Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The 32nd Annual New Ulm Toy Show had a strong turnout on the first day. In the first two hours of the show over 300 people visited the collector sales and miniature displays. The event saw an increase in vender participation and miniature displays from last year. See more photos on page 8A.

NEW ULM — Toy tractors and farm miniatures may look small, but they are a big deal to collectors.

For the last 32 years New Ulm has hosted an annual Labor Day Toy Show dedicated to farm toy aficionados.

The show started Saturday and continues through Sunday afternoon at Civic Center. Organizer Wendy Mealman said this year’s show attracted collectors from all over

“We’re up seven vendors from last year,” she said. This means the show features farm toys from over 20 different sellers.

Over 300 people came through the doors within the first two hours of the show. Mealman said last years two day total was 600. There is a good chance they will surpass this number by Sunday.

The New Ulm toy show draws vendors and crowds from all across the Midwest. Most are from Minnesota, but people from Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri attend the show.

Mealman said it one of the only farm toy shows in the area. St. Peter holds a similar show in January, but for those collecting in the fall the New Ulm show is the only nearby show.

The types of farm toys range across brand and include John Deere, Case, International Harvester, Hollander, Allis Chalmers and many more.

“Everyone is looking for something different,” Mealman said. “A lot of times people are looking for a miniature of whatever grandpa drove.”

Name any type of farm toy model, somebody at the show is likely to have it. For example, Mealman was asked if there was a toy of the 1940s era SC model of a Case tractor with two center front wheels in the traditional flamboyant orange paint scheme. Mealman didn’t have that particular model herself, but she knew where to find it.

Merle Johnson of Jackson, Minnesota had a wide variety of Case miniatures including the 1940s models with the SC sticker on the side in his collection. Johnson was one of many vendors at the show who has been collected toy tractors for decades and has been attending the New Ulm show since the beginning.

Johnson said the collecting bug bit him one day when he was throwing out old junk. He stumbled across some old toy tractors and hesitated to throw them. He thought he could find a use for them.

The Toy Show is mostly farm toys, but there are other items for sale. Hotwheel cars are another popular item as well as other types of miniatures.

Each year the Toy Show holds a special miniature contest. Contestants compete to create best miniature display. Last year there were five miniatures sets on display, but this year the contest features nine different displays. Most of the displays feature farm-themed dioramas. The attention to detail is impressive. Farm sites include houses with fully shingled roofs, connected power lines and even little farm dogs roaming the land.

The winner of the miniature contest is decided by popular vote. Those touring the Toy Show are given a ballot to vote. The winners of the miniature displays will be announced at the end of the show Sunday.

For those hoping to find their favorite model of tractor, the Toy Show will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center. Admission is $3.50 per person. Kids 10 and under are free.