National Farm Toy Show® gathers families

​By Larry LeMasters
Note: This feature is in the Jan. TF 2019 issue

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The 2018 version of the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa, started sunny and ended soggy, but in-between was filled with activities and fun for all.
Several indoor vendors said Friday was slower than usual, but that Saturday bounced back with healthy sales. "Yesterday was down," said Greg Blank, who had a vendor table in the new gym at Beckman High School. "But today was OK. Today was better." 
Greg began collecting farm toys about 1981 and then selling about 10 years later. Also helping at his table were his wife, Jeanie, and children, Keegan and Lauren, all of Jefferson, Wis. His daughter, Lauren, brought displays to the National Farm Toy Show for several years so that also involved the family.
For the Blanks, the National Farm Toy Show is a family affair.
Brian and Lisa Spatz of Lincoln, Neb., also noted a smaller crowd on Friday but were happy with sales on Saturday at their Spatz Farm Toys table in one of the classrooms in the high school Their son also attended the show with them; an older daughter was there in previous years until she entered college - making it a family affair for the Spatzes as well.
In addition to setting up their table at the National Farm Toy Show, the Spatzes are busy preparing to host the Husker Toy and Buckle Show, which will be held Jan. 20, 2019, in Lincoln, Neb. That show was started and run for many years by Brian's father, Dave, and Pat Bartek died this past spring, but not before passing the show onto the younger Spatzes.
Outdoor vendors were busy on Friday, when it was sunny, but saw their crowds decrease on Saturday afternoon as clouds rolled in and eventually rain began to fall.
The parking lot in front of Beckman High school was filled to capacity by about 8:45 a.m. on Saturday and remained full for the day.

Want to read the rest of the story?  It's available in the Jan. TF 2019 magazine!
Download here: JANUARY TT&C 2019

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