Monthly Features of Toy Farmer Magazine

Custom & Scratch-Built Projects

3/16/2023

This feature is in the April TF 2023 issue.

Scott Ryan recreated a John Deere Model D half-track crawler.
The real tractor, owned by Bruce and Judy Keller, Brillion, Wis., was featured in the 2013 John Deere calendar.

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It's available in the APRIL TF magazine!
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Tim Holker is all about Gleaner Combines

2/15/2023

By Larry LeMasters
Note: This feature is in the March TF 2023 issue.

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Tim Holker's love for Gleaner combines began on his dad's farm, when Hoker was just a boy. Today, Holker, who is from Buffalo, Minn., continues that passion by collecting and creating scale model Gleaner combines.

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It's available in the MARCH TF magazine!
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Three generations share Love

1/11/2023

By Larry LeMasters
Note: This feature is in the February TF 2023 issue.

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Tom Bender, Carrollton, Pa., considers himself a lucky man, as he shares his love for farm toys through the generations.
"I've spent my entire life sharing my farm toy collection, first with my dad, Bill, then with my wife, Melanie, and now with my son, Nick. Not many collectors enjoy the warmth and familiarity of three generations of collecting together," he said.

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It's available in the FEBRUARY TF magazine!
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Treasures Found, Friendships Forged at the 45th National Farm Toy Show®

12/16/2022

By Luann Dart
Note: This feature is in the January TF 2023 issue.

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The well-known mantra, "If you build it, they will come," was made famous through the movie, "Field of Dreams." The Dyersville, Iowa, community became well known when the movie set was staged nearby. But, Toy Farmer Publications my have made the slogan famous 45 years ago, when it launched the national Farm Toy Show. With the 45th annual show staged in Dyersville, Iowa, the crowds are still coming.

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It's available in the JANUARY TF magazine!
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North Dakota Collector Treasure the Past

11/9/2022

By Luann Dart
Note: This feature is in the December TF 2022 issue.

One of Wayne Eggert's fondest memories as a child was being handed a large box containing a set of Slik Oliver farm toys. Today, he still has two of those original toys in his collection, now carefully displayed in the basement of his home in Dickinson, N.D.
While Eggert has strong roots in the western North Dakota farmland, he wasn't bit by the collecting bug until he was an adult. But it was a child who inspired him.

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It's available in the DECEMBER TF magazine!
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Working Models Crafted by Abe Miller

10/17/2022

By Fred Hendricks
Note: This feature is in the November TF 2022 issue.

Working scale models are the result of Abe Miller's mechanical aptitude. Growing up and living in the Amish culture would not suggest this skill set, but Miller explained how his interest developed.
"Although my family farmed with horses, some mechanical equipment was used. Threshing machines were operated with stationary power. Small engines were used for certain jobs ... "

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It's available in the NOVEMBER TF magazine!
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Youth Share Love for Hobby with Display

9/15/2022

By Luann Dart
Note: This feature is in the October TF 2022 issue.

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A zoom chat between two boys who share an interest in farm toys eventually led to a winning display at the National Farm Toy Museum's 37th annual Summer Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa, in June.
Tucker, 11 years old, Owen, 8 years old, and brothers John, 13 years old and Luke, 10 years old, collaborated to complete a 1/64 scale display for the 2022 show, and walked away as the winners of the people's choice award.

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It's available in the OCTOBER TF magazine!
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Pedal Tractor Sprayer Trout Team

8/8/2022

By Fred Hendricks
Note: This feature is in the September TF 2022 issue.

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Kevin Trout gained an interest in farm equipment and, consequently, scale models by marrying into a farm family.
"I married a farmer's daughter. When Lisa was pregnant with our first son, Josh, I purchased a toy tractor for him. That was the seed that grew this great hobby. It wasn't long before the collection filled the available space in our home. Our younger son, Jacob, has since become interested in the hobby. We're now collecting and customizing as a father-son team," Trout stated.

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It's available in the SEPTEMBER TF magazine!
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Family's Farm Depicted in Display

7/18/2022

By Fred Hendricks
Note: This feature is in the August TF 2022 issue.

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Bob Stoller constructed a beautifully conceived Toy & Hobby Museum in 1992. An Orrville, Ohio, attraction, the museum was built to display Stoller's extensive collection of scale model trucks. While the truck collection grew to well over 6,000 pieces, the museum also contained scale model farm equipment and countless memorabilia.
With space available near the entrance, Stoller thought a display of a family member's farm would be appropriate.

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It's available in the AUGUST TF magazine!
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Zahner's Matchless Pedal Tractor Collection

6/15/2022

By Fred Hendricks
Note: This feature is in the July TF 2022 issue.

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Jerry Zahner's zeal for collecting farm toys started as a younster. "I've been collecting all my life. It started by saving many of the toys I played with as a kid. I also collected trains when I got older," he reflected.
While visiting a farm equipment dealership through an early job, Zahner observed a group of old toys above the parts counter.
"Seeing those toys was intriguing. I couldn't beleive a person would have that many toys. When I expressed interest in them, he showed me a recently acquired John Deere collection. He said there were items among them for sale. That caught my interest. I couldn't resist, so I bought several," Zahner said.

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It's available in the JULY TF 2022 magazine!
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<<Previous

Custom & Scratch-Built Projects

Tim Holker is all about Gleaner Combines

Three generations share Love

Treasures Found, Friendships Forged at the 45th National Farm Toy Show®

North Dakota Collector Treasure the Past

Working Models Crafted by Abe Miller

Youth Share Love for Hobby with Display

Pedal Tractor Sprayer Trout Team

Family's Farm Depicted in Display

Zahner's Matchless Pedal Tractor Collection

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