Dave Lehnert, a retired farmer and John Deere parts specialist from Le Mars, Iowa who collects and sells die cast models, said his favorite models are 1/64 Peterbilt semi trucks.

He’s got dozens of them at the New Ulm Farm Toy Show at the New Ulm Civic Center.

“The semi truck drivers always want a model that is the color of their actual truck, so I have a lot of different colors. They like grain and livestock trailers too,” said Lehnert who traveled 150 miles from Le Mars to New Ulm for the show.

He said model trucks are more detailed now than they were decades ago.

“Hoods, doors and trunks open. There are engines in the trucks that look very realistic,” said Lehnert.

He said all the model trucks are made in China.

“Right now, it’s hard to get new freight in because nobody knows if or what the tariffs on them will be,” said Lehnert. “Then, it has to be determined who will pay for the tariffs. I have to pass on part of the increased costs to my customers. What I used to sell the trucks for in the box is now what they cost me. Prices have nearly doubled in 15 years.”

He said the drive to New Ulm is worth his while.

“It’s a little bit of a drive for me, but I enjoy seeing the people running the show, the dealers and peole buying models,” said Lehnert. “I’ve been going to these shows in Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Iowa for about 25 years now. I’ve been to shows in Fargo, N.D. and Dyersville, Iowa.”

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Dave Lehnert's Peterbilt semi tractor features a gold metal flake paint job.

At the east end of the show, twin brothers Jerry and Jimmy DeKam of Ruthton displayed a large model farm with 1/25 scale, scratch built tractors, machinery and buildings including barns and sheds with parts of roofs open so viewers can see inside.

Kids were challenged to find items on the model farm that took the DeKams decades to build.

“Hey kids. There are four dogs, four cats, a rabbit and a squirrel on this display. Can you find them?” read a sign.

“This is a 47-year hobby,” said Jerry DeKam. “We’re been taking the farm to shows since 2013. Some of the tractors and machinery is made of plastic that we cut and glued together. That’s what gave us the idea to to it. We hand-built 25 tractors. The model farmhouse looks like our farmhouse. We built most of it in our basement.”

“We don’t know of anybody else who built anything like this,” said Jimmy DeKam.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Dave Lehnert's Peterbilt truck models come in many colors at the New Ulm Farm Toy Show.

The DeKams said they’ve been to the New Ulm farm toy show a number of times and enjoy it. They’ve also traveled to a Pioneer Power show in Le Sueur, the Butterfield Threshing Bee, Pipestone County Fair and Spirit Lake, Iowa toy shows.

Detailed lists displayed with the DeKam model farm include all parts made, how much they cost and how much time was spent building them, project plans and a book of colored photos of the project.

The free toy show continues 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the New Ulm Civic Center.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Lots of tractors can be found at the New Ulm Farm Toy Show.