Vintage farm toy show celebrates agriculture and kids
If there are some old farm and construction toys in boxes in your attic, this may be the time to pull them out, dust them off and learn more about them at the show.
Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power, also known as the Dover Steam Show, will present a farm toy show in conjunction with its annual steam show on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds in Dover.
This marks the third year for the toy show, and it has grown in entries each year. If there are some old farm and construction toys in boxes in your attic, this may be the time to pull them out, dust them off and learn more about them at the show.
Ben Pauli, an event organizer, said there was a good reason to add a toy show to the annual event.
“One of the biggest reasons we added it three years ago was wanting to find attractions that younger people might appreciate, especially kids, to get them interested in the hobby. Some kind of toys seemed like the perfect thing to add to the steam show, and it has worked out well for us,” Pauli said.
Those who have toys they would like to add to the display or bring to sell can call Pauli at 330-844-5416. The cost to display your collection of farm or construction toys is just $10 per table. For those bringing large collections, help with setup is available. Vendors are welcome to set up from 8-10 a.m. Vendors should bring their own display tables.
“We’re mainly shooting for farm toys, but we will take a little of everything,” Pauli said. “But our main focus is farm-type toys or those associated with construction in some way. They’re things that are relevant to our steam show.”
The toy show has proven much more popular than expected, Pauli said. “We started out that first year, and maybe we had a dozen people bring their toys. Then last year we filled a 40-by-40 building, about doubling the size of the first year. And we potentially have a vendor bringing 80 feet of table space filled with toys this year that will easily double in size again.”
The show is mainly looking for toy trucks, trains, tractors and construction equipment.
While the annual Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Show, in its 60th year in 2024, is set for Aug. 16-18, the toy show is a one-day event on Aug. 17. The steam show was formed in 1963 by a group of local antique steam power enthusiasts and has been a local summer feature ever since.
Food trucks will be available, and the steam show is capped off by a garden tractor pull Friday and a full-sized antique tractor pull Saturday. Both the steam show and toy show are covered by a single gate entry fee. Find out more about the events at www.doversteamshow.com.
“The kids have enjoyed the toy show each year, so that has worked out well for us,” Pauli said. “It’s a good day for families every year. The show this year, the steam show and toy show, will be one of our biggest.”
A variety of antique steam tractors and equipment is always available at the annual steam show, with log splitters, tractors, lumber equipment and more on display.
Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power hosts a Facebook page with updates to the show.