7700 with a chisel plow behind. That was fun and it really felt good working in the field all by myself. I've even driven our Chevy pickup truck out in the field," Zane related. At his young age, Joe's driving experience has been limited to the Gator.

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October TF 2017 DIGITAL ISSUE