By By GREG KATSKI
Community Editor
If the Beaufort County FFA Alumni Association’s 11th annual farm toy show is any indication, the future is bright for the agricultural association.
Farm-raised children were just as excited as their elders to display their miniature farm displays, including tractors, combines and big rigs, and to pick up new pieces.
Brian Edwards, of Chocowinity, joined his grandfather, Gordon, behind a display table at the show forhis sixth straight year. The elder Edwards, who’s been showcasing and selling his farm toys at the show for 10 years, said his grandson has a “nice collection at the house.”
The elder Edwards has been collecting farm toys since he was 8 years old, and passed on the hobby to his grandson.
Cousins Dawson and Garret Boyd of Pinetown showed off an impressive miniture replica of 3B Farms in Pinetown. The cousins said they worked about an hour each night for three weeks to put the display of their family’s farm together.
James McCollum’s stepson, Hunter Taylor, 5, of Washington, was awe struck by the model of 3B Farms.
McCollum said his stepson’s bedroom is lined with farm toys. Taylor is especially fond of John Deere memorabilia, McCollum said.
“He’s a John Deere man,” McCollum said in regards to his step-son. “Some of (the farm toys) he plays with, some he collects.”
Local farm children weren’t the only ones satisfied with the show.
“All the vendors have been pretty happy,” said David Jackson, co-coordinator of the show.
He said about 350 farm enthusiasts attended the show, which was held from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Red Men’s Lodge on Third Street.
“It went pretty good considering the economy,” Jackson said.
The show featured door prizes, a raffle and a Future Farmers of America-sponsored food stand. Admission was $2 for adults and free for children under 10, with proceeds from the show going towards scholarships for area agricultural students.