Cherokee student builds displays for annual farm toy show

The annual Northwest Alabama Farm Toy Show has come and gone for the seventh time.

One of the features of the event are farm displays, and for six of those seven years visitors have had the chance to check out demonstrations by Liam Wallace of Cherokee.

The now 16-year-old Liam has been making displays for the event since its second iteration. He builds farmscape dioramas out of everything from foamboard and real dirt to toothpicks and farm toy miniatures in his personal collection.

“I have fun doing the displays and demonstrations,” Liam said. “You get to meet lots of new people who come through the show, and I’ve made some friends along the way.”

Liam said he has always been interested in farm life. He grew up on his family’s farm, always had farm toys growing up and plans to make a living in the field when he’s older.

He said he attended the first farm toy show and saw the displays, and that inspired him to enter the contest the following year.

While his display earned fourth place this time, he said he has come away with first a handful of other years.

“This year I demonstrated a corn harvest, hauling to and form the field,” he said. “Stuff you would typically see on a farm. It makes me excited to show people. I love when they come up and ask questions and we get to talk about it, and I show off my hard work.”

Liam said the amount of time needed to make each display depends on what exactly is being depicted. He said he typically takes a few weeks, while some other participants may spend months building their own.

“They have all been farm scenes, layouts of farms and pastures and things like cutting hay, harvesting wheat and planting,” Liam said. I usually use 4×8 foam board, toothpicks for things like cornstalks and grass called static grass that comes in packs. I use ballast for gravel, and some pieces I’ve used every year. I have a collection I can pull from.”

As far as planning goes, Liam said he begins planning his next display as soon as the farm toy show ends each year.

“I work on my displays after school and work,” he said. “This year took 70 hours or so of work. You have to take time planning it and laying it out. Sometimes I want to do one thing, but it lays out better a different way, and you have to figure all that out.”

In the future, Liam said he would like to attend other shows around the country. He said he went to a national show in Iowa in the past and enjoyed meeting new people and gaining new ideas for his demonstrations.

“I’m very proud of him,” said Jamie Wallace, Liam’s mother. “I’m glad he’s choosing this over something like playing video games or picking up any bad habits.”

The Northwest Alabama Farm Toy Show is held at the Clarion Inn in Sheffield each year in early February.